HIS HIGHNESS PRINCE SHAH KARIM AL
HUSSAINI AGAKHAN
Al-Araf, or The Heights (VII) 206)
Those who are near to thy Lord, disdain not to worship Him: they glorify Him
and prostrate before Him.
BISMI-LLAHI-R-RAHMANI-R-RAHIM
[In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent,
the most Merciful]
Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad between c.610 and his
death c.632 in Arabic language. History reveals that the present standard text
of the Quran has been adopted during the reign of Uthman [also known as
Osman] as Caliph.
The following Hadith
reveal that at the time of the Prophet Muhammad, Allah's interpretation was
considered final :
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith -
6.580 - Narrated by Abdullah
The Prophet said, "Recite (and study) the Qur'an as long as
you agree about its interpretation, but if you have any difference of opinion
(as regards to its interpretation and meaning) then you should stop reciting it
(for the time being)."
and one
of the Hadiths reveal:
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith - 1585 - Narrated
Hubshi ibn Junadah
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him)
said, "Ali pertains to me and I pertain to Ali and no one will conclude
anything on my behalf but myself or Ali."
Taking into account the aforesaid hadith,
it is clear that from the hadiths in general narrated by various people and
other things which Prophet Muhammad said or did in his capacity as Messenger of
Allah including the message of the Quran delivered by Prophet Muhammad, only
Hazrat Ali had the authority to conclude what Prophet Muhammad actually said or
did in his capacity as Messenger of Allah and Hazrat Ali is the first manifest
Imam vested with everything - Quran reveals:
Ya-Sin - 36
12) ..... Wa
Kulla Shai'in Ahsainahu Fee Imamimmubeen.
Wa Kulla - And every.
Shai'in - Thing.
Ahsainahu - We have vested.
Fee - In.
Mubeen - Manifest.
Imamim-Mubeen - Manifest
Imam.
Ya-Sin - 36
12) ..... And We have vested
everything in the manifest Imam.
Quran, inter
alia, reveals that the Quran is a message making things clear and the
message is also in the form of parables :
Ya-Sin (being Abbreviated
Letters) (XXXVI) 69) We have not instructed the (Prophet) in Poetry, nor
is it meet for him: this is no less than a Message and a Qur'an making
things clear.
Al-Qamar, or the Moon
(LIV) 17) And We have indeed made the Qur'an easy to
understand and remember: then is there any that will receive
admonition?
Az-Zumar - 39
27) We have put forth for men in
this Quran every kind of parablein order that they may receive
admonition.
and Quran
reveals:
An-Nisaa, or the Women (IV) 59) "O you, who
believe, obey Allah and
obey the Prophet and the holders of
authority from amongst you. If ye differ in
anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe
in Allah and the Last Day: that is best, and most suitable for final
determination."
The aforesaid verse reveals the presence of holders of
authority from amongst the people during the time of Prophet Muhammad and hence
it is clear that besides Prophet Muhammad, another holder of authority was
already present amongst the people, and Quran nowhere mention that
this position was invalidated or changed. The aforesaid verse also
reveals that amongst the people present during the time of Prophet
Muhammad, one person was Allah as the wordings "from amongst you" reveal
and people were told that if they differed in anything among themselves
they should, inter alia, refer it to Allah - if they do believe in
Him. Taking into account Quran in general, it can be noticed that
Allah is the sole authority in religious as well as worldly matters and He is
the Living One.
It is significant to note that
Quran reveals:
Az-Zukhruf, or Gold Adornments (43) 3) We
have made it a Quran in Arabic, that ye may be able to
understand.
Ha-Mim-41 44) Had We sent this as
a Qur'an other than Arabic they would have said: "Why are not its verses
explained in detail? What! not in Arabic and an Arab?" Say: "It is a guide and a
healing to those who believe; and for those who believe not there is
a deafness in their ears and it is blindness in their (eyes); they are (as it
were) being called from a place far distant!"
From the aforesaid verse 3 of chapter Az-Zukhruf (43) and
verse 44 of Chapter Ha-Mim (41), it is clear that whatever the
language says - it is that and with this taking into account verse
59 of Chapter An-Nissa (4) and all other verses where God is referred to as He,
Him, His in the Quran - it is clear that Allah is a human being because if Allah
was not a human being then to address Himself, He would have created a
special wording instead of "He, Him and His" and used only that special wording
while addressing Himself and He is capable of everything and further the
wordings "He, Him and His" is addressed to something that is physically
visible. Certainly God knows what He is saying - At least Allah has
understood Himself and all the spiritual concept including His
eternal self and only after this He is giving the message inasmuch as
Quran reveals:
Yunus-10 95) and
do not join those who deny the revelations of Allah; otherwise you will become one of the
losers.
After getting the knowledge and
then denying Allah as a human being is nothing but conjecture/fancy and Quran
reveals:
Yunus - 10 36)
But most of them follow nothing but conjecture: truly conjecture can be of no avail against
Truth. Verily Allah is well aware of all that they do.
and one of the messages of the Quran is one should not
dispute to what Allah says and since it is Allah who knows :
Al-Imran, or the
Family of Imran (III)
66) Ah! Ye are those who
fell to disputing (even) in matters of which ye had some Knowledge! But why
dispute ye in matters of which ye have no knowledge? It is Allah who
knows, and ye who know not!
It is
also significant to note that
Quran reveals:
Qaf -
50
38) We
created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in
six days nor did any sense of weariness touch Us.
Quran reveals that the heavens and the
earth and all that is between them is His creation. It is thus clear
that the heavens, the earth, the sun, the moon, the space, the trees, the
rivers, the ocean, the animals, ordinary human beings others then Him, the
birds, the angels, the air, etc. are all His creations and hence calling on all
such things other then Him is nothing but calling upon created things or
beings inasmuch as Quran reveals:
Al-Araf, or The Heights -
7 [Translation]
194) Verily those whom ye
call upon besides Allah are servant like unto you: Call upon them,
and let them listen to your prayer, if ye are (indeed)
truthful!
195) Have they feet
to walk with? Or hands to lay hold with? Or eyes to see with?
Or ears to hear with? Say: "Call your `god-partners', scheme
(your worst) against me, and give me no respite.
This aforesaid
verses expresses that Allah listens to the prayers, has feet to walk with
or hands to lay hold with or eyes to see with or ears to hear
with. From the aforesaid verse, it appears that during the time of
Prophet Muhammad there were people who used to call on those who were created
things like themselves who could not
listen to the prayers, who did not have feet to walk with or
hands to lay hold with or eyes to see with or
ears to hear with. It is to be noted that feet, hands, eyes, ears are
actually parts of a body and not a fancy, concept, etc.
Quran, inter alia, reveals that
the Rabb/Lord during the relevent
period was Allah:
Yunus - 10
3) Verily
your Lord is AllahWho created the heavens and the earth
in six days and is firmly established on the Throne (of authority)
regulating and governing all things. No intercessor (can plead with Him) except
after His leave (hath been obtained). This is Allah your Lord; Him therefore
serve ye: will ye not celebrate His praises?
Ha-Mim -
41
30) In the case
of those who say "Our Lord is Allah" and further stand straight
and steadfast the angels descend on them (from time to time): "Fear ye not!"
(they suggest) "nor grieve! but receive the Glad Tidings of the Garden (of
Bliss) the which ye were promised !
The fact that Rabb/Lord is a human being
and/or relates to a human being is also clearly conveyed in the following
verses of the Quran:
Yusuf -
12 22) When Joseph attained his
full manhood We gave him power and knowledge: thus do We reward those who do
right.
23) But she in whose house he was sought to seduce him from his
(true) self: she fastened the doors and said: "Now come thou (dear one)!" He
said: "Allah forbid! truly (thy husband) is my Lord! He
made my sojourn agreeable! Truly to no good come those who do wrong!"
[It is to be noted that a
man from Egypt had brought Joseph for a few silver coins and used to be kind to
him, look after him and this man (i.e. the husband of the woman who tried
to seduce Joseph) was the Lord/Master/Rabb of Joseph.]
41) "O my two companions of the
prison! as to one of you he will pour out the wine for his
lord to drink: as for the other he will hang from the cross and the
birds will eat from off his head. (So) hath been decreed that matter whereof ye
twain do enquire..."
[Here the King of Egypt is termed as a
Lord/Rabb]
From the above also, it is clear
that the term "Rabb" refers to a human being as human beings are termed as
Rabb/Lord in the Quran. This is further made very clear in the following
verse of the Quran which mention that in the stories/histories there is
instruction/lesson for men endued with understanding, is a detailed
explanation/exposition of all things and a guide:
Yusuf (12)
111) There is in their
stories instruction for men endued with understanding. It is not a tale
invented but a confirmation of what went before it a detailed exposition of all
things and a Guide and a Mercy to any such as believe.
other
translation
Yusuf (12)
111) In their history verily
there is a lesson for men of understanding. It is no invented story but a
confirmation of the existing (Scripture) and a detailed explanation of
everything, and a guidance and a mercy for folk who believe.
Hence, going by
history/stories which, Allah in his message, mention contains a
lesson/instruction for men of understanding and going by the detailed
explanation and the guidance contained therein, i.e. the aforesaid
verse Nos.23 and 41 of Chapter 12 [Yusuf] makes it is very very clear that the Rabb/Lord/Master/King is a human
being and/or refers to a human
being.
From the aforesaid it
is also clear that the Rabb/Lord, a human being, during the time of the
Holy Prophet Mohammad was Allah and it is thus clear that the Rabb/Lord was more
than other human beings and there is none like
Him.
Quran also
reveals:
Hud - 11
7) He it is Who created the
heavens and the earth in six days and His Throne was over the
Waters that He might try you which of you is best in conduct.
But if thou were to say to them "Ye shall indeed be raised up after death" the
Unbelievers would be sure to say "This is nothing but obvious
sorcery!"
As set out hereinabove,
Quran reveals history is important and history reveals that Lord Vishnu's throne
was over the Waters and Lord Vishnu's form is a human form. It is thus
clear that the Lord during the time of Prophet Muhammad was the same Lord
Vishnu.
Quran also reveals that the Holy Prophet
had told His followers who their Lord was because after
coming to know of this the followers used to call on their Lord
morning and evening seeking His Face:
Al-Anam, or Cattle (VI)
52) Send not away those who call on their Lord
morning and evening, seeking His Face. In naught art thou accountable for them,
and in naught are they accountable for thee, that thou shouldst turn them away,
and thus be (one) of the unjust).
In fact Quran, inter alia, reveals that the message of
Allah was one should seek the Face of Allah and that one should keep the soul
content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening and seeking His
Face and, as such, it is clear that the Deedar/Darshan of the Lord is very
important:
Al-Kahf -
18
28) And keep yourself content with
those who call on their Lord morning and evening seeking his Face;
and let not thine
eyes pass beyond them seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; nor obey any
whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us one who follows
his own desires whose case has gone beyond all bounds.
Ar-Rad-13
22) Those who
patiently persevere seeking the Face of their Lord; establish regular
prayers; spend out of (the gifts) We have bestowed for their sustenance secretly
and openly; and turn off Evil with good: for such there is the final attainment
of the (Eternal) Home
Ar-Rum-30
38) So give what is
due to kindred the needy and the wayfarer. That is best for those who
seek the Countenance of Allah and it is they who will
prosper.
Al-Lail-92
17) But those most
devoted to Allah shall be removed far from it
18) Those who spend
their wealth for increase in self-purification
19) And have in their
minds no favor from anyone for which a reward is expected in return
20) But only the desire to
seek for the Face of their Lord Most High.
21) And soon will they attain
(complete) satisfaction.
Quran in the
following verses reveal that even in the physical absence of the
Lord, one should remember Allah and seek His Face :
Al-Baqara-2
200) And when ye have completed your devotions, then
remember Allah as ye remember your fathers or with a more lively
remembrance. But of mankind is he who saith: "Our Lord! Give unto
us in the world," and he hath no portion in the Hereafter.
The verse is at the relevant period - When one's father is not physically
present and has gone to a far away place, one does remembers the father and
the mind is fixed on the personal form and it appears to
the child that the father is near to him - and likewise the message
appear to convey that one should remember and see the Lord when He is not
physically present like He is near to Him - a person remembering Allah in
this way will see Him everywhere inasmuch as Quran
reveals:
Al-Baqarah, or the Heifer (The Cow)
115) To Allah belong the East and the
West: whithersoever ye turn, there is Allah's Face. For
Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.
In fact, even the Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith (1.47)
naratted by Abu Huraira reveals [extract]:
Allah's Apostle replied, "To worship Allah as if you
see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion then you must
consider that He is looking at you."
The following hadith also appear to reveal that the Lord
gives deedar when one prays:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.547 - Narrated Jarir bin
Abdullah [Extract]
We were with the Prophet on a full moon night. He looked at the moon and
said, "You will certainly see your Lord as you see this moon, and there
will be no trouble in seeing Him. So if you can avoid
missing (through sleep, business, etc.) a prayer before the
rising of the sun and before its setting you must do so." He (the
Prophet) then recited the following verse: And celebrate the praises Of Your
Lord before The rising of the sun And before (its) setting. (50.39)
and Lord can be remembered the following way:
Al-Araf-7
205) And do thou remember thy Lord within thyself humbly and
with awe, below thy breath, at morn and evening. And be thou not of the
neglectful.
As is evident above - Quran reveals that one should not only
remember at the time of devotions but anytime Allah can be
remembered:
Al-Ahzab-33
41) O believers! Remember Allah as a
frequent remembrance,
42) and glorify Him morning and
evening.
Al-i'Imran-3
191) Such as remember Allah, standing, sitting, and
reclining, and consider the creation of the heavens and the earth, (and say):
Our Lord! Thou createdst not this in vain. Glory be to Thee! Preserve us from
the doom of Fire.
Ar-Rum-30
17) Therefore,
glorify Allah in the evening and in the morning
18) - all praise is due to Him in
the heavens and the earth - so glorify Him in the late afternoon and when the
day begins to decline.
Al-Araf-7
55) Call on your Rabb
with humility and in private; for He does not love the transgressors.
From the
following two verses of the Quran :
Qaf -
50
38) We
created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in
six days nor did any sense of weariness touch Us.
Al-Iklas - 112 (Ayat Nos.1 and 2)
"Say (O Prophet), it
is Allah, (who is) the One. Allah is
Eternal,
Independent.
it is clear from that
the heavens and the earth and all that is between them is His creation.
It also
becomes clear that the origin of Allah is no one had
beggotten Him since Quran reveals it is He who has created everything and
hence He is the first - no one was there before Him or with Him and further
His origin is He is not from the earth since earth itself is created by
Him. Since there is no one besides Him and He is the first and Independent
- it becomes clear He creates everything from his own source and the
Universe, one of his inifinite creation, is one of His signs/evidence that
He is eternal since everything is created from His own source
inasmuch as Quran reveals
one should consider the creation of the heavens and the earth while
remembering Allah:
Al-i'Imran-3
191) Such as remember Allah,
standing, sitting, and reclining, and consider the creation of the
heavens and the earth, (and say): Our Lord! Thou createdst not this in
vain. Glory be to Thee! Preserve us from the doom of Fire.
Since everything is
created from His source - the heavens and the earth and all that is between them
(and Quran elsewhere also does reveal that Allah is the light of the heavens and
the earth which is set out in later part of this text), we are living, moving
and having our being in God.
It is
also clear from the above that Prophet Muhammad had revealed to the
followers who is their Lord was
and after knowing this His followers used to seek the Face of the Lord morning
and evening when the Lord was present physically and when the Lord was not
present physically.
The following
verse of the Quran reveals that Lord cannot be physically present everywhere
inasmuch as Quran reveals He is One :
Al-Anbiyaa, or The Prophets (XXI) 16) It was We who
created man, and we know what suggestions his soul makes to him for We are
nearer to him than (his) jugular vein.
[It is clear
from the above that Allah created everyone from His own source and taking
into account that He is eternal - it is clear that the spark of His light
is in everyone and He is near to everyone then jugular
vein.]
and the following verse of
the Quran mention:
Maryam, or Mary XIX 52) And We called him
from the right side of Mount (Sinai), and made him draw near to Us, for converse
in secret.
Even though Allah is nearer to a man then his vein, the
aforesaid mentions "made him draw near to US, for converse in
secret". It is clear that Moses had conversation with the Lord/Allah in
stately human form inasmuch as the wording reveals "made him draw near to US,
for converse in secret" reveals physically He is not everywhere, else there was
no need for Allah to make Moses draw near to Him.
Some of the following
verse of the Quran also makes it clear that the followers also used to worship
the Lord, Glorify Him and Prostrate before Him:
Al-Araf, or The Heights (VII) 206) Those who are
near to thy Lord, disdain not to worship Him: they glorify Him and prostrate
before Him.
Al-Fatiha - I (Ayat No.5)
You alone we worship
and from You alone we seek help.
With the aforesaid made
clear - it is significant to note that Quran reveal that the messages of God
were in the form of a book and Prophet Muhammad used to read out and deliver
these messages to the people:
Az-Zumar -
39 23) Allah has revealed (from time to time)
the most beautiful message in the form of a Book consistent with itself (Yet)
repeating (its teaching in various aspects): the skins of those who
fear their Lord tremble thereat; then their skins and their hearts do soften to
the celebration of Allah's praises. Such is the guidance of Allah:
He guides therewith whom He pleases but such as Allah leaves to stray can have
none to guide."
Sad - 38
29) (Here is) a Book which We have sent down unto thee full
of blessings that they may ponder over its messages and that men of
understanding may receive admonition.
Yunus-10
94) If you are in doubt regarding what
We have revealed to you, ask those who have been reading the Book
before you. In fact, the truth has indeed come to you from your
Rabb: therefore, do not be of those who doubt,
Al-Maida - 5
92) Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger. And beware (of evil):
if ye do turn back, know ye that it is Our Messenger's duty to proclaim (the
Message) in the clearest manner.
Al-Inshiqaq-84
21) And when the Qur'an is read to them they fall not
prostrate.
Al-Araf-7
204) When the Qur'an is read listen to it with attention and
hold your peace: that ye may receive Mercy.
Quran, inter alia, also reveals that the Quran is a
message making things clear:
Ya-Sin (being Abbreviated Letters) (XXXVI) 69) We
have not instructed the (Prophet) in Poetry, nor is it meet for him: this is no
less than a Message and a Qur'an making things clear.
Al-Qamar, or the Moon (LIV) 17) And We have indeed
made the Qur'an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will
receive admonition?
And Quran also reveals that the
message of the Quran was universal or to all the worlds and Prophet
Muhammad had come for the entire mankind, at the same time, it reveals
that most of them do not know about this. Quran also reveals that the
Quran is a guide and Glad Tidings for the Believers; and it also reveals
that Prophet Muhammad was bearer of Glad Tidings:
At-Takwir-81
27) Verily this is no less than a Message
to (all) the Worlds:
An-Naml-27
1) Ta Sin. These are verses of the Qur'an
a Book that makes (things) clear;
2) A Guide; and Glad Tidings for the
Believers
Saba-34
28) And We have not sent thee (O Muhammad)
save as a bringer of good tidings and a warner unto all
mankind; but most of mankind know not.
Taking into account verse 27 of chapter At-Takwir (81) and
verse 2 of chapter An-Naml (27) and verse 28 of chapter Saba (34) it is
significant to note that the Glad Tidings was for all the believers of the
worlds and not just a part thereof inasmuch as the Quran reveals:
Al-Maida or The Table Spread
(V)
67) "O Prophet deliver (to the people),
what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you did not do so, then you
have not delivered His Message, and Allah will protect you from the
people."
At the same time, Quran reveals that
Prophet Muhammad, the messenger of Allah was the seal of the Prophets, and,
in view of this no more prophet was to follow after Prophet
Muhammad:
Al-Ahzab-33
40) Muhammad is not the father of any of your men but (he is)
the Apostle of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah
has full knowledge of all things.
It is significant to note
that the following verses of the Quran, inter alia, reveals that Allah had
substituted one revelation for another, He had substituted for a better or
similar revelations and further He calls His followers to look to what He is
sending for the morrow/future and it is thus clear that during the time of
Prophet Muhammed itself, Allah had changed His messages many times over to
keep up with the needs of the changing times of that period and it is He who is
the guide as per the changing times and further Quran reveals that the message
of God will continue and it is clear that the Glad Tidings referred to
the Lord/Allah, inter alia, guiding His followers in person as per the
changing times, more so, since no Prophet was to come after Prophet
Muhammad :
An-Nahl, or The Bee (XVI)
101) When We substitute one revelation for
another, - and, Allah knows best what He reveals (in stages), -
they say, "Thou art but a forger" but most of them know not.
Al- Baqara - 2
106) None of our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be
forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar: knowest thou not
that Allah hath power over all things?
Al-Hashr, or The Gathering (or Banishment) (59)
18) O ye who believe! fear Allah and let every human
being look to what he is sending for the morrow. Yea, fear Allah: for
Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do.
Al-Hashr, or The Gathering (or Banishment) (59)
18) O you, who have attained faith! Remain conscious of
God; and let every human being look to what He sends ahead for the
morrow! And remain conscious of God, for God is fully aware of
all that you do;
[Morrow, inter alia, means tomorrow, future, etc.]
inasmuch as Quran reveal that the message from
Allah was to continue and was not a full stop after Prophet Muhammad :
Ad-Dukhan, or Smoke (or Mist) - 44
3) Lo! We revealed it on a blessed night.--Lo! We are ever
warning.--
4) Whereupon every wise command is made clear
5) As a command from Our presence.--Lo! We are ever
sending--
other translation
Ad-Dukhan, or Smoke (or Mist) - 44
3) We sent it down during a blessed night: for We (ever) wish
to warn (against Evil).
4) In that is made distinct every affair of wisdom
5) By command, from Us, For We (ever) send
(revelations)]
Luqman-31
27) And if all the trees on earth were pens and the Ocean
(were ink) with seven Oceans behind it to add to its (supply) yet
would not the Words of Allah be exhausted: for Allah is Exalted in
power Full of Wisdom.
Al-Lail-92
12) Verily We take upon Ourselves to guide.
To sum up Allah is the guide as per the changing times
and His guidance is required as per the changing times inasmuch as the world has
ungone a very big change since the times of Prophet Muhammad. In fact, it
is clear from the above that during the time of Prophet Muhammed itself, Allah
had changed his farmans (messages) many times over to keep up with the needs of
the changing times of that period and it is also significant to note that Quran
reveals:
An-Nisaa, or the
Women (IV) 59) "O you, who believe, obey Allah and obey the Prophet and
the holders of authority from amongst you. If ye differ in anything among
yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye
do believe in Allah and the Last Day: that is best, and most suitable for final
determination."
The verse also reveals
about holders of authority present amongst the people
and hence it is clear that there was a holder of authority besides Prophet
Muhammad. It is thus clear that after the passing away of Prophet Muhammad
the holder of authority besides Prophet Muhammad was to continue as
the holder of authority since Quran/History nowhere mention that the
position of the holder of authority was invalidated or changed at any point of
time inasmuch as the holder of authority was not appointed by Prophet Muhammad
but by Allah. It is also significant to note that Quran reveals in case of
differences amongst the people, then Allah and His messenger be referred to, if
they do believe in Allah and the Last Day and this is best, and most suitable
for final determination and Quran reveals that
Allah, inter alia, is a Living One inasmuch as
Prophet Muhammad could be physically referred to:
Al-Mu-min, or The Believer - 40 65)
He is the Living (One): there is no god but He: call upon Him,
giving Him sincere devotion. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds!
[The aforesaid verses expresses a word like
"Living", which, inter alia, means existent, to have life, etc.]
It is significant to note that Quran also reveals Allah knows
who are not the believers from those who say We believe in Allah and the Last
Day:
Al-Baqara-2
8) Of the people there are some who
say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day" but they do not (really)
believe.
and the following verse of the Quran, inter
alia, reveals that He listens to those who believe:
Ash-Shura-42
26) And He
listens to those who believe and do deeds of righteousness and gives
them increase of His Bounty: but for the Unbelievers there is a terrible
Penalty.
and Quran reveals that Allah proves the Truth by His
words:
Ash-Shura, or Consultation -
42 What! Do they say, "He has forged a falsehood against Allah"? But if
Allah willed, He could seal up thy heart. And Allah blots out falsehood, and
proves the Truth by His Words. For He knows well the secrets of all hearts.
Quran also reveals:
Yunus-10
15) But when our
messages are conveyed into them in all their clarity those who
rest not their hope on their meeting with Us say: "Bring us a Quran other
than this or change this." Say: "It is not for me of my own accord to
change it: I follow naught but what is revealed unto me: if I were to disobey my
Lord I should myself fear the Penalty of a Great Day (to come)."
It is also clear that from verse 59 of chapter
An-Nisaa(4), verse 65 of chapter Al-Mu-min (40), verse 24 of
Ash-Shura (42) and verse 15 of Yunus (10) reveal that the supreme leader of
the religion is Allah, the Living One, who could be referred to in
religious and worldly matters by those who believed in Him and
Allah proves the truth by His words and further that Allah is not a
book and/or books of guidance, and, in fact, the book or books of guidance was
because of Him and, as Quran reveals :
Al-Rad, or Thunder
(XIII)
31) Had it been possible for a Quran to
cause the mountains to move, or the earth to be torn as under, or the dead to
speak, (this Quran would have done so). Nay, but Allah's is the whole
command. ==
It is also clear from the aforesaid verses that there were
people who would believe in Allah and still there arose disputes
amongst them and this may possibly be because Quran reveals that rumor mongering
was prevalent by others during the time of Prophet Muhammad and the extent
of rumor mongering was such that it even made Allah/God angry taking into
account message revealed in the Quran and Allah cautioning his
followers against people with evil designs and sone of the messages were as
follows:
Al-Humaza - 104 1) Woe to every (kind of)
scandal-monger and backbiter
Al-Qalam - 68 10) Neither obey
thou each feeble oath monger, 11) Detractor, spreader abroad of
slanders, 12) Hinderer of the good, transgressor, malefactor 13) Greedy
therewithal, intrusive. An-Nisaa, or
the Women [IV]
81) They have "Obedience" on their lips; but
when they leave thee a section of them meditate all night on things very
different from what thou tellest them but Allah records their nightly (plots):
so keep clear of them and put thy trust in Allah; and enough is Allah as a
Disposer of affairs.
The kind of people present and the circumstances
prevailing during the period of Prophet Muhammad is set out in the later part of
this text taking into account the Quran to make things more clear.
At the same time the following verses of the Quran reveals
that Allah had given a message which, inter alia, conveyed that there should be
no compulsion in religion and each one of them were told to go as per
their faith :
Al-Baqarah, or the Heifer (The Cow)
(II)
256) Let there be no compulsion in
religion. Truth stands out clear from error; whoever rejects evil and believes
in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And
Allah heareth and knoweth all things.
Al-Kafirum -
109
6) Unto you your faith and unto me
my faith.
The following verse of the Quran, inter alia, reveal
that people were told not to make distinction between any of His
Messagers and that they should accept all Messengers:
An-Nisaa, or The Women
(IV)
150) Those who deny Allah and His
Messengers, and wish to separate between Allah and His Messengers, saying: "We
believe in some but reject others": and wish to take a course midway,
-
151) They are in truth
Unbelievers; and We have prepared for Unbelievers a humiliating
punishment.
152) To those who believe in Allah
and His messengers and make no distinction between any of the messengers, We
shall soon give their (due) rewards: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful.
and Quran also reveals:
Ibrahim, or Abraham - XIV
4) "We sent not a messenger except (to teach) in the
language of his (own) people, in order to make
(things) clear to them. So Allah leads astray those whom He pleases and guides
whom He pleases and He is Exalted in power, Full of Wisdom."
Fatir-35 24) Verily We have
sent thee with truth, as a bearer of glad tidings, and as a warner: and
there never was a community, without a warner having lived among
them.
It is thus clear that God had sent messengers to each and
every community who delivered the message in the language of his people
inasmuch as Quran also reveals:
Al-Lail-92
12) Verily We take upon Ourselves to guide.
and it appears God accepts all the people of faith as His
followers to whom He had sent His Messangers and who accepted the messages
and obeyed the instructions contained in the messages delivered by the
Messengers inasmuch as the Quran itself was a universal message:
At-Takwir-81
27) Verily this is no less than a Message
to (all) the Worlds:
and Prophet Muhammad being a universal
messenger delivered the message of God which was for all the people,
which, inter alia, mentioned:
Al-Imran, or the Family of Imran (III) 73)
"And believe no one unless he follows your religion."
Say: "True guidance is the guidance of Allah: (fear ye)
lest a revelation be sent to someone (else) like unto that which was sent unto
you. Or that those (receiving such revelation) should engage you in argument
before your Lord? Say: "All bounties are in the hand of Allah: He granteth them
to whom He pleaseth: and Allah careth for all, and He knoweth all
things."
inasmuch as Quran reveals [the message of God which was
delivered by the Prophet Muhammad]:
Al-Hajj-22
40) Those who have been driven from their homes
unjustly only because they said: Our Lord is Allah--For had it not been for
Allah's repelling some men by means of others, cloisters and churches
and oratories and mosques, wherein the name of Allah is oft mentioned,
would assuredly have been pulled down. Verily Allah helpeth one who helpeth Him.
Lo! Allah is Strong, Almighty.
other translation
Al-Hajj-22
40) (They are) those who have been expelled from their
homes in defiance of right (for no cause) except that they say "Our Lord is
Allah." Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another they
would surely have been pulled down monasteries churches synagogues and
mosquesin which the name of Allah is commemorated in
abundant measure. Allah will certainly aid those who aid His
(cause); for verily Allah is Full of Strength Exalted in Might (Able to enforce
His Will).
The aforesaid verse, inter
alia, reveals that people were expelled from their homes because they said
"Our Rabb/Lord is Allah". The verse also reveals that Allah used to check
one set of people by means of another else they would have pulled down
places of worship and Quran also makes it clear that in all the
aforesaid places of worship, the name of Allah or God was mentioned, and, in
such a way, Allah or God accepted all such places of worship being referred
prevailing during the relevant period and the name mentioned
therein as the name of
Allah been mentioned inasmuch as it is also clear that people were,
inter alia, taking the name of their Rabb/Lord as the word "Our Lord is
Allah" convey.
and Quran also reveals:
Al-Hajj-22
67) To every People have we appointed rites and
ceremonies which they must follow let them not then dispute with
thee on the matter but do thou invite (them) to thy Lord: for thou art
assuredly on the Right Way.
Ar-Rum-30
22) And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and
the earth and the variations in your languages and your
colors: verily in that are Signs for those who know.
From the aforesaid verses of the Quran and taking into
account the relevant period, it is very clear that diversity in the form of
colors of skin, different traditions, literature, songs, dress, language,
practice of faith, creativity, the wisdom, the knowledge of people from more and
more parts of the world is due to Allah inasmuch as Quran, inter
alia, reveals that the faith need not be changed "To every
People have we appointed rites and ceremonies which they must
follow". By taking into account the
aforesaid aspects it is clear that on the basis of warner having lived
among the people in the past and on the basis of the message given to
the people (i) people knew their Lord and worshipped Him, (ii) there are
difference in rites and ceremonies and (iii) the image of the Lord is in places
of worships and taking into account that people believe and/or
worship their Lord having different personal form/s, it is clear that
this acceptance of the Lord was due to the earlier message given
to the people living during the relevant period by the Messengers and
further taking into account that Quran reveals God is one, it is clear that God
has an image and the form or avtaar of the One Lord have been different during
different periods of history. It is also possible that during the
various period of history there have been people who have selected the faith
which appeared to them the best.
From the aforesaid it is also clear that in the place of
worship there are also images of Prophet and saints and there are images of
people who are not prophets and saints. For example, Jesus Christ and his
mother Mary. There are also images of persons having more then two hands
in other places. Of-course, God knew about these and still the
message is "To every People have we appointed rites and ceremonies
which they must follow" and it is clear that such images were
on the basis of instructions received from God - which, in turn, also reveals
that God wants to keep the history alive.
It is significant to note that Quran, inter alia,
reveals:
Al-Maida-5 2) O ye who believe!
violate not the sanctity of the Symbols of
Allah....
History also reveals that Jesus, inter alia, used to
bring life to those who died and Quran reveals:
Al-Maida-5
110) Then will Allah say: "O Jesus the son of Mary! recount
my favor to thee and to thy mother. Behold! I strengthened thee with the
holy spirit .....
and it is clear that Allah strengthened Jesus Christ with His
own source - the Holy Spirit.
Quran does reveal other Messengers having such favours
from the Lord which they displayed before the people:
Yusuf-12
21) And he of Egypt who purchased him said unto his wife:
Receive him honorably. Perchance he may prove useful to us or we may adopt him
as a son. Thus We established Joseph [Yusuf] in the land that We might teach him
the interpretation of events. And Allah was predominant in his career, but most
of mankind know not.
22) And when he reached his prime We gave him wisdom
and knowledge. Thus We reward the good.
