Nafs / نَفْسُ

Revisiting Human: Body or Soul?  Part II: Nafs / نَفْسُ 

Note: In 2017, I published a post titled Human: Body or Soul?. In this series, I intend to restudy the ayaat to improve the understanding, and to increase in submission, in sha Allah  

I have explored the ayaat about the Nafs since then. Here's a link to all posts about the Nafs. 

Summary of learnings until now: 

We have a Nafs.  

In this world, the Nafs is removed and returned to the living body daily. 

Even in the absence of the Nafs, during sleep, our body continues to perform all essential functions to exist. 

In our sleep, we can see dreams. 

In the presence of our Nafs, while awake, we are able to think, to plan, to eat and drink, and some other functions which require consciousness. 

While awake, we can interact with the world around us. 

The dead body doesn't have a Nafs. 

The Nafs, and The Gullet, are in pledge for what they earn in this life. 

The Nafs seems essential for a flourishing life in the Hereafter, so it is essential for the body to retain the Nafs eternally. 

The people of Hell will permanently lose their Nafs on the Day of Judgement, and will suffer consciously. 

So, the Nafs is:

• not us 
• not consciousness 
• not essential to exist 
• essential to flourish, and live a good life   

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From the original post: 

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 NAFS? Nay, (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 Q40:11speak 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] 

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Gullet / امْرِئٍ

Revisiting Human: Body or Soul?  Part IV: Gullet / امْرِئٍ  

Note: In 2017, I published a post titled Human: Body or Soul?. In this series, I intend to restudy the ayaat to improve the understanding, and to increase in submission, in sha Allah  

DRAFT

... 

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 word is generally translated as 'person' or 'man', but it actually means 'gullet'. Taking امْرِئٍ to literally mean 'gullet':  

...

...

The following are a few excerpts about some conditions related to the Oesophagus, and the Heart. 

Oesophageal Atresia is a rare condition: 

Esophageal atresia (EA) is a rare birth defect in which a baby is born without part of the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach). Instead of forming a tube between the mouth and the stomach, the esophagus grows in two separate segments that do not connect. In some children, so much of the esophagus is missing that the ends can't be easily connected with surgery. This is known as long-gap EA. 

Excerpt copied from Boston Children Hospital on November 18, 2022 

Achalasia is a disorder of the Esophagus: 

Achalasia is a rare disorder in which your esophagus is unable to move food and liquids down into your stomach. Your esophagus is the muscular tube that transports food from your mouth to your stomach. At the area where your esophagus meets your stomach is a ring of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This muscle relaxes (opens) to allow food to enter your stomach and contracts (tightens to close) to prevent stomach content from backing up into your esophagus. If you have achalasia, the LES doesn’t relax, which prevents food from moving into your stomach.

Excerpt copied from Cleveland Clinic on November 18, 2022

Gullet is a part of the body that in rare cases is surgically removed: 

Esophagectomy is a surgical procedure to remove some or all of the swallowing tube between your mouth and stomach (esophagus) and then reconstruct it using part of another organ, usually the stomach.  

Excerpt copied from Mayo Clinic on November 18, 2022

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Search results: 

The triliteral root mīm rā hamza (م ر أ) occurs 38 times in the Quran. ... five times as the noun im'ri (ٱمْرِئ) 

Screenshot from corpus.quran.com

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Summary of learnings until now: 

We have a Gullet. 

The gullet starts at the back of the mouth. It has taste buds on its upper part. 

According to Q24:11, every Gullet earns what sins (لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مِنْهُمْ مَا اكْتَسَبَ مِنَ الْإِثْمِ) he speaks. 

The Nafs, and The Gullet (Q52:21), are in pledge for what they earn in this life (كُلُّ امْرِئٍ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينٌ). 

Every Gullet (Q70:38) desires to enter the Garden of Pleasure (جَنَّةَ نَعِيمٍ...). 

Every Gullet (Q74:52) wants that its given scriptures spread about (صُحُفًا مُنَشَّرَةً...). 

