{"id":482,"date":"2021-11-14T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-14T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iqralaan.wordpress.com\/?p=482"},"modified":"2022-12-30T09:27:33","modified_gmt":"2022-12-30T05:27:33","slug":"welcome-friends-day-82-quran-7-80-95-pages-161162","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iqraprinciple.com\/ar\/welcome-friends-day-82-quran-7-80-95-pages-161162\/","title":{"rendered":"HQ 7:80-95, pages 161+162"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome Friends:  Ahlan wa sahlan<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We ended our last Reading just as Prophet Saleh\u2019s people were destroyed by a quake, and he left them there as he lamented the fact that they did not like al-NaaSiHeen\/ the Restorers (of relationships\/values etc..).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is something for us to reflect on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do we receive the good advice of people whose only intention is to help us mend? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we think back to our childhood and teens we realize that our parents were our first \u2018naaSiHeen\u2019 before our teachers. Later, some of our friends and our colleagues may have offered us good advice, although -at the time- we may never have liked anyone trying to help us mend our ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only now do we realize the value of \u2018naSeeHah\/\u0646\u0635\u064a\u062d\u0629 \u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IMPORTANT:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our regular and discerning readers will notice that each one of the Prophets mentioned, were dealing with a group of people who were \u2013all together- committing one of the Inviolables \u0627\u0644\u0645\u062d\u0631\u0651\u0645\u0627\u062a  upon the \u2018Straightened Path\u2019 (see Blog Post Day 76<\/a> for Straightened Path, and Blog Post Day 77<\/a> for deviance from it).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Straightened Path was detailed in HQ 6:151-153, where we noted that its Inviolables relate to providing all members of society with a wholesome life, bringing together aspects of worship with benevolent attitudes and compassionate behavior, forging relationships untainted by sexual wrongs or fraudulent business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yusuf Ali\u2019s<\/a> Translation of this Chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muhammad Asad\u2019s<\/a> Translation of this Chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

COMMENTS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In today\u2019s Reading we will encounter the brief narratives of two Prophets and their people:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prophet Lot and Prophet Shu\u2019ayb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PAGE <\/strong>161<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.  <\/strong>Verses 80-81 (from page 159) introduce us to the narrative of Prophet Lot, peace upon him.  The \u2018people of Lot- \u0642\u0648\u0645 \u0644\u0648\u0637\u2019 were violating one of the Inviolables of the Straightened path (commandment number 4 – see Blog Post Day 76<\/a>), and seem to have been the first community ever to regularly and openly practice homosexual acts \u2018in open assemblies\u2019 (HQ 29:29).  Prophet Lot calls the men who (continuous tense) were approaching<\/em> men<\/em> in lust\/desire rather than women: \u2018Musrifoon \u0645\u0633\u0631\u0641\u0648\u0646.\u2019 or excessive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is VERY interesting that the Qur\u2019an calls them \u2018Excessive.\u2019 This indicates that they had intentionally \u2018exceeded\u2019 in sexual practices what is beyond the wholesome.<\/em>  Look at other verses which mention \u2018sarafa\u2019- or being excessive, usually related to insatiable appetites (for food, drink, and now: sex).  We\u2019ve already dealt with a few such verses in HQ 6:141; 7:31.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.  Verses 82-84 continue the brief introductory narrative of Lot\u2019s story, his people\u2019s ironic response to him, as well as a summary of what happened to them.  Later, other chapters will tell us more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is some similarity to the Biblical narrative as well as departure from it; see Ali\u2019s<\/a> and Asad\u2019s<\/a> commentaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here we note that God \u2018rained upon them rain,\u2019 or \u2018maTar\/\u0645\u0637\u0631\u2019\u2026and we note that whenever this word appears in the Qur\u2019an<\/a> it indicates a destructive<\/em> rain.