[Al-Quran 50:6-8] Have they not looked at the heaven above them - how We structured it and adorned it and how it has no rifts? And the earth - We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind, Giving insight and a reminder for every servant who turns [to Allah].

Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Acknowledging the Perfection of our Lord


No change should there be in the creation of Allah [Quran 30:30] 



Abstract 
To do تَسْبِيحَ of Allah means to acknowledge, declare, and/or celebrate that Allah is absolutely perfect. Allah creates perfectly and governs excellently. We humans need to acknowledge and appreciate this fact, and consequently submit to The Right Religion (الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ). 


Full Text
The Quran informs us that those who believe and do righteous deeds / acts of reform (آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ), their Lord will guide them, due to their faith, to the Gardens of bounty, bliss, delight, pleasure, et al (جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ). Upon experiencing the perfection of the Gardens of the Hereafter, they will exclaim:  

دَعْوَاهُمْ فِيهَا سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَتَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَامٌ وَآخِرُ دَعْوَاهُمْ أَنِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

[Al-Quran 10:10]

Surah Yunus ayat 10 Translations:
Ali Unal: Therein their invocation will be: "All-Glorified You are, O God! (You are absolutely exalted above having any defects and doing anything wrong.)" And their greeting (to each other and from God and the angels) will be: "Peace!" And their invocation will close with "All praise and gratitude are for God, the Lord of the worlds!"

Ali Quli Qari: Their call therein will be, ‘O Allah! Immaculate are You!’ and their greeting therein will be, ‘Peace!’ and their concluding call, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.’ 

Muhammad Sarwar: Their prayer shall be, "Glory be to you Lord," and their greeting, "Peace be with you," and the only other words (of worldly speech) they will speak will be, "It is God, Lord of the Universe, who deserves all praise."


The Good & The Evil 
People wonder why bad things happen in this world if the Creator is perfect and all good. The Quran addresses the confusion about the existence of evil and the harmful in this world thus: 

أَيْنَمَا تَكُونُوا يُدْرِككُّمُ الْمَوْتُ وَلَوْ كُنتُمْ فِي بُرُوجٍ مُّشَيَّدَةٍ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ حَسَنَةٌ يَقُولُوا هَٰذِهِ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَقُولُوا هَٰذِهِ مِنْ عِندِكَ قُلْ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ فَمَالِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ لَا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ حَدِيثًا
...
مَّا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَصَابَكَ مِن سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِن نَّفْسِكَ وَأَرْسَلْنَاكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولًا وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا

Wherever you be will overtake you [the] death even if you are in towers lofty. And if befalls them any good they say, "This (is) from Allah," And if befalls them any evil they say, "This (is) from you." Say, "All (is) from Allah." So what (is wrong) (with) these [the] people, they do not seem (to) understand any statement.
What(ever) befalls you of (the) good (is) from Allah, and whatever befalls you of (the) evil (is) from your Nafs. And We have sent you (as) a Messenger for all the people , and Allah is sufficient (as) a Witness.
[Al-Quran 4:78-79; edited]



Surah Yasin, which begins with an oath by The Wise Quran and mentioning the fact that 'Indeed, you (are) among the Messengers,' concludes thus: 

فَسُبْحَانَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
So immaculate is He in whose hand is the dominion of all things and to whom you shall be brought back. 
[Al-Quran 36:83, Translation: Ali Quli Qari] 


تَسْبِيحَ (Glorification) & الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ (The Right Religion)  
To do تَسْبِيحَ of Allah means to acknowledge, declare, and/or celebrate that Allah is absolutely perfect: free of any and all weaknesses, imperfections and impurities. Everything & everyone acknowledges the perfection of Allah: 

تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا

Glorify [to] Him the seven heavens and the earth and whatever (is) in them. And (there is) not any thing except glorifies His Praise, but not you understand their glorification. Indeed, He is Ever-Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving."
[Al-Quran 17:44

Prior to being sent to Earth, a covenant was taken from Adam, and then he was placed in The Garden where he suffered neither hunger nor nakedness, neither thirst nor excessive heat! He was forbidden to eat from only one tree, as that would cause him loss of comforts; his disobedience caused him to lose his natural clothing and be removed from the luxurious Garden. He realised that he himself was to blame for the harm he had caused to his own nafs by attempting to make fundamental changes in his body. One of the fundamental principles of The Right Religion (الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ), mentioned in Surah arRum, is that there should be no change in the creation of Allah, the best of creators. 

