Abstract
The Quran guides us and grants us the insights we need to understand how to live the life we have been given. We are in pledge for our deeds. Our fate has already been decreed by Allah. Neither others nor we ourselves can benefit or harm ourselves, except that it has already been decreed for us.
The Quran relates the stories of the great prophets and messengers of Allah. They all preached never losing hope in the Mercy of Allah. The Quran is a magnificent Grace and a Mercy from Allah to help us submit to His guidance, and never despair of the Mercy of Allah.
The Quran relates the stories of the great prophets and messengers of Allah. They all preached never losing hope in the Mercy of Allah. The Quran is a magnificent Grace and a Mercy from Allah to help us submit to His guidance, and never despair of the Mercy of Allah.
The Quran concludes with two comprehensive prayers to seek Allah's protection.
Full Text
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ
لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ
تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ
سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ
Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree.
And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree?
The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.
The angels and the Spirit ar-Ruh descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.
Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.
[Al-Quran 97, Translator: Sahih International (edited to retain word ar-Ruh in italics)]
Surah al-Qadr informs us that all decreed matters are sent down on the night of al-Qadr. The Quran was also sent down in this night, in the month of Ramadhan. Surah ad-Dukhan terms it a flourishing (مُّبَارَكَةٍ) night in which is made distinct every wise أَمْرٍ. The Quran guides us and grants us the insights we need to understand how to live the life we have been given. Surah al-Hadid further informs us:
مَا أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مِّن قَبْلِ أَن نَّبْرَأَهَا إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ
لِّكَيْلَا تَأْسَوْا عَلَىٰ مَا فَاتَكُمْ وَلَا تَفْرَحُوا بِمَا آتَاكُمْ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ
No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls nafs but is recorded in a decree before We bring it into existence: That is truly easy for God:
In order that ye may not despair over matters that pass you by, nor exult over favours bestowed upon you. For God loveth not any vainglorious boaster,-
Our Fate is with Us
In Surah Yasin we read a conversation between the Messengers and the superstitious people they were sent to:
In Surah Yasin we read a conversation between the Messengers and the superstitious people they were sent to:
وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلًا أَصْحَابَ الْقَرْيَةِ إِذْ جَاءَهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ
إِذْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيْهِمُ اثْنَيْنِ فَكَذَّبُوهُمَا فَعَزَّزْنَا بِثَالِثٍ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا إِلَيْكُم مُّرْسَلُونَ
قَالُوا مَا أَنتُمْ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا وَمَا أَنزَلَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ مِن شَيْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا تَكْذِبُونَ
قَالُوا رَبُّنَا يَعْلَمُ إِنَّا إِلَيْكُمْ لَمُرْسَلُونَ
وَمَا عَلَيْنَا إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ
قَالُوا إِنَّا تَطَيَّرْنَا بِكُمْ لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهُوا لَنَرْجُمَنَّكُمْ وَلَيَمَسَّنَّكُم مِّنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
قَالُوا طَائِرُكُم مَّعَكُمْ أَئِن ذُكِّرْتُم بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُّسْرِفُونَ
And present to them an example: the people of the city, when the messengers came to it -
When We sent to them two but they denied them, so We strengthened them with a third, and they said, "Indeed, we are messengers to you."
They said, "You are not but human beings like us, and the Most Merciful has not revealed a thing. You are only telling lies."
They said, "Our Lord knows that we are messengers to you,
And we are not responsible except for clear notification."
They said, "Indeed, we consider you a bad omen. If you do not desist, we will surely stone you, and there will surely touch you, from us, a painful punishment."
They said, "Your omen is with yourselves. Is it because you were reminded? Rather, you are a transgressing people."
Surah al-Isra further informs us about our omen/fate (طَائِرُكُم):
وَكُلَّ إِنسَانٍ أَلْزَمْنَاهُ طَائِرَهُ فِي عُنُقِهِ وَنُخْرِجُ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كِتَابًا يَلْقَاهُ مَنشُورًا
اقْرَأْ كِتَابَكَ كَفَىٰ بِنَفْسِكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ حَسِيبًا
And [for] every person We have imposed his fate upon his neck, and We will produce for him on the Day of Resurrection a record which he will encounter spread open.
[It will be said], "Read your record. Sufficient is your nafs against you this Day as accountant."
[Al-Quran 17:13, Translator: Sahih International (edited to retain word nafs in italics)]
The word which is translated as omen in Q36:18-19, and fate in Q17:13, shares its root with the word for birds. There are various kinds of superstitions: events, people and even birds are considered to be good and bad omens. However, the following ayat informs us that matters are already decreed, and the Messengers are only sent to give a last chance, and to establish the evidence against the defiantly disobedient:
وَإِذَا أَرَدْنَا أَن نُّهْلِكَ قَرْيَةً أَمَرْنَا مُتْرَفِيهَا فَفَسَقُوا فِيهَا فَحَقَّ عَلَيْهَا الْقَوْلُ فَدَمَّرْنَاهَا تَدْمِيرًا
And when We intend to destroy a city, We command its affluent but they defiantly disobey therein; so the word comes into effect upon it, and We destroy it with [complete] destruction.