Al-Anbiyaa-21
81) And unto Solomon (We subdued) the wind in its raging. It
set by His command toward the land which We had blessed. And of everything We
are aware.
Al-Kahf-18
65) There they found one of Our servants (Khizr) whom We had
blessed with special favor from Ourselves and whom We had given special
knowledge of Our own.
Quran also reveals that Prophet Muhammad had not come to
make any changes but continue the ways of the earlier
messengers :
Bani Israil, or the Children of Israel or Al-Isra
[XVII] 77) (This was Our) way with the messengers We sent before thee:
thou wilt find no change in Our ways.
It is possible that the image of the Lord in the
place of worship, inter alia, is so that the followers see His image,
remember Him and it is significant to note that Quran reveals:
Al-Baqara-2
200) And when ye have completed your devotions, then
remember Allah as ye remember your fathers or with a more lively
remembrance. But of mankind is he who saith: "Our Lord! Give unto
us in the world," and he hath no portion in the Hereafter.
Al-Baqarah, or the Heifer (The Cow)
115) To Allah belong the East and the
West: whithersoever ye turn, there is Allah's Face. For
Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.
inasmuch as Quran
also reveals:
Yunus-10 94) If you are in doubt regarding what We have
revealed to you, ask those who have been reading the Book before you. In
fact, the truth has indeed come to you from your Rabb: therefore, do not be of
those who doubt,
95) and do not
join those who deny the revelations of Allah; otherwise you will become one of
the losers.
and it is significant to note that Bhagavad Gita reveals [here it was Lord
Krishna Himself who delivered His own message, inter alia, by answering
questions raised by Arjun]:
Chapter 12 / Text 2
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Those who fix their
minds on My personal form and are always engaged in worshiping Me
with great and transcendental faith are considered by Me to be most
perfect.
Chapter 15 / Text 19 Whoever knows Me as the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, without doubting, is the knower of
everything. He therefore engages himself in full devotional service to Me, O son
of Bharata.
Chapter 15 / Text 20 This is the most
confidential part of the Vedic scriptures, O sinless one, and it is
disclosed now by Me. Whoever understands this will become wise, and his
endeavors will know perfection.
inasmuch as Quran also reveals :
An-Nisaa, or The Women
(IV)
150) Those who deny Allah and His
Messengers, and wish to separate between Allah and His Messengers,
saying: "We believe in some but reject others": and wish to take a course
midway, -
151) They are in truth
Unbelievers; and We have prepared for Unbelievers a humiliating
punishment.
152) To those who believe in Allah and
His messengers and make no distinction between any of the messengers, We shall
soon give their (due) rewards: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful.
at the same time Quran reveals:
Al-i'Imran-3
64) Say: "O people of the
Book! Let us get together on what is common between us and you:
that we shall worship none but Allah; that we shall not associate any partners
with Him; that we shall not take from among ourselves any lords beside Allah."
If they reject your invitation then tell them: "Bear witness that we are Muslims
(who have surrendered to Allah)."
Yunus-10
94) If you are in doubt regarding what
We have revealed to you, ask those who have been reading the Book
before you. In fact, the truth has indeed come to you from your
Rabb: therefore, do not be of those who doubt,
at the same time conveying:
Yunus-10 95) and do not
join those who deny the revelations of Allah; otherwise you will
become one of the losers.
The aforesaid verse 64 of chapter
Al-i'Imran (3) and verse 94 of Yunus (10) makes it clear that one should find things in common and thereby Allah
acknowledges the message received earlier by other communities as a resource
inasmuch as Quran reveals:
Al-Baqara-2
4) And who believe in that which
is revealed unto thee and that which was revealed before
thee, and are certain of the Hereafter.
5) It is they who follow the guidance
from their Lord, and it is they who shall attain a happy state.
As mentioned above,
Quran reveals that Prophet Muhammad had not come to make any changes but
continue the ways :
Bani Israil, or the Children of Israel or Al-Isra
[XVII] 77) (This was Our) way with the messengers We sent before thee:
thou wilt find no change in Our ways.
and it is thus clear that Prophet Muhammad like other
Messengers showed miracles to the people so that the people accepted
him as the Messenger of Allah - else how would people accept Prophet Muhammad
as a Prophet? One of the following verse reveals that Miracles were
shown by earlier messengers of Allah and also from hereinabove it is clear
Prophets has extra-ordinary God given powers:
Al-Israa - 17
101) To Moses We did give
nine Clear Signs: ask the Children of Israel: when he came to them Pharaoh said
to him: "O Moses! I consider thee indeed to have been worked upon by
sorcery!"
102) Moses said "Thou
knowest well that these things have been sent down by none but the Lord of the
heavens and the earth as eye-opening evidence: and I consider thee indeed O
Pharaoh to be one doomed to destruction!"
and the hadiths do
reveal about miracles being shown by Prophet Muhammad:
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Hadith 4.831 - Narrated by Anas
That the Meccan people requested Allah's
Apostle to show them a miracle, and so he showed them the splitting of the moon.
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Hadith 6.388 - Narrated Abdullah
The moon was cleft asunder while we were
in the company of the Prophet, and it became two parts. The Prophet said,
"Witness, witness (this miracle)."
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Hadith 1.170 - Narrated Anas bin Malik
I saw Allah's Apostle when
the 'Asr prayer was due and the people searched for water to perform ablution
but they could not find it. Later on (a pot full of) water for ablution was
brought to Allah's Apostle. He put his hand in that pot and ordered the people
to perform ablution from it. I saw the water springing out from underneath his
fingers till all of them performed the ablution (it was one of the miracles of
the Prophet).
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Hadith 4.779 - Narrated Abdullah
We used to consider miracles as Allah's Blessings, but you people
consider them to be a warning. Once we were with Allah's Apostle on a journey,
and we ran short of water. He said, "Bring the water remaining with you." The
people brought a utensil containing a little water. He placed his hand in it and
said, "Come to the blessed water, and the Blessing is from Allah." I saw the
water flowing from among the fingers of Allah's Apostle, and no doubt, we heard
the meal glorifying Allah, when it was being eaten (by him).
Once Prophet Muhammad
showed miracles as a proof of his being a Prophet - he did not
subsequently show any kind of miracles to those who did not believe and the
Quran reveals:
Al-An'am -
6
109) They swear their
strongest oaths by Allah that if a sign were shown to them, they would indeed
believe in this. Say: "Signs are in the power of God alone." And for all
you know, even if one should be shown to them, they would not
believe.
111) Even if We had
sent to them the angels, made the dead speak to them, and presented all the
different things of the world before them as proof, they would have not
believed, unless Allah wanted otherwise (and forcing someone to believe is not
what He wants): Yet most of them act out of ignorance.
As set out earlier, Prophet Muhammad was
told to invite others to his Lord:
Al-Hajj-22
67) To every People have we appointed rites and ceremonies
which they must follow let them not then dispute with thee on the matter
but do thou invite (them) to thy Lord: for thou art
assuredly on the Right Way.
and it is clear from the aforesaid that by this it meant the
same Lord but in another form or avatar and the same Lord which the Prophets had
earlier given the message inasmuch as Quran reveals about Glad Tidings for all
the believers of the worlds and further Quran as aforesaid clearly reveals
that there was no compulsion in religion and hence in the said invitation there
was no compulsion at all and those do did not accept the invitation were told to
keep to their faith and follow their rites and
ceremonies:
Al-Baqarah, or the Heifer (The Cow)
(II)
256) Let there be no compulsion in
religion. Truth stands out clear from error; whoever rejects evil and believes
in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And
Allah heareth and knoweth all things.
Al-Kafirum -
109
6) Unto you your faith and unto me
my faith.
Al-Hajj-22
67) To every People have we appointed rites and
ceremonies which they must follow let them not then dispute with
thee on the matter but do thou invite (them) to thy Lord: for thou art assuredly
on the Right Way.
Quran also, inter alia, reveals about inviting all to
the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching:
An-Nahl-16
125) Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and
beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most
gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best who have strayed from His Path and who
receive guidance.
and it is clear from the above that this should be
by acknowledging the diversity as aforesaid as a strenght and not a
weakness inasmuch as diversity is due to Allah including the rites and
ceremonies.
The following hadiths reveal that Prophet Muhammad tried
to keep in touch with other people:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.65 Narrated
Anas bin Malik
Once the Prophet wrote a letter or had an
idea of writing a letter. The Prophet was told that they (rulers) would not read
letters unless they were sealed. So the Prophet got a silver ring made with
"Muhammad Allah's Apostle" engraved on it. As if I were just observing its white
glitter in the hand of the Prophet.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.276 Narrated Anas bin
Malik
When the Prophet intended to write to the Byzantines,
the people said, "They do not read a letter unless it is sealed (stamped)."
Therefore the Prophet took a silver ring--as if I am looking at its glitter
now--and its engraving was: "Muhammad, Apostle of Allah."
Just as other messengers, Prophet Muhammad delivered God's
message to his people in their own language :
Ha-Mim-41
44) Had We sent this as a
Qur'an other than Arabic they would have said:"Why are
not its verses explained in detail? What! not in Arabic and an
Arab?" Say: "It is a guide and a healing to those who believe; and for those who
believe not there is a deafness in their ears and it is blindness in their
(eyes); they are (as it were) being called from a place far
distant!"
Since Quran reveals that there should be no compulsion
in religion, the following verse reveals that only those who gave
the Prophet Muhammad the allegiance were admitted in the faith, at the
same time, the people giving allegiance were warmed that anyone
violating his oath does so to the harm of his own
self :
Al-Fat-h or Victory - 48 10) Those who give you
their allegiance, they give it verily to Allah: Allah's hand is upon their
hands. Then he who breaks it, he certainly breaks it against
himself. And he who fulfils what he has pledged with Allah, He shall in
return reward him in plenty.
The aforesaid makes
it clear that the allegiance given to Prophet Muhammad was giving their
allegiance to Allah and that the hand of Allah was over their
hands and further Quran also reveals:
An-Nahl, or The
Bee (XVI)
91) Fulfill the Covenant of Allah when ye have entered into
it, and break not your oaths after ye have confirmed them; indeed ye
have made Allah your surety; for Allah knoweth all that ye do.
95) Nor sell the
Covenant of Allah for a miserable price: for with Allah is (a prize) far better
for you, if ye only knew.
96) What is with you must vanish: what is with Allah will
endure. And We will certainly bestow, on those who patiently persevere, their
reward according to the best of their actions.
Al-Baqara-2 27) Those who break Allah's Covenant after it is ratified and who
sunder what Allah has ordered to be joined and do mischief on earth: These cause
loss (only) to themselves.
and Quran also reveals:
At-Tauba-9
18) The mosques of Allah shall be visited and maintained by
such as believe in Allah and the Last Day establish regular prayers and practice
regular charity and fear none (at all) except Allah. It is they who are expected
to be on true guidance.
Quran also reveals that one of the messages of Allah to
His followers was Pagans were not allowed in the place of worship and they
are termed as impure or unclean:
At-Tauba (Repentance) or Baraat (Immunity) -
(IX)
28) O ye who believe! Truly the Pagans are impure; so
let them not, after this year of theirs, approach the Sacred Mosque. And if ye
fear poverty, soon will Allah enrich you, if He wills, out of His bounty, for
Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
[Pagans, inter alia, means unbeliever,
atheist, infidel, agnostic, heretic, immoral.]
inasmuch as, as set out hereinabove, people were told to
stick to their faith and Prophet Muhammad inviting people to the Lord makes it
clear that all those who accepted Prophet Muhammad as the Messenger, the Lord to
which Prophet Muhammad invited people - was to be believed, obeyed and
worshipped and not His earlier forms of the Lord or avtaars inasmuch
as it does not seem to make sense that the Lord is present amongst the people in
His present form and instead people not acknowledging Him as the Lord because
the form is different:
It is significant from the aforesaid verse 28 of
chapter At-Tauba (9) that Allah did not want Pagans to be in the faith and from this it is
clear that joining to the faith was not at all forceful and, in
fact, the followers were told not to allow the people in place of
worship who were not accepting the tenets of the faith.
It is also significant to note that Quran, inter
alia, reveals:
Ya-Sin - 36
12) ..... Wa Kulla Shai'in
Ahsainahu Fee Imamimmubeen.
Wa Kulla - And every.
Shai'in - Thing.
Ahsainahu - We have vested.
Fee - In.
Mubeen - Manifest.
Imamim-Mubeen - Manifest
Imam.
Ya-Sin - 36
12) ..... And We have vested
everything in the manifest Imam.
The aforesaid verse
was revealed during the period of Prophet Muhammad. At present, it
can be noticed in most or perhaps all the Arabic into English translated books
titled "The Holy Quran" that the Arabic into English translators have
not translated the verse in English "as it
is" to the best possible extent but they have termed the word "Imam"
by record, ledger, register, book,
writing, etc. and given their own personal
interpretation. This terming of the word
"Imam" may possibly be because one of the
verse in the Quran appear to term Book of Moses, which Quran
reveals was a physical and readable Book, as an Imam and the
translators may be doing such acts of terming possibly because they may
have been given to understand that this is permitted or according to them this
is permitted. Verse 29 of chapter
Sad (38) of the Quran reveal that Allah's wish, inter alia, is
that people should ponder over His
messages:
Sad - 38
29) (Here is) a Book which We have sent down unto thee full
of blessings that they may ponder over its messages and that
men of understanding may receive admonition.
and for this reason, it is clear
that while translating the contents of the Quran into any other language
including the English language, they should translate the meaning and/or the
message appearing in the Quran as it is to the best possible extent
because if this is not done, then one just cannot ponder on the actual message
of God. The relevant verse in the Quran which appear to term
Book of Moses, which Quran reveals was a physical and readable
Book, as an Imam is set out below and here also it can be
noticed that in certain and/or most of the English translations the word "Imam"
[highlighted] is termed as a guide, example, etc. :
Al-Ahqaf-46 12) And before this
was the Book of Moses as a guide/Imam and a mercy; and this
Book confirms (it) in the Arabic tongue; to admonish the unjust and as Glad
Tidings to those who do right.
other translation
Al-Ahqaf-46
12) Yet before it the Book of Musa was
revealed which was a guide/Imam and blessing; and this Book
(Qur'an) confirms it. It is revealed in the Arabic language to forewarn the
wrongdoers and to give good news to those who have adopted the righteous
conduct.
other translation
Al-Ahqaf-46
12) When before it there was the Scripture of
Moses, an example/Imam and a mercy; and this is a confirming
Scripture in the Arabic language, that it may warn those who do wrong and bring
good tidings for the righteous.
At the same time, the following verses of
the Quran reveal that human beings are termed as Imam in
the Quran and here also the wording Imam/s [highlighted]
is/are termed as leader/s, chief/s, etc. by certain translators
from amongst the translators:
Al-Baqara - 2
124) And remember that Abraham was tried
by his Lord with certain commands which he fulfilled; He said: "I will make thee
an Imam to the nations." He pleaded: "And also (Imams) from my
offspring!" He answered: "But my promise is not within the reach of
evil-doers."
other translation
Al-Baqara (2)
124) And (remember) when his Lord tried
Abraham with (His) commands, and he fulfilled them, He said: Lo! I have
appointed thee a leader/Imam for mankind. (Abraham) said: And
of my offspring (will there be leaders)? He said: My covenant includeth not
wrongdoers.
From the aforesaid verse it is clear that
Abraham was appointed Imam for mankind and hence Imam is a
designation here. The aforesaid also reveal that the Imam appointed need
not be the very next offspring at all times but can be a remoter issue.
From the aforesaid verse it is also clear that the Imam is always
good and rightdoer - refer the wordings "But my promise is not within
the reach of evil-doers." or other translation "My covenant includeth not
wrongdoers."
Al-Anbiyaa (21)
72) And We bestowed on him Isaac and as
an additional gift (a grandson) Jacob and We made righteous men of every one (of
them).
73) And We made them
leaders/Imams guiding (men) by Our Command and We sent them
inspiration to do good deeds to establish regular prayers and to practice
regular charity; and they constantly served Us (and Us
only).
other translation
73) And We made them chiefs/Imams who guide by
Our command, and We inspired in them the doing of good deeds and the right
establishment of worship and the giving of alms and they were worshippers of Us
(alone).
[From the aforesaid two verses 72 and 73 of chapter Al-Anbiyaa
(21) it is clear that Isaac and Jacob were Imams who guided others by
Allah's command.]
From the
above, it is clear that in the Quran, (1) Book of Moses is termed as an Imam and
(2) human being or human beings are respectively termed as Imam and
Imams [in view of the aforesaid reasons, it is thus important that
the translators should have translated Imam as Imam and Imams as Imams and given
a note explaining that it means the Leader, Chief, Ruler,
etc.]
Taking into account
the aforesaid, the following is the full translated verse 12 of Chapter Ya-Sin
(36) wherein the word
MANIFEST IMAM (which is
highlighted below for reference) is termed as clear Book, clear
Register, clear writing, record clear and open ledger by translators to a
certain and/or a large extent :
Ya-Sin - 36
12) Verily We shall give life to the dead, and We record that
which they send before and that which they leave behind, and of all things
have We taken account in a clear Book (of evidence)/MANIFEST
IMAM.
other translation
Lo! We it is Who bring the dead to life. We record that which
they send before (them), and their footprints. And all things We have kept in
a clear Register/MANIFEST IMAM.
other translation
Surely We give life to
the dead, and We write down what they have sent before and their footprints,
and We have recorded everything in a clear writing/MANIFEST
IMAM.
other translation
Verily, we shall indeed bring the dead back to life; and We
shall record whatever (deeds) they have sent ahead, and the traces [of good and
evil] which they have left behind: for of all things do We take account in a
record clear/MANIFEST IMAM.
other translation
Surely we shall resurrect the dead, we are recording all that
they are sending ahead and that they are leaving behind, we have recorded
everything in an open ledger/MANIFEST IMAM.
Now taking into account the
aforesaid interpretated verse, it is clear that the "Manifest
Imam" is termed by clear book, clear register, clear writing, record
clear and open ledger and interpretated by the
translators. While doing such a
thing, it is clear that the translators have not taken into
account the verses of Quran wherein (a) human being is termed as an
Imam and (b) human beings are termed as Imams and the translators have
considered the verse of the Quran where the Book of Moses is termed as an
Imam. The point is whether the
Book of Moses, a physical and visible book, is a
clear/open record of everything which verse 12 of chapter Ya-Sin (36)
convey taking into account the interpretation of the translators,
since the translators are connecting the manifest Imam vested with
everything in verse 12 of chapter Ya-Sin (36) to a clear book, clear
register, clear writing, record clear and open ledger on the basis that Book of Moses, a physical and visible
book, is termed as an Imam in the Quran ?
In regard to above, it is to be
noted that if all things or everything as aforesaid was recorded/taken
into account in a physical and visible book or clear/open record,
ledger, register, book, writing, etc. and as "all things or
everything" means "all things or everything", then the physical and
visible book or clear/open record, ledger, register, book, writing, etc.
should at least contain a record of each and every human being and the
people of that period would have easily seen such a physical and visible book as
the Book of Moses, more so, since Allah's message was addressed to the
people - however, history does not reveal about anyone seeing such
physical and visible book having a huge open/clear record. Also, if
Allah were to keep on recording then this clear/open
record, ledger, register, book, writing, etc. was to grow bigger and
bigger and bigger in size in the times to come. On the other hand, a
physical and visible human being does not grows bigger and bigger in
size physically on the basis of obtaining knowledge:
Quran itself does not mention
that the Book of Moses was that sort of huge clear/open record
but it mention that the Book of Moses was a guide to the Children of Israel
:
As-Sajda-32 23) We did indeed
aforetime give the Book to Moses: be not then in doubt of its reaching (thee):
and We made it a guide to the Children of
Israel.
In the premises aforesaid,
Manifest Imam refer to a human being only and the question of
Manifest Imam being a clear/open record, ledger, register, book,
writing, etc. does not arise at all since Quran itself does not
mention that the Book of Moses was that sort of huge clear/open
record.
Further, had the Book of
Moses contained clear/open record as aforesaid then this kind of
Book was to reach Prophet Muhammad and the people during his period,
just as Moses received it, which was a guide to the Children of
Israel, since Quran reveals:
As-Sajda-32 23) We did indeed
aforetime give the Book to Moses: be not then in doubt of its
reaching (thee): and We made it a guide to the Children of
Israel:
The kind of Book of Moses, namely, the
Book of Allah (Quran) did reached the Prophet Muhammad and the contents
thereof was delivered to the people and the Quran does not mention
a record of each and every human being. In fact,
even the details given of Prophets are
very restricted and further only limited number of prophets have been
mentioned and taking into account that the physical and material life of a human
being is limited in time, there may have been thousands of prophets.
Hence, it is clear that there was no physical and visible book containing a
huge written record/history/details of each and every human being. From
this also it is clear that by manifest Imam it refers to a manifest human being
who was the Imam vested with everything.
Such a physical and visible book
containing huge clear/open written record as aforesaid did not exist at all
during the time of Prophet Muhammad [during which period verse 12 of Ya-Sin
(36) was also revealed] is also evident from the following verse of the
Quran which reveals there is no written record existing in
toto:
Hud-11
100) These are the
stories of the nations which We relate to you; of them
some have survived and some have ceased to exist.
other translation
Hud-11
100) These are some of the stories of
communities which We relate unto thee: of them some are standing and some
have been mown down (by the sickle of time).
other translation
Hud-11
100) This account of the (fate of
those ancient) communities - some of them still remaining, and some [extinct
like] a field mown-down - We convey unto thee (as a lesson for
mankind).
Further one of the Hadiths
reveal:
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith - 1585 - Narrated
Hubshi ibn Junadah
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him)
said, "Ali pertains to me and I pertain to Ali and no one will conclude anything
on my behalf but myself or Ali."
Taking into account the aforesaid hadith, it is clear
that from the hadiths in general narrated by various people and other
things which Prophet Muhammad said or did in his capacity as Messenger of Allah
including the message of the Quran delivered by Prophet Muhammad, only Hazrat
Ali had the authority to conclude what Prophet Muhammad actually said or did in
his capacity as Messenger of Allah and Hazrat Ali is the First Imam and it is
clear that Imam relates to a human being inasmuch as it is also clear that He is
the holder of authority besides Prophet Muhammad else Prophet Muhammad would not
have said as is revealed in the aforesaid hadith.
In view of what has been set out
hereinabove, Manifest Imam refers to the manifest human being, since Quran
also terms human being as Imam and human beings as Imams and Abraham was appointed as Imam for
mankind/nations.
The Book received by the Prophet was the
Holy Quran which, inter alia, contained the message of
Allah revealed in stages/from time to time and
was thus a guidance and not a physical record of all things as
aforesaid and the guidance of the Holy Quran is [translation as it
is]:
Ya-Sin - 36
12) ..... And We have vested
everything in the manifest Imam.
Also
the manifest Imam related to verse no.12 of Ya-Sin (36) vis-a-vis "And We have vested everything in the manifest
Imam" cannot be equaled to other human being/s termed as Imam/s
elsewhere in the Quran who were not vested with everything since the
manifest Imam during the time of Prophet Muhammad is vested with
everything and in view of this He is the first designated Imam
of such a kind and everything includes all that God have in His possession including
God's divine powers, guidance and leadership. For example, the
starting of the verse no.12 of Ya-Sin (36) reveal "Verily We shall give life to
the dead" and this divine power of giving life to the dead is vested in the
manifest Imam.
Further, no one is equal to Allah in His divine powers, guidance and
leadership since Quran is clear that Allah is above all and hence the
Manifest Imam vested with everything is Allah who has taken the
designation of the manifest Imam vested with everything and this is
more so since Quran, at the same time, reveal that Allah does not share His
command with anyone:
Al-Kahf-18
26) Say: "Allah knows best how long they stayed;
He is the One Who knows the secrets of the heavens and the earth; sharp is His
sight and keen His hearing! They have no protector besides Him and He
does not let anyone share in His command and the message is
clear:
Ya-Sin - 36
12) ..... And We have vested
everything in the manifest Imam.
inasmuch as Quran reveals:
Az-Zumar-39
29) Allah puts forth a Parable - a man
belonging to many partners at variance with each other and a man belonging
entirely to one master : are those two equal in comparison? Praise be to Allah!
But most of them have no knowledge.
The aforesaid
manifest Imam vested with everything is Allah is also evident from the fact
stated hereinabove that Quran reveal that the Rabb/Lord is Allah and Quran, inter
alia, reveals that people used to seek the face of the Lord morning and
evening and they used to worship Him and Quran also reveals Prophet
Muhammad saw the Lord's greater revealations, etc. - the details of
which are set out hereinafter. From what has been stated hereinabove
it is clear that the holder of authority, Lord/Imam is Hazrat
Ali.
Also referring to the aforesaid hadith -
set out hereinbelow once again:
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith - 1585 - Narrated
Hubshi ibn Junadah
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him)
said, "Ali pertains to me and I pertain to Ali and no one will conclude anything
on my behalf but myself or Ali."
and as made clear that taking into account the
aforesaid hadith - it is clear that from the hadiths in general narrated by
various people and other things which Prophet
Muhammad said or did in his capacity as Messenger of Allah including the message
of the Quran delivered by Prophet Muhammad, only Hazrat Ali had the authority to
conclude what Prophet Muhammad actually said or did in his capacity as Messenger
of Allah. It is thus also clear from
this Hadith that Prophet Muhammad knew that Hazrat Ali knew everything about
what Prophet Muhammad did and said as Messenger of Allah including the
message the Quran conveys - whether Ali, the companion of the
Prophet, was physically present with Prophet Muhammad or not
and Quran does reveal it is Allah who knows everything and the hadith thus
reveals Ali is Allah inasmuch as it is also evident from the fact stated
hereinabove that Quran reveal that
the Rabb/Lord is Allah.
In fact, Quran
reveals:
Al-Hijr-15
23) Certainly it is We Who give life and
cause to die, and We are the inheritors of all.
24) Certainly We have full knowledge of
those who have gone before you and certainly We know those who will come
later.
It is also clear from the aforesaid that the
Imams can only be appointed by the Lord and no one else taking into
account that God is the Supreme Authority in religious matters - those
Imams not appointed by the Lord are thus bogus inasmuch as Quran reveals that
there were people whose purpose was:
Al-Israa-17
73) And their purpose was to tempt thee away from that
which We had revealed unto thee to substitute in Our name something
quite different: (in that case) behold! they would certainly have made
thee (their) friend!
Apart from what is mentioned aforesaid,
the following further
reveals about HAZRAT ALI being the Lord:
As is clear from the above, Quran reveals history is important and
history reveals that Prophet Muhammad, as early as when the
Holy Prophet set out for Tabuk appointing Ali as his deputy (in
Medina), mentioned that Ali would be to him as Aaron was to
Moses:
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Hadith - 5.700 : Narrated by Sad
Allah's Apostle set
out for Tabuk appointing 'Ali as his deputy (in Medina). 'Ali said, "Do you want
to leave me with the children and women?" The Prophet said, "Will you
not be pleased that you will be to me like Aaron to Moses? But
there will be no prophet after me."
In this regard, Quran
reveals:
Ta-Ha -
20
9) Was the story of
Moses reached thee?
25) (Moses) said: "O
my Lord! expand me my breast;
26) "Ease my task for
me;
27) "And remove the
impediment from my speech,
28) "So they may
understand what I say:
29) "And give a
Minister from my family,
30) "Aaron, my
brother;
31) "Add to
my strength through him.
32) "And make
him share My task:
33) "That we may
celebrate Thy praise without stint,
34) "And remember
Thee without stint:
35) "For Thou art
ever seeing.
36) (Allah) said:
"Granted is thy prayer, O Moses!"
Quran very clearly
reveals that Moses asked for from Allah, Aaron, his brother, to act like a
Minister and add to his strengthand make him share his task which Allah
granted. As such, the last Prophet, by saying to Ali that "you
will be to me like Aaron to Moses", meant that Ali was his strength
and it is clear from the above that Ali was sharing the task of Prophet
Muhammad
From the aforesaid hadith which reveal
the last Prophet saying to Ali that "you will be to me like Aaron to Moses", it
is clear that here Prophet Muhammad had given his message in a code language and
this may be because he wanted that his message goes pass through those who
wanted to block his message and/or the messages delivered by him by various
methods and it appears that he expected that at least the future
generations unitedly on pondering over his sayings may know about
his message and understand the reality. The coded language used was
perhaps because there were many people who did not like the message
delivered by Prophet Muhammad and/or did not like what the Quran revealed and
they wanted a change in the Quran, etc.:
Yunus-10
15) But when our
messages are conveyed into them in all their clarity those
who rest not their hope on their meeting with Us say: "Bring us a Quran
other than this or change this." Say: "It is not for me of
my own accord to change it: I follow naught but what is revealed unto me: if I
were to disobey my Lord I should myself fear the Penalty of a Great Day (to
come)."
It is also significant to note that the
following hadith reveal that Ali is the guardian of every believer:
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith No.1583 Narrated Imran ibn
Husayn
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "Ali
pertains to me and I pertain to him, and he is the guardian of every
believer."
and the following hadith
reveal:
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith No.150 narrated by
AbuSa'id al-Khudri
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: How can I feel
happy when the Angel Israfil (the angel appointed to blow the Trumpet on the Day
of Judgment) has put his lips to the Trumpet waiting to hear the order to blow
the trumpet? This very much distressed his companions, so he told them to seek
comfort through reciting "Sufficient for us is Allah and an excellent
Guardian is He".
and Quran reveals:
Az-Zumar-39
62) Allah is Creator of all things, and He is
Guardian over all things.
63) His are the keys of the heavens and the earth, and
they who disbelieve the revelations of Allah such are they who are the
losers.
The revelations about Hazrat Ali being the Lord and/or the First
manifest Imam (vested with everything) has also been in a detailed manner taking
into account that the Quran, inter alia, reveals:
Ar-Rad -
13
2) ------------
He detaileth the revelations, that haply ye may be certain of
the meeting with your Lord.
--- and
the various hadiths including the one where the holy prophet Muhammad
delivering Allah's message "To whom I am the Lord,his
Lord is Ali" supports the Quran message that Allah had
detailed the revelation. It is thus clear that the Holy
Prophet had delivered God's message and done his duty and the revelations of Ali
being the Lord was, thus, in a detailed manner inasmuch as Prophet Muhammad
was a bearer of Glad Tidings.
In the
premises aforesaid it is clear that ALI is the Lord / holder of authority
[besides Prophet Muhammad] / manifest Imam vested with everything [since no
other name figures in this category] and the Holy Prophet had clearly revealed to the followers
that Ali is their Lord/Imam and after knowing
about this the followers used to seek the Face of the Lord morning and
evening and they used to worship the Lord,
Glorify Him and Prostrate before Him.
History also reveals
that the Holy Prophet conveyed that after Hazrat Ali, the leadership was to
continue through some selected individuals in his descendants.
It is significant to note
that some of the contents of The Constitution of the Shia Imami Ismaili
Muslims reveal :
"The Shia Imami Ismaili
Muslims affirm the Shahadah `La ilaha illa-llah, Muhammadur Rasulu-llah, the
Tawhid therein and that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Salla-llahu alayhi wa-sallam)
is the last and final Prophet of Allah. Islam, as revealed in the Holy Quran, is
the final message of Allah to mankind, and is universal and eternal. The Holy
Prophet (S.A.S.) through the divine revelation from Allah prescribed rules
governing spiritual and temporal matters.
In accordance with Shia
doctrine, tradition, and interpretation of history, the Holy Prophet (S.A.S.)
designated and appointed his cousin and son-in-law Hazrat Mawlana Ali
Amiru-l-Muminin (Alayhi-s-salam), to be the first Imam to continue the Tawil and
Talim of Allah’s final message and to guide the murids, and proclaimed that the
Imamat should continue by heredity through Hazrat Mawlana Ali (A.S.) and his
daughter Hazrat Bibi Fatimat-az-Zahra, Khatun-i-Jannat
(Alayha-s-salam).
Succession to Imamat is
by way of Nass, it being the absolute prerogative of the Imam of the time to
appoint his successor from amongst any of his male descedants whether they be
sons or remoter issue."
Transliteration &
Meaning
Shahadah
The declaration of
Faith.
La ilaha
illa-llah
There is no deity except
Allah
Muhammadur
rasulu-llah
Muhammed is the
messenger of Allah
Tawhid
Unity of
Allah
S.A.S. or salla llahu
alayhi wa-sallam
May Allah bless him and
grant him peace.
Amiru-l-muminin
The Commander of the
Faithful.
A.S. or
alayhis-salam/alayha-s-salam
Upon whom be
peace
Tawil
Interpretation
Talim
Teaching
Murid
Follower
Khatun-I-Jannat
The Lady of
Paradise
Nass
Designation
Mawlana Hazar
Imam means Mawlana Shah Karim
al Hussaini, His Highness Prince Aga Khan, the Forty-Ninth Imam of the
Ismailis, or his successor designated by him to succeed him as the Imam,
or any of his successors as Imam so designated by his
predecessor.
