Knowledge of All the Names

وَعَلَّمَ اٰدَمَ الۡاَسۡمَآءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمۡ عَلَى الۡمَلٰٓٮِٕكَةِ فَقَالَ اَنۡۢبِــُٔوۡنِىۡ بِاَسۡمَآءِ هٰٓؤُلَآءِ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِيۡنَ‏ ٣١

And He taught Adam the names - all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said, "Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful."

[Al-Quran 2:31, Translation: Saheeh International]

Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ taught Adam عليه السلام, the khalifa, the names, all of them. 

Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ commands with His speech. That is, with His words. He commands and His command executes (Q3:47 (إِذَا قَضَىٰ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ)). We can understand this by comparing the use of names in software programming. A name is an identifier. Names are a fundamental part of programming. When Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ granted Adam عليه السلام the knowledge of all the names, He subjugated everything for Adam عليه السلام, i.e. gave him great power over everything, as is pointed out in Q22:65 (...أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُمْ مَا فِي الْأَرْضِ) and Q31:20 (...أَلَمْ تَرَوْا أَنَّ اللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُمْ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ).  

However, we also learn from The Quran that Adam عليه السلام did slip and suffer loss. So, its not strange when one comes across such a statement online:  

[Quote from Implicit context and namespace conflicts, Identifier, Wikipedia, as on January 1, 2024]: 

A universe in which every object had a UID would not need any namespaces, which is to say that it would constitute one gigantic namespace; but human minds could never keep track of, or semantically interrelate, so many UIDs.

..

Surah alQasas (the Story) states that: 

وَلَقَدۡ اٰتَيۡنَا مُوۡسَى الۡكِتٰبَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَاۤ اَهۡلَكۡنَا الۡقُرُوۡنَ الۡاُوۡلٰى بَصَآٮِٕرَ لِلنَّاسِ وَهُدًى وَّرَحۡمَةً لَّعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَذَكَّرُوۡنَ‏  ٤٣

And We certainly brought Moses the Scripture (The Book) after We had annihilated the earliest generations, as insights for mankind, and guidance and mercy, that perhaps they would remind themselves.

[Al-Quran 28:43, Translation: Fadel Soliman, Bridges', edited in italics]

In Surah anNaml (the Ants), we read about a man who had been given knowledge from AlKitab (الۡكِتٰبَ ( The Book)). He was able to instantaneously transport objects (see excerpt 2 at the end of this post). 

The word  بَصَآٮِٕرَ, translated as 'insights' above, is also noteworthy. One of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ 's name is Al-Baseer: 

اَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡا اِلَى الطَّيۡرِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ صٰٓفّٰتٍ وَّيَقۡبِضۡنَؕ ۘ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ اِلَّا الرَّحۡمٰنُ​ؕ اِنَّهٗ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍۢ بَصِيۡرٌ‏ ١٩

Have they not looked to the birds above them spreading their wings, and (at times) they fold (them) in? No one holds them up except the RaHmān (the All-Merciful Allah). Surely He is watchful of every thing.

[Al-Quran 28:43, Translation: Mufti Taqi Usmani]

As discussed in another post: 

Scientists are debating about consciousness and the existence of reality as dependant upon the observer. If reality is relatively constant regardless of whether we are looking at it or not looking, then there must be the external observer who is the cause of creation and the sustained existence of reality. Also, there must be only one such external observer, 

So, receiving knowledge from The Book ( الۡكِتٰبَ) and the knowledge bestowed on the khalifa, both seem to be pointing towards a limited ability to affect changes in the software of creation. 

The Quran introduces us to the concept of corruption early on in the text, and brings it up several times. 

The Quran also informs us, twice, that the Earth has been reformed, and that it should not be corrupted again (Q7:56 & Q7:85). 

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.... Excerpt 1from Al-Quran, Surah alBaqarah, Ruku 4 (in context the ayat quoted at the beginning of this post): 