Adam had attempted to achieve immortality and a kingdom that never decays by believing in the deceitful promises of Satan and obeying the suggestions made by him. Another fundamental principle of The Right Religion (الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ), mentioned in Surah Yusuf, is that only Allah is to be worshipped. Obeying Satan, in defiance of Allah's commands, causes us to suffer loss: 


Excerpt from Adam Facts  

On this Earth, in this temporal life, we humans suffer hunger, lack of appropriate clothing, thirst, the Sun's excessive heat, and many other problems, diseases, etc. Many other creatures also suffer on Earth due to human activities, and some species even face extinction due to our adverse impact on the ecosystem. The Earth has suffered extinction events before.  Scientists theorise that if humans were to become extinct, the Earth might recover from the damage caused to it, and flourish once again. The Quran (7:56) warns us to not to corrupt the Earth after it has been reformed:       




Surah alIsra begins with the declaration: سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي (Q17:1), for Allah, for having taken His servant Muhammad ﷺ on a journey we refer to as Mairaj (Ascension). Another fundamental principle of The Right Religion (الدِّينُالْقَيِّمُ), mentioned in Surah atTaubah, is about the sacred months, which I understand is about peace and security during pilgrimage travels. While scientists discuss escaping to another planet to inhabit, when this Earth is no longer habitable, we hope and pray that Allah will, having accepted our repentance in this life, forgive and guide us that day, in peace and security, and with honour and dignity, on a similar ascension, via the The Right Trajectory (الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ), to the Gardens of Eternity. 



Allah creates perfectly and governs excellently. We humans need to acknowledge and appreciate this fact, and consequently submit willingly to The Right Religion (الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ). We were created to worship and serve Allah. The most prestigious jobs in the worlds can be ours, eternally, if we submit and become of those who keep their duty (الْمُتَّقِينَ): 


 الصَّلَاةَ (Prayer) & تَسْبِيحَ (Glorification) 
The contact prayer (الصَّلَاةَ) is in itself a combination of remembrance (recitation of Surah alFateha and other ayaat from The Quran) and glorification (تَسْبِيحَ): 



وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْغَافِلِينَ
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَيُسَبِّحُونَهُ وَلَهُ يَسْجُدُونَ

And when is recited the Quran, then listen to it and pay attention so that you may receive mercy.
And remember your Lord in your nafs humbly and (in) fear and without the loudness of [the] words, in the mornings and (in) the evenings. And (do) not be among the heedless.
Indeed, those who (are) near your Lord, they (do) not turn away in pride from His worship. And they glorify Him and to Him they prostrate.
[Al-Quran 7:204-206; edited]


Surah alIsra, which emphasises both contact prayers and glorification, concludes with the command:  


قُلِ ادْعُوا اللَّهَ أَوِ ادْعُوا الرَّحْمَٰنَ أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُوا فَلَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ وَلَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ وَلَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ سَبِيلًا
وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ شَرِيكٌ فِي الْمُلْكِ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ وَلِيٌّ مِّنَ الذُّلِّ وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًا

Say, "Invoke Allah or invoke the Most Gracious. By whatever (name) you invoke, to Him (belongs) the Most Beautiful Names. And (do) not be loud in your prayers and not be silent therein, but seek between that a way."
And say, "All Praise (is) for Allah the One Who has not taken a son and not is for Him a partner in the dominion, and not is for Him any protector out of weakness. And magnify Him (with all) magnificence."
[Al-Quran 17:110-111