[1]<\/sup><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ASIDE:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a beautiful verse in the Qur\u2019an (HQ2:265) which mentions TWO types of rain<\/a>, but reading its English  explanation (as we did on Day 23) doesn\u2019t show the distinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That verse was about spending one\u2019s wealth seeking God\u2019s good-pleasure, giving an example of a fertile garden on high ground upon which there is \u2018waabil\/\u0648\u0627\u0628\u0650\u0644\u2019 a downpour of heavy rain.  It will yield its crop twofold- and will even be productive with \u2018Tall\/\u0637\u064e\u0644\u0651\u2019 a sprinkling of rain or dew.  (What beautiful encouragement to spend!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So now we know three words meaning \u2018rain\u2019 in Arabic, each specific to a certain type of rain, although the common word used by Arabs is \u2018maTar\/\u0645\u064e\u0637\u064e\u0631\u2019 which has become \u2018generic,\u2019 meaning that we use this word for all types of rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.  Verse 85 takes us to Prophet Shu\u2019ayb, peace upon him and his tribe of Madyan.  Similar to what Prophets Noah, Hud, and Saleh had said, he too tells his people that he was sent to tell them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026My People, Worship God; you have no god other than Him \u2026.!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(see Tanzil)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here we note that he was called \u2018the brother of,\u2019 just as many other Prophets were called<\/a>, indicating that he was part of that community,  bringing his larger family what would benefit them in this life and the next; being a true brother to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

True brotherhood means wholehearted care for one\u2019s brethren, wanting selflessly what\u2019s best for them, and then advising them humbly as one of them.  We see this again and again in the stories of God\u2019s Prophets, peace and blessings upon them all.  Knowing that, we might realize the extent of the pain they must have felt as their stories were unfolding to the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within this verse we hear the warning that they should not corrupt the earth after it had been put right (iSlaah\/\u0625\u0635\u0644\u0627\u062d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We might wonder what that means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To each generation it means what God had commanded at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their time was different, and they were demanded to do what -to us- is quite basic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are interested in what it means TO US, remembering that WE were the ones commanded (and warned) in Verse 56<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does \u2018corrupting the earth after it had been put right\u2019<\/em> <\/a>mean to us today?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We reflect upon this and note that, since the earth seems to have required \u2018putting right\u2019 for us, and since The Path we should follow seems to have been \u2018straightened\u2019 then perhaps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The expression \u2018corrupting the earth\u2019<\/em> means committing any of the Inviolables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The expression \u2018after the earth had been put right\u2019<\/em> means after God had rectified and balanced everything upon it for our wholesome existence AND straightened The Path for us through the Messages and Messengers He had been sending, until it was finally straightened for Moses and Aaron and  delineated clearly for us in the Qur\u2019an.[2]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, not<\/em> corrupting the earth after it had been put right\u2019<\/em>  seems to tell us (recipients of the Qur\u2019an) not to commit any Inviolable act, now that God had regulated everything on earth for us and given us The Straightened Path to follow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, these words seem to warn us that any Inviolable act we commit will not only affect us personally by taking us off the Straightened Path, but any Inviolable act we commit<\/em> would be corrupting the earth <\/em>(but God knows best -\u0648\u0627\u0644\u0644\u0647 \u0623\u0639\u0644\u0645).[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4.  