Abortions & Family Planning

 The Quran repeatedly states that ‘rizq’ is provided by Allah. It warns to not to kill children because of fear of lack of food. 

 …وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَوْلَادَكُم مِّنْ إِمْلَاقٍ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ …

[Al-Qur’an 6:151, translator: Sahih International] Say, "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you. [He commands] that you not associate anything with Him, and to parents, good treatment, and do not kill your children out of poverty; We will provide for you and them. And do not approach immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed. And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed] except by [legal] right. This has He instructed you that you may use reason."

وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ إِمْلَاقٍ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ كَانَ خِطْئًا كَبِيرًا …

[Al-Qur’an 17:30-31, translator: Sahih International] Indeed, your Lord extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. Indeed He is ever, concerning His servants, Acquainted and Seeing. And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin. 

Quran identifies poverty as the reason for hunger, and dismisses the notion that population growth leads to hunger. At another place, it exhorts the free citizens to reduce inequality by freeing slaves and feeding the hungry, stating that these are the difficult things to do: 

[Al-Qur’an 90:11-18, translator: Sahih International] But he has not broken through the difficult pass. And what can make you know what is [breaking through] the difficult pass? It is the freeing of a slave Or feeding on a day of severe hunger An orphan of near relationship Or a needy person in misery And then being among those who believed and advised one another to patience and advised one another to compassion. Those are the companions of the right.  

The following ayat lists giving of wealth to the needy and freeing of slaves among the righteous deeds: 

[Al-Qur’an 2:177, translator: Sahih International] Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.

Morality & Homicide 

Killing is a major crime. Hence, where it forbids the killing of children, Quran 6:151 also stresses on: ‘And do not approach immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed.’ Quran 17:31 states that ‘‘…Indeed, their killing is ever a khiṭ'an kabīran’: a grave offence, a great disobedience, a monstrous error, a great sin!  

The Quran 4:1 warns us to keep our duty regarding the الْأَرْحَامَ (the wombs). This Arabic word is generally mistranslated as relations or ties of kinship. For more on this, please read Guarding the Womb.

A horrifying video of the torturous killing in an abortion: The Silent Scream 

Sex, and especially sex outside marriage, may lead to unwanted pregnancies. Scholars have differing opinions on whether contraception is permissible or not, or if only some methods are permissible.  

Some cultures also value one gender over another, especially the girl child is generally unwanted and unwelcome. Consequently, a number of people resort to abortions, especially female foeticide / infanticide. Quran condemns it and will hold people accountable for it: 

[Al-Qur’an 81:8-9, translator: Sahih International] And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked For what sin she was killed? 

Dating and prostitution are actions which have socio-moral implications, and are prohibited in Islam. More on this at: Is Temporary Marriage the Halal Alternate to Dating?   

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The above is an excerpt from: World Hunger & Slavery  

Related post: 

Maroof & Munkar 

What they did to the She-Camel 

The Exalted Ones & The Better Group

 

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The Exalted Ones

قَالَ يَا إِبْلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَن تَسْجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّ ۖ أَسْتَكْبَرْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ الْعَالِينَ

He said, "O Iblis! What prevented you that you (should) prostrate to (one) whom I created with My Hands? Are you arrogant or are you of the exalted ones."

[Al-Quran 38:75]

إِذْ قَالُوا لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰ أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ

When they said, "Surely Yusuf and his brother (are) more beloved to our father than we, while we (are) a group. Indeed, our father (is) surely in an error clear.
[Al-Quran 12:8]

Surah Saad focuses on the rich and powerful people, believers and non-believers. So, its no wonder that الْمَلَإِ الْأَعْلَىٰ (The High Chiefs) are mentioned in this surah (Q38:69) before commencing the narrative about Adam. In Q38:75, the question implies that الْعَالِينَ (The Exalted Ones), the High Chiefs were exempt from this command of prostration to Adam. Iblis was not a high chief, and thus not exempt. 

Q38:69 also implies that there is a back story, but we have not been given knowledge about it. There is always great purpose in all that Allah does, and so there must be a very good reason why He created Adam, and commanded the angels to prostrate to him.   

According to the Biblical account on Wikipedia, Jacob had twelve sons from four women. Joseph and his younger brother were sons of the same mother, while the ten elder brothers were from three different women. Joseph's elder half-brothers considered themselves as a group superior to Joseph and his younger full-brother!  

A screenshot from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel taken on March 9, 2021

The Better Group? 

