By Dr Humayun
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Introduction of Allah SBT
AOA everyone, there are few more questions before we move forward to understand Quran
a: This sequence of Qur’an is not the sequence the way it was revealed to prophet(PBUH)
b: What is purpose of this sequence then
I have tried to understand the reasons of this sequence and this is my feeling that as Quran is for guidance of humanity , it’s sequence should be applicable to all times and all human beings.
That is the particular reason to me that Allah(SBT) has introduced this book in this sequence. Allah (SBT) in the first sura al fatiha,has stressed about that he is the one , you should ask for guidance and then in my previous post that this is the only Book which will guide me but guidance is only for muttaqeen as per Allah (SBT).
After Allah (SBT) introduction of human beings and dividing them into three categories, next topic is introduction of Allah (SBT) ,as I mentioned and explained in my previous post, to believe in Him is the most difficult job according to me, as I feel that most of the time my behaviour is hypocritical rather then as a believer. So we start with the evidences to convince me about my creator.
Aya: 21
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ. وَالَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُون
Oh human being do Ibaadah of your Lord, who created you and the people before you so that you may become muttaqeen
When I looked at this Aya,s translation , scholars translated عبد worship which may serve the purpose but did not make me think about the importance, so for my understanding I found that any action which I love to do to show my boss and my boss praises me.This is a possible parable.
Next are few words which are used frequently for each other in English translation of Qur’an which don’t serve the purpose to me, although do explain the meaning.
Created : To have a discussion with non believers I think we need to differentiate between creator and other English words which are used equivalent to it, to me simple explanation is,
Creator is the one who makes something from nothing and will come in the next Ayahs in detail.
The other definitions like maker, discoverer, inventor are self explanatory .
As I mentioned that two prerequisites to believe in are
a: You can’t see your creator
b: There’s a day of accountability
So Allah(SBT) guides me and gives me the evidences to believe in him and the hereafter
Evidence number: 1
Aya: 22
الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ فِرَاشًا وَالسَّمَاءَ بِنَاءً وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
Who has made earth a resting place for you and the sky as a canopy and sent down water and brought forth with it fruits as a provision for you. Then don’t make partners with Allah and you know this.
This Aya is very simple and any person who has a common sense doesn’t need more evidence to believe in Allah (SBT) that there’s a creator.These creations of Allah (SBT) telling me , have you ever come across a person who claimed that he created them , is that not enough for you to believe in Him.
As Quran is the book of Allah (SBT) and is the guidance for humanity, next evidence is related to it,
Evidence: 2
Aya: 23
وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوا بِسُورَةٍ مِّن مِّثْلِهِ وَادْعُوا شُهَدَاءَكُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
And if you have a doubt which we have sent to our slave , then produce a Surah of the like thereof and call your witness besides Allah(SBT) , if you are truthful.
Historical proven facts are there , that this challenge has never been fulfilled and Quran is the only revealed book which is unchanged on the face of earth.
So this is the second invitation to me to believe in creator . Next is challenge of Allah (SBT) that you will never be able to do it even with the best inventions and knowledge you can get
Aya: 24
فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا وَلَن تَفْعَلُوا فَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ الَّتِي وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ ۖ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَافِرِينَ
But if you can’t do it and you will never be able to do it,then fear the fire, whose fuel is human and stones, prepared for disbelievers.
And the next Aya is the reward for believers
Aya: 25
وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۖ كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا مِنْهَا مِن ثَمَرَةٍ رِّزْقًا ۙ قَالُوا هَٰذَا الَّذِي رُزِقْنَا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَأُتُوا بِهِ مُتَشَابِهًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا أَزْوَاجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ
ۖ وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
And give good tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with a provision of fruit therefrom, they will say, “This is what we were provided with before.” And it is given to them in likeness. And they will have therein purified spouses, and they will abide therein eternally.
Evidence :3
This evidence is very interesting, read the Aya
Aya: 26
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي أَن يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًا مَّا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا ۚ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًا ۘ يُضِلُّ بِهِ كَثِيرًا وَيَهْدِي بِهِ كَثِيرًا ۚ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلَّا الْفَاسِقِينَ
Indeed, Allah is not ashamed to present an example of a mosquito or bigger than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord. But those who disbelieve, they say, “What did Allah intend by this as an example?” He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby. And He misleads not except the defiantly disobedient.
To my understanding Allah(SBT) is explaining that if a person who is not convinced with the above two evidences, it’s unlikely he/she will be convinced with these further evidences, but because Allah (SBT) wants to convict the people on the basis of evidence,this evidence is for people who believe in science.
Allah (SBT) is saying ,the example which I am giving is a disgrace but I don’t feel disgraced , can you ask these people to make a mosquito. As we know scientifically that we have not created anything, but we have discovered, invented or produced these from a source.
As we all know that there are more than 100 elements in the earth which are the constituents of the animals including human. Allah (SBT) is saying can you put these together to make a mosquito forget about the rest.
Although it is not a parable, that if parents have to prove that they are sincere to their children, although parents looked after their children when they were totally dependent on them , Allah (SBT) is convincing me and the others that he is the creator, although he doesn’t need to prove it but for my understanding is not ashamed of giving this example.
Next Aya is a reminder that after creation of human beings, all of us made a covenant, why it’s here Allah (SBT) knows the best but my understanding is as Allah (SBT ) has the copy right of all his creations, I am using these creations but made a promise to use these according to guidelines , so to remind me that please do what you promised to do, read it
Aya: 27
الَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ اللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ مِيثَاقِهِ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ
Who break the covenant of Allah after contracting it and sever that which Allah has ordered to be joined and cause corruption on earth. It is those who are the losers.
Evidence: 4
Aya: 28
كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَاتًا فَأَحْيَاكُمْ ۖ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
How can you disbelieve in Allah when you were lifeless and He brought you to life; then He will cause you to die, then He will bring you to life, and then to Him you will be returned.
This is final discussion or evidence to convince me to believe in Him, that can I think about my creation, who am l , where was I before I came to this world, what will happen after I will die. This is for a purpose and accountability.
Last Aya of this introduction is
Aya: 29
هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ لَكُم مَّا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَسَوَّاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ ۚ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
It is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth. Then He directed Himself to the heaven, and made them seven heavens, and He is Knowing of all things.
Allah (SBT) says, I am the creator, I have the copy rights of all these what you see, I know what is life span what’s there.
Next question who am I, where did I come from ,where will I go , is next topic from Aya 30 – 39, will come back inshaallah.
