Day 8
NINTH PÂRA
At the end of the eighth pâra, a portion of the incident of Shuayb عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام was mentioned. The remaining portion of this incident is mentioned at the beginning of the ninth pâra. Hadhrat Shuayb عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام prevented his people from evil, mischief and corruption. However the proud leaders warned him, “O Shuayb عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام, we will expel you from our village together with those who have believed in you, unless you come into our religion.” Shuayb عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام answered, “This can never happen. Do what you want, we will place our trust only on Allâh.”
After mentioning these incidents of the different Ambiyâ عليهم السلام, Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى states that it is His way and practice that He tries to make those who deny understand in different ways. He sometimes puts them in difficulty and problems so that maybe they will turn to Him. However, when they still do not take heed, even after being either afflicted with punishment or given a reprieve, then suddenly Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى seizes them with His punishment, whilst these people did not have the slightest inkling of what is going to hit them.
At the end of these incidents, Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى consoles Nabî صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم telling him not to be sad and grieved due to the pride and refusal of his people by saying, “These were the towns, the stories of which we have narrated to you. Their messengers came to them with clear signs. But they were unlikely to believe in those things which they had rejected previously. In this way, Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى places a seal on the hearts of the disbelievers.”
From the six incidents of the Ambiyâ عليهم السلام mentioned in Sûrah A’râf, Mûsa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام’s incident is mentioned in great detail. This is because the ignorance of his people was greater than that of other nations. From amongst the nation he was sent to address, was one such individual who had laid claim to divinity. The miracles given to him (i.e. Mûsa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام) were more clearer compared to that of previous Ambiyâ, especially his staff and shining hand. These were two such miracles that even the darkest of dark hearts would have needed a great amount of obstinacy, stubbornness and bigotry in order to deny them.
Fir’awn and his people i.e. the Coptics had enslaved the Banî Isrâ’îl and would afflict them with different and new types of oppression and punishments. The Banî Isrâ’îl had come to Egypt at that time when a severe drought had engulfed their villages and cities. Under the shadow of Yûsuf عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام, they then took up residence in Egypt. Their progeny grew day by day, until eventually they were the second largest population group in Egypt. Thereafter, various oppressive Pharaohs made them objects of oppression and victimisation during their rules. Hadhrat Mûsa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام wanted the freedom of the Banî Isrâ’îl from this worst form of slavery and he wanted to take them to their homeland i.e. Shâm. Thus he made a request to Fir’awn , “Send Banî Isrâ’îl with me.” (105-107)
When Mûsa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام proclaimed in front of Fir’awn that he had been sent as a messenger from the Master of the Universe, Fir’awn mockingly said, “If you are truthful in your claim, then show us a miracle/sign.” Mûsa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام threw his staff on the ground, which suddenly turned into a ferocious-looking serpent. Then Mûsa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام took out his hand from under his armpit. Such a light emanated from it that the area between the skies and earth illuminated. In some books of tafsîr like Tabarî and Ibn-Kathîr, a narration of Hadhrat Ibne Abbâs رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ is mentioned that when Fir’awn saw the staff changing into a snake, he jumped up from his thrown and stood up to run away out of extreme fear. He then became fearful that it should not be that people believe in Mûsa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام.
Therefore, he said to his special advisors, “He is a sorcerer who wants to seize this land of yours. Therefore advise me what should we do.” They said, “In our land there are powerful magicians and sorcerers. Gather them in one place so that Mûsa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام can be defeated in an open gathering.” This was then done. At one specific place and at an appointed time, thousands of people of Egypt congregated. In answer to the magic of the sorcerers, Mûsa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام showed his miracle. These sorcerers fell into sajdah (prostration) immediately and accepted îmân. Due to their acceptance of îmân, Fir’awn flew into a fit of rage and began swearing and threatening them. However, in a few moments, the roots of îmân had become so entrenched in the inner recesses of their hearts that the threats of Fir’awn could not create a dent in their firmness and steadfastness.
In response to the da’wat (call) of Mûsa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام, Fir’awn and his people, continued with their proud and arrogant ways of disobedience, denial and oppression. Eventually, Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى afflicted them with different forms of punishment one after the other. Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى sent such a flood due to which all their farm-lands and crops were destroyed. Locusts came in swarms. They even ate the leaves of the trees. They became infested with so many ticks that it made all the stored-up grains unworthy of use. Frogs were sent as a form of punishment. There was such an abundance of them that if someone opened his mouth to talk, a frog would leap towards his mouth. The water of their rivers, streams and wells changed into blood. Whenever any punishment came, they would come begging Mûsa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام and would make a pact that if Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى saves them from this punishment, then they would believe.
However, when the punishment was lifted, then they would go back to what they had been doing before. Thereafter, Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى eventually granted salvation to the Banî Isrâ’îl from the difficulties of Fir’awn, when Mûsa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام took them out of Egypt in the darkness of the night. Once freedom had been attained, a need was felt for a constitution and way of life. Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى called his Nabî to mount Tûr. There, Mûsa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام fasted for 40 days. He attained the great fortune of speaking to Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and was gifted the Tawrât as a constitution. In Mûsa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام’s absence, the Isrâ’îlis began worshipping a calf due to the deceit and encouragement of one person, Samiri. When Mûsa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام returned, he was gravely hurt by this polytheistic act of theirs. The Isrâ’îlis were a strange people. On every step, they would falter. They would promise and then forget. They would mock the commands of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى . They did not even abstain from wrongly interpreting and changing these commands. They were commanded to enter Baitul-Maqdis with their heads lowered in humility. However, they lifted their heads and entered dragging themselves on their behind. They were commanded not to do anything but the worship of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى on the Sabbath (i.e. Saturday).
However, they would still catch fish on this day by employing certain tricks and excuses. The Mount of Tûr was placed over their heads and a promise was taken by them to practise on the Tawrât, but they were unsuccessful in fulfilling this promise. All these incidents are mentioned in detail in Sûrah A’râf.
After mentioning the promise taken by the Banî Isrâ’îl, in the 12th rukû, it is mentioned that in the universe of the souls (âlame-arwâh) a promise was taken by Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى from all human beings that they would fulfil the commands of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى . However, most people have forgotten this promise. The remainder of the sûrah has the following important points :
(1) The incident of Bal’am Ibn Bâ’ûrâ who had been granted knowledge and honour. However, this wretched one sold his knowledge for a few worthless coppers of this world. (175-178) From this incident, we learn that knowledge without practise and good character is of no value in the sight of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى .
Therefore one Arab poet has said,
لو كان في العلم من دون التقي شرف لكان أشرف الخلق ال إبليس
If in knowledge without piety there was honour, then the most honourable of creation would have been Iblîs.
(2) The disbelievers are like animals because they cannot take benefit from their hearts intelligence, eyes and ears, resulting in them being deprived of îmân (179). Those who do not use their intelligence and brains for dîn are foolish. Those who do not hear the verses of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى are deaf and those who do not gaze with the eyes of insight are blind.
(3) Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى has granted respite to the kuffâr in this world until a time will come when they will be punished suddenly. (182) Due to the period of respite, sometimes people are deceived and become more bold in committing sins.
(4) No-one has specific knowledge of when Qiyâmah will take place. (187)
(5) Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى commands Rasûlullâh صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم to portray noble character “Adopt forgiveness (overlook the harm that your enemies cause to you), command acts of good and turn away from the ignorant ones.” Included in this short verse is the beautiful character towards which Islâm calls. Advice to abstain from evil character is also mentioned which is necessary for a pious person.
Sûrah A’râf commenced with the grandeur of the Qur’ân. It also concludes mentioning the respect and etiquette that should be portrayed to the Qur’ân-e-Karîm “When the Qur’ân is recited, then listen to it attentively and remain silent so that mercy can be showered upon you.” When a person listens attentively to the Qur’ân, keeping in mind it’s grandeur, and he ponders over it’s verses, then his heart becomes affected, the hair on his body stands on end and tears flow from his eyes.
Sûrah Anfâl
Sûrah Anfâl is a Madanî sûrah. It has 75 verses and 10 rukûs. As in other Madanî sûrahs, special importance has been given to explaining shar’î laws. The topic of jihâd in the path of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى is very conspicuous in this sûrah. This sûrah was revealed after the Battle of Badr, which was the foundation and the start of future battles in Islâmic history. In this battle, the assistance of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى was witnessed openly when a small army defeated a much larger army, leaving them disgraced. This sûrah commences mentioning the law of booty since there were differences amongst the Muslims regarding its distribution. Thereafter five qualities have been mentioned of true believers :
1- Fear of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى.
2- Increase in îmân by tilâwat (recitation) of the Qur’ân.
3- Having trust in Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى.
4- Performing salâh correctly with all etiquettes.
5- Showing kindness to Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى’s servants (e.g. by spending wealth on them etc.).
This is followed by the battle of Badr in detail.
One speciality of sûrah Anfâl worth mentioning is that Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى addresses the believers 6 times with words brimming with love يا ايها الذين آمنوا “O You who believe!” and then showed them such principles that if followed, they can pitch the flags of victory on the plains of jihâd.
The first address is in verse 15 when Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى says: “O You who believe! When you meet the disbelievers (on the battle-field), then do not turn your backs and flee.”
The second address is in verse 20 : “O You who believe! Obey Allâh (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and His Rasûl (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) and do not turn away from him whilst you are listening (to the Qur’ân and other advices).”
The third address is in verse 23 : “O You who believe! Answer the call of Allâh and the Rasûl when they call you towards that which will grant you an eternal life (of happiness in the hereafter).”
The fourth address is in verse 27 : “O You who believe! Do not betray Allâh and the Rasûl, and do not purposely misappropriate the trusts of one another.”
The fifth address is in verse 29 : “O You who believe! If you fear Allâh, He will grant you furqân (the ability to differentiate between truth and falsehood), He will remove from you your sins and He will forgive you. And Allâh is that Being who grants in abundance.”
The sixth address is in verse 46 which is in the tenth pâra, “O You who believe! When you face any group, then remain firm and remember Allâh in abundance so that you may be successful. Obey Allâh and His Rasûl, do not fight amongst yourselves, otherwise you will become cowardly and your strength will be lost, and be steadfast (have sabr). Verily Allâh is with those who are steadfast.”
By following the commands in these verses and by abstaining from its prohibitions, the Muslims will definitely become the most powerful and firm nation in the world. Such a group can never be defeated who remain steadfast, who obey the commands of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and Rasûlullâh صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم, who respond to such a call in which the life of the heart and the secret of success and honour is concealed, who neither commit breach of trust in religious matters nor in fulfilling the rights of others, who are imbued with the quality of taqwâ and the fear of Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى, which is the greatest thing, and finally, they are those who in the rain of gunpowder and cannon-balls, continue remembering Allâh سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى i.e. making zikr. Their kalimah is one, there is complete unity in their ranks and they are not embroiled in personal and tribal fights and arguments. Think carefully! Can any group in which theses qualities are found, ever face defeat? Definitely, they will always be victorious even if they have to face mountains.