Every Gullet (Q80:37) will be, on that Day, in a matter enough concern for him (مِنْهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ شَأْنٌ يُغْنِيهِ...).

In this world, the Nafs is removed and returned to the living body daily. 

Even in the absence of the Nafs, during sleep, our body continues to perform all essential functions to exist. In our sleep, we can digest food. 

A healthy gullet works fine when we are asleep, but a diseased gullet has difficulty in performing its function properly. 

There is a relationship between the gullet and its heart. The heart muscle opened up reveals its helical shape [related post: Double Helix].  

The gullet is critically placed behind the heart: 

The esophagus (yellow) passes behind the trachea and the heart.

Attribution: By Mikael Häggström and ZooFari, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15230618

The position and relation of the esophagus in the cervical region and in the posterior mediastinum. Seen from behind.

Attribution: By Henry Vandyke Carter - Henry Gray (1918) Anatomy of the Human Body (See "Book" section below)Bartleby.com: Gray's Anatomy, Plate 1032, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=566975

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slide from: Gratitude Reminders

Related Posts & Links

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

Forehead / جَبِين

Revisiting Human: Body or Soul?  Part XIV: Forehead / جَبِين (Q37:103:4)

فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعۡىَ قَالَ يٰبُنَىَّ اِنِّىۡۤ اَرٰى فِى الۡمَنَامِ اَنِّىۡۤ اَذۡبَحُكَ فَانْظُرۡ مَاذَا تَرٰى​ؕ قَالَ يٰۤاَبَتِ افۡعَلۡ مَا تُؤۡمَرُ​

 سَتَجِدُنِىۡۤ اِنۡ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ مِنَ الصّٰبِرِيۡنَ‏ 

فَلَمَّاۤ اَسۡلَمَا وَتَلَّهٗ لِلۡجَبِيۡنِ​ۚ‏ ١٠٣ 

وَنَادَيۡنٰهُ اَنۡ يّٰۤاِبۡرٰهِيۡمُۙ‏

قَدۡ صَدَّقۡتَ الرُّءۡيَا ​ ​ۚ اِنَّا كَذٰلِكَ نَجۡزِى الۡمُحۡسِنِيۡنَ‏ 

اِنَّ هٰذَا لَهُوَ الۡبَلٰٓؤُا الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

وَفَدَيۡنٰهُ بِذِبۡحٍ عَظِيۡمٍ‏

And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion,1 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."

103 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]

The Quran relates the great sacrifice demanded from Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام): to sacrifice his only child, and the child's complete submission to what was required of his father. The physical expression of this complete submission was the father putting his son down upon his forehead: the posture of prostration. 

And so, we read in Surah Al-Ala`, which begins with the tasbih of prostration, and concludes with the mention of the Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام): 

سَبِّحِ اسۡمَ رَبِّكَ الۡاَعۡلَىۙ‏ ١

Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,

...

صُحُفِ اِبۡرٰهِيۡمَ وَمُوۡسٰى‏ ١٩

The scriptures of Abraham and Moses.

[Al-Quran 87:1-19]

In Surah Maryam, the first ruku mentions Zakariya and John (Yahya عليه السلام). The second ruku mention Mary (Maryam عليھا السلام) and her son Jesus (Isa عليه السلام). Then, in the third Ruku, which begins with the mention of Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) , and his progeny Isaac (Ishaque عليه السلام) and Jacob (Yaqub عليه السلام), and then Moses (Musa عليه السلام) and his brother Aaron (Haroon عليه السلام), and then it mentions Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام), and Enoch (Idris عليه السلام), and then Noah (Nuh عليه السلام), and then Adam عليه السلام , about them we read: 

اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ الَّذِيۡنَ اَنۡعَمَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ مِّنَ النَّبِيّٖنَ مِنۡ ذُرِّيَّةِ اٰدَمَ وَمِمَّنۡ حَمَلۡنَا مَعَ نُوۡحٍ وَّمِنۡ ذُرِّيَّةِ اِبۡرٰهِيۡمَ وَاِسۡرَآءِيۡلَ وَمِمَّنۡ هَدَيۡنَا وَاجۡتَبَيۡنَا​ ؕ اِذَا تُتۡلٰى عَلَيۡهِمۡ اٰيٰتُ الرَّحۡمٰنِ خَرُّوۡا سُجَّدًا وَّبُكِيًّا  

Those were the ones upon whom Allāh bestowed favor from among the prophets of the descendants of Adam and of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah, and of the descendants of Abraham and Israel [i.e., Jacob], and of those whom We guided and chose. When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell in prostration and weeping.

[Al-Quran 19:58] 

Surah al_Alaq is supposed to be the first surah revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ .  The surah concludes with the instruction to prostrate and get closer to Allah: 

كَلَّاؕ لَا تُطِعۡهُ وَاسۡجُدۡ وَاقۡتَرِبْ ١٩

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

[Al-Quran 96:19] 

Prostration 

Prostration is a physical act of submission to a higher authority. Humans are called upon to fall in prostration to their Lord, Allah ﷻ, willingly. Those who submit willingly in this world can hope for a beautiful Hereafter. 

اِنَّمَا يُؤۡمِنُ بِاٰيٰتِنَا الَّذِيۡنَ اِذَا ذُكِّرُوۡا بِهَا خَرُّوۡا سُجَّدًا وَّسَبَّحُوۡا بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّهِمۡ وَهُمۡ لَا يَسۡتَكۡبِرُوۡنَ 

Only those believe in Our verses who, when they are reminded by them, fall down in prostration and exalt [Allāh] with praise of their Lord, and they are not arrogant.

[Al-Quran 32:15]

The act of prostration requires the placing of the forehead on the ground. Different religions have various body postures when going into prostration, some with full body flat on the ground, others with knees bent, but almost all involve placing the forehead on the ground. Our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has taught us to go in prostration on seven bones: 

Screenshot from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sujud#/media/File:Man_in_prostration.svg

On the Day when we will be gathered together for judgement and recompense, we will be called upon to prostrate to our Lord, Allah ﷻ . More on this at: The Ayat about The Shin. 

Search results 

https://corpus.quran.com/search.jsp?q=forehead 

https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=jbn#(37:103:4) mentioned just once 

https://corpus.quran.com/search.jsp?q=prostration  

https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=sjd#(17:107:18)  

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

 

Eastern Orthodox liturgical poses: 

Attribution: By Arseni - Own work by the original uploader, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64484168 

Last updated on: February 26, 2023

Administrative and Geographical Units

The Quran uses very specific words for geographical and / or administrative units:  بَلَدًا , الْبِلَادِ ,  بَلْدَةً , الْمَدَائِنِ , الْمَدِينَةِ  , الْقَرْيَةَ  , الْقُرَىٰ  , قُرًى  variously translated. This is an attempt to study the clues provided across the text to identify which means what in the modern context. 

The  أُمَّ الْقُرَىٰ (Q42:7), where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born, is now known as Makkah Mukarramah

The  الْمَدِينَةِ (Q9:101), to where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emigrated,  is now known as Madina Munawwara*. 

The الْبَلَدِ (Q90:2), of which Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was a free citizen, is Arabia.  

* then known by the name: Yathrib (يَثْرِبَ) (Q33:13) 

Screenshot from: https://sunnah.com/search?q=town 

The Hadith quoted in the screenshot above uses the words: 

... بِقَرْيَةٍ تَأْكُلُ الْقُرَى. يَقُولُونَ: يَثْرِبَ وَهِيَ الْمَدِينَةُ ...