وَاِذۡ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلۡمَلٰٓٮِٕكَةِ اِنِّىۡ جَاعِلٌ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ خَلِيۡفَةً ؕ قَالُوۡٓا اَتَجۡعَلُ فِيۡهَا مَنۡ يُّفۡسِدُ فِيۡهَا وَيَسۡفِكُ الدِّمَآءَۚ وَنَحۡنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمۡدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَـكَ​ؕ قَالَ اِنِّىۡٓ اَعۡلَمُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ‏  ٣٠ وَعَلَّمَ اٰدَمَ الۡاَسۡمَآءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمۡ عَلَى الۡمَلٰٓٮِٕكَةِ فَقَالَ اَنۡۢبِــُٔوۡنِىۡ بِاَسۡمَآءِ هٰٓؤُلَآءِ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِيۡنَ‏ ٣١ قَالُوۡا سُبۡحٰنَكَ لَا عِلۡمَ لَنَآ اِلَّا مَا عَلَّمۡتَنَا ؕ اِنَّكَ اَنۡتَ الۡعَلِيۡمُ الۡحَكِيۡمُ‏ ٣٢ قَالَ يٰٓـاٰدَمُ اَنۡۢبِئۡهُمۡ بِاَسۡمَآٮِٕهِمۡ​ۚ فَلَمَّآ اَنۡۢبَاَهُمۡ بِاَسۡمَآٮِٕهِمۡۙ قَالَ اَلَمۡ اَقُل لَّـكُمۡ اِنِّىۡٓ اَعۡلَمُ غَيۡبَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِۙ وَاَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُوۡنَ وَمَا كُنۡتُمۡ تَكۡتُمُوۡنَ‏ ٣٣ وَقُلۡنَا يٰٓـاٰدَمُ اسۡكُنۡ اَنۡتَ وَزَوۡجُكَ الۡجَـنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنۡهَا رَغَدًا حَيۡثُ شِئۡتُمَا وَلَا تَقۡرَبَا هٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُوۡنَا مِنَ الظّٰلِمِيۡنَ‏  ٣٥ فَاَزَلَّهُمَا الشَّيۡطٰنُ عَنۡهَا فَاَخۡرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيۡهِ​ وَقُلۡنَا اهۡبِطُوۡا بَعۡضُكُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ عَدُوٌّ ۚ وَلَـكُمۡ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ مُسۡتَقَرٌّ وَّمَتَاعٌ اِلٰى حِيۡنٍ‏ ٣٦ فَتَلَقّٰٓى اٰدَمُ مِنۡ رَّبِّهٖ كَلِمٰتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيۡهِ​ؕ اِنَّهٗ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيۡمُ‏ ٣٧ قُلۡنَا اهۡبِطُوۡا مِنۡهَا جَمِيۡعًا ​​ۚ فَاِمَّا يَاۡتِيَنَّكُمۡ مِّنِّىۡ هُدًى فَمَنۡ تَبِعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُوۡنَ‏ ٣٨ وَالَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا وَكَذَّبُوۡا بِـاٰيٰتِنَآ اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ اَصۡحٰبُ النَّارِ​​ۚ هُمۡ فِيۡهَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ‏ ٣٩ 

And [mention, O Muḥammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we exalt You with praise and declare Your perfection?" He [Allāh] said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know." And He taught Adam the names - all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said, "Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful." They said, "Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise." He said, "O Adam, inform them of their names." And when he had informed them of their names, He said, "Did I not tell you that I know the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth? And I know what you reveal and what you have concealed." And [mention] when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers. And We said, "O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat therefrom in [ease and] abundance from wherever you will. But do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers." But Satan caused them to slip out of it and removed them from that [condition] in which they had been. And We said, "Go down, [all of you], as enemies to one another, and you will have upon the earth a place of settlement and provision for a time." Then Adam received from his Lord [some] words, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, it is He who is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful. We said, "Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. And those who disbelieve and deny Our signs - those will be companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally."

[Al-Quran 2:30-39, Translation: Saheeh International]

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.... Excerpt 2 from Muhammad ﷺ – Ascension & Return

Instantaneous Transportation 

Q27:40 mentions the instantaneous transportation of an object from one country to another by a person who had been given knowledge from the The Book.  As Q13:39 informs us that the Mother of the Book is with Allah ﷻ . For someone who authors and controls the software of all creation, nothing is impossible for Him! In Q66:8, we read that: 

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِي اللَّهُ النَّبِيَّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَىٰ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَانِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

O you who believe! Turn to Allah (in) repentance sincere! Perhaps your Lord [that] will remove from you your evil deeds and admit you (into) Gardens flow from underneath it the rivers, (on the) Day not Allah will disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him. Their light will run before them and on their right; they will say, "Our Lord Perfect for us our light and grant forgiveness to us. Indeed, You (are) over every thing All-Powerful."

[Al-Quran 66:8] 

Is this ayat informing us of teleportation? Does 'perfection of light (نُورُ) mean complete conversion into energy, which will be beamed to The Gardens along the correct trajectory (الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ), to be restored back into matter upon arrival there? Surah alIsra itself declares that Allah ﷻ, who separated us into individuals before, is able to recollect us: 

قُلْ كُونُوا حِجَارَةً أَوْ حَدِيدًا

أَوْ خَلْقًا مِّمَّا يَكْبُرُ فِي صُدُورِكُمْ فَسَيَقُولُونَ مَن يُعِيدُنَا قُلِ الَّذِي فَطَرَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍفَسَيُنْغِضُونَ إِلَيْكَ رُءُوسَهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هُوَ قُلْ عَسَىٰ أَن يَكُونَ قَرِيبًا

Say, "Be stones or iron.

Or a creation of what (is) great in your breasts." Then they will say, "Who will restore us?" Say, "He Who separated you (the) first time." Then they will shake at you their heads and they say, "When (will) it (be)?" Say, "Perhaps that (it) will be soon."

