Signs & Science: command

Showing posts with label command. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Amr ( أَمْرُ )

Command

The Bee (16:12)

وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ ۖ وَٱلنُّجُومُ مُسَخَّرَٰتٌۢ بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَعْقِلُونَ ١٢

And He has subjected for you the night and day and the sun and moon, and the stars are subjected by His command. Indeed in that are signs for a people who reason.

— Saheeh International

https://quran.com/16/12

The Quran mentions creation and command as two separate actions:

The Heights (7:54)

إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍۢ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ يُغْشِى ٱلَّيْلَ ٱلنَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُۥ حَثِيثًۭا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ وَٱلنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَٰتٍۭ بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ ۗ أَلَا لَهُ ٱلْخَلْقُ وَٱلْأَمْرُ ۗ تَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٥٤

Indeed, your Lord is Allāh, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne.[1] 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 Allāh, Lord of the worlds.

— Saheeh International

[1] See footnote to 2:19: Allāh states in the Qur’ān that He has certain attributes such as hearing, sight, hands, face, mercy, anger, coming, encompassing, being above the Throne, etc. Yet, He has disassociated Himself from the limitations of human attributes or human imagination. Correct Islāmic belief requires faith in the existence of these attributes as Allāh has described them without applying to them any allegorical meanings or attempting to explain how a certain quality could be (while this is known only to Allāh) and without comparing them to creation or denying that He (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) would have such a quality. His attributes are befitting to Him alone, and "There is nothing like unto Him." (42:11)

https://quran.com/7/54

Allah عزوجل creates with materials, such as humans with 'turab' and 'teen', jaan from 'naar', and so on.

Allah عزوجل commands and creation complies with His Commands. For example:

The Cow (2:117)

بَدِيعُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَإِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًۭا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ١١٧

Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.

— Saheeh International

https://quran.com/2/117

Explained in Detail (41:11-12)

41:11

ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَهِىَ دُخَانٌۭ فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلْأَرْضِ ٱئْتِيَا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًۭا قَالَتَآ أَتَيْنَا طَآئِعِينَ ١١

Then He directed Himself[1] to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, "Come [into being],[2] willingly or by compulsion." They said, "We have come willingly."

— Saheeh International

[1]Literally, 'become' or 'do [as commanded].'

[2]See footnote to 2:19: quoted above under Q7:54

41:12

فَقَضَىٰهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَـٰوَاتٍۢ فِى يَوْمَيْنِ وَأَوْحَىٰ فِى كُلِّ سَمَآءٍ أَمْرَهَا ۚ وَزَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ وَحِفْظًۭا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ ١٢

And He completed them as seven heavens within two days and inspired [i.e., made known] in each heaven its command. And We adorned the nearest heaven with lamps [i.e., stars, for beauty] and as protection.[1] That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.

— Saheeh International

[1]From the devils who attempt to steal information from the angels.

https://quran.com/41/11-12

Those endowed with free-will are directed to willingly submit to their Creator and Sustainer. So, when Allah عزوجل commanded Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام):

The Cow (2:131)

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥٓ أَسْلِمْ ۖ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ١٣١

When his Lord said to him, "Submit," he said, "I have submitted [in Islām][1] to the Lord of the worlds."

— Saheeh International

[1]The meaning of the word 'Islām' is 'submission to the will of Allāh.' This is the way of life ordained by Allāh and taught by all of the prophets from Adam to Muḥammad (ﷺ). A Muslim is one who submits himself to Allāh.

https://quran.com/2/131

This was the legacy of Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام), and which was followed upon by the believers in his progeny, as quoted in the next two ayaat (Q2:132-133). Also, we find quoted his great grandson Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام)'s prayer in Q12:101 praying to die in a state of Islam.

The Forgiver (40:66-68)

40:66

۞ قُلْ إِنِّى نُهِيتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَمَّا جَآءَنِىَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ مِن رَّبِّى وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُسْلِمَ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٦٦

Say, [O Muḥammad], "Indeed, I have been forbidden to worship those you call upon besides Allāh once the clear proofs have come to me from my Lord, and I have been commanded to submit to the Lord of the worlds."