Shah Karim Al
Hussaini Aga Khan, Mawlana Hazar Imam of the Ismailis is in direct lineal
descent from the Holy Prophet (S.A.S.) through Hazrat Mawlana Ali (A.S.) and
Hazrat Bibi Fatima (A.S.) in whose veins the Prophet's own blood flow and is the
Forty-Ninth Imam of the Ismaili Muslims.
ABOUT HAZRAT ALI (IN
BRIEF)
History reveals that
Ali was the son of Abu Talib, the Prophet's uncle, under whose guardianship the
Prophet, after the death of his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, was brought
up. Ali was thus Prophet's cousin. His mother's name was Fatima
Binte Asad Ibne Haasam. He came of the clan of Banu Hashim, which was considered
the most respectable among the Quraish. The Prophet also belonged to the same
clan. The high function of the custody of the Sacred House of Kabah was
entrusted to this clan, and on account of this the Banu Hashim were held in
special esteem all over the peninsula. Ali was born in the
sacred house of Kabah and the name Ali was recommended by the Prophet
himself. It is said that the word Ali is a derivative of Allah. Ali thus was named after Allah and the
name was recommended by the Holy Prophet.
Abu Talib had a large family, and, he had also
brought up the Holy Prophet. In course of time his circumstances became
difficult, partly due to his having a large family, and the Prophet took upon
himself the upbringing of Ali. Thus, in addition to being a near kinsman of the
Prophet, Ali was also bound to him by another tie. He had been brought up as a
child in the Prophet's household. Ali was the first to embrace Islam. Though a mere boy at
the time of his conversion, `Ali' showed remarkable enthusiasm in the
propagation of the Faith. Once the Prophet invited his kinsmen to a feast. The
idea was to give them the message of Islam. When the dinner was over, he
addressed the party, "Who of you," said he, "is coming forward to own allegiance
to me and thereby become my friend and brother?" All remained silent. `Ali'
alone got up and offered himself for the cause of the Faith. Thrice the Prophet
repeated his exhortation and thrice `Ali' responded. He was only a boy; yet this
youngster was destined one day to become a tower of strength to
Islam.
From the earliest days,
Ali's education and upbringing had been in the hands of one who not only stood
on a very lofty moral pedestal but who was also the fountain-head from whom the
light of learning spread over the length and breadth of the Arabian Peninsula
and even beyond Arabia - viz. the Holy Prophet. For thirteen years or
thereabout Ali lived with the Prophet at Mecca and actively participated in all
the gatherings where the Prophet preached. These thirteen years were a period of
great tribulation. As the opposition of the Quraish stiffened and took
the shape of persecution, the Prophet advised his
followers to migrate to Madinah. The climax of these persecutions was reached
when all the Muslims had to quit Makkah in small batches and take refuge in
Madinah. When only a few Muslims remained in Mecca, the Quraish decided to kill
the Prophet because all their efforts to dissuade him
from preaching the faith had proved futile.
Ali played an important
role on this occasion. It is remarkable that while the Prophet was, on the one
hand, the victim of bitter persecution by his people, the same people would, on
the other, deposit their valuables with him for safe keeping. So implicit was
their confidence in his integrity! And, the last Prophet, in turn, trusted only
Ali, not only in honesty but also in his divine powers and strength. When the
enemies surrounded the Prophet's house and were waiting to fall on him, the
Prophet made `Ali' occupy his bed and unnoticed by the besiegers slipped out and
escaped through their midst in the dark of the night. It is significant to note
that even though the enemies of the Prophet's were mighty, he made Ali sleep in
the bed, which showed that the Prophet was well aware that Ali, even in his
tender age, alone was capable of defending himself and no one could hurt him, if
he desired so. Ali was also told by the Prophet to return to the people whatever
money they had deposited with the Prophet. `Ali' remained in the bed. When dawn
came, the besiegers were surprised to see `Ali' instead of the Prophet and asked
where was Prophet Muhammad to which Ali reply was did they handed over the
Prophet to him for safekeeping that they are asking this question to
him and this angered them. However, instead of taking on a fight with `Ali'
the enemies of the Prophet considered it better to leave the place. As
instructed by the Prophet, `Ali' cleared up all accounts on his behalf and
immediately this was done, set out for Madinah. At Madinah he put up with the
Prophet and subsequently, when every emigrant was united in brotherhood with
resident of Madinah, `Ali' enjoyed the honour of being so united with the Holy
Prophet.
He was considered
the best jurist among the companions. Most difficult and knotty questions were
referred to him and his verdict was considered final inasmuch as the last
Prophet during his life time had said "Ali is the best judge". His wife, Fatimah, the Prophet's daughter, would grind corn
with her own hands. Ali, according
to the Prophet, remembered the Quran by heart. He knew precisely when, where and
in what circumstances every verse of Qur'an was revealed. For thirty years or
thereabout Ali was constant companion of the Prophet and, therefore, he was well
versed in a large number of traditions. Ali was also an orator of highest order.
He could deliver extempore highly inspiring and thought provoking speeches
before any audience.
Ali was a man of ruddy
complexion, not very tall, but extremely well built, inclined to stoutness, with
a flowing beard, soft gray eyes and a look of great amiability and kindness. His
bravery had won him the title of `Lion of God', his learning that of `Gate of
Knowledge'. Chivalrous, humane and forbearing he was every ready to help the
weak and to redress the wrongs of the oppressed. Self-abnegations, practice of
justice, honest, purity and love of truth were the hall marks of his
character.
History reveals
that the important fact that should not be lost sight of in forming an estimate
of Ali is that on assuming the reins of power, he found himself confronted by a
most serious situation for which he was not in any way responsible. If he could
not check the inevitable course of things, no one else could have done so. In
point of knowledge and daring, however, he proved the best possible pilot for
the bark of Islam in those stormy days. The two indispensable virtues which
qualify a man from kingship over his fellow-men were at the time found in
pre-eminent measure in the person of Ali. So far as sound judgment and daring
are concerned, he had no equal among the then living companions of the Holy
Prophet. In personal courage and bravery, he was conspicuous among his
contemporaries. It was he who succeeded in capturing the almost impregnable
citadel of Khaibar. In the holy
wars during the life-time of the Prophet, he entered the lists in single combats
against the most renowned warriors of Arabia and overpowered them. In addition
to these he was without a peer in the virtues of piety and tender-heartedness.
During his reign there was no doubt bloodshed among Muslims. But it must be
remembered that whenever he saw the slightest opportunity to avoid bloodshed, he
forthwith restrained his hands. He abhorred the idea of division and
disintegration among Muslims.
As reflected above, in
bravery and intrepidity Ali was unsurpassed. History reflects that Ali had given
a glorious account of it in every battle he had fought, whose strength of arm
was the dread of foes as his erudition and piety were the blessing of friends.
History also reveal that it was Ali who succeeded in capturing the almost
impregnable citadel of Khaiber. In short, the Jews had very strongly fortified
this fort. When the command of the Muslim army related to Battle of Khaiber was
successively given to Abu Bakr and Umar they could not succeed. On this
the Prophet Muhammad said as follows: "Tomorrow the standard will be in
the hands of a man who will capture the fort, and who loves God and His
Messenger and whom God and His Messenger love." Next morning when the
standard/charge was given to Ali, the fort was captured. History reveals that
Ali exhibited supernatural strength that day.
In brief detail, the Prophet armed Ali with his
sword the Zulfiqar and.directed him to lead the attack. Seven of the Jews’ most distinguished warriors like Antar,
Rabi, Dzajij, Daud, Morra, Yasir, Marhab and others were killed by Ali's sword
unnerving the Jews who retreated back into the fortress uncovering the
ditch or trench before it and closed the iron gate of the fortress. Ali
jumped over the ditch or trench and pulled off the iron gate from the
fortress with his hands to place over the ditch or trench in order to let the
army cross over enter the fortress. The gate was bit short to cover
the trench from one end to the other, and, Ali held the gate
in his hands in order to let the army used it as a bridge. The
army crossed over the gate, massacred the Jews who resisted them and conquered
the fort. Thus the fort which was regarded as impregnable fell before the might
of Ali.
In this regard, it is
very significant to note what the Quran reveals:
Al-Maida, or The Table
Spread (V) 64) The Jews
say: "Allah's hand is tied up", Be their hands tied up and be they accursed for
the (blasphemy) they utter. Nay, both His hands are widely outstretched: He
giveth and spendeth (of His bounty) as He pleaseth. But the revelation that
cometh to thee from Allah increaseth in most of them their obstinate rebellion
and blasphemy. Amongst them We have placed enmity and hatred till the Day of
Judgment. Every time they kindle the fire of war, Allah doth extinguish it; but
they (ever) strive to do mischief on earth. And Allah loveth not those who do
mischief.
As the aforesaid Quran
verses reflects and/or reveals and/or express that every time the Jews kindle
the fire of war, Allah doth extinguish it, and, in the aforesaid case, it was
Ali who captured the famous fort of Khaibar. History reveals that Prophet Muhammad, as early as when the Holy Prophet set
out for Tabuk appointing Ali as his deputy (in Medina), mentioned that Ali
would be to him as Aaron was to
Moses.
History reveals that Ali's horse name was "Duldul" - in fact
one of His titles is "Duldul Sawar" and His sword is known as "Zulfikar" [and
one of his titles is Shahe Zulfikar]. History reveals that some
Muslim poets composed verses in the honor of Ali. Extolling his bravery one of
the poets said: "There is no sword better than the sword of Ali; and there is no
young man superior to Ali." Ali proved to be a warrior of
extraordinary valor whose sword put hundreds to death in various battles
and single combats against the most renowned warriors of Arabia.
It is also significant to note that Quran reveals the people
were told to join things which Allah had commanded to be joined:
Al-Baqara-2 27) Those who break Allah's Covenant
after it is ratified and who sunder what Allah has ordered to be
joined and do mischief on earth: These cause loss (only) to themselves.
Al-Ra'd or Thunder
XIII
21) Those who join together
those things which Allah hath commanded to be joined, holder their
Lord in awe, and fear the terrible reckoning.
22) Those who patiently persevere
seeking the countenance of their Lord; establish regular
prayers; spend out of (the gifts) We have bestowed for their sustenance secretly
and openly; and turn off Evil with good: for such there is the final attainment
of the (Eternal) Home.
25) But those who break the Covenant
of Allah, after having plighted their word thereto, and cut asunder
those things which Allah has commanded to be joined, and work mischief
in the land; - on them is the Curse; for them is the terrible
Home!
From the following it can be concluded
that those who join together those things which Allah hath commanded to be
joined is with Ali/Allah, Muhammad is to be joined as His subordinate taking
into account that it is the Quran which reveals Prophet
Muhammad was one of His light manifest and other things:
An-Nissa-4
174) O mankind! verily there hath come to
you a convincing proof from your Lord: for We have sent unto you a
light manifest.
[It is thus also clear that
the Holy Prophet possessed the divine powers, guidance and
leadership.]
and the subsequent verse of
the Quran reveals:
175) Then those who believe in Allah, and hold fast
to him, - soon will he admit them to Mercy and Grace from
himself, and guide them to himself by a straight
way.
inasmuch as
allegiance
given to Prophet Muhammad was giving allegiance to Allah:
Al-Fat-h or Victory - 48 10) Those who give you
their allegiance, they give it verily to Allah:
Allah's hand is upon their hands. Then he who breaks it,
he certainly breaks it against himself. And he who fulfils what he has
pledged with Allah, He shall in return reward him in plenty.
and further the following verse of the Quran reveals the
people used to listen to the Word of Allah (it does not
mention used to listen to the message of Allah) and it was Prophet Muhammad who
was delivering the message and the people were listening to the voice of
the Prophet:
Al-Baqara-2
75) Have ye any hope that they will be true to you when a
party of them used to listen to the Word of Allah, then
used to change it, after they had understood it knowingly?
and Quran also reveals:
Az-Zumar - 39
18) Those who listen to the Word and
follow the best in it: those are the ones whom Allah has guided and
those are the ones endued with understanding.
Quran is thus in a form of a physical book and in the form of
words uttered from the mouth of Prophet Muhammad and is clear from
above that one of the message of the Quran was those who listened to the Word
and follow the best in it - those were the ones whom Allah has guided and
those are the ones endued with understanding and further obeying Prophet
Muhammad was obeying Allah:
An-Nisaa, or the Women [IV] 80) He who obeys the
Messenger, obeys Allah: but if any turn away, We have not sent thee to watch
over them.
The following hadith reveal :
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.639 - Narrated Anas bin
Malik I heard the Prophet saying, "Perform the bowing and the prostration
properly, for, by him in whose hand my soul is, I see you from behind
my back when you bow and when you prostrate."
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith - 1585 - Narrated Hubshi ibn
Junadah
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "Ali pertains to me and I
pertain to Ali and no one will conclude anything on my behalf but myself or
Ali."
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1584 - Narrated Zayd ibn
Arqam
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "When I am anyone's
patron, Ali is his patron also."
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith - 1591 - Narrated Abu Sa'id
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said to Ali, "It is not
allowable, Ali, for anyone but you or me to be in a state of ceremonial impurity
in this mosque." Ali ibn al-Mundhir told that he asked Dirar ibn Surad
what was the meaning of this tradition, and he replied that the meaning was, "It
is not allowable for anyone but you or me to walk through it in a state of
ceremonial impurity."
inasmuch as Quran also reveals:
Al-Hashr-59
6) And that which Allah gave as spoil unto His messenger from
them, ye urged not any horse or riding camel for the sake thereof, but
Allah giveth His messengers lordship over whom He will. Allah is
able to do all things.
At-Tauba-9
59) It would have been better for them, if they had only been
pleased with what Allah and His Rasool had given them and said: "Allah is
all-sufficient to us! Soon Allah will give us of His bounty, and
so will His Messenger. Indeed to Allah do we turn our hopes."
and further Prophet Muhammad used to clean and purify and sanctify those
giving alms from their wealth and used to pray on their behalf and it is also
clear Prophet Muhammad's intercession is accepted by Allah:
At-Tauba - 9 103) Of their wealth take alms, that so thou mightest
purify and sanctify them; and pray on their behalf. Verily thy prayers
are a source of security for them: and Allah is one who heareth and
knoweth. [alms, inter alia, means contribution, offering,
etc.]
Maryam-19 87) None shall have the
power to intercede except the one who may receive the sanction of the
Compassionate (Allah). Ta-ha-20 109) On that Day no intercession availeth
save (that of) him unto whom the Beneficent hath given leave and
whose He accepteth:
and, at the same time, Quran reveals
Prophet Muhammad used to follow only those things which was revealed unto
him:
Yunus-10
15) But when our messages
are conveyed into them in all their clarity those who rest not their hope on
their meeting with Us say: "Bring us a Quran other than this or change
this." Say: "It is not for me of my own accord to change it: I follow
naught but what is revealed unto me: if I were to disobey my Lord I should
myself fear the Penalty of a Great Day (to come)."
It is thus clear from the above that Ali is Allah and
Prophet Muhammad, His own manifest Light, is to be joined as His
subordinate inasmuch as Quran reveals:
An-Nissa-4
174) O mankind!
verily there hath come to you a convincing proof from your Lord: for
We have sent unto you a light manifest.
Al-Ahzab, or The Confederates
(XXXIII)
45) O Prophet! Truly We have sent thee
as a Witness, a bearer of glad tidings, and a Warner,
-
46) And as one who invites to Allah's
(Grace) by His leave, and as a Lamp spreading
Light.
At-Takwir-81
19) Verily this is the word of a most
honorable Messenger.
20) Endued with Power with rank before the Lord of the
Throne.
Al-Baqara-2
41) And believe in that which I
reveal, confirming that which ye possess already (of the Scripture), and be
not first to disbelieve therein, and part not with My revelations for a trifling
price, and keep your duty unto Me.
Taking into account the aforesaid, it is clear that
Prophet Muhammad is Hazrat Ali's subordinate - the only Lord
above Prophet Muhammad was Hazrat Ali/Allah.
It is also clear from the aforesaid
hadith wherein the Holy Prophet Muhammad said to
Ali, "Will you not be pleased that you will be to me like Aaron to Moses? and
Quran very clearly reveals that Moses asked for from Allah,
Aaron, his brother, to act like a Minister and add to his strength and make him
share his task which Allah granted -
and Kalama
or profession of faith also includes Prophet Muhammad and does mention
"There is no God but God, Mohammed is the
Apostle of God and Ali is the Vicar of God."
Quran, as set out in later part
of this text reveals that the He is Zaahir and Baatin
and in a Zahiri way Ali is the Vicar of God and the Baatin has been made
manifest that the Lord is Allah.
It is thus clear that after the passing
away of Prophet Muhammad in a Zaahir way, there were two very clear things,
namely (1) the book of Allah - the Holy Quran and (2) Hazrat Ali (a) the
holder of authority, (b) manifest Imam vested with everything and (3)
the Lord / Allah and hence the question of election did not arise at all
after the passing away of Prophet Muhammad and it is clear that Abu Bakr, Umar
and Uthman became Caliphs by illegal means and betrayed the holder of
authority/Lord/Allah/manifest Imam vested with everything and Prophet
Muhammad.
It is also necessary to
reflect back to the history as to how Abu Bakr happened to get himself elected
as the first Caliph:
As history reveals,
immediately after the death of the last Prophet, someone informed Abu Bakr and
Umar that people had gathered at a certain place used as a council hall and were
discussing about the election of a successor to the Prophet. The important
question is how was it that all the people from various bands and/or grounds
assembled near the council hall immediately after the Prophet's death to elect a
successor to the Prophet. The roads of each groups were at different places,
some near, some far and some very far. As such, those who resided near the place
used for a council hall and gathered there is understood, but those staying at
far away and at different places assembling near the place used as a council
hall in such a shortest period is not at all clear. Obviously, in physical
sense, it was impossible for word to reach to other groups staying very far way
from the place where the last Holy Prophet died and assemble near the council
immediately after the death of the last Prophet. It would have certainly taken
at least 12 hours or more and/or few days for them to collect all at once at an
appointed place.
Obviously someone had already
given them the news that the Holy Prophet will not live much and they should be
ready. Who were the persons who conveyed before hand the said news of Prophet's
health and informed the various bands and/or groups to gather at a place used as
a council hall to select a successor to the Prophet immediately on his death?
The facts, as history reveals, is as follows:
About the end of the tenth
year of Hijrah, the Prophet went to perform a pilgrimage. This is known as a
"Farewell Pilgrimage". It was revealed to him on this occasion that the religion
of Islam had attained perfection, and that his time was drawing near. On his
return to Madinah, some two months and a half afterwards, the Prophet was taken
ill. Notwithstanding his illness, he attended the mosque and conducted prayers
personally so long as he could. But he was too weak to talk much. One day in a
sermon he said, "God has given to a servant of His the choice between this
worldly life and the life with Him. The servant has chosen that with the Lord."
This brought tears to Abu Bakr's eyes. The hint was enough. Gradually he became
too weak to come out to the mosque. He had been bed-ridden for twelve days or
thereabout and had passed through some very critical moments. Four days before
his death, when the attack of illness was severe, the Prophet asked for writing
material: "Let me give you a writing so that you may not go astray after me." On
this Umar said that the Prophet was over-whelmed by a severe attack of illness
and that the Book of God was enough of guidance for the Muslims. By doing this,
Umar believed that the Holy Prophet of Allah does things which are not right. In
other words, Umar meant that Allah appoints Prophet that does not know what the
right thing is. Umar did not accept in writing what the Holy Prophet wanted to
convey inasmuch as the Holy Prophet has said: "Let me give you a writing so that
you may not go astray after me." The Holy Prophet knew that Umar and others were
going astray and wanted to prevent them inasmuch as Umar rejected the last
Prophet's message and/or wish. Abu Bakr and Umar, meanwhile, who had so far kept
by his bed-side, had taken permission to go inasmuch as both knew that the Holy
Prophet will soon die.
Further, history reveals that
Ali was always at the bedside of the last Prophet and tended him during this
illness. As, after Umar's rejection of the last Prophet's message, no doubt, the
last Prophet had given Ali his "written will". Those who think this was
not so may note that history reveals that after the aforesaid aspect of Umar
rejecting the last Prophet's message, the Holy Prophet remained alive for four
days and as such he had sufficient time to give his "written will" to Ali
inasmuch as Quran and hadiths reveals making a will was compulsory - the details
where is set out hereinafter. History reveals that it was Monday, the 12th of
Rabi I in the year 11 A.H., when Muhammad, may peace and the blessings of God be
upon him, breathed his last.
When the end came of the Holy
Prophet, Umar and Abu Bakr started behaving that they did not believe that the
last Prophet had died inasmuch as they were well aware of the severe ill-health
of the Holy Prophet and the Holy Prophet giving a clear hint to them by saying
that "God has given to a servant of His the choice between this worldly life and
the life with Him. The servant has chosen that with the Lord." When the Holy
Prophet died and news spread, Umar, though aware of all these aspects and who
had rejected the last Prophet's wish, acted like he regarded the news of the
Prophet's death as a piece of mischief by some hypocrite and, sword in hand, he
stood in the mosque to stop the news of Prophet from getting abroad. Abu Bakr,
who along with Umar, instead of staying with the Prophet during his last days,
had left the Holy Prophet to die, acted as he was surprised when he heard the
news that the Prophet had died and forthwith hastened back and went straight
into Aishah's chamber where the Prophet had been nursed. As was expected, he
found that the last Prophet was really dead. Then he came out into the mosque
and communicated the news to the congregation. It was Ali who took care of
looking to the funeral arrangements of the Holy Prophet.
Now the question is what did
Abu Bakr and Umar do during the period of the Prophet's last days. The facts are
not difficult to understand. Immediately, after leaving the Holy Prophet to die,
Abu Bakr, Umar and their associates in pursuance of their evil designs went to
different places and contacted various bands/groups instructing them to gather
at the place used as a council hall and start making demands for Caliph making
it appear that the selection was on top urgent basis else Islam was in danger.
No doubt, huge amount of money was spent by Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman, who were
the closest of friends, to benefit in their evil designs. With Umar's support,
Abu Bakr was chosen the Caliph by those very people whom Abu Bakr, Umar and
their associates had gathered.
Quran, amongst other
things, reveals that the Messenger be referred to in case of
dispute and, as such, when the Prophet was alive - the aspect of Caliph,
successor, etc. could have easily be referred to by those having a dispute,
which was not done since they already knew that it was ALI all the way inasmuch
as besides Prophet Muhammad, Quran reveals that there already was a holder of
authority from amongst the people and hence question of election did not arise
at all since the holder of authority was already there:
An-Nisaa, or the Women
(IV) 59) "O you, who believe, obey Allah and obey the Prophet and the holders of
authority from amongst you. If ye
differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye
do believe in Allah and the Last Day: that is best, and most suitable for final
determination."
It is to be specifically noted
that there was the funeral of the man for love of whom the followers of Allah
had for a quarter of a century sacrificed their lives, their property and their
all, the man whose separation they could not for one moment bear, it was their
duty to see the body of their Master, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, to its last
resting-place. The Holy Prophet, who not only stood on a very lofty moral
pedestal but who was also the fountain-head from whom the light of learning
spread over the length and breadth of the Arabian Peninsula and even beyond
Arabia. It was the duty of people of Islamic faith to see the body of their
Master, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, to its last resting-place. However, these
people did not even attend the Holy Prophet's funeral.
Quran reveals:
Saba, or the City of Saba
(XXXIV) 8) "Has he invented a
falsehood against Allah, or is he afflicted with madness". Nay, it is those
who believe not in the hereafter, that are in (real) Chastisement, and in
farthest Error.
inasmuch as the authority
given by Allah to the last Prophet can be judged by some of the following verses
of the Quran:
An-Nisaa, or the
Women [IV] 80) He who obeys
the Messenger, obeys Allah: but if any turn away, We have not sent thee to
watch over them.
Al-Ahzab, or
The Confederates (XXXIII) 45) O Prophet! Truly We have sent thee as a Witness, a bearer of
glad tidings, and a Warner, -
46) And as one who invites to Allah's (Grace) by His leave, and
as a Lamp spreading Light.
Also, the Quran
reveals: Yunus, or Jonah
(X) 16) Say: "If Allah had
so willed, I should not have rehearsed it to you, nor should He have made it
known to you. A whole life-time before this have I tarried amongst you: will
ye not then understand?"
The last Prophet was to
deliver the glad tidings as the verses of the Quran reveals:
Al-Maida or The Table Spread
(V) 67) "O Prophet
deliver (to the people), what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if
you did not do so, then you have not delivered His Message, and Allah will
protect you from the people."
The last Prophet had done his
duty entrusted to him by His Lord by proclaiming His message as is set out
hereinabove including : "To whom I am the Lord, his Lord is
Ali".
To prevent any
bloodshed amongst the people subsequently Ali had earlier accepted Abu Bakr,
Umar and Uthman as Caliphs only with this feelings and intention - In
other words the acceptance was linked to avoid bloodshed amongst the
people at the same time making it clear that only He is the holder of
authority inasmuch as the following hadith reveals that Prophet Muhammad,
to make peace with others, deleted from the document "Muhammad, Allah's Apostle"
:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith Voume 3 Number 862 Narrated Al
Bara bin Azib
When Allah's Apostle concluded a peace treaty with the people of Hudaibiya,
Ali bin Abu Talib wrote the document and he mentioned in it, "Muhammad, Allah's
Apostle." The pagans said, "Don't write: 'Muhammad, Allah's
Apostle', for if you were an apostle we would not fight with you."
Allah's Apostle asked Ali to rub it out, but Ali said, "I will not be the person
to rub it out." Allah's Apostle rubbed it out and made peace
with them on the condition that the Prophet and his companions would enter Mecca
and stay there for three days, and that they would enter with their weapons in
cases.
After the death of Uthman - the people themselves who had
earlier accepted Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman as the rightful
guided Caliphs, pleaded and requested Ali to consider them as his
subjects and finally Ali extended his hand and these people gave their
allegiance to Ali.
Taking into account
the Quran, it does reveal that it was, inter alia, in the form of
book/scriptures, however, an impression was created during the reign of Caliph
Uthman - more then twenty years after the physical passing away of Prophet
Muhammad - that the original book of Allah (Quran) did not exist at
all and subsequently Uthman adopted and authenticated the standard text of Quran
and ordered that all other Quranic materials found, whether written in
fragmentary manuscripts or whole copies, be burnt. There is not a single
statement from Allah/Lord/holder of authority or Prophet Muhammad which
mention that any one of them had been given permission to adopt, compile and
authenticate the standard text of Quran in the manner it was done by Uthman and
others nor there is a single statement from those connected with the
adoption, compilation and authentication, which mention that the Quranic
materials collected from various different sources other then the original book
of Allah had been okayed by holder of authority/Lord/Allah as been
identical inasmuch Prophet Muhammad was not physically alive to verify the
correctness thereof. The Holy Quran was a physical book with words uttered
by Prophet Muhammad. It is significant to note Quran reveals
that no one, except Allah, can produce the Quran on its own
:
Yunus or Jonah - X
37) This Qur'an is not such as can be produced by other
than Allah; on the contrary it is a confirmation of (revelations)
that went before it and a fuller explanation of the Book wherein there is no
doubt from the Lord of the Worlds.
Bani Israil, or
the Children of Israel or Al-Isra - XVII
88) "Say: If
the whole of mankind and Jinns were to gather together to produce the like of
this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed
up each other with help and support."
As Allah is always right and Allah's revelation true and
as Allah does not tell a lie - the present text of Quran cannot be
termed as Quran in original since Quran is clear and it reveals if the whole of
mankind and jinns were to gather together to produce the like of this Quran,
they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with
help and support - and thus the present text of Quran is a part of history which
reveals about the happening during the time of Prophet Muhammad and the messages
given inasmuch as Quran itself reveals history is important and history reveals
Quranic materials collected from various different sources written by
people on parchments, scapula, leafstalks of date palms, from the pieces of
leather and hides and from the stones and also from the memories of men and
Quran, inter alia, reveals:
Bani Israil, or
the Children of Israel or Al-Isra - XVII
88) "Say: If
the whole of mankind and Jinns were to gather together to produce the like of
this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed
up each other with help and support."
and Quran also reveals:
An-Nisaa, or the Women [IV]
82) Do
they not ponder on the Qur'an? Had it been from other than Allah,
they would surely have found therein much
discrepancy.
The present text of the Quran is not directly from Prophet
Muhammad or from Allah inasmuch as whatever is from Prophet Muhammad is
from Allah - and, in fact, the Quranic materials were collected from different
sources by those whom no authority was given, either by Prophet Muhammad or
the Lord.
and Quran reveals:
Az-Zumar, or the
Groups (XXXIX)
55) "And
follow the Best that which was revealed to you from your Lord,
before the Chastisement comes to you - of a sudden, while ye perceive
not!-
In view
of what has been stated hereinabove, the adoption, compilation and
authentication of the standard text of Quran by Utham and others is
arbitrary and Quran, inter alia, reveals:
Al-Hijr –
15
90) (Of just
such wrath) as We sent down on those who divided (Scripture into arbitrary
parts)
91) (So also on such)
as have made the Qur'an into shreds (as they please).
92) Therefore by thy
Lord We will of a surety call them to account
93) For all their
deeds.
Quran also reveals
that one should not lend support in any way to those who reject Allah's
messsage/deny the truth:
Al-Qasas (The
Narration) - 28
86) And thou hadst
not expected that the Book would be sent to thee except as a Mercy from thy
Lord: therefore lend not thou support in any way to those who reject (Allah's
Message).
and Quran also
reveals:
Al-Anfaal or the
Spoils of Ward (VIII)
27) "O you who believe, do not betray Allah and
the Prophet and do not betray your trusts while you know."
As has been made clear above, the standard text of
Quran reveals that the Holy Prophet had told His
followers who their Lord was because after coming to know
of this the followers used to call on their Lord morning and evening
seeking His Face:
Al-Anam, or Cattle (VI)
52) Send not away those who call on their Lord morning and
evening, seeking His Face. In naught art thou accountable for them, and in
naught are they accountable for thee, that thou shouldst turn them away, and
thus be (one) of the unjust).
In fact Quran reveals that the message of Allah was that one
should keep the oneself content with those who call on their Lord morning
and evening and seeking His Face and, as such, it is clear that the Deedar of
the Lord is very important:
Al-Kahf -
18
28) And keep yourself content with
those who call on their Lord morning and evening seeking his Face;
and let not thine
eyes pass beyond them seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; nor obey any
whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us one who follows
his own desires whose case has gone beyond all bounds.
Ar-Rad-13
22) Those who
patiently persevere seeking the Face of their Lord; establish
regular prayers; spend out of (the gifts) We have bestowed for their sustenance
secretly and openly; and turn off Evil with good: for such there is the final
attainment of the (Eternal) Home
Ar-Rum-30
38) So give what is
due to kindred the needy and the wayfarer. That is best for those who
seek the Face of Allah and it is they who will
prosper.
Al-Lail-92
17) But those most
devoted to Allah shall be removed far from it
18) Those who spend
their wealth for increase in self-purification
19) And have in their
minds no favor from anyone for which a reward is expected in return
20) But only the desire to
seek for the Face of their Lord Most High.
21) And soon will they attain
(complete) satisfaction.
Quran also reveals that Allah used to send his messages in
detail :
Ar-Rad -
13
2) ------------ He
detaileth the revelations, that haply ye may be certain of the meeting with your
Lord.
It is clear from the above that the Prophet Muhammad had thus
clearly revealed to the followers in detail who was their Lord and after knowing this his
followers used to seek the face of the Lord morning and evening and as such this
should have appeared in the Quran since the Holy Prophet did not say things of
his own:
Yunus-10
15) But when our
messages are conveyed into them in all their clarity those who rest not their
hope on their meeting with Us say: "Bring us a Quran other than this or
change this." Say: "It is not for me of my own accord to change it: I
follow naught but what is revealed unto me: if I were to disobey my
Lord I should myself fear the Penalty of a Great Day (to come)."
However, the
Lord's identity is not revealed in the said standard text of Quran even
though Quran is clear that Allah used to send the messages in details. It
is thus clear that Uthman omitted this aspect as it would go against him and his
friends/associates and further the question of Holy Prophet not revealing Lord's
identity did not arise in view of the fact that the followers knew who the Lord
was and after knowing this the followers used to seek the face of the Lord
morning and evening and also used to worship the Lord:
Al-Araf, or The Heights (VII) 206) Those who are near to
thy Lord, disdain not to worship Him: they glorify Him and prostrate before
Him.
and it is significant
to note history reveals that some of the titles of Lord Ali are:
Maula - The master.
Haidar-i-Karrar - The brave warrior against whom no one could stand.
Asad Allah - The lion of God. Al-Ghalib - The victorious.
Sher-i-Yazdan - The bravest man of the age. Mushkil Kusha - One who
resolved the difficulties of the people. Shah-i-Awlia - The king of saints.
Shah-i-Mominin - The king of the pious. Abu Turab - Father of the earth.