In Surah Taha, ayaat 14-15, Allah commands Moses to establish prayer (الصَّلَاةَ) for His Remembrance (لِذِكْرِي), as The Hour (السَّاعَةَ) is approaching when every nafs (نَفْسٍ) will be compensated (لِتُجْزَىٰ)... Moses supplicates for help. In his supplication, he especially mentions:

كَيْ نُسَبِّحَكَ كَثِيرًا
وَنَذْكُرَكَ كَثِيرًا
إِنَّكَ كُنتَ بِنَا بَصِيرًا

That we may glorify You much
And [we] remember You much.
Indeed, [You] You are of us All-Seer."
[Al-Quran 20:33-35]

The Quran, however, clarifies and emphasises the importance of glorification (تَسْبِيحَ) as a separate distinct act of worship as well. In Surah anNoor, we read: 

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالطَّيْرُ صَافَّاتٍ كُلٌّ قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهُ وَتَسْبِيحَهُ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ

Do not you see that Allah - glorify Him whoever (is) in the heavens and the earth and the birds (with) wings outspread? Each one verily knows its prayer and its glorification. And Allah (is) All-Knower of what they do.
[Al-Quran 24:41]
The When & Why of تَسْبِيحَ
Timings for & Purpose of تَسْبِيحَ have been explained: 

for Satisfaction/Contentment

فَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا وَمِنْ آنَاءِ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْ وَأَطْرَافَ النَّهَارِ لَعَلَّكَ تَرْضَىٰ
So be patient over what they say and glorify with praise (of) your Lord before (the) rising (of) the sun and before its setting; and from (the) hours (of) the night, and glorify (at the) ends (of) the day so that you may be satisfied.
[Al-Quran 20:130


to Patiently Endure

فَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ

وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَأَدْبَارَ السُّجُودِ

So be patient over what they say and glorify (the) praise (of) your Lord, before (the) rising (of) the sun and before the setting, And of the night glorify Him and after the prostration. 
[Al-Quran 50:39-40


to Patiently Await

وَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ

وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَإِدْبَارَ النُّجُومِ

So be patient, for (the) Command (of) your Lord, for indeed, you (are) in Our Eyes. And glorify (the) praise (of) your Lord when you arise, And of the night, glorify Him, and after the stars. 
[Al-Quran 52:48-49


to Patiently Persevere

فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تُطِعْ مِنْهُمْ آثِمًا أَوْ كَفُورًا

وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا

وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَاسْجُدْ لَهُ وَسَبِّحْهُ لَيْلًا طَوِيلًا

So be patient for (the) Command (of) your Lord and (do) not obey from them any sinner or disbeliever.
And remember (the) name (of) your Lord morning and evening.
And of the night prostrate to Him, and glorify Him a night long. 
[Al-Quran 76:24-26


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Last updated on October 27, 2018

Friday, October 12, 2018

Snake Symbols

Abstract 
Snakes feature in all belief systems and are prominently visible in a number of religious, regal, medical, maritime, and other state, organisational and professional symbols, both ancient and modern, across the world
Snakes are jinns. Iblis was a jinn. and The Quran clearly informs us that Iblis and his progeny are the enemy, and warns us to not take them as protectors instead of Allah.  


Full Text 

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِي وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ بِئْسَ لِلظَّالِمِينَ بَدَلًا

And when We said to the Angels, "Prostrate to Adam," so they prostrated except Iblis. (He) was of the jinn, and he rebelled against the Command (of) his Lord. Will you then take him and his offspring (as) protectors other than Me, while they (are) to you enemies? Wretched for the wrongdoers (is) the exchange.
[Al-Quran 18:50]

The Quran repeatedly warns us of Iblis and his progeny, who are the sworn enemies of Adam and his progeny. Surah alKahf informs us that Iblis was of the jinn. As discussed in جَانٌّ (Snake || Jinn), jinns are snakes! Snakes feature in all belief systems and are prominently visible in a number of religious, regal, medical, maritime, and other state, organisational and professional symbols, both ancient and modern, across the worldMany mythologies falsely attribute relationships between God and the snakes. In the ayaat following the passage about Iblis in Surah alKahf, it goes on to state: 

وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا فِي هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ لِلنَّاسِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ وَكَانَ الْإِنسَانُ أَكْثَرَ شَيْءٍ جَدَلًا

And certainly, We have explained in this the Quran for mankind of every example. But is the man (in) most things quarrelsome.
[Al-Quran 18:54

Among the closing ayaat of Surah alKahf, we read:

أَفَحَسِبَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَن يَتَّخِذُوا عِبَادِي مِن دُونِي أَوْلِيَاءَ إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ نُزُلًا
قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُم بِالْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَالًا
الَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا
أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَلِقَائِهِ فَحَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَزْنًا
ذَٰلِكَ جَزَاؤُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ بِمَا كَفَرُوا وَاتَّخَذُوا آيَاتِي وَرُسُلِي هُزُوًا

Do then think those who disbelieve that they (can) take My servants besides Me (as) protectors? Indeed, We - We have prepared Hell for the disbelievers (as) a lodging.
Say, "Shall We inform you of the greatest losers (as to their) deeds?
Those - is lost their effort in the life (of) the world, while they think that they (were) acquiring good (in) work."
Those (are) the ones who disbelieve in the Verses (of) their Lord, and the meeting (with) Him. So (are) vain their deeds, so not We will assign for them (on) the Day (of) the Resurrection any weight.
That (is) their recompense - Hell - because they disbelieved, and took My Verses and My Messengers (in) ridicule.
[Al-Quran 18:102-106]

Surah alKahf begins with praising Allah for giving us a clear book with no عِوَجًا (ambiguity, distortion or  deviation). It warns of terrible punishment and gives glad tidings of a never-ending reward. It is also a warning for those who attribute a son to Allah. Surah alKahf concludes with:

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا

Say, "Only I (am) a man like you. Has been revealed to me that your God (is) God One. So whoever is hoping (for the) meeting (with) his Lord, let him do deeds righteous and not associate in (the) worship (of) his Lord anyone."
[Al-Quran 18:110]


Many mighty civilisations have passed away into oblivion, while their ruins remain as evidence.
Surah anNaml grants us a variety of insights into the history of jinns vis-à-vis humans: 
  • Change of State: Moses' staff started moving like a snake, and reverted back into a staff when Moses held it again, as a sign from Allah for Pharaoh, in whose religion snakes and serpents feature prominently.  
  • Subservience of Jinns: Snakes came under the command of the righteous King Solomon to serve in his army; other surahs in The Quran inform us that they were serving Solomon under compulsion, not free-will; the jinns were being guarded and compelled to do the work assigned. 
  • from EverythingThe grand throne of Saba and its mighty kingdom are mentioned in particular. They had been given from everything! Satan (the jinn Iblis) had made Sun-worship fair-seeming to this mighty civilisation.   
  • Instantaneous Transportation: The jinn-courtier of Solomon had the ability to transport things across great distances in a short period of time; however, the person who had been given knowledge from The Book could transport things almost instantaneously!   
  • Advanced Technology: When the Queen of Saba saw the level of advancement of Solomon's kingdom, in particular the glass-flooring of his palace, she came to realise that she had been wronging her own Nafs by worshipping the Sun instead of Allah, the actual Sustainer of the Worlds. 
All of the above are topics being pursued in the frontiers of science even today! 

  • The Womb: Surah anNaml also goes on to mention the crimes of the disbelieving Thamud and people of Messenger Lut vis-à-vis the womb: the former rendered it barren, while the latter were indulging in homosexuality, and/or corrupting creation by cross-breeding with the males of the worlds. Surah anNisa` warns us to guard the womb, and of Satan's plots against it!   

Once again, science has advanced to a stage where the womb is being experimented with; and that also with the legal protection of the state!  


  • Surah anNaml foretells that a creature from the Earth will be brought forth because people did not believe in the ayaat/signs.  