— Saheeh International

40:67

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٍۢ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍۢ ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍۢ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلًۭا ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟ أَشُدَّكُمْ ثُمَّ لِتَكُونُوا۟ شُيُوخًۭا ۚ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُتَوَفَّىٰ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَلِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟ أَجَلًۭا مُّسَمًّۭى وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ٦٧

It is He who created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot; then He brings you out as a child; then [He develops you] that you reach your [time of] maturity, then [further] that you become elders. And among you is he who is taken in death before [that], so that you reach a specified term;[1] and perhaps you will use reason.

— Saheeh International

[1]The time decreed for your death.

40:68

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۖ فَإِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًۭا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ٦٨

He it is who gives life and causes death; and when He decrees a matter, He but says to it, "Be," and it is.

— Saheeh International

https://quran.com/40/66-68

Joseph (12:40)

مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَسْمَآءًۭ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـٰنٍ ۚ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۚ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ٤٠

You worship not besides Him except [mere] names you have named them,[1] you and your fathers, for which Allāh has sent down no evidence. Legislation is not but for Allāh. He has commanded that you worship not except Him. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.

— Saheeh International

[1]The false objects of worship which you have called 'gods.'

https://quran.com/12/40

Looking up in corpus.quran.com:

The triliteral root hamza mīm rā (أ م ر) occurs 248 times in the Quran.

Q2:27 those who ..., cut off what Allah has commanded (أَمَرَ) to be joined, and ...

Q2:44 Do you command (أَتَأْمُرُونَ) people birr, and forget your own nafs?

Q2:67 ... Indeed, Allah commands (يَأْمُرُكُمْ) you to slaughter a cow ...

Q2:68 ... so do what you are commanded (تُؤْمَرُونَ)

Q2:93 And when we took your Covenant ... , ... , and their hearts absorbed the calf because of their disbelief... how wretched is that which your belief commands (يَأْمُرُكُمْ) you to do, if you should be believers

Q2:109 many of the people of the scripture ... , envy ... , so pardon and overlook till Allah brings about His Command (بِأَمْرِهِ), ...

Q2:117 Inventor of the skies and earth, when He decrees a command (أَمْرًا), He only says to it 'Be' and it becomes.

Q2:210 do they await that Allah should come to them in covers of clouds, and the angels, and decrees His Command (الْأَمْرُ), and unto Allah are all commands (الْأُمُورُ) returned.

Q2:169 he (Satan) only orders (يَأْمُرُكُمْ) evil and immorality, and that you say about Allah what you do not know

Q2:222 ... menstruation ... wives ... when they have purified, come to them from where Allah has commanded (أَمَرَكُمُ) you

Q2:268 Satan threatens you with poverty and orders (وَيَأْمُرُكُمْ) immorality, ...

Q2:275 those who consume Riba ... , but whosoever receives an admonition from his Lord and desists, may have what is past, and his command (وَأَمْرُهُ) rests with Allah, ...

Q3:21 those who disbelieve ..., and kill ..., and kill those who enjoin (يَأْمُرُونَ) equity among the people (بِالْقِسْطِ مِنَ النَّاسِ), give them tidings of a painful punishment

Q3:80 nor could he order (يَأْمُرَكُمْ) you to take the angels as Lords; would he order (أَيَأْمُرُكُمْ) you to disbelief after you have become Muslims?

Q3:104 and let there be from among you an Ummat inviting to all that is good, and ordering (وَيَأْمُرُونَ) what is right, and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be successful.

Q3:109 and to Allah belongs whatever is in the skies and earth, and to Allah will be returned all commands (الْأُمُورُ)

Q3:110 You are the best Ummat produced for mankind. You enjoin (تَأْمُرُونَ) what is right, and forbid what is wrong, and you believe in Allah. ...

Q3:114 they believe in Allah and the Last Day, and they enjoin (وَيَأْمُرُونَ) what is right, and they forbid what is wrong, and hasten to good deeds, and those are among the reformed

Q3:128 not for you is the decision (الْأَمْرِ) anything, whether Allah turns to them or punishes them, for indeed they are zalimun

Q3:147 ... 'Our Lord forgive us our sins, and the excesses in our affairs (وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا), and plant firmly our feet, and grant us victory over the disbelieving nation

Q3:152 and Allah certainly fulfilled His Promise to you when you were killing the enemy by His Permission until you lost courage and fell into disputing about the order (الْأَمْرِ), and disobeyed after He had shown you that which you love, ...