Amir-ul-Momineen - The leader of the faithful. Imam-ul-Muttaqeen - The
leader of the god-fearing. Sayyid-ul-Arab - The chief of the Arabs. Al
Wasi - The testamenter. Al Hadi - The guide. Al Zahid - The chaste.
Al Abid - The pious. Al Salah - The reformer. Murtada - He with whom
God is pleased.
Quran also contains the following
verse:
At-Tauba
(Repentance) or Baraat (Immunity) (IX)
5) But when the
forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them,
and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of
war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and pay Zakat then open
the way for them: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
The aforesaid
wordings does not appear to be the message of Allah and is an
addition because Quran, inter alia, reveals there should not be
compulsion in religion :
Al-Baqarah, or the
Heifer (The Cow) (II)
256) Let there
be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error; whoever rejects
evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that
never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.
Al-Kafirum -
109
6) Unto you your
faith and unto me my faith.
inasmuch as Quran reveals Jihad is:
Al-Furqan-25
52) therefore, do not yield to the unbelievers, and make
Jihad against them with this [Qur'an], a mighty Jihad.
Further, since the compilation of the Quran was arbitrary
from the starting point and unauthorised people who disobeyed God and Prophet
Muhammad did the compiling, adoption and authentication, it is also possible
that the message of God is not according to the order it was
revealed.
For example, the verse of the Quran mention:
Al-Maida or the Table Spread
(V)
3) Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead
meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of
other than Allah; that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent
blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been
(partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (it due
form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the
division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day have those who reject Faith given up all hope of your
religion: yet fear them not but fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion
for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your
religion. Anyone who is compelled by hunger to eat what is forbidden, not
intending to commit sin, will find Allah Forgiving, Merciful.
The message "This day have I perfected your religion for you,
completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your
religion" should be the ending message or near
ending message of God for the simple reason that a religion is
perfected only after all the essence of the faith are made clear.
Another addition made is the message appearing in the
Quran which try to convey Allah had not sent to the Prophet a physical
Book which could be touched with hands -
"Al-Anam, or Cattle
(VI)
7) O Prophet, if We had sent to you a Book written on parchment
and they could have touched it with their own hands, the unbelievers would still
have said: "This is nothing but plain sorcery!" "
whereas, as set out hereinabove,
Quran reveals that Allah had sent His message in the form of a physical
book including those verses which convey reading of the Quran and hadiths
revealing Umar confirming about the existence of Book
of Allah.
Quran also reveals:
Al-Hijr-15
1) Alif Lam Ra. These are the
verses of the book and a Quran manifest.
The aforesaid wordings appear to reveal
the word "these", which in turn, reveal that the message in a book points
out so one can see that "these are the verses of a book and a
Quran manifest". To top it, the Quran has chapters or Suras for
reference.
It has also been made clear
hereinabove that Quran mentioned that a book similar to the Book of Moses was to
reach Prophet Muhammad:
As-Sajda-32 23) We did indeed
aforetime give the Book to Moses: be not then in doubt of its
reaching (thee): and We made it a guide to the Children of
Israel:
The kind of Book of Moses, namely, the
Book of Allah (Quran) did reached Prophet Muhammad and the Book of
Moses was physical and readable book :
Al-Araf-7
154) When the anger of Moses was appeased he took up the
tablets: in the writing thereon was guidance and
mercy for such as fear their Lord
Allah is, however, there and He has explained everything
in His farmans inasmuch as Quran reveals:
Al-Lail-92
12) Verily We take upon Ourselves to guide.
It is significant to note that one of the hadiths
reveals Uthman rejecting the document of Allah's Apostle containing the
regulations of spending the sadaqa or Zakat :
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith - 4.343 - Narrated Ibn Al
Hanafiya
If Ali had spoken anything bad about 'Uthman then he would have mentioned
the day when some persons came to him and complained about the Zakat officials
of 'Uthman. 'Ali then said to me, "Go to 'Uthman and say to him, 'This
document contains the regulations of spending the sadaqa of Allah's Apostle so
order your Zakat officials to act accordingly." I took the document to
'Uthman. 'Uthman said, "Take it away, for we are not in need of
it." I returned to 'Ali with it and informed him of that. He said,
"Put it whence you took it."
Narrated Muhammad bin Suqa: I heard Mundhir At-Tuzi reporting
Ibn Hanafiya who said, "My father sent me saying, 'Take this letter to 'Uthman
for it contains the orders of the Prophet concerning the sadaqa.' "
It is thus evident from the above that during the period of
Uthman as Caliph additions and omissions has been made in the Quran adopted,
compiled and authenticated by Uthman and his associates, as the case
may be. It also appears that Uthman and his associates found it
necessary to reveal the essence of the faith since there
were people of the time who were having the messages of
God, they were knowing who was the Lord and were worshiping the
Lord and were obeying Him and were seeking the face of the Lord
morning and evening. However, to counter these messages, create
doubts in the minds of people and to mislead the people, additions and omissions
appear to have been made and the messages have not been put in the order it was
revealed.
In the premises aforesaid, the book
titled "Quran" available in book stalls and other places, is thus a part of
Islamic history containing verses, to a good extent, which reveals that similar
messages were given by Allah to the people during the time of the last Prophet
Muhammad depicting and/or representing a clear picture of the circumstances
prevailing during that period.
Quran clearly, inter
alia, reveals about the kind of people present at the time of the Holy
Prophet Muhammed and the messages given so that the followers are warned,
cautioned and alerted and avoid evil:
Al-Israa-17
36) You
shall not follow anyone blindly in those matters of which you have no
knowledge, surely the use of your ears and the eyes and the heart -
all of these, shall be questioned on the Day of Judgement.
At-Tauba
(Repentance) or Baraat (Immunity) - (IX)
67) The Hypocrites,
men and women, are alike: they enjoin evil, and forbid what is just, and tighten
their purse's strings. They have forgotten Allah: so He hath forgotten them.
Verily the Hypocrites are rebellious and perverse.
Al-Baqarah, or the
Heifer [The Cow] (II)
78) And there are
among them illiterates who know not the Book but (see therein their own) desires
and they do nothing but conjecture.
79) Then woe to those
who write the Book with their own hands, and then say: "This is from Allah,' to
traffic with it for a miserable price! Woe to them for what their hands do
write, and for the gain they make thereby.
An-Nahl, or The
Bee (XVI)
94) And take not your
oaths to practise deception between yourselves. With the result that someone's
foot may slip after it was firmly planted, and ye may have to taste the evil
(consequences) of having hindered (men) from the Path of Allah and a mighty
Wrath descend on you.
Al-Muminun, or The
Believers (XXIII)
66) My signs used to
be rehearsed to you, but ye used to turn back on your heels -
67) "In
arrogance: talking nonsense about the (Qur'an), like one telling fables by
night."
68) Do they not
ponder over the Word (of Allah), or has anything (new) come to them that did not
come to their fathers of old?
69) Or do they not
recognize their Messenger, that they deny him?
70) Or do
they say, "He is Possessed"? Nay, he has brought them the Truth, but most of
them hate the Truth.
An-Nisaa, or
The Women (IV) 115) If
anyone contends with the Messenger even after guidance has been plainly conveyed
to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men to Faith, We shall
leave him in the path he has chosen, and land him in Hell, - what an evil
refuge!
Al-Jathiya, or
Bowing the Knee - 45 34) It will
also be said: "This Day
We will forget you as ye forgot the meeting of this Day of yours! And your abode
is the Fire, and no helpers have ye!
At-Tauba (Repentance)
or Baraat (Immunity) - (IX) 67) The Hypocrites, men and women, are alike: they enjoin evil, and
forbid what is just, and tighten their purse's strings. They have forgotten
Allah: so He hath forgotten them. Verily the Hypocrites are rebellious and
perverse.
Al-Ankabut, or the
Spider (XXIX)
18) "And if ye reject
(the Message), so did generations before you: and the duty of the messenger is
only to preach publicly (and clearly)."
Luqman (the Wise)
(XXXI)
23) But if any reject
Faith, let not his rejection grieve thee: to Us is their Return, and We shall
tell them the truth of their deeds: for Allah knows well all that is in (men's)
hearts.
24) We grant them
their pleasure for a little while: in the end shall We drive them to a
chastisement unrelenting.
Saba, or the City
of Saba (XXXIV)
8) "Has he invented a
falsehood against Allah, or is he afflicted with madness". Nay, it is those who
believe not in the hereafter, that are in (real) Chastisement, and in farthest
Error.
Az-Zumar, or the
Groups (XXXIX) 33) And he
who brings the Truth and he who confirms (and supports) it - such are the men
who do right.
Muhammad -
47 1) Those who reject
Allah and hinder (men) from the Path of Allah, - their deeds will Allah bring to
naught. 2) But those who
believe and work deeds of righteousness, and believe in the (Revelation) sent
down to Muhammad - for it is the Truth from their Lord, - he will remove from
them their ills and improve their condition. 3) This because those who reject Allah follow falsehood.
While those who believe follow the Truth from their Lord: thus does Allah set
forth for men their lessons by similitudes.
Muhammad - 47
25) Those who
turn back to unbelief after the guidance has become clear are seduced by Shaitan
who gives them false hopes. 26)
This, because they said to those who hate what Allah has revealed, "We will obey
you in part of (this) matter: but Allah knows their (inner)
secrets.
Al-Hujurat, or the
inner Apartments (XLIX)
11) O ye who believe!
Let not some men among you laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are
better than the (former); nor let some women laugh at others; it may be that the
(latter) are better than the (former): nor defame nor be sarcastic to each
other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: ill-seeming is a name
connoting wickedness, (to be used of one) after he has believed: and those who
do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong.
Al-Mumtahana, or
the Woman to be Examined (LX)
3) Of no profit to
you will be your relatives and your children on the Day of Judgment. He will
judge between you: for Allah sees well all that ye do.
Al-Munafiqun, or
the Hypocrites (LXIV)
1) When the
Hypocrites come to thee, they say, "We bear witness that thou art indeed the
Messenger of Allah." Yea, Allah knoweth that thou art indeed His Messenger. And
Allah beareth witness that the Hypocrites are indeed liars.
2) They have made
their oaths a screen (for their misdeeds): thus they obstruct (men) from the
Path of Allah: truly evil are their deeds.
3) That is because
they believed, then they rejected Faith: so a seal was set on their hearts:
therefore they understand not.
Hud (The Prophet Hud)
(XI) 114) And establish
regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night:
for those things that are good remove those that are evil: that is a reminder
for the mindful. 115) And be
steadfast in patience; for verily Allah will not suffer the reward of the
righteous to perish. 116) If
only there had been of the generations before you, men of righteousness who
prohibited men from mischief in the earth (but there were none) except a few
among them whom We saved (from harm)? But the wrong-doers pursued the enjoyment
of the good things of life which were given them, and persisted in
sin.
Al-Anbiyaa, or The
Prophets (XXI) 92) Verily,
this Ummah of yours is a single Ummah and I am your Lord and Cherisher:
therefore serve Me (and no other). 93) But (later generations) cut off their affair (of unity), one from
another: (yet) will they all return to Us. 94) Whoever works any act of Righteousness and has Faith, -
his endeavor will not be rejected: We shall record it in his
favour.
Muhammad (the
Prophet) (XLVII) 24) Do
they not ponder over Quran or is that there are locks upon their
hearts. 25) Those who turn
back as apostates after guidance was clearly shown to them, - Satan has
instigated them and buoyed them up with false hopes. 26) This, because they said to those who
hate what Allah has revealed, "We will obey you in part of (this) matter"; but
Allah knows their (inner) secrets. 34) Those who disbelieve, and hinder (men) from the Path of
Allah, then die disbelieving, - Allah will not forgive
them.
Al-Munafiqun-63 2) They have made their oaths a cover (for
their misdeeds): thus they obstruct (men) from the Path of Allah: truly evil are
their deeds. 3) That is because they believed then they rejected Faith: so a seal was
set on their hearts: therefore they understand not. 4) When thou lookest at them their exteriors please thee;
and when they speak thou listenest to their words. They are as (worthless as
hollow) pieces of timber propped up (unable to stand on their own). They think
that every cry is against them. They are the enemies; so beware of them. The
curse of Allah be on them! How are they deluded (away from the Truth)!
Bani Israil, or the
Children of Israel or Al-Isra [XVII] 72) But those who were blind in this world, will be blind
in the Hereafter, and most astray from the Path.
73) And their purpose
was to tempt thee away from that which We had revealed unto thee, to substitute
in Our name something quite different: (in that case), behold! they would
certainly have made thee (their) friend!
An-Nur - 24
15) Behold ye received it on your tongues
and said out of your mouths things of which ye had no knowledge; and ye thought
it to be a light matter while it was most serious in the sight of Allah.
16) And why did ye not when ye heard it
say "It is not right of us to speak of this: Glory to Allah! this is a most
serious slander!"
17) Allah doth admonish you that ye may
never repeat such (conduct) if ye are (true) Believers.
18) And Allah makes the Signs plain to
you: for Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.
19) Those who love (to see) scandal
published broadcast among the Believers will have a grievous Penalty in this
life and in the Hereafter: Allah knows and ye know not.
Al-Munafiqun-63
1) When the hypocrites come unto thee (O Muhammad), they say:
We bear witness that thou art indeed Allah's messenger. And Allah knoweth that
thou art indeed His messenger, and Allah beareth witness that the Hypocrites are
speaking falsely.
2) They make their faith a pretext that they may turn (men) from the way of
Allah. Verily evil is that which they are wont to do, 3) That is because
they believed, then disbelieved, therefore their hearts are sealed so that they
understand not.
4) And when thou seest them their figures please thee; and if they speak
thou givest ear unto their speech. (They are) as though they were blocks of wood
in striped cloaks. They deem every shout to be against them. They are the enemy,
so beware of them. Allah confound them! How they are perverted!
Al-Hajj-22
71) And they worship instead of Allah
that for which no warrant hath been revealed unto them, and that whereof they
have no knowledge. For evil-doers there is no helper.
72) And when Our revelations are recited
unto them, thou knowest the denial in the faces of those who disbelieve; they
all but attack those who recite Our revelations unto them. Say: Shall I proclaim
unto you worse than that? The Fire! Allah hath promised it for those who
disbelieve. A hapless journey's end!
Quran also reveals
about the rumor mongering going on during the period of the Holy Prophet
Muhammed :
Al-Qalam - 68 10) Neither obey thou each feeble oath
monger, 11) Detractor, spreader abroad of slanders, 12) Hinderer of the
good, transgressor, malefactor 13) Greedy therewithal,
intrusive.
Al-Humaza - 104 1) Woe to every (kind of)
scandal-monger and backbiter
Quran
also reveals that during the
time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad there were, inter alia, people who were
mischief makers, rebellious, wicked, who used to hinder men from the path of
Allah, use to call the Holy Prophet a forger, conceal Allah's revelation,
distort the Book, dispute the messages, etc.:
An-Nisaa, or the
Women [IV]
81) They have "Obedience" on their lips; but
when they leave thee a section of them meditate all night on things very
different from what thou tellest them but Allah records their nightly (plots):
so keep clear of them and put thy trust in Allah; and enough is Allah as a
Disposer of affairs.
Al-Anfal, or the Spoils of War -
8
6) Disputing with thee concerning the
truth after it was made manifest, as if they were being driven to death while
they see.
Al-Baqarah or the
Heifer (The Cow) (II)
8) Of the people
there are some who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last day:" but they do not
(really) believe.
9) Fain would they
deceive Allah and those who believe, but they only deceive themselves, and
realize (it) not.
10) In their hearts
is a disease; and Allah has increased their disease: and grievous is the
chastisement they (incur), because they lied (to themselves).
11) When it is said
to them: "Make not mischief on the earth," they say: "We are only ones that put
things right."
12) Of a surety, they
are the ones who make mischief, but they realize (it) not.
13) When it is said
to them: "Believe as the others believe." they say: "Shall we believe as the
fools believe?" - Nay, of a surety they are the fools, but they do not
know.
Ar-Rad-13
37)
Thus have We revealed it to be a judgment of
authority in Arabic. Wert thou to follow their (vain) desires after the
knowledge which hath reached thee then wouldst thou find neither protector nor
defender against Allah.
Luqman - 31
6) Among the people is he who takes
playful [or idle] talk in exchange [to guidance] so to lead [those] without
knowledge astray from the path of God, and to turn it to ridicle: for such there
is shameful suffering to store. But there are among men those who purchase
idle tales without knowledge (or meaning) to mislead (men) from the Path of
Allah and throw ridicule (on the Path): for such there will be a humiliating
Penalty.
An-Nisaa, or The
Women (IV)
150) Those who deny
Allah and His Messengers, and wish to separate between Allah and His Messengers,
saying: "We believe in some but reject others": and wish to take a course
midway, -
151) They are in
truth Unbelievers; and We have prepared for Unbelievers a humiliating
punishment.
152) To those who
believe in Allah and His messengers and make no distinction between any of the
messengers, We shall soon give their (due) rewards: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving,
Most Merciful.
Muhammad (the
Prophet) (XLVII)
25) Those who turn
back as apostates after Guidance was clearly shown to them the Evil One has
instigated them and buoyed them up with false hopes.
At-Tauba (Repentance) or Baraat (Immunity) -
(IX)
8) How
(can there be such a league) seeing that if they get an advantage over you they
respect not in you the ties either of kinship or of covenant? With (fair words
from) their mouths they entice you but their hearts are averse from you; and
most of them are rebellious and wicked.
9) The Words of Allah have they sold for a miserable price, and
(many) have they hindered from His Way: evil indeed are the deeds thy have
done.
10) In a believer they respect not the ties either of
kinship or of covenant! It is they who have transgressed all bounds.
An-Nahl,
or The Bee (XVI)
94) And take not your oaths to
practise deception between yourselves. With the result that someone's foot may
slip after it was firmly planted, and ye may have to taste the evil
(consequences) of having hindered (men) from the Path of Allah and a mighty
Wrath descend on you.
95) Nor sell the covenant of
Allah for a miserable price: for with Allah is (a prize) far better for you if
ye only knew.
101) When We substitute one
revelation for another and Allah knows best what He reveals (in stages) they say
"Thou art but a forger": but most of them understand not.
Al-Baqarah, or the Heifer (The Cow) (II)
74) Those who conceal Allah's revelations in the Book, and
purchase for them a miserable profit; - They swallow into themselves naught but
Fire; Allah will not address them on the Day of Resurrection, nor purify them:
grievous will be their Chastisement.
175) They are the ones who buy error in place of guidance and
torment in place of forgiveness. Ah! what boldness (they show) for the Fire!
176) (Their doom is) because Allah sent down the Book in
truth but those who seek causes of dispute in the Book are in a schism far (from
the purpose).
Al-Imran, or the Family of Imran (III)
66) Ah! Ye are those who fell to disputing (even) in matters
of which ye had some Knowledge! But why dispute ye in matters of which ye have
no knowledge? It is Allah who knows, and ye who know not!
Al-Imran, or the Family of Imran (III)
77) As for those who sell the faith they owe to Allah and
their own solemn plighted word for a small price, they shall have no portion in
the Hereafter: nor will Allah (deign to) speak to them or look at them on the
Day of Judgment, nor will He cleanse them (of sin): they shall have a grievous
Chastisement.
78) There is among them a section who distort the Book with
their tongues; (as they read) you would think it is a part of the Book but it is
no part of the Book; and they say "That is from Allah" but it is not from Allah:
it is they who tell a lie against Allah and (well) they know it!
Al-Ahzab-33
57) Those who annoy Allah and his Apostle
Allah has cursed them in this world and in the Hereafter and has prepared for
them a humiliating Punishment. 58) And those who annoy believing men and
women undeservedly bear (on themselves) a calumny and a glaring sin.
Al-Maida-5 57) O ye who believe! Choose not
for friends such of those who received the Scripture before you, and of the
disbelievers, as make a jest and sport of your religion. But keep your duty to
Allah if ye are true believers.
Al-Araf, or The Heights
(VII) 180) The most beautiful names belong to Allah: so call on Him by
them; but shun such men as distort His names: for what they do, they will soon
be requited.
As set
out earlier in this text, Quran
reveals people used to enjoin evil and forbid what was just, there were people
who had no knowledge about the Book and used to conjecture, people used to rumor
monger, people who were mischief makers, rebellious, wicked, who used to
hinder men from the path of Allah, people use to call Prophet Muhammad a
forger, conceal Allah's revelation, distort the Book, dispute the messages,
etc. and Allah revealing these to caution, allert his
followers:
Quran reveals that
Allah had also cautioned his
followers against people with evil designs and told them to obey Allah and the
Messenger and refer the matter to Allah and the Messenger. Quran
also reveals that Allah had also given messages that his followers should use
the intellect, ponder, go by the truth, go by reality, follow the best,
etc.:
Al-Qalam - 68 10) Neither obey thou each feeble
oath monger, 11) Detractor, spreader abroad of slanders, 12)
Hinderer of the good, transgressor, malefactor 13) Greedy therewithal,
intrusive.
An-Nisaa, or the
Women [IV]
83) When there comes to them some matter touching (public)
safety or fear, they divulge it. If they had only referred it to the Messenger
or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would
have known it from them (direct). Were is not for the Grace and Mercy of Allah
unto you, all but a few of you would have followed Satan.
An-Nisaa, or the Women (IV) 59) "O you, who
believe, obey Allah and obey the Prophet and the holders of authority from
amongst you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and
his Messenger, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: that is best, and
most suitable for final determination."
Al-Maida-5
91) Satan's plan is
(but) to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling and
hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer: will ye not then
abstain?
92) Obey Allah and
obey the Apostle and beware (of evil): if ye do turn back know ye that it is Our
Apostle's duty to proclaim (the Message) in the clearest manner.
Yunus -
10
36) But most of
them follow nothing but conjecture: truly conjecture can be of no avail
against Truth. Verily Allah is well aware of all that they do.
Al-Mulk, or
Dominion (LXVII) 9) They will say: "Yes indeed: a Warner did come to us
but we rejected him and said `Allah never sent down any (Message): ye are in
nothing but an egregious delusion!'
(10) They will further say: "Had we but listened or
used our intelligence we should not (now) be among the
Companions of the Blazing Fire!"
[The aforesaid verses demonstrates that one should not reject
the messenger and it is necessary to use intelligence in the practice of one's
faith.]
Sad - 38
29) (Here is) a Book which We have sent down unto thee full
of blessings that they may ponder over its messages and that
men of understanding may receive admonition.
Sad (being one of the
Abbreviated Letters) (XXXVIII)
26) O David! We did indeed make
thee a viceroy on earth: so judge thou between men in truth (and justice):
nor follow thou the lust (of thy heart), for it will mislead thee from
the Path of Allah: for those who wander astray from the Path of Allah, is a
Chastisement Grievous, for that they forget the Day of
Account.
Muhammad (the Prophet)
(XLVII)
(24) Do they not ponder over Quran
or is that there are locks upon their hearts.
Qaf (L)
37) Verily in this is a
Message for any that has a heart and understanding or who gives ear with
intelligence.
Az-Zumar, or the
Groups (XXXIX)
55) "And follow the
Best that which was revealed to you from your Lord, before the Chastisement
comes to you - of a sudden, while ye perceive not!-
An-Nisaa, or the Women [IV]
82) Do
they not ponder on the Qur'an? Had it been from other than Allah, they would
surely have found therein much
discrepancy.
It is significant to
note that one of
the Hadiths reveal that in the presence of Aisha, the wife of Prophet
Muhammad, some people mentioned that the Prophet appointed Ali by will as
his successor and Aisha questioning when did he appoint him by
will :
Sahih Al-Bukari
Hadith No.4.4 narrated by Al Aswad
In the
presence of Aisha some people mentioned that the Prophet had appointed Ali by
will as his successor. Aisha said, "When did he appoint him by will? Verily when
he died he was resting against my chest (or said: in my lap) and he asked for a
wash-basin and then collapsed while in that state, and I could not even perceive
that he had died, so when did he appoint him by will?"
Whereas Hadiths reveals that the
Holy Prophet was asking for writing material since the time the attack of
illness was severe (i.e. at least four days before he died) and not
during the time he died. Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith bearing Ref. Nos.5.717, 1.114, 7.573 and 9.468
reveals that when the attack of illness was severe, the Prophet asked for
writing material from the people present (i.e. his companions including
Umar and others) so that they may not go astray after him. However,
though there were people ready to obey the Prophet Muhammad and give him writing
material, Umar and others disobeyed the Holy Prophet and mentioned
that they have the (Holy) Qur'an and Allah's Book is sufficient for them
(here Umar and others admit about the existence of Allah's
book).
In regard to the
above, one of the hadiths reveals:
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Hadith 1.114 Narrated by Ubaidullah bin Abdullah
Ibn 'Abbas said, "When the ailment
of the Prophet became worse, he said, 'Bring for me (writing) paper and I will
write for you a statement after which you will not go astray.' But 'Umar said,
'The Prophet is seriously ill, and we have got Allah's Book with
us and that is sufficient for us.' But the companions of the
Prophet differed about this and there was a hue and cry. On that the Prophet
said to them, 'Go away (and leave me alone). It is not right that you should
quarrel in front of me." Ibn 'Abbas came out saying, "It was most unfortunate (a
great disaster) that Allah's Apostle was prevented from writing that statement
for them because of their disagreement and noise.
Further, presuming the
aforesaid hadith is correct, then, Prophet Muhammad being a Prophet knew that
there was Allah's Book and still he wanted to write a statement so that people
do not go astray. From this hadith, it
appears that according to Prophet Muhammad, Allah's Book (Quran)
was not enough and besides the Book of Allah, there should be someone
else. Taking this into account and the
aforesaid Sahih Al-Bukari Hadith No.4.4 narrated
by Al Aswad revealing that some people mentioned before Aisha that the Prophet
appointed Ali by will as his successor is very significant in the
sense that it reveals Ali was the "someone" besides the Book of Allah (Quran)
and further the fact that only the Book of Allah was not enough but someone was
needed is also clear from another Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith (Hadith 9.251) narrated by Abu Huraira
which states that Prophet Muhammad was to appoint someone a
ruler :
Allah's
Apostle said, "Whoever obeys me, obeys Allah, and
whoever disobeys me, disobeys Allah, and whoever obeys the ruler I
appoint, obeys me, and whoever disobeys him, disobeys
me."
inasmuch as Quran is
clear that whatever Prophet Muhammad used to do was as per Allah's
instruction:
Yunus-10
15) But when our
messages are conveyed into them in all their clarity those
who rest not their hope on their meeting with Us say: "Bring us a Quran
other than this or change this." Say: "It is not for me of my own accord to
change it: I follow naught but what is revealed unto me:
if I were to disobey my Lord I should myself fear the Penalty of a Great Day (to
come)."
As is also evident
from the aforesaid Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith/s that the Prophet had ample time
to make a will inasmuch as the following hadith reveal that the Prophet also
made a will concerning Allah's Book and the making of a will was enjoined on the
people or that they were were ordered to make it :
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Hadith No.5737 - Narrated Talha
I asked 'Abdullah bin
Abu 'Aufa "Did the Prophet make a will?" He replied, "No." I further asked, "How
comes it that the making of a will was enjoined on the people or that they
were ordered to make it?" He said, "The Prophet made a will concerning
Allah's Book."
The aforesaid is a
part of history not clubbed earlier and hence a little diversion. The
aforesaid makes it clear that Umar had Allah's book - however, still some part
of the Book was not taken which Prophet Muhammad had revealed to the
people and Prophet Muhammad had left that part of the
Book.
The
farman of Imam Sultan Mohammad Shah reveals [translation may not be 100% proper]
that Prophet Muhammad while leaving the world had made a Vasiyat mentioning He
is leaving in the world two things - one is the Book and second is my Aal.
Hazrat Ali took the book in a Masjid and before all the people
present made a Farman that this book Rasoolillah had given, and as
per his Vasiyat He (Ali) was to bring this before them, hence
take the book. There everyone said that they are having Hazrat Usman's
book, that is enough. We are not in need of your book. After this,
Hazrat Ali said that the book which is with them - they would not know even a
Ratibhar till the day of Judgment and went to his home with the book of
the Holy Prophet Muhammad. That Book has 10 Paras. Pir Sadardin
have explained to you in the form of Ginans.
inasmuch as one of
the hadiths reveal:
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Hadith - 4.343 - Narrated Ibn Al Hanafiya [Extract]
If Ali had spoken anything bad
about 'Uthman then he would have mentioned the day when some persons came to him
and complained about the Zakat officials of 'Uthman. 'Ali then said to me,
"Go to 'Uthman and say to him, 'This document contains the regulations
of spending the sadaqa of Allah's Apostle so order your Zakat officials to act
accordingly." I took the document to 'Uthman. 'Uthman said,
"Take it away, for we are not in need of it." I returned to 'Ali
with it and informed him of that. He said, "Put it whence you took it."
It is significant to note that Quran also reveals
:
Al-Hadid-57
3)
Huwal-Awwalu wal- Aakhiru waz-Zaahiru
wal-Baatin:wa Huwa bi-kulli shay-in Alim.
translation
Al-Hadid-57
3) He is the First and the Last,
and the Zaahir and the Baatin; and He is Knower of all things.
Qaf -
50
38) We created the
heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six days
nor did any sense of weariness touch Us.
Al-Iklas - 112 (Ayat
Nos.1 and 2)
"Say (O Prophet), it
is Allah, (who is) the One. Allah is
Eternal,
Independent.
It is to be noted that the verse 3 of chapter Al-Hadid (57)
is in the present sense at the time when it was revealed as "He
is" convey and the First and the Last is combined "He is the First
and the Last" - and the message also includes combination of the Zaahir and
the Baatin and He is knower of all things.
There is a big difference between
(i) "First and the Last" or "Beginning and an End" and (ii) Eternal -
since everything that is material/physical has a beginning and has an end
and eternal, inter alia, means perpetual, endless, infinite and does not
have a "begining and end" or "first and the last" combined inasmuch as
Quran reveals God created the heavens and the earth and all that is between
them and certainly the heavens, the earth, sky, moon, sun, space, stars,
the living and non-living things together is not Allah inasmuch as
Quran is clear that Allah is One. It is also clear from the Quran
that the origin of Allah is that no one had beggotten Him since Quran
reveals it is He who has created everything and hence He is the first - no one
was there before Him or with Him. Since there is no one besides Him
and He is the first and it is thus clear He creates everything from his own
source and hence He is in everything and the Universe, one of his inifinite
creation, is one of His signs/evidence that He is eternal - since
everything is created from His source inasmuch as Quran reveals:
Al-Jathiya-45
13) He also subjected to you whatever is between the
heavens and the earth; all from Himself. Surely there are signs
in this for those who think.
Taking into account the combined
"first and the last", then it refers to the physical form since it does have a
"begining and an end" or it is "the First and the Last" and Quran also
reveals:
Az-Zumar - 39
27) We have put forth for men in
this Quran every kind of parablein order that they may receive
admonition.
Quran also reveals He is
Zaahir and the Baatin. Here also there is a combination of Zaahir and
the Baatin and this combination is linked to the First and the Last. The word
"Zaahir" can be referred to one who is present outwardly before oneself
and this presence is evident and directly felt personally
by all those who are present before the Zaahir with the eyes and ears
open and using the intellect and the word "Baatin" is something
more of oneself personally then what it actually appears on the face
of it and not directly evident to others unless the Baatin is made Zaahir in any
form. Quran by way of the various messages makes the Baatin
manifest [taking into account that Quran reveals Allah says the truth by His
words] as it, inter alia, reveals the Lord at the time of Prophet
Muhammad is Allah and it reveals other characteristics, features,
highlights, attributes of the Lord. The Zaahir
and Baatin are ONE and not separate from one another inasmuch as Allah is
One. Quran further reveals "and He is Knower of all things" and this
includes knowing the Zaahir and Baatin in each and everyone.
After knowing the Baatin - even
when one looks at the Lord, one should keep Baatin in mind - that He is
Allah and look with this intention and not look at him with only Zaahir in mind
that He is an human being only, which in a Zahir sense He actually is - more so,
since He is Zaahir and Baatin inasmuch as Quran reveals:
Al-i'Imran-3
191) Such as remember Allah, standing, sitting, and
reclining, and consider the creation of the heavens and the
earth, (and say): Our Lord! Thou createdst not this in vain. Glory
be to Thee! Preserve us from the doom of Fire.
From what has been set out hereinabove taking into account
the Quran, when the Lord is physically present or Zaahir - one should
seek the Face of the Lord keeping Baatin in mind and when the Lord is not
physically present or Baatin - one should seek the Face of the Lord keeping the
Baatin in mind:
Al-Baqara-2
200) And when ye have completed your devotions, then
remember Allah as ye remember your fathers or with a more lively
remembrance. But of mankind is he who saith: "Our Lord! Give unto
us in the world," and he hath no portion in the Hereafter.
