Kingdom that is not tested?

Health in Dunya vs Akhirah

Ta-Ha (20:120) 

فَوَسْوَسَ إِلَيْهِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ قَالَ يَـٰٓـَٔادَمُ هَلْ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَىٰ شَجَرَةِ ٱلْخُلْدِ وَمُلْكٍۢ لَّا يَبْلَىٰ ١٢٠

But Satan whispered to him, saying, “O Adam! Shall I show you the Tree of Immortality and a kingdom that does not fade away?”

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

Then the Satan instigated him. He said, “’Ādam, shall I guide you to the tree of eternity and to an empire that does not decay?”

— T. Usmani

Then Satan whispered to him; he said, "O Adam, shall I direct you to the tree of eternity and possession that will not deteriorate?"

— Saheeh International

 120. Then Shaitân (Satan) whispered to him, saying: "O Adam! Shall I lead you to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that will never waste away?"

— Al-Hilali & Khan

But Satan whispered to Adam, saying, ‘Adam, shall I show you the tree of immortality and power that never decays?’

— M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

But Satan seduced him,¹ saying: "Adam! Shall I direct you to a tree of eternal life and an abiding kingdom?"²

— A. Maududi (Tafhim commentary)

[1]According to this verse, it was Adam whom Satan primarily wanted to seduce and not Eve. Though according to (Surah Al-Aaraf, Ayat 20), he tempted both of them and both were seduced, but Satan’s efforts were mainly directed to Adam. On the contrary, according to the Bible, the serpent first tempted the woman to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree and then she seduced her husband. (Genesis, 3).

[2]According to this verse, Satan tempted Adam to eat the fruit of the tree so that he might get eternal life and everlasting kingdom, and according to (Surah Al-Aaraf, Ayat 20), he put an additional temptation in their way, saying that they would become angels and immortal.

But the devil whispered to him, saying: O Adam! Shall I show thee the tree of immortality and power that wasteth not away?

— M. Pickthall

But Satan whispered evil to him: he said, "O Adam! shall I lead thee to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that never decays?"

— A. Yusuf Ali

لیکن شیطان نے اس کو پھسلایا ” کہنے لگا ، آدم ، بتائوں تمہیں وہ درخت جس سے ابدی زندگی اور لازوال سلطنت حاصل ہوتی ہے۔

— Fe Zilal al-Qur'an

...

لیکن شیطان نے اس کو پھُسلایا۔ ¹ کہنے لگا ”آدم ، بتاوٴں تمہیں وہ درخت جس سے ابدی زندگی اور لازوال سلطنت حاصل ہوتی ہے؟“ ²

— Tafheem e Qur'an - Syed Abu Ali Maududi

[1]سورۂ اعراف میں شیطان کی گفتگو کی مزید تفصیل ہم کو یہ ملتی ہے  وَقَالَ مَا  نَھٰکُمَا رَبُّکُمَا عَنْ ھٰذِہِ الشَّجَرَۃِ اِلَّآ اَنْ تَکُوْنَا مَلَکَیْنِ  اَوْ تَکُوْنَا مِنَ الْخٰلِدِیْنَ،”اور اس نے کہا کہ تمہارے ربّ نے تم کو اس درخت سے صرف اس لے روک دیا ہے کہ  کہیں تم دونوں فرشتے نہ ہو جاؤ، یا ہمیشہ جیتے نہ رہو“۔(آیت 2۰)۔

[2]یہاں قرآن صاف تصریح کرتا ہے کہ آدم و حوا میں سے اصل وہ شخص جس کو شیطان نے  وسوسے میں ڈالا آدم علیہ السّلام تھے نہ کہ حضرت حوا۔  اگرچہ سورۂ اعراف کے بیان کے مطابق مخاطب  دونوں ہی تھے اور بہکانے میں دونوں ہی آئے، لیکن شیطان کی وسوسہ اندازی کا رُخ  دراصل حضرت آدم ہی کی طرف تھا۔ اس کے برعکس بائیبل کا بیان یہ ہےکہ سانپ نے پہلے  عورت سے بات کی اور پھر عورت نے اپنے شوہر کو بہکا کر درخت کا پھل اسے  کھلایا(پیدائش ، باب 3)۔

تو شیطان نے ان کے دل میں وسوسہ ڈالا۔ (اور) کہا کہ آدم بھلا میں تم کو (ایسا) درخت بتاؤں (جو) ہمیشہ کی زندگی کا (ثمرہ دے) اور (ایسی) بادشاہت کہ کبھی زائل نہ ہو

— Fatah Muhammad Jalandhari

لیکن شیطان نے اسے وسوسہ ڈاﻻ، کہنے لگا کہ میں تجھے دائمی زندگی کا درخت اور بادشاہت بتلاؤں کہ جو کبھی پرانی نہ ہو.