Q3:154 then after distress, He sent security drowsiness overcoming a faction of you, while another faction worried about their nafs, thinking thoughts about Allah other than the truth, the thoughts of ignorance, saying is there for us in this matter (الْأَمْرِ) anything? say 'all matters (الْأَمْرَ) belong completely to Allah' ... they say, 'if there was for us in this matter (الْأَمْرِ) anything, we would not have been killed right here', say ...

Q3:159 So, by the Mercy of Allah, you were lenient with them, ... , so pardon them and ask forgiveness for them, and consult them in the matter (الْأَمْرِ), and when you have decided ...

Q3:186 ... but if you are patient and fear Allah, surely that is determined (upholding of) commands (عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ)

Q4:37 those who are stingy, and enjoin (وَيَأْمُرُونَ) upon people stinginess, and hide what Allah has given them from His bounty, and We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.

Q4:47 O you who have been given the scripture, believe in what We have sent down confirming that which is with you, before We obliterate faces and turn them towards their back or curse them as We cursed the people of the sabbath, and ever is the decree (أَمْرُ) of Allah accomplished.

Q4:58 Indeed, Allah, He commands you (يَأْمُرُكُمْ) that you restore trusts to whom their owners, and when you judge between people, you judge with justice, indeed Allah excellently advises you with, and Allah is ever Hearing Seeing

Q4:59 O you who have believed: obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and those in authority (وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ) among you; and if you disagree over anything, return it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day; that is good and better in outcome.

Q4:60 have you not seen those who have claimed to believe in what was revealed to you, and what was revealed before you? they wish to refer legislation to Taghut, even though they were ordered (أُمِرُوا) to reject it, and Satan wishes to lead them far astray.

Q4:83 and when comes to them some matter (أَمْرٌ) of security or fear, they broadcast it; and if they had returned it to the Messenger and those in authority among them, they could have found out through proper investigators among them, and if not for the favour of Allah upon you and His Mercy, you would certainly have followed Satan except a few.

Q4:114 no good is in their in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin (أَمَرَ) charity, or that which is right, or reconciliation between people. And whoever does that seeking means of approval of Allah, then we are going to soon give him a great reward.

Q4:119 'and I will mislead them, and I will arouse in them desires, and I will command them (وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ) so they will slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them (وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ) so they will change (deteriorate (فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ) the creation of Allah.' And whoever takes Satan as an ally instead of Allah has certainly sustained a clear loss.

Q12:53 I do not acquit my nafs; indeed the nafs commands (النَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌ) evil (بِالسُّوءِ), except those upon whom my Lord has Mercy; indeed, my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful

...

Last updated on: April 3, 2025

Thursday, January 19, 2023

Ignorant of The Law of Sacrifice

وَاِذۡ قَالَ مُوۡسٰى لِقَوۡمِهٖۤ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَاۡمُرُكُمۡ اَنۡ تَذۡبَحُوۡا بَقَرَةً ؕ قَالُوۡآ اَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًۡا ؕ قَالَ اَعُوۡذُ بِاللّٰهِ اَنۡ اَكُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡجٰـهِلِيۡنَ‏ ٦٧

And [recall] when Moses said to his people, "Indeed, Allāh commands you to slaughter a cow." They said, "Do you take us in ridicule?" He said, "I seek refuge in Allāh from being among the ignorant."

[Al-Quran 2:67, Translation: Saheeh International]

The Bani Israel had sinned: they had taken a الۡعِجۡلَ (calf) for worship (Q2:51). They were commanded to kill their nafs (Q2:54); and then after thirteen ayaat, we read that they were commanded to slaughter a بَقَرَةً (cow / heifer) (Q2:67), probably as a sin offering. They thought Moses (Musa عليه السلام) was joking with them, to which Moses (Musa عليه السلام) responded with the invocation:

اَعُوۡذُ بِاللّٰهِ اَنۡ اَكُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡجٰـهِلِيۡنَ‏ ...

... I seek refuge in Allāh from being among the ignorant

The Quran uses the triliteral root jīm hā lām (ج ه ل) twenty-four times. ... The words are generally translated as ignorant, ignorance, or synonyms of these words.

The Torah was revealed to Moses (Musa عليه السلام), and The Injeel to Jesus (Isa عليه السلام), and The Quran to Muhammad ﷺ . Each revelation contains Allah ﷻ 's Laws:

وَاَنۡزَلۡنَاۤ اِلَيۡكَ الۡكِتٰبَ بِالۡحَـقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ مِنَ الۡكِتٰبِ وَمُهَيۡمِنًا عَلَيۡهِ فَاحۡكُمۡ بَيۡنَهُمۡ بِمَاۤ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعۡ اَهۡوَآءَهُمۡ عَمَّا جَآءَكَ مِنَ الۡحَـقِّؕ لِكُلٍّ جَعَلۡنَا مِنۡكُمۡ شِرۡعَةً وَّمِنۡهَاجًا ؕ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ لَجَـعَلَـكُمۡ اُمَّةً وَّاحِدَةً وَّلٰـكِنۡ لِّيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ فِىۡ مَاۤ اٰتٰٮكُمۡ فَاسۡتَبِقُوا الۡخَـيۡـرٰتِؕ اِلَى اللّٰهِ مَرۡجِعُكُمۡ جَمِيۡعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُمۡ بِمَا كُنۡتُمۡ فِيۡهِ تَخۡتَلِفُوۡنَۙ‏ ٤٨

وَاَنِ احۡكُمۡ بَيۡنَهُمۡ بِمَاۤ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعۡ اَهۡوَآءَهُمۡ وَاحۡذَرۡهُمۡ اَنۡ يَّفۡتِنُوۡكَ عَنۡۢ بَعۡضِ مَاۤ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰهُ اِلَيۡكَؕ فَاِنۡ تَوَلَّوۡا فَاعۡلَمۡ اَنَّمَا يُرِيۡدُ اللّٰهُ اَنۡ يُّصِيۡبَهُمۡ بِبَـعۡضِ ذُنُوۡبِهِمۡؕ وَاِنَّ كَثِيۡرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ لَفٰسِقُوۡنَ‏ ٤٩

اَفَحُكۡمَ الۡجَـاهِلِيَّةِ يَـبۡغُوۡنَؕ وَمَنۡ اَحۡسَنُ مِنَ اللّٰهِ حُكۡمًا لِّـقَوۡمٍ يُّوۡقِنُوۡنَ‏ ٥٠

And We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. So judge between them by what Allāh has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had Allāh willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. To Allāh is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.

And judge, [O Muḥammad], between them by what Allāh has revealed and do not follow their inclinations and beware of them, lest they tempt you away from some of what Allāh has revealed to you. And if they turn away - then know that Allāh only intends to afflict them with some of their [own] sins. And indeed, many among the people are defiantly disobedient.

Then is it the judgement of [the time of] ignorance they desire? But who is better than Allāh in judgement for a people who are certain [in faith].

[Al-Quran 5:48-50, Translation: Saheeh International]

Offering as a means of Nearness to Allah

The first animal sacrifice recorded in the scriptures is that offered by the two sons of Adam. It was accepted of one of them, and rejected from the other:

۞ وَاتۡلُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ نَبَاَ ابۡنَىۡ اٰدَمَ بِالۡحَـقِّۘ اِذۡ قَرَّبَا قُرۡبَانًا فَتُقُبِّلَ مِنۡ اَحَدِهِمَا وَلَمۡ يُتَقَبَّلۡ مِنَ الۡاٰخَرِؕ قَالَ لَاَقۡتُلَـنَّكَؕ قَالَ اِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللّٰهُ مِنَ الۡمُتَّقِيۡنَ‏ ٢٧

And recite to them the story of Adam's two sons, in truth, when they both made an offering [to Allāh], and it was accepted from one of them but was not accepted from the other. Said [the latter], "I will surely kill you." Said [the former], "Indeed, Allāh only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him].