[Al-Quran 17:50-51; Translation edited (in italics)]   

In this era of science and technology, when there are theories about the multiverse, theories about quantum teleportation, when interstellar travel no longer seems like an improbable dream, when there is active search for a hospitable planet to migrate to; it is far easier to believe that the Creator of Everything can and did transport Adam عليه السلام , Enoch (Idris عليه السلام), Jesus (Isa عليه السلام) and Muhammad ﷺ . 

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Last updated on: January 29, 2024

The Muslim Concept of Rapture

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وَكَذٰلِكَ اَعۡثَرۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ لِيَـعۡلَمُوۡۤا اَنَّ وَعۡدَ اللّٰهِ حَقٌّ وَّاَنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَا رَيۡبَ فِيۡهَا ​ۚ اِذۡ يَتَـنَازَعُوۡنَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ اَمۡرَهُمۡ​ فَقَالُوۡا ابۡنُوۡا عَلَيۡهِمۡ بُنۡيَانًـا ​ ؕ رَبُّهُمۡ اَعۡلَمُ بِهِمۡ​ؕ قَالَ الَّذِيۡنَ غَلَبُوۡا عَلٰٓى اَمۡرِهِمۡ لَـنَـتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيۡهِمۡ مَّسۡجِدًا‏ ٢١

And similarly, We caused them to be found that they [who found them] would know that the promise of Allāh is truth and that of the Hour there is no doubt. [That was] when they disputed among themselves about their affair and [then] said, "Construct over them a structure. Their Lord is most knowing about them." Said those who prevailed in the matter, "We will surely take [for ourselves] over them a masjid."

[Al-Quran 18:20, Translation: Sahih International]

Surah al-Kahf introductory ayaat (1-3) praise Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ for having revealed from Himself guidance to His servant in which there is no crookedness. They warn of a severe punishment from Him, and give glad tidings to the believers who reform, that for them is a great recompense, in which they will dwell forever.  

Ayaat 4-5 warn people who say that Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ has taken a son, calling it a lie that comes out of their mouths. 

Ayat 9 onwards we read about the Companions of the Cave (اَنَّ اَصۡحٰبَ الۡـكَهۡفِ وَالرَّقِيۡمِۙ). They were believers who took a stand for their faith, and then Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ caused them to sleep in a cave for several centuries. Thereafter, they were caused to wake up, so that people would know that the promise of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ is true, and the Hour (السَّاعَةَ) is definitely coming. The same ayat also informs that the people built upon that place and took it as a place of prostration (مَّسۡجِدًا‏), implying grave worship. This also implies that after waking them up and making them known, they died. 

According to the Hadith narrated from our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ , there would be no believer left before the last hour starts, and that the remaining people will eventually worship idols [text marked in bold; emphasis mine]: 

'Abdullah b. 'Amr reported that a person came to him and said:

What is this hadith that you narrate that the Last Hour would come at such and such time? Thereupon he said: Hallowed be Allah, there is no god but Allah (or the words to the same effect). I have decided that I would not narrate anything to anyone now. I had only said that you would see after some time an important event that the (sacred) House (Ka'ba) would be burnt and it would happen and definitely happen. He then reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: The Dajjal would appear in my Ummah and he would stay (in the world) for forty - I cannot say whether he meant forty days, forty months or forty years. And Allah would then send Jesus son of Mary who would resemble 'Urwa b Mas'ud. He (Jesus Christ) would chase him and kill him. Then people would live for seven years that there would be no rancour between two persons. Then Allah would send cold wind from the side of Syria that none would survive upon the earth having a speck of good in him or faith in him but he would die, so much so that even if some amongst you were to enter the innermost part of the mountain, this wind would reach that place also and that would cause his death. I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Only the wicked people would survive and they would be as careless as birds with the characteristics of beasts. They would never appreciate the good nor condemn evil. Then Satan would come to them in human form and would say: Don't you respond? And they would say: What do you order us? And he would command them to worship the idols but, in spite of this, they would have abundance of sustenance and lead comfortable lives. Then the trumpet would be blown and no one would hear that but he would bend his neck to one side and raise it from the other side and the first one to hear that trumpet would be the person who would be busy in setting right the tank meant for providing water to the camels. He would swoon and the other people would also swoon, then Allah would send or He would cause to send rain which would be like dew and there would grow out of it the bodies of the people. Then the second trumpet would be blown and they would stand up and begin to look (around). Then it would be said: O people, go to your Lord, and make them stand there. And they would be questioned. Then it would be said: Bring out a group (out of them) for the Hell-Fire. And then it would be asked: How much? It would be said: Nine hundred and ninty-nine out of one thousand for the Hell-Fire and that would be the day which would make the children old because of its terror and that would be the day about which it has been said: "On the day when the shank would be uncovered" (lxviii. 42).

حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ يَعْقُوبَ بْنَ عَاصِمِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ الثَّقَفِيَّ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو، وَجَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ مَا هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ الَّذِي تُحَدِّثُ بِهِ تَقُولُ إِنَّ السَّاعَةَ تَقُومُ إِلَى كَذَا وَكَذَا ‏.‏ فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ - أَوْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ أَوْ كَلِمَةً نَحْوَهُمَا - لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ لاَ أُحَدِّثَ أَحَدًا شَيْئًا أَبَدًا إِنَّمَا قُلْتُ إِنَّكُمْ سَتَرَوْنَ بَعْدَ قَلِيلٍ أَمْرًا عَظِيمًا يُحَرَّقُ الْبَيْتُ وَيَكُونُ وَيَكُونُ ثُمَّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ يَخْرُجُ الدَّجَّالُ فِي أُمَّتِي فَيَمْكُثُ أَرْبَعِينَ - لاَ أَدْرِي أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا أَوْ أَرْبَعِينَ شَهْرًا أَوْ أَرْبَعِينَ عَامًا - فَيَبْعَثُ اللَّهُ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ كَأَنَّهُ عُرْوَةُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ فَيَطْلُبُهُ فَيُهْلِكُهُ ثُمَّ يَمْكُثُ النَّاسُ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ لَيْسَ بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ عَدَاوَةٌ ثُمَّ يُرْسِلُ اللَّهُ رِيحًا بَارِدَةً مِنْ قِبَلِ الشَّأْمِ فَلاَ يَبْقَى عَلَى وَجْهِ الأَرْضِ أَحَدٌ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنْ خَيْرٍ أَوْ إِيمَانٍ إِلاَّ قَبَضَتْهُ حَتَّى لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ دَخَلَ فِي كَبَدِ جَبَلٍ لَدَخَلَتْهُ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى تَقْبِضَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ سَمِعْتُهَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ فَيَبْقَى شِرَارُ النَّاسِ فِي خِفَّةِ الطَّيْرِ وَأَحْلاَمِ السِّبَاعِ لاَ يَعْرِفُونَ مَعْرُوفًا وَلاَ يُنْكِرُونَ مُنْكَرًا فَيَتَمَثَّلُ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ فَيَقُولُ أَلاَ تَسْتَجِيبُونَ فَيَقُولُونَ فَمَا تَأْمُرُنَا فَيَأْمُرُهُمْ بِعِبَادَةِ الأَوْثَانِ وَهُمْ فِي ذَلِكَ دَارٌّ رِزْقُهُمْ حَسَنٌ عَيْشُهُمْ ثُمَّ يُنْفَخُ فِي الصُّورِ فَلاَ يَسْمَعُهُ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ أَصْغَى لِيتًا وَرَفَعَ لِيتًا - قَالَ - وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ يَسْمَعُهُ رَجُلٌ يَلُوطُ حَوْضَ إِبِلِهِ - قَالَ - فَيَصْعَقُ وَيَصْعَقُ النَّاسُ ثُمَّ يُرْسِلُ اللَّهُ - أَوْ قَالَ يُنْزِلُ اللَّهُ - مَطَرًا كَأَنَّهُ الطَّلُّ أَوِ الظِّلُّ - نُعْمَانُ الشَّاكُّ - فَتَنْبُتُ مِنْهُ أَجْسَادُ النَّاسِ ثُمَّ يُنْفَخُ فِيهِ أُخْرَى فَإِذَا هُمْ قِيَامٌ يَنْظُرُونَ ثُمَّ يُقَالُ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ هَلُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ ‏.‏ وَقِفُوهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ مَسْئُولُونَ - قَالَ - ثُمَّ يُقَالُ أَخْرِجُوا بَعْثَ النَّارِ فَيُقَالُ مِنْ كَمْ فَيُقَالُ مِنْ كُلِّ أَلْفٍ تِسْعَمِائَةٍ وَتِسْعَةً وَتِسْعِينَ - قَالَ - فَذَاكَ يَوْمَ يَجْعَلُ الْوِلْدَانَ شِيبًا وَذَلِكَ يَوْمَ يُكْشَفُ عَنْ سَاقٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

References & Links 

First Hadith listed under Book 21: Chapter 41, Number 7023: 

https://www.iium.edu.my/deed/hadith/muslim/041_smt.html 

Rapture [Wikipedia] 

Blogposts

The Ayat about The Shin 

List of posts about Surah al-Kahf 

List of posts about Prophecies 

The Example of The Mosquito

 

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي أَن يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًا مَّا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًا يُضِلُّ بِهِ كَثِيرًا وَيَهْدِي بِهِ كَثِيرًا وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلَّا الْفَاسِقِينَ

الَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ اللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ مِيثَاقِهِ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ

كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَاتًا فَأَحْيَاكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

Indeed, Allah (is) not ashamed to set forth an example (like) even (of) a female mosquito and (even) something above it her. Then as for those who believed, [thus] they will know that it (is) the truth from their Lord. And as for those who disbelieved [thus] they will say what (did) intend Allah by this example? He lets go astray by it many and He guides by it many. And not He lets go astray by it except the defiantly disobedient.