قَالَ أَنَا خَيْرٌ مِّنْهُ ۖ خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ

He said, "I am better than him. You created me from fire and You created him from clay."
[Al-Quran 38:76]

إِذْ قَالُوا لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰ أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ

When they said, "Surely Yusuf and his brother (are) more beloved to our father than we, while we (are) a group. Indeed, our father (is) surely in an error clear.
[Al-Quran 12:8]

Iblis, a jinn, a snake, created from fire, ... putting all of the clues together, I believe that the comparison is between Ectotherms and Endotherms, as discussed in detail in: جَانٌّ (Snake || Jinn)and The Creation & Emergence of Species. 

Why the elder half-brothers considered themselves a superior group to Joseph and his full-brother is unclear. 

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The above excerpts are from: Q38 71-88 || Q12

The Chosen Sincere Slaves

إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِينَ

Except Your slaves among them the chosen ones."
[Al-Quran 38:83]

وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِ ۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلَا أَن رَّأَىٰ بُرْهَانَ رَبِّهِ ۚ كَذَ‌ٰلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ السُّوءَ وَالْفَحْشَاءَ ۚ إِنَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُخْلَصِينَ

And certainly she did desire him, and he would have desired her, if not that he saw the proof (of) his Lord. Thus, that We might avert from him the evil and the immorality. Indeed, he (was) of Our slaves the sincere.
[Al-Quran 12:24]

وَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ ائْتُونِي بِهِ أَسْتَخْلِصْهُ لِنَفْسِي ۖ فَلَمَّا كَلَّمَهُ قَالَ إِنَّكَ الْيَوْمَ لَدَيْنَا مَكِينٌ أَمِينٌ

And said the king, "Bring to me him." I will select him for myself nafs." Then when he spoke to him, he said, "Indeed, you (are) today with us firmly established (and) trusted."
[Al-Quran 12:54; translation edited in italics to retain the word nafs]

Joseph was one of the عِبَادِنَا الْمُخْلَصِينَ , and thus Satan could not tempt him into sin. Joseph was human, and he could have also desired her, but he was a chosen one, sincere. Surah as-Saaffaat presents examples of the chosen ones (الْمُخْلَصِينَ) while Surah az-Zumar discusses in detail the serving sincerely (مُخْلِصًا) in Deen. 

Kings have their laws and govern according to it. Allah's Laws of Recompense are known as Allah's Deen. Allah chooses whom He wills for His Nafs. In Q20:41, we read Allah informing Moses that He has chosen him for His Nafs. In 12:54, we read about the King of Egypt choosing Joseph for his nafs. 

Joseph was in polytheistic Egypt when these situations arose. Several centuries later, Moses was sent to the Pharaoh of Egypt. In Surah Ghafir, while Pharaoh was conspiring to kill Moses, we read about another man (Q40:28-44), an Egyptian, who was an undeclared believer. He reminds his people that Allah had earlier sent Joseph, and he had foretold the coming of a Messenger (Moses), but later on the people fell in doubt about it after Joseph perished (هَلَكَ). This is perhaps of significance as the Egyptians used to embalm to preserve the dead as mummies. Even though Joseph's body was embalmed, he perished, and as per his will, his bones were taken away from Egypt when Allah rescued the the Bani Israel, and punished the Pharaoh and his people.   

In Q40:44, that Egyptian believer is quoted as stating:  فَسَتَذْكُرُونَ مَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ ۚ وَأُفَوِّضُ أَمْرِي إِلَى اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ  And you will remember what I say to you, and I entrust my affair to Allah. Indeed, Allah (is) All-Seer of (His) slaves." The next two ayaat informs us that: فَوَقَاهُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِ مَا مَكَرُوا ۖ وَحَاقَ بِآلِ فِرْعَوْنَ سُوءُ الْعَذَابِ So protected him Allah (from the) evils that they plotted, and enveloped (the) people (of) Firaun (the) worst punishment,  النَّارُ يُعْرَضُونَ عَلَيْهَا غُدُوًّا وَعَشِيًّا ۖ وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ أَدْخِلُوا آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ أَشَدَّ الْعَذَابِ The Fire; they are exposed to it morning and evening. And (the) Day (will be) established the Hour, "Cause to enter (the) people (of) Firaun (in the) severest punishment."

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The above is an excerpt from: Q38 71-88 || Q12 

The Messenger & The Reminder

 The Messenger of Allah 

قُلْ مَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُتَكَلِّفِينَ

Say, "Not I ask of you for it any payment, and not I am of the ones who pretend.
[Al-Quran 38:86]

وَمَا تَسْأَلُهُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۚ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ

And not you ask them for it any reward. Not (is) it but a reminder to the worlds.
[Al-Quran 12:104]

The Messenger of Allah does not pretend to know everything (Q38:69-70), nor does he charge any fee for his preaching. He is simply reminding the worlds. 

The Reminder 

إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ

Not it (is) except a Reminder to the worlds.
[Al-Quran 38:87]

ذَ‌ٰلِكَ مِنْ أَنبَاءِ الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهِ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمَا كُنتَ لَدَيْهِمْ إِذْ أَجْمَعُوا أَمْرَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَمْكُرُونَ

That (is) from the news (of) the unseen which We reveal to you. And not you were with them when they put together their plan while they (were) plotting.
[Al-Quran 12:102]

The story of Adam and Iblis needs to be taken on faith, for us to beware of the enmity of Satan, and understand the grave danger we are in. 

Surah Saad presents us examples of rich, powerful men. Surah Yusuf presents us with examples of plots and plans.     

Our inheritance awaits us. On the Day of Judgement, Allah will shower His Mercy on the chosen inheritors of the Gardens of Eternity, and complete His Favours upon them. 

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The above is an excerpt from: Q38 71-88 || Q12 

The Kingdom & The Throne

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 The Quran, Surah al-A’raaf  

54 إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ ۗ أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ ۗ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds.

Both, The Bible and The Quran, inform us that Allah created the heavens and the Earth in six days, He established His Kingdom, His soldiers, and then, He Ascended His Throne. 

The Sovereignty

The Quran, Surah Aal-i-Imran 

26 قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكَ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَاءُ وَتَنزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَاءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَاءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَاءُ ۖ بِيَدِكَ الْخَيْرُ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ Say, "O Allah, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.

27 تُولِجُ اللَّيْلَ فِي النَّهَارِ وَتُولِجُ النَّهَارَ فِي اللَّيْلِ ۖ وَتُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَتُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ ۖ وَتَرْزُقُ مَن تَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ You cause the night to enter the day, and You cause the day to enter the night; and You bring the living out of the dead, and You bring the dead out of the living. And You give provision to whom You will without account.

https://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=3&translator=29&show_arabic=1 

The Soldiers 

The Quran, Surah al-Fath 

7 وَلِلَّهِ جُنُودُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا And to Allah belong the soldiers of the heavens and the earth. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.

Arabic & Translation: https://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=48&translator=29&show_arabic=1 

The Sabbath 

The Quran, Surah an-Nahl 

124 إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ السَّبْتُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ ۚ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ The sabbath was only appointed for those who differed over it. And indeed, your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.

125 ادْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ ۖ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided

Arabic & Translation: https://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=16&translator=29&show_arabic=1 

Cause Not Corruption 

The Quran, Surah al-A’raaf 

54 إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ ۗ أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ ۗ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds.

55 ادْعُوا رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ Call upon your Lord in humility and privately; indeed, He does not like transgressors.

56 وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَاحِهَا وَادْعُوهُ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا ۚ إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good.

57 وَهُوَ الَّذِي يُرْسِلُ الرِّيَاحَ بُشْرًا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَحْمَتِهِ ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَقَلَّتْ سَحَابًا ثِقَالًا سُقْنَاهُ لِبَلَدٍ مَّيِّتٍ فَأَنزَلْنَا بِهِ الْمَاءَ فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ مِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ ۚ كَذَ‌ٰلِكَ نُخْرِجُ الْمَوْتَىٰ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ And it is He who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy until, when they have carried heavy rainclouds, We drive them to a dead land and We send down rain therein and bring forth thereby [some] of all the fruits. Thus will We bring forth the dead; perhaps you may be reminded.

58 وَالْبَلَدُ الطَّيِّبُ يَخْرُجُ نَبَاتُهُ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِ ۖ وَالَّذِي خَبُثَ لَا يَخْرُجُ إِلَّا نَكِدًا ۚ كَذَ‌ٰلِكَ نُصَرِّفُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَشْكُرُونَ And the good land - its vegetation emerges by permission of its Lord; but that which is bad - nothing emerges except sparsely, with difficulty. Thus do We diversify the signs for a people who are grateful

Arabic & Translation: https://www.searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=7&translator=29&show_arabic=1 

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