[Al-Quran 5:27, Translation: Saheeh International]

The Quran does not go into the details of why they were offering the sacrifice, but it does indicate that it was meant as a source of nearness to Allah ﷻ by the word قَرَّبَا (come near?) before the word قُرۡبَانًا (means of nearness?). The triliteral root qāf rā bā (ق ر ب) occurs 96 times in the Quran, translated in terms of nearness, closeness, relationship, brought close, ... such as spending in Q9:99

وَمِنَ الۡاَعۡرَابِ مَنۡ يُّؤۡمِنُ بِاللّٰهِ وَالۡيَوۡمِ الۡاٰخِرِ وَيَتَّخِذُ مَا يُنۡفِقُ قُرُبٰتٍ عِنۡدَ اللّٰهِ وَصَلَوٰتِ الرَّسُوۡلِؕ اَلَاۤ اِنَّهَا قُرۡبَةٌ لَّهُمۡؕ سَيُدۡخِلُهُمُ اللّٰهُ فِىۡ رَحۡمَتِهٖ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِيۡمٌ‏ ٩٩

وَالسّٰبِقُوۡنَ الۡاَوَّلُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡمُهٰجِرِيۡنَ وَالۡاَنۡصَارِ وَالَّذِيۡنَ اتَّبَعُوۡهُمۡ بِاِحۡسَانٍ ۙ رَّضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَنۡهُمۡ وَرَضُوۡا عَنۡهُ وَاَعَدَّ لَهُمۡ جَنّٰتٍ تَجۡرِىۡ تَحۡتَهَا الۡاَنۡهٰرُ خٰلِدِيۡنَ فِيۡهَاۤ اَبَدًا ؕ ذٰ لِكَ الۡـفَوۡزُ الۡعَظِيۡمُ‏ ١٠٠

But among the bedouins are some who believe in Allāh and the Last Day and consider what they spend as means of nearness to Allāh and of [obtaining] invocations of the Messenger. Unquestionably, it is a means of nearness for them. Allāh will admit them to His mercy. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.

And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhājireen and the Anṣār and those who followed them with good conduct - Allāh is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.

[Al-Quran 9:99-100, Translation: Saheeh International]

Surah at-Taubah is about waging war along with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ against the Meccans who had persecuted them for their faith, and after two decades of invitation to accept Islam, they had been served notice of war. This required people to spend for the war preparations, as well as participating in the war, putting their lives in danger.

However, common usage and understanding of the word Qurban(i) is the sacrifice of an animal.

In Q5:27, we see a strange link between slaughtering an animal and the killing of a person: when the offering made by one brother is accepted, and not from the other, the other kills the brother whose offering was accepted. This narration about Adam's two sons is followed by the decree for the Bani Israel that:

مِنۡ اَجۡلِ ذٰ لِكَ ۛ ۚ كَتَبۡنَا عَلٰى بَنِىۡۤ اِسۡرَآءِيۡلَ اَنَّهٗ مَنۡ قَتَلَ نَفۡسًۢا بِغَيۡرِ نَفۡسٍ اَوۡ فَسَادٍ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ فَكَاَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيۡعًا ؕ وَمَنۡ اَحۡيَاهَا فَكَاَنَّمَاۤ اَحۡيَا النَّاسَ جَمِيۡعًا ؕ وَلَـقَدۡ جَآءَتۡهُمۡ رُسُلُنَا بِالۡبَيِّنٰتِ ثُمَّ اِنَّ كَثِيۡرًا مِّنۡهُمۡ بَعۡدَ ذٰ لِكَ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ لَمُسۡرِفُوۡنَ‏ ٣٢

Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And Our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors.

[Al-Quran 5:32, Translation: Saheeh International]

Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) is the patriarch of Jews, Christians and Muslims (Q2:135, Q2:140, Q6:161, Q19:58, Q22:78). He was of the same religious beliefs (مِنۡ شِيۡعَتِهٖ) as Noah (Nuh عليه السلام) (Q37:83)

In the narrations about Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام), we read about the roasted calf (Q11:69, Q51:26) he served the honoured guests, when they suddenly arrived, unannounced. This means that the roast had already been prepared...

