Welcome Friends! Day 98; Qur’an 9: 36-47, pages 193+194
Welcome Friends: Ahlan wa sahlan!
Yusuf Ali’s Translation of this Chapter.
Muhammad Asad’s Translation of this Chapter.
COMMENTS:
Today’s Reading is a little tough because in explaining verses here we had to refer back to earlier Suras to clarify verses there. After our Study Group has read this we might transfer certain parts back where they’d help in previous Suras.
We now continue with the last verse on PAGE 192 and go on to PAGE 193:
1. These two verses discuss the ‘Inviolable’ months. Both Yusuf Ali (36–37) and Muhammad Asad (36–37) have done a good job in offering us the historically recognized and generally accepted interpretation of these verses.
Here is a more linguistic interpretation:
“The number of months according to God is twelve months in God’s compilation when/at the time He created the Exalted Expanses and the Earth. Of them four are Inviolable; that is the upright Accountability (Standard), so do not wrong yourselves within them (these inviolable months) and fight the Deniers all together as they are fighting you all together and know that God is with The Aware (36)
Indeed, the Postponement/ Nasee’ [1] is an increase in Denial by which the Deniers are misguided/ by which the Deniers misguide (others);[2] they (the Deniers) make it unbound (Halaal) one year and make it inviolable (Haraam) one year so as that they would be in accord with the number (of months) which God had made Inviolable, thereby making unbound/ Halaal what God had made Inviolable (Haraam). Embellished for them was the evil/harm of their deeds, and God guides not the Denying people (37)”
It is interesting to note that there have been contemporary interpretations of this verse which, departing from the common understanding, have led to much debate (and controversy) in the Arab world. Most famous among them is that of Niazi Az Aldin/ نيازي عز الدين in his book ‘Al-Naseeh – world calendars and the Arab-Islamic calendar /النسيء – تقاويم العالم والتقويم العربي الإسلامي”who sees these verses as a call for returning the months to what their names originally indicated (Rabeeع being in spring) for the sake of conservation and maintaining natural balance. [3]
Now, looking to the importance of conservation and seeing how humanity has wrought damage everywhere and hunted to extinction so many species of wildlife on earth, contemporary writers and thinkers have naturally felt the need to highlight certain verses in the Qur’an and reread others.
Conservation is definitely part of our accountability as Cognizant Humans:
But God DOES speak clearly of The Balance/ Al Meezaan in Suratul RaHmaan, which is all about Creation: He not only mentions the perfect Balance of Creation, but also commands us directly NOT to transgress within the Balance, but rather, to uphold due measure in all fairness/ justice, and not cause any deficiency in the Balance.
Also, in Suratul Furqaan, God tells us to that those who are Worshippers of Al-RaHmaan/ The Compassionate CREATOR make it a point to tread UPON/’ala/على the earth gently (which is different than ‘walking through it/ fee/ سيروا في الأرض), and to say ‘Salaam/ Peace’ to the Ignorants. This demands of us to be spreading peace, even when ignorantly accosted, and commands us indirectly NOT to wage wars and create disastrous repercussions (although battling courageously in defense is a duty), all the while reminding us of our carbon footprint because, to be true worshippers of The Creator, Al RaHmaan/عباد الرحمن- we should be preserving everything in His creation!
Another contemporary thinker (Khaled Bin Ikrash/ (خليد بن عكراش)[4] gives us a different perspective, saying that what that verse (Q.5:1) says is ‘Halaal’ for us, called “Baheematul An’aam/ بهيمة الأنعام” are the young animals that have no further need of their mothers, having already ‘separated themselves’ from them like the thumb is separate from the other fingers (see definition of root-verb “bahama/بَهَمَ” below).[5] He contends therefore that any animal still suckling would not be ‘Halaal’ to slaughter.
That is an interesting point because exegetes have traditionally considered the Halaal ‘baheemah’[6] (in Q.51) to refer to a very young sheep, cow, camel, even when still in its mother’s womb; they said it was Halaal to eat when discovered inside its slaughtered mother.[7] But they also tell us that all animals are born “baha’im/بهائم” plural of ‘baheemah,’ and continue to be given that name, regardless of age; to them, all animals, whether still suckling, whether young or old are equally ‘Halaal’ to eat.
See important Disclaimer.[8]
God knows best, and regardless of what the word ‘baheemah’ means, the Arabi tongue indicates that He, Rabbuna Al-RaHmaan has already embedded the indirect instruction not to slaughter young sucklings or their mothers in the term ‘Halaal’ itself: ‘Halaal’ meaning ‘Unbound.’
Can you think of anything ‘bound’ stronger than the bond of a suckling youngster to its mother, and hers to her still suckling young? Furthermore, ask any of our elders; it is our age-old tradition -carried from the Prophet’s time peace upon him -that sacrificial animals must have a minimum age of:
Sheep: Six months old.[9]
Goat: One year old.[10]
Cow: Two years old.[11]
Camel: Five years old.[12]
These are issues we must be aware of.
To conclude, all I can say is that people who possess knowledge -Ahl al ‘Ilm- and scholars of Arabi and Qur’an should come together to exchange ideas and information and clarify the few subjects in the exegeses that require clarification. There should be a concerted will for that. Too many verses have already been taken out of context and used to promote self-serving ideologies.
Haven’t people of knowledge already come together for scientific purposes and reinterpreted verses that relate to embryology, to the earth’s crust, to the constellations, and the universe? Indeed. Their interpretations were not only accepted, but also welcomed.
Such studies would be far more helpful than having anyone say anything without accountability.
Now, back to today’s verses.
We previously mentioned the importance of having background knowledge on the Prophet’s life, peace upon him, especially when related to incidents mentioned in the Qur’an.
Our verses revolve around the expedition of Tabuk, which you can read about briefly here, and in detail here from the beautiful book written by Martin Lings.
2. Verse 38 calls upon Those Who Attained Faith with two heart-wrenching questions!
· …what is with you, that, when it is said to you, “Set out in the way of God!” you incline sluggishly to the earth…?
· …do you prefer/ are you satisfied by the life of this world rather than the Hereafter…?
It concludes with the assertion that the comfort/ enjoyment (Ali/Asad) of this lowly life is but paltry compared to the Hereafter.
The next verses, related to the Expedition of Tabuk, are interspersed with warnings addressed to Those Who Attained Faith, such as Verse 39:
· Unless you set out, He will cause you to suffer painfully and replace you with others, and he (the Messenger) would not be afflicted in the least (by your abandonment of your duty), for God has full power/ability over everything.
Now, although context relates these verses primarily to the time of Revelation, since it is we who currently see ourselves as ‘Those Who Attained Faith,’ we must also see such verses as speaking to us, calling us to ‘set out,’ each in our personal way, to fulfill our mission in life. Our highest mission is the fulfillment of our duty towards our Faith, failing which, we shall be replaced!
3. Verse 40 offers a beautiful flash-back to Prophet Muhammad’s first moment of escape from his own people, peace upon him. A moment where, due to his losing hope in their regard, he had to step into the unknown and deliver his own life, his past 13 years of struggle, AND his Message, into the hands of complete strangers. On his way to ‘Yethrib,’ his destination, in that tiny cave, as he was anxiously shouldering the burden of that moment… there was another escapee with him.. a friend… who needed to hear words of consolation from his blessed lips:
“Don’t be sad…” The Prophet said to Abu Bakr. “God is indeed with us!”
With these words, God sent calmness and tranquility upon him, aided him with unseen forces, and ultimately rendered his message supreme.
4. Verse 41 is a very important command, telling Those Who Attained Faith/us what is best for them/us.
Here too, as in Verse 39, we should see these verses as speaking to us, calling us to ‘set out,’ each according to what we are equipped with (whether light or heavy) and to exert ourselves in our wealth and in our Selves, for that is best FOR US.
Verses 42-46 speak directly to prophet Muhammad, peace upon him, telling him about those who ‘lagged behind’ when he took the rest of the able-bodied men to battle. Those who lagged behind were hypocrites who would give him false excuses (God calls them ‘the Liars’) except for three persons whom we mentioned earlier, in Blog Post Day 42. I’ve included that footnote below to refresh our memories. [13]
In Verse 43 we hear the ‘voice’ of God clearly, as He pardons the Prophet and questions him regarding the decision he had made to accept the hypocrites’ excuses for remaining behind.
Isn’t it beautiful how God gave him His pardon even before questioning him?
5. Verse 44 ends with the declaration that God knows well The Aware: It is they who have faith and trust in God and the Last Day and would never seek excuses not to go out with the Prophet but rather, would exert themselves both in their wealth and in their Selves.
Compare that to Verse 45 where those who sought excuses were wavering back and forth within their own doubt!
6. Verse 46 tells us a TRUTH:
Anyone who really intends to do something will initiate action and PREPARE FOR IT all that it requires! Oftentimes, people say that they seek something even as they take no action towards it. Such persons do not truly seek it (isn’t seeking an action?).
Here, in these verses, is another truth that would help us in life:
People who doubt our worthwhile endeavor will not bother to help it along. It is therefore better for us that they stay behind, teaming themselves with The Inactive. In fact, God Himself would not like such persons to be involved in any endeavor undertaken for His sake!
Verse 47 informs us of the negative effect which DOUBTFUL, RELUCTANT people have upon any endeavor; especially in this instance, being hypocrites who seek to undermine the Faith, they would have done their best to entice Fitnah (see Blog Post Day 15 for the meaning of fitnah).
See Ali/ Asad:
“If they had come out with you, they would not have added to your (strength) but only (made for) disorder, hurrying to and fro in your midst and sowing sedition among you, and there would have been some among you who would have listened to them . But God knoweth well those who do wrong.”
“Had these [hypocrites] set out with_ you, [O believers,] they would have added nothing to you save the evil of corruption, and would surely have scurried to and fro in your midst, seeking to stir up discord among you, seeing that there are in your midst such as would have lent them ear: but God has full knowledge of the evildoers.”
Enough said!
Our next Reading is from HQ 9: 48-61
Peace unto all!
[1] نَسِيَ: أَصْلَانِ صَحِيحَانِ: يَدُلُّ أَحَدُهُمَا عَلَى إِغْفَالِ الشَّيْءِ، وَالثَّانِي عَلَى تَرْكِ شَيْءٍ.
فَالْأَوَّلُ نَسِيتُ الشَّيْءَ، إِذَا لَمْ تَذْكُرْهُ، نِسْيَانًا… وَالنِّسْيُ: مَا سَقَطَ مِنْ مَنَازِلِ الْمُرْتَحِلِينَ… فَيَقُولُونَ: تَتَبَّعُوا أَنَسَاءَكُمْ. ِ
وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: الْأَصْلُ فِي الْبَابِ النِّسْيَانُ، وَهُوَ عُزُوبُ الشَّيْءِ عَنِ النَّفْسِ بَعْدَ حُضُورِهِ لَهَا. وَالنَّسَا: عِرْقٌ فِي الْفَخِذِ، لِأَنَّهُ مُتَأَخِّرٌ عَنْ أَعَالِي الْبَدَنِ إِلَى الْفَخِذِ.
وَإِذَا هُمِزَ تَغَيَّرَ الْمَعْنَى إِلَى تَأْخِيرِ الشَّيْءِ. وَنُسِئَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ: تَأَخَّرَ حَيْضُهَا عَنْ وَقْتِهِ فَرُجِيَ أَنَّهَا حُبْلَى. وَالنَّسِيئَةُ: بَيْعُكَ الشَّيْءَ نَسَاءً، وَهُوَ التَّأْخِيرُ. تَقُولُ: أَنْسَأْتُ. وَنَسَأَ اللَّهُ فِي أَجْلِكَ وَأَنْسَأَ أَجْلَكَ: أَخَّرَهُ وَأَبْعَدَهُ.