Jinns: Abilities & Limitations  
Surah Saba and Surah Saad give us further insights into the abilities and limitations of the jinns:

وَلِسُلَيْمَانَ الرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهْرٌ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَهْرٌ وَأَسَلْنَا لَهُ عَيْنَ الْقِطْرِ وَمِنَ الْجِنِّ مَن يَعْمَلُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِ وَمَن يَزِغْ مِنْهُمْ عَنْ أَمْرِنَا نُذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ السَّعِيرِ
يَعْمَلُونَ لَهُ مَا يَشَاءُ مِن مَّحَارِيبَ وَتَمَاثِيلَ وَجِفَانٍ كَالْجَوَابِ وَقُدُورٍ رَّاسِيَاتٍ اعْمَلُوا آلَ دَاوُودَ شُكْرًا وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّكُورُ
فَلَمَّا قَضَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ الْمَوْتَ مَا دَلَّهُمْ عَلَىٰ مَوْتِهِ إِلَّا دَابَّةُ الْأَرْضِ تَأْكُلُ مِنسَأَتَهُ فَلَمَّا خَرَّ تَبَيَّنَتِ الْجِنُّ أَن لَّوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ الْغَيْبَ مَا لَبِثُوا فِي الْعَذَابِ الْمُهِينِ

And to Sulaiman, the wind - its morning course (was) a month and its afternoon course (was) a month, and We caused to flow for him a spring (of) molten copper. And [of] the jinn who worked before him by the permission (of) his Lord. And whoever deviated among them from Our Command, We will make him of (the) punishment (of) the Blaze.
They worked for him what he willed of elevated chambers and statues and bowls like reservoirs and cooking-pots fixed. "Work, O family (of) Dawood! (in) gratitude." But few of My slaves (are) grateful.
Then when We decreed for him the death, not indicated to them [on] his death except a creature (of) the earth eating his staff. But when he fell down, became clear (to) the jinn that if they had known the unseen, not they (would have) remained in the punishment humiliating.
[Al-Quran 34:12-14


وَالشَّيَاطِينَ كُلَّ بَنَّاءٍ وَغَوَّاصٍ
وَآخَرِينَ مُقَرَّنِينَ فِي الْأَصْفَادِ

And the devils, every builder and diver,
And others bound in chains.
[Al-Quran 38:37-38


Seeking Protection 
Surah alMominun advises the believers to repel evil with what is best, and to seek Allah's protection: 

ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ السَّيِّئَةَ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَصِفُونَ
وَقُل رَّبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ هَمَزَاتِ الشَّيَاطِينِ
وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ رَبِّ أَن يَحْضُرُونِ

Repel by that which (is) best - the evil. We know best of what they attribute.
And say, "My Lord! I seek refuge in You from (the) suggestions (of) the evil ones,
And I seek refuge in You, My Lord! Lest they be present with me."
[Al-Quran 23:96-98


Duly Warned 
On the Day of Judgment, Allah will say to the criminals : 

وَامْتَازُوا الْيَوْمَ أَيُّهَا الْمُجْرِمُونَ
أَلَمْ أَعْهَدْ إِلَيْكُمْ يَا بَنِي آدَمَ أَن لَّا تَعْبُدُوا الشَّيْطَانَ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
وَأَنِ اعْبُدُونِي هَٰذَا صِرَاطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ
وَلَقَدْ أَضَلَّ مِنكُمْ جِبِلًّا كَثِيرًا أَفَلَمْ تَكُونُوا تَعْقِلُونَ
هَٰذِهِ جَهَنَّمُ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ
"But stand apart today O criminals!
Did not I enjoin upon you O Children of Adam! That (do) not worship the Shaitaan, indeed, he (is) for you an enemy clear,
And that you worship Me? This (is) a Path Straight.
And indeed, he led astray from you a multitude great. Then did not you use reason?
This (is) (the) Hell which you were promised.
[Al-Quran 36:59-63


Jinns: Protectors & Helpers? 
On the Day of Judgement, Allah will ask the angels:

وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ يَقُولُ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ أَهَٰؤُلَاءِ إِيَّاكُمْ كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ
قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ أَنتَ وَلِيُّنَا مِن دُونِهِم بَلْ كَانُوا يَعْبُدُونَ الْجِنَّ أَكْثَرُهُم بِهِم مُّؤْمِنُونَ

And (the) Day He will gather them all, then He will say to the Angels, "Were these you they were worshipping?"
They will say, "Glory be to You (are) our Protector, not them. Nay, they used (to) worship the jinn, most of them in them (were) believers."
 [Al-Quran 34:40-41

Surah Yasin further informs us that when people seek help from other than Allah, they themselves become soldiers for those false gods:  

وَاتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ آلِهَةً لَّعَلَّهُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ نَصْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ لَهُمْ جُندٌ مُّحْضَرُونَ
فَلَا يَحْزُنكَ قَوْلُهُمْ إِنَّا نَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ

But they have taken besides Allah gods, that they may be helped.
Not they are able to help them, but they - for them (are) hosts (who will) be brought.
So (let) not grieve you their speech. Indeed, We [We] know what they conceal and what they declare.
[Al-Quran 36:74-76

Surah alJinn clearly tells us: 

وَأَنَّهُ كَانَ رِجَالٌ مِّنَ الْإِنسِ يَعُوذُونَ بِرِجَالٍ مِّنَ الْجِنِّ فَزَادُوهُمْ رَهَقًا

And that (there) were men among mankind who sought refuge in (the) men from the jinn, so they increased them (in) burden.
[Al-Quran 72:6]










Related posts: 




Tuesday, October 2, 2018

To Forget the Meeting with Allah

Abstract 
Identifying the causes, effects and consequences of forgetting The Reminder.  


Full Text 


وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ نَسُوا اللَّهَ فَأَنسَاهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

And be not like those who forgot Allah , so He made them forget their Nafs. Those are the defiantly disobedient. 
[Al-Quran 59:19, Translation: Sahih International, edited]


Our Nafs is in pledge! The Quran continuously exhorts us to 'remember' - it seems that the memory is already somewhere deep inside us, and what we need to do is remember. There is emerging research that our history is in our DNA and/or RNA molecules and is inherited by subsequent generations. A number of factors, both within and without, cause us to be negligent to The Reminder, resulting in our forgetting it, eventually completely, dooming ourselves forever. The following are some ayaat identifying the causes, effects and consequences of forgetting The Reminder:   


Satan 
Satan is the sworn enemy of bani Adam. He is constantly trying to make us forget where we came from and where we are headed: 


اسْتَحْوَذَ عَلَيْهِمُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَأَنسَاهُمْ ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ أُولَٰئِكَ حِزْبُ الشَّيْطَانِ أَلَا إِنَّ حِزْبَ الشَّيْطَانِ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ

Satan has overcome them and made them forget the remembrance of Allah . Those are the party of Satan. Unquestionably, the party of Satan - they will be the losers. 
[Al-Quran 58:19, Translation: Sahih International]


The Record 
Just because we forget doesn't mean that its erased from our memory or from our record of deeds. Allah remembers everything, and moreover its being recorded as well. 

يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللَّهُ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوا أَحْصَاهُ اللَّهُ وَنَسُوهُ وَاللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ

On the Day when Allah will resurrect them all and inform them of what they did. Allah had enumerated it, while they forgot it; and Allah is, over all things, Witness.
[Al-Quran 58:6, Translation: Sahih International]


Desires & Deeds 
The trouble is, we humans do not take the Day of Accountability seriously!  