The tribe of Madyan were violating one of the Inviolables of the Straightened path (commandment number 7\u2013 Blog Post Day 76<\/a>), cheating in weight and measure, defrauding, and robbing people of their just dues (see Ali\u2019s note<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were \u2018laying ambush\u2019 in every path (Siraat- \u0635\u0631\u0627\u0637) threatening and preventing Those Who had Faith in God from pursuing God\u2019s way (Sabeel-Allah \u0633\u064e\u0628\u0650\u064a\u0644\u0650 \u0671\u0644\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0647\u0650), wanting it to be crooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We learn of their actions from Prophet Shu\u2019ayb\u2019s most eloquent<\/em> address to them in these three verses (85-87)<\/a> where he commands them to be just in their dealings, ending by telling them all -Those Who had Faith and Trust in his message as well as those who didn\u2019t- to await God\u2019s judgment of their differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His words should be inscribed upon our walls (or stuck on our smart-screens).  It is no wonder that he is traditionally considered the \u2018Orator among Prophets\u2019 or \u2018Khateeb el Anbiyaa\u2019 \u062e\u0637\u064a\u0628 \u0627\u0644\u0623\u0646\u0628\u064a\u0627\u0621- peace upon him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PAGE <\/strong>162<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5.  Countering the eloquent address of Prophet Shu\u2019ayb are the threats of the arrogant Chieftains (see Ali\u2019s explanation of verse 88<\/a> and his note; all so sadly relevant to us today).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verse 89<\/a> is the response of Those Who Attained Faith to the threats of the Arrogant, together with a supplication to their Lord-Sustainer (in Ali\u2019s explanation):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We should indeed invent a lie against God, if we returned to your ways after God hath rescued us therefrom; nor could we by any manner of means return thereto unless it be as in the will and plan of God, Our Lord. Our Lord can reach out to the utmost recesses of things by His knowledge. In the God is our trust. our Lord! decide Thou between us and our people in truth, for Thou art the best to decide.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arabic Readers might note the word \u2018millah\/\u0645\u0650\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0629\u2019 in this verse, which we have already encountered as we went through the Qur\u2019an and explained briefly as \u2018creed.\u2019  Both Ali and Asad translate it here as \u2018ways.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ASIDE:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Readers using their books and different websites with Yusuf Ali\u2019s explanation might wonder why there seems to be some inconsistency among the different links\/books in Yusuf Ali\u2019s  explanations,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

where he at times says \u2018God\u2019 and at other times says \u2018Allah.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answer is:  
Yusuf Ali\u2019s choice was clear; his explanation did NOT include the word \u2018Allah.\u2019 He even spoke about why he had consistently used the word \u2018God\u2019 in explaining –to English speakers<\/em>– that the One Whom he had intended was God, The Creator, worshipped by most faiths on earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we now find in all reprints after his death are the publishers\u2019 choices, which I think helped create the division which Yusuf Ali (and Muhammad Asad and all who speak of Islam in languages other than Arabic) have tried to overcome.   We have to keep convincing people who don\u2019t speak Arabic that by \u2018Allah\u2019 we mean God.[4]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6.  In Verse 90 we find that the reaction to Prophet Shu\u2019ayb\u2019s message coming (as is always the case) from the people who happen to be most prominent at the time, trying hard NOT to change the status quo<\/em>.  They try to convince others saying, \u2018You would then be Losers,\u2019 while it is they who are dreading the prospect of losing their prominence.  The irony is that, had they followed their Messenger, they would have retained prominence both in this life and the next!  