<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Welcome Friends: Ahlan wa sahlan<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n COMMENTS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Today\u2019s Reading starts with TWO VERSES that make us stop in our tracks and RECONSIDER EVERYTHING WE HAVE EVER LEARNT (or failed to learn) about God and His Compilation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first, Verse 91 begins<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey did not hold God in His rightful Esteem \u2026\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Although this verse is of the early Meccan era, it is Timeless, and applies to anyone who underestimates Who God Is, what His Attributes are, how His LIVING Message should be received, and ends up treating His Message as if it were a mere collection of \u2018static sheets\u2019 (\u0642\u0631\u0627\u0637\u064a\u0633)!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Notice how the verse continues, commanding the Messenger Muhammad, peace upon him, to state to such persons a few eye-opening facts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey did not regard\/esteem God His rightful Regard\/Esteem<\/strong>[1]<\/sup><\/strong><\/sup><\/strong><\/a> when they said, \u2018God has not bestowed upon Mankind anything.\u2019 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Say: \u2018Who bestowed the Compilation which Moses came with, a Light and Guidance to Cognizant Humans? You (pl.) make\/render it into static sheets, (some of) which you display, and you conceal much, while you were given to learn what you did not learn, neither you nor your forefathers.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Say: \u2018God!\u2019 Then leave them in their lurch (even as they are) frolicking\/drooling.<\/strong>[2]<\/sup><\/strong><\/sup><\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Notice that Moses\u2019 Compilation was both (gifted) Guidance and Light, UNTIL it was made into static sheets by later generations of his followers. When God\u2019s revealed Message was tampered with (parts mis-explained, parts concealed) it lost its Divine Properties. Much of its teachings and live guidance was lost to its followers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. And then we find, in Verse 92, a \u2018second chance\u2019 given to Humanity, a Blessed Compilation which, as the Qur\u2019an says, any person of ANY faith who has Faith and Trust in the Hereafter, will have Faith and Trust in this Compilation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why? Because that is HOW such persons can maintain their relationship with God!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd THIS is a Compilation we bestowed, of Abiding Benefit (Blessings), Confirming the truth of what was before it, so that you may warn the Foremost of all towns, and all around it. And those who have Faith and Trust in the Hereafter, do have Faith and Trust in it (this Compilation), and THEY, of their Communion are maintaining.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n From previous postings and definitions, our Regular Readers understand the full implication of these two verses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fact that the Qur\u2019aan is \u2018Live,\u2019 superior in its attribute, delivering its principled Message in\u2019 al-aan\/ \u2018in the now\u2019 has been LOST to Humanity for the past one thousand years or more.\u00a0\u00a0We have been treating the Qur\u2019an as a dry \u2018Book\u2019 full of inscribed sheets, and God has told us that it is NOT so- it is Mubaarak, of Abiding Benefit, which is the literal meaning of \u2018blessed.\u2019[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Also see, in Blog Post Day 64<\/a> Posting March 21st<\/sup>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHad we sent unto you a Compilation (inscribed) in a static sheet, and had they touched it with their hands, Those who Denied would have said, \u201cThis is manifest Sorcery!\u201d (HQ6:7)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. In continuation of that denial, Verse 93 tells us that NO ONE IS WORSE IN WRONGDOING ([4]<\/sup><\/a>\u0623\u0638\u0644\u0645) than someone who invents a lie in God\u2019s name (intending it to be taken as God\u2019s word) or says that he had received Revelation while he hasn\u2019t received any, or that he too can \u2018send down\u2019 revelation like God\u2019s (an indication that he does not believe in its Divine origins).<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then the verse TRANSFERS us to these wrong-doers\u2019 deathbeds: <\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The scene is scary, the wrong-doers are reluctant to depart this earth, and the Nafs\/Self of each clings tight to its body; they literally sink into the depths of \u2018mawt,\u2019 their physical death, which to the \u2018thaalim\u2019 is full of \u2018thalaam\u2026\u2019 (The root-verb \u2018thalama \u0638\u0644\u0645\u2019 also indicates \u2018Darkness!\u2019)<\/p>\n\n\n\n At that point they fully realize the impact of all they had done AND what to expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, the Custodians\/Angels are overpowering them.. (the term \u2018bast + yad\u2019 is always forceful, the \u2018yad\u2019 itself indicating \u2018aid\/\u0623\u064a\u062f… power):[5]<\/sup><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026.Meanwhile, the Angels are overpowering saying: \u201cGet your (own) Selves\/Anfus out! Today you shall be rewarded with<\/strong> humiliating suffering due to what you were saying about God of Untruths, and you arrogantly dismissing His Signs!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Verse 94 goes on, to the second part of death, when each Nafs\/Self has left its body, and comes to its Creator, bare and alone, with nothing it may have possessed on earth, and with no intercessor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou all did indeed come to Us, each alone, as We created you (all) the first time\u2026\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n God speaks directly, TO US ALL, in this verse!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dear Reader: You could probably guess what I felt, as I attempted to explain all these verses today. Not just personal concern at the responsibility to deliver as accurate an explanation of His Word as possible after the warnings we read above- but also the Certainty that THIS IS God\u2019s Message to us all, no matter what label we carry or what \u2018faith\u2019 we think we subscribe to: HE IS OUR GOD, our Awe-inspiring God, and it is an absolute HONOR \u2013for us all- to have received His Message!<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for skeptics who might question the existence of One God: 4. We might mention another issue here which is often asked:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why does it seem that most Muslim scholars prefer to repeat what others before them have said, rather than present fresh new research? <\/p>\n\n\n\n The verses above have probably given Readers an answer to why that seems so:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although true scholars in fact have always done -and continue to do- painstaking, highly academic research, and many of them have come out to us with amazing truths, the debilitating fear of responsibility has nevertheless stopped many scholars from venturing away from renowned, widely accepted readings. This, and the fact that we do not have an atmosphere of healthy debate similar to that of earlier scholars, have both stopped our \u2018Islamic\u2019 scholarship from reaching its potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note however, that Extremists have had no such qualms! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Extremists have always been quick to re-interpret, misinterpret, and motivate others to their way of thinking!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is why it is CRUCIAL for our scholars to get together and explain the Qur\u2019an contextually and linguistically, in as accurate a rendering as possible, an achievement which would not only replace the extremist readings, but would also make us \u2018hunafaa\u2019 (See Blog Post Day 11<\/a> for the meaning of \u2018Haneef\u2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for each of us, we hope and pray that the beautiful gems we are able to uncover here -even as mere laypersons doing research- that these gems would give young people the incentive to pursue the path of scholarly study of the Qur\u2019an, so all its original concepts can come to light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If today\u2019s recipients of the Qur\u2019an could understand the Qur\u2019an in a way as close as possible to its early Recipients; our generation too might become -as they were- the best of people benefitting Humankind!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Verses 95-99 re-introduce us to God:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGod is He Who<\/strong>\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The verses SHOW us Who He is by what He does, in a long list of His Blessings and Bounty which we are familiar with, and which we require for our existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here we are shown that it is God Who splits open seeds and kernels\/ \u0641\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0650\u0642\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0652\u062d\u064e\u0628\u0650\u0651 \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0646\u064e\u0651\u0648\u064e\u0649\u0670 and brings the living out of the dead (95) and it is He Who breaks the dawn\/ \u0641\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0650\u0642\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0625\u0650\u0635\u0652\u0628\u064e\u0627\u062d\u0650 and gives us nighttime for tranquility and the sun and the moon for us to take account of time (96). <\/p>\n\n\n\n These verses are well-explained by both Yusuf Ali and Muhammad Asad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, for us, at the TOP of that list, is Life being brought out of Death, and vice versa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note the variant endings \u201c.. to people who know-97\/ to people who secure understanding 98\/ to people who have Faith and Trust -99<\/strong>\u201d\u2026which are related to the topic of each verse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also note Verse 98, how we are created from a single Self, after which there is (for us, as I understand it[6]<\/sup><\/a>) (\u0645\u0633\u062a\u0642\u0631 \u0648\u0645\u0633\u062a\u0648\u062f\u0639) a place of settlement and a place that thrusts us out. This could be referring to earth itself, or to the womb. (See Ali\/Asad: \u2018a place of sojourn\/ time limit\u2019 and a \u2018place of departure\/ resting-place.\u2019)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. This chapter is titled, al An\u2019aam, and those of us who know Arabic would have noticed the root verb \u2018na\u2019ama\u2019 ( \u0646\u0639\u0645) which is related to 132 Qur\u2019anic verses, [7]<\/sup><\/a><\/sup> as well as to the Opener, the Faatiha, when we ask God to guide us to the Path of those upon whom He has bestowed His Grace\/ His Blessings (Ali\/Asad) \u0623\u0646\u0639\u0645\u062a \u0639\u0644\u064a\u0647\u0645\/an\u2019\u0639amta \u2018\u0639alayhim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Commentators have traditionally understood this title to refer to the livestock mentioned in this Chapter, because these are called \u2018an\u2019aam\u2019 in Arabic, and were for Qureish the greatest and finest of \u2018blessings.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lexicon tells us that the root-word\u2019s variations are too plentiful to even mention, but that their connotation relates to only ONE thing: a comfortable, advantageous living in a state of well-being. Enough said!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Have a \u2018Blessed\u2019 Weekend full of In\u2019aam <\/strong>\u0625\u0646\u0639\u0627\u0645<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong> !!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our next Reading is from HQ6:100-116<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Peace unto all!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n [1]<\/a> Generally speaking, there is a huge deficit in people\u2019s regard of God and their esteem of Him, even in the basics of Who He Is and what He can do!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yusuf Ali tells us when he speaks of the word \u2018Qadeer\u2019 in his footnotes after explaining HQ 4:149:<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cQadir: 1 have translated it more fully than most translators. The root qadara not only implies power, ability, strength, but two other ideas which it is difficult to convey in a single word, viz., the act and power of estimating the true value of a thing or persons, as in 6:91; and the act and power of regulating something so as to bring it into correspondence with something. ‘Judgement of values” I think sums up these finer shades of meaning.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n [2]<\/a> \u2018La3aba\u2019 could be about \u2018playing\u2019 and could also be about \u2018salivating\u2019 (perhaps it might sometimes indicate both? Here, as well as other instances of the word, it seems to be about \u2018drooling in pursuit of worldly pleasures\u2019.. but God knows best).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0644\u064e\u0639\u0650\u0628\u064e: \u0643\u064e\u0644\u0650\u0645\u064e\u062a\u064e\u0627\u0646\u0650 \u0645\u0650\u0646\u0652\u0647\u064f\u0645\u064e\u0627 \u064a\u064e\u062a\u064e\u0641\u064e\u0631\u064e\u0651\u0639\u064f \u0643\u064e\u0644\u0650\u0645\u064e\u0627\u062a\u064c. \u0625\u0650\u062d\u0652\u062f\u064e\u0627\u0647\u064f\u0645\u064e\u0627 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0639\u0650\u0628\u064f \u0645\u064e\u0639\u0652\u0631\u064f\u0648\u0641\u064c. \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0652\u0645\u064e\u0644\u0652\u0639\u064e\u0628\u064f: \u0645\u064e\u0643\u064e\u0627\u0646\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0639\u0650\u0628\u0650. \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0652\u0643\u064e\u0644\u0650\u0645\u064e\u0629\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0623\u064f\u062e\u0652\u0631\u064e\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0644\u064f\u0651\u0639\u064e\u0627\u0628\u064f: \u0645\u064e\u0627 \u064a\u064e\u0633\u0650\u064a\u0644\u064f \u0645\u0650\u0646\u0652 \u0641\u064e\u0645\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u0635\u064e\u0651\u0628\u0650\u064a\u0650\u0651. \u0648\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0639\u064e\u0628\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0652\u063a\u064f\u0644\u064e\u0627\u0645\u064f \u064a\u064e\u0644\u0652\u0639\u064e\u0628\u064f: \u0633\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e \u0644\u064f\u0639\u064e\u0627\u0628\u064f\u0647\u064f.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a> \u0645\u0628\u0627\u0631\u0643<\/strong>: \u062b\u0627\u0628\u062a \u0627\u0644\u062e\u064a\u0631\u060c \u062b\u0628\u0648\u062a \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0627\u0621 \u0641\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0628\u0631\u0643\u0629 [3]<\/p>\n\n\n\n [4]<\/a> \u0638\u0644\u0645<\/strong>: \u0627\u0635\u0644\u0627\u0646<\/p>\n\n\n\n -\u062e\u0644\u0627\u0641\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0636\u0650\u0651\u064a\u0627\u0621 \u0648\u0627\u0644\u0646\u0648\u0631.<\/p>\n\n\n\n -\u0648\u0648\u064e\u0636\u0652\u0639 \u0627\u0644\u0634\u064e\u0651\u064a\u0621\u0650 \u063a\u064a\u0631\u064e \u0645\u0648\u0636\u0639\u0647 \u062a\u0639\u062f\u0650\u0651\u064a\u0627\u064b.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0641\u0627\u0644\u0623\u0648\u064e\u0651\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0638\u064f\u0651\u0644\u0652\u0645\u0629\u060c \u0648\u0627\u0644\u062c\u0645\u0639 \u0638\u0644\u0645\u0627\u062a. \u0648\u0627\u0644\u0638\u064e\u0651\u0644\u0627\u0645: \u0627\u0633\u0645 \u0627\u0644\u0638\u0644\u0645\u0629\u061b \u0648\u0642\u062f \u0623\u0638\u0652\u0644\u064e\u0645\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0643\u0627\u0646 \u0625\u0638\u0644\u0627\u0645\u0627\u064b.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0648\u0627\u0644\u0623\u0635\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0622\u062e\u064e\u0631 \u0638\u0644\u064e\u0645\u064e\u0647 \u064a\u0638\u0644\u0650\u0645\u064f\u0647 \u0638\u064f\u0644\u0652\u0645\u0627\u064b. \u0648\u0627\u0644\u0623\u0635\u0644 \u0648\u0636\u0639\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0634\u064e\u0651\u064a\u0652\u0621\u0650 [\u0641\u064a] \u063a\u064a\u0631 \u0645\u0648\u0636\u0639\u0647\u061b \u0623\u0644\u0627 \u062a\u064e\u0631\u0627\u0647\u0645 \u064a\u0642\u0648\u0644\u0648\u0646: \u201c\u0645\u064e\u0646\u0652 \u0623\u0634\u0652\u0628\u064e\u0647\u064e [\u0623\u0628\u0627\u0647] \u0641\u0645\u0627 \u0638\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0645\u064e\u201d\u060c \u0623\u064a \u0645\u0627 \u0648\u0636\u0639 \u0627\u0644\u0634\u064e\u0651\u0628\u064e\u0647 \u063a\u064a\u0631\u064e \u0645\u0648\u0636\u0639\u0647.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [5]<\/a> (\u0623\u064e\u064a\u064e\u062f\u064e) \u0623\u064e\u0635\u0652\u0644\u064c \u0648\u064e\u0627\u062d\u0650\u062f\u064c\u060c \u064a\u064e\u062f\u064f\u0644\u064f\u0651 \u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0642\u064f\u0648\u064e\u0651\u0629\u0650 \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0652\u062d\u0650\u0641\u0652\u0638\u0650. \u064a\u064f\u0642\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064f: \u0623\u064e\u064a\u064e\u0651\u062f\u064e\u0647\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0647\u064f\u060c \u0623\u064e\u064a\u0652: \u0642\u064e\u0648\u064e\u0651\u0627\u0647\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0647\u064f. \u0642\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e \u062a\u064e\u0639\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e\u0649: {\u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0633\u064e\u0651\u0645\u064e\u0627\u0621\u064e \u0628\u064e\u0646\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0646\u064e\u0627\u0647\u064e\u0627 \u0628\u0650\u0623\u064e\u064a\u0652\u062f\u064d} [\u0627\u0644\u0630\u0627\u0631\u064a\u0627\u062a: 47] . \u0641\u064e\u0647\u064e\u0630\u064e\u0627 \u0645\u064e\u0639\u0652\u0646\u064e\u0649 \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0642\u064f\u0648\u064e\u0651\u0629\u0650.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember the two sons of Adam in Blog Post Day 56<\/a>? These two words told us how the aggressive brother killed the aware, who said he would never do anything in his power at all to kill his aggressive brother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imagine yourself (or someone whom you love most on this earth), in the most hopeless state you can think of. What would you do then? On whom would you call\u2026 or more importantly, WHO can answer your call? (Refer to Blog Post Day 64<\/a> Posting of March 22nd.)<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perhaps we should widen the scope in which we understand the title \u2018An\u2019aam\u2019 to include the many other<\/em> blessings this chapter mentions!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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