[Al-Quran 50:6-8] Have they not looked at the heaven above them - how We structured it and adorned it and how it has no rifts? And the earth - We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind, Giving insight and a reminder for every servant who turns [to Allah].

Showing posts with label hereafter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hereafter. Show all posts

Friday, March 28, 2025

The Permanent Touch

...

The Cow (2:80-81)

2:80

وَقَالُوا۟ لَن تَمَسَّنَا ٱلنَّارُ إِلَّآ أَيَّامًۭا مَّعْدُودَةًۭ ۚ قُلْ أَتَّخَذْتُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَهْدًۭا فَلَن يُخْلِفَ ٱللَّهُ عَهْدَهُۥٓ ۖ أَمْ تَقُولُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ٨٠

˹Some of˺ the Jews claim, “The Fire will not touch us except for a number of days.” Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Have you taken a pledge from Allah—for Allah never breaks His word—or are you ˹just˺ saying about Allah what you do not know?”

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran


And they say, "Never will the Fire touch us, except for [a few] numbered days." Say, "Have you taken a covenant with Allāh? For Allāh will never break His covenant. Or do you say about Allāh that which you do not know?"

— Saheeh International


They say, “The fire shall not touch us for more than a few days.” Say, “Have you taken a pledge from Allah, and Allah will not go against His promise? Or, do you say about Allah what you do not know?”

— T. Usmani


They say, ‘The Fire will only touch us for a few days.’ Say to them, ‘Have you received a promise from God- for God never breaks His promise- or are you saying things about Him of which you have no real knowledge?’

— M.A.S. Abdel Haleem


They say: “The Fire will certainly not touch us except for a limited number of days.” [1] Say (to them): “Have you received a promise from Allah – for Allah never breaks His promise – or do you attribute to Allah something about which you have no knowledge?”

— A. Maududi (Tafhim commentary)

[1]This is a misconception entertained by all Jews, laymen as well as rabbis. They felt sure that no matter what they did, they would remain immune from hell-fire just by virtue of being Jews! The worst they could conceive of was the possibility of a transient punishment before they were transported to heaven.


And they say: The Fire (of punishment) will not touch us save for a certain number of days. Say: Have ye received a covenant from Allah - truly Allah will not break His covenant - or tell ye concerning Allah that which ye know not?

— M. Pickthall


And they say: "The Fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days:" Say: "Have ye taken a promise from Allah, for He never breaks His promise? or is it that ye say of Allah what ye do not know?"

— A. Yusuf Ali


And they (Jews) say, "The Fire (i.e. Hell-fire on the Day of Resurrection) shall not touch us but for a few numbered days." Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to them): "Have you taken a covenant from Allâh, so that Allâh will not break His Covenant? Or is it that you say of Allâh what you know not?"

— Al-Hilali & Khan


وہ کہتے ہیں کہ دوزخ کی آگ ہمیں ہرگز چھونے والی نہیں ہے۔ الَّا یہ کہ چند روز کی سزا مل جائے تو مل جائے ۔ ان سے پوچھو کہ کیا تم نے اللہ سے کوئی عہد لیا ہے ، جس کی خلاف ورزی وہ نہیں کرسکتا ، یا بات یہ ہے کہ تم اللہ کے ذمے ڈال کر ایسی باتیں کہہ دیتے ہو جن کے متعلق تمہیں علم نہیں ہے کہ اس نے ان کا ذمہ لیا ہے ۔ “

— Fe Zilal al-Qur'an


وہ کہتے ہیں کہ دوزخ کی آگ ہمیں ہرگزچُھونے والی نہیں اِلّا یہ کہ چند روز کی سزا مِل جائے تو مِل جائے [1]۔ اِن سے پوچھو ، کیا تم نے اللہ سے کوئی عہد لے لیا ہے ، جس کی خلاف ورزی وہ نہیں کر سکتا؟ یا بات یہ ہے کہ تم اللہ کے ذمّے ڈال کر ایسی باتیں کہ دیتے ہو جن کے متعلق تمہیں علم نہیں ہے کہ اُس نے ان کا ذمہ لیا ہے؟ آخر تمہیں دوزخ کی آگ کیوں نہ چُھوئے گی؟

— Tafheem e Qur'an - Syed Abu Ali Maududi

[1]یہ یہودیوں کی عام غلط فہمی کا بیان ہے، جس میں ان کے عامی اور عالم سب مُبتلا  تھے۔ وہ سمجھتے تھے کہ ہم خواہ کچھ کریں ، بہرحال چونکہ ہم یہُودی ہیں ، لہٰذا  جہنّم کی آگ ہم پر حرام ہے اور بالفرض اگر ہم کو سزا دی بھی گئی، تو بس چند روز کے  لیے وہاں بھیجے جائیں گے اور پھر سیدھے جنّت کی طرف پلٹا دیے جائیں گے۔


اور کہتے ہیں کہ (دوزخ کی) آگ ہمیں چند روز کے سوا چھو ہی نہیں سکے گی۔ ان سے پوچھو، کیا تم نے خدا سے اقرار لے رکھا ہے کہ خدا اپنے اقرار کے خلاف نہیں کرے گا۔ (نہیں)، بلکہ تم خدا کے بارے میں ایسی باتیں کہتے ہو جن کا تمہیں مطلق علم نہیں

— Fatah Muhammad Jalandhari


اور وہ کہتے ہیں ہمیں تو آگ ہرگز چھو نہیں سکتی مگر گنتی کے چند دن ان سے کہیے کیا تم نے اللہ سے کوئی عہد لے لیا ہے کہ اب (تمہیں یہ یقین ہے کہ) اللہ اپنے عہد کے خلاف نہیں کرے گا ؟ یا تم اللہ کے ّ ذمے وہ باتیں لگا رہے ہو جنہیں تم نہیں جانتے ؟

 (بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد —


اور کہتے ہیں ہم کو ہر گز آگ نہ لگے گی مگر چند روز گنے چنے [1] کہدو کیا تم لے چکے ہو اللہ کے یہاں سے قرار کہ اب ہرگز خلاف نہ کرے گا اللہ اپنے قرار کے  یا جوڑتے ہو اللہ پر جو تم نہیں جانتے کیوں نہیں  [2] 

— Shaykh al-Hind Mahmud al-Hasan(with Tafsir E Usmani)

[1]بنی اسرائیل کی خوش فہمی:بعض نے کہا سات دن اور بعض نے چالیس دن (جتنے روز بچھڑے کو پوجا کی تھی) اور بعض نے چالیس سال (جتنی مدت تیہ میں سرگرداں رہے تھے) اور بعض نے کہا ہر ایک جتنی مدت دنیا میں زندہ رہا۔

[2]یعنی یہ بات غلط ہے کہ یہودی ہمیشہ کے لئے دوزخ میں نہ رہیں گے۔ کیونکہ خلود فی النار اور خلود فی الجنۃ کا جو قاعدہ کلیہ آگے بیان فرمایا ہے اسی کے مطابق سے  معاملہ ہو گا۔ یہودی اس سے نکل نہیں سکتے۔


یہ لوگ کہتے ہیں کہ ہم تو صرف چند روز جہنم میں رہیں گے، ان سے کہو کہ کیا تمہارے پاس اللہ تعالیٰ کا کوئی پروانہ ہے؟ اگر ہے تو یقیناً اللہ تعالیٰ اپنے وعدے کا خلاف نہیں کرے گا، (ہرگز نہیں) بلکہ تم تو اللہ کے ذمے وه باتیں لگاتے ہو جنہیں تم نہیں جانتے۔

— Maulana Muhammad Junagarhi


اور وہ کہتے ہیں ہم کو دوزخ کی آگ نہیں چھوئے گی مگر گنتی کے چند دن کہو، کیا تم نے اللہ کے پاس سے کوئی وعدہ لے لیا ہے کہ اللہ اپنے وعدہ کے خلاف نہیں کرے گا، یا تم اللہ کے اوپرایسی بات کہتے ہو جو تم نہیں جانتے

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan


Woh kehte hain ke dozakh ki aag humein hargiz choone wali nahin illa yeh ke chandh roz ki saza mil jaye to mil jaye. Inse pucho , kya tumne Allah se koi ahad le liya hai, jiski khilaf-warzi woh nahin kar sakta? Ya baat yeh hai ke tum Allah ke zimme daal kar aisi baatein kehdete ho jinke mutaaliq tumhein ilm nahin hai ke usne inka zimma liya hai? Aakhir tumhein dozakh ki aag kyun na chooeygi

— Abul Ala Maududi(Roman Urdu)


2:81

بَلَىٰ مَن كَسَبَ سَيِّئَةًۭ وَأَحَـٰطَتْ بِهِۦ خَطِيٓـَٔتُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ ٨١

But no! Those who commit evil and are engrossed in sin will be the residents of the Fire. They will be there forever.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran


Yes, [on the contrary], whoever earns evil and his sin has encompassed him - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.

— Saheeh International


Why not? Those who commit evil and are besieged by their sins, those are people of the Fire - there they shall live forever.

— T. Usmani


Truly those who do evil and are surrounded by their sins will be the inhabitants of the Fire, there to remain,

— M.A.S. Abdel Haleem


Those who earn evil and are encompassed by their sinfulness are the people of the Fire, and there will they abide;

— A. Maududi (Tafhim commentary)


Nay, but whosoever hath done evil and his sin surroundeth him; such are rightful owners of the Fire; they will abide therein.

— M. Pickthall


Nay, those who seek gain in evil, and are girt round by their sins,- they are companions of the Fire: Therein shall they abide (For ever).

— A. Yusuf Ali


Yes! Whosoever earns evil and his sin has surrounded him, they are dwellers of the Fire (i.e. Hell); they will dwell therein forever.

— Al-Hilali & Khan


آخر تمہیں دوزخ کی آگ کیوں چھوئے گی ۔ جو بھی بدی کمائے گا اور اپنی خطاکاری کے چکر میں پڑا رہے گا وہ دوزخی ہے اور دوزخ میں وہ ہمیشہ رہے گا

— Fe Zilal al-Qur'an


جو بھی بدی کمائے گا اور اپنی خطا کاری کے چکر میں پڑا رہے گا، وہ دوزخی ہے او ر دوزخ ہی میں وہ ہمیشہ رہے گا

— Tafheem e Qur'an - Syed Abu Ali Maududi


ہاں جو برے کام کرے، اور اس کے گناہ (ہر طرف سے) گھیر لیں تو ایسے لوگ دوزخ (میں جانے) والے ہیں (اور) وہ ہمیشہ اس میں (جلتے) رہیں گے

— Fatah Muhammad Jalandhari


کیوں نہیں جس شخص نے جان بوجھ کر ایک گناہ کمایا  اور اس کا گھیراؤ کرلیا اس کے گناہ نے پس یہی ہیں آگ والے وہ اسی میں ہمیشہ رہیں گے۔

 (بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد —


جس نے کمایا گناہ اور گھیر لیا اس کو اس کے گناہ نے [1] سو وہی ہیں دوزخ کے رہنے والے وہ اسی میں ہمیشہ رہیں گے

— Shaykh al-Hind Mahmud al-Hasan(with Tafsir E Usmani)

[1]گناہ کسی کا احاطہ کر لیں ۔ اس کا یہ مطلب ہے کہ گناہ اس پر ایسا غلبہ کر لیں کہ کوئی جانب ایسی نہ ہو کہ گناہ کا غلبہ نہ ہو ۔ حتٰی کی دل میں ایمان و تصدیق باقی ہو گی تو بھی احاطہ مذکور محقق نہ ہو گا۔ تو اب کافر ہی پر یہ صورت صادق  آ سکتی ہے۔


یقیناً جس نے بھی برے کام کئے اور اس کی نافرمانیوں نے اسے گھیر لیا، وه ہمیشہ کے لئے جہنمی ہے۔

— Maulana Muhammad Junagarhi


ہاں جس نے کوئی برائی کی اور اس کے گناہ نے اس کو اپنے گھیرے میں لے لیا، تو وہی لوگ دوزخ والے ہیں ، وہ اس میں ہمیشہ رہیں گے

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan


Jo bhi badhi kamayega aur apni khata-kaari ke chakkar mein pada rahega, woh dozakhi hai aur dozakh hi mein woh hamesha rahega

— Abul Ala Maududi(Roman Urdu)

https://quran.com/2/80-81


The promise of the Hereafter has a permanence to it. In this life, our situation can be subject to change. In the Hereafter, the segregation and sorting will be permanent. Historically, the Bani Israel used to hold on to that belief. Some people among Muslims also believe that the Fire, if it touches them, will touch them for a limited time, and then they will be rescued and sent to the Gardens. The Quran refutes all such beliefs. 


Again, in the next surah, we read: 

Family of Imran (3:24-25)

3:24

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا۟ لَن تَمَسَّنَا ٱلنَّارُ إِلَّآ أَيَّامًۭا مَّعْدُودَٰتٍۢ ۖ وَغَرَّهُمْ فِى دِينِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ ٢٤


This is because they say, “The Fire will not touch us except for a few days.” They have been deceived in their faith by their wishful lying.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran


That is because they say, "Never will the Fire touch us except for [a few] numbered days," and [because] they were deluded in their religion by what they were inventing.

— Saheeh International


That is because they have said: “The Fire shall not touch us except for a few days.” Thus they are deceived in their faith by what they themselves used to invent.

— T. Usmani


‘The Fire will only touch us for a limited number of days.’ The lies they have invented have led them astray in their own religion.

— M.A.S. Abdel Haleem


This is because they say: 'The fire of Hell shall not touch us except for a limited number of days. [1] The false beliefs which they have forged have deluded them in their faith.

— A. Maududi (Tafhim commentary)

[1]These people considered themselves to be God's favourites and cherished the illusion that, regardless of what they did, they were bound to enter Paradise. They took the view that since they were believers, were descended from pious people, followed noble Prophets, and were disciples and admirers of holy men, Hell would not dare touch them. They also thought that even if they were thrown into Hell they would remain there for a few days only, to be purged of the impurity of the sins which had afflicted them, and would then be sent straight to Paradise. Such notions had made them so bold that even when they committed the most atrocious crimes and the most mortal of sins, and brazenly deviated from Truth and rectitude, their hearts remained utterly unmoved by the fear of God.


That is because they say: The Fire will not touch us save for a certain number of days. That which they used to invent hath deceived them regarding their religion.

— M. Pickthall


This because they say: "The Fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days": For their forgeries deceive them as to their own religion.

— A. Yusuf Ali


This is because they say: "The Fire shall not touch us but for a number of days." And that which they used to invent regarding their religion has deceived them.

— Al-Hilali & Khan


ان کا یہ طرز عمل اس وجہ سے ہے کہ وہ کہتے ہیں ۔ کہ آتش دوزخ تو ہمیں مس تک نہ کرے گی اور اگر دوزخ کی سزا ہم کو ملے گی بھی تو بس چند روز “ ان کے خودساختہ عقیدوں نے ان کو اپنے دین کے معاملے میں بڑی غلط فہمیوں میں ڈال رکھا ہے۔

— Fe Zilal al-Qur'an


ان کا یہ طرز عمل اس وجہ سے ہے کہ وہ کہتے ہیں ”آتش ِ دوزخ تو ہمیں مَس تک نہ کرے گی اور اگر دوزخ کی سزا ہم کو ملے گی بھی تو بس چند روز“۔[1] اُن کے خود ساختہ عقیدوں نے اُن کو اپنے دین کے معاملے میں بڑی غلط فہمیوں میں ڈال رکھا ہے

— Tafheem e Qur'an - Syed Abu Ali Maududi

[1]یعنی یہ لوگ 

اپنے آپ کو خدا کا چَہیتا سمجھ بیٹھے ہیں۔ یہ اس خیال ِ خام میں مبتلا ہیں 

کہ ہم خواہ کچھ کریں بہرحال جنت ہماری ہے ۔ ہم اہلِ ایمان ہیں، ہم فلاں کی 

اولاد اور فلاں کی اُمّت اور فلاں کے مریداور فلاں کے دامن گرفتہ ہیں ، 

بھلا دوزخ کی کیا مجال کہ ہمیں چھُو جائے۔ اور بالفرض اگر ہم دوزخ میں ڈالے 

بھی گئے تو بس چند روز وہاں رکھے جائیں گے تاکہ گناہوں کی جو آلائش لگ گئی 

ہے وہ صاف ہو جائے، پھر سیدھے جنت میں پہنچا دیے جائے گے۔ اسی قسم کے 

خیالات نے ان کو اتنا جری و بے باک بنا دیا ہے کہ وہ سخت سے سخت جرائم کا 

ارتکاب کر جاتے ہیں، بدترین گناہوں کے مرتکب ہوتے ہیں ، کُھلم کُھلا حق سے 

انحراف کرتے ہیں اور ذرا خدا کا خوف ان کے دل میں نہیں آتا۔


یہ اس لیے کہ یہ اس بات کے قائل ہیں کہ (دوزخ کی) آگ ہمیں چند روز کے سوا چھو ہی نہیں سکے گی اور جو کچھ یہ دین کے بارے میں بہتان باندھتے رہے ہیں اس نے ان کو دھوکے میں ڈال رکھا ہے

— Fatah Muhammad Jalandhari


یہ اس وجہ سے ہے کہ یہ کہتے ہیں کہ ہمیں تو جہنم کی آگ چھو ہی نہیں سکتی مگر گنتی کے چند دن اور انہیں دھوکے میں مبتلا کردیا ہے ان کے دین کے بارے میں ان چیزوں نے جو یہ گھڑتے رہے ہیں۔

 (بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد —


یہ اس واسطے کہ کہتے ہیں وہ ہم کو ہرگز نہ لگے گی آگ دوزخ کی مگر چند دن گنتی کے اور بہکے ہیں اپنے دین میں اپنی بنائی باتوں پر [1

— Shaykh al-Hind Mahmud al-Hasan(with Tafsir E Usmani)

[1]یہودیوں کے من گھڑت عقائد کی تردید:یعنی ان کے تمرد و طغیان اور گناہوں پر جری ہونے کا سبب یہ ہے کہ سزا کی طرف سے بےخوف ہیں ان کے بڑے جھوٹ بنا کر کہہ گئے کہ ہم میں اگر کوئی سخت گنہگار بھی ہو گا تو گنتی کے چند روز سے زیادہ عذاب نے پائے گا۔ جیسا کہ سورۂ 'بقرہ' میں گذر چکا۔ اور اسی طرح کی بہت سے باتیں گھڑ رکھی ہیں۔ مثلًا کہتے تھے کہ ہم تو اللہ کے چہیتے بیٹے ہیں۔ یا انبیاء کی اولاد ہیں اور اللہ تعالیٰ یعقوبؑ سے وعدہ کر چکا ہے کہ ان کی اولاد کو  سزا نہ دے گا مگر یوں ہی برائے نام قسم کھانے کو۔ اور نصاریٰ نے تو کفار کا مسئلہ نکال کر گناہ و معصیت کا سارا حساب ہی بےباق کر دیا۔ اللھم اعذ بامن شرور انفسنا۔


اس کی وجہ ان کا یہ کہنا کہ ہمیں تو گنے چنے چند دن ہی آگ جلائے گی، ان کی گڑھی گڑھائی باتوں نے انہیں ان کے دین کے بارے میں دھوکے میں ڈال رکھا ہے۔[1

— Maulana Muhammad Junagarhi

[1]یعنی کتاب اللہ کے ماننے سے گریز واعراض کی وجہ ان کایہ زعم باطل ہے کہ اول تووہ جہنم میں جائیں گے ہی نہیں، اوراگرگئے بھی تو صرف چند دن ہی کے لئے جائیں گے۔ اور انہی من گھڑت باتوں نے انہیں دھوکےاور فریب میں ڈال رکھا ہے۔

[2]- الٹے طور پر ہاتھ پاؤں کاٹنے کا مطلب، دایاں ہاتھ اور بایاں پیر یا بایاں ہاتھ اور دایاں پیر ہے۔ اس پر سولی مستزاد۔ یعنی ہاتھ پیر کاٹنے سے بھی اس کی آتش غضب ٹھنڈی نہ ہوئی، مزید اس نے سولی پر لٹکانے کا اعلان کیا۔


یہ اس سبب سے کہ وہ لوگ کہتے ہیں کہ ہم کو ہر گز آگ نہ چھوئے گی بجز گنے ہوئے چند دنوں کے اور ان کی بنائی ہوئی باتوں نے ان کو ان کے دین کے بارے میں دھوکے میں ڈال دیا ہے

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan


Unka yeh tarz-e-amal is wajah se hai ke woh kehte hain “ aatish e dozakh to humein mass (choo) tak na karegi aur agar dozakh ki saza humko milegi bhi to bas chandh roz”. Unke khud saakhta aqeedon ne unko apne deen ke maamle mein badi galat fehmiyon mein daal rakkha hai

— Abul Ala Maududi(Roman Urdu)


3:25

فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جَمَعْنَـٰهُمْ لِيَوْمٍۢ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ وَوُفِّيَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ ٢٥


But how ˹horrible˺ will it be when We gather them together on the Day about which there is no doubt—when every soul will be paid in full for what it has done, and none will be wronged!

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran


So how will it be when We assemble them for a Day about which there is no doubt? And each soul will be compensated [in full for] what it earned, and they will not be wronged.

— Saheeh International


Then, how (will it be) when We will gather them together on a day about which there is no doubt, and everybody will be paid in full for what he has earned, and they shall not be wronged?

— T. Usmani


How will they fare when We gather them together for a Day of which there is no doubt, when every soul will be paid in full for what it has done, and they will not be wronged?

— M.A.S. Abdel Haleem


How, then, will they fare when We shall gather them all together to witness the Day about (the coming of) which there is no doubt, and when every human being shall be repaid in full for what he has done, and none shall be wronged?

— A. Maududi (Tafhim commentary)


How (will it be with them) when We have brought them all together to a Day of which there is no doubt, when every soul will be paid in full what it hath earned, and they will not be wronged.

— M. Pickthall


But how (will they fare) when we gather them together against a day about which there is no doubt, and each soul will be paid out just what it has earned, without (favour or) injustice?

— A. Yusuf Ali


How (will it be) when We gather them together on the Day about which there is no doubt (i.e. the Day of Resurrection). And each person will be paid in full what he has earned? And they will not be dealt with unjustly.

— Al-Hilali & Khan


مگر کیا بنے گی ان پر جب ہم انہیں اس روز جمع کریں گے جس کا آنا یقینی ہے ؟ اسی روز ہر شخص کو اس کی کمائی کا بدلہ پورا پورا دیدیا جائے گا اور کسی پر ظلم نہ ہوگا۔ “

— Fe Zilal al-Qur'an


مگر کیا بنے گی اُن پر جب ہم انہیں اُس روز جمع کریں گے جس کا آنا یقینی ہے؟ اس روز ہر شخص کو اس کی کمائی کا بدلہ پورا پورا دے دیا جائیگا اور کسی پر ظلم نہ ہوگا

— Tafheem e Qur'an - Syed Abu Ali Maududi


تو اس وقت کیا حال ہوگا جب ہم ان کو جمع کریں گے (یعنی) اس روز جس (کے آنے) میں کچھ بھی شک نہیں اور ہر نفس اپنے اعمال کا پورا پورا بدلہ پائے گا اور ان پر ظلم نہیں کیا جائے گا

— Fatah Muhammad Jalandhari


تو کیا حال ہوگا جب ہم انہیں اکٹھا کریں گے اس دن جس کے بارے میں کوئی شک نہیں ! اور ہر جان کو پورا پورا دے دیا جائے گا جو کچھ اس نے کمائی کی ہوگی اور ان پر کوئی زیادتی نہیں ہوگی

 (بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد —


پھر کیا ہو گا حال جب ہم انکو جمع کریں گے ایک دن کہ اسکے آنے میں کچھ شبہ نہیں اور پورا پاوے گا ہر کوئی اپنا کیا [1] اور انکی حق تلفی نہ ہو گی [2 

— Shaykh al-Hind Mahmud al-Hasan(with Tafsir E Usmani)

[1]یعنی اس وقت پتہ چلے گا کہ کس اندھیرے میں پڑے ہوئے تھے۔ جب محشر میں تمام اولین و آخرین اور خود اپنے بزرگوں کےسامنے رسوا ہوں گے اور ہر عمل کا پورا پورا بدلہ ملے گا۔ نہ کفارہ کا مسئلہ یاد آئے گا نہ نسبی تعلقات اور من گھڑت عقیدے کام دیں گے۔

[2]یعنی فرضی جرائم پر سزا نہ ہوگی۔ ان کاموں پر ہوگی جن کا جرم ہونا خود تسلیم کریں گے اور جس قدر سزا کا استحقاق ہو گا، اس سے زیادہ نہ دی جائے گی نہ کسی کی ادنیٰ سے ادنیٰ نیکی ضائع ہو سکے گی۔


پس کیا حال ہوگا جبکہ ہم انہیں اس دن جمع کرینگے؟ جس کے آنے میں کوئی شک نہیں اور ہر شخص اپنا اپنا کیا پورا پورا دیاجائے گا اور ان پر ﻇلم نہ کیا جائے گا۔[1 

— Maulana Muhammad Junagarhi

[1]قیامت والے دن ان کے یہ دعوے اور غلط عقائد کچھ کام نہ آئیں گے اور اللہ تعالیٰ بے لاگ انصاف کے ذریعے سے ہر نفس کو، اس کے کیے کاپورا پورا بدلہ دے گا،کسی پر ظلم نہیں ہوگا۔

[2]لا ضَيْرَ کوئی حرج نہیں یا ہمیں کوئی پروا نہیں۔ یعنی اب جو سزا چاہے دے لے، ایمان سے نہیں پھر سکتے۔


پھر اس وقت کیا ہوگا جب ہم ان کو جمع کریں گے ایک دن جس کے آنے میں کوئی شک نہیں اور ہر شخص کو جو کچھ اس نے کیا ہے، اس کا پورا پورا بدلہ دیا جائے گا اوران پر ظلم نہ کیا جائے گا

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan


Magar kya banegi unpar jab hum unhein us roz jamaa karenge jiska aana yaqeeni hai? Us roz har shaks ko uski kamayi ka badla poora poora de diya jayega aur kisi par zulm na hoga

— Abul Ala Maududi(Roman Urdu)

https://quran.com/3/24-25


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Also read: 

Point and Place in SpaceTime  


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Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Acknowledging the Perfection of our Lord


No change should there be in the creation of Allah [Quran 30:30] 



Abstract 
To do تَسْبِيحَ of Allah means to acknowledge, declare, and/or celebrate that Allah is absolutely perfect. Allah creates perfectly and governs excellently. We humans need to acknowledge and appreciate this fact, and consequently submit to The Right Religion (الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ). 


Full Text
The Quran informs us that those who believe and do righteous deeds / acts of reform (آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ), their Lord will guide them, due to their faith, to the Gardens of bounty, bliss, delight, pleasure, et al (جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ). Upon experiencing the perfection of the Gardens of the Hereafter, they will exclaim:  

دَعْوَاهُمْ فِيهَا سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَتَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَامٌ وَآخِرُ دَعْوَاهُمْ أَنِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

[Al-Quran 10:10]

Surah Yunus ayat 10 Translations:
Ali Unal: Therein their invocation will be: "All-Glorified You are, O God! (You are absolutely exalted above having any defects and doing anything wrong.)" And their greeting (to each other and from God and the angels) will be: "Peace!" And their invocation will close with "All praise and gratitude are for God, the Lord of the worlds!"

Ali Quli Qari: Their call therein will be, ‘O Allah! Immaculate are You!’ and their greeting therein will be, ‘Peace!’ and their concluding call, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.’ 

Muhammad Sarwar: Their prayer shall be, "Glory be to you Lord," and their greeting, "Peace be with you," and the only other words (of worldly speech) they will speak will be, "It is God, Lord of the Universe, who deserves all praise."


The Good & The Evil 
People wonder why bad things happen in this world if the Creator is perfect and all good. The Quran addresses the confusion about the existence of evil and the harmful in this world thus: 

أَيْنَمَا تَكُونُوا يُدْرِككُّمُ الْمَوْتُ وَلَوْ كُنتُمْ فِي بُرُوجٍ مُّشَيَّدَةٍ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ حَسَنَةٌ يَقُولُوا هَٰذِهِ مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَقُولُوا هَٰذِهِ مِنْ عِندِكَ قُلْ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ فَمَالِ هَٰؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ لَا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ حَدِيثًا
...
مَّا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَصَابَكَ مِن سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِن نَّفْسِكَ وَأَرْسَلْنَاكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولًا وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا

Wherever you be will overtake you [the] death even if you are in towers lofty. And if befalls them any good they say, "This (is) from Allah," And if befalls them any evil they say, "This (is) from you." Say, "All (is) from Allah." So what (is wrong) (with) these [the] people, they do not seem (to) understand any statement.
What(ever) befalls you of (the) good (is) from Allah, and whatever befalls you of (the) evil (is) from your Nafs. And We have sent you (as) a Messenger for all the people , and Allah is sufficient (as) a Witness.
[Al-Quran 4:78-79; edited]



Surah Yasin, which begins with an oath by The Wise Quran and mentioning the fact that 'Indeed, you (are) among the Messengers,' concludes thus: 

فَسُبْحَانَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
So immaculate is He in whose hand is the dominion of all things and to whom you shall be brought back. 
[Al-Quran 36:83, Translation: Ali Quli Qari] 


تَسْبِيحَ (Glorification) & الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ (The Right Religion)  
To do تَسْبِيحَ of Allah means to acknowledge, declare, and/or celebrate that Allah is absolutely perfect: free of any and all weaknesses, imperfections and impurities. Everything & everyone acknowledges the perfection of Allah: 

تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ وَإِن مِّن شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا

Glorify [to] Him the seven heavens and the earth and whatever (is) in them. And (there is) not any thing except glorifies His Praise, but not you understand their glorification. Indeed, He is Ever-Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving."
[Al-Quran 17:44

Prior to being sent to Earth, a covenant was taken from Adam, and then he was placed in The Garden where he suffered neither hunger nor nakedness, neither thirst nor excessive heat! He was forbidden to eat from only one tree, as that would cause him loss of comforts; his disobedience caused him to lose his natural clothing and be removed from the luxurious Garden. He realised that he himself was to blame for the harm he had caused to his own nafs by attempting to make fundamental changes in his body. One of the fundamental principles of The Right Religion (الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ), mentioned in Surah arRum, is that there should be no change in the creation of Allah, the best of creators. 