يَا دَاوُودُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاكَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ فَاحْكُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ بِمَا نَسُوا يَوْمَ الْحِسَابِ

(And it was said unto him): O David! Lo! We have set thee as a viceroy in the earth; therefor judge aright between mankind, and follow not desire that it beguile thee from the way of Allah. Lo! those who wander from the way of Allah have an awful doom, forasmuch as they forgot the Day of Reckoning
[Al-Quran 38:26, Translation: Pickthall]


فَذُوقُوا بِمَا نَسِيتُمْ لِقَاءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَٰذَا إِنَّا نَسِينَاكُمْ وَذُوقُوا عَذَابَ الْخُلْدِ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

So taste (the evil of your deeds). Forasmuch as ye forgot the meeting of this your day, lo! We forget you. Taste the doom of immortality because of what ye used to do. 
[Al-Quran 32:14, Translation: Pickthall]


Worldly Comforts 
When people get comfortable, why do they forget their reminder? The poor keep praying for relief, while those who have plenty seem to get complacent, some taking it for granted, others claiming to be 'self-made', and yet many simply refusing to believe that they will ever have to account for everything. The situation gets even worse in the subsequent generation(s):    

قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ مَا كَانَ يَنبَغِي لَنَا أَن نَّتَّخِذَ مِن دُونِكَ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاءَ وَلَٰكِن مَّتَّعْتَهُمْ وَآبَاءَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ نَسُوا الذِّكْرَ وَكَانُوا قَوْمًا بُورًا

They will say, "Exalted are You! It was not for us to take besides You any allies. But You provided comforts for them and their fathers until they forgot the message and became a people ruined." 
[Al-Quran 25:18, Translation: Sahih International]


Mocking 
It is so often that we see the believers being taken as a laughing stock for their faith; yet the joke is on those who make fun: 

فَاتَّخَذْتُمُوهُمْ سِخْرِيًّا حَتَّىٰ أَنسَوْكُمْ ذِكْرِي وَكُنتُم مِّنْهُمْ تَضْحَكُونَ

But you took them in mockery to the point that they made you forget My remembrance, and you used to laugh at them. 
[Al-Quran 23:101, Translation: Sahih International]


Defiant Disobedience of Allah's Commands
It is Allah who sends His commands, moreover He sustains each and every one of us, and He never forgets anything or anyone: 

 وَمَا نَتَنَزَّلُ إِلَّا بِأَمْرِ رَبِّكَ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِينَا وَمَا خَلْفَنَا وَمَا بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ نَسِيًّا

And we do not descend but by the command of your Lord; to Him belongs whatever is before us and whatever is behind us and whatever is between these, and your Lord is not forgetful
[Al-Quran 19:64, Translation: Shakir]


Defiant disobedience results when we neglect our reminder: 

فَلَمَّا نَسُوا مَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ أَنجَيْنَا الَّذِينَ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ السُّوءِ وَأَخَذْنَا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا بِعَذَابٍ بَئِيسٍ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ

And when they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We saved those who had forbidden evil and seized those who wronged, with a wretched punishment, because they were defiantly disobeying.
[Al-Quran 7:165, Translation: Sahih International]


Religion: Distraction & Amusement 
Religion must be taken seriously: 

الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا دِينَهُمْ لَهْوًا وَلَعِبًا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فَالْيَوْمَ نَنسَاهُمْ كَمَا نَسُوا لِقَاءَ يَوْمِهِمْ هَٰذَا وَمَا كَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ

Who took their religion as distraction and amusement and whom the worldly life deluded." So today We will forget them just as they forgot the meeting of this Day of theirs and for having rejected Our verses.
[Al-Quran 7:51, Translation: Sahih International]


from Everything 
This world is of no real value! When people forget their reminder, and choose the progress and prosperity of this world over the Hereafter, then they are given what they opted for:   

فَلَمَّا نَسُوا مَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَابَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا فَرِحُوا بِمَا أُوتُوا أَخَذْنَاهُم بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْلِسُونَ

So when they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We opened to them the doors of every [good] thing until, when they rejoiced in that which they were given, We seized them suddenly, and they were [then] in despair.
[Al-Quran 6:44, Translation: Sahih International]


Forget and/or Err  
Surah alBaqarah concludes with a comprehensive prayer: 

لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

Allah does not charge a Nafs except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people."
[Al-Quran 2:286, Translation: Sahih International, edited]





References & Links 

External Links: 
http://corpus.quran.com
https://www.islamawakened.com  


Related posts in my blogs: