The Potential in The Ordinary

DRAFT

كِتٰبٌ اَنۡزَلۡنٰهُ اِلَيۡكَ مُبٰرَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوۡۤا اٰيٰتِهٖ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ اُولُوا الۡاَلۡبَابِ‏ ٢٩

[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.

[Al-Quran 38:29, Translation: Saheeh International] 

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was given a Book, and through it Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ granted faith and guidance to billions of people all over the world. 

Moses (Musa عليه السلام)’ staff

وَمَا تِلۡكَ بِيَمِيۡنِكَ يٰمُوۡسٰى‏ ١٧ قَالَ هِىَ عَصَاىَ​ۚ اَتَوَكَّؤُا عَلَيۡهَا وَاَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلٰى غَـنَمِىۡ وَلِىَ فِيۡهَا مَاٰرِبُ اُخۡرٰى‏ ١٨ قَالَ اَلۡقِهَا يٰمُوۡسٰى‏ ١٩

And what is that in your right hand, O Moses?" He said, "It is my staff; I lean upon it, and I bring down leaves for my sheep and I have therein other uses." [Allāh] said, "Throw it down, O Moses."

[Al-Quran 20:17-19, Translation: Saheeh International] 

Moses (Musa عليه السلام)’ staff was an ordinary daily use item, and through it Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ performed many miracles. 

First, it was turned into a snake, and then returned to its former condition. 

Moses (Musa عليه السلام) was sent to The Pharaoh equipped with just his staff, and it turned into a serpent. The serpent ate up the magic, and the great sorcerers prostrated to Moses (Musa عليه السلام)’ God, submitting to the true religion, and immediately abandoned their sorcery. They didn’t even use their sorcery to try to escape the Pharaoh’s cruel punishment. 

… 

During the Exodus, Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ asked Moses (Musa عليه السلام) to strike the sea with his staff, and Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ parted it, paving the way for the Bani Israel to cross the sea, and to drown the mighty Pharaoh and his army. 

David (Daud عليه السلام)’ sling

وَلَمَّا بَرَزُوۡا لِجَـالُوۡتَ وَجُنُوۡدِهٖ قَالُوۡا رَبَّنَآ اَفۡرِغۡ عَلَيۡنَا صَبۡرًا وَّثَبِّتۡ اَقۡدَامَنَا وَانۡصُرۡنَا عَلَى الۡقَوۡمِ الۡکٰفِرِيۡنَؕ‏ ٢٥٠ فَهَزَمُوۡهُمۡ بِاِذۡنِ اللّٰهِ ۙ وَقَتَلَ دَاوٗدُ جَالُوۡتَ وَاٰتٰٮهُ اللّٰهُ الۡمُلۡكَ وَالۡحِکۡمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهٗ مِمَّا يَشَآءُ ​ؕ وَلَوۡلَا دَفۡعُ اللّٰهِ النَّاسَ بَعۡضَهُمۡ بِبَعۡضٍ لَّفَسَدَتِ الۡاَرۡضُ وَلٰـکِنَّ اللّٰهَ ذُوۡ فَضۡلٍ عَلَى الۡعٰلَمِيۡنَ‏ ٢٥١ تِلۡكَ اٰيٰتُ اللّٰهِ نَـتۡلُوۡهَا عَلَيۡكَ بِالۡحَـقِّ​ؕ وَاِنَّكَ لَمِنَ الۡمُرۡسَلِيۡنَ‏ ٢٥٢

And when they went forth to [face] Goliath and his soldiers, they said, "Our Lord, pour upon us patience and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people." So they defeated them by permission of Allāh, and David killed Goliath, and Allāh gave him the kingship and wisdom [i.e., prophethood] and taught him from that which He willed. And if it were not for Allāh checking [some] people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted, but Allāh is the possessor of bounty for the worlds. These are the verses of Allāh which We recite to you, [O Muḥammad], in truth. And indeed, you are from among the messengers.

[Al-Quran 2:250-252, Translation: Saheeh International] 

49 David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, and hurled it with his sling. It struck the P’lishti in his forehead and buried itself in his forehead, so that he fell face down on the ground. 50 Thus David defeated the P’lishti with a sling and a stone, striking the P’lishti and killing him; but David had no sword in his hand. 51 Then David ran and stood over the P’lishti, took his sword, drew it out of its sheath, and finished killing him, cutting off his head with it.

[The Bible, 1 Samuel 17 CJB]

To defeat the giant Goliath (Jalut), all that David (Daud عليه السلام) needed was a sling and a stone.  

Jonah (Yunus عليه السلام)'s single sentence

فَلَوۡلَا كَانَتۡ قَرۡيَةٌ اٰمَنَتۡ فَنَفَعَهَاۤ اِيۡمَانُهَاۤ اِلَّا قَوۡمَ يُوۡنُسَ ۚؕ لَمَّاۤ اٰمَنُوۡا كَشَفۡنَا عَنۡهُمۡ عَذَابَ الۡخِزۡىِ فِى الۡحَيٰوةِ الدُّنۡيَا وَمَتَّعۡنٰهُمۡ اِلٰى حِيۡنٍ‏ ٩٨

Then has there not been a [single] city that believed so its faith benefited it except the people of Jonah? When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace in worldly life and gave them enjoyment [i.e., provision] for a time.

[Al-Quran 10:98, Translation: Saheeh International] 

The word of Adonai came to Yonah a second time: 2 “Set out for the great city of Ninveh, and proclaim to it the message I will give you.” 3 So Yonah set out and went to Ninveh, as Adonai had said. Now Ninveh was such a large city that it took three days just to cross it. 4 Yonah began his entry into the city and had finished only his first day of proclaiming, ‘In forty days Ninveh will be overthrown,’ 5 when the people of Ninveh believed God. They proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. 6 When the news reached the king of Ninveh, he got up from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat in ashes. 7 He then had this proclamation made throughout Ninveh: “By decree of the king and his nobles, no person or animal, herd or flock, is to put anything in his mouth; they are neither to eat nor drink water. 8 They must be covered with sackcloth, both people and animals; and they are to cry out to God with all their might — let each of them turn from his evil way and from the violence they practice. 9 Who knows? Maybe God will change his mind, relent and turn from his fierce anger; and then we won’t perish.”

10 When God saw by their deeds that they had turned from their evil way, he relented and did not bring on them the punishment he had threatened.

[The Bible, Jonah 3 CJB]

To save the sinful city of that era, all that Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ gave Jonah (Yunus عليه السلام) was a sentence. He preached and they repented immediately, all of them, and thus were saved from annihilation. 

Job (Ayub عليه السلام)'s cool bath and drink

وَاذۡكُرۡ عَبۡدَنَاۤ اَيُّوۡبَۘ اِذۡ نَادٰى رَبَّهٗۤ اَنِّىۡ مَسَّنِىَ الشَّيۡطٰنُ بِنُصۡبٍ وَّعَذَابٍؕ‏ ٤١ اُرۡكُضۡ بِرِجۡلِكَ​ ۚ هٰذَا مُغۡتَسَلٌ ۢ بَارِدٌ وَّشَرَابٌ‏ ٤٢

And remember Our servant Job, when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, Satan has touched me with hardship and torment." [So he was told], "Strike [the ground] with your foot; this is a [spring for a] cool bath and drink."

[Al-Quran 38:41-42, Translation: Saheeh International] 

All that was needed to cure Job (Ayub عليه السلام) was something very cold to bathe with, and to drink. 

Adam عليه السلام eating from a forbidden tree

قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمۡنَاۤ اَنۡفُسَنَا وَاِنۡ لَّمۡ تَغۡفِرۡ لَـنَا وَتَرۡحَمۡنَا لَـنَكُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الۡخٰسِرِيۡنَ‏ ٢٣ قَالَ اهۡبِطُوۡا بَعۡضُكُمۡ لِبَـعۡضٍ عَدُوٌّ​ ۚ وَلَـكُمۡ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ مُسۡتَقَرٌّ وَّمَتَاعٌ اِلٰى حِيۡنٍ‏ ٢٤ قَالَ فِيۡهَا تَحۡيَوۡنَ وَفِيۡهَا تَمُوۡتُوۡنَ وَمِنۡهَا تُخۡرَجُوۡنَ‏ ٢٥ يٰبَنِىۡۤ اٰدَمَ قَدۡ اَنۡزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكُمۡ لِبَاسًا يُّوَارِىۡ سَوۡاٰتِكُمۡ وَرِيۡشًا​ ؕ وَلِبَاسُ التَّقۡوٰى ۙ ذٰ لِكَ خَيۡرٌ​ ؕ ذٰ لِكَ مِنۡ اٰيٰتِ اللّٰهِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَذَّكَّرُوۡنَ‏ ٢٦ يٰبَنِىۡۤ اٰدَمَ لَا يَفۡتِنَـنَّكُمُ الشَّيۡطٰنُ كَمَاۤ اَخۡرَجَ اَبَوَيۡكُمۡ مِّنَ الۡجَـنَّةِ يَنۡزِعُ عَنۡهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوۡءاٰتِهِمَا ؕ اِنَّهٗ يَرٰٮكُمۡ هُوَ وَقَبِيۡلُهٗ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا تَرَوۡنَهُمۡ​ ؕ اِنَّا جَعَلۡنَا الشَّيٰطِيۡنَ اَوۡلِيَآءَ لِلَّذِيۡنَ لَا يُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ‏ ٢٧

They said, "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers." [Allāh] said, "Descend, being to one another enemies. And for you on the earth is a place of settlement and enjoyment [i.e., provision] for a time." He said, "Therein you will live, and therein you will die, and from it you will be brought forth." O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness - that is best. That is from the signs of Allāh that perhaps they will remember. O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe.

[Al-Quran 7:23-27, Translation: Saheeh International] 

All that was needed to harm Adam عليه السلام was to eat from a certain forbidden tree. As soon as they both ate from it, they harmed their soul, and their body. They lost their natural cover. Their clothes were stripped off. 

Desires & Deception 

۞ يَسۡـــَٔلُوۡنَكَ عَنِ الۡخَمۡرِ وَالۡمَيۡسِرِ​ؕ قُلۡ فِيۡهِمَآ اِثۡمٌ کَبِيۡرٌ وَّمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَاِثۡمُهُمَآ اَکۡبَرُ مِنۡ نَّفۡعِهِمَا ؕ وَيَسۡـــَٔلُوۡنَكَ مَاذَا يُنۡفِقُوۡنَ   قُلِ الۡعَفۡوَ​ؕ كَذٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللّٰهُ لَـكُمُ الۡاٰيٰتِ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَتَفَكَّرُوۡنَۙ‏ ٢١٩ فِى الدُّنۡيَا وَالۡاٰخِرَةِؕ وَيَسۡـــَٔلُوۡنَكَ عَنِ الۡيَتٰمٰىؕ قُلۡ اِصۡلَاحٌ لَّهُمۡ خَيۡرٌ ؕ وَاِنۡ تُخَالِطُوۡهُمۡ فَاِخۡوَانُكُمۡ​ؕ وَاللّٰهُ يَعۡلَمُ الۡمُفۡسِدَ مِنَ الۡمُصۡلِحِ​ؕ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ لَاَعۡنَتَكُمۡؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَزِيۡزٌ حَكِيۡمٌ‏ ٢٢٠

They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they should spend. Say, "The excess [beyond needs]." Thus Allāh makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought To this world and the Hereafter. And they ask you about orphans. Say, "Improvement for them is best. And if you mix your affairs with theirs - they are your brothers. And Allāh knows the corrupter from the amender. And if Allāh had willed, He could have put you in difficulty. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise."

[Al-Quran 2:219-220, Translation: Saheeh International] 

يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِنَّمَا الۡخَمۡرُ وَالۡمَيۡسِرُ وَالۡاَنۡصَابُ وَالۡاَزۡلَامُ رِجۡسٌ مِّنۡ عَمَلِ الشَّيۡطٰنِ فَاجۡتَنِبُوۡهُ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُوۡنَ‏  ٩٠ اِنَّمَا يُرِيۡدُ الشَّيۡطٰنُ اَنۡ يُّوۡقِعَ بَيۡنَكُمُ الۡعَدَاوَةَ وَالۡبَغۡضَآءَ فِى الۡخَمۡرِ وَالۡمَيۡسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمۡ عَنۡ ذِكۡرِ اللّٰهِ وَعَنِ الصَّلٰوةِ​ ۚ فَهَلۡ اَنۡـتُمۡ مُّنۡتَهُوۡنَ‏ ٩١

O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allāh], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful. Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allāh and from prayer. So will you not desist?

[Al-Quran 5:90-91, Translation: Saheeh International] 

All that the devil needs to arouse sinful desires is for humans to consume some intoxicants. 

Our wealth is something that we will be made accountable for on the Day of Judgement. Wasteful spending earns sins. ... 

Mosquitoes 

۞ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَسۡتَحۡـىٖۤ اَنۡ يَّضۡرِبَ مَثَلًا مَّا بَعُوۡضَةً فَمَا فَوۡقَهَا ​ؕ فَاَمَّا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا فَيَعۡلَمُوۡنَ اَنَّهُ الۡحَـقُّ مِنۡ رَّبِّهِمۡ​ۚ وَاَمَّا الَّذِيۡنَ ڪَفَرُوۡا فَيَقُوۡلُوۡنَ مَاذَآ اَرَادَ اللّٰهُ بِهٰذَا مَثَلًا ۘ يُضِلُّ بِهٖ ڪَثِيۡرًا وَّيَهۡدِىۡ بِهٖ كَثِيۡرًا ​ؕ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهٖۤ اِلَّا الۡفٰسِقِيۡنَۙ ٢٦ الَّذِيۡنَ يَنۡقُضُوۡنَ عَهۡدَ اللّٰهِ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مِيۡثَاقِهٖ وَيَقۡطَعُوۡنَ مَآ اَمَرَ اللّٰهُ بِهٖۤ اَنۡ يُّوۡصَلَ وَيُفۡسِدُوۡنَ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ​ؕ اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ الۡخٰسِرُوۡنَ‏ ٢٧

Indeed, Allāh is not timid to present an example - that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did Allāh intend by this as an example?" He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby. And He misleads not except the defiantly disobedient, Who break the covenant of Allāh after contracting it and sever that which Allāh has ordered to be joined and cause corruption on earth. It is those who are the losers.

[Al-Quran 2:26-27, Translation: Saheeh International] 

A tiny, female mosquito, going from human to human, foraging for a blood meal, is all it takes to spread dangerous diseases. Mosquitoes have been known to bring diseases to humans since thousands of years.  … 

Noah's ark 

فَفَتَحۡنَاۤ اَبۡوَابَ السَّمَآءِ بِمَآءٍ مُّنۡهَمِرٍ ۖ‏ ١١ وَّفَجَّرۡنَا الۡاَرۡضَ عُيُوۡنًا فَالۡتَقَى الۡمَآءُ عَلٰٓى اَمۡرٍ قَدۡ قُدِرَ​ۚ‏ ١٢ وَحَمَلۡنٰهُ عَلٰى ذَاتِ اَلۡوَاحٍ وَّدُسُرٍۙ‏ ١٣ تَجۡرِىۡ بِاَعۡيُنِنَا​ۚ جَزَآءً لِّمَنۡ كَانَ كُفِرَ‏ ١٤ وَلَقَدْ تَّرَكۡنٰهَاۤ اٰيَةً فَهَلۡ مِنۡ مُّدَّكِرٍ‏ ١٥ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِىۡ وَنُذُرِ‏ ١٦ وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا الۡقُرۡاٰنَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِنۡ مُّدَّكِرٍ‏ ١٧ 

Then We opened the gates of the heaven with rain pouring down And caused the earth to burst with springs, and the waters met for a matter already predestined. And We carried him on a [construction of] planks and nails, Sailing under Our observation as reward for he who had been denied. And We left it as a sign, so is there any who will remember? And how [severe] were My punishment and warning. And We have certainly made the Qur’ān easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember? 

[Al-Quran 54:11-17, Translation: Saheeh International]  

A simple construction of planks and nails was used to save the few who believed Noah (Nuh عليه السلام). 

… 

Repentance 

اَفَمِنۡ هٰذَا الۡحَدِيۡثِ تَعۡجَبُوۡنَۙ‏ ٥٩ وَتَضۡحَكُوۡنَ وَلَا تَبۡكُوۡنَۙ‏ ٦٠ وَاَنۡتُمۡ سٰمِدُوۡنَ‏ ٦١ فَاسۡجُدُوۡا لِلّٰهِ وَاعۡبُدُوۡا ۩ ٦٢

Then at this statement do you wonder? And you laugh and do not weep While you are proudly sporting? So prostrate to Allāh and worship [Him].

[Al-Quran 53:59-62, Translation: Saheeh International] 

To be forgiven, all that's needed is sincere repentance: weeping and shedding tears in front of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ 

… 

… 

To defeat the USA and their allies, all that the Afghanis needed was unwavering faith and trust in Allah عزوجل . While the world struggled with Covid-19 disease, the Afghanis fearlessly continued their resistance till eventually the invading troops had to withdraw. 

Related Posts:

a blessed Book 

The Qur’an: a Revelation 

The Torah & The Quran 

Explained in Detail 

Moses (Musa عليه السلام)’ staff 

The Serpent & The Snake: a Clear Sign 

No ilah but Allah لا إله إلا الله

David (Daud عليه السلام)’ sling 

... 

Jonah (Yunus عليه السلام)'s single sentence

Anger, Anguish & The Repentance 

Job (Ayub عليه السلام)'s cool bath and drink 

Affliction, Cure, and The Roman Cult 

Adversity: Fatigue and Torment 

Adam عليه السلام eating from a forbidden tree

Natural Clothing 

Adam's Attempt to Improve upon Allah's Creation 

Adam's Covenant & Expulsion: an overview 

Humans & The Human Condition 

Desires & Deception 

Satan's Enmity: Origin & Objective 

Adam & Job 

Mosquitoes 

The Example of The Mosquito 

Honey Bee 

Pairs of Glaciers 

Noah's ark 

Noah's Ark 

The Flood 

Repentance 

Tears of Joy 

... if you slip 

Last updated on: May 12, 2024

Anger, Anguish & The Repentance

Disease & Cure - XV

وَذَا النُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَاضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ

فَنَادَىٰ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ أَن

لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُنجِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

And (mention) Dhu'n-Nun, when he went off in anger and deemed that We had no power over him,
but he cried out in the darkness, saying:
There is no Allah save Thee. Be Thou Glorified! You are free from imperfections! Lo! I have been a wrong-doer.

Then we heard his prayer and saved him from the anguish. Thus we save believers.

[Al-Quran 21:87-88, Translation: Pickthal; edited for clarity in italics]

In Dhu'n-Nun's story, we have a perfect example of how Allah saves the believers through realisation, acknowledgement and heartfelt repentance!

Anger clouds our judgement and our ability to keep faith. When Dhu'n-Nun* got angry, the ayah informs us that he imagined that he was not under divine control, and thus went off. However, he had a mission to attend to. When he repented and returned to duty, through his preaching, more than a hundred thousand people believed and repented. Therefore, divine punishment was averted from them (Q10:98). * (Jonah) Dhu'n-Nun discussion at the end of this post 

مُغَاضِبًا

وَالَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ وَإِذَا مَا غَضِبُوا هُمْ يَغْفِرُونَ

وَالَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَىٰ بَيْنَهُمْ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ

وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَهُمُ الْبَغْيُ هُمْ يَنتَصِرُونَ

وَجَزَاءُ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ

[Al-Quran 42:37-40]

In this excerpt from Surah ash-Shura, among the desirable characteristics expected from the believers, is their readiness to forgive when angry.

Dhu'n-Nun was angry, and, at that moment in time, he was not forgiving. Rather, he went off in anger. ..


فَظَنَّ
The root ẓā nūn nūn (ظ ن ن) occurs 69 times in the Quran. Putting together the various shades of translation of this word, it seems that it is a thought which leads to an assumption with certainty of belief.



أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ
In his state of anger, Dhu'n-Nun assumed with certainty that he could run away and would certainly not be restricted. In the verb form, the root ق د ر is variously translated as to restrict, overpower, control, plot, determine.



فَنَادَىٰ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ

وَلَقَدْ نَادَانَا نُوحٌ فَلَنِعْمَ الْمُجِيبُونَ

[Al-Quran 37:75]

When Noah cried, and when Dhu'n-Nun cried, both were surrounded by darknesses. Noah had been preaching for centuries with hardly any response from his people, who were in the darknesses of their disbelief, falsehood and injustices. Dhu'n-Nun (Jonah) was literally in the darkness of the belly of the fish. Both cried out: Noah for help against the rejection by his disbelieving people; and Dhu'n-Nun acknowledging his own inner darkness, his anger, acting upon which led him to being surrounded in the external darkness he was trapped in.

Another parallel between the stories of Noah and Dhu'n-Nun is their being saved through water. Water was sent to save Noah and drown the disbelieving people who had rejected him; Dhu'n-Nun was sent in the water to help him realise his mistake, and to later save, through his mission, many disbelieving people.



لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ 

Dhu'n-Nun was a prophet. He was a Jew by birth. He knew that there is only one God. He knew the covenant with God, which his forefathers had ratified along with Moses, after the Exodus.

6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

[The Bible, Exodus 34:6-7]

Acknowledging that there is only one Allah, free from imperfections, Dhu'n-Nun realised that it was wrong for him to be angry when Allah Himself is slow to anger, and willing to forgive all who repent.   When Allah commands something we do not understand, we have to trust Him and His Perfection, and not our imperfect knowledge or understanding.



إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

[Al-Quran 7:23]

Allah is Most Just. It is we who are unjust. The word الظَّالِمِينَ means the unjust, the wrongdoers, and shares the same root with the word الظُّلُمَاتِ for the darkness. The root ظ ل م occurs 315 times in The Quran. When Adam erred, and Allah granted him words (Q2:37) to seek forgiveness, it began with the admission that they had been unjust to their nafs (رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا)...

Dhu'n-Nun, in this phrase (إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ), owns up to his injustice or wrongdoing, and literally admits to the darkness within and without him. He does not blame Allah for his situation.



فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ
When Dhu'n-Nun's anger subsided and he gained clarity of thought: when he realised and owned up to his mistake, and declared Allah's Perfection in all His Decrees and all His Commands, he was responded to...



 وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ 
... and Dhu'n-Nun was saved from the distress and anguish he was in!


الْغَمِّ

Anger clouds our ability to think right, and leads to decisions and actions which result in distress or anguish. The trilateral root (غ م م) occurs 11 times in The Quran as follows: 

Screenshot from corpus.quran.com

وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُنجِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And thus We save the believers.

This is how believers are saved?

Subhan'Allah

What a long-term saving it is! The purpose of our life here is to realise, repent and reform, so that we are saved from eternal suffering:

click on image to enlarge & for better resolution

Jonah (Yunus (عليه السلام)) 

According to The Quran, Jonah is one of those who received revelation (Q4:163), and one of those preferred over the worlds (Q6:86), and one of the Messengers (Q37:139).

The Medical Condition of Jonah 

وَإِنَّ يُونُسَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

إِذْ أَبَقَ إِلَى الْفُلْكِ الْمَشْحُونِ

فَسَاهَمَ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْمُدْحَضِينَ

فَالْتَقَمَهُ الْحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ

فَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ

لَلَبِثَ فِي بَطْنِهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ

فَنَبَذْنَاهُ بِالْعَرَاءِ وَهُوَ سَقِيمٌ

وَأَنبَتْنَا عَلَيْهِ شَجَرَةً مِّن يَقْطِينٍ

وَأَرْسَلْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ مِائَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ

فَآمَنُوا فَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

And indeed, Yunus (was) surely of the Messengers.
When he ran away to the ship laden.
Then he drew and was of the losers.
Then swallowed him the fish, while he (was) blameworthy.
And if not that he was of those who glorify
Certainly, he (would have) remained in its belly until the Day they are resurrected.
But We cast him onto the open shore while he (was) ill.
And We caused to grow over him a plant of gourd.
And We sent him to a hundred thousand or more.
And they believed, so We gave them enjoyment for a while.

[Al-Quran 37:139-148; typos edited]

The Quran speaks very highly and very respectfully about all of Allah's chosen servants. At the same time, it also very objectively states the few essential facts we need to know to learn the lessons in their stories: 

Screenshot from corpus.quran.com

The root ع ر ي occurs three times in The Quran, once in Adam's story, and twice in Jonah's story. In Adam's story in Surah TaHa, we learn that he was not naked (لَا تَعْرَىٰ) in The Garden. This is contrary to the popular belief among the believers regarding Adam's story. As discussed in earlier posts, Adam suffered loss of natural clothing when he ate from the forbidden tree. In Jonah's story, he was within the belly of the fish, and when he finally was released, he was also sick (فَنَبَذْنَاهُ بِالْعَرَاءِ وَهُوَ سَقِيمٌ). We know that there are acids in the stomach. Though viruses, bacteria, fungi and worms do live in the guts of larger creatures, it is not natural to expect a human to remain alive in the belly of a fish. Even though Jonah was kept alive miraculously, Q37:145 informs us that he was sick. The other key word (بِالْعَرَاءِ) is generally translated as 'onto the open/naked shore'. I wonder if these ayaat (Q37:145 & Q68:49) are pointing towards the medical condition of his skin?  

فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ الْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ

لَّوْلَا أَن تَدَارَكَهُ نِعْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ لَنُبِذَ بِالْعَرَاءِ وَهُوَ مَذْمُومٌ

فَاجْتَبَاهُ رَبُّهُ فَجَعَلَهُ مِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ

So be patient for (the) decision (of) your Lord, and (do) not be like (the) companion (of) the fish, when he called out, while he (was) distressed.
If not that overtook him a Favor from his Lord, surely he would have been onto (the) naked shore while he (was) blamed.
But chose him, his Lord, and made him of the righteous reformed.
[Al-Quran 68:48-50; Translation edited in italics for clarity]

Though there is some difference in the details between the Biblical account of Jonah, and the narrative in The Quran, they do agree on that he got angry, and ran away on a ship. He was thrown overboard and a fish swallowed him. Still alive, he realised that Allah's plan is perfect and Allah never makes any mistakes. So, while in the belly of the fish, he starts acknowledging the perfection of Allah, expressed by the word سُبْحَانَكَ meaning You are free from imperfections!.  After being saved,  and restored to health, he was sent as a Messenger to a city. The Bible informs us:

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:

“By the decree of the king and his nobles:

Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”

10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

[The Bible, Jonah Chapter 3] 

The Punishment of Disgrace 
The Quran informs us that when Jonah returned to the mission assigned to him:

فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ آمَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَا إِيمَانُهَا إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّا آمَنُوا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ الْخِزْيِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

So why not was any town that believed, and benefited it its faith, except the people (of) Yunus? When they believed, We removed from them (the) punishment (of) the disgrace in the life of the world and We granted them enjoyment for a time.

[Al-Quran 10:98]

Another surah in which we find the mention of Jonah, along with an example of the punishment in the life of this world, is in Surah al-Qalam. Its a narrative about a people who are unwilling to share with the poor:

إِنَّا بَلَوْنَاهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَا أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ

وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ

فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَائِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَائِمُونَ

فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَالصَّرِيمِ

فَتَنَادَوْا مُصْبِحِينَ

أَنِ اغْدُوا عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَارِمِينَ

فَانطَلَقُوا وَهُمْ يَتَخَافَتُونَ

أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ

وَغَدَوْا عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَادِرِينَ

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوا إِنَّا لَضَالُّونَ

بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ

قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ

قَالُوا سُبْحَانَ رَبِّنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ

فَأَقْبَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ يَتَلَاوَمُونَ

قَالُوا يَا وَيْلَنَا إِنَّا كُنَّا طَاغِينَ

عَسَىٰ رَبُّنَا أَن يُبْدِلَنَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا إِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا رَاغِبُونَ

كَذَٰلِكَ الْعَذَابُ وَلَعَذَابُ الْآخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ

Indeed, We have tried them as We tried (the) companions (of) the garden, when they swore to pluck its (in the) morning,

And not making exception.

So there came upon it a visitation from your Lord, while they were asleep.

So it became as if reaped.

And they called one another (at) morning,

That "Go early to your crop if you would pluck (the) fruit."

So they went, while they lowered (their) voices,

That "Not will enter it today upon you any poor person."

And they went early with determination able.

But when they saw it, they said, "Indeed, we (are) surely lost.

Nay! We (are) deprived."

Said (the) most moderate of them, "Did not I tell you, 'Why not you glorify (Allah)?'"

They said, "Glory be (to) our Lord! Indeed, we [we] were wrongdoers."

Then approached, some of them to others blaming each other.

They said, "O woe to us! Indeed, we [we] were transgressors.

Perhaps, our Lord, [that] will substitute for us a better than it. Indeed, we to our Lord turn devoutly."

Such (is) the punishment. And surely the punishment (of) the Hereafter (is) greater, if they know.

[Al-Quran 68:17-33]

Allah is perfect in His ways, His commands, His decrees, and His justice. Its His Mercy that he does not judge us all yet, otherwise most of us might have the punishment justified against us. We have time to sincerely repent form our injustices and transgressions, and humbly submit to Allah's commands.

The Hour is coming, and so is the Judgement:

.......

Al-Hoot 

الْحُوتُ

The general translation for الْحُوتُ is  the fish, an occasionally the whale. I do not know the source of these meanings, or if these have just been transmitted from one to another, or if Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave such an explanation. If he did so, then that must be the correct explanation.

The root ح و ت occurs five times in The Quran:

Screenshot from corpus.quran.com  

Q7:163 for the temptation of the Sabbath-violators; Q18:61 and Q18:63 for Moses' to-be breakfast which escaped at the confluence into the water; and Q37:142 and Q68:48 for the creature that Jonah was trapped inside.

Considering that the same word (الْحُوتَ) is used for the to-be breakfast that they could carry with them, the word الْحُوتَ must probably be a general word for all sizes of this (group of) creatures.

The creature that Jonah was trapped in must be very large, able to swallow a grown man. Among the known large extant creatures in the oceans, sperm whales and some sharks have the capacity to swallow a person. The ancient megalodon is believed to have been the largest and most powerful predator in the ocean. It is assumed to be extinct since many millions of years. However, we know very little about the oceans and the creatures concealed within it.

Google translates whale as حوت in arabic. According to modern scientific classification, a whale is not a fish, but is classified as a mammal. Perhaps, the word حوت does not represent a biological grouping, but rather a group of creatures classed together according to some other similarities.

Google search: English to Arabic 

Though the smallest-known whale is also too large to be carried in hand, their do exist smaller  cetaceans, such as the porpoise vaquita, averaging 140 cm - 150 cms.  

Dhu'n-Nun

وَذَا النُّونِ

The popular explanation for Dhu'n-Nun is that نُّونِ means whale or fish. I do not know the source of these meanings, or if these have just been transmitted from one to another, or if Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave such an explanation. If he did so, then that must be the correct explanation.

However, if the meaning didn't originate from our dear Prophet ﷺ, and the transmissions are just assumptions, then other reasons for the title Dhu'n-Nun (possessor of ن) could be:

Nabi 

Jonah was a Nabi (prophet), but so were others, then why give him this title? According to the Bible, he gave a single sentence prophecy to the people he was sent to: 

ד  וַיָּחֶל יוֹנָה לָבוֹא בָעִיר, מַהֲלַךְ יוֹם אֶחָד; וַיִּקְרָא, וַיֹּאמַר, עוֹד אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם, וְנִינְוֵה נֶהְפָּכֶת.

4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he proclaimed, and said: 'Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.'

[Jonah Chapter 3]

Ninevah   

ב  קוּם לֵךְ אֶל-נִינְוֵה, הָעִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה--וּקְרָא עָלֶיהָ:  כִּי-עָלְתָה רָעָתָם, לְפָנָי.

2 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim against it; for their wickedness is come up before Me.'
[Jonah Chapter 1]


وَأَرْسَلْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ مِائَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ

فَآمَنُوا فَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

And We sent him to a hundred thousand or more.
And they believed, so We gave them enjoyment for a while.

[Al-Quran 37:147-148]

Jonah was a Jew from Bani Israel around 8th century BCE. According to the Bible, Jonah, a Hebrew, was sent to preach to Ninevah. 
According to Wikipedia, Ninevah was an ancient Assyrian city of Upper Mesopotamia. For about fifty years, it was the largest city in the world until about 612 BC. So, when Jonah was sent to Ninevah, it was probably already a very large and prosperous city.
Again, according to Wikipedia, the origin of the name of the city is unclear, but may be the Biblical Hebrew Nīnewēh comes from the Akkadian Ninua (var. Ninâ). The cuneiform for Ninâ is a fish within a house (cf. Aramaic nuna, "fish"). See second last row for Ninevah in cuneiform:

Attribution:

By Mason, William Albert, 1855-1923 - This file has been extracted from another file: Cuneiform evolution.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87617492

...

Nun, By The Pen & What They Write 

Surah al-Qalam begins with the statement: 

ن وَالْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ

Nun. By the pen and what they write, 

[Al-Quran 68:1]

Surah al-Qalam begins with Nun (ن) and The Pen (الْقَلَمِ), and then first emphasises on the excellent character of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, to whom was revealed The Quran.

Nabu
Nabu, also lending to the meaning of to announce or prophesize, was believed to be a messenger / patron god of literacy, rational arts, scribes and wisdom in ancient Mesopotamia. However, I haven't found any link between Nabu and Jonah, or Nabu and Ninevah. 


The Pen & What They Write 
From the subheadings above about the medical condition of Jonah, and the punishment of disgrace, I wonder if this is pointing towards corruption by the pen, be it external writings, or internal genetic or epigenetic changes, inspired by Satan. Surah an-Nisa` warns us of Satan's plans to corrupt creation:

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

"And I will surely mislead them and surely arouse desires in them and surely I will order them so they will surely cut off (the) ears (of) the cattle and surely I will order them so they will surely change (the) creation (of) Allah." And whoever takes the Shaitaan (as) a friend besides Allah, then surely he (has) lost - a loss manifest.

[Al-Quran 4:119; typos corrected]

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Last updated on: August 7, 2020

Specific Medical Cases & their Treatment

And when I am ill, then He cures me, [Al-Quran 26:80] 

Disease & Cure - III 

The Qur'an narrates some specific cases of disease, and in each case some action is taken or prescribed to cure the condition:

Jonah (Yunus)

The Quran informs us that a gourd plant was grown to cure Jonah:

وَإِنَّ يُونُسَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ

 إِذْ أَبَقَ إِلَى الْفُلْكِ الْمَشْحُونِ

 فَسَاهَمَ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْمُدْحَضِينَ

 فَالْتَقَمَهُ الْحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ

 فَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ

 لَلَبِثَ فِي بَطْنِهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ

 فَنَبَذْنَاهُ بِالْعَرَاءِ وَهُوَ سَقِيمٌ

 وَأَنبَتْنَا عَلَيْهِ شَجَرَةً مِّن يَقْطِينٍ

 وَأَرْسَلْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ مِائَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ

 فَآمَنُوا فَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

And indeed, Yunus (was) surely of the Messengers. When he ran away to the ship laden. Then he drew and was of the losers. Then swallowed him the fish, while he (was) blameworthy. And if not that he was of those who glorify Certainly, he (would have) remained in its belly until the Day they are resurrected.

But We cast him onto the open shore while he (was) ill. And We caused to grow over him a plant of gourd.

And We sent him to a hundred thousand or more. And they believed, so We gave them enjoyment for a while.

[Al-Quran 37:139-148]

 Job (Ayub)

وَأَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ

 فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ فَكَشَفْنَا مَا بِهِ مِن ضُرٍّ  

وَآتَيْنَاهُ أَهْلَهُ وَمِثْلَهُم مَّعَهُمْ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَذِكْرَىٰ لِلْعَابِدِينَ

And Ayub, when he called (to) his Lord, "Indeed, [I] has touched me the adversity, and You (are) Most Merciful (of) the Merciful."

So We responded to him and We removed what (was) on him of (the) adversity.

And We gave him his family and (the) like thereof with them (as) Mercy from Ourselves, and a reminder for the worshippers.

[Al-Quran 21:83-84]

The Quran informs us that Job (Ayub) was provided with something cool to drink and to bathe with. It does not specifically use the word water, but translators assume it. Q38:41 also informs us that the distress and suffering was caused by Satan. Ayub was cured, his family was returned to him and also increased.

   وَاذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا أَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ 

أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الشَّيْطَانُ بِنُصْبٍ وَعَذَابٍ

 ارْكُضْ بِرِجْلِكَ هَٰذَا مُغْتَسَلٌ بَارِدٌ وَشَرَابٌ

 وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ أَهْلَهُ وَمِثْلَهُم مَّعَهُمْ رَحْمَةً مِّنَّا وَذِكْرَىٰ لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ

 وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثًا فَاضْرِب بِّهِ وَلَا تَحْنَثْ 

إِنَّا وَجَدْنَاهُ صَابِرًا نِّعْمَ الْعَبْدُ إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ

             And make mention (O Muhammad) of Our bondman Job, when he cried unto his Lord (saying):

Lo! the devil doth afflict me with distress and torment.  

(And it was said unto him): Strike the ground with thy foot. This (spring) is a cool bath and a refreshing drink. And We bestowed on him (again) his household and therewith the like thereof, a mercy from Us, and a memorial for men of understanding. And (it was said unto him): Take in thine hand a branch and smite therewith, and break not thine oath.

Lo! We found him steadfast, how excellent a slave! Lo! he was ever turning in repentance (to his Lord).   

[Al-Quran 38:41-44, Translator: Pickthall]

Mary (Maryam) Labour Pains & Childbirth 

When Mary was sufering the labour pains and delivering the baby Jesus (Isa), Q19:23-26 informs us that:

   فَأَجَاءَهَا الْمَخَاضُ إِلَىٰ جِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ

 قَالَتْ يَا لَيْتَنِي مِتُّ قَبْلَ هَٰذَا وَكُنتُ نَسْيًا مَّنسِيًّا

 فَنَادَاهَا مِن تَحْتِهَا أَلَّا تَحْزَنِي قَدْ جَعَلَ رَبُّكِ تَحْتَكِ سَرِيًّا

وَهُزِّي إِلَيْكِ بِجِذْعِ النَّخْلَةِ تُسَاقِطْ عَلَيْكِ رُطَبًا جَنِيًّا

فَكُلِي وَاشْرَبِي وَقَرِّي عَيْنًا 

فَإِمَّا تَرَيِنَّ مِنَ الْبَشَرِ أَحَدًا فَقُولِي إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لِلرَّحْمَٰنِ صَوْمًا فَلَنْ أُكَلِّمَ الْيَوْمَ إِنسِيًّا

Then drove her the pains of childbirth to (the) trunk (of) the date-palm.

She said, "O! I wish I (had) died before this and I was (in) oblivion, forgotten."

So cried to her from beneath her, "That (do) not grieve verily, (has) placed your Lord beneath you, a stream. And shake towards you (the) trunk (of) the date-palm, it will drop upon you fresh dates ripe. So eat and drink and cool (your) eyes.

And if you see from human being anyone then say, "Indeed, I [I] have vowed to the Most Gracious a fast, so not I will speak today (to any) human being."

[Al-Quran 19:23-26]  

Emerging medical research recommends similar exercises during labour, and consumption of similar food and drink post-labour.  

Procreation

Both Abraham and Zechariah were given good news of a child while they and their spouses had grown very old, well past the age of procreating. No fertility treatment was prescribed, nor were they given any details about how it would be made possible; they were simply  informed that it is easy for God.

Abraham (Ibrahim)  & his wife:

وَامْرَأَتُهُ قَائِمَةٌ فَضَحِكَتْ

 فَبَشَّرْنَاهَا بِإِسْحَاقَ وَمِن وَرَاءِ إِسْحَاقَ يَعْقُوبَ

 قَالَتْ يَا وَيْلَتَىٰ أَأَلِدُ وَأَنَا عَجُوزٌ وَهَٰذَا بَعْلِي شَيْخًا إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَشَيْءٌ عَجِيبٌ

 قَالُوا أَتَعْجَبِينَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ رَحْمَتُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ إِنَّهُ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ

And his wife (was) standing and she laughed.

Then We gave her glad tidings of Ishaq, and after Ishaq (of) Yaqub.

She said, "Woe to me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman and this, my husband, (is) an old man? Indeed, this (is) surely a thing amazing."

They said, "Are you amazed at (the) decree of Allah? The Mercy of Allah and His blessings (be) upon you, people (of) the house. Indeed, He (is) All-Praiseworthy, All-Glorious."

[Al-Quran 11:71-73]

فَأَقْبَلَتِ امْرَأَتُهُ فِي صَرَّةٍ فَصَكَّتْ وَجْهَهَا وَقَالَتْ عَجُوزٌ عَقِيمٌ

 قَالُوا كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْحَكِيمُ الْعَلِيمُ

Then came forward his wife with a loud voice, and struck her face and she said, "An old woman barren!"

They said, "Thus said your Lord.

Indeed, He [He] (is) the All-Wise, the All-Knower."

[Al-Quran 51:29-30]

Zechariah (Zakariya) & his wife:

   هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ

 فَنَادَتْهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي فِي الْمِحْرَابِ

 أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَىٰ مُصَدِّقًا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَسَيِّدًا وَحَصُورًا وَنَبِيًّا مِّنَ الصَّالِحِينَ

 قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَامٌ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِيَ الْكِبَرُ وَامْرَأَتِي عَاقِرٌ

قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ اللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَاءُ

There only, Zakariya invoked his Lord, he said, "My Lord grant [for] me from Yourself offspring pure. Indeed, You (are) All-Hearer (of) the prayer

Then called him the Angels when he (was) standing - praying in the prayer chamber. 

"Indeed, Allah gives you glad tidings of Yahya, confirming [of] a Word from Allah and a noble and chaste and a Prophet among the righteous.

He said, "My Lord how can (there) be for me a son, and verily has reached me [the] old age and my wife (is) [a] barren?" 

He said, "Thus; Allah does what He wills."

[Al-Quran  3:38-40]

   كهيعص

 ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُ زَكَرِيَّا

 إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ نِدَاءً خَفِيًّا

 قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَهَنَ الْعَظْمُ مِنِّي وَاشْتَعَلَ الرَّأْسُ شَيْبًا وَلَمْ أَكُن بِدُعَائِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّا

 وَإِنِّي خِفْتُ الْمَوَالِيَ مِن وَرَائِي وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِي عَاقِرًا فَهَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّا

 يَرِثُنِي وَيَرِثُ مِنْ آلِ يَعْقُوبَ وَاجْعَلْهُ رَبِّ رَضِيًّا

 يَا زَكَرِيَّا إِنَّا نُبَشِّرُكَ بِغُلَامٍ اسْمُهُ يَحْيَىٰ لَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُ مِن قَبْلُ سَمِيًّا

 قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَامٌ وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَتِي عَاقِرًا وَقَدْ بَلَغْتُ مِنَ الْكِبَرِ عِتِيًّا

 قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ رَبُّكَ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٌ وَقَدْ خَلَقْتُكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ تَكُ شَيْئًا

 Kaaf Ha Ya Ain Sad.

 (A) mention (of the) Mercy (of) your Lord (to) His servant Zakariya

When he called (to) his Lord a call - secret.

He said, "My Lord! Indeed, [I] (have) weakened my bones, and flared (my) head (with) white, and not I have been in (my) supplication (to) You my Lord unblessed. And indeed, I [I] fear the successors after me, and is my wife barren. So give [to] me from Yourself an heir Who will inherit me and inherit from (the) family (of) Yaqub. And make him my Lord, pleasing."

"O Zakariya! Indeed, We [We] give you glad tidings of a boy his name (will be) Yahya, not We (have) assigned [for] it before (this) name."

He said, "My Lord! How can I have a boy, while is my wife barren, and indeed, I have reached of the old age extreme?"

He said, "Thus, said your Lord, 'It (is) easy for Me and certainly I (have) created you before, while not you were anything.'"

[Al-Quran 19:1-11]

Mary (Maryam) & the conception of Jesus(Isa):

Mary's virgin body became pregnant with a male child upon receiving a command from God. When she was given the news, she wondered:

  إِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَا مَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنْهُ اسْمُهُ الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَجِيهًا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ

 وَيُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ فِي الْمَهْدِ وَكَهْلًا وَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ

قَالَتْ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِي بَشَرٌ 

قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ اللَّهُ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ إِذَا قَضَىٰ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ

When said the Angels, "O Maryam! Indeed, Allah gives you glad tidings of a word from Him, his name (is) the Messiah, Isa, son (of) Maryam, honored in the world and (in) the Hereafter, and of those brought near (to Allah). And he will speak (to) the people in the cradle and (in) maturity; and (he will be) of the righteous."

She said, "My Lord how is [it] for me a boy, and (has) not touch(ed) me any man?"

He said, "Thus Allah creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter then only He says to it, "Be," and it becomes.

[Al-Quran 3:45-47]

قَالَتْ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِالرَّحْمَٰنِ مِنكَ إِن كُنتَ تَقِيًّا

 قَالَ إِنَّمَا أَنَا رَسُولُ رَبِّكِ لِأَهَبَ لَكِ غُلَامًا زَكِيًّا

 قَالَتْ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِي غُلَامٌ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِي بَشَرٌ وَلَمْ أَكُ بَغِيًّا

 قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ قَالَ رَبُّكِ هُوَ عَلَيَّ هَيِّنٌ وَلِنَجْعَلَهُ آيَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَرَحْمَةً مِّنَّا وَكَانَ أَمْرًا مَّقْضِيًّا

 فَحَمَلَتْهُ فَانتَبَذَتْ بِهِ مَكَانًا قَصِيًّا

She said, "Indeed, I [I] seek refuge with the Most Gracious from you if you are God fearing."

He said, "Only I am a Messenger (from) your Lord, that I (may) bestow on you a son pure."

She said, "How can be for me a son, when not has touched me a man, and not I am unchaste?"

He said, "Thus; said your Lord, 'It (is) for Me easy, and so that We will make him a sign for the mankind and a Mercy from Us. And (it) is a matter decreed.'"

So she conceived and she withdrew with him (to) a place remote.

[Al-Quran 19:18-22]

Excerpt from  Virgin Birth

What is noteworthy in all three cases is that they were not asked to have any fertility treatment. In fact Q4:1 warns us to guard the womb:

Excerpt from Guarding the Womb

In fact, the people who are surprised to see Mary carrying a baby are quoted as saying that:

  

 فَأَتَتْ بِهِ قَوْمَهَا تَحْمِلُهُ 

قَالُوا يَا مَرْيَمُ لَقَدْ جِئْتِ شَيْئًا فَرِيًّا

 يَا أُخْتَ هَارُونَ مَا كَانَ أَبُوكِ امْرَأَ سَوْءٍ وَمَا كَانَتْ أُمُّكِ بَغِيًّا

Then she came to her people carrying him (Isa).

They (her people) said, "O Maryam !you have come with a strange thing. O sister of Harun ! your father was not a bad man nor your mother was one who exceeded the limits."

[Al-Quran 19:27-28, Translator: Mir Aneesuddin]

Links to posts in the series Disease and Cure