Those who break (the) Covenant (of) Allah from after its ratification, and [they] cut what has ordered Allah it to be joined and [they] spread corruption in the earth. Those, they (are) the losers.

How (can) you disbelieve in Allah? While you were dead then He gave you life; then He will cause you to die, then He will give you life, then to Him you will be returned.

[Al-Quran 2:26-27-28, Translation: Word for word, edited in italics for clarity]

Truth from their Lord: The Quran is true to the smallest finest details. The female mosquito is who feasts on humans and spread diseases. Upon her back is another tiny creature who feasts upon her. 

Q2:26 presents the example of the female mosquito as evidence of factual accuracy, while Q2:23 challenges the doubter to produce a quran like this if they think its not a revelation from Allah: 

وَاِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ فِىۡ رَيۡبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلۡنَا عَلٰى عَبۡدِنَا فَاۡتُوۡا بِسُوۡرَةٍ مِّنۡ مِّثۡلِهٖ وَادۡعُوۡا شُهَدَآءَكُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ صٰدِقِيۡنَ‏  ٢٣ فَاِنۡ

And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Muhammad], then produce a Surah the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah , if you should be truthful. 

[Al-Quran 2:23, Translation: Sahih International]

Surah alBaqarah is the longest surah in The Quran.

Nobody can produce a quran as accurate as this Quran which has been sent in truth from Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ to guide humans. 

To quote from an earlier post: 

بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا  

The Quran specifically uses the female gender of the mosquito (بَعُوضَةً), and the female pronoun (هَا) to specify the creature which is upon her. First, let us explore the example of a female mosquito, and then explore the creature upon her. 

بَعُوضَةً (female mosquito)

 To quote Wikipedia [as on October 8, 2022]:

Mosquito mouthparts are very specialized, particularly those of the females, which in most species are adapted to piercing skin and then sucking blood. Apart from bloodsucking, the females generally also drink assorted fluids rich in dissolved sugar, such as nectar and honeydew, to obtain the energy they need. For this, their blood-sucking mouthparts are perfectly adequate. In contrast, male mosquitoes are not bloodsuckers; they only drink sugary fluids. Accordingly, their mouthparts do not require the same degree of specialization as those of females.[65]

Female Mosquito: Studies reveal that female mosquitoes generally mate only once, store the sperms, and with that, fertilise several batches of hundreds of eggs. To do this, the female mosquitoes need human blood meals. The female mosquito receives germs when drawing the blood of humans, and transmits the same to other humans when she next draws blood from subsequent human beings. Upon the female mosquito is yet another germ-infested creature biting her.   

Human diseases transmitted through female mosquitoes is a worldwide problem that has been plaguing humans for millennia. More on this at: Mosquito-borne Diseases 

Public Enemy #1: Mosquitoes are known to spread many human diseases. They are probably cited to cause more illness and death than any other vector. They are feared as the natural public enemy number one. As such, they have been feared globally, and studied very closely, in great detail. Almost everyone is aware of their existence. They are dangerous and harmful. 

After presenting the exact detail about our known public enemy number one, so that we can be sure that this book is the truth from our Lord  سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ , the next rukuh goes on to describe the enmity of Iblis to Adam عليه السلام and his family. Iblis, the angel who refused to prostrate to Adam عليه السلام , in defiance and arrogance, also caused Adam عليه السلام and his wife to ignore Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ 's guidance and do that which was forbidden, being led by temptation. 

Iblis caused Adam عليه السلام to be removed from the Garden he was in. 

This Quran is the truth from Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ . It warns us about our unseen enemy, Iblis, who is trying to tempt us all into defiance and sinful disobedience. He infects our thoughts with his whispers. He suggestions lead us to cause harm to ourselves and those around us. He is after our soul. He is far more dangerous and harmful that any other creature. He wants to lead as many humans to eternal Hell as possible. We, the descendants of Adam عليه السلام have been duly warned against Iblis and his progeny.   

Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ wants to forgive us, and guide us to the Gardens of Eternity. 

We have been given free-will. There is no compulsion. The choice is ours. 

Knowing the Truth vs being blind to it

After presenting the example of the female mosquito, and stating that the defiantly disobedient (الْفَاسِقِينَ) are misguided by it, the next ayat of Surah alBaqarah defines the term. The following ayaat from Surah arRa`d reiterates that statement in more detail:

لِلَّذِيۡنَ اسۡتَجَابُوۡا لِرَبِّهِمُ الۡحُسۡنٰى​ؕ وَالَّذِيۡنَ لَمۡ يَسۡتَجِيۡبُوۡا لَهٗ لَوۡ اَنَّ لَهُمۡ مَّا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ جَمِيۡعًا وَّمِثۡلَهٗ مَعَهٗ لَافۡتَدَوۡا بِهٖؕ اُولٰۤٮِٕكَ لَهُمۡ سُوۡۤءُ الۡحِسَابِ ۙ وَمَاۡوٰٮهُمۡ جَهَـنَّمُ​ؕ وَبِئۡسَ الۡمِهَادُ‏ ١٨ ۞ اَفَمَنۡ يَّعۡلَمُ اَنَّمَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَيۡكَ مِنۡ رَّبِّكَ الۡحَـقُّ كَمَنۡ هُوَ اَعۡمٰىؕ اِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ اُولُوا الۡاَلۡبَابِۙ‏ ١٩ الَّذِيۡنَ يُوۡفُوۡنَ بِعَهۡدِ اللّٰهِ وَلَا يَنۡقُضُوۡنَ الۡمِيۡثَاقَۙ‏ ٢٠ وَالَّذِيۡنَ يَصِلُوۡنَ مَاۤ اَمَرَ اللّٰهُ بِهٖۤ اَنۡ يُّوۡصَلَ وَيَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّهُمۡ وَ يَخَافُوۡنَ سُوۡۤءَ الۡحِسَابِؕ‏ ٢١ وَالَّذِيۡنَ صَبَرُوا ابۡتِغَآءَ وَجۡهِ رَبِّهِمۡ وَاَقَامُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَاَنۡفَقُوۡا مِمَّا رَزَقۡنٰهُمۡ سِرًّا وَّعَلَانِيَةً وَّيَدۡرَءُوۡنَ بِالۡحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ اُولٰۤٮِٕكَ لَهُمۡ عُقۡبَى الدَّارِۙ‏ ٢٢ جَنّٰتُ عَدۡنٍ يَّدۡخُلُوۡنَهَا وَمَنۡ صَلَحَ مِنۡ اٰبَآٮِٕهِمۡ وَاَزۡوَاجِهِمۡ وَذُرِّيّٰتِهِمۡ​ وَالۡمَلٰٓٮِٕكَةُ يَدۡخُلُوۡنَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ مِّنۡ كُلِّ بَابٍ​ۚ‏  ٢٣ سَلٰمٌ عَلَيۡكُمۡ بِمَا صَبَرۡتُمۡ​ فَنِعۡمَ عُقۡبَى الدَّارِؕ‏ ٢٤ وَالَّذِيۡنَ يَنۡقُضُوۡنَ عَهۡدَ اللّٰهِ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مِيۡثَاقِهٖ وَيَقۡطَعُوۡنَ مَاۤ اَمَرَ اللّٰهُ بِهٖۤ اَنۡ يُّوۡصَلَ وَيُفۡسِدُوۡنَ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ​ۙ اُولٰۤٮِٕكَ لَهُمُ اللَّعۡنَةُ وَلَهُمۡ سُوۡۤءُ الدَّارِ‏ ٢٥ اَللّٰهُ يَبۡسُطُ الرِّزۡقَ لِمَنۡ يَّشَآءُ وَيَقۡدِرُ​ؕ وَفَرِحُوۡا بِالۡحَيٰوةِ الدُّنۡيَا ؕ وَمَا الۡحَيٰوةُ الدُّنۡيَا فِى الۡاٰخِرَةِ اِلَّا مَتَاعٌ‏ ٢٦

For those who have responded to their Lord is the best [reward], but those who did not respond to Him - if they had all that is in the earth entirely and the like of it with it, they would [attempt to] ransom themselves thereby. Those will have the worst account, and their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place. Then is he who knows that what has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth like one who is blind? They will only be reminded who are people of understanding - Those who fulfill the covenant of Allāh and do not break the contract, And those who join that which Allāh has ordered to be joined and fear their Lord and are afraid of the evil of [their] account, And those who are patient, seeking the face [i.e., acceptance] of their Lord, and establish prayer and spend from what We have provided for them secretly and publicly and prevent evil with good - those will have the good consequence of [this] home - Gardens of perpetual residence; they will enter them with whoever were righteous among their forefathers, their spouses and their descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, [saying], "Peace [i.e., security] be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home." But those who break the covenant of Allāh after contracting it and sever that which Allāh has ordered to be joined and spread corruption on earth - for them is the curse, and they will have the worst home. Allāh extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. And they rejoice in the worldly life, while the worldly life is not, compared to the Hereafter, except [brief] enjoyment. 