Adam had attempted to achieve immortality and a kingdom that never decays by believing in the deceitful promises of Satan and obeying the suggestions made by him. Another fundamental principle of The Right Religion (الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ), mentioned in Surah Yusuf, is that only Allah is to be worshipped. Obeying Satan, in defiance of Allah's commands, causes us to suffer loss: 


Excerpt from Adam Facts  

On this Earth, in this temporal life, we humans suffer hunger, lack of appropriate clothing, thirst, the Sun's excessive heat, and many other problems, diseases, etc. Many other creatures also suffer on Earth due to human activities, and some species even face extinction due to our adverse impact on the ecosystem. The Earth has suffered extinction events before.  Scientists theorise that if humans were to become extinct, the Earth might recover from the damage caused to it, and flourish once again. The Quran (7:56) warns us to not to corrupt the Earth after it has been reformed:       




Surah alIsra begins with the declaration: سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي (Q17:1), for Allah, for having taken His servant Muhammad ﷺ on a journey we refer to as Mairaj (Ascension). Another fundamental principle of The Right Religion (الدِّينُالْقَيِّمُ), mentioned in Surah atTaubah, is about the sacred months, which I understand is about peace and security during pilgrimage travels. While scientists discuss escaping to another planet to inhabit, when this Earth is no longer habitable, we hope and pray that Allah will, having accepted our repentance in this life, forgive and guide us that day, in peace and security, and with honour and dignity, on a similar ascension, via the The Right Trajectory (الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ), to the Gardens of Eternity. 



Allah creates perfectly and governs excellently. We humans need to acknowledge and appreciate this fact, and consequently submit willingly to The Right Religion (الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ). We were created to worship and serve Allah. The most prestigious jobs in the worlds can be ours, eternally, if we submit and become of those who keep their duty (الْمُتَّقِينَ): 


 الصَّلَاةَ (Prayer) & تَسْبِيحَ (Glorification) 
The contact prayer (الصَّلَاةَ) is in itself a combination of remembrance (recitation of Surah alFateha and other ayaat from The Quran) and glorification (تَسْبِيحَ): 



وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْغَافِلِينَ
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَيُسَبِّحُونَهُ وَلَهُ يَسْجُدُونَ

And when is recited the Quran, then listen to it and pay attention so that you may receive mercy.
And remember your Lord in your nafs humbly and (in) fear and without the loudness of [the] words, in the mornings and (in) the evenings. And (do) not be among the heedless.
Indeed, those who (are) near your Lord, they (do) not turn away in pride from His worship. And they glorify Him and to Him they prostrate.
[Al-Quran 7:204-206; edited]


Surah alIsra, which emphasises both contact prayers and glorification, concludes with the command:  


قُلِ ادْعُوا اللَّهَ أَوِ ادْعُوا الرَّحْمَٰنَ أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُوا فَلَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ وَلَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ وَلَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ سَبِيلًا
وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ شَرِيكٌ فِي الْمُلْكِ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ وَلِيٌّ مِّنَ الذُّلِّ وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًا

Say, "Invoke Allah or invoke the Most Gracious. By whatever (name) you invoke, to Him (belongs) the Most Beautiful Names. And (do) not be loud in your prayers and not be silent therein, but seek between that a way."
And say, "All Praise (is) for Allah the One Who has not taken a son and not is for Him a partner in the dominion, and not is for Him any protector out of weakness. And magnify Him (with all) magnificence."
[Al-Quran 17:110-111


In Surah Taha, ayaat 14-15, Allah commands Moses to establish prayer (الصَّلَاةَ) for His Remembrance (لِذِكْرِي), as The Hour (السَّاعَةَ) is approaching when every nafs (نَفْسٍ) will be compensated (لِتُجْزَىٰ)... Moses supplicates for help. In his supplication, he especially mentions:

كَيْ نُسَبِّحَكَ كَثِيرًا
وَنَذْكُرَكَ كَثِيرًا
إِنَّكَ كُنتَ بِنَا بَصِيرًا

That we may glorify You much
And [we] remember You much.
Indeed, [You] You are of us All-Seer."
[Al-Quran 20:33-35]

The Quran, however, clarifies and emphasises the importance of glorification (تَسْبِيحَ) as a separate distinct act of worship as well. In Surah anNoor, we read: 

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالطَّيْرُ صَافَّاتٍ كُلٌّ قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهُ وَتَسْبِيحَهُ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ

Do not you see that Allah - glorify Him whoever (is) in the heavens and the earth and the birds (with) wings outspread? Each one verily knows its prayer and its glorification. And Allah (is) All-Knower of what they do.
[Al-Quran 24:41]
The When & Why of تَسْبِيحَ
Timings for & Purpose of تَسْبِيحَ have been explained: 

for Satisfaction/Contentment

فَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا وَمِنْ آنَاءِ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْ وَأَطْرَافَ النَّهَارِ لَعَلَّكَ تَرْضَىٰ
So be patient over what they say and glorify with praise (of) your Lord before (the) rising (of) the sun and before its setting; and from (the) hours (of) the night, and glorify (at the) ends (of) the day so that you may be satisfied.
[Al-Quran 20:130


to Patiently Endure

فَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ

وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَأَدْبَارَ السُّجُودِ

So be patient over what they say and glorify (the) praise (of) your Lord, before (the) rising (of) the sun and before the setting, And of the night glorify Him and after the prostration. 
[Al-Quran 50:39-40


to Patiently Await

وَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ

وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَإِدْبَارَ النُّجُومِ

So be patient, for (the) Command (of) your Lord, for indeed, you (are) in Our Eyes. And glorify (the) praise (of) your Lord when you arise, And of the night, glorify Him, and after the stars. 
[Al-Quran 52:48-49


to Patiently Persevere

فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تُطِعْ مِنْهُمْ آثِمًا أَوْ كَفُورًا

وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا

وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَاسْجُدْ لَهُ وَسَبِّحْهُ لَيْلًا طَوِيلًا

So be patient for (the) Command (of) your Lord and (do) not obey from them any sinner or disbeliever.
And remember (the) name (of) your Lord morning and evening.
And of the night prostrate to Him, and glorify Him a night long. 
[Al-Quran 76:24-26


--------------------------------------------




Last updated on October 27, 2018

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Human: Body or Soul?

No change should there be in the creation of Allah [Quran 30:30] 


Abstract
The human is created from Earth, and is essentially its body. When the command granting life is breathed in, the body becomes alive. Death marks the end of life. Both the Quran and the Bible emphasize our earthly origins and return. The Quran also mentions the ‘ashab-ul-quboor’.  

The correct understanding of the significance of the human body is very important, as it concerns the permissibility, as well as the ethical and moral issues regarding abortions, organ harvesting and transplants, final rites of the deceased, genetic engineering of the living, and so on.  

For Muslims, Quran is the final revelation and the decisive word. We need to explore the text in detail lest we harm ourselves for an eternity.


Full Text

Preamble
Who are we? Are we our body or are we our soul or is it a combination of the two? Do we have an existence independent of our body? When we die, do we leave the body, or does life leave us? Who is the I we are so fond of? What are we made of? What do the scriptures say? 

The Bible and The Quran both inform us that we are made of dust:

[Bible, Genesis 3:19] In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the ground, for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

[Al-Quran, ar-Rum 30:20] And among His Signs (is) that He created you from dust then behold! You (are) human beings dispersing.

We all know that we have a body that is composed of earthly materials.  Religious people generally believe that they are a SOUL that is temporarily staying in the body.  Atheists do not believe in the existence of a SOUL. 

Jews, Christians and Muslims (People of the Book) shroud and bury the body of their dead. Hindus (Polytheists) burn many of their dead and crush the remaining bones into dust. More on Funeral Rites in References and Further Reading at the end of this post. 

From the Bible, we learn that the prophets Jacob and Joseph were concerned about their body after their death, and asked for it to NOT to be left in Egypt. From a saying attributed to Prophet Muhammad, we learn that breaking the bone of a dead person is similar to breaking the bone of a living person.

The Quran 30:30 clearly warns against changing the creation of Allah, especially humans:

فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا
 فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا
 لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ 
ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ
 وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

So set your face to the religion upright. 
 Nature (made by) Allah (upon) which He has created mankind [on it]. 
 No change (should there be) in the creation (of) Allah. 
That (is) the religion the correct, 
 but most people (do) not know.
 [Al-Quran 30:30, Translation edited]
Note: فِطْرَتَ is generally translated as nature but فَطَرَ means to separate, and Allah is فَاطِرِ  the One who separated/separates. 
Also, الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ is generally translated as the religion the correct, but The Standing Law may be a clearer literal translation. However, I haven't made this correction here.

The following explores the concepts as stated in the scriptures, with focus on the Quran and referring to the Bible, so as to get some clarity on the subject. The correct understanding of this concept is very important, as it concerns the permissibility, as well as the ethical and moral issues regarding abortions, organ harvesting and transplants, final rites of the deceased, genetic modification of the living, crossbreeding, building chimeras, and so on.  

For Muslims, Quran is the final revelation and the decisive word. Furthermore, the original Arabic text is preserved in pristine condition, in written form and orally, committed to memory in the minds of the huffaz. The Quran itself claims that it is explained in detail. As we refer to the prior scriptures and the hadith of Prophet Muhammad, the correct understanding must be based on what the Quran states directly or endorses indirectly. We need to explore the text in detail lest we harm ourselves for an eternity. 

NOTE: The difference between رُّوحُ and نَفْسُ is often lost in translations. In this post, instead of translations of the Arabic word, I have retained the word in Roman letters as:
  • رُّوحُ  (RUH) in dark purple bold letters, and 
  • نَفْسُ  (NAFS (Hebrew nephesh)) are in light blue bold letters


RUH

فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِي فَقَعُوا لَهُ سَاجِدِينَ

[Al-Quran 15:29] So, when I have fashioned him and [I] breathed into him of My RUH, then fall down to him prostrating."

Ar-RUH, generally translated as spirit (Q32:9, Q97:4) or soul (Q17:85), is from the AMR (commands, decrees) of Allah: 


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

And they ask you about the RUH. Say: The RUH is one of the commands of my Lord, and you are not given aught of knowledge but a little. 
[Al-Quran 17:85, Translator: Shakir] 

In Surah al-Qadr, we read:

تَنَزَّلُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍ

The angels and the RUH descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with all decrees
[Al-Quran 97:4, Translator: Pickthall] 

People believe that we are essentially our SOUL while the body is just a vessel that we inhabit temporarily. Contrary to popular belief, the Quran does not support this belief about the SOUL, or even acknowledge its existence independent of the body. It simply states that the RUH is from the commands of God.  

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living nephesh
[Bible, Genesis 2:7 ; Transliteration ; Arabic Bible

Who made good everything that He has created, and He began the creation of man from dust. Then He made his progeny of an extract, of water held in light estimation. Then He made him complete and breathed into him of His RUH, and made for you the ears and the eyes and the hearts; little is it that you give thanks. And they say: What! when we have become lost in the earth, shall we then certainly be in a new creation? Nay! they are disbelievers in the meeting of their Lord. Say: The angel of death who is given charge of you shall cause you to die, then to your Lord you shall be brought back. 
[Al-Quran 32:7 – 11, Translator: Shakir]   


Allah commands through His Words:  
He (is) the One Who gives life and causes death. And when He decrees a matter, then only He says to it, "Be," and it is. 
[Al-Quran 40:68

Mary conceived Jesus when she received the Command of Allah. Quran 3:4519:17 and 66:12 use the word ruh to convey what was breathed into Mary.  As explained in Virgin Birth, speech can be transferred wirelessly (breathed in).  


NAFS 
The Quran repeatedly mentions the NAFS.

God created the first humans from a single NAFS:
O mankind! Be conscious your Rab (Lord/Sustainer), the One Who created you from a single nafs, and created from her her mate, and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And be conscious of Allah Whom you ask, with it, and the wombs. Indeed, Allah is over you Ever-Watchful.  
[Al-Quran 4:1] 

As quoted in The First Humans, three ayaat inform us that it is God who has created human beings from a single NAFS. God is the Master Creator. He begins creation, and He delegates some of the creation tasks to some beings in His government, as indicated by The Creator I and The Creators We mentioned through various pronouns across the Quran. For difference between the two, please read the section similarly titled at the bottom of this post. 


وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ

We swear that We have created the human being and We know what his NAFS whispers to him. We are closer to him than even his jugular vein. 
[Al-Quran 50:16, Translator: Muhammad Sarwar] 

The information that the NAFS whispers to us indicates that the NAFS is not ‘the us’ but rather resides inside us.

The Quran describes three kinds or states of the NAFS as:
The NAFS-e-AMMARRA is the NAFS that urges us to evil.
The NAFS-e-LAWAMMA is the NAFS that we speak of as our conscience.
The NAFS-e-MUTMAINNA is the NAFS that is satisfied and contented with God, and God is pleased with it.   

Furthermore, it seems that our NAFS is in pledge, something that is removed from us daily, and what we risk losing permanently in the Hereafter:

And leave those who take their religion (as) a play and amusement and deluded them the life (of) the world. But remind with it, lest is given up to destruction a NAFS for what it (has) earned, not (is) for it besides Allah any protector and not any intercessor. And if it offers ransom - every ransom, not will it be taken from it. Those (are) ones who are given to destruction for what they earned. For them (will be) a drink of boiling water and a punishment painful because they used to disbelieve.
[Al-Quran 6:70


كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ رَهِينَةٌ 
Every NAFS, for what it has earned, (is) pledged,
[Al-Quran 74:38



The above slide is from the presentation: Rethink Genetic Engineering in the Light of the Quran. Whenever humans have tinkered with and attempted to make fundamental changes in the human body, and consequently messed up, they have been unjust to their NAFS, and thus suffer the physical consequences of Wronging the NAFS. Even sin and disbelief have been described in physical terms as a disease of the heart (qalb), rust upon the heart and lying sinful forelock. Does the NAFS contain the master-copy of our genome?


وَفِي الْأَرْضِ آيَاتٌ لِّلْمُوقِنِينَ
وَفِي أَنفُسِكُمْ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ


And in the earth (are) signs for those who are certain, 
And in your NAFS. Then will not you see? 
[Al-Quran 51:20 - 21]   

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى 
الَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَهُم بَلِ اللَّهُ يُزَكِّي مَن يَشَاءُ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا
انظُرْ كَيْفَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ وَكَفَىٰ بِهِ إِثْمًا مُّبِينًا

Do not you see [towards] those who claim purity (for) their NAFSNay, (it is) Allah, He purifies whom He wills and not they will be wronged (even as much as) a hair on a date-seed.
See how they invent about Allah [the] lie, and sufficient is it - (as) a sin manifest.
[Al-Quran 4:49-50]


If the RUH is God’s command that grants life, the NAFS is neither pure nor a ‘spiritual’ component, then there doesn’t seem to exist a spiritual aspect of us: 

Those who avoid great sins and the immoralities except the small faults; indeed, your Lord (is) vast (in) forgiveness. He (is) most knowing about you when He produced you from the earth and when you (were) fetuses in (the) wombs (of) your mothers. So (do) not ascribe purity (to) your NAFS. He knows best (he) who fears. 
[Al-Quran 53:32] 

In Surah ash-Shams, after drawing attention to the God’s amazing creations: Sun, Moon, Day, Night, Sky, Earth, the surah includes the NAFS in the list in these terms: 
By the NAFS, and the proportion and order given to it; And its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right;- Truly he succeeds that purifies it, And he fails that corrupts it
[Al-Quran 91:7-10, Translator: Yusuf Ali] 

Q67:2 informs us that God created Death and Life to test us. Q2:28 and Q40:11 speak of two deaths and two lifes in sequence. Q7:172 informs us that the descendants of the Children of Adam witnessed their Nafs. Does it mean that every person is essentially his/her own body? The physical body (hardware) and the nafs (software)? 

What does it mean to purify the Nafs? What does it mean to corrupt it? Or does it mean to grow or stun it, like the growth or stunning of a seed sowed in the Earth? For more on this, please read the section titled Growth of the Nafs in The Same Religion (الدِّينِ)

And what does it mean to adhere to the Fitrat upon which Allah 'fatara' Humans (fitrata Allahi allatee fatara alnnasa AAalayha) and to not to make changes in the creation of Allah? Is it permissible to edit the genome; harvest and transplant organs; build chimeras; abort fetuses? Do we have sufficient clarity about our creation to confidently consider all or some of these as permissible? Or are these acts of corruption and crimes against creation? Please also read Allah, fāṭir (فَاطِر) of the Skies and Earth

Proponents of life-extension technologies quote Q5:32 to state that saving a life is like saving all mankind. Doesn't the ayat contain the exception clause 'he who kills a soul other than (for) a soul or (for) spreading corruption in the earth then (it) is as if he has killed all [the] mankind'? Wasn't Adam attempting life-extension when he tried to achieve Immortality as per Q20:114-124? Wasn't Adam the most knowledgable person as he had been taught all the names by God Himself? Weren't the ancients mightier and more knowledgable than us? Were they not also committing crimes that were corrupting creation?     

And what exactly is death, the one that pre-exists this life, and the one that follows this life?  Can we risk disobeying God based on our ignorance of the scripture? 


And Allah created the heavens and the earth in truth and that may be recompensed every NAFS for what it has earned, and they will not be wronged.
Have you seen (he) who takes (as) his god his desire and Allah lets him go astray knowingly, and upon his hearing and his heart and puts over his vision a veil? Then who will guide him after Allah? Then will not you receive admonition?
And they say, "Not it (is) but our life (of) the world, we die and we live, and not destroys us except the time." And not for them of that any knowledge; not, they (do) but guess.
And when are recited to them Our Verses clear, not is their argument except that they say, "Bring our forefathers if you are truthful."
Say, "Allah gives you life, then causes you to die; then He will gather you to (the) Day (of) the Resurrection, no doubt about it." But most (of) the people (do) not know. 
[Al-Quran 45:22-26


BODY


وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُم بِإِيمَانٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَمَا أَلَتْنَاهُم مِّنْ عَمَلِهِم مِّن شَيْءٍ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِين 
And those who believed and followed them their offspring in faith, We will join with them their offspring and not We will deprive them of their deeds (in) any thing. Every person for what he earned (is) pledged. 
[Al-Quran 52:21

Every امْرِئٍ is also in pledge! 



The Quran speaks of your nafsyour heart, your face, your eyes, your hands, but it speaks about us or rather our body as 'you', except in the following ayaat: 

Consider the following ayaat:
Indeed, (the) likeness (of) Isa near Allah (is) like (the) likeness (of) Adam. He created him from dust then He said to him, "Be," and he was. 
[Al-Quran 3:59

And among His Signs (is) that He created you from dust then behold! You (are) human beings dispersing. 
[Al-Quran 30:20

He (is) the One Who created you from dust, then from a semen-drop, then from a clinging substance, then He brings you out (as) a child; then lets you reach your maturity, then lets you become old - and among you (is he) who dies before - and lets you reach a term specified, and that you may use reason. 
[Al-Quran 40:67

The Quran reiterates that we have been created from the Earth. Not only does it inform us of our earthly origins, it seems that the earth that was used to create us in this life is the same earth that will be put back together when we are resurrected: 

And they say, "Is it when we are bones and crumbled particles, will we surely (be) resurrected (as) a creation new." 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 (فَطَرَ) 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." (On) the Day He will call you and you will respond with His Praise, and you will think, not you had remained except a little (while). 
[Al-Quran 17:49-52; Translation edited] 

What! When we die and have become dust. That (is) a return far." Certainly, We know what diminishes the earth of them, and with Us (is) a Book guarded
[Al-Quran 50:3-4

(The) Day will split the earth from them, hurrying. That (is) a gathering for Us easy. 
[Al-Quran 50:44

(The) Day they will come out from the graves rapidly as if they (were) to a goal hastening,  
[Al-Quran 70:43


DEATH
Every NAFS (will) taste [the] death. And We test you with [the] bad and [the] good (as) a trial; and to Us you will be returned. 
[Al-Quran 21:35

Allah (is) the One Who created you, then He provided (for) you, then He will cause you to die then He will give you life. Is (there) any (of) your partners who does of that any thing? Glory be to Him and exalted is He above what they associate. 
[Al-Quran 30:40

Blessed is He in Whose hand is the kingdom, and He has power over all things, Who created death and life that He may try you-- which of you is best in deeds; and He is the Mighty, the Forgiving, 
[Al-Quran 67:1-2, Translator: Shakir] 


We [We] have decreed among you the death and not We (are) outrun,  
[Al-Quran 56:60

Death is a purposeful creation, and not a disease. We are caused to live, and then we are caused to die. Granting life and death are the domain of God. We humans can neither give life, nor are we permitted to take life, except in well-defined circumstances, such as animals for food, humans in state-declared warfare and capital punishment for murder.

Death being a state of being, it seems that the dead are conscious and able to experience and also communicate (though not with those still alive; see subtitle Barzakh below). Consider the following ayaat:  

And who is more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah, or says: It has been revealed to me; while nothing has been revealed to him, and he who says: I can reveal the like of what Allah has revealed? and if you had seen when the unjust shall be in the agonies of death and the angels shall spread forth their handsGive up your NAFS; today shall you be recompensed with an ignominious chastisement because you spoke against Allah other than the truth and (because) you showed pride against His communications. 
[Al-Quran 6:93, Translator: Shakir] 

And even if We had sent down to them the angels and the dead had spoken to them and We had brought together all things before them, they would not believe unless Allah pleases, but most of them are ignorant.   
[Al-Quran 6:111, Translator: Shakir] 

Then how, when take them in death the Angels, striking their faces and their backs? That (is) because they followed what angered Allah and hated His pleasure, so He made worthless their deeds. 
[Al-Quran 47:27-28


OUR RECORD 
As per Q39:42, not only is the NAFS removed from the body at the time of death, but God also takes the NAFS whenever the body sleeps, and those who die in their sleep, God does not return their NAFS. What then is the thing that is removed from the body, only once, at the time of death? Is it our record of deeds?

Consider the following ayaat:  
And (for) every man We have fastened to him his fate in his neck, and We will bring forth for him (on the) Day (of) the Resurrection a record which he will find wide open
[Al-Quran 17:13

Then why not when it reaches the throat, And you (at) that time look on, And We (are) nearer to him than you but you (do) not see, Then why not, if you are not to be recompensed, Bring it back, if you are truthful
[Al-Quran 56:83-87

When receive the two receivers on the right and on the left seated. Not he utters any word but with him (is) an observer ready. And will come (the) stupor (of) death in truth, "That (is) what you were [from it] avoiding." And will be blown [in] the trumpet. That (is the) Day (of) the Warning. And will come every NAFS, with it a driver and a witness. "Certainly you were in heedlessness of this. So We have removed from you your cover, so your sight today (is) sharp." And (will) say his companion, "This (is) what (is) with me ready." 
[Al-Quran 50:17 – 23

And (the) Day will be gathered (the) enemies (of) Allah to the Fire, then they will be assembled in rows, Until, when they come to it (will) testify against them their hearing, and their sight, and their skins, (as) to what they used to do. And they will say to their skins, "Why do you testify against us?" They will say, "Allah made us speak, the One Who makes speak every thing; and He created you (the) first time, and to Him you will be returned." And not you were covering yourselves lest testify against you your hearing and not your sight and not your skins, but you assumed that Allah (does) not know much of what you do. And that (was) your assumption which you assumed about your Lord. It has ruined you, and you have of the losers. 
[Al-Quran 41:19 - 23


REST IN PEACE
What does the phrase Rest in Peace really mean? What are we wishing or praying for the dead? It seems that there is an intermediate existence, after death and before resurrection, in the graves:


يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَوَلَّوْا قَوْمًا غَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ

 قَدْ يَئِسُوا مِنَ الْآخِرَةِ كَمَا يَئِسَ الْكُفَّارُ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْقُبُورِ


O you who believe! do not make friends with a people with whom Allah is wroth; indeed they despair of the hereafter as the unbelievers despair of those in tombs
 [Al-Quran 60:13, Translator: Shakir] 

Our earthly residence is further confirmed:
Have not We made the earth a receptacle (For the) living and (the) dead, 
[Al-Quran 77:25 – 26

And not equal (are) the living and not the dead. Indeed, Allah causes to hear whom He wills, and not you can make hear (those) who (are) in the graves
[Al-Quran 35:22

From Genesis 47:2930, we know that Jacob asked to be buried in Canaan. Why not Egypt where he died?
From Genesis 50:25 we learn that Jacob’s son Joseph asked for his bones to be taken away from Egypt when God liberates the children of Israel. Why?