— Maulana Muhammad Junagarhi

تو وسوسہ ڈالا اس کے ذہن میں شیطان نے اس نے کہا : اے آدم ؑ ! کیا میں بتاؤں تجھے ہمیشہ رہنے والے درخت اور ایسی بادشاہی کے بارے میں جو کبھی پرانی نہ ہو

— بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد)

پھر جی میں ڈالا اُسکے شیطان نے کہا اے آدم میں بتاؤں تجھ کو درخت سدا زندہ رہنے کا اور بادشاہی جو پرانی نہ ہو [1]

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

[1]حضرت آدم علیہ السلام کو شیطان کا اغواء:یعنی ایسا درخت بتاؤں جس کےکھانےسےکبھی موت نہ آئے اور لازوال بادشاہت ملے۔

Lekin shaytan ne usko phuslaya, kehne laga “Adam, bataun tumhein woh darakht jissey abadi zindagi aur la-zawal (everlasting) sultanat hasil hoti hai?”

— Abul Ala Maududi(Roman Urdu)

پھر شیطان نے ان کو بہکایا اس نے کہا کہ کیا میں تم کو ہمیشگی کا درخت بتاؤں  اور ایسی بادشاہی جس میں کبھی کمزوری نہ آئے

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

[https://quran.com/20/120]

Iblis, the Shaitaan, the mortal enemy of Adam, tempts Adam with: 

1. tree of immortality
2. power or kingdom that is not subject to يَبْلَىٰ

Tree of Immortality is fairly simple: no death, life forever.  

What does 'وَمُلْكٍۢ لَّا يَبْلَىٰ' mean? 

Looking up the root letters of both the words:

مُلْكٍۢ

The triliteral root mīm lām kāf (م ل ك) occurs 206 times in the Quran. It includes meanings of possession, kingdom, dominion, angel, owner, master. 

يَبْلَىٰ

The triliteral root bā lām wāw (ب ل و) occurs 38 times in the Quran. It is mainly used for test and trial, and only in this ayat is translated as 'deteriorate'. 

...

After eliminating death, what should be next on the priority list? Everlasting health. 

Humans, and for that matter, things of this dunya have been designed such that they come into being, grow, flourish, deteriorate, die, and decay. This dunya is meant to be temporary, passing, fleeting, ... 

So, what is the Shaitaan Iblis tempting Adam and his wife with: immortality and everlasting health? 

As we grow older, even the healthiest of us see a decline in power and strength, and memory, and so on. Some are afflicted with disease, some recover, some suffer chronically. Eventually, regardless of the health condition, every person dies. Decay and turning into dust follow. 

So, is being tested with health issues a part of the design of the life of the dunya?   

Immortality is promised for the Akhirah (Hereafter). 

Perfect health is also one of the blessings of Allah in the Gardens of Eternity. 

...

...

The Second Chance

the first death and then this life 

قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَمَتَّنَا ٱثْنَتَيْنِ وَأَحْيَيْتَنَا ٱثْنَتَيْنِ فَٱعْتَرَفْنَا بِذُنُوبِنَا فَهَلْ إِلَىٰ خُرُوجٍۢ مِّن سَبِيلٍۢ ١١

They will say, "Our Lord, You made us lifeless twice and gave us life twice, and we have confessed our sins. So is there to an exit any way?"

— Saheeh International

They will say, “Our Lord, You gave us death twice and You gave us life twice. Now we confess our sins. So, is there any way to come out of here?”