The verse is at the relevant period - When one's father is not physically
present and has gone to a far away place, one does remembers the father and
the mind is fixed on the personal form and it appears to
the child that the father is near to him - and likewise the message
appear to convey that one should remember and see the Lord when He is not
physically present like He is near to Him - a person remembering Allah in
this way will see Him everywhere inasmuch as Quran
reveals:
Al-Baqarah, or the Heifer (The Cow)
115) To Allah belong the East and the
West: whithersoever ye turn, there is Allah's Face. For
Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.
Al-Maarij, or the
Ways of Ascent (LXX)
13) And whether ye
hide your word or make it known, He certainly has (full) knowledge, of the
secrets of (all) hearts.
Quran reveals Prophet
Muhammad was benefitted with seeing the greater revelation of His Lord or
Noorani Deedar [Asal Makan] :
An-Najm, or the Star (53) 2) Your
Companion is neither astray nor being misled. 3) Nor does he say (aught) of
(his own) desire.
6) Endued with Wisdom: for He appeared (in
stately form) other translation 6) One vigorous; and He
grew clear to view.
7) While he was in the highest part of the
horizon: 8) Then he approached and came closer, 9) And was at a
distance of but two bow-lengths or (even) nearer; 10) So did (Allah)
convey the inspiration to His Servant - (conveyed) what He (meant) to
convey. 11) The (Prophet's) (mind and) heart in no way falsified that
which he saw. 12) Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he
saw?
13) For indeed he saw Him at a second
descent, in other words 13) And verily he saw Him yet
another time.
17) (His) sight never swerved, nor did it go
wrong! other translation 17) The eye turned not aside nor yet was
overbold.
18) For truly did he see, of the Signs of His Lord,
the Greatest! other translation 18) Verily he saw one of
the greater revelations of His
Lord
From the aforesaid it can be noted that
the Lord is knower of all things and "knower of all things" includes knower of
past, present and future. Quran thus also makes it clear that if one has faith in
His Lord and remembers Him and seeks His Face - one can be
benefitted with the greater revelation of the Lord inasmuch as Quran is the
message for all the worlds.
Quran gives Baatin
the importance - Quran reveals if one is forced to deny the faith while his
heart remains loyal to the faith the person denying the faith in a Zaahir way
but in Baatin the person is loyal shall be absolved:
An-Nahl-16
106) Anyone who is forced to deny
faith after its acceptance, while his heart remains loyal to
the faithshall be absolved; but any who denies
faith willingly after its acceptance and open his breast to unbelief, shall
incur the wrath of Allah and shall be sternly
punished.
It is significant to
note that Quran also reveals:
Al-Israa-17
45) When you recite
the Qur'an, We put a hidden barrier between you and those who do not believe in
the hereafter.
other translation
Al-Israa-17
45) When thou dost recite the Qur'an We put
between thee and those who believe not in the Hereafter a veil
invisible:
From the aforesaid -
it is clear that Allah had put a hidden barrier or veil invisible between
the Prophet and those who do not believe in the hereafter.
Quran also
reveals:
Al-Baqara-2
6) As for the
disbelievers, whether thou warn them or thou warn them not it is all one for
them; they believe not.
7) Allah hath sealed their hearing and their
hearts, and on their eyes there is a covering. Theirs will be an awful doom.
8) And of
mankind are some who say: We believe in Allah and the Last Day, when they
believe not.
The
aforesaid verses of Quran also reveals that those people who do not believe - on
their eyes there is a covering and as such it is clear that they cannot grasp
His vision - to them it will appear He is just a human being like others as the
wordings "disbelievers" convey and Quran reveals there were such kind of
people amongst the people present to whom the following message was given
:
Al-Anam - 6
103) No vision can grasp Him but
His grasp is over all vision: He is above all
comprehension yet is acquainted with all things.
wherein some of the Lords other features, highlights, attributes,
etc. of the Lord are made clear like His grasp is over all vision and He is
above all comprehension yet is acquainted with all things.
Quran reveals God is the most merciful and
hence God explains to those in the way they understand who had given their
allegiance - at the same time, since He has created everyone from His
source, the universe, one of the infinite creation - this
source cannot be grasped in full inasmuch as the subsequent verse
reveals:
Al-Anam - 6
104) Proofs have come unto
you from your Lord, so whoso seeth, it is for his own good, and
whoso is blind is blind to his own hurt. And I am not a keeper
over you.
105) And thus do we give many facets to our messages.
And to the end they might say, "Thou has learned', and that we might make it
clear unto people of knowledge.
and as mentioned earlier the Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith (1.47)
naratted by Abu Huraira reveals [extract]:
Allah's Apostle replied, "To worship Allah as if you
see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of devotion
then you must consider that He is looking at you."
Quran also makes the Baatin
manifest by revealing some of His other features, highlights, attributes
:
Al-Baqara-2
255) Allah! there is no Allah but He
the living the Self-subsisting Eternal. No slumber can seize him nor
sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can
intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to
his creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass
aught of his knowledge except as He willeth. His throne doth extend over the
heavens and the earth and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them.
For He is the Most High the Supreme (in glory).
Here also the Baatin side of His is made
manifest by the message [since Quran reveals Allah speaks the truth by His
words], that He is the living, the self-subsisting eternal - No slumber can
seize him nor sleep ..... the Baatin is physically not evident but is evident
from the message to those who believe [since Quran reveals Allah speaks the
truth by His words].
Az-Zariyat, or the Winds That Scatter (LI)
58) For Allah is He
who gives (all) Sustenance, - Lord of Power, - Steadfast (for ever).
Fatir -35
41) It is Allah Who sustains the heavens and the earth lest
they cease (to function): and if they should fail there is none not one can
sustain them thereafter: verily He is Most Forbearing
Oft-Forgiving.
It is significant to note that Quran,
inter alia, reveals:
Al-Fat-h-48
28) He it is Who hath sent
His messenger with the guidance and the religion of truth, that He may
cause it to prevail over all religion. And Allah sufficeth as a
witness.
Al-Hujurat-49
1) O ye who believe! put not yourselves forward before Allah
and His Apostle: But fear Allah: for Allah is He who hears and knows all things.
2) O ye who believe! raise not your voices above the voice of
the Prophet nor speak aloud to him in talk as ye may speak aloud to one another
lest your deeds become vain and ye perceive not.
3) Those that lower their voice in the presence of Allah's
Apostle their hearts has Allah tested for piety: for them is Forgiveness and a
great Reward.
Al-Baqarah, or the Heifer (The Cow)
(II)
263) Kind words and
covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is Free of
all wants, and He is Most Forbearing.
An-Nisaa, or
The Women (IV) 86) When a
(courteous) greeting is offered you, meet it with a greeting still more
courteous, or (at least) of equal courtesy. Allah takes careful account of all
things.
Al-Baqara-2 158) Behold! Safa
and Marwa are among the Symbols of Allah. So if those who visit the house in the
season or at other times should compass them round it is no sin in them. And if
anyone obeyeth his own impulse to good be sure that Allah is He Who recogniseth
and knoweth.
Quran also reveals:
Az-Zumar-39
62) Allah is the Creator of all
things and He is the Guardian and Disposer of all
affairs.
Qaf - 50
38) We created the heavens and the earth
and all that is between them in six days nor did any sense of weariness
touch Us.
It is clear from the above that
God created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them
from His own source since Quran reveals He is the creator of all things
and hence He is the First since there was no one except Him as Quran is
clear that everything is created by Him. It is to be noted,
however, that there are 24 hours in a day and that is because some of the
things exist like the earth, sun and moon. As such how can a
"day" be recorded when earth, sun and moon did not exist and hence question
of six days in the aforesaid verse does not arise inasmuch as the Quran
reveals:
Yunus-10 (5)
He is the One Who gave the sun its
brightness and the moon its light, established her phases that you may learn
to compute the years and other such counts (days, weeks, months). Allah
created them only to manifest the truth. He has spelled out His revelations for
people who want to understand.
The verses of the Quran, inter alia, reveal that
creation is perpetual and constant:
At-Tariq - 86
11) By the Firmament which returns (in
its round) 12) and by the earth which
is ever bursting with new growth;
Al-Jathiya-45
5) And the difference of night and day
and the provision that Allah sendeth down from the sky and thereby quickeneth
the earth after her death, and the ordering of the winds, are portents for a
people who have sense.
Qaf-50
15) Were We then weary with the
first Creationthat they should be in confused
doubt about a new Creation?
[Quran also reveals that God will keep on
creating new things and the new discoveries made is an evidence.]
Yunus-10
6) Verily in the
alternation of the Night and the Day and in all that Allah hath created in the
heavens and the earth are Signs for those who fear Him.
Al-Baqara-2
164) Behold! In the creation of the
heavens and the earth; in the alternation of the night and the day; in the
sailing of the ships through the ocean for the profit of mankind; in the rain
which Allah sends down from the skies and the life which He gives therewith to
an earth that is dead; in the beasts of all kinds that He scatters through the
earth;
In Chapter Qaf - 50
(verse 38), Quran reveals that Allah did not feel any kind
of fatigue/tiredness while creating all things - the question arises how
does God creates all things without feeling any sought of
fatigue/tiredness. It is significant to note that Quran
reveals:
Al-Qamar -
54
49) Verily all things have We created in
proportion and measure.
50) And Our command is but a single (Act)
like the twinkling of an eye.
In view of verse 49/50 of Chapter 54, it is clear that
the creation of all things is not at all physical but like a
twinkling of an eye.
It is significant to note that Quran reveals God
creates whatever He pleases:
Ash-Shura-42
49) To Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the
earth. He creates whatever He pleases. He gives daughters to whom He
pleases and gives sons to whom He pleases.
and Quran reveals:
Al-Kahf-18
51) I called them not to witness the
creation of the heavens and the earth nor (even) their own creation: nor is
it for Me to take as helpers such as lead (men) astray!
Quran also reveal that:
Al-Iklas - 112 (Ayat Nos.1 to
4)
"Say (O Prophet), it is Allah, (who is)
the One. Allah is Eternal,
Independent. He did not beget nor was He
begottenand there is none like unto
Him."
Quran, inter alia, reveals He is the
One, Eternal/Independent [this aspect has already been made clear hereinabove]
and there is none like unto Him. Quran also reveals that He did not beget nor was He
begotten. In this regard, no one had beggotten Allah since, as set out
hereinabove, Quran reveals it is He who has created everything and
hence He is the first - He was already there. Since
only He is the creator and no one else and He always exists - taking
into account this Baatin - His subsequent forms cannot be termed
as God being born inasmuch as ordinary human beings do not have
power to create anyone.
Regarding, Allah did not beget, it is
necessary to refer and reflect on the following verses of the Quran
:
Az-Zumar-39
62) Allah is the Creator of all things
and He is the Guardian and Disposer of all affairs.
Al-Hijr-15
86) For verily it is thy Rabb/Lord Who is
the Master-Creator knowing all things.
Al-Qamar - 54
49) Verily all things have We created in
proportion and measure.
50) And Our command is but a single (Act)
like the twinkling of an eye.
Taking into account chapter Az-Zumar-39 (verse 62)
and Al-Hijr-15 (verse 86) it is clear that Allah has created all things and
by chapter Al-Qamar-54 (verses 49/50) it is clear that He has not created anyone
physically inasmuch as chapter Al-Iklas-112 (verse 2)reveals He is Independent/Eternal. Taking into account the
aforesaid, though He is the creator of all things He has not created anyone
physically inasmuch as He is independent convey He has created
everyone from His own source [which is not separate from Himself], which is
eternal/permanent and further the source is pure/holy because God is
pure/holy.
As set out hereinabove, verse nos.22, 23
and 41 of chapter Yusuf (12) reveal that human beings including a married person
is termed as a Rabb/Lord in the Quran and verse 3 / chapter Yunus (10)
and verse 30 / chapter Ha-Mim (41) reveals Rabb/Lord is Allah.
Quran also
reveals:
Al-Furqan-25
54) He is the One Who has created man
from water, then made for him blood relationships and that of
marriage relationships, your Rabb is indeed
All-Powerful.
The aforesaid verse reveals that Allah has created
man [the wordings "from water be ignored" in view of the aforesaid reasons
inasmuch as water in total is not eternal/permanent nor does God takes a
physical partner to create since Quran is clear He is Independent/Eternal] and
then made for him blood relationship and that of marriage
relationship. From this it is clear that Allah has made the blood
relationship and that of marriage relationship in respect of human beings
only.
It is significant to note that Quran,
inter alia, calls single person to get married:
An-Nur-24
32) Marry those among you who are single
or the virtuous ones among your slaves male or female: if they are in poverty
Allah will give them means out of His grace: for Allah encompasseth all and He
knoweth all things.
and Quran, inter alia, reveals
:
Ar-Rum-30
21) And among His Signs is this that He
created for you mates from among yourselves that ye may dwell in tranquillity
with them and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts); verily in that
are Signs for those who reflect.
An-Nahl-16
72) And Allah has made for
you mates (and companions) of your own nature. And made for you out of
them sons and daughters and grandchildren and provided for you
sustenance of the best: will they then believe in vain things and be ungrateful
for Allah's favors?
It is also to be noted that marriage
relationship is restricted to physical self and/or human being in
flesh and does not cover the human soul. This fact is evident from
the fact that when a ordinary human being - i.e. male marries a female,
who are actually spiritual brother and sister taking into account that
Quran, inter alia, convey Allah has created everyone from a single
soul [please refer contents relating to soul set out in later part of this text
sepately], the relationship of a human soul does not change before and after
marriage and only physical relations such as husband and wife, son-in-law
and father/mother-in-law, etc. etc. etc. are created after marriage
and as is been made clear that this is due to God. The spiritual
relationship that of a brother and a sister remains as it is before and
after marriage. In fact, everyone has a spiritual
relationship with the All-Powerful Soul of God.
From the aforesaid it is clear that
Allah has made the blood relationship and that of marriage relationship in
respect of human being and as the Lord is a human being he will get married
and have physical childrens like other but it is only He who is a creator taking
into account the above inasmuch as Quran reveals:
Az-Zumar-39
4) If Allah had
willed to choose a son, he could have chosen what he would of that which
He hath created. Be He glorified! He is Allah, the One, the
Absolute.
History, inter alia, reveals that
Lord Ali's father was Abu Talib, his mother's name was Fatima, he had brothers,
his cousin and father-in-law was Prophet Muhammad, his wife's name was also
Fatima and his four physical childrens were Hussein, Hassan, Mohsin (who
died in his childhood), Jainab and Oome Kulsum and history reveals that He
used to live like a human being in such a way that others thought He is just a
human being like themselves and no
more.
Quran, inter alia, reveals:
Yunus, or Jonah
(X)
68) They say, "Allah hath
begotten a son!" - Glory be to Him! He is Self-Sufficient" His are all things in
the heavens and on earth! No warrant have ye for this! Say ye about Allah what
ye know not?
It appears that during this period of
Prophet Muhammad - people used to say that Allah has begotten a physical son and
Quran prohibits attaching the human concept of physical relationship of a father
and son with Allah and reveals His are all things in the heavens and on
earth.
It has already been
made clear hereinabove that actually God does not create anyone
physically and hence He is not physically related as a
physical father to anyone and there is none like unto Him.
It is significant to
note that Quran reveals to Allah applies the highest example:
An-Nahl-16
60) Those who do not believe in the
hereafter set an evil example, while to Allah applies the
highest example, for He is the Mighty, the Wise.
Al-Iklas - 112 (Ayat Nos.1 to
4)
"Say (O Prophet), it is Allah, (who is)
the One. Allah is Eternal,
Independent. He did not beget nor was He
begottenand there is none like unto
Him."
So it is necessary that when one takes
into consideration Allah - one should take into account the Zaahir and the
Baatin made manifest by various messages.
It is significant to note that one of the
hadiths reveals:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.502 narrated
by Abu Huraira [Extract]
The Prophet said, "Allah says: 'I am just as My
slave thinks I am ...
and taking this in general form - it appears those who
go only by the zaahir or physical appearance only and treat Him as a human being
only He will behave accordingly inasmuch as He knows the capacity of a human
being.
Fiqh-us-Sunnah 4.99 [Extract]
In a hadith qudsi, the Prophet, peace be upon him,
narrated: "Allah says: 'I am to my servant as he expects of Me,
I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in his heart, I remember
him to Myself.........
Quran, inter alia,
reveals:
Al-Araf or The Heights (VII)
148) The people of Moses made, in his
absence, out of their ornaments, the body of a calf, (for worship): having
lowing sound did they not see that it could neither speak to them, nor
show them the Way? They took it for worship and they did
wrong.
The aforesaid verse makes it clear that
people should not worship in such things which is not capable of speaking and
showing them the Way. Quran elsewhere reveal the people choose the calf
when Moses had gone from them:
Al-Baqara-2
51) And when We did appoint for Moses
forty nights (of solitude), and then ye chose the calf, when he had gone from
you, and were wrongdoers.
To have understanding of Allah,
the following verse of Quran also includes parable of His
light:
An-Nur, or Light -
24 35) Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of
His light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: the Lamp enclosed in
Glass: the Glass as it were a brilliant star: lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive,
neither of the East nor of the West whose Oil is well-nigh luminous, though no
fire touched it: Light upon Light! Allah guides to His Light whom He
pleases: Allah doth set forth Parables for men: and Allah doth know all things.
Quran reveals that Allah is the Light of
the heavens and the earth and, by way of a parable in respect of His Light,
reveals that the lamp is "lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive, neither of the East
nor of the West whose Oil is well-nigh luminous, though no fire touched
it". The source which lights the Lamp is the oil of
the blessed Olive Tree and hence blessed Olive
Tree refers to Allah taking into account that the wording "blessed", inter
alia, means holy, pure, sacred and godly and Allah is holy, pure,
sacred and godly and as is clear from what has been set out hereinabove,
Quran reveals Allah is the creator of all things and hence He is the first and
it is thus clear that besides Him there was nothing and hence He created
everything from His own source and He is the source for all things inasmuch
as Quran reveals Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth.
In view of the above, the blessed Olive
Tree is the "blessed physical form of Allah" and the oil of the
blessed Olive Tree (which lights the Lamp) is His "Light". Quran also
reveals that "blessed" Olive Tree (Allah) is "neither of the East nor
of the West". This is clear from the fact that the heavens and
the earth were created by Allah and hence He was before the East and West were
created on earth and heavens, and, as such, taking into account the origin,
Allah (blessed Olive Tree) is neither of the East nor of the West on
earth. In view of this it can also be said that the Light is neither of
the East nor of the West. Needless to say, the (blessed) Olive
Tree, the source of Light is visible and hence the (blessed)
form of Allah is also visible. The fact that the Light
is His (i.e. of Allah) or Allah is the source of Light is clearly
revealed in the same verse "The parable of His Light is
as" and "Allah doth guide whom He will to His
Light".
The parable of Light also mention
"His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: the Lamp
enclosed in Glass: the Glass as it were a brilliant star: lit from a blessed
Tree, an Olive, neither of the East nor of the West whose Oil is well-nigh
luminous, though no fire touched it:" It is thus clear that the
oil of the blessed olive tree lights the lamp (person) of understanding
(brilliant
Star).
Quran further reveals LIGHT UPON
LIGHT and this conveys the Light upon another Light. The
Light upon another Light is eternal and not external since Quran
reveals that in each and everyone the spark of His light is there
which is nearer than jugular vein :
Al-Anbiyaa, or The Prophets (XXI) 16) It was We who
created man, and we know what suggestions his soul makes to him for We are
nearer to him than (his) jugular vein.
[It is clear
from the above that Allah created everyone from His own source and taking
into account that He is eternal - it is clear that the spark of His light
is in everyone and He is near to everyone then jugular
vein.]
From the aforesaid it is clear that He
just changes His form/physical appearance inasmuch as even before He
changes the form the Light is always connected with His spark of
Light. Since Light upon Light is the rule - it is clear He changes
forms. It is thus clear that the Light is the
same but the form of Allah changes because it has to change to effect Light upon
Light. The Quran verse also reveals that
Allah guides to His light whom He pleases and Allah sets forth Parables for men
and Allah knows all things.
It is also
significant to note that Quran reveals:
Az-Zumar - 39
27) We have put forth for men in this
Quran every kind of parable in order that they may receive
admonition.
It is also clear that Allah is never
separated from His source and his physical form is not separate from His light -
He is at all time ONE inasmuch as verse 1 of Chapter Al-Iklas - 112 convey ""Say
(O Prophet), it is Allah, (who is) the One." Body
and Spirit is One.
It is also significant to note that
Quran reveals:
Al-Imran, or the Family of Imran
(III)
103) And hold fast, all
together, by the Rope which Allah (streches out for you), and be
not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favour on you;
for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye
became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the Pit of Fire, and He saved you
from it. Thus doth Allah make His Signs clear to you: that ye may be
guided.
Quran, inter alia, reveals God
created everyone from One soul :
An-Nisaa-4
1) O mankind! Be careful of your duty to
your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate
and from them twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful
of your duty toward Allah in Whom ye claim ( your rights ) of one another, and
toward the wombs (that bore you ). Lo! Allah hath been a Watcher over you.
Az-Zumar - 39
6) He has made (created) you out of
one soul .......
As each human being is created
from a single soul of Allah - each and every one are brothers and sisters
in this spiritual sense and Allah spiritually is the mother and father.
The physical body does not count as He is not physically the mother and
father and the discussion is limited to the soul. He has made
everyone from one soul and the soul is pure since it is from
Allah.
Ta-ha - 20
50) He said: "Our Lord is He Who gave
to each thing [that exist] its form and nature and further gave (it)
guidance.
From the aforesaid verse it is clear that the soul is given a
physical form / nature / guidance.
Wa-Waqla, or The Inevitable Event
(56)
60) We have decreed Death to be your
common lot, and We are not to be frustrated.
61) From changing your Forms
and creating you (again) in (Forms) that ye know not.
From the aforesaid verse, it is clear that the physical form
is for the period one is physically alive on this earth as the wordings "We
have decreed Death to be your common lot" reveals. At the same time Quran
reveals "from changing your forms and creating you (again) in (Forms) that
ye know not" reveals that there is re-birth and only
the form changes - the soul does not
die.
Quran also reveals:
Al-Ankabut-29
6) And if any strive they do so for their
own souls: for Allah is free of all needs from all creation.
Yusuf-12
53) "Not that I am free from sin - man's
soul is prone to evil, except the one to whom my Rabb has shown mercy, certainly
my Rabb is Forgiving, Merciful".
Al-Maida-5
30) The latter's soul prompted
him to kill his brother; he killed him and thus became one of the
losers.
Al-Jathiya-45
22) And Allah hath created the heavens
and the earth with truth, and that every soul may be repaid what it
hath earned. And they will not be wronged.
From the aforesaid verses, it is appears
that depending on man's habits - the soul pick ups the habits. The
soul picks up good habits and/or bad habits depending on the person's
habits. A person's soul is prone to evil if the person has bad habits
and the person's soul is prone to good if the person has good habits taking
into account Quran, inter alia, reveals "the latter's soul prompted him"
and "that every soul may be repaid what it hath earned" and body and
spirit is one.
inasmuch as the spark of Allah's light is
always connected with the human soul:
Qaf - 50
16) It was We who created man and We know
what dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than
(his) jugular vein.
and with this taking into account Quran
reveals:
Al-Lail-92
12) Verily We take upon Ourselves to
guide.
Ash-Shams-91
7) And a soul and Him who perfected it.
8) And inspired it (with conscience of) what is wrong
for it and (what is) right for it.
Hud-11
37) "But construct an Ark under Our eyes
and Our inspirationand address Me no (further) on behalf of
those who are in sin: for they are about to be overwhelmed (in the
Flood)."
Al-Baqarah - 2
26) Allah disdain not to use the
similitude of things, even of a gnat as well as anything above it. Those who
believe know that it is the truth from their Lord; but those who reject Faith
say: "What means Allah by this similitude? By it He causes many to stray, and
many He leads into the right path; but He causes not to stray, except
those who forsake (the path), -
An-Najm-53
29) Therefore, neglect
those who ignore Our warnings and seek only the life of this
world.
From the aforesaid it is clear that Allah
guides a person including by way of inspiration of what is good and what is
bad inasmuch as the spark of His light is in all human beings. As
such, when a person tries to do bad things - the person in his mind
will know that this is bad and one should not do it. If it is a good
thing, the person will know that this is a good thing to do. When still
the person does not go as per the guidance, Allah stops guiding the
person. It is also clear from the above that from the starting point the
religious experience is in all of us since Quran is clear:
Ash-Shams-91
7) And a soul and Him who perfected it.
8) And inspired it (with conscience of)
what is wrong for it and (what is) right for it.
Further Quran reveals that each human
being will return back to as He was brought into being:
At-Tagabun-64
3) He has created the heavens and the earth in just
proportions and has given you shape and made your shapes beautiful: and
to Him is the final Goal.
Al-Araf-7
29) Say: My Lord enjoineth justice. And set your
faces, upright (toward Him) at every place of worship and call upon Him with
true devotion. As He brought you into being, so return ye (unto
Him).
and since everyone He has created from
His source [which is not separate from Him] - light/soul - the same way
everyone will be returning inasmuch as it has already been set out
hereinabove that Prophet Muhammad had seen the greater revelation of the
Lord which is the "Asal Makan" - the soul is to be reunited as one
with this Light of His in Him and further Hadith reveals that
Prophet Muhammad had prayed that to God "do not cause me to die before Thou
lettest me see Ali :
Al-Tirmidhi - Hadith No.1592 narrated
Umm Atiyyah
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him)
sent off an army of which Ali was a member, and that she heard Allah's Messenger
say with his arms upraised, "O Allah, do not cause me to die before
Thou lettest me see Ali."
inasmuch as it has been made clear
hereinabove that one can seek His Face when He is physically present and when He
is not physically present.
It is significant to note that one of the
hadiths reveal:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 5.740 narrated by Aisha
[Extract]
.............. The last word he spoke was, "O Allah!
(with) the highest companion."
Al-Ahzab-33
21) Verily in the messenger of Allah ye have a
good example for him who looketh unto Allah and the last Day, and
remembereth Allah much.
Taking into account the aforesaid
[As He brought you into being, so return ye (unto Him) - the form
given will go away and only the soul will remain - to be in one with Allah's
soul], the paradise and hell, which the Quran reveals, is for
a certain period and then again there is rebirth inasmuch as Quran reveals:
Wa-Waqla, or The Inevitable Event
(56)
60) We have decreed Death to be your
common lot, and We are not to be frustrated.
61) From changing your Forms
and creating you (again) in (Forms) that ye know not.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad was the
Lord's light manifest which went back to Him after Prophet
Muhammad physically left the world.
Quran also reveals:
Al-Israa-17
49) They say: "What! When we are reduced
to bones and dust, shall we really be raised up again into a new creation?"
50) Tell them: "even if you be
stones or iron
51) or even something harder than this that you may
think of." Then they will ask: "Who will restore us?" Say: "The One Who created
you the first time." Then they will shake their heads at you and ask: "Well,
when will this be?" Say, "It may be quite soon!
The aforesaid verses reveal that that stones
or iron are also brought into a new creation. If a person
was not a human being but stones or iron, it will also be brought back into a
new creation.
Quran also reveals:
Al-Inshiqaq-84 19) Ye shall surely travel from
stage to stage.
20) What then is the matter with them that they believe not?
The stage to stage refers to from one form to another as the wordings
"believe not?" reveals since everyone knows of birth, young, middle-aged, old
age and death inasmuch as there are those who die immediately after birth or die
young.
The verse 49 of Al-Israa (17) reveals that the people will say "Who will restore us?" and
the answer given is "The One Who created you the
first time." As this is addressed to human beings
it is clear that human being has evoled into a human being from some other form
which Quran reveal "first time". It is thus clear that
the form of human being has evolved from some other form.
It thus appears that at the starting
point of creation - man was not a human being and after changing forms He has
come to this stage and Quran is clear that from here also a person can go higher
- if it is not able to attain oneness in Allah at this stage. At the same
time, it is possible the person may go lower or to the form He started from,
etc. depending on the deeds committed by a person inasmuch as Quran
reveals:
Ibrahim-14
51) That Allah may requite human
being according to its deeds; and verily Allah is Swift in calling account.
Quran also reveals:
An-Nabaa-78
40) Verily We have warned you of a Penalty near the Day
when man will see (the Deeds) which his hands have sent forth and the Unbeliever
will say "Woe unto me! Would that I were (mere) dust!"
From the aforesaid it appears the first form from where
human evolved to its present form is "dust". Dust, inter alia, means
earth, soil, mud, clay, dirt, fine particles of matter.
The aforesaid wordings "out of the earth" reveal
that man was first either in the form of soil, mud, stone, etc.
and from thereon his growth to the present form of human being inasmuch as
Quran elsewhere reveals:
Nuh-71
17) And Allah hath caused you to grow as a growth out
of the earth,
It is significant to note that Quran,
inter alia, reveals:
Al-Maarij, or the Ways of
Ascent - 70
1) A questioner asked about
a Chastisement to befall -
2) The Unbelievers, the
which there is none to ward off, -
6) They see
the (Day) indeed as a far-off (event):
7) But We see it
(quite) near.
10) And no friend
will ask after a friend
11) Though they will be
put in sight of each other the sinner's desire will be: would that he could
redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by (sacrificing) his
children
12) His wife and his brother
13) His kindred who sheltered him.
14) And all all that is on
earth so it could deliver him:
15) By no means! For it
would be the Fire of Hell!
16) Plucking out (his being)
right to the skull!
Al-Kahf-18
103) Say: "Shall we tell you of those who
lose most in respect of their deeds?
104) "Those whose efforts have been
wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their
works?"
105) They are those who deny
the messages of their Lord and the fact of their having to meet Him :
vain will be their works nor shall We on the Day of Judgment give them
any Weight.
106) That is their reward Hell;
because they rejected Faith and took My messages and My Messengers by way
of jest.
107) As to those who believe and work
righteous deeds they have for their entertainment the Gardens of
Paradise
Al-Hijr-15
16) It is We who have decked the
heavens with constellations and made them good looking for the
beholders;
Al-Mulk, or Dominion
(LXVII) 10) They will further say: "Had we but listened or used our
intelligence we should not (now) be among the Companions of the Blazing
Fire!"
Yunus-10
4) To Him will be your return of all of
you. The promise of Allah is true and sure. It is He Who beginneth the
process of Creation and repeateth it that He may reward with justice
those who believe and work righteousness but those who reject Him will have
nothing but draughts of boiling fluids and a Penalty grievous: because they did
reject Him.
From the aforesaid it can be noticed
that in paradise and hell, there are things, inter
alia, similar to the life in this world like fire, gardens, rivers, etc.
and in the paradise everything is good and clean and beautiful. It is
also clear that the human beings will see and recognise each others including
their near and dear relatives and hence the persons will have the same
forms hereinafter which they were having before their physical death and
they will go to paradise or hell in their same form. It is also to be
noted that the sinners' punishment of hell will be very very severe in the
sense that on seeing the things they will have to suffer - such
sinners will be ready to sacrifice even the near and dear ones to
save themselves, which will of-course not be accepted. Quran also reveals
that people see the day of judgment as far off but in Allah's sight it is
near.
Quran also reveals:
At-Tauba-9
72) Allah hath promised to believers men and women
gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein and beautiful mansions in
gardens of everlasting bliss. But the greatest bliss in the Good
Pleasure of Allah: that is the supreme felicity.
Quran reveals that people of the Paradise
will have good pleasure of Allah and hence He will be there amongst the people
and Quran mentions "the greatest bliss is the Good
Pleasure of Allah: that is the supreme felicity".
Taking into account the aforesaid, it can
be seen His followers are having the benefit of Paradise on earth itself since
He is amongst His followers.
It is to be noted that the
paradise and hell is created by Allah and hence everything is in this
universe.
Quran also reveals about different angels - which does
not have any physical form and there are those angels who regulate the
affairs of the world:
An-Naziat-79
1) By those angels who violently pull out the souls of
the wrongdoers,
2) and those who gently draw out the souls of the
righteous,
3) and those who glide about swiftly through space,
4) then speed headlong to carry out the commands of
Allah,
5) and those who regulate the affairs of the
world!
6) The Day on which the quake shall cause a violent
commotion,
Quran also reveals that when God will send an angel -
He would certainly send him in a human form:
Al-An'am-6
8) They say: "Why is
not an angel sent down to us?" If We did send down an angel the matter would be
settled at once and no respite would be granted them.
9) and if We had sent an angel, We would have
certainly send him in a human form .........
and the following
hadith reveals that angel Gabriel used to meet the Holy Prophet and his form was
human:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith - Hadith
4.827 Narrated byAbu Uthman
I got the news that
Gabriel came to the Prophet while Um Salama was present. Gabriel started talking
(to the Prophet) and then left. The Prophet said to Um Salama, "(Do you know)
who it was?" (or a similar question). She said, "It was Dihya (a handsome person
amongst the companions of the Prophet )." Later on Um Salama said, "By Allah! I
thought he was none but Dihya, till I heard the Prophet talking about Gabriel in
his sermon." (The Sub-narrator asked Abu 'Uthman, "From where have you heard
this narration?" He replied, "From Usama bin
Zaid.")