Similarly, in The Quran, we find these words used together:

In Surah Yaseen narration about a الْقَرْيَةِ to whom were sent: 

• the three messengers' ... أَصْحَابَ الْقَرْيَةِ إِذْ جَاءَهَا الْمُرْسَلُونَ ... (Q36:13 ) 
• a believing man from the far corner ... وَجَاءَ مِنْ أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ رَجُلٌ يَسْعَىٰ ... (Q36:20) 

In the narrations about the People of Lot (Lut عليه السلام): 

• when the residents of الْمَدِينَةِ came (Q15:63) for the guests 
• when they wanted to expel his family ... قَالُوا أَخْرِجُوا آلَ لُوطٍ مِنْ قَرْيَتِكُمْ ... (Q27:56) 

Putting together the clues in the Hadith and Ayaat quoted above, it seems that a الْمَدِينَةُ consists of many قَرْيَةٍ , which consists of قُرَى .

To understand it in the present day context: human settlements grow from villages into towns, and cities contain several towns. Therefore, 

• City الْمَدِينَةُ
• Town in the city قَرْيَةٍ
• Villages in the town قُرَى   

 When Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) and his son Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام) were purifying Allah's House, Q2:126 quotes his supplication: 'وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا بَلَدًا آمِنًا', to make this بَلَدًا secure. 

Q95:3 takes oath by 'وَهَٰذَا الْبَلَدِ الْأَمِينِ', and by this secure الْبَلَدِ . 

Historically, ever since Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) and his son Ishmael (Ismail عليه السلام) have purified Allah's House, and announced the Pilgrimage, the area of Hijaz in particular, and Arabian peninsula in general, has only been ruled by Arabs, and/or Muslims, for example the Ottoman Caliph, the only empire to rule over this land.  

• Country   الْبَلَدِ 

 الْقَرْيَةَ  , الْقُرَىٰ  , قُرًى

The triliteral root qāf rā yā (ق ر ي) occurs 57 times in the Quran.

...  

الْمَدَائِنِ , الْمَدِينَةِ

The triliteral root mīm dāl nūn (م د ن) occurs 17 times in the Quran.

... 

بَلَدًا , الْبِلَادِ ,  بَلْدَةً 

The triliteral root bā lām dāl (ب ل د) occurs 19 times in the Quran. 

... 

Families are Forever

Mission of the Messengers - XLII 

And those who join that which Allah has ordered to be joined and fear their Lord and are afraid of the evil of [their] account,

And those who are patient, seeking the countenance of their Lord, and establish prayer and spend from what We have provided for them secretly and publicly and prevent evil with good - those will have the good consequence of [this] home -

Gardens of perpetual residence; they will enter them with whoever were righteous among their fathers, their spouses and their descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, [saying],

"Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home."

[Al-Quran 13:21, 22, 23, 24, Translation: Sahih International]

Families are forever

The human family, the families descended from Adam, are promised a beautiful eternity,

and so, we learn that even those near the Arsh supplicate for us: 

Those [angels] who carry the Throne and those around it exalt [Allah] with praise of their Lord and believe in Him and ask forgiveness for those who have believed, [saying], "Our Lord, You have encompassed all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who have repented and followed Your way and protect them from the punishment of Hellfire.

Our Lord, and admit them to gardens of perpetual residence which You have promised them and whoever was righteous among their fathers, their spouses and their offspring. Indeed, it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

And protect them from the evil consequences [of their deeds]. And he whom You protect from evil consequences that Day - You will have given him mercy. And that is the great attainment."

[Al-Quran 40:7, 8, 9, Translation: Sahih International]

Those who believe and reform, doing acts of righteousness, in this life, will retain their nafs in the hereafter, and be united with those declared successful in their family. 

And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith - We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds. Every person, for what he earned, is retained. 

[Al-Quran 52:21, Translation: Sahih International]

The Quran quotes the supplications of the people who understood the grandness of this promise, and so we read their desire to be joined with the الصَّالِحِينَ (righteous, reformed, )

Supplication of Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام)

My Lord, You have given me [something] of sovereignty and taught me of the interpretation of dreams. Creator of the heavens and earth, You are my protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous."