The next verses tell us who the real losers are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verses 91-92 narrate what happened after that (they were taken by the quake) and having belied Prophet Shu\u2019ayb it is they who were THE Losers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Verse 93 Prophet Shu\u2019ayb <\/a>reflects about his good counsel that went unheeded (explained by Asad):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd he turned away from them, and said: \u201cO my people! Indeed, I delivered unto you my Sustainer\u2019s message and gave you good advice: how, then, could I mourn for people who have denied the truth?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7.  Verses 94-95 hold statements related to the previous Prophets and their people, in Asad\u2019s interpretation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAND NEVER YET have We sent a prophet unto any community without trying its people with misfortune and hardship, so that they might humble themselves (94)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then We transformed the affliction into ease of life, so that they throve and said [to themselves], “Misfortune and hardship befell our forefathers as well” \u2013 whereupon We took them to task, all of a sudden, without their being aware [of what was coming].<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The word which Asad explains in Verse 94 as \u2018humbling themselves\u2019 and Ali explains as \u2018learn humility\u2019 is \u064a\u064e\u0636\u064e\u0651\u0631\u064e\u0651\u0639\u064f\u0648\u06e1\u0646\u064e  to which we add the concept of vulnerable dependency, compliance AND conviction.  Remember,  we spoke earlier on Day 66 about this concept in HQ 6:42 which is quite similar to Verse 94 today<\/a>,  relating to  \u0636\u0631\u0639 and how a baby feels towards its mother while being suckled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what this verse seems to indicate is that whenever a Prophet came to a community (and wasn\u2019t heeded by a simple delivery of his message and then his warning), that community would be taken by suffering and adversity which might make them feel vulnerable, dependent, and compliant, FULLY CONVINCED that none but God could save them. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then Verse 95 speaks of relief coming upon that community after which, in time, the next generation dismissively lets go <\/em>(the memory\/ lesson) of the suffering and adversity that had afflicted its parents until God unexpectedly takes them (to account).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What a lesson this should have been for Qureish, and what a lesson this alternation is for us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The (root) verb \u2018afawa\/\u0639\u0641\u0648\u2019 here is explained by Asad as \u2018to thrive\u2019 and by Ali as \u2018to grow and multiply.\u2019 Our lexicographer Ibn Faris said that although linguistics have indeed offered that understanding, the word would still mean to \u2018let go of something\/ leave something\u2019<\/em> -after which it might grow.[5]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So we stand by our understanding of  \u20183afu\/\u0639\u0641\u0648\u2019 as \u2018letting go\/absolving\/overlooking,\u2019 for God is Al-Afuww\/\u0627\u0644\u0639\u0641\u0648\u0651.. \u2026. and it is to Him that we \u2018nataDharra3\/\u0646\u062a\u0636\u064e\u0631\u064e\u0651\u0639\u2019 beseechingly, that He might overlook all our misdeeds and absolve us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enough said!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our next Reading is from HQ 7:96-116<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peace unto all!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

[1]<\/a> There are many words for \u2018rain,\u2019 each indicating what kind of rain it is.  The beneficial rain mentioned in the Qur\u2019an, the kind that brings relief, is called \u2018gheith\/\u063a\u064a\u062b\u2019<\/a> (soft th- as in \u2018think\u2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[2]<\/a> We spoke of THE Straightened Path with the definite article- al SiraaT al Mustaqeem- which appears only in our FaatiHa and in HQ37:118<\/a> related to Moses and Aaron, peace upon them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[3]<\/a> God knows best\u2026 but what seems to reinforce this line of tadabbur is the link between one\u2019s \u2018fasaad\/corruption\u2019 and the \u2018Siraat\/path\u2019 one chooses to take, shown in Verse 86 which is the only verse in the Qur\u2019an mentioning both words together<\/a>, which led me to see the connection between corruption and any path other than The Straightened Path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[4]<\/a> See Day 1and the comment: \u2018Allah\u2019 is not an uncommon word for \u2018God.\u2019<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

[5]<\/a>\u0627\u0628\u0646 \u0641\u0627\u0631\u0633:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0639\u064e\u0641\u064e\u0648: \u0623\u064e\u0635\u0652\u0644\u064e\u0627\u0646\u0650 \u064a\u064e\u062f\u064f\u0644\u064f\u0651 \u0623\u064e\u062d\u064e\u062f\u064f\u0647\u064f\u0645\u064e\u0627 \u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0649 \u062a\u064e\u0631\u0652\u0643\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u0634\u064e\u0651\u064a\u0652\u0621\u0650\u060c \u0648\u064e\u0627\u0644\u0652\u0622\u062e\u064e\u0631\u064f \u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0649 \u0637\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0628\u0650\u0647\u0650. \u062b\u064f\u0645\u064e\u0651 \u064a\u064e\u0631\u0652\u062c\u0650\u0639\u064f \u0625\u0650\u0644\u064e\u064a\u0652\u0647\u0650 \u0641\u064f\u0631\u064f\u0648\u0639\u064c \u0643\u064e\u062b\u0650\u064a\u0631\u064e\u0629\u064c \u0644\u064e\u0627 \u062a\u064e\u062a\u064e\u0641\u064e\u0627\u0648\u064e\u062a\u064f \u0641\u0650\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0645\u064e\u0639\u0652\u0646\u064e\u0649.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“\u0648\u064e\u0642\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e \u0623\u064e\u0647\u0652\u0644\u064f \u0627\u0644\u0644\u064f\u0651\u063a\u064e\u0629\u0650 \u0643\u064f\u0644\u064f\u0651\u0647\u064f\u0645\u0652: \u064a\u064f\u0642\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064f \u0645\u0650\u0646\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0634\u064e\u0651\u0639\u0652\u0631\u0650 \u0639\u064e\u0641\u064e\u0648\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0647\u064f \u0648\u064e\u0639\u064e\u0641\u064e\u064a\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0647\u064f\u060c \u0645\u0650\u062b\u0652\u0644\u064f \u0642\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0648\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0647\u064f \u0648\u064e\u0642\u064e\u0644\u064e\u064a\u0652\u062a\u064f\u0647\u064f\u060c \u0648\u064e\u0639\u064e\u0641\u064e\u0627 \u0641\u064e\u0647\u064f\u0648\u064e \u0639\u064e\u0627\u0641\u064d\u060c \u0648\u064e\u0630\u064e\u0644\u0650\u0643\u064e \u0625\u0650\u0630\u064e\u0627 \u062a\u064e\u0631\u064e\u0643\u0652\u062a\u064e\u0647\u064f \u062d\u064e\u062a\u064e\u0651\u0649 \u064a\u064e\u0643\u0652\u062b\u064f\u0631\u064e \u0648\u064e\u064a\u064e\u0637\u064f\u0648\u0644\u064e. \u0642\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0644\u064e\u0651\u0647\u064f – \u062a\u064e\u0639\u064e\u0627\u0644\u064e\u0649 -: {\u062d\u064e\u062a\u064e\u0651\u0649 \u0639\u064e\u0641\u064e\u0648\u0652\u0627} [\u0627\u0644\u0623\u0639\u0631\u0627\u0641: 95] \u0623\u064e\u064a\u0652 \u0646\u064e\u0645\u064e\u0648\u0652\u0627 \u0648\u064e\u0643\u064e\u062b\u064f\u0631\u064f\u0648\u0627. \u0648\u064e\u0647\u064e\u0630\u064e\u0627 \u064a\u064e\u062f\u064f\u0644\u064f\u0651 \u0639\u064e\u0644\u064e\u0649 \u0645\u064e\u0627 \u0642\u064f\u0644\u0652\u0646\u064e\u0627\u0647\u064f\u060c \u0623\u064e\u0646\u064e\u0651 \u0623\u064e\u0635\u0652\u0644\u064e \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0628\u064e\u0627\u0628\u0650 \u0641\u0650\u064a \u0647\u064e\u0630\u064e\u0627 \u0627\u0644\u0652\u0648\u064e\u062c\u0652\u0647\u0650 \u0627\u0644\u062a\u064e\u0651\u0631\u0652\u0643\u064f.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome Friends:  Ahlan wa sahlan! We ended our last Reading just as Prophet Saleh\u2019s people were destroyed by a quake, and he left them there as he lamented the fact that they did not like al-NaaSiHeen\/ the Restorers (of relationships\/values etc..). This is something for us to reflect on: How do we receive the good advice […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-quran-blog"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iqraprinciple.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iqraprinciple.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iqraprinciple.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iqraprinciple.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iqraprinciple.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=482"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/iqraprinciple.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1557,"href":"https:\/\/iqraprinciple.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482\/revisions\/1557"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iqraprinciple.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iqraprinciple.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iqraprinciple.com\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}