— T. Usmani

ذَٰلِكُم بِأَنَّهُۥٓ إِذَا دُعِىَ ٱللَّهُ وَحْدَهُۥ كَفَرْتُمْ ۖ وَإِن يُشْرَكْ بِهِۦ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ ۚ فَٱلْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ ٱلْعَلِىِّ ٱلْكَبِيرِ ١٢

[They will be told], "That is because, when Allāh was called upon alone, you disbelieved; but if others were associated with Him, you believed. So the judgement is with Allāh, the Most High, the Grand."

— Saheeh International

(The reply will be, “No.) This is because whenever Allah alone was invoked, you used to disbelieve, and if partners were associated with Him, you used to believe. Now the decision lies with Allah, the High, the Great.”

— T. Usmani

[Al-Quran 40:11-12]

The Quran informs us that we have been given life twice. This is our second chance. We are here on probation. We have been given another chance to accept Allah as the One and Only God, and submit to His Deen (Religion, Law of Recompense), sincerely. 

So, how do we know that this life is our second chance? We were dead before we were given this life. After this life, we will be returned to Allah: 

كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَٰتًۭا فَأَحْيَـٰكُمْ ۖ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ ٢٨

How can you disbelieve in Allāh when you were lifeless and He brought you to life; then He will cause you to die, then He will bring you [back] to life, and then to Him you will be returned.

— Saheeh International

“How is it that you deny Allah, while you were lifeless and He gave you life; then He will make you die, and then He will make you live again, and then to Him you will be returned?

— T. Usmani

[Al-Quran 2:28]

Moreover, The Quran also informs us about the Ratified Covenant taken from the Prophets (Q33:7). The last two ayaat of the same surah (Q33:72-73) inform us of a Trust that the Human undertook, a Trust which was offered to the Skies, the Earth, and the Mountains, but they were afraid to undertake. That is the reason why the hypocrites and the polytheists must be punished: 

إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا ٱلْأَمَانَةَ عَلَى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلْجِبَالِ فَأَبَيْنَ أَن يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأَشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا وَحَمَلَهَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ ظَلُومًۭا جَهُولًۭا ٧٢

Indeed, We offered the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, and they declined to bear it and feared it; but man [undertook to] bear it. Indeed, he was unjust and ignorant.

— Saheeh International

We did offer the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to bear its burden and were afraid of it, and man picked it up. Indeed he is unjust (to himself), unaware (of the end).

— T. Usmani

لِّيُعَذِّبَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقَـٰتِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَٱلْمُشْرِكَـٰتِ وَيَتُوبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًۭا رَّحِيمًۢا ٧٣

[It[1] was] so that Allāh may punish the hypocrite men and hypocrite women and the men and women who associate others with Him and that Allāh may accept repentance from the believing men and believing women. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.

— Saheeh International

The result (of all this) is that Allah will punish the hypocrites, men and women, and the Mushriks, men and women, and will accept the repentance of the believing men and women. Surely Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.

— T. Usmani

[Al-Quran 33:72-73]

The Quran also informs us that Allah is generating the evidence, for/against us, through trials in this life: 

أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ٢

Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried?

— Saheeh International

Do people think that they will be left (at ease) only on their saying, “We believe” and will not be put to any test?

— T. Usmani

وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ ٣

But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allāh will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars.

— Saheeh International

Indeed We have tested those who were before them. So Allah will surely know the ones who are truthful, and He will surely know the liars.

— T. Usmani

[Al-Quran 29:2-3] 

Allah is the Real King, to whom truly belongs the Kingdom of Skies and Earth and all in between.  A King owns His Realm, and governs His Realm. The King decrees Laws to maintain His Kingdom. Those who keep the Law are law-abiding citizens. Those who do not keep the Law are criminals. Crime must be eliminated for the purpose of peace. A Peaceful Realm flourishes with the blessings of The King. Allah will declare Peace upon the Inhabitants of Gardens of the Hereafter. For the purpose of Peace, the criminals will be contained in the Fires of the Hereafter.   

۞ 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

Say, “I have been ordered not to worship those whom you invoke beside Allah when clear signs from my Lord have (already) come to me, and I have been ordered that I should submit to the Lord of the worlds.”

— T. Usmani

[Al-Quran 40:66]

The Quran speaks about the purpose of creation of death and life, which is to test who is the best in deeds (Q67:1-2). The Quran also informs us that all the progeny of the sons of Adam were taken out of their backs, and made to testify upon their nafs  that Allah is their Rabb (Lord Sustainer) (Q7:172-175). Each nafs is in pledge for what it earns. There was a time when the nafs of both Adam and his wife was in a state of Nur. This was before Adam's Fall. Since then, the nafs of each one of us is in Zulm (darkness). We cannot see it, and we cannot locate it. We know it is there. We know it desires. We know it whispers. We know it commands. We know it inclines towards sin. We know we need to control it. We have been given guidance about it. If we heed to Allah's guidance, He promises to restore our nafs to its original state of Nur. We cannot enter the Gardens of the Hereafter without our nafs reinstalled in our body and restored to its state of Nur. Those who lose their nafs on the Day of Judgement will lose their families and be made to enter the Fires of the Hereafter. That is the clear loss. 

We have a choice: 

• do we want citizenship of the Gardens of Eternity, inheritance of the Gardens of Eternity, restoration of health and wealth, and an honourable place in the The True King's Realm? 

          or

• do we want to lose our freedom and our inheritance, lose our health and wealth, and be chained and imprisoned forever in the Fires of Eternity? 

There is no compulsion. We are free to choose. Our Eternity depends on whether we choose to submit to The True King, and be protected from the Fire of Eternity by Allah, or do we choose the clear loss? 

قُلْ إِنِّىٓ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصًۭا لَّهُ ٱلدِّينَ ١١

Say, “I am commanded to worship Allah, being sincerely devoted to Him ˹alone˺.

وَأُمِرْتُ لِأَنْ أَكُونَ أَوَّلَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ ١٢

And I am commanded to be the first of those who submit ˹to His Will˺.”

قُلْ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ إِنْ عَصَيْتُ رَبِّى عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍۢ ١٣

Say, “I truly fear—if I were to disobey my Lord—the torment of a tremendous Day.”

قُلِ ٱللَّهَ أَعْبُدُ مُخْلِصًۭا لَّهُۥ دِينِى ١٤

Say, “It is ˹only˺ Allah that I worship, being sincere in my devotion to Him.

فَٱعْبُدُوا۟ مَا شِئْتُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَهْلِيهِمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ أَلَا ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْخُسْرَانُ ٱلْمُبِينُ ١٥

Worship then whatever ˹gods˺ you want instead of Him.” Say, “The ˹true˺ losers are those who will lose themselves and their families on Judgment Day. That is indeed the clearest loss.”

لَهُم مِّن فَوْقِهِمْ ظُلَلٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ وَمِن تَحْتِهِمْ ظُلَلٌۭ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ يُخَوِّفُ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ عِبَادَهُۥ ۚ يَـٰعِبَادِ فَٱتَّقُونِ ١٦

They will have layers of fire above and below them. That is what Allah warns His servants with. So fear Me, O  My servants!

[Al-Quran 39:11-16, Translation: Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran]

...

Time, and the Passing of Time 

Looking up the occurrence of the translation 'twice', and use of its Arabic root, it seems to lend meanings to both time and passing:

• Where the Believer is granted permission to divorce his wife, he has a right to revert his decision for two passages of time. If the decision is not taken back before the third period expires, the divorce is finalised. Upon completion of the third and final period, she must leave his home. The marriage contract which they had ratified becomes void. The nikah is annulled. He is no longer her 'qawwam'. He does not have any financial or protection responsibilities towards her, with the exception of if she is carrying his baby.  
• The bani Israel did great corruption in the Earth twice, and were punished twice, before the revelation of The Quran. They were the chosen people. They had ratified a covenant with Allah. They were granted The Torah. They were given The Ten Commandments. They were shown many miracles.  

... 

The triliteral root mīm wāw tā (م و ت) occurs 165 times in the Quran. 

The triliteral root ḥā yā yā (ح ي ي) occurs 184 times in the Quran. 

Also read: 

https://islam-qna.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-covenant-its-ratification.html  

... 

Last updated on: March 7, 2025

The Sun, The Moon & The Planets

  قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Say, "He (is) Allah, the One.