[Al-Quran 13:18-26, Translation: Sahih International]

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Last updated: December 31, 2023

Age of marriage

وَابۡتَلُوا الۡيَتٰمٰى حَتّٰىۤ اِذَا بَلَغُوا النِّكَاحَ​ ۚ فَاِنۡ اٰنَسۡتُمۡ مِّنۡهُمۡ رُشۡدًا فَادۡفَعُوۡۤا اِلَيۡهِمۡ اَمۡوَالَهُمۡ​ۚ وَلَا تَاۡكُلُوۡهَاۤ اِسۡرَافًا وَّبِدَارًا اَنۡ يَّكۡبَرُوۡا​ ؕ وَمَنۡ كَانَ غَنِيًّا فَلۡيَسۡتَعۡفِفۡ​ ۚ وَمَنۡ كَانَ فَقِيۡرًا فَلۡيَاۡكُلۡ بِالۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ​ ؕ فَاِذَا دَفَعۡتُمۡ اِلَيۡهِمۡ اَمۡوَالَهُمۡ فَاَشۡهِدُوۡا عَلَيۡهِمۡ​ ؕ وَكَفٰى بِاللّٰهِ حَسِيۡبًا‏ ٦

And test the orphans [in their abilities] until they reach marriageable age. Then if you perceive in them sound judgement, release their property to them. And do not consume it excessively and quickly, [anticipating] that they will grow up. And whoever, [when acting as guardian], is self-sufficient should refrain [from taking a fee]; and whoever is poor - let him take according to what is acceptable. Then when you release their property to them, bring witnesses upon them. And sufficient is Allāh as Accountant.

[Al-Quran 4:6, Translation: Saheeh International]

A common misconception is that Islam allows marrying of children. It doesn't. Surah an-Nisa (The Women) explicitly states that when orphans reach 'nikah' age, test them to see if they have legal sense (رُشۡدًا), and if they do, only then is their guardian to hand over their inherited property to them. Moreover, nikah itself is a ratified covenant between two adults, as stated in ayaat 20 and 21 of the same surah: 

وَاِنۡ اَرَدتُّمُ اسۡتِبۡدَالَ زَوۡجٍ مَّكَانَ زَوۡجٍ ۙ وَّاٰتَيۡتُمۡ اِحۡدٰٮهُنَّ قِنۡطَارًا فَلَا تَاۡخُذُوۡا مِنۡهُ شَيۡـــًٔا​ ؕ اَ تَاۡخُذُوۡنَهٗ بُهۡتَانًا وَّاِثۡمًا مُّبِيۡنًا‏ ٢٠ 

وَ كَيۡفَ تَاۡخُذُوۡنَهٗ وَقَدۡ اَفۡضٰى بَعۡضُكُمۡ اِلٰى بَعۡضٍ وَّاَخَذۡنَ مِنۡكُمۡ مِّيۡثَاقًا غَلِيۡظًا‏ ٢١

But if you want to replace one wife with another and you have given one of them a great amount [in gifts], do not take [back] from it anything. Would you take it in injustice and manifest sin?

And how could you take it while you have gone in unto each other and they have taken from you a solemn covenant?

[Al-Quran 4:20-21, Translation: Saheeh International]

The Age of Aisha رضي الله عنها, the wife of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is commonly quoted as proof of underage marriage. According to a study on Dr Khalid Zaheer's website, the age of Aisha رضي الله عنها at the time of her nikah was 18, and at the time of rukhsati she was 19 years old. 

Related Links: 

The Covenant & Its Ratification for why مِّيۡثَاقًا means a ratified covenant 

Understanding Q2:256 (No compulsion in Deen) for why رُشۡدًا implies legal sense  

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Surah alBaqarah QnA

 Some questions from Surah alBaqarah

DRAFT 

The Mother goddess

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إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا

إِن يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَّا إِنَاثًا وَإِن يَدْعُونَ إِلَّا شَيْطَانًا مَّرِيدًا

لَّعَنَهُ اللَّهُ وَقَالَ لَأَتَّخِذَنَّ مِنْ عِبَادِكَ نَصِيبًا مَّفْرُوضًا

وَلَأُضِلَّنَّهُمْ وَلَأُمَنِّيَنَّهُمْ وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُبَتِّكُنَّ آذَانَ الْأَنْعَامِ وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ خَلْقَ اللَّهِ وَمَن يَتَّخِذِ الشَّيْطَانَ وَلِيًّا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ خَسِرَ خُسْرَانًا مُّبِينًا

يَعِدُهُمْ وَيُمَنِّيهِمْ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا

أُولَٰئِكَ مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ عَنْهَا مَحِيصًا

Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray.

They call upon instead of Him none but female [deities], and they [actually] call upon none but a rebellious Satan.

Whom Allah has cursed. For he had said, "I will surely take from among Your servants a specific portion.

And I will mislead them, and I will arouse in them [sinful] desires, and I will command them so they will slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them so they will change the creation of Allah ." And whoever takes Satan as an ally instead of Allah has certainly sustained a clear loss.

Satan promises them and arouses desire in them. But Satan does not promise them except delusion.

The refuge of those will be Hell, and they will not find from it an escape.