It is also significant to note that Quran also reveals that
the angel is, inter alia, in fact, a sign for the coming of the hour of
doom and as this refers to a person - it was Gabriel who used to come as a human
being during the time of Prophet Muhammad:
Az-Zukhruf-43
60) Had it been Our will, We could create
angels from you to succeed you in the earth.
61) He is, in fact, a sign for the coming of
the Hour of Doom. Therefore, have no doubt about its
coming, follow me; this is the Right Way.
The aforesaid is arrived also taking into account Quran
reveals there were people who thought Gabriel is an enemy ---- and the aforesaid
verse reveals "He is, in fact, a sign for the coming of the Hour of
Doom":
Al-Baqara-2
97) Say : "Whoever is the enemy of Jibra'el
(Gabriel) should know that he revealed this Qur'an to your heart by
Allah's command, which confirms previous scriptures, and is a guidance and good
news for the believers."
Al-An'am-6
8) They say: "Why is
not an angel sent down to us?" If We did send down an angel the matter would be
settled at once and no respite would be granted them.
and Quran, inter alia, reveals angels given different
responsibilities and they carry out the commands of Allah and hence when the
angel does comes any number of times it will be on Allah's
instructions:
An-Naziat-79
1) By those angels who violently pull out the souls of the wrongdoers,
2) and those who gently draw out the souls of the righteous,
3) and those who glide about swiftly through space,
4) then speed headlong to carry out the commands of Allah,
5) and those who regulate the affairs of the world!
6) The Day on which the quake shall cause a violent commotion,
and Quran also reveals:
Al-Baqara-2
98) Who is an enemy to Allah, and His angels and His
messengers, and Gabriel and Michael! Then, lo! Allah (Himself) is an enemy to
the disbelievers.
Quran reveals about
two angels present with every human being noting down the deeds of the
person:
Qaf - 50
17) Behold, two (guardian
angels) appointed to learn (his doings) learn (and note them), one sitting on
the right and one on the left.
18) Not a word does he utter
but there is a vigilant Guardian.
other
translation
Qaf -
50
17) Besides this direct
knowledge, We have assigned to every one two scribes (guardian angels), the one
seated on his right and the other on his left, 18) not a single word does he
utter but there is a vigilant guardian ready to note it down.
and Quran
reveals:
Al-Kahf-18
49) And the Book (of
Deeds) will be placed (before you); and thou wilt see the sinful in great terror
because of what is (recorded) therein; they will say "Ah! woe to us! what a book
is this! It leaves out nothing small or great but takes account thereof!" They
will find all that they did placed before them: and not one will thy Lord treat
with injustice.
Quran also reveals that when one leaves
this world physically - it would appear that they had in the world for a day or
at the most two :
An-Naziat-79
46) The Day they see it (it will be) as if they had
tarried but a single evening or (at most till) the following morn!
The following verse of the Quran
reveals on that Day Hell is brought in this world :
Al-Fajr-23
23) And Hell that Day is brought (face to face) on that
Day will man remember but how will that remembrance profit him?
other translation
Al-Fajr-23
23) hell shall be brought in sight. On that Day man will remember his
deeds, but how is that remembrance going to profit him?
and Quran also reveals:
Al-Muminun-23
101) And when the trumpet is blown there will be no kinship among them that
day, nor will they ask of one another.
Quran reveals God commanding
angels to prostrate before Adam - the first Prophet:
Ta-Ha-20 116) When We said to the
angels "Prostrate yourselves to Adam" they prostrated themselves but not Iblis:
he refused.
which, in turn, also reveals that angels, such as
Iblis, who had achieved a high status - all his achievement were wiped out due
to not obeying the Lord, in which case, there is again rebirth.
Quran nowhere reveals that angels go to hell and it is possible Iblis was saved
from Hell - but a single mistake like not obeying the Lord resulted in Iblis's
achievement being wiped out and becoming Satan and again the rebirth - it can be
stone, animal, etc..
From the example of Iblis [or Azazil], it is clear that
the satan is among oneself. One can achieve the highest or the lowest
position and this depends on oneself and it is pertinent to note that
Quran, inter alia, reveals:
Ya-Sin-36
19) They said: "Your evil omens are with
yourselves: (deem ye this an evil omen) if ye are admonished? Nay but
ye are a people transgressing all bounds!"
Quran also reveals:
An-Nisaa-4
150) Those who deny Allah and his Apostles and (those
who) wish to separate Allah from His Apostles saying:
"We believe in some but reject others": and (those who) wish to take a course
midway.
151) They are in truth (equally) unbelievers; and We
have prepared for unbelievers a humiliating punishment.
and Quran reveals:
Al-Hajj-22
75) Allah chooses Messengers from angels and from men:
for Allah is He Who hears and sees (all things).
Al-Araf-7
181) Of those We have created are people who direct
(others) with truth and dispense justice therewith.
Al-Lail-92
12) Verily We take upon Ourselves to
guide.
From the aforesaid verse no.150 of An-Nisaa-4 and other verses it appears that those angels or human beings who
reached greater heights and attained oneness with Allah were also sent by Him as
Prophets and saints and wise men, in which case, such persons including
Prophets are, besides human beings, illumined by Divine grace.
It is thus clear that the Messengers and saints and
wise men have, prior to their appointment/designation, have led a very
clean life keeping the heart and soul clean, remembered Allah and attained
Oneness in Him.
Yunus-10
4) To Him will be your return of all of
you. The promise of Allah is true and sure. It is He Who beginneth the
process of Creation and repeateth it that He may reward with justice
those who believe and work righteousness but those who reject Him will have
nothing but draughts of boiling fluids and a Penalty grievous: because they did
reject Him.
The option is open to the followers to reach the
highest or the lowest stage - one can reach the similar position/company of the
Prophets, saints, wise men or lowest:
An-Nisaa-4
69) Whosoever obeys Allah and the Rasool will be in the
company of those whom Allah has blessed - the Prophets, the truthful, the
martyrs, and the righteous: The best company are they.
It is also possible that from amongst the messengers
before Prophet Muhammad, God has choosen Himself as a Messenger to give His
messages directly and guide His followers since He is a human being and Quran
reveals:
Al-Hajj-22
75) Allah chooses Messengers from angels and from
men
Al-Lail-92
12) Verily We take upon Ourselves to
guide.
It is significant to note that Quran reveals:
Al-Hajj-22
52) Never did We send an apostle or a
prophet before thee but when he framed a desire Satan threw some (vanity) into
his desire: but Allah will cancel anything (vain) that Satan throws in
and Allah will confirm (and establish) His own revelations: for Allah
is full of knowledge and wisdom:
Quran also reveals
Adam, the first human being, possibly prior to His becoming a Messenger to
the people [taking into account verse 52 of Al-Hajj(22)], was also punished
and driven out of paradise when he disobeyed the Lord and subsequently Adam was
given appropriate words from his Lord and repented - and Allah
accepted his repentance :
Al-Baqara-2
35) And We said: O Adam! Dwell thou and thy wife in the
Garden, and eat ye freely (of the fruits) thereof where ye will; but come not
nigh this tree lest ye become wrongdoers.
36) But Satan caused them to deflect therefrom and
expelled them from the (happy) state in which they were; and We said:
................ There shall be for you on earth a habitation and provision for
a time.
37) Then Adam received appropriatewords from his Rabb and repented, and Allah accepted his
repentance. Surely Allah is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
From the aforesaid verse it is also clear that the Lord
gives appropriate words to His followers and in the aforesaid case the
appropriate words were given to enable Adam repent and Allah accepted
his repentance.
The actual position of Prophets or
human being is superior to the angels inasmuch as angels were told to bow
before Adam.
One should bow only to the
Lord unless He says so - it appears from the aforesaid verse about
Adam and Iblis that it was to make it clear to the angels that the position
of Adam is above angels and it appears Iblis did not like this
inasmuch as Quran reveals:
Al-Hajj-22
77) O, ye who believe! Bow down and
prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord, and do good, that
haply ye may prosper.
Fatir, or The Originator of Creation;
or Malaika, or The Angels (XXXV)
15) O ye men! It is ye that have
need of Allah: but Allah is the One Free of all wants, Worthy of all
praise.
The following hadith also reveals that the messengers also
have higher and lower position and Prophet Muhammad is the leader of the
messengers :
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1519 Narrated Jabir ibn
Abdullah
The Prophet (peace be upon him)
said, "I am the leader (qa'id) of the messengers, and
this is no boast; I am the seal of the prophets, and this is no boast; and I
shall be the first to make intercession and the first whose intercession is
accepted, and this is no boast."
and Quran, inter alia, reveals:
Al-Baqara-2
253) Of those messengers, some of whom We have caused
to excel others, ....
An-Nissa-4
174) O mankind! verily there hath come to
you a convincing proof from your Lord: for We have sent unto you a
light manifest.
Yunus-10
16) Say: "If Allah had so willed I should not have
rehearsed it to you nor would He have made it known to you. A whole
lifetime before this have I tarried amongst you: will ye
not then understand?"
Al-Anbiyaa-21
7) And We sent not before thee other than men whom
We inspired. Ask the followers of the Reminder if ye know not?
8) We gave them not bodies that would not eat
food, nor were they immortals.
Al-Muminun-23
51) O ye messengers! Eat of the good thing, and do
right. Lo! I am Aware of what ye do.
Al-Furqan-25
20) We never sent before thee any messengers but lo!
they ate food and walked in the markets. And We have appointed some of you a
test for others: Will ye be steadfast? And thy Lord is ever Seer.
Ar-Rad-13
38) We did send apostles before thee and appointed for
them wives and children: and it was never the part of an apostle to bring a Sign
except as Allah permitted (or commanded). For each period is a Book (revealed).
39) Allah doth blot out or confirm what He pleaseth:
with Him is the Mother of the Book.
Ibrahim-14
11) Their messengers said unto them: We are but mortals
like you, but Allah giveth grace unto whom He will of His slaves. It is not ours
to bring you a warrant unless by the permission of Allah. In Allah let believers
put their trust!
It is significant to note that Quran
reveals the people will have no excuse on that Day:
Ar-Rum-30
57) On that Day, no excuse of theirs will
avail the wrongdoers, nor will they be allowed to seek forgiveness.
and Quran reveals:
Al-Mulk, or
Dominion - 67 9) They will say: "Yes indeed: a Warner did come to us but
we rejected him and said `Allah never sent down anything : ye are in nothing but
a great error!'
10) They will further
say: "Had we but listened or used our
intelligence we should not (now) be among the Companions of the Blazing
Fire!"
whereas other
communities do have excuse that they did not know about the
message since Quran reveals "but most mankind know not":
Saba-34
28) And We have not sent
thee (O Muhammad) save as a bringer of good tidings and a warner unto
all mankind; but most of mankind know not.
and hence it appears the people of
the communities will be judged according to their obeyance of the rules and
regulations and messages given out by the Messengers concerned.
Quran also reveals
about presence of Jinns during the time of Prophet Muhammad - there are
Jinns who believe in Him:
Al-Ahqaf-46
29) Behold We turned towards thee a
company of Jinns (quietly) listening to the Qur'an: when they stood in the
presence thereof they said "Listen in silence!" When the (reading) was finished
they returned to their people to warn (them of their sins).
30) They said "O our people! We have
heard a Book revealed after Moses confirming what came before it: it guides
(men) to the Truth and to a Straight Path.
31) O our people, answer the one who is
calling you towards Allah and believe in him! Allah will forgive you your sins
and save you from a painful punishment.
and there were those amongst Jinns :
Al-Araf-7 179) Certainly,
We have destined many Jinns and human beings for hell; those are the ones who
have hearts with which they do not understand, they have eyes with which they do
not see, they have ears with which they do not hear. They are like animals - or
even worse than them , because they are those who are heedless.
History reveals that the angels appears
to have been given a big life span and it is significant to note that Quran
reveals about seven heavens and seven paths/roads:
Al-Muminun-23
86) Say: Who is Lord of the seven
heavens, and Lord of the Tremendous Throne?
87) They will say: Unto Allah (all that belongeth).
Say: Will ye not then keep duty (unto Him)?
An-Najm-53
26) And how many angels are in
the heavens whose intercession availeth naught save after Allah giveth
leave to whom He chooseth and accepteth!
Al-Mumunun-17
17) And We have created above you
seven paths, and We are never unmindful of creation.
From the aforesaid it is clear that if the person does
not attain oneness with Allah's all-powerful soul or oneness in Allah - (1) the
person will have to take rebirth in some form, (2) the person may enter paradise
or the person may enter hell - and again there is rebirth in some
form. It is also possible that the person may
not take rebirth in a physical form and become an angel if it has not been able
to attain oneness with Allah's all-powerful soul or oneness in Allah.
It is significant to note that, as set
out hereinabove, Quran reveals God created everyone from a single soul (and as
set out hereinabove soul is pure and does not die) and given a
physical form and hence God creating a human
being from a physical form which God created does not arise at
all inasmuch as each of His creation - the heavens and the earth and all
that is between them has a spiritual relation with the All-Powerful soul of
God's [which is pure] since each of them are created from His
source including the rain, the water we drink, air that we breathe,
etc. and a human being does not have a spiritual relation with another [as
one has with the All-Powerful soul God's] such as the physical forms like water,
clay, etc. or the respective individual soul of water, clay, etc. and
taking into account this and the following verses of the
Quran:
Ar-Rad-13
36) Those to whom We have given the Book rejoice at what hath
been revealed unto thee: but there are among the clans those who reject a part
thereof. Say: "I am commanded to worship Allah and not to join partners
with Him. Unto Him do I call and unto Him is my
return."
Al-Ankabut-29
6) And if any strive they do so for their
own souls: for Allah is free of all needs from all
creation.
Quran reveals some of the following
additions made by Uthman and/or His associates since it mentions God took
partners in the form of His own physical creation to create something
inasmuch as Quran, as set out hereinabove, is clear that He created everyone
from a single soul and given a form and He is independent/eternal:
Al-Anbiyaa, or The
Prophets-21
30) Do not the Unbelievers
see that the heavens and the earth were joined together (as one unit of
Creation), before We clove them as under? We made from water every
living thing. Will they not then believe?
Al-Hijr, or The Rocky Tract
(XV)
28) Behold! thy Lord said to
the angels: "I am about to create man, from sounding clay from mud
moulded into shape;
An-Nahl, or The Bee
(XVI)
4) He has created
man from a sperm-drop and behold this same (man) becomes an open
disputer!
Maryam, or Mary
XIX
67) But does not man call to
mind that We created him before out of nothing?
Al-Hajj, or The Pilgrimage
(XXII)
5) O mankind! if ye have a
doubt about the Resurrection, (consider) that We created you out of
dust, then out of sperm, then out of a leech-like clot, then out of a
morsel of flesh, partly formed and partly unformed, in order that We
may manifest (Our Power) to you; ===
Al-Muminun, or The Believers
(XXIII)
12) Man We did
create from a quintessence (of clay);
13) Then we placed him
as (a drop of) sperm in a place of rest, firmly
fixed;
Al-Furqan, or The Criterion
(XXV)
54) It is He who has
created man from water: then has He established relationships of
lineage and marriage: for thy Lord has power (over all things).
Ar-Rum, or The Romans
(XXX)
20) Among His Signs is this,
that He created you from dust; and then, - behold, ye are men
scattered (far and wide)!
Fatir, or The Originator
of Creation; or Malaika, or The Angels (XXXV)
11) And Allah did create you
from dust; then from a sperm-drop; then He made you in pairs. And no female
conceives, or lays down (her load), but with His knowledge. Nor is a man
long-lived granted length of days, nor is a part cut off from his life, but is
in a Book (ordained). All this is easy to Allah.
Sad (being one of the
Abbreviated Letters) (XXXVIII)
71) When thy Lord said unto
the angels: Lo! I am about to create a mortal out of
mire.
76) (Iblis) said: "I am
better than he: Thou createdst me from fire, and him Thou
createdst from clay."
An-Nur, or Light
(XXIV)
45) And Allah has
created every animal from water: ===
Al-Wagla, or The Inevitable
Event - (56)
35) We have created
them of special creation.
36) And made them
virgin-pure (and undefiled), -
37) Full of love (for their
mates) equal in age, -
Ar-Rahman, or (Allah) Most Gracious
(55)
14) He created man from sounding
clay like unto pottery,
15) And He created Jinns from fire
free of smoke:
Al-Mu-min, or The Believer -
4067) It is He Who has created you
from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a leech-like clot; then does He get
you out (into the light) as a child: ====
Al-Qiyamat, or the
Resurrection - 75
37) Was he not a
drop of sperm emitted (in lowly form) ?
Maryam, or Mary
XIX
67) But does not man call to
mind that We created him before out of nothing?
As-Saffat -
37
11) Just ask their opinion:
are they the more difficult to create, or the (other) beings We have created?
Them have We created out of a sticky clay!
In fact since God is eternal and He
creates everyone from His source which does not die and the form
changes itself reveals that creation is
perpetual and constant.
Quran also reveals:
An-Nisaa-4
121) They (his dupes) will have their
dwelling in hell and from it they will find no way of escape.
The aforesaid verse reveal there is no
escape from hell. In physical life, it is possible that people put in
prision may escape from prision by various methods like breaking the locks,
doors, gates and running away. However, the verses of the Quran reveal
that in hell there is no escape route at all - nor the person will be able to
die or suicide nor the master or malik of Hell will put an end to the
suffering because the person will have to be in hell for the
appointed term:
Al-Mumin-40
40) The one who does evil shall
be recompensed to the extent of the evil done; and the one who is a
believer and does good deeds, whether man or woman, shall enter the paradise and
therein receive sustenance without measure.
Ibrahim-14
16) Hell is next for him wherein he will be given
festering water to drink;
17) he will sip, but never will be able to swallow.
Death will surround him from all sides, yet he will not die;
beyond that there will be horrible punishment.
Az-Zukhruf-43
74) Lo! the guilty are immortal in hell's torment.
75) It is not relaxed for them, and they despair
therein.
76) We wronged them not, but they it was who did the
wrong.
77) And they cry: O master! Let thy Lord make an end of
us. He saith: Lo! here ye must remain.
and one of the most serious matter in the
sight of Allah is, inter alia, telling lies:
An-Nur - 24
15) Behold ye received it on your tongues
and said out of your mouths things of which ye had no
knowledge; and ye thought it to be a light matter while it was most
serious in the sight of Allah.
inasmuch as Quran reveals:
Al-Jathiya -
45
34) It will also be
said: "This Day We will forget you as ye
forgot the meeting of this Day of yours! And your abode is the Fire, and no
helpers have ye!
It is significant to note that one of the hadiths reveals :
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.476 - Aisha
The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, "Don't abuse the dead, because
they have reached the result of what they forwarded."
It also becomes clear from the aforesaid hadith that people of
the earlier age have already got the results of their deeds as the wordings
"they have reached the result of what they forwarded'
conveys.
History reveals that earlier the Lord had
come in different forms other then a human being - and it is significant to note
Quran reveals:
An-Naml-27
8) But when he came to the (Fire) a voice
was heard: "Blessed are those in the Fire and those around: and Glory to Allah
the Lord of the Worlds!
9) "O Moses! verily I am Allah the
Exalted in Might the Wise!...
Here it appears that the form of the Lord
was that of a fire.
Whatever the form He may have
earlier taken - Quran message is worship the Lord - the human form
:
Al-Araf, or The Heights -
7 [Translation]
194) Verily those whom ye
call upon besides Allah are servant like unto you: Call upon them,
and let them listen to your prayer, if ye are (indeed)
truthful!
195) Have they feet
to walk with? Or hands to lay hold with? Or eyes to see with?
Or ears to hear with? Say: "Call your `god-partners', scheme
(your worst) against me, and give me no respite.
It is significant to note Quran reveals
the followers should worship, serve the Lord and help Him :
Al-Araf, or The Heights
(VII) 206) Those who are near to thy Lord, disdain not to worship Him:
they glorify Him and prostrate before Him.
Muhammad-47
7) O ye who believe! If ye help Allah, He
will help you and will make your foothold firm.
Maryam-19
65) He is the Rabb of the heavens and the
earth, and of all that lies in between, so worship Him, be steadfast in His
worship. Do you know any other being with the qualities like Him?"
Al-Hashr-59
8) And (it is) for the poor fugitives who have been driven out
from their homes and their belongings, who seek bounty from Allah and help Allah
and His messenger. They are the loyal.
Al-Anbiyaa, or The Prophets (XXI) 92) Verily, this Ummah
of yours is a single Ummah and I am your Lord : therefore serve
Me.
Al-Anbiyaa,
or The Prophets (XXI) 19) To Him belong all (creatures) in the heavens
and on earth: even those who are with Him are not too proud to serve Him,
nor are they (ever) weary (of His service). 20) They celebrate His praises
night and day, nor do they ever weaken or intermit. 25) Not a messenger did We send before thee
without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that there is no God but I:
therefore, worship Me.
An-Nahl, or The Bee (XVI) 36) For We
assuredly sent amongst every People a Messenger, (with the Command), "Serve
Allah, and eschew Evil": of the people were some whom Allah guided, and some on
whom Error became inevitably (established). So travel through the earth, and see
what was the end of those who denied (the
Truth).
Al-Imran-3 30) "On the day when every human
being will be confronted with all the good it has done, and all the evil it
has done, it will wish there was a great distance between it and its evil. But
Allah cautions you (to fear) Him and Allah is full of kindness to those that
serve Him."
Ta-Ha - 20 14) "Verily, I am Allah: there is no god
but I: so serve thou Me (only), and establish regular prayer for My
remembrance.
Az-Zumar, or the Groups (XXXIX) 11) Say: "Verily,
I am commanded to serve Allah with sincere devotion;
Al-Ahqaf, or
Winding Sand-tracts (XLVI) 56) I have only created Jinns and men, that
they may serve Me.
Al-Hajj, or The Pilgrimage (XXIII) 11) There
are among men some who serve Allah, as it were, on the verge: if good befalls
them, they are, therewith, well content; but if a trial comes to them, they turn
on their faces: they lose both this world and the Hereafter: that is indeed the
manifest loss.
It is significant to
note the following verse of the Quran
reveals:
At-Tauba - 9
103) Of their wealth take alms, that so thou mightest purify and
sanctify them; and pray on their behalf. Verily thy prayers are a source of
security for them: and Allah is one who heareth and knoweth.
Other Translation
At-Tauba - 9
Take alms of their wealth wherewith thou mayst purify them
and mayst make them grow, and pray for them. Lo! thy prayer is an
assuagement for them. Allah is Hearer, Knower.
Quran reveals that as per Allah's instruction, the Holy
Prophet Muhammad used to take alms or contribution or
offering from His followers and used to purify them and used
to pray for those giving alms or contribution or offering out of their
wealth. Quran thus reveals giving alms from one's wealth
purifies the person and the concerned person gets blessed by such
acts.
[alms, inter alia, means contribution, offering, etc.]
It
is clear from the aforesaid verse of the the Quran and from those appearing
hereinbelow the benefits for giving contribution, charity, assistance, offering
to God is immense. It is also clear from the aforesaid Quran verse that the
person accepting such contribution should be authorised by God/Lord. The
aforesaid verse reveal that, at the relevant period, Allah/Lord had authorised
the Holy Prophet Muhammad to take the alms or contribution or offering or
charity.
At-Tauba - 9 53) Say: Pay (your contribution),
willingly or unwillingly, it will not be accepted from you. Lo! ye were
ever froward folk.
[froward, inter alia, mean disobedent]
54) The only reasons why their contributions are not accepted
are: that they reject Allah and His apostle; that they come to prayer without
earnestness; and that they offer contributions unwillingly.
The aforesaid, inter
alia, clearly reveals that if contributions paid were not willingly or
person paying the contribution rejected Allah and His apostle - the
contributions were not accepted by Allah. It is clear that, in such a
case, there is no benefit to a person who makes contribution in such a way and,
as such, the contribution is a waste.
Quran also reveals that:
At-Tauba (Repentance) or Baraat (Immunity) - (IX) 104) Know they
not that Allah doth accept repentance from His votaries and receives their gifts
of charity, and that Allah is verily He, the Oft-Returning, Most
Merciful?
other translation
At-Tauba -
104
9) Know they not that
Allah is He Who accepteth repentance from His bondmen and taketh the alms, and
that Allah is He Who is the Relenting, the Merciful.
[It is to be noted
that "alms", inter alia, also mean donation, assistance, charity, goodwill,
etc.]
Quran also
reveals God asks for all the good things (honorably) earned including
eatables:
Al-Baqara -
2
267) O ye who believe! give of
the good things which ye have (honorably) earned and of the fruits of the earth
which We have produced for you and do not even aim at anything which is bad, out
of it ye may give away something, when ye yourselves would not receive it except
with closed eyes. And know that Allah is free of all wants and worthy of all
praise.
Al-Anam - 6
141) It is He who produceth gardens
with trellises and without and dates and tilth with produce of all kinds and
olives and pomegranates similar (in kind) and different (in variety): eat of
their fruit in their season but render the dues that are proper on the day that
the harvest is gathered. But waste not by excess: for Allah loveth not the
wasters.
Sahih Al-Bukhari - 2.521 -
Narrated Aisha
The Prophet said,
"When a woman gives in charity from her house meals in Allah's Cause without
spoiling her husband's property, she will get a reward for it, and her husband
will also get the reward for his earnings and the storekeeper will get a reward
likewise."
The following hadiths reveals that
all the good things (honorably) earned given were then sold off :
Sahih Al-Bukhari - 2.566 -
Narrated Abdullah bin Umar
Umar bin Al-Khattab gave a horse in charity in
Allah's cause and later he saw it being sold in the market and intended to
purchase it. Then he went to the Prophet and asked his permission. The Prophet
said, "Do not take back what you have given in charity." For this reason, Ibn
'Umar never purchased the things which he had given in charity, and in case he
had purchased something (unknowingly) he would give it in charity again.
Sahih Al-Bukhari - 2.567 - Narrated
Umar
Once I gave a horse in Allah's cause (in charity)
but that person did not take care of it. I intended to buy it, as I thought he
would sell it at a low price. So, I asked the Prophet (p.b.u.h) about it. He
said, "Neither buy, nor take back your alms which you have given, even if the
seller were willing to sell it for one Dirham, for he who takes back his alms is
like the one who swallows his own vomit."
Sahih Al-Bukhari - 4.214 - Narrated Umar
bin Al Khattab I gave a horse to be used in Allah's cause, but later on I
saw it being sold. I asked the Prophet whether I could buy it. He said, "Don't
buy it and don't take back your gift of charity."
Quran also reveals that Allah used to ask for a beautiful
loan:
Al-Baqara - 2
245) Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful loan which
Allah will double unto his credit and multiply many times? It is Allah that
giveth (you) want or plenty and to Him shall be your return.
Al-Hadid -
57
11) Who is he that
will loan to Allah a beautiful Loan? For (Allah) will increase it manifold to
his credit and he will have (besides) a generous reward.
18) For those
who give in Charity, men and women, and loan to Allah a Beautiful Loan it shall
be increased manifold (to their credit) and they shall have (besides)
a generous reward.
At-Tagabun -
64
17) If you lend to
Allah a beautiful loan, He will double it for you and He will grant you
Forgiveness: for Allah is All-Thankful Most Forbearing.
It is significant to note that Quran reveals Allah used
to ask for loan from the Children of Israel :
Al-Maida - 5
12) Allah did aforetime take a Covenant from the Children of
Israel and We appointed twelve captains among them and Allah said: "I am with
you: if ye (but) establish regular prayers pay Zakat believe in My
apostles honor and assist them, and loan to Allah a beautiful loan, verily I
will wipe out from you your evils and admit you to gardens with rivers flowing
beneath; but if any of you after this resisteth faith he hath truly wandered
from the path of rectitude."
Quran also reveals that payment is a mean for drawing the
followers nearer to Allah and obtaining the prayers of the apostle:
At-Tauba - 9
99) But some of the desert Arabs believe in Allah and the
Last Day, and look on their payments as a means of drawing them nearer to Allah
and obtaining the prayers of the apostle. Indeed, closer they shall be brought:
soon Allah will admit them to His mercy. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
It is significant to note that Quran reveals Zakat is also
payable to Allah :
:
Al-Muzzammil, or Folded in Garments
(LXXIII)
20) === and establish regular prayer
and give zakat; and loan to Allah a Beautiful Loan. And whatever good ye
send forth for yourselves, ye shall find it with Allah. Yea, better and greater,
in Reward, and seek ye the Grace of Allah: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful.
Quran reveals Zakat is payable to Allah possibly because only
God knows who are the actual beneficiaries of the Zakat and so the result
is 100% right.
An-Naml - 27
1) Ta Sin. These are verses of the Qur'an a Book that makes
(things) clear;
2) A Guide; and Glad Tidings for the Believers
3) Those who establish regular prayers and give Zakat
and also have (full) assurance of the Hereafter.
The Quran and Hadith also reveals that Allah was also
entitled for one-fifth of the war booty (Khumus) during the relevant
time:
Al-Anfal
41) And know that out of all the booty that ye may acquire
(in war) a fifth share is assigned to Allah and to the apostle and to near
relatives orphans the needy and the wayfarer if ye do believe in Allah and in
the revelation We sent down to Our servant on the day of testing the day of the
meeting of the two forces. For Allah hath power over all things.
Sahih Al-Bukhari - 4.713 - Narrated Ibn Abbas
The delegates of 'Abd-ul-Qais came to Allah's Apostle and
said, "O Allah's Apostle! We are from the tribe of Rabi'a and the infidels of
Mudar tribe stand between us and you, so that we cannot come to you except in
the Sacred Months. Therefore we would like you to give us some instructions
which we may follow and convey to our people staying behind us." The Prophet
said, "I order you to observe four things and forbid you (to do) four things: (I
order you) to believe in Allah testifying that none has the right to be
worshipped except Allah; to offer the prayer perfectly; to pay the Zakat; and to
give one-fifth of the war booty to Allah. And I forbid you to use Ad-Dubba,
Al-Hantam, An-Naqir and Al-Muzaffat." (These are names of utensils in which
alcoholic drinks were served.)
As can be seen from the above, God has asked contributions in
various forms including Khumus and loans and it appears because God used to ask
such contribution there were people who used to say "God is poor while we are
rich":
Al-i'Imran - 3
181) God has indeed heard the saying of those who said
"Behold, God is poor while we are rich!" We shall record what they have
said, as well as their slaying of prophets against all right, and we shall say:
"Taste suffering through fire
One of the hadiths reveal:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.305 Narrated Abu Humaid As Saidi
[Extract]
The Prophet employed Ibn Al-Utbiyya to collect Zakat from
Bani Sulaim, and when he returned (with the money) to Allah's Apostle the
Prophet called him to account, and he said, "This (amount) is for you, and this
was given to me as a present." Allah's Apostle said, "Why don't you stay at your
father's house or your mother's house to see whether you will be given gifts or
not, if you are telling the truth?" Then Allah's Apostle stood up and addressed
the people, and after glorifying and praising Allah, he said: Amma Ba'du (then
after) I employ some men from among you for some job which Allah has
placed in my charge, and then one of you comes to me and says,
'This (amount) is for you and this is a gift given to me.' Why doesn't he stay
at the house of his father or the house of his mother and see whether he will be
given gifts or not if he was telling the truth? By Allah, none of you
takes anything of it (i.e., Zakat) for himself (Hisham added:
unlawfully) but he will meet Allah on the Day of Resurrection carrying it on his
neck!
Besides the
aforesaid, Quran also reveals about spending on :
Al-Baqara-2
215) They ask thee
what they shall spend. Say: That which ye spend for good (must go) to parents
and near kindred and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer. And whatsoever good
ye do, lo! Allah is Aware of it.
271) If ye publish your almsgiving, it is well, but
if ye hide it and give it to the poor, it will be better for you, and will atone
for some of your ill deeds. Allah is Informed of what ye do.
274) Those who spend their wealth in charity by night
and day, secretly and openly, they will have their reward from their Rabb. They
shall have nothing to fear or to regret.
The Quran and Hadiths reveal the following about the new
moon [Chandrat]:
Al-Baqara - 2
189) They ask thee
concerning the new moons. Say: they are but signs to mark fixed periods of time
in (the affairs of) men and for pilgrimage. It is no virtue if ye enter your
houses from the back; it is virtue if ye fear Allah. Enter houses through the
proper doors and fear Allah that ye may prosper.
Al-Tirmidhi - 368 - Narrated
Talhah ibn Ubaydullah - Transmitted by Tirmidhi.
On seeing a new moon,
the Prophet (peace be upon him) would supplicate: Allah, do Thou cause the
appearance of this moon to be a harbinger of peace, faith, security and Islam
for us. Thy Lord, O moon, and mine is Allah. May this be a moon presaging
guidance and good.
Al-Tirmidhi - 763 - Narrated Talhah ibn
Ubaydullah [Tirmidhi transmitted it,
saying this is a hasan gharib tradition.]
When the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw the
new moon he said, "O Allah, make the new moon rise on us with security, faith,
safety and Islam. My Lord and Your Lord is Allah."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah -
4.127C
'Abdallah b.'Umar reported that
when the Prophet, peace be upon him, saw moon he would say, "Allah is the
Greatest! O Allah, make it shine upon us in peace, faith, security, safety, and
with the power to do what You love and are pleased with! O moon! Your Lord and
our Lord is Allah." (At-Tabarani)
Qatadah reported that when the
Prophet, peace be upon him, saw the moon, he would say, "You are the new moon of
goodness and guidance, the new moon of goodness and guidance. I believe in Allah
Who created you." He said this three times. And then he would add, "Praise be to
Allah Who caused such and such month to go by in this manner and brought another
month (which he named)." This is reported by Abu Daw 'ud.
Quran reveals that struggle is the meaning of
life:
Al-Balad, or The City -
90
4) Verily We have created man into
toil and struggle.
It is clear from the above that to achieve something good,
whether beneficial in a worldly sense or spiritual sense, one must struggle/make
an effort.
An-Najm, or the
Star - 53
39) That man can have
nothing but what he strives for;
40) That (the fruit of) his
striving will soon come in sight;
41) Then will he be rewarded with a
reward complete;
other translation
41) whereupon he shall be requited
for it with the fullest requital;
Taking into account
the aforesaid, it is possible that man strives for good
things or bad things or both and depending on what the person
strives for, that the person will be rewarded.
Al-Hajj-22
56) On that Day the
Dominion will be that of Allah: He will judge between them: so those who believe
and work righteous deeds will be in Gardens of Delight.
57) And for those who
reject Faith and deny Our revelations there will be a humiliating
Punishment.
An-Naml-27
89) Those who have
done good deeds shall be rewarded with what is better and shall be secure from
the terror of that Day.
90) And those
who have done evil deeds, shall be flung upon their faces in the hellfire.
Should you not be rewarded according to your deeds?
An-Nisaa-4
147) Why should Allah
punish you if you are grateful and a true believer? Allah knows the grateful.
148) Allah does not like evil words
to be uttered except by someone who is truly wronged. Allah hears all and knows
all.
149) If you do good
deeds openly or in private or forgive an evil, then surely Allah is Pardoning,
Powerful.
Quran, inter
alia, reveals Allah forgives sins and is the acceptor of
repentance:
Al-Mumin-40
2) The revelation of
this Book is from Allah, the Almighty, the All-Knowledgeable,
3) the
forgiver of sins, the Acceptor of repentance, the Stern in punishment
and the Lord of bounty; there is no god except Him, to Whom all shall return.
and Quran also reveals:
An-Nisaa-4
17) Forgiveness is only incumbent on Allah toward those who
do evil in ignorance (and) then turn quickly (in repentance) to Allah. These are
they toward whom Allah relenteth. Allah is ever Knower, Wise.
It is significant to
note that Al-Tirmidhi Hadith
No.818 narrated Abbas ibn Mirdas
reveals Allah will not forgive those who have wronged others [Extract]
:
Allah's Messenger (peace be
upon him) prayed for pardon for his people on the late evening of Arafah and
received the reply, "I have forgiven them all but acts of oppression,
for I shall exact recompense for him who is wronged, from his
oppressor." He said, "O my Lord, if Thou wilt Thou mayest give the
oppressed some of Paradise and forgive the oppressor," but he did not receive a
reply that evening.
The aforesaid is arrived taking into account that Sahih
Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.351 narrated Abu Huraira reveals nobody can force Allah to
do something against His Will:
Allah's Apostle said, "None of you should say: 'O Allah,
forgive me if You wish; O Allah, be merciful to me if You wish,' but he should
always appeal to Allah with determination, for nobody can force Allah to
do something against His Will."
and the following reveals Allah forgives - respecting that which one owes
to Him :
Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 4 Number 105 [Extract] Anas
reported that he heard the Prophet, peace be upon him, saying that Allah says,
"O son of Adam, whatever you asked Me and expect from Me I forgave -
respecting that which you owed to Me - and I don't care
[how great this was]. O Son of Adam, even if your sins pile up to the sky and
then you seek My forgiveness I will forgive you, and O son of Adam, even if you
have an earthful of sins but you meet Me without associating any other thing
with Me I will forgive you.' (Reported by Tirmidhi, who considers it a hasan
sahih hadith)
and it is clear that if one has done something wrong to
others, forgiveness to the wrong doer from Allah is only subject to the person
who has been wronged forgives the wrong doer and the following hadith reveal
that the wrong doer should beg the person who has been oppressed by the wrong
doer for forgiveness:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.629 narrated Abu
Huraira
Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever has oppressed another person
concerning his reputation or anything else, he should beg him to
forgive him before the Day of Resurrection when there will be no
money (to compensate for wrong deeds), but if he has good deeds, those good
deeds will be taken from him according to his oppression which he has done, and
if he has no good deeds, the sins of the oppressed person will be loaded on
him."
and from the aforesaid it is also clear that Allah may
forgive sins of those who, out of ignorance, may not have prayed as one
should pray, not given contribution, etc. taking into account the
aforesaid hadith which reveals- "O son of Adam, whatever you asked Me and
expect from Me I forgave - respecting that which you owed to
Me - and I don't care [how great this was]" whereas those who do
wrong to others, the sins can only be forgiven after the wrong doer
begs for forgivess who was wronged and the person who was wronged forgives the
wrong doer.
Quran, inter alia,
reveals:
Bani
Israil, or the Children of Israel or Al-Isra [XVII] 77) (This was Our)
way with the messengers We sent before thee: thou wilt find no change in Our
ways.
From this verse it is
clear that just as earlier Prophets were literates, Prophet Muhammad was
literate inasmuch as Prophets before Muhammad had not started
any "burkha" system and nor was Prophet Muhammad to start such a system since
Quran is clear "thou wilt find no change in Our ways."
History reveals
that Khatija, wife of the Holy Prophet Mohammed was a successful business women
and participated actively in public life and the hadith reveals she was granted
paradise:
Sahih Al-Bukhari
Hadith 5.168 narrated Abu Huraira [extract]:
Gabriel came to
the Prophet and said, "O Allah's Apostle! This is Khadija coming to you with a
dish having meat soup (or some food or drink). When she reaches you, greet her
on behalf of her Lord (i.e. Allah) and on my behalf, and give her the glad
tidings of having a Qasab palace in Paradise wherein there will be neither any
noise nor any fatigue (trouble)."
It is
also significant to note that Quran reveals:
Al-Araf or The Heights (VII) 31) O Children of Adam! wear your beautiful
apparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: but waste not by
excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters.
32) Say: Who hath forbidden the beautiful (gifts) of Allah, which He hath
produced for His servants, and the things, clean and pure, (which He hath
provided) for sustenance? Say: They are, in the life of this world, for those
who believe, (and) purely for them on the Day of Judgment. Thus do We explain
the Signs in detail for those who know.
33) Say:The things that my Lord
hath indeed forbidden are: indecent deeds, whether open or secret;
sins and trespasses against truth or reason; assigning of partners to Allah for
which He hath given no authority; and saying things about Allah of which ye have
no knowledge.
Yunus, or Jonah (X) 59) Say: "See ye what things Allah hath sent down to you for sustenance?
Yet ye hold forbidden some things thereof and (some things)
lawful." Say:
"Hath, Allah indeed permitted you, or do ye forge (things) to attribute to
Allah?"
69) Say:
"Those who forge a lie against Allah will never prosper."
70) A little enjoyment in this world! - and
then, to Us will be their return. Then shall We make them taste the severest
Chastisement for their disbelief.
Qaf (50) 37) Lo!
therein verily is a reminder for him who hath a heart, or giveth ear with full
intelligence.
Az-Zumar, or the
Groups (XXXIX) 55) "And
follow the Best that which was revealed to you from your Lord, before the
Chastisement comes to you - of a sudden, while ye perceive not! -
Quran also reveals that
Lord hath commanded justice ---- :
Al-Araf, or The Heights 29) Say: "My Lord hath commanded justice; and that
ye set your whole selves (to Him) at every time and place of prayer, and call
upon Him, making your devotion sincere such as He created you in the beginning,
so shall ye return."
It is also significant
to note that Quran revealed during the time of Prophet Muhammad
conveys:
Al-Imran, or the
Family of Imran (III) 179)
"Allah will not leave the Believers in the state in which ye are now,
until He separates what is evil from what is good nor will Allah
disclose to you the secrets of the unseen, but He chooses of His Messengers whom
He pleases. So believe in Allah and His Messengers: and if ye believe and do
right, ye have a great reward without measure."
From the following
verses of the Quran it appears during the time of Abraham, people used to
worship things which they had carved themselves according to their own whims and
fancies and they had also taken Abraham's father into confidence into
worshipping such things, which made Abraham angry and further Quran reveals
idols are not meant for worship:
As-Saffat, or Those Ranged in Ranks
(XXXVII) 85) Behold, he said to his father and to his people, "What is
that which ye worship?" 86) "Is it a Falsehood - gods other than Allah that
ye desire?" 87) "Then what is your idea about the Lord of the Worlds?" 88)
Then did he cast a glance at the Stars, 89) And he said, "I am indeed sick
(at heart)!" 90) So they turned away from him, and departed. 91) Then did
he turn to their gods and said, "Will ye not eat (of the offerings before
you)?" 92) "What is the matter with you that ye speak not?" 93) Then did
he turn upon them striking (them) with the right
hand.
94) Then came (the worshippers) with
hurried steps and faced (him).
95) He said: "Worship ye that which ye
have (yourselves) carved?
96) "But Allah has created you and your
handiwork!"
The aforesaid verse again reveals that
some of God's characteristics/features/highlights/
virtues/abilities/attributes/signs are that He eats what is being offered to Him
by His devotees and that He also speaks inasmuch as
Lord Vishnu has come in different Avtaars or Forms i.e. Krishna, Ram,
etc. and shown their followers the right path and accepted offerings
made by the followers.
It is significant to note that
Quran reveals :
Ash-Shu'araa-26
69) Narrate to them the story of
Ibrahim, 70) when he asked his father and his people: "What is that which
you worship?"
71) They replied: "We worship
idols, and sit beside them with all devotion."
72) Ibrahim asked: "Do they hear
you when you call on them?
73) Can they help you or harm you?"
74) They replied: "No! But we found
our forefathers doing so."
75) Ibrahim said: "Have you
ever seen with open eyes these which you have been worshipping
in other words
75) He said: "Do ye then
see whom ye have been worshipping
76) - you and your
forefathers?
77)
They are all enemies to me; except the Rabb of the Worlds,
78) "Who
created me and it is He Who guides me;
The aforesaid verse of
the Quran reveals that one of the questions Ibrahim asked the people
whether they or their forefathers had ever seen with their
eyes which they had been worshipping makes it clear that people
should worship things which they and/or their forefathers had seen with their
eyes inasmuch as regarding worshiping of idols, the question was asked whether
they or their forefathers had seen the living beings with their eyes [since
the idol were already seen and hence it referred to living being] that
they were worshiping the idols. The word further reveals that all
amongst the idols are enemies of him except the Lord
of the Worlds - inasmuch as reference was made to the idols and
certainly Baatin was taken into account. The verse also makes it clear
that one should not worship the idols of God. It is clear that the
idols of God kept in the places of worship were not meant for
worship.
It has already been mentioned hereinabove
that one should take the Baatin into account vis-a-vis the image of the
Lord. One should not bow to idols - but when one looks at the image
of the Lord through idols, the person remembers Him and sees Him in front
and bows before Him [even though in a zaahir way it appears the person is bowing
before the idols].
From the aforesaid verses related to
Chapters As-Saffat, or Those Ranged in Ranks (XXXVII) and Ash-Shu'araa-26 it is
clear that some of God's characteristics/features/highlights/
virtues/abilities/attributes/signs are that He eats what is being offered to Him
by His devotees and that He also speaks. The aforesaid of the Quran
reveals that one of the questions Ibrahim asked the people whether they or
their forefathers had ever seen with their eyes which they had been
worshipping makes it clear that people should worship things which they and/or
their forefathers had seen with their eyes. Taking into account the
Quran as a whole, it is clear from the above that some of the forms of idol
worship to those who accepted Islam are bowing and worshipping the heavens and
the earth and all the things between them and rejecting the Lord and not
worshiping the Lord who created all
things.
It is also significant to note that one
of the hadiths mention that Allah created Adam in His Picture or
image :
The Prophet said, "Allah created Adam in
his complete shape and form (directly).....
Quran reveals:
Al-Kahf, or the Cave
(XVIII)
23) Nor say of anything, "I
shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow" -
The aforesaid verse reveals time is
important - and each second is good and auspicious and the following hadith
reveals:
Sahih
Al-Bukhari Hadith - Volume 6 Number 351 - Narrated Abu
Huraira Allah's Apostle said, "Allah said,
'The son of Adam hurts me for he abuses Time though I am
Time: in My Hands are all things, and I cause the revolution of day and
night.'
The following verse of the Quran
reveals:
Al-Fatiha - I (Ayat Nos.1 to
7)
"In the
name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful. All praise is due to
Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful,
the Lord of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship and from You alone we seek
help. Guide us on the right path, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed
favours, not of those cursed ones and nor of those who have gone
astray."
Quran reveals that Allah had
started the message with "In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent,
the most Merciful, etc." wherein He has also mentioned "You alone we
worship and from You alone we seek help." and this conveys Allah also prays to
Himself.
The following verses
of the Quran that during the time of Prophet Muhammad there were following kind
of people who rejected faith, termed believing people as fools, etc. and Allah
conveying the truth:
Al-Baqarah or the Heifer (The Cow) (II) 6) As to those who reject Faith, it is the
same to them whether thou warn them or do not warn them; they will not
believe. 7) Allah hath set a
seal on their hearts and on their hearing. And on their eyes is a veil; great is
the chastisement they (incur). 8) Of the people there are some who say: "We believe in Allah and the
Last day:" but they do not (really) believe. 9) Fain would they deceive Allah and those who believe, but
they only deceive themselves, and realize (it) not. 10) In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has increased
their disease: and grievous is the chastisement they (incur), because they lied
(to themselves). 11) When it
is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth," they say: "We are only ones
that put things right." 12) Of
a surety, they are the ones who make mischief, but they realize (it)
not. 13) When it is said to
them: "Believe as the others believe." they say: "Shall we believe as the fools
believe?" - Nay, of a surety they are the fools, but they do not
know. 14) When they meet those
who believe, they say: "We believe", but when they are alone with their evil
ones, they say: "We are really with you; we (were) only
jesting." 15) Allah will throw
back their mockery on them, and give them rope in their trespasses; so they will
wander like blind ones (to and fro). 16) These are they who have bartered guidance for error: but their
traffic is profitless, and they have lost true direction, 17) Their similitude is that of a man who
kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and
left them in utter darkness, so they could not see. 18) Deaf, dumb and blind, they will not return (to the
path).
It is significant to
note that the following verse of the Quran reveals that the creation does not
seemed alike and God is the originator which itself reveals that even human
beings are not exactly alike in all respects - the forms/figures, speech,
thinking, etc.:
Ar-Rad-13
16) Say : Who is Lord
of the heaven and the earth? Say: Allah! Say: Take ye then (others) beside Him
for protectors, which, even for themselves, have neither benefit nor hurt? Say:
Is the blind man equal to the seer, or is darkness equal to light? Or
assign they unto Allah partners Who created the like of His creationso that the creation (which they made and His creation) seemed alike to
them? Say: Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the
Almighty.
Quran, inter alia,
reveals:
As-Saffat, or Those Ranged in Ranks (XXXVII) 100)
"O my Lord! grant me a righteous (son)!" 101) So We
gave him the good news of a forbearing son. 102) Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious)
work with him, he said: "O my son! I have seen a vision that I offer thee
in sacrifice: now see what is thy view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do as
thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills one of the steadfast."
103) So when they had both
submitted (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for
sacrifice), 104) We called
out to him, "O Abraham!" 105) "Thou hast already fulfilled your vision!" -
thus indeed do We reward those who do right." 106) For this was a clear trial - 107) And We ransomed him with a momentous
sacrifice:
The aforesaid aspects demonstrates
that if Allah wishes, He tests his followers. Abraham nor his
son questioned God as to when He is most merciful why He is telling him to
sacrifice His son - shows the faith Abraham had in God.
Al-Baqara-2 155) Be
sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger some loss in goods or
lives or the fruits (of your toil) but give glad tidings to those who patiently
persevere.
156) Who say when afflicted with calamity: "To
Allah we belong and to Him is our return."
157) They are those on whom (descend) blessings
from Allah and Mercy and they are the ones that receive guidance.
Quran, inter
alia, reveals that the meat or the blood does not reach Allah:
Al-Hajj, or The Pilgrimage (XXII)
37) It is not their meat nor
their blood, that reaches Allah: it is your piety that reaches Him: He has thus
made them subject to you, that ye may glorify Allah for His guidance to you: and
proclaim the good news to all who do good.
Quran
reveals the following verse was revealed during the time of Prophet
Muhammad:
Al-Hajj,
or The Pilgrimage - XXII 39) To those against whom war is made, permission is given
to (fight), because they are wronged; - and verily, Allah is Most Powerful for
their aid; -
History does reveals
about wars at different periods and Krishna in the battlefield telling
Arjun to fight.
Quran reveals one
should not betray Allah and the Prophet:
Al-Anfaal or the Spoils of Ward (VIII) 27) "O you
who believe, do not betray Allah and the Prophet and do not betray your trusts
while you know."
Al-Hajj, or The
Pilgrimage - XXII
38) Verily Allah will
defend (from ill) those who believe: verily Allah loveth not any that is a
traitor to faith or shows ingratitude.
The following verse
of the Quran, inter alia, reveals one should believe in what the Lord says
and one should not cover the truth with falsehood nor conceal the
Truth:
Al-Baqara -
2
41) And believe in
what I reveal confirming the revelation which is with you and be not the first
to deny My revelation and do not barter away my messages for a trifling
gain: and fear Me and Me alone.
42) And cover not
Truth with falsehood nor conceal the Truth when ye know (what it is).
Quran also reveals
about singing glory and praise to their Lord [Ginans]:
Al-Mu'min -
40
7) Those who sustain the Throne (of Allah) and those
around it sing Glory and Praise to their Lord; believe in Him;
and implore forgiveness for those whobelieve: "Our Lord! Thy reach is over all
things in Mercy and Knowledge. Forgive then those who turn in repentance and
follow Thy Path: and preserve them from the Penalty of the Blazing
Fire!
It is significant to note that one of the hadiths
reveal:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith4.434 -
Narrated Said bin Al Musaiyab
'Umar came to
the Mosque while Hassan was reciting a poem. ('Umar disapproved of that). On
that Hassan said, "I used to recite poetry in this very mosque in the presence
of one (i.e. the Prophet ) who was better than you." Then he turned towards Abu
Huraira and said (to him), "I ask you by Allah, did you hear Allah's Apostle
saying (to me), "Retort on my behalf. O Allah! Support him (i.e. Hassan)
with the Holy Spirit?" Abu Huraira said, "Yes."
and Quran
reveals:
At-Tagabun-64
8) Believe therefore
in Allah and His Apostle and in the
Light which We have sent down. And Allah is well-acquainted with all
that ye do.
Hazrat
Hassan was later appointed as the Pir by Mawlana Hazar
Imam or Hazrat Ali and the Holy Prophet Muhammad is the First Pir of
the Ismaili Tariqah inasmuch as it is the Imam who appoints the
Pir.
From the following
hadith it is clear that Prophet Mohammad was appointed Pir by the Imam taking
into account that the hadith reveals "pay the fifth from the booty, and the
portion of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his special portion
(safi)":
Sunan of
Abu-Dawood - Hadith 2993 Narrated byYazid ibn Abdullah
We were at
Mirbad. A man with dishevelled hair and holding a piece of red skin in his and
came. We said: You appear to be a bedouin. He said: Yes. We
said: Give us this piece of skin in your hand. He then gave it to us and we read
it. It contained the text: "From Muhammad, Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him),
to Banu Zuhayr ibn Uqaysh. If you bear witness that there is no god but Allah,
and that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah, offer prayer, pay zakat, pay the
fifth from the booty, and the portion of the Prophet (peace be upon him)
and his special portion (safi), you will be under by the protection
of Allah and His Apostle." We then asked: Who wrote this document for
you? He replied: The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him).
Al-Ahzab-33
41) O believers!
Remember Allah as a frequent remembrance,
42) and glorify Him morning
and evening.
Yunus - 10
3) Verily
your Lord is AllahWho created the heavens and the earth
in six days and is firmly established on the Throne (of authority)
regulating and governing all things. No intercessor (can plead with Him) except
after His leave (hath been obtained). This is Allah your Lord; Him therefore
serve ye: will ye not celebrate His praises?
One of the hadiths also reveal:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.333 Narrated Abu
Huraira Ad Dausi
Once the Prophet went out during
the day. Neither did he talk to me nor I to him till he reached the market of
Bani Qainuqa and then he sat in the compound of Fatima's house and asked about
the small boy (his grandson Al-Hasan) but Fatima kept the boy
in for a while. I thought she was either changing his clothes or giving the boy
a bath. After a while the boy came out running and the Prophet embraced and
kissed him and then said, "O Allah! Love him, and love
whoever loves him."
It is also significant to note that Sahih
Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.819 narrated
by Aisha reveals about Fatima, daughter of Prophet
Muhammad:
............ Then he said.
'Don't you like to be the mistress of all the ladies of Paradise or the
mistress of all the lady believers? So I laughed for that.' "
and the following hadiths
reveal:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.301 Narrated
Aisha [Extract]
..... And when the Prophet saw me in this
sorrowful state, he confided the second secret to me saying, 'O Fatima!
Will you not be pleased that you will be chief of all the believing
women (or chief of the women of this nation i.e. my followers?)' "
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1631 narrated by
Hudhayfah
I
asked my mother to let me go to the Prophet (peace be upon him), pray the sunset
prayer with him, and ask him to pray for forgiveness for her and me. I went to
the Prophet (peace be upon him) and prayed the sunset prayer along with him, and
he remained in prayer till he prayed the night prayer. When he went off I
followed him, and when he heard my voice he said, "Who is this? Is it
Hudhayfah?" When I told him that it was, he said, "What do you require? Allah
forgive you and your mother! Here is an angel who has never come down to Earth
before to-night. He asked his Lord's permission to give me a greeting and give
me the good news that Fatimah will be the chief lady among the
inhabitants of Paradise, and that al-Hasan and al-Husayn will
be the chief ones among the youths who go to Paradise."
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1624
narrated by AbuSa'id
Allah's
Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "Al-Hasan and al-Husayn will be the chief
ones among the youths who go to Paradise."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 5.111
narrated by Al
Miswar bin Makhrama
Allah's Apostle said, "Fatima
is a part of me, and whoever makes her angry, makes me angry."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 5.61 Narrated Al
Miswar bin Makhrama
Allah's Apostle said, "Fatima is a part of
me, and he who makes her angry, makes me angry."
Quran also
reveals God sends blessings, honours His people:
Al-Ahzab-33
41) O believers! Remember Allah as
a frequent remembrance,
42) and glorify Him morning and
evening.
43) It is He
Who sends His blessings on you .......
Al-Fajr-89
15) As for man,
whenever his Lord trieth him by honoring him, and is gracious
unto him, he saith: My Lord honoureth me.
16) But when He tries
him through restricting his subsistence, he says: "My Rabb has humiliated me."
Quran also reveals
that Allah used to relate the story of the messengers:
Hud-11
120) And all that We
relate unto thee of the story of the messengers is in order that thereby We may
make firm thy heart. And herein hath come unto thee the Truth and an exhortation
and a reminder for believers.
120) All these
stories of the prior messengers that We relate to you are to strengthen
your heart therewith; through these you have received the knowledge of reality
and the believers have gotten admonition and a reminder.
The following
verse of the Quran reveals that one should celebrate and and glorify the name of
the Lord mornings and in the evenings in houses which He hath permitted to
be raised to honor [as already mentioned hereinabove He is the sole
authority in religious matter]:
An-Nur-24
36) in houses
which Allah hath permitted to be raised to honor; for the
celebration in them of His name: in them is He glorified in the mornings and
in the evenings
Hud-11
114)
Establish Salah ( prayers) at the two ends of the day and in the
early part of the night. Indeed virtues remove
evils. This is a reminder for the mindful.
["prayer", inter alia, means
plea, petition, request, invocation, offer, wish.]
The aforesaid verse
reveals that one should establish prayers at the two ends of the day and in the
early part of the night. The two ends of the days are one which begins and
one which ends - one prayer early morning [first end of the day] and
another prayer in the evening before setting of the night [second end of
the day] and another prayer after this - early part of the night.
Al-Israa-17
78)
Establish prayers at the going down of the sun till the darkness of the
night, and (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn. ........
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.547 - Narrated Jarir bin
Abdullah [Extract]
We were with the Prophet on a full moon night. He looked at
the moon and said, "You will certainly see your Lord as you see this
moon, and there will be no trouble in seeing Him. So if you can
avoid missing (through sleep, business, etc.) a prayer before
the rising of the sun and before its setting you must do so." He
(the Prophet) then recited the following verse: And celebrate the praises Of
Your Lord before The rising of the sun And before (its)
setting. (50.39)
Qaf-50
39) Bear then with patience all that they say and celebrate
the praises of thy Lord before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting
40) And during part of the night (also) celebrate His praises and (so
likewise) after the postures of adoration.
The following verse of the Quran reveals that
during the period of Moses He had revealed to Moses and his brother that they
should take their people to dwell in Misr [Eqypt] and make their houses as
their Qiblah (places of worship) and to establish prayers :
Yunus-10
87) We revealed Our
will to Musa and his brother, saying: "Take your people to dwell in Misr
[Eqpyt], and make your houses as your Qiblah (places of worship) and establish
Salah [prayers] and give good news to the believers!"
and Quran, inter
alia, reveals:
Al-Anam, or Cattle
(VI)
52) Send not away
those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face. In
naught art thou accountable for them, and in naught are they accountable for
thee, that thou shouldst turn them away, and thus be (one) of the
unjust).
Al-Kahf - 18
28) And keep yourself content with
those who call on their Lord morning and evening seeking his
Face; and let not thine eyes pass beyond
them seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; nor obey any whose heart We have
permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us one who follows his own desires whose
case has gone beyond all bounds.
Ar-Rad-13
22) Those who
patiently persevere seeking the Face of their Lord; establish regular
prayers; spend out of (the gifts) We have bestowed for their sustenance secretly
and openly; and turn off Evil with good: for such there is the final attainment
of the (Eternal) Home
The following verse
of the Quran reveals that the instruction from the Lord is the cure for
whatever (disease) is in the hearts:
Yunus-10
57) O mankind! There
has come to you an instruction from your Rabb, a cure for whatever (disease) is
in your hearts, a guidance and a blessing for the true believers.
58) Say: "In the
Bounty of Allah and in His Mercy in that let them rejoice": that is better than
the (wealth) they hoard.
and it is
significant to note that the following hadiths reveal one should keep the heart
clean and pure:
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith No.1369 Narrated Abdullah
ibn Amr
When Allah's Messenger was asked who was most
excellent, he replied, "Everyone whose heart is clear of pollution (makhmum
al-qalb) and whose tongue is truthful." On being told by his hearers that they
understood "whose tongue is truthful," but not makhmum al-qalb he replied, "The
one who is pure, the one who is pure, with no sin, iniquity, deceit, or envy."
and the following hadith reveals:
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith No.740 narrated
AbuHurayrah
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said,
"When a believer sins there is a black spot on his heart, and
if he repents and asks pardon his heart is polished; but if he does more it
increases till it gains the ascendancy over his heart. That is the rust
mentioned by Allah Most High, 'Nay, but what they were committing has spread
like rust over their hearts'."
The following once again gives importance to the
Baatin :
Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 1
No.27A
This is the desire to do the action and
to please Allah by following His command. It is purely an
act of the heart, for the tongue
(verbal pronouncement, and so on) has nothing to do with it.
To pronounce it is not part of the Islamic law. That the intention is obligatory
is shown in the following: 'Umar related that the Prophet, upon whom be peace,
said, "Every action is based on the intention (behind it), and everyone shall
have what he intended..." (Related by "the group.")
and Quran reveals:
Al-Maun-107
4) Ah, woe unto
worshippers
5) Who are heedless of their
prayer;
6) Those who (want but) to be seen
(of men)
It is also significant to note that Quran, inter
alia, reveals one should set their faces upright (towards Him) at every
place of worship and call upon Him:
Al-Araf-7
29) Say: My Lord enjoineth justice. And set
your faces, upright (toward Him) at every place of worship (kull
masjid) and call upon Him with true
devotion. As He brought you into being, so return ye (unto Him).
30) A party hath He led
aright, while error hath just hold over (another) party, for lo!
they choose the devils for protecting friends instead of Allah and deem that
they are rightly guided.
It is significant to note that one of the
hadiths reveals that Prophet Muhammad used to says "I turn my face in complete
devotion to One who is the Originator of Heaven and Earth and I am not of the
polytheists:
Sahih Muslim Hadith No.386 - Narrated Ali ibn
AbuTalib
When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)
rose at night for prayer, he would say: I turn my face in complete
devotion to One Who is the Originator of Heaven and Earth and I am not of the
polytheists. Verily my prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death
are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds. There is no partner with Him; this is
what I have been commanded (to profess and believe) and I am of the believers. O
Allah, Thou art the King, there is no god but Thee, Thou art my Lord, and I am
Thy bondsman. I wronged myself and make a confession of my sins. Forgive all my
sins, for no one forgives the sins but Thee, and guide me in the best conduct
for none but Thee guideth anyone (in good) conduct. Remove sins from me, for no
one else but Thou can remove sins from me. Here I am at Thy service, and Grace
is to Thee and the whole of good is in Thy hand, and one cannot come close to
Thee through evil. My (power as well as existence) is due to Thee (Thy grace)
and I turn to Thee (for supplication), Thou art blessed and Thou art exalted. I
seek forgiveness from Thee and turn to Thee in repentance. When he bowed, he
would say: O Allah, it is for Thee that I bow. I affirm my faith in Thee, I
submit to Thee, and submit humbly before Thee my hearing, my eyesight, my bones,
my sinews. When he would raise his head, he would say: O Allah, our Lord, praise
is due to Thee, (the praise) which fills the Heavens and Earth, and which fills
that (space) which exists between them, and fills anything that Thou desireth
afterwards. When he prostrated himself, he (the Holy Prophet) would say: O
Allah, it is to Thee that I prostrate myself, it is in Thee that I affirm my
faith, and I submit to Thee . My face is submitted before One Who created it,
shaped it and opened his faculties of hearing and seeing. Blessed is Allah, the
best of Creators He would then say between Tashahhud and the pronouncing of
salutation: Forgive me the earlier and later, open and secret (sins), and where
I have transgressed and that Thou knowest better than I. Thou art the
First and the Last. There is no god but Thee.
Quran, inter alia, reveals:
Al-Baqara - 2 177) It is not
righteousness that ye turn your faces toward East or West; but it is
righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and
the Book and the Messengers; to spend of your substance out of love for Him for
your kin for orphans for the needy for the wayfarer for those who ask and for
the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer and practice regular charity; to
fulfil the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient in pain (or
suffering) and adversity and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the
people of truth the Allah-fearing.
An-Nahl-16
9) And Allah's is the direction of the way, and
some (roads) go not straight. And had He willed He would have led you all
aright.
Al-Hajj-22
77) O, ye who believe! Bow down and prostrate
yourselves, and worship your Lord, and do good, that haply ye may prosper.
The following verses of the Quran, inter
alia, appears to reveal that God gives evil doers respite till the period
the person sins reaches its limit and the punishment comes slowly:
Al-i'Imran-3
178) Let not the Unbelievers think
that Our granting of respite is good for themselves. We grant them respite
so that they may add more to their sins. They shall have a
disgraceful punishment.
Ibrahim-14
42) Think not that
Allah doth not heed the deeds of those who do wrong. He but giveth them respite
against a Day when the eyes will fixedly stare in horror
47) So think
not that Allah will fail to keep His promise to His messengers. Lo! Allah is
Mighty, Able to Requite (the wrong).
An-Nahl-16
61) If Allah were to
punish men for their wrongdoing He would not leave on the (earth) a single
living creature: but He gives them respite for a stated term: when their term
expires they would not be able to delay (the punishment) for a single hour just
as they would not be able to anticipate it (for a single hour).
Luqman (the Wise)
[XXXI]
23) But if any
reject Faith, let not his rejection grieve thee: to Us is their Return, and We
shall tell them the truth of their deeds: for Allah knows well all that is in
(men's) hearts.
24) We grant
them their pleasure for a little: in the end shall We drive them to a
chastisement unrelenting.
An-Nahl-16
44) With clear proofs
and writings; and We have revealed unto thee the Remembrance that thou mayst
explain to mankind that which hath been revealed for them, and that haply they
may reflect.
45) Do then those who
devise evil (plots) feel secure that Allah will not cause the earth to swallow
them up or that the Wrath will not seize them from directions they little
perceive?
46) Or that He may
not call them to account in the midst of their goings to and fro without a
chance of their frustrating Him?
47) Or that He may
not call them to account by a process of slow wastage--for thy
Lord is indeed full of kindness and mercy.
The following verses of the Quran reveals wisdom comes to
those with whom Allah is happy:
Al-Baqara-2
269) He granteth
wisdom to whom He pleaseth; and he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a
benefit overflowing; but none will grasp the message but men of understanding.
It is significant to note that one of the hadiths
reveal:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.146 narrated Abu
Huraira
The Prophet said, "The Hour (Last Day) will not be
established until (religious) knowledge will be taken away (by the death of
religious learned men), earthquakes will be very frequent, time will pass
quickly, afflictions will appear, murders will increase and money will overflow
amongst you."
The following verses of the Quran reveals that there were
people appointed during the time of Prophet Muhammad whose affairs were a
matter of counsel :
Ash-Shura-42
38) And those who answer the call of their Lord and establish
worship, and whose affairs are a matter of counsel, and who spend of what We
have bestowed on them,
39) And those who, when great wrong is done to them, defend
themselves,
40) The guerdon of an ill deed is an ill the like thereof.
But whosoever pardoneth and amendeth, his wage is the affair of Allah. Lo! He
loveth not wrong doers. 41) And whoso defendeth himself after he hath
suffered wrong for such, there is no way (of blame) against them.
42) The way (of blame) is only against those who oppress
mankind, and wrongfully rebel in the earth. For such there is a painful doom.
43) And verily whoso is patient and forgiveth, lo! that,
verily, is (of) the steadfast heart of things.
Al-Mujadila-58
9) O ye who believe! when ye hold secret counsel do it not
for iniquity and hostility and disobedience to the Prophet; but do it for
righteousness and self-restraint; and fear Allah to whom ye shall be brought
back.
An-Nisaa-4
58) Allah doth command you to render back
your trusts to those to whom they are due; and when ye judge between people
that ye judge with justice: verily how excellent is the teaching which He giveth
you! for Allah is He who heareth and seeth all things.
The following verses of the Quran reveals
that Allah calls all those who believe in Him including those who showed eager
to do service [voluntary or paid] and were appointed by Allah and the Prophet
not to betray Allah and the Prophet .... :
Al-Anfaal or the
Spoils of Ward (VIII)
27) "O you who believe, do not betray Allah and
the Prophet and do not betray your trusts while you
know."
It is also significant to note that Quran
reveals God called Moses nearer converse in secret:
Maryam, or Mary XIX 51) Relate
to them the story of Musa in the Book; surely he was a chosen man and was a
Rasool, a Prophet.
52) And We called him from the right side of Mount
(Sinai), and made him draw near to Us, for converse in
secret.
It is significant to note that the following hadiths
reveal:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.613 narrated by Abu
Huraira
The Prophet said, "Take refuge with Allah from the
difficulties of severe calamities, from having an evil end and a bad fate and
from the malicious joy of your enemies."
Quran reveals that the calamity takes
place/occur by Allah's leave:
At-Tagabun-64
11) No calamity befalleth save by Allah's leave. And
whosoever believeth in Allah, He guideth his heart. And Allah is Knower of all
things.
It is significant to note that Quran, inter
alia, reveals:
Yunus-10
107) If Allah do touch thee with hurt there is none can
remove it but He: if He do design some benefit for thee there is
none can keep back His favor: He causeth it to reach whomsoever of
His servants He pleaseth. And He is the Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.
The following verse was revealed during the time of Prophet
Muhammad and it reveals that the best of provisions is right conduct
:
Al-Baqara-2
197) For Hajj are the months
well known. If anyone undertakes that duty therein let there be no obscenity nor
wickedness nor wrangling in the Hajj. And whatever good ye do (be sure) Allah
knoweth it. And take a provision (with you) for the journey but the
best of provisions is right conduct. So fear Me O ye that are
wise.!
and it is significant to note that Quran,
inter alia, reveals:
Az-Zumar, or the Groups (XXXIX)
52) Know they not that Allah
enlarges the provision or restricts it, for any He pleases? Verily, in this
are Signs for those who believe!
Taha-20
131) Nor strain thine eyes in
longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to parties of them the
splendor of the life of this world through which We test them: but the
provision of thy Lord is better and more enduring.
Quran also reveals Allah does not disdain
to use the similitude of things, even of a gnat as well as anything above
it:
Al-Baqarah-2 26) Allah
disdain not to use the similitude of things, even of a gnat as well as anything
above it. Those who believe know that it is the truth from their Lord; but those
who reject Faith say: "What means Allah by this similitude? By it He causes many
to stray, and many He leads into the right path; but He causes not to stray,
except those who forsake (the path),
-
The following verse of the
Quran reveals that to such as Allah rejects from His guidance there can be no
guide: He will leave them in their trespasses, wandering in
distraction:
Al-Araf, or The Heights
(VII)
186) To such as Allah
rejects from His guidance, there can be no guide: He will leave them in their
trespasses, wandering in distraction.
and it is clear from the aforesaid verse 26 of
Al-Baqarah(2) that He causes not to stray, except those who forsake (the
path).
The following hadiths reveals that Prophet Muhammad used to
arrange horse races:
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 4.122 Narrated byAbu Ishaq from Musa bin Uqba from Mafia from Ibn Umar who said
"Allah's Apostle arranged a horse race amongst the horses that had been made
lean, letting them start from Al-Hafya' and their limit (distance of running)
was up to Thaniyat-al-Wada'. I asked Musa, 'What was the distance between the
two places?' Musa replied, 'Six or seven miles. He arranged a race of the horses
which had not been made lean sending them from Thaniyat-al-Wada', and their
limit was up to the mosque of Bani Zuraiq.' I asked, 'What was the distance
between those two places?' He replied 'One mile or so.' Ibn 'Umar was amongst
those who participated in that horse race."
Sahih Al-Bukhari HadithHadith 1.412 Narrated
byAbdullah bin Umar Allah's
Apostle ordered for a horse race; the trained horses were to run from a place
called Al-Hafya' to Thaniyat Al-Wada' and the horses which were not trained were
to run from Al-Thaniya to the Masjid (mosque of) Bani Zuraiq. The sub narrator
added: Ibn Umar was one of those who took part in the
race.
Quran revealed during the time of Prophet
Muhammad
conveys:
Al-Anbiyaa, or The
Prophets (XXI)
7) Before thee, also,
the messengers We sent were but men, to whom We granted inspiration: if ye know
this not, ask of those who possess the Message.
8) Nor did We give
them bodies that ate no food, nor were they immortals.
34) We
granted not to any man before thee permanent life (here): if then
though shouldst die, would they live permanently?
Ya-Sin - XXXVI
68) If We grant long life to
any, We cause him to be reversed in nature: will they not then
understand?
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith No.32
narrated by Abdullah ibn Busr al-Aslami
The Prophet (peace be upon him)
said: The best person is he who has a long span of life and whose action and
conduct are good.
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith No.1395
narrated by AbuBakr
When a man asked Allah's Messenger
(peace be upon him), who among men was best, he replied, "He who has a long life
and does what is good." He asked who among men was worst and he replied, "He who
has a long life and does what is evil."
The following verse of the
Quran reveals that normal age limit of a human being is not
much taking into account forty years is the age of full maturity
:
Al-Ahqaf-46
15) We have enjoined
on man Kindness to his parents: in pain did his mother bear him and in pain did
she give him birth. The carrying of the (child) to his weaning is (a period of)
thirty months. At length when he reaches the age of full maturity and
attains forty years he says "O my Lord! grant me that I may be grateful for Thy
favor which Thou hast bestowed upon me and upon both my parents and that I may
work righteousness such as Thou mayest approve; and be gracious to me in my
issue. Truly have I turned to Thee and truly do I bow (to Thee) in
Islam."
and the following
hadiths reveal:
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith
1393 narrated by AbuHurayah
The Prophet (peace be
upon him) said, "My people live from sixty to seventy years, and very few live
longer."
Fiqh-us-Sunnah
4.26
Tirmidhi reported from Abu Hurairah
that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "The life-span of those in my ummah
is 60 to 70 years. And a very few of them will exceed this span."
The following hadiths
reveal that the Prophet Muhammad also used to recite the Quran in a pleasing sweet sounding voice and since
the wordings contain "Allah never listens..." it is clear that Prophet Muhammad
was praying - the prayers should have a pleasant sweet sounding voice
:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.574
narrated by Abu Huraira
[Extract]
Allah's Apostle said, "Allah never
listens to anything as He listens to the Prophet reciting Qur'an in a
pleasant sweet sounding voice."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.634
narrated by Abu Huraira
that he heard the Prophet saying,
"Allah does not listen to anything as He listens to the recitation of the Quran
by a Prophet who recites it in attractive audible sweet sounding voice."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith
6.576 narrated by Abdullah bin
Masud reveals Prophet Muhammad used to check the knowledge of the
people:
The Prophet said to me, "Recite
Quran to me." I said to him. "Shall I recite (it) to you while it has been
revealed to you?" He said, "I like to hear it from another
person."
The following verse of the Quran
reveals God used to give blessings both ways i.e. Zaahir and Baatin [zaahirah
wa- baatin]:
Luqman-31
20) Do ye not see that Allah has
subjected to your (use) all things in the heavens and on earth and has made His
bounties [blessings, favors] flow to you in exceeding measure (both) seen
[Zaahir] and unseen [Baatin]? Yet there are
among men those who dispute about Allah without knowledge and without guidance
and without a Book to enlighten them!
Quran also
reveals:
Al-Baqara-2
276) Allah will
deprive usury of all blessing but will give increase for deeds of charity: for
He loveth not creatures ungrateful and wicked.
The aforesaid verse
also conveys He loveth not creatures ungrateful and wicked and hence it is clear
that Allah will deprive ungrateful and wicked of all blessings. Usury,
inter alia, means interest in excess of a legal rate charged to a borrower for
the use of money / the lending of money at exorbitant interest rates.
It is significant to note that the
following hadith reveals:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith
7.543 Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah
I was with the Prophet and the time
for the 'Asr prayer became due. We had no water with us except a little which
was put in a vessel and was brought to the Prophet. He put his hand into it and
spread out his fingers and then said, "Come along! Hurry up! All those who
want to perform ablution. The blessing is from Allah.'' I saw the water
gushing out from his fingers. So the people performed the ablution and
drank, and I tried to drink more of that water (beyond my thirst and
capacity), for I knew that it was a blessing. The sub-narrator said: I
asked Jabir, "How many persons were you then?" He replied, "We were one-thousand
four hundred men." Salim said: Jabir said, 1500.
Sunan of Abu-Dawood 2348 -
Narrated Salman ibn Amir The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: When one
of you is fasting, he should break his fast with dates; but if he cannot get
any, then (he should break his fast) with water, for water is purifying.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.140 Narrated
Anas We were with the Prophet (on a journey)
and the only shade one could have was the shade made by one's own garment. Those
who fasted did not do any work and those who did not fast served the camels and
brought the water on them and treated the sick and (wounded). So, the Prophet
said, "Today, those who were not fasting took (all) the reward."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.83 Narrated
Abu Huraira The Prophet said, "Whoever does not give up false statements
(i.e. telling lies), and evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah
is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink."
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.127 narrated by Abu
Huraira
The Prophet said, "Whoever does not give
up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food
and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)"
The following hadith reveals that there
was a time when alcoholic beverages were permitted and subsequently
prohibited:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.142 Narrated
Jabir
Some people drank alcoholic beverages in the morning (of
the day) of the Uhud battle and on the same day they were killed as martyrs, and
that was before wine was prohibited.
The following verse of the Quran seem to
reveal that the speech reveals what kind the person is :
Muhammad-47
29 Or do those in whose hearts is a disease think that
Allah will not bring to light all their rancor?
30) Had We so willed We could have shown
them up to thee and thou shouldst have known them by their marks: but surely
thou wilt know them by the tone of their speech! And Allah knows All that ye
do.
Quran reveals:
Az-Zumar-39
29) Allah puts forth a
Parable - a man belonging to many partners at variance with each other and a man
belonging entirely to one master : are those two equal in comparison? Praise be
to Allah! But most of them have no knowledge.
and one of the Hadiths reveals:
Al-Tirmidhi Hadith - 1585
- Narrated Hubshi ibn Junadah
Allah's Messenger (peace be
upon him) said, "Ali pertains to me and I pertain to Ali and no one will
conclude anything on my behalf but myself or Ali."
Ya-Sin - 36
12) ..... And We
have vested everything in the manifest Imam.
Ar-Rahman, or (Allah) Most Gracious
-55 26) All that is on earth will perish: 27) But will abide
(for ever) the Face of thy Lord, - full of Majesty, Bounty and
Honour. 28) Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye
deny? 29) Of Him seeks (its need) every creature in the heavens and on earth:
every day in (new) Splendor doth He (shine)!
An-Nas-114
1) Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of
Mankind 2) The King (or Ruler) of Mankind
3) The Allah (or Judge) of Mankind
SOME OF THE FARMANS OF
MAWLANA HAZAR IMAM
FARMAN MUBARAK OF
MAWLANA HAZAR IMAM - NAIROBI, KENYA SUNDAY, 11TH DECEMBER,
1988
My beloved spiritual
children,
To all my spiritual
children here, today, to each and everyone of you individually and to your
families and to your Jamats, I give you my warmest, my most affectionate and my
best special loving blessings. Khanavadan, Khanavadan, Khanavadan.
I want to begin this
Farman this evening by sharing with you how much I would have wanted to be with
you on the actual day of my birthday. This is a matter which worried me because
I knew that the Jamat wanted me with them and I wanted to be with you, but I
have been travelling a great deal. As you know, I have three children, and these
three children are at different schools in different countries, and, like in
many things of human life, the schools never agree on when the children should
go on holiday. So they have different dates of holidays, and the children want
to go to different places in the world, and they have two parents, my wife and
me. So our problem has been to try to make sure that the children, as they come
out from school, are with their parents, which is what we wish, which is what, I
think, all parents wish. In addition, there is a great deal of work which I have
to do and, therefore, I decided that I would spend this evening with my Jamat
here, but that I would leave, unfortunately, the day before my birthday. But
that gives you a chance to have this cake two days earlier, and if you send a
little bit of it this evening, I will have it and think of my Jamat on the
actual day of my birthday. Remember, and I have said this often, even if I am
not physically with my spiritual children, I am with you all the time, in heart,
in thoughts and in prayers. So on the day of my birthday, I am with you. Be sure
of that.
My beloved spiritual
children,
I have come to Kenya to
celebrate with you 25 years of Kenya's independence, and in these 25 years, many
things have happened. But though there have been problems in some parts of the
world, there have been successes in others. In essence, the ethic, the practice
of our Faith must remain at all times solid, clear, shared and well understood.
As these 25 years have gone, Jamats who did not have regular contact with the
Imam of the time, have more and more contact with the Imam - Jamats in North
West Pakistan, Jamats in Afghanistan, Jamats in China; Insha-Allah, one day
Jamats in the Soviet Union. As these Jamats enter into contact with you and with
the Imam, first of all, that link is reinforced. But secondly, we learn about
the way the tradition has been continued even without contact with the Imam of
the time, how that practice has continued, how the tradition has evolved. And
this means that whereas the Jamats from the Indian sub-continent have, what you
call, a Ginan, the Jamats in Iran or Afghanistan may have, what you call, a
Qasida. But what I am underlining to you, today, is that as these traditions
become more widely known from parts of the world where the Jamat was unable to
make contact, and they enter into contact with the Imam of the time, these
traditions must be upheld, must be understood and, under the Imam's leadership,
they must be more and more shared amongst the Jamat. This will require that the
Imam, from time to time, will give direction not only on worldly matters but on
matters of the practice of the Faith, on the way it is taught. But remember, in
our tariqah, the Imam is the sole authority to make those decisions, and he
makes them from the roots of the past of the Shia tariqah and the appointment of
Hazrat Ali. Remember that, because that is the essence, and at no time, must
that be modified or changed. So what I am saying to my Jamat today is that, as
years go by, in the years ahead, Insha-Allah, we will learn a great deal more
about spiritual children from parts of the world with which we have had little
or no contact, not only for decades but for centuries. And as they come forward,
they will bring to us their traditions, their literature, their affection, their
songs, their dress, their language, their practice, and this is what is so
unique in our tariqah. The tariqah has evolved in different parts of the world,
in different languages, in different societies; and whereas sometimes there is a
sense in the Ummah and outside that diversity is a weakness, I assure you
diversity is strength. It is strength. The more a tariqah such as ours benefits
from the creativity, the wisdom, the knowledge of people from more and more
parts of the world, the stronger is the tariqah, the greater are its resources,
and this is a fundamental point to keep in mind. So if you find that in the
decades ahead, I will be concerned for the future of the Jamat in countries such
as Afghanistan, remember that it is because every time these contacts are
established, its strengthens our Jamat; that is one of the principal concerns
everyday of the Imam of the time.
This is a wonderful
vision, and it is a privileged vision for our tariqah, and we must uphold it and
we must be thankful for it. This is something to which I attach the highest
importance.
Here in Kenya, the 25
years that have gone by have been stable: The Jamat has progressed well. Its
economic standards, I believe, have improved. Its educational standards are
sound; more and more, the youth is becoming better and better qualified for the
years ahead. But let me underline to you that this is a matter which must
continue. The young must continue to seek education. They must continue to seek
the opportunity to have access to the best institutions, because it is only
through the strength of each individual in the Jamat, the intellectual strength,
the competence, that the Jamat as a whole will improve its conditions. This is
true not only in Africa, it is true throughout the world. In thinking of the
Jamats in other parts of the world, you will realize how important it has been
that the spiritual children, for example, of Uganda, received a good education,
because when tragedy affected their lives in the most dramatic, the most
unacceptable and the most brutal form, the young men and women who left that
country entered a new world where they had never been before, but they spoke the
language, their degrees were recognized and they were able to start a new life,
and today they have been successful in this new life. What I have said in
previous Farmans to my spiritual children remains as true today as it did when I
said it the first time. You may lose everything in life, but nobody, unless they
take your head, can take your knowledge, your wisdom and your education. This is
something which is personal to every individual throughout his life. So for the
young who are in school today, remember that though you are in a society and in
an environment which has made good progress, do not compromise your education.
Work as hard today as your parents did before you. Seek to optimize every
opportunity that you have, and I am looking at young spiritual children in the
Jamat one by one. I am looking at you, I am saying to you: Keep this in your
minds because this is an opportunity that you must not lose.
My beloved spiritual
children,
I hope that in the
years ahead you will make good progress in Kenya, that you will find happiness
in Kenya, find unity and that you will be blessed with Baraka. I give to each
and everyone of you, on this most happy occasion, my special blessings for your
good health, for the fulfillment of your wishes, for strength on
Sirat-al-Mustaqeem, and that all your wishes may be fulfilled.
Khanavadan, Khanavadan,
Khanavadan.
I would also like to
compliment everyone who has made these wonderful arrangements in what must be a
record time. I was concerned that my decision was not conveyed as quickly as it
should have been conveyed to my Jamat in Kenya that I would come for Deedar, and
it gave you a very short time to make the preparations, but I have learnt to
expect miracles from the Kenya Jamat. I give you my best, special loving
blessings for happiness, for good health, for Mushkil-aasan.
Khanavadan, Khanavadan,
Khanavadan.
The Mukhi tells me that
there are in this hall many workers. I want to renew to you my warm
congratulations for the wonderful work that you have done in making the
arrangements for this visit and this Deedar to my Jamat.
Secondly, I see amongst
you many young men and women who presumably are studying, and I want to
emphasize to you again, that this is a unique occasion in your lives. You have
unique opportunities. Do not miss them. I say this to you because I am aware of
what are likely to be the evolutions of education in the developing world and in
the industrialized world. Accessing to good education will be more and more
difficult for you and, later on in life, for your children and your
grand-children. So, if you have the good fortune to have access to education
today, take it and make it work for you in the future. It is extremely important
that you do that, and just to illustrate the point to you, so that you
understand why I emphasize this to my Jamat in Africa and in other parts of the
world, simply think to yourselves that every year more and more children are
being born and the number of educational institutions available to teach them is
not growing at the same speed. It is extremely simple; it is a mathematical
problem, and this is why I say to you today that those of you who have access to
good education, take it, use it and make it work. I will continue to do in my
possibilities to ensure that my spiritual children continue in the years ahead
to have access to education. But it is a task which is difficult and I simply
want to emphasize to you: Do not lose that opportunity.
My beloved spiritual
children,
I give to each and
everyone of you here, my best, special loving blessings for your happiness, for
success, for fulfillment of your wishes, your good health, unity in your
families, strength on Sirat-al-Mustaqeem. Khanavadan, Khanavadan, Khanavadan.
FARMAN MUBARAK OF
MAWLANA HAZAR IMAM - DAR-ES-SALAAM, TANZANIA, THURSDAY, 6TH OCTOBER, 1988
My beloved spiritual
children,
To all my spiritual
children of Tanzania and all those who have come from outside, I give to each
and every one of you individually and to your families, my warmest, my most
affectionate and my best loving blessings.
My beloved spiritual
children,
I would like to know
how deeply happy my wife and I are to be in Tanzania with my Jamat once again.
As you know, visits of the Imam to Tanzania started very early after I acceded
to the Gadi of Imamat, and I well remember, as a young man, those important
occasions when I visited Tanzania and the ceremony which took place in Dar es
Salaam. So I want you to know that every time that I return to Tanzania, it is
with a sense of real and true happiness.
My beloved spiritual
children,
Since I last visited
Tanzania, changes have occurred, decisions have been taken, a new Constitution
governing the relationships between the murids and their institutions and the
murids and the Imam is in place. The Government of Tanzania has decided to
implement an Economic Recovery Programme. There has, therefore, been change, but
as you well know, change sometimes takes time to take effect. I would be
reviewing in the months ahead, the functioning of the new Constitution and to
determine whether the leaders of the Jamat and the Jamat as a whole have found
that this new single Constitution - binding all the murids worldwide under one
concept, one governance to the Imam of the time - has fulfilled your needs and
your requirements. I will also, while I am here, be reviewing with the leaders
of the Jamat, the progress that is being made under the Economic Recovery
Programme.
I would like, at the
beginning of this Farman, to express here my happiness with the work that is
being done by the many, many volunteers in the Jamat of Tanzania: volunteers who
have prepared this visit, who have decorated this hall, volunteers who everyday
serve in the fields of education and in health, and who are giving of their
time, of their commitment, of their competence, of their intelligence, to
sustain the Jamati institutions, so that they may serve you better. And I wish
them to know that even though they may be working in difficult circumstances,
every effort they make is warmly and gratefully appreciated by the Jamat and by
the Imam of the time. As the Economic Recovery Programme continues and,
Insha-Allah, will have positive effects for all Tanzanians, so our programmes
and our institutions much continue on their way, must consolidate their
activities, must identify opportunities and must seek to serve you in every
possible way. This is true of education, it is true of health, it is true of
other areas of your lives in Tanzania.
My beloved spiritual
children,
As we approach the 21st
century, it is quite clear that our world is getting smaller in terms of
contacts amongst human beings from various parts of the globe: This is true
within the Ummah, and it is true within the Jamat. More and more people are in
contact with one another from different parts of the world, and it must now be
more clear to you than ever before that the Jamat, the Ismaili Jamat around the
world, is more diverse, is more widespread, speaks more languages, has more
inherited traditions and culture than many of you may have suspected. This is
immense diversity. It is diversity of language, it is diversity of place, of
living: it is diversity in cultural history, and yet each and every spiritual
child, whether he is from Northern Pakistan, whether he is from Afghanistan,
whether he is from the Soviet Union, or whether he is from China, each of these
spiritual children is a murid of the Imam of the time. Our Jamat has a living
Imam, and it is our tradition, it is our belief, that it is the Imam of the time
who gives guidance and direction in matters concerned with the tariqah. I wish
it, therefore, to be well understood that I will continue to give guidance on
matters concerning the tariqah, that I will give you the direction which I
believe is the direction which you should follow, and that in looking at the
Jamat around the world, I will be conscious of differences of tradition and I
will note them, I will reflect about them, I will look at them with love and
affection, but I will also, where it is necessary make adjustments as the fact
is that our world is changing; because that is the role, that is what the Imam
of the time is to do for the Jamat. So I wish it to be clear to my Jamat in
Tanzania, as elsewhere, that it is the Imam of the time whose responsibility it
is to give guidance and direction on tariqah matters. Therefore, do not let
yourselves be misled and believe that the Imam is not aware, for he is aware of
what is happening in the Jamat, not only in this part of the world, but
elsewhere. There will be no compromise on the fundamentals of our tariqah. You
may be absolutely assured of that.
Our tradition goes back
centuries. It is an esoteric tradition, it is an intellectual tradition, it is a
personal tradition, it is a tradition that stems from Hazrat Ali, and there will
be no compromise on the essence of those traditions. And I simply wish to
clarify this today because as the world gets smaller, our Jamat enters into
contact with other murids in other parts of the world; it enters into contact
with other tariqahs in Islam. There are amongst you and amongst other tariqahs,
who are seeking to understand their own traditions and who are seeking to learn.
I want to make it clear today to my Jamat that so long as it is well understood
that the Imam of the time takes those decisions that are essential to the
practice of the tariqah, there will not be any change in the essence of our
practice. There may be change in certain forms; that is normal in any tariqah,
taking into account the life that we lead. But let it be quite clear that it is
the Imam of the time and only the Imam of the time who has the authority to give
directions in tariqah matters. Under the new Constitution, there are Tariqah and
Religious Education Boards; they relate to me; I am aware of their work. The
Mukhis and the Kamadias who are the Imam's representatives in the Jamatkhanas
receive directions more and more so. I wish it to be clear, therefore, that in
tariqah matters I am aware, and there will be no change in the essence of our
faith, but there will be, nonetheless, a search to enable the murids to come
together in an ever wider Jamat, practicing their faith together, even if they
don't speak the same language. There will be an attempt to take account of the
pressures of modern life; there will be an attempt to make sure that traditions
are understood within the Jamat and outside, and that they do not give offense.
But those who feel that the traditions of our Jamat are going to change, should
have no undue concern, as that concern should not exist in the Jamat. For it is
only the Imam of the time who may make these decisions.
Remember that when you
come to Jamatkhana, be regular in your attendance, be humble in your prayer, be
true and honest, and seek light and happiness, spiritual happiness, because the
material life of this world is limited in time, the life of the soul is eternal.
Do not forsake one for the other.
I give to each and
every spiritual child here and to your families, those who are here and those
who are outside, my special loving blessings for strength in the practice of
your faith, for unity, for good health, for success in your search for light,
for success in your worldly lives and for Mushkil-aasan.
Khanavadan, Khanavadan,
Khanavadan.
FARMAN MUBARAK OF
MAWLANA HAZAR IMAM - MWANZA, TANZANIA, SATURDAY, 8TH OCTOBER, 1988
My beloved spiritual
children,
To all my spiritual
children of Mwanza and all those who have come from outside and to your families
and to your Jamats, I give my warmest, my most affectionate and my best loving
blessings.
Khanavadan, Khanavadan,
Khanavadan.
I would like you to
know how immensely happy I am to have returned to Mwanza and to be able to have
in front of me today, my Jamat of Mwanza. It is a real happiness and a real joy.
At the beginning of
this Farman, I simply wish to share with you some information; it is nothing to
worry about, but to explain to you why the Begum is not with me. It is simply
that two days ago, Prince Rahim had an accident. It is not a serious accident,
but he had an accident which has required temporary hospitalization, and my wife
left last night for the United States to be with him. Inshallah, he will be out
of hospital tomorrow, and it is nothing serious. If it were, I would of course
tell my Jamat, because there must be no secrets between the Jamat and the Imam
of the time. But obviously if a child gets hurt any parent would be concerned.
I want to share with
you the joy of being here today. I would have wished my wife and my children to
be with me, for it is an occasion when I have returned to Mwanza as the only
second town in Tanzania which I will be visiting, and I have done this because I
have had great difficulty in being able to visit the Jamat in recent years as
extensively as I would have wished. And the reason for this is that our times
are changing; our times are changing in the sense that there are new contacts
being built with Jamats who, in the past, have had no contact with the Imam of
the time. An example of this is the Jamat of Afghanistan, and may be the Jamat
of the Soviet Union. Because of these contacts, because of the necessity that
the Imam should maintain and build contacts with these Jamats, it is absolutely
essential that at this time in the history of our tariqah, the Imam of the time
should be available to the new Jamats which wish to have those contacts.
Sometimes in East Africa, in India, in Pakistan, in Bangladesh, in the United
States and in Canada, the Jamats are not aware of the fact that there are other
Jamats around the world that have had no direct contact with the Imam of the
time for decades. That is the reason why it is so difficult, at the end of the
20th century, for the Imam of the time to be available to all the Jamats around
the world as often as I would wish and, I believe, as often as the Jamat would
wish.
I share this
information with my Jamat in Mwanza for another reason. Our history, our
tradition is spread amongst a very large number of Jamats around the world, who
speak different languages, whose traditions, whose cultural traditions have
evolved over time, over historical time, and are coming, for the first time in
many years, together. This is causing a very challenging situation where the
roots of the practice of the tariqah are coming forward from various parts of
the world, in various languages; and these historic traditions are there for the
Jamat to be more and more aware of. This requires that not only the Imam be
available to discuss these traditions, but in the years ahead, I will be giving
more and more direction to the practice of the tariqah in such a manner that the
various Jamats which come forward with their cultural traditions, understand
that they all relate, under one Constitution, to the Imam of the time, so that
they are able to inter-mingle and find commonality in their tradition, but at
the same time, not upset the history of that tradition as it has developed in
one part of the world rather than another, and in such a way that each Jamat is
able to live in peace and harmony with the people among whom it is living.
These, therefore, are
the issues that need to be addressed in the years ahead. That is why when I made
my plans to visit Tanzania and many people said: `You must come to Mwanza, you
must come to Dodoma, you must come to Arusha', and so on and so forth, I felt it
necessary to explain to the Jamat that for you and for me there are 24 hours in
the day, and nobody can change that; nobody can change that. Allah alone might
one day change that at His will, but no one else can change that. That being the
fact, it is the responsibility of the Imam of the time to be as available as
possible to as many Jamats as possible around the world. I say this today
because I do not want there to be sadness in the Jamat in Tanzania that may be
Hazar Imam, on this visit, has not visited as many places as you would have
wished.
My beloved spiritual
children,
As we move to the end
of the 20th century, we have a number of issues to address. What are those
issues? First of all, they are, a clear vision of the practice of our tariqah in
a modern world. Of-course, when you use the word `modern', you apply it actually
improperly, because any person who lives in his time will refer to his time as a
modern world, but the concept of modernity does not stop. The fact is that the
tariqah and the practice of the tariqah must be increasingly united,
increasingly understood and increasingly shared amongst the Jamat in all the
different parts of the world. Secondly, we have got to create strong
institutions, so that the Jamat can live - and future generations can do so -
with the support it needs in health, in education, in economic development, so
that your children, your grand-children, your great grand-children, will have a
better position in society than, may be, the older generations had.
These, therefore, are
the objectives for the years ahead: To build strong international institutions
capable of supporting the Jamat around the world, capable also of impacting the
quality of life in the societies in which you live, so that there is no breach
between yourselves and the societies in which you live. Looking to the end of
the century, the Jamat will be in the industrialized world, in Africa, in Asia,
in South-East Asia, in the Middle-East, in the Soviet Union, in China; this is a
diversity which is challenging and fascinating. It is one brotherhood, one
Jamat, following one tradition and that tradition is the Shia tradition of the
esoteric interpretation of the faith. Those principles must be upheld around the
world, the participation of man's intellect in the practice of his faith, the
individual's search for enlightenment and happiness and the balance between the
material and the spiritual. These are the premises on which the Jamat must
interpret and practice its faith. I give you this Farman today because in
various parts of the world these questions are being asked, and the answers must
be clear and shared and understood.
With regard to the
future in Tanzania, I would be happy that the younger generations in Tanzania
should continue to place absolute priority on the education they receive.
Secondly, I would like them to be fluent in the English language, whatever
second language or other language you have. I would like there to be fluency in
the English language because the English language is the language of science, it
is the language of technology, and it is increasingly the language of economics.
Therefore, a command of the English language is important for future generations
in the Jamat. Build strong relationships with the people amongst whom you live,
and assist them to address the future in a sensible manner, so that the fabric
of society increasingly covers all people who live around you and close to you.
On the occasion of this
visit to Mwanza, I give to each and every spiritual child here, each one of you
and your families and your Jamats, my most special loving blessings. I want to
compliment the Jamat of Mwanza for the fantastic arrangements you have made for
me, the house, the Jamatkhana, the decorations. It is magnificent, and it has
surprised me deeply and it has made me very very happy. I give to you once again
my warmest, my most affectionate and my best loving blessings.