Allah, the Eternal, the Absolute.

Not He begets and not He is begotten.

And not is for Him equivalent any [one]."

[Al-Quran 112]

Topic 

The Sun and Moon as Signs of Allah, and their appearance in dreams. 

Full Text 

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ لَا تَسْجُدُوا لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُنَّ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُون

And of His portents are the night and the day and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or the moon; but prostrate to Allah Who created them, if it is in truth Him Whom ye worship

[Al-Quran 41:37, Translation: Pickthal]

Islam [Q22:26, Q22:78] is about acknowledging that there is only one deity: Allah, and to Him alone is complete submission and worship due. Worship of heavenly bodies and ancestors, particularly worship of the Sun and the Moon has been prevalent among various mythologies around the world. 

Prophet Abraham was a Hanif [Q2:135, Q3:67, Q6:161], from the group of Prophet Noah [Q37:83]. Abraham lived at a time when his father and nation were polytheists [Q6:74], and the King claimed absolute power over life and death [Q2:258]. Among the narratives in The Quran, we find two mentions of the Sun as regards to Prophet Abraham:  

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِي حَاجَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي رَبِّهِ أَنْ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ الْمُلْكَ إِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّيَ الَّذِي يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ قَالَ أَنَا أُحْيِي وَأُمِيتُ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْتِي بِالشَّمْسِ مِنَ الْمَشْرِقِ فَأْتِ بِهَا مِنَ الْمَغْرِبِ فَبُهِتَ الَّذِي كَفَرَ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِين

Bethink thee of him who had an argument with Abraham about his Lord, because Allah had given him the kingdom; how, when Abraham said: My Lord is He Who giveth life and causeth death, he answered: I give life and cause death. Abraham said: Lo! Allah causeth the sun to rise in the East, so do thou cause it to come up from the West. Thus was the disbeliever abashed. And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk

[Al-Quran 2:258, Translation: Pickthal]

Allah has full control over all His creation, whether big or small. Though the Sun and Moon are among His Signs, yet they are not worthy of worship: 

6:74  وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ آزَرَ أَتَتَّخِذُ أَصْنَامًا آلِهَةً إِنِّي أَرَاكَ وَقَوْمَكَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِين

6:74  (Remember) when Abraham said unto his father Azar: Takest thou idols for gods? Lo! I see thee and thy folk in error manifest

6:75  وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُرِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُوقِنِين

6:75  Thus did We show Abraham the kingdom of the heavens and the earth that he might be of those possessing certainty

6:76  فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلُ رَأَىٰ كَوْكَبًا قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَا أُحِبُّ الْآفِلِين

6:76  When the night grew dark upon him he beheld a star planet. He said: This is my Lord. But when it set, he said: I love not things that set

6:77  فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْقَمَرَ بَازِغًا قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَئِن لَّمْ يَهْدِنِي رَبِّي لَأَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الضَّالِّين

6:77  And when he saw the moon uprising, he exclaimed: This is my Lord. But when it set, he said: Unless my Lord guide me, I surely shall become one of the folk who are astray

6:78  فَلَمَّا رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي هَٰذَا أَكْبَرُ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُون

6:78  And when he saw the sun uprising, he cried: This is my Lord! This is greater! And when it set he exclaimed: O my people! Lo! I am free from all that ye associate (with Him)

6:79  إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِين

6:79  Lo! I have turned my face toward Him Who created the heavens and the earth, as one by nature upright, and I am not of the idolaters

6:80  وَحَاجَّهُ قَوْمُهُ قَالَ أَتُحَاجُّونِّي فِي اللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَانِ وَلَا أَخَافُ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ بِهِ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ رَبِّي شَيْئًا وَسِعَ رَبِّي كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُون

6:80  His people argued with him. He said: Dispute ye with me concerning Allah when He hath guided me? I fear not at all that which ye set up beside Him unless my Lord willeth aught. My Lord includeth all things in His knowledge. Will ye not then remember

6:81  وَكَيْفَ أَخَافُ مَا أَشْرَكْتُمْ وَلَا تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَشْرَكْتُم بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَانًا فَأَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِالْأَمْنِ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُون

6:81  How should I fear that which ye set up beside Him, when ye fear not to set up beside Allah that for which He hath revealed unto you no warrant? Which of the two factions hath more right to safety? (Answer me that) if ye have knowledge

6:82  الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوا إِيمَانَهُم بِظُلْمٍ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمُ الْأَمْنُ وَهُم مُّهْتَدُون

6:82  Those who believe and obscure not their belief by wrongdoing, theirs is safety; and they are rightly guided

6:83  وَتِلْكَ حُجَّتُنَا آتَيْنَاهَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَاتٍ مَّن نَّشَاءُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيم

6:83  That is Our argument. We gave it unto Abraham against his folk. We raise unto degrees of wisdom whom We will. Lo! thy Lord is Wise, Aware

[Al-Quran 6:74-83, Translation: Pickthal; edited in italics for clarity]

Joseph's Dream 

إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَا أَبَتِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي سَاجِدِين

When Joseph said unto his father: O my father! Lo! I saw in a dream eleven planets and the sun and the moon, I saw them prostrating themselves unto me

...

وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا لَهُ سُجَّدًا وَقَالَ يَا أَبَتِ هَٰذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُؤْيَايَ مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّي حَقًّا وَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ بِي إِذْ أَخْرَجَنِي مِنَ السِّجْنِ وَجَاءَ بِكُم مِّنَ الْبَدْوِ مِن بَعْدِ أَن نَّزَغَ الشَّيْطَانُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِي إِنَّ رَبِّي لَطِيفٌ لِّمَا يَشَاءُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيم

And he placed his parents on the dais and they fell down before him prostrate, and he said: O my father! This is the interpretation of my dream of old. My Lord hath made it true, and He hath shown me kindness, since He took me out of the prison and hath brought you from the desert after Satan had made strife between me and my brethren. Lo! my Lord is tender unto whom He will. He is the Knower, the Wise

[Al-Quran 12:4, ..., 12:100; Translation: Pickthal]

In Surah Yusuf (Joseph), he dreams a dream in which he sees the sun (الشَّمْسَ), the moon (الْقَمَرَ) and eleven planets (كَوْكَبًا). When his dream is realised, the sun corresponds to his father, the moon to his mother, and the eleven planets are his eleven bothers. 

Isaac's Dream

The Testament of Abraham is regarded as a pseudepigraphic text of the Old Testament by the Jews, but is considered scripture by the Beta Israel. It has two versions: long and short. In Chapter 7 (long recension)/Chapter 7:1-18 (short recension), Isaac's dream is explained, in which the Sun represents his father Abraham, and the Moon represents his mother, both of whom are to be taken away by the very bright light that is brighter that seven suns. The interpretation of the dream is that they are soon to taken away by death.  

The Meeting with The Lord   

Returning back to Q41:37, night and day, Sun and Moon, are the Signs of Allah. The presence of parents is a wonderful gift of our Creator, but they are also creations, and can be taken away at any time. The Sun and the Moon are also wonderful gifts of our Creator, and while we enjoy and benefit from their presence, we must remember that the true Creator and Sustainer is Allah, and to Him alone is prostration and worship due. There awaits a reckoning, when the Sun and Moon are united: 

75:1  لَا أُقْسِمُ بِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَة

75:1  Nay, I swear by the Day of Resurrection

75:2  وَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَة

75:2  Nay, I swear by the accusing soul (that this Scripture is true)

75:3  أَيَحْسَبُ الْإِنسَانُ أَلَّن نَّجْمَعَ عِظَامَه

75:3  Thinketh man that We shall not assemble his bones

75:4  بَلَىٰ قَادِرِينَ عَلَىٰ أَن نُّسَوِّيَ بَنَانَه

75:4  Yea, verily. We are Able to restore his very fingers

75:5  بَلْ يُرِيدُ الْإِنسَانُ لِيَفْجُرَ أَمَامَه

75:5  But man would fain deny what is before him

75:6  يَسْأَلُ أَيَّانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَة

75:6  He asketh: When will be this Day of Resurrection

75:7  فَإِذَا بَرِقَ الْبَصَر

75:7  But when sight is confounded

75:8  وَخَسَفَ الْقَمَر

75:8  And the moon is eclipse

75:9  وَجُمِعَ الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَر

75:9  And sun and moon are united

75:10  يَقُولُ الْإِنسَانُ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَيْنَ الْمَفَرّ