[Al-Quran 12:101 Translation: Sahih International]

The Descendants of the Grateful Servant

O descendants of those We carried [in the ship] with Noah. Indeed, he was a grateful servant.

[Al-Quran 17:03 Translation: Sahih International]

The Bani Israel are descendants of Abraham, who was a descendant of those saved with Noah 

The Bani Ismael are also descendant of Abraham 

Supplication of those who repent and reform

And those who say, "Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous."

Those will be awarded the Chamber for what they patiently endured, and they will be received therein with greetings and [words of] peace.

Abiding eternally therein. Good is the settlement and residence

[Al-Quran 25:74, 75, 76 Translation: Sahih International]

Supplication of Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام)

[And he said], "My Lord, grant me authority and join me with the righteous.

[Al-Quran 26:83 Translation: Sahih International]

Allah accepted Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام)'s supplication for this world and for the hereafter: 

And We gave him Isaac and Jacob in addition, and all [of them] We made righteous.

[Al-Quran 21:72 Translation: Sahih International]

 And We gave to Him Isaac and Jacob and placed in his descendants prophethood and scripture. And We gave him his reward in this world, and indeed, he is in the Hereafter among the righteous.

[Al-Quran 29:27 Translation: Sahih International]

The Martyrs look forward to:

Rejoicing in what Allah has bestowed upon them of His bounty, and they receive good tidings about those [to be martyred] after them who have not yet joined them - that there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.

[Al-Quran 3:170, Translation: Sahih International]

The Blessing of being joined with Muhammad ﷺ

Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth is exalting Allah , the Sovereign, the Pure, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from themselves reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom - although they were before in clear error -

And [to] others of them who have not yet joined them. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

[Al-Quran 62:1, 2, 3, Translation: Sahih International]

Families are propagated through the nafs. 

Muhammad ﷺ is closer to the believers than their own nafs. 

All the descendants of the sons of Adam were made to witness upon their nafs. 

True success is to retain our nafs and our families on the day of resurrection.

And it is He who has created from water a human being and made him [a relative by] lineage and marriage. And ever is your Lord competent [concerning creation].

[Al-Quran 25:54, Translation: Sahih International]

Allah has created bashr from water.

Allah has appointed for each bashr their families, by birth and by marriage. 

May Allah bless us and our families forever.

Related Posts 

Tears of Joy 

... and Join Me with The Reformed 

Their Descendants from Their Backs 

Protection from (fear of) ar-Rahab

 ...

[Al-Quran 28:32:14] 

The Bible and The Quran both mention Rahab. In The Quran, Surah al-Qasas, ayat 32, Moses (Musa عليه السلام) is given a means of protection from Rahab: 

Insert your hand into the opening of your garment; it will come out white, without disease. And draw in your arm close to you [as prevention] from fear, for those are two proofs from your Lord to Pharaoh and his establishment. Indeed, they have been a people defiantly disobedient."

[Al-Quran 28:32, Translator: Sahih International] 

Generally, in translations of The Quran, we find words formed from the root rā hā bā (ر ه ب) translated as fear, terrify, and monks. So, we don't realise that its informing us of a real monstrous creature, that is mentioned in the earlier scriptures, and which is expected to appear again during end times. 

The Bible mentions the Rahab (רהב) in Isaiah 51:9 

. . . Was it not you who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced that monster through? Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made a road in the depths of the sea so that the redeemed might cross over?

Isaiah 51:9 

[quoted from Rahab and Monster]

Psalm 89:9-10 praises The Lord in these words: 

You rule the raging of the sea;

when its waves rise, you still them.

You crushed Rahab like a carcass;

you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.

[quoted from Crushing Rahab: Does the Old Testament Borrow from Myth?]

In the Jewish Encyclopedia, it states about RAHAB [as on November 3, 2022]:

Originally a mythical name designating the abyss or the sea; subsequently applied to Egypt. Job ix. 13 and xxvi. 12 indicate that it is an alternative for "Tiamat," the Babylonian name of the dragon of darkness and chaos; Ps. lxxxix. 9 also indicates that "Rahab" is a name applied to the sea-monster, the dragon. According to a sentence preserved in the Talmud, "Rahab" is the name of the demon, the ruler of the sea ("Sar shel Yam"; B. B. 74b). It is used as a designation for Egypt in Ps. lxxxvii. 4 and Isa. xxx. 7. Similarly, in Isa. li. 9, which alludes to the exodus from Egypt, the destruction of Pharaoh is described as a smiting of the great sea-monster Rahab or the dragon Tannin. The juxtaposition of "Rahab" and "Tannin" in this passageexplains why "Rahab" was used as a designation for Egypt, which was otherwise called "Tannin" (see Ezek. xxix. 3, Hebr.). It must be noted that the Jewish exegetes deprived the word "Rahab" of its mythological character, and explained it as merely an equivalent for "arrogance," "noise," or "tumult"—applied both to the roaring of the sea and to the arrogant noisiness and proud boasting of the Egyptians (comp. Abraham ibn Ezra on Ps. lxxxvii. 4 and lxxxix. 9).

Quoting the following from Book of Job, someone asks what Rahab means: 

“God will not turn back his anger;

    beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.

—Job 9:13 (ESV)

By his power he stilled the sea;

    by his understanding he shattered Rahab.

—Job 26:12 (ESV)  

[quoted from Who or what is Rahab in Job?]

It seems clear that Rahab is the name of an ancient sea monster, which an association with Ancient Egypt. The Bani Israel were aware of this monster, and so its not surprising that the very first ayat (Q2:40) addressing the Bani Israel in The Quran employs the same root: 

[Al-Quran 2:40:13] 

The first narrative about Adam's khilafat, and Iblis' arrogant refusal to accept it; the warning about Iblis after exposing his arrogance; Adam and his wife falling into Iblis' trap and suffering loss; Adam's repentance; being expelled from The Garden, temporarily, with the assurance of God's Guidance, and that those who heed it will not suffer, and those who disbelieve and belie the signs will be companions of the fire forever; is mentioned from Q2:31 through Q2:39. The very next ayat immediately addresses the Bani Israel, who were saved from Pharaoh, the sea was parted for them to cross safely, and after their Exodus from Egypt, they were granted The Torah, and God took a covenant from them:      

O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I have bestowed upon you and fulfill My covenant [upon you] that I will fulfill your covenant [from Me], and be afraid of [only] Me.

[Al-Quran 2:40, Translator: Sahih International] 

The Quran use of words is fascinating. There are other Arabic words in The Quran which are also translated as fear, so its amazing that God chose the word sharing the same root rā hā bā (ر ه ب) to remind the Bani Israel that God Almighty is the only one to be in awe of.  

So, across the scriptures, from The Torah to The Quran, we find Rahab mentioned.   

The Book of Daniel, Chapter 7, mentions four beasts rising from the sea: 

[from a Christian website]: 

Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts

7 

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.

2 Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. 3 Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

... 

[copied from Daniel 7 NIV, Biblegateway]

[from a Jewish website]:

...

 

[screenshots from Daniel 7, Ketuvim - Scriptures]

........................................

Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?

[Al-Quran 21:30, Translator: Sahih International] 

........................................

In the NEWS

As the world is increasingly attracted to, and embracing polytheism, strange news from the sea are making the rounds. On the one hand, as evidence builds up for huge walls of water swallowing up entire ships, the other news is of photographs of 'faces' in huge waves: 

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keaZxhQX_Lo (video)
• https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-64797807 

References & Links 

Word Morphology 28:32:14 [The Quranic Arabic Corpus]

Quran Dictionary root word [The Quranic Arabic Corpus] 

Rahab and Monster 

Crushing Rahab: Does the Old Testament Borrow from Myth? 

RAHAB [Jewish Encyclopedia]

Rahab (term) [Wikipedia] 

Who or what is Rahab in Job? [Stack Exchange] 

Last updated on: September 10, 2024