[Al-Quran 17:16, Translator: Sahih International]
In Surah an-Naml, we find a similar argument as posed in Surah Yasin by the disbelievers:
The Pharaoh also believed in such superstitions:
Everything from Allah
Surah an-Nisa` informs us:
قَالُوا اطَّيَّرْنَا بِكَ وَبِمَن مَّعَكَ قَالَ طَائِرُكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ بَلْ أَنتُمْ قَوْمٌ تُفْتَنُونَ
They said, "We consider you a bad omen, you and those with you." He said, "Your omen is with Allah. Rather, you are a people being tested."
[Al-Quran 27:47, Translator: Sahih International]
فَإِذَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْحَسَنَةُ قَالُوا لَنَا هَٰذِهِ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَطَّيَّرُوا بِمُوسَىٰ وَمَن مَّعَهُ أَلَا إِنَّمَا طَائِرُهُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Whenever something fine came to them, they said: "This is ours;" while if something evil afflicted them, they took it as an omen connected with Moses and whoever was with him. Did not their omen only lie with God? Yet most of them do not realize it.
[Al-Quran 7:131, Translator: T. B. Irving]
Everything from Allah
Surah an-Nisa` informs us:
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
مَّن يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ وَمَن تَوَلَّىٰ فَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا
Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you should be within towers of lofty construction. But if good comes to them, they say, "This is from Allah "; and if evil befalls them, they say, "This is from you." Say, "All [things] are from Allah ." So what is [the matter] with those people that they can hardly understand any statement?
What comes to you of good is from Allah , but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself nafs. And We have sent you, [O Muhammad], to the people as a messenger, and sufficient is Allah as Witness.
He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah ; but those who turn away - We have not sent you over them as a guardian.
[Al-Quran 4:78-80, Translator: Sahih International (edited to retain word nafs in italics)]
For more on nafs and human misadventures, please read:
We are in pledge for our deeds. Our fate has already been decreed by Allah. Neither others nor we ourselves can benefit or harm ourselves, except that it has already been decreed for us. Therefore, we need to express gratitude for all the ease and all the good we are given, and pray for forgiveness and ease for all that's not according to our liking, without ever losing hope in the Mercy of Allah.
Mercy of Allah
The Quran relates the stories of the great prophets and messengers of Allah. They all preached not losing hope in the Mercy of Allah. Abraham was granted children in old age, while Jacob spent a lifetime awaiting the return of his beloved son Joseph. In spite of their prolonged wait, they never lost hope. The conversation between the Messengers who gave glad tidings to Abraham, and his response, is quoted in Surah al-Hijr:
قَالُوا بَشَّرْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْقَانِطِينَ
قَالَ وَمَن يَقْنَطُ مِن رَّحْمَةِ رَبِّهِ إِلَّا الضَّالُّونَ
They said, "We have given you good tidings in truth, so do not be of the despairing."
He said, "And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except for those astray?"
Jacob advises his sons:
يَا بَنِيَّ اذْهَبُوا فَتَحَسَّسُوا مِن يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَيْأَسُوا مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَا يَيْأَسُ مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْكَافِرُونَ
O my sons, go and find out about Joseph and his brother and despair not of relief rawḥi from Allah . Indeed, no one despairs of relief rawḥi from Allah except the disbelieving people."
[Al-Quran 12:87, Translator: Sahih International (edited to retain word rawḥi in italics)]
A note on رُوحُ
It is interesting to note the word (رَّوْحِ) used by Jacob in this advise. It is the same word used for what descends (الرُّوحُ) with the angels in the night of al-Qadr. Mary was sent the (رُوحَنَا) as mentioned in Q19:17; Jesus was able to perform his miracles with help of (رُوحِ الْقُدُسِ) as mentioned in Q5:110; The Quran was also brought by the (رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ):
It is interesting to note the word (رَّوْحِ) used by Jacob in this advise. It is the same word used for what descends (الرُّوحُ) with the angels in the night of al-Qadr. Mary was sent the (رُوحَنَا) as mentioned in Q19:17; Jesus was able to perform his miracles with help of (رُوحِ الْقُدُسِ) as mentioned in Q5:110; The Quran was also brought by the (رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ):
قُلْ نَزَّلَهُ رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ مِن رَّبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيُثَبِّتَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَهُدًى وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ
Say, [O Muhammad], "The Pure Spirit رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ has brought it down from your Lord in truth to make firm those who believe and as guidance and good tidings to the Muslims."
[Al-Quran 16:102, Translator: Sahih International (edited to retain word رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ in italics)]
However, Q17:85 is quite clear that we have been given very little knowledge about the (الرُّوحِ). The Quran is a magnificent Grace and a Mercy from Allah to help us submit to His guidance, and never despair of the Mercy of Allah.
Prayers to Seek Protection
The Quran concludes with two comprehensive prayers to seek Allah's protection from the harm that others may try to cause us, and from the sins we may be incited to commit:
Prayers to Seek Protection
The Quran concludes with two comprehensive prayers to seek Allah's protection from the harm that others may try to cause us, and from the sins we may be incited to commit:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ
مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ
وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ
وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ
Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak
From the evil of that which He created
And from the evil of darkness when it settles
And from the evil of the blowers in knots
And from the evil of an envier when he envies."
[Al-Quran 113, Translator: Sahih International]
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ
مَلِكِ النَّاسِ
إِلَٰهِ النَّاسِ
مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ
الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ
مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ
Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
The Sovereign of mankind.
The God of mankind,
From the evil of the retreating whisperer -
Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind -
From among the jinn and mankind."
[Al-Quran 114, Translator: Sahih International]
Last updated on: August 1, 2019
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