75:10  On that day man will cry: Whither to flee

75:11  كَلَّا لَا وَزَر

75:11  Alas! No refuge

75:12  إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ الْمُسْتَقَرّ

75:12  Unto thy Lord is the recourse that day

75:13  يُنَبَّأُ الْإِنسَانُ يَوْمَئِذٍ بِمَا قَدَّمَ وَأَخَّر

75:13  On that day man is told the tale of that which he hath sent before and left behind

75:14  بَلِ الْإِنسَانُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ بَصِيرَة

75:14  Oh, but man is a telling witness against himself

75:15  وَلَوْ أَلْقَىٰ مَعَاذِيرَه

75:15  Although he tender his excuses

75:16  لَا تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِه

75:16  Stir not thy tongue herewith to hasten it

75:17  إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَه

75:17  Lo! upon Us (resteth) the putting together thereof and the reading thereof

75:18  فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَه

75:18  And when We read it, follow thou the reading

75:19  ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَه

75:19  Then lo! upon Us (resteth) the explanation thereof

75:20  كَلَّا بَلْ تُحِبُّونَ الْعَاجِلَة

75:20  Nay, but ye do love the fleeting No

75:21  وَتَذَرُونَ الْآخِرَة

75:21  And neglect the Hereafter

75:22  وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَّاضِرَة

75:22  That day will faces be resplendent

75:23  إِلَىٰ رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَة

75:23  Looking toward their Lord

75:24  وَوُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ بَاسِرَة

75:24  And that day will other faces be despondent

75:25  تَظُنُّ أَن يُفْعَلَ بِهَا فَاقِرَة

75:25  Thou wilt know that some great disaster is about to fall on them

75:26  كَلَّا إِذَا بَلَغَتِ التَّرَاقِي

75:26  Nay, but when the life cometh up to the throat

75:27  وَقِيلَ مَنْ رَاق

75:27  And men say: Where is the wizard (who can save him now)

75:28  وَظَنَّ أَنَّهُ الْفِرَاق

75:28  And he knoweth that it is the parting

75:29  وَالْتَفَّتِ السَّاقُ بِالسَّاق

75:29  And agony is heaped on agony

75:30  إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ الْمَسَاق

75:30  Unto thy Lord that day will be the driving

75:31  فَلَا صَدَّقَ وَلَا صَلَّى

75:31  For he neither trusted, nor prayed

75:32  وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّى

75:32  But he denied and flouted

75:33  ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِ يَتَمَطَّى

75:33  Then went he to his folk with glee

75:34  أَوْلَىٰ لَكَ فَأَوْلَى

75:34  Nearer unto thee and nearer

75:35  ثُمَّ أَوْلَىٰ لَكَ فَأَوْلَى

75:35  Again nearer unto thee and nearer (is the doom)

75:36  أَيَحْسَبُ الْإِنسَانُ أَن يُتْرَكَ سُدً

75:36  Thinketh man that he is to be left aimless

75:37  أَلَمْ يَكُ نُطْفَةً مِّن مَّنِيٍّ يُمْنَى

75:37  Was he not a drop of fluid which gushed forth

75:38  ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقَ فَسَوَّى

75:38  Then he became a clot; then (Allah) shaped and fashioned

75:39  فَجَعَلَ مِنْهُ الزَّوْجَيْنِ الذَّكَرَ وَالْأُنثَى

75:39  And made of him a pair, the male and female

75:40  أَلَيْسَ ذَٰلِكَ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَىٰ أَن يُحْيِيَ الْمَوْتَى

75:40  Is not He (Who doeth so) Able to bring the dead to life

[Al-Quran 75, Translation: Pickthal; typos corrected]

References & Links 

https://www.thetorah.com/article/yhwhs-war-against-the-egyptian-sun-god-ra

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_deity 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_worship

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parents%27_Worship_Day 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testament_of_Abraham

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Last updated on: December 16, 2020