Prior to this visit, we read about his vision to sacrifice his son Ismael (Ismail عليه السلام), to which both father and son willingly submitted, and Allah graciously substituted an animal just as he was about to slaughter his son:

فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعۡىَ قَالَ يٰبُنَىَّ اِنِّىۡۤ اَرٰى فِى الۡمَنَامِ اَنِّىۡۤ اَذۡبَحُكَ فَانْظُرۡ مَاذَا تَرٰىؕ قَالَ يٰۤاَبَتِ افۡعَلۡ مَا تُؤۡمَرُ سَتَجِدُنِىۡۤ اِنۡ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ مِنَ الصّٰبِرِيۡنَ‏ ١٠٢

فَلَمَّاۤ اَسۡلَمَا وَتَلَّهٗ لِلۡجَبِيۡنِۚ‏ ١٠٣

وَنَادَيۡنٰهُ اَنۡ يّٰۤاِبۡرٰهِيۡمُۙ‏ ١٠٤

قَدۡ صَدَّقۡتَ الرُّءۡيَا ۚ اِنَّا كَذٰلِكَ نَجۡزِى الۡمُحۡسِنِيۡنَ‏ ١٠٥

اِنَّ هٰذَا لَهُوَ الۡبَلٰٓؤُا الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ ١٠٦

وَفَدَيۡنٰهُ بِذِبۡحٍ عَظِيۡمٍ‏ ١٠٧

And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, "O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think." He said, "O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allāh wills, of the steadfast."

And when they had both submitted and he put him down upon his forehead,

We called to him, "O Abraham,

You have fulfilled the vision." Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.

Indeed, this was the clear trial.

And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice,

[Al-Quran 37:102-107, Translation: Saheeh International]

So, there does seem to be a scriptural link between saving human lives, and slaughtering an animal as an offering instead.

Symbolically, the putting down of the forehead on the ground, as in prayer, like Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام), is a means of seeking nearness to Allah ﷻ.

Surah al-Alaq, which begins with the command to read (Q96:1), concludes with the command to not obey the person who forbids or prevents from praying (Q96:9-10), but rather prostrate and draw near (Q96:19):

اِقۡرَاۡ بِاسۡمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِىۡ خَلَقَۚ‏ ١

Recite in the name of your Lord who created

...

كَلَّاؕ لَا تُطِعۡهُ وَاسۡجُدۡ وَاقۡتَرِبْ ١٩

No! Do not obey him. But prostrate and draw near [to Allāh].

[Al-Quran 96, Translation: Saheeh International]

All thanks and praise to Allah عزوجل, muslims daily prostrate in prayers, and they also offer the annual sacrifice by slaughtering an animal, and sharing the meat.

The jews stopped prostrating publicly, and sacrificing animals, after their temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. Their public prostration is limited to some annual occasion now, while few jews do prostrate in their private prayers, according to online search results.

Revisiting Moses (Musa عليه السلام)'s invocation quoted in Q2:67, which is the first quoted dua in The Quran:

اَعُوۡذُ بِاللّٰهِ اَنۡ اَكُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡجٰـهِلِيۡنَ‏ ...

... I seek refuge in Allāh from being among the ignorant

Moses (Musa عليه السلام) seeks refuge from being among the ignorant ones. So, there is an element of ignorance in not willing to slaughter for the sake of Allah. From the ayat that follow, we learn that the Bani Israel were unwilling to slaughter a cow, they kept asking questions to evade the command, yet eventually, they did slaughter the cow that was clearly identified to them.

So, since the time of Adam's sons, there seems to exist some 'law' whereby there is a established tradition of seeking nearness to Allah through offering a sacrifice. Moreover, the piety or willing intention of the person is also a key factor in the acceptance of the offer.

اَفَغَيۡرَ اللّٰهِ اَبۡتَغِىۡ حَكَمًا وَّهُوَ الَّذِىۡۤ اَنۡزَلَ اِلَيۡكُمُ الۡـكِتٰبَ مُفَصَّلاً ؕ وَالَّذِيۡنَ اٰتَيۡنٰهُمُ الۡـكِتٰبَ يَعۡلَمُوۡنَ اَنَّهٗ مُنَزَّلٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّكَ بِالۡحَـقِّ فَلَا تَكُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الۡمُمۡتَرِيۡنَ‏ ١١٤

[Say], "Then is it other than Allāh I should seek as judge while it is He who has revealed to you the Book [i.e., the Qur’ān] explained in detail?" And those to whom We [previously] gave the Scripture know that it is sent down from your Lord in truth, so never be among the doubters.