وَنَسَأْتُ نَاقَتِي، قَالَ قَوْمٌ: رَفَقْتُ بِهَا فِي السَّيْرِ. وَنَسَأْتُهَا: ضَرَبْتُهَا بِالْمِنْسَأَةِ: الْعَصَا. وَهَذَا أَقْيَسُ، لِأَنَّ الْعَصَا كَأَنَّهُ يُبْعَدُ بِهَا الشَّيْءُ وَيُدْفَعُ
وَالنَّسِيءُ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ: التَّأْخِيرُ، كَانُوا إِذَا صَدَرُوا عَنْ مِنَى يَقُومُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ كِنَانَةَ فَيَقُولُ: أَنَا الَّذِي لَا يُرَدُّ لِي قَضَاءٌ. فَيَقُولُونَ: أَنْسِئْنَا شَهْرًا، أَيْ أَخِّرْ عَنَّا حُرْمَةَ الْمُحَرَّمِ فَاجْعَلْهَا فِي صَفَرَ. وَذَلِكَ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يَكْرَهُونَ أَنْ يَتَوَالَى عَلَيْهِمْ ثَلَاثَةُ أَشْهُرٍلَا يُغِيرُونَ فِيهَا، لِأَنَّ مَعَاشَهُمْ كَانَ مِنَ الْإِغَارَةِ، فَأُحِلَّ لَهُمُ الْمُحَرَّمُ. فَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: {إِنَّمَا النَّسِيءُ زِيَادَةٌ فِي الْكُفْرِ} [التوبة: 37].
[2] There are two accepted readings/qira’aat of this where a diacritic-mark changes (from yudhallu to yudhillu), as Al Tabari (224–310 AH, 839–923 CE) tells us; he indicates that both readings are well-known, their meanings not very different since everything is ultimately from God:
“{يُضَلُّ بِهِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا}… وقد حُكي عن الحسن البصري: {يُضِلُّ بِهِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا}…قال أبو جعفر: والصواب من القول في ذلك أن يقال: هما قراءتان مشهورتان، قد قرأت بكلّ واحدة القرّاء أهل العلم بالقرآن والمعرفة به، وهما متقاربتا المعنى، لأن من أضله الله فهو ضالّ ومن ضلّ فبإضلال الله إياه…”
[3] In brief about the above:
As I understood, some have reread the historical narrative and offered another, using Qur’anic reference as well as comparison of the ‘lunar to solar’ calendar at the time of revelation. They contended that, although verse 36 does indeed discuss the importance of not violating the four months God has made ‘inviolable’ when He created this earth, the four months mentioned here are not related to the other months (11, 12, 1, 7 : Thul-Qi’dah, Thul-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab which are Inviolable by reason of Pilgrimage). According to them, the intended Inviolable Months mentioned here are the first four consecutive months of the year: ‘Muharram- Safar- Rabee 1 and Rabee 2,’ (in English: the Inviolable Month, The Zero Month, the month of First Spring, and the month of Second Spring), saying that this period of 4 months was intended to cover the entire spring season, made Inviolable by God from the first moment of Creation for the sake of wildlife conservation. They do agree however that the ‘Inviolable’ months would also include the months of Pilgrimage. In their understanding, this was a command to the Faithful of the time to reinstate this natural balance of nature after Qureish had tampered with it, presenting their tampering as “a prolongation in denial/ زيادة في الكفر” that should come to an end.
Arabs who are interested in the Qur’an would know about such books and televised debates which often accelerate personal discovery of where one stands in one’s faith. You could say they are an intellectual ‘fitnah/trial by fire;’ dangerous for some -perhaps even detrimental- yet useful for others. We have seen people driven away from faith and others driven towards it because of books or debates that forced them to use their own minds rather than follow others blindly.
[4] He completely refutes Niazi Az Aldin’s interpretation.
[5] “Bahama: When one doesn’t know how something is arrived at, one says it is ‘mubham;’ it is ambiguous/obscure.
A connotation that has deviated from the above is the ‘thumb/ ibhaam’ as relates to the (other) fingers.
‘Bahm’ are the young sheep (the lambs).
بَهِمَ: أَنْ يَبْقَى الشَّيْءُ لَا يُعْرَفُ الْمَأْتَى إِلَيْهِ. يُقَالُ هَذَا أَمْرٌ مُبْهَمٌ.
وَمِمَّا شَذَّ عَنْ هَذَا الْبَابِ: الْإِبْهَامُ مِنَ الْأَصَابِعِ. وَالْبَهْمُ صِغَارُ الْغَنَمِ.
[6] The word ‘baheemah’ found in 5:1; 22:28; 22:34; no other derivations.
((عن ابن عباس: أن بقرة نحرت فوُجد في بطنها جنين، فأخذ ابن عباس بذنَب الجنين فقال: هذا من بهيمة الأنعام التي أحلّت لكم…
.. وأما ” النعم ” فإنها عند العرب، اسم للإبل والبقر والغنم خاصة، كما قال جل ثناؤه: وَالأَنْعَامَ خَلَقَهَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا دِفْءٌ وَمَنَافِعُ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ، [سورة النحل: 5]، ثم قال: وَالْخَيْلَ وَالْبِغَالَ وَالْحَمِيرَ لِتَرْكَبُوهَا وَزِينَةً [سورة النحل: 8]، ففصل جنس النعم من غيرها من أجناس الحيوان . (58)
وأما ” بهائمها “، فإنها أولادها. وإنما قلنا يلزم الكبار منها اسم ” بهيمة “، كما يلزم الصغار، لأن معنى قول القائل: ” بهيمة الأنعام ” نظير قوله: ” ولد الأنعام “. فلما كان لا يسقط معنى الولادة عنه بعد الكبر، فكذلك لا يسقط عنه اسم البهيمة بعد الكبر.))
[8] Please note that we are not discussing Halaal -as something Divinely Permissible- opposed to Haraam -meaning Divinely Forbidden. We are not speaking of what is ‘bound’ by God which makes it Haraam, or bound by legal authorities which makes it illegal, or bound by ownership which makes it a violation of rights or bound by custom which makes it unacceptable.
We are speaking of the verb ‘halla/to unbind’ and what would –in general terms– constitute Halaal and Tayyib -Unbound and Wholesome as opposed to bound and unwholesome. We are trying to be aware of what is physically bound by nature or by human intervention impeding its nature so that it is forced, contained, caged… or even a product that is bound to artificial hormones, additives, preservatives and chemicals. Anything so ‘bound’ would naturally become ‘unwholesome.’
[9] Sheep are weaned naturally at around four months. In a dairy sheep operation lambs might be weaned at 21 days of age, and more commonly at 30 to 35 days of age. Dairy workers admit that weaning early is extremely stressful for both the mother and her suckling.
[10] Goats are naturally weaned between two to three months.
[11] Calves are weaned naturally at eight to ten months of age. In a beef cattle operation calves might be weaned at two months if necessary. Weaning early is extremely stressful, especially for the suckling who is often made to wear a nose ring so it can stay close to its mother while unable to suckle. Animal welfare organizations raise concern with regard to the nose-ring with spikes which are designed to cause the mother pain so that she kicks the calf away. Damage to her udder and harm to the calf are the main concerns.
[12] Camels are naturally weaned at one year of age.
[13] The Qur’an refers to the story of the three companions of the Prophet ( (ﷺ )الثَّلَاثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا who were enjoying their harvest season, procrastinating about getting themselves ready for the Battle of Tabuk, until they realized that the Prophet’s army had left. There was no way for them to catch up. They felt mortified, lagging behind in town with the women, children, and hypocrites. When the Prophet returned, they couldn’t invent excuses as did the hypocrites, but rather, they apologized to him with regret in their hearts and truth on their lips. The Prophet acknowledged that they were the only ones who had spoken the truth, yet he neither admonished nor forgave them, telling them to await God’s command. Meanwhile, they were ignored by everyone as the Prophet had advised. Although they were repentant, the community’s ‘silent treatment’ made them miss everything they had taken for granted and realize whom they had let down, and how. The three men were treated as if they were invisible, not a single person in the entire town spoke one word to them, even in response, and the wives of the married among them were told to distance themselves from their husbands. In time, the two older men started stayed home, while the younger one kept attending all the congregational prayers for fifty days, till the very last night. Before dawn the next morning Qur’an was revealed HQ9:118 describing their pain and their repentance and declaring that God had indeed ‘forgiven them so that they might repent.’ The entire town rejoiced, a man on horseback was dispatched to give each of them the good news but someone had already climbed a hill and shouted out the good news, and it was that joyful call which reached them first. HQ9:43-46; 90; 102-105; 106; 118 see M. Asad’s note 155 in Ch.9.