[Al-Quran 4:116-121, Translation: Sahih International]

Throughout history, the female has been worshipped. As stated in Wikipedia [as on November 21, 2023]: 

A mother goddess is a major goddess characterized as a mother or progenitor, either as an embodiment of motherhood and fertility or fulfilling the cosmological role of a creator- and/or destroyer-figure, typically associated the Earth, sky, and/or the life-giving bounties thereof in a maternal relation with humanity or other gods. When equated in this lattermost function with the earth or the natural world, such goddesses are sometimes referred to as the Mother Earth or Earth Mother, deity in various animistic or pantheistic religions.^{[citation needed]} The earth goddess is archetypally the wife or feminine counterpart of the Sky Father or Father Heaven, particularly in theologies derived from the Proto-Indo-European sphere (i.e. from Dheghom and Dyeus). In some polytheistic cultures, such as the Ancient Egyptian religion which narrates the cosmic egg myth, the sky is instead seen as the Heavenly Mother or Sky Mother as in Nut and Hathor, and the earth god is regarded as the male, paternal, and terrestrial partner, as in Osiris or Geb who hatched out of the maternal cosmic egg.

 The believe in a female supreme being stands in sharp contrast to the belief in the One and Only Deity of Abrahamic faith, referred to with the male pronoun. The Quran further clarifies this faith: 

بَدِيۡعُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِ​ؕ اَنّٰى يَكُوۡنُ لَهٗ وَلَدٌ وَّلَمۡ تَكُنۡ لَّهٗ صَاحِبَةٌ​ ؕ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ​ ۚ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عَلِيۡمٌ‏ ١٠١

[He is] Originator of the heavens and the earth. How could He have a son when He does not have a companion [i.e., wife] and He created all things? And He is, of all things, Knowing.

[Al-Quran 6:101, Translation: Saheeh International]

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Q20:20 Egyptian Cobra

 Iblis & The Egyptian Cobra

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ

And when We said to the Angels, "Prostrate to Adam," then they prostrated, except Iblis; he refused.
[Al-Quran 20:116]

قَالَ لَا يَأْتِيكُمَا طَعَامٌ تُرْزَقَانِهِ إِلَّا نَبَّأْتُكُمَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِ قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمَا ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِي رَبِّي ۚ إِنِّي تَرَكْتُ مِلَّةَ قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَهُم بِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ كَافِرُونَ

وَاتَّبَعْتُ مِلَّةَ آبَائِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ مَا كَانَ لَنَا أَن نُّشْرِكَ بِاللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ

He said, "Not (will) come to both of you food you are provided with but I will inform both of you of its interpretation, before [that] [it] comes to both of you. That (is) of what has taught me my Lord. Indeed, I [I] abandon (the) religion (of) a people, not they believe in Allah, and they in the Hereafter [they] (are) disbelievers.
And I follow (the) religion (of) my forefathers, Ibrahim, and Ishaq and Yaqub. Not was for us that we associate with Allah any thing. That (is) from (the) Grace (of) Allah upon us, and upon the mankind but most (of) the men (are) not grateful.
[Al-Quran 12:37-38]

To Allah belongs everything and He knows everything. With that introduction, Surah Ta Ha Q20:9 starts relating the story of Moses. When Allah spoke with Moses, Allah ordered him to establish prayer for His Remembrance, as the Promised Hour is definitely going to occur, when every nafs will be recompensed! Moses was also warned against being averted from prayer by the one who doesn't believe and follows هَوَاهُ generally translated as 'his desires'.  

To show Moses a sign, Allah asked him to throw his stick which became a snake (حَيَّةٌ). Moses was then told not be afraid of it, but rather to pick it up, upon which it would revert to its former state. 

The Egyptian Cobra was a symbol of royalty, deity, sovereignty and divine authority in Ancient Egypt. The Egyptian Pharaohs wore the symbol on their head. The Egyptian Cobra is called Naja Haje. On the Wikipedia page about the Egyptian cobra (dated March 19, 2021), it states: 

Etymology and taxonomy

The Naja haje was first described by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The generic name naja is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word nāgá (नाग) meaning "cobra". The specific epithet haje is derived from the Arabic word ḥayya (حية) which literally means "snake".[4]

With the two miracles in Moses' hand: (the control over the Egyptian Cobra & the Healed Hand), Moses was commanded to go to The Pharaoh to demand the release of Allah's chosen people: the Bani Israel. 

The Bible, Genesis 3:1, explicitly declares that the beast in The Garden was a serpent.  While Q18:50 already informs us that Iblis is from the jinn (an ectotherm), and Q27:10 & Q28:31 state that Moses' stick became a jaan (snake), in Q20:20 it clearly specifies the species: (حَيَّةٌ), the very symbol the Pharaoh wore on his head! Iblis, the snake, had refused to prostrate to Adam, and the polytheistic Egyptians revered the very creature. 

Screenshot from https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Naja_haje/classification/

Faith in one Allah, and submission to His Commands, the monotheistic religion of Abraham, stands in sharp contrast to the polytheistic beliefs of the ancient Egyptians. 
Related post: The Serpent & The Snake: a Clear Sign 

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The above is an excerpt from Q20 115-124 || Q12