[Al-Quran 6:114, Translation: Saheeh International]

...

References & Links

The Sin Offering (Chabad.org)

Qurban (Islamic ritual sacrifice) (Wikipedia)

Related post in this blog: Forehead , Thunderbolts , The Blessing of Cattle

Last updated on: May 30, 2024

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Allah, badīʿ (بَدِيع) of the Skies and Earth

... He has commanded that you worship not except Him. ... [Q12:40]

Mission of the Messengers - XXV

Abstract

In its command to adhere to the right religion, Q12:40 states that Allah has commanded that only He is to be worshipped. Various mythologies have a pantheon of gods as the progeny of The One God. Allah creates through His Word, while procreation is a function that Allah has built into creation by which He increases them. The Quran uses the term badīʿ (بَدِيع) as one of the steps in the act of creation by Allah. This term appears in the context of dismissing any false notions of lineage and worship.

Full Text

مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم

مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ

إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ

أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ

ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

You worship not besides Him except [mere] names you have named them, you and your fathers,

for which Allah has sent down no authority.

Legislation is not but for Allah .

He has commanded that you worship not except Him.

That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.

[Al-Quran 12:40, Translator: Sahih International]

badīʿ (بَدِيع) in The Quran
The Quran uses the term badīʿ (بَدِيع) as one of the steps in the act of creation by Allah. This term appears in the context of dismissing any false notions of lineage and worship:

وَقَالُوا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ وَلَدًا سُبْحَانَهُ بَل لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ كُلٌّ لَّهُ قَانِتُونَ

بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَإِذَا قَضَىٰ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ

They say, " Allah has taken a son." Exalted is He! Rather, to Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. All are devoutly obedient to Him,

بَدِيعُ of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.

[Al-Quran 2:116-117, Translator: Sahih International]

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وَجَعَلُوا لِلَّهِ شُرَكَاءَ الْجِنَّ وَخَلَقَهُمْ وَخَرَقُوا لَهُ بَنِينَ وَبَنَاتٍ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُ وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُ صَاحِبَةٌ وَخَلَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَاعْبُدُوهُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ

لَّا تُدْرِكُهُ الْأَبْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الْأَبْصَارَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ

قَدْ جَاءَكُم بَصَائِرُ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَمَنْ أَبْصَرَ فَلِنَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ عَمِيَ فَعَلَيْهَا وَمَا أَنَا عَلَيْكُم بِحَفِيظٍ

وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُصَرِّفُ الْآيَاتِ وَلِيَقُولُوا دَرَسْتَ وَلِنُبَيِّنَهُ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ

اتَّبِعْ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

But they have attributed to Allah partners - the jinn, while He has created them - and have fabricated for Him sons and daughters. Exalted is He and high above what they describe

[He is] بَدِيعُ of the heavens and the earth. How could He have a son when He does not have a companion and He خَلَقَ all things? And He is, of all things, Knowing.

That is Allah, your Lord; there is no deity except Him, the خَالِقُ of all things, so worship Him. And He is Disposer of all things.

Vision perceives Him not, but He perceives [all] vision; and He is the Subtle, the Acquainted.

There has come to you enlightenment from your Lord. So whoever will see does so for [the benefit of] his soul, and whoever is blind [does harm] against it. And [say], "I am not a guardian over you."

And thus do We diversify the verses so ~~the disbelievers will~~ they (may) say, "You have studied," and so We may make the Qur'an clear for a people who know.

Follow, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you from your Lord - there is no deity except Him - and turn away from those who associate others with Allah .