From the Quran, we learn that the Pharaoh, who drowned in Exodus, and his people are routinely shown the Fire:
The Fire; they are exposed to it morning and evening. And (the) Day (will be) established the Hour, "Cause to enter (the) people (of) Firaun (in the) severest punishment." 
[Al-Quran 40:46]  

Q102 (Surah at-Takathur) informs us that we will surely see Hellfire when we reach the graves. Q19:68-72 informs us that each one of us must come to the Fire. From Q7:40 we learn that the guilty will not be able to escape and ascend to the gates of the sky/heaven until the camel passes through the eye of the needle, and from Q15:44 we learn that Hell has seven gates. There are seven permanent lava lakes on Earth. (A video of a lava lake at National Geographic) We learn from Q18:98-100 that when the promise comes to pass, Hell will be exposed to view. Several ayaat across the Quran inform us that the mountains will be removed then. Q78:20-22 explicitly states that when that happens, Hell is lying in wait.   

Lo! as for those whom the angels take (in death) while they wrong their NAFS, (the angels) will ask: In what were ye engaged? They will say: We were oppressed in the land. (The angels) will say: Was not Allah's earth spacious that ye could have migrated therein? As for such, their habitation will be hell, an evil journey's end; Except the feeble among men, and the women, and the children, who are unable to devise a plan and are not shown a way. As for such, it may be that Allah will pardon them. Allah is ever Clement, Forgiving. Whoso migrateth for the cause of Allah will find much refuge and abundance in the earth, and whoso forsaketh his home, a fugitive unto Allah and His messenger, and death overtaketh him, his reward is then incumbent on Allah. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful. 
[Al-Quran 4:97-100, Translator: Pickthall] 


BARZAKH, THE BARRIER
In Surah al-Mominoon, we learn that there is a definite barrier (barzakh) that separates the realm of the living and the dead. It cannot be crossed at will. Only once do the living cross the barrier, and that is at the time they are given death, thereby transferring to the realm of the dead. The Believers are advised to pray:

Say: O my Lord! if Thou shouldst make me see what they are threatened with: My Lord! then place me not with the unjust. 
And most surely We are well able to make you see what We threaten them with. 
Repel evil by what is best; We know best what they describe. 
And say: O my Lord! I seek refuge in Thee from the evil suggestions of the Shaitans; And I seek refuge in Thee! O my Lord! from their presence. 
Until when death overtakes one of them, he says: Send me back, my Lord, send me back; Haply I may do good in that which I have left. By no means! it is a (mere) word that he speaks; 
and before them is a barrier until the day they are raised
[Al-Quran 23:93-100, Translator: Shakir] 



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THE CREATOR  I and THE CREATORS WE

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

Originator (of) the heavens and the earth. 
How can be for Him a son while not (there) is for Him a companion, 
and He created every thing? And He (is) of every thing All-Knower. 
[Al-Quran 6:101


The Quran uses various words to inform us that it is Allah who has conceived, designed, originated, created and increases in creation, governs, sustains; and it is Allah to whom the Kingdom of the heavens and earth belongs. Therefore, Allah is the only Deity (ilah) and He alone is worthy of worship. Everything else is created, and no matter how great a task any created being may be entrusted with, everyone and everything, except Allah, is created and is serving Allah. 

2:117 informs us that Allah is بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ

7:54 informs us that اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ 

35:1 informs us that الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ 

If we look at the usage of these words across the Quran, we find that 'badee' and 'fatara' are used exclusively as the acts of Allah, while 'khalaqa' is used for Allah and other beings. I think 'badee' means Inventor of creation, while 'fatara' means Separator of creation into individual units/beings.      

Quran search results: 

Moreover, wherever the act of creation is referred to using the root letters [kha-lam-qaf], it seems to imply creating something from something: humans are created from 'teen', jinns are created from 'naar', and probably [kha-lam-qaf] implies and/or allows for creation after a set pattern. Even where Jesus' miraculous ability to create a bird from 'teen' is mentioned, the root [kha-lam-qaf] is used, and it is clearly mentioned that Jesus was able to do so by Allah's permission (Q3:49, Q5:110). 

I understand that in the grand governance of the heavens and earth, Allah has created some beings with mighty powers and entrusted some of the task of creation [kha-lam-qaf] to them. It seems that they are also entrusted with preparing the scriptures. However, Al-Quran 10:37 clarifies:

وَمَا كَانَ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنُ أَن يُفْتَرَىٰ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ
 وَلَٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ الْكِتَابِ
 لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ مِن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

And not is this the Quran, that (it could be) produced by other than Allah
but (it is) a confirmation (of that) which (was) before it and a detailed explanation (of) the Book,
 (there is) no doubt in it, from (the) Lord (of) the worlds. 

So, I infer that the acts of creation, and the preparation and revelation of the scriptures are all done under the instruction, guidance, supervision and control of Allah. Creation belongs to Allah and the scriptures are from Allah for our guidance. Al-Quran 2:252 states:
These (are the) ayaat (of) Allah, 
We recite them to you in [the] truth
And indeed, you (are) surely of the Messengers.  

Al-Quran 4:163-166 states: 
Indeed, We have revealed to you as We revealed to Nuh and the Prophets after him, and We revealed to Ibrahim and Ismail, and Ishaq and Yaqub, and the tribes, and Isa and Ayyub, and Yunus, and Harun and Sulaiman and We gave (to) Dawood the Zaboor.
And Messengers surely We (have) mentioned them to you before and Messengers not We (have) mentioned them to you. And Allah spoke (to) Musa (in a) conversation.
Messengers, bearers of glad tidings and warners, so that not there is for the mankind against Allah any argument after the Messengers. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.
But Allah bears witness to what He (has) revealed to you. He has sent it down with His Knowledge and the Angels bear witness. And Allah is sufficient (as) a Witness.

However, that does not make these beings gods, nor do they ask to be taken as 'ilah' instead of Allah. Rather, they reiterate across the Quran that there is only one God (ilah). They do not make themselves known to us by their names or forms. In Al-Quran 37:164-166, they state:

وَمَا مِنَّا إِلَّا لَهُ مَقَامٌ مَّعْلُومٌ
وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الصَّافُّونَ
وَإِنَّا لَنَحْنُ الْمُسَبِّحُونَ

"And not among us except for him (is) a position known. 
And indeed, we surely, [we] stand in rows. 
And indeed, we surely, [we] glorify (Allah).

As for polytheism, it is stated very clearly in the Quran that those who the polytheists take as their gods are nothing but Jinns (dJinns or genies), and that the Jinns are not the creators, nor do they have any such power or ability to make them worthy of any deification, worship or obedience.

In fact, in the story of Adam, whom Allah created Himself, the Quran is very clear that Adam was honoured because of the knowledge that Allah endowed him with, and those with lesser knowledge were asked to submit/prostrate to Adam. When Iblis was questioned why he didn't obey God, Allah is quoted thus: He said, [Al-Quran 38:75]

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

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

Surah al-Jinn is very clear about the condition of the Jinns, how the secrets of the heavens are protected and they prevented from it, and that whenever Allah sends any message through a chosen messenger, Allah ensures that the messenger and the messages are well-guarded, protected, brought and delivered.  

And Allah knows best. 


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References and Further Reading:

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