[Al-Quran 6:100-106, Translator: Sahih International; edited in italics]

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Root Word

http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=bdE

The triliteral root bā dāl ʿayn (ب د ع) occurs four times in the Quran, in three derived forms:

once as the form VIII verb ib'tadaʿu (ٱبْتَدَعُ)

once as the noun bid'ʿ (بِدْع)

twice as the noun badīʿ (بَدِيع)

Screenshot from corpus.quran.com

In the Lexicon

http://www.tyndalearchive.com/tabs/lane/ Pages 166-167

...

Screenshots from Lane's Lexicon

Various Facets of Creation
The Quran employs various words to convey the various steps in the act of creation of the Skies and Earth. بَدِيعُ and فَاطِرُ are used exclusively for Allah, and خَالِقُ for Allah, as well as others. Fatir (فَاطِرُ), Badīʿ (بَدِيع) and Khaliq (خَالِقُ) are all generally translated Creator. Fatir (فَاطِرُ) and Khaliq (خَالِقُ) are mentioned in several ayaat across The Quran, but badīʿ (بَدِيع) is mentioned in the only two ayaat quoted above.

What is interesting in the context of both the set of ayaat is that the myth of Allah having a progeny is being strongly denounced; emphasising and explaining that it is Allah who innovates and creates whatever He wills, and that Allah does not procreate! Allah has created all things!!!

Creation through Sound
Q2:117 informs us that when Allah decrees anything (أَمْرًا), He simply commands it to become (يَقُولُ لَهُ كُن) and it becomes (فَيَكُونُ). As mentioned in Virgin Birth, new studies and experiments are revealing the ability of sound to arrange matter in various patterns and waves. Q3:45 informs us that the angels gave Mary glad tidings of a Word (بِكَلِمَةٍ) from Allah. The same word is used in Q19:17 (رُوحَنَا) and Q66:12 (رُّوحِنَا) to convey what was breathed into her. As explored in Human: Body or Soul?, Q17:85 informs us that الرُّوحُ is from the أَمْرِ of Allah:

وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

[Al-Quran 17:85]

Creation vs Procreation

Various mythologies have a pantheon of gods as the progeny of The One God. The Quran strongly denounces this, and logically explains in Q6:101 that in the absence of a female companion procreation is not possible; the same ayat also reminds that Allah is the (خَالِقُ) of all things. Procreation is a function that Allah has built into creation by which He increases them. Q17:42 further reasons that had there been other gods, they would have found a way to The Throne:

قُل لَّوْ كَانَ مَعَهُ آلِهَةٌ كَمَا يَقُولُونَ إِذًا لَّابْتَغَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِي الْعَرْشِ سَبِيلًا

[Al-Quran 17:42]

Polytheism

Q12:40 commands the worship of Allah alone, stating that it is the الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ. The surah concludes thus:

وَكَأَيِّن مِّنْ آيَةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ يَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ عَنْهَا مُعْرِضُونَ

وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُم بِاللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُم مُّشْرِكُونَ

أَفَأَمِنُوا أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ غَاشِيَةٌ مِّنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ أَوْ تَأْتِيَهُمُ السَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

قُلْ هَٰذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَىٰ بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِي إِلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَىٰ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَدَارُ الْآخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا اسْتَيْأَسَ الرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُوا جَاءَهُمْ نَصْرُنَا فَنُجِّيَ مَن نَّشَاءُ وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُنَا عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ

لَقَدْ كَانَ فِي قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

And how many a sign within the heavens and earth do they pass over while they, therefrom, are turning away.

And most of them believe not in Allah except while they associate others with Him.

Then do they feel secure that there will not come to them an overwhelming [aspect] of the punishment of Allah or that the Hour will not come upon them suddenly while they do not perceive?

Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allah ; and I am not of those who associate others with Him."

And We sent not before you [as messengers] except men to whom We revealed from among the people of cities. So have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? And the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allah ; then will you not reason?

[They continued] until, when the messengers despaired and were certain that they had been denied, there came to them Our victory, and whoever We willed was saved. And Our punishment cannot be repelled from the people who are criminals.

There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding. Never was the Qur'an a narration invented, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who believe.

[Al-Quran 12:105-111, Translator: Sahih International]

Originate & Re-create
While بَدِيع means to originate something new, a similar triliteral root is bā dāl hamza (ب د أ), which is also used in the sense of originating creation, and then repeating the process: