Covenant that “God is our Lord” - Quran Chapter 7 – 172 (Pt-9, Stg-2) (L-1051) - درس قرآن

Quran Chapter 7 – 172 (Pt-9, Stg-2) (L-1051) - درس قرآن

Covenant that “God is our Lord”

Chapter ‘Al-‘A’raaf (The Heights) – Surah – 7)

‘A-‘uu-zu  Billaahi minash-Shay-taanir- Rajiim. 
(I seek refuge in God from Satan the outcast)

Bis-Millaahir-Rah-maanir-Rahiim.
(In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful)

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ شَهِدْنَآ أَن تَقُولُوا۟يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَٰذَا غَٰفِلِينَ 172

172.  And (remember) when thy Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam, from their reins, their seed, and made them testify of themselves, (saying): Am I not your Lord? They said: Yea, verily, we testify. (That was) lest ye should say at the Day of Resurrection, lo! of this we were unaware-

172.  Wa  ‘iz  ‘akhaza  Rabbuka  mim-Baniii- ‘Aadama  min-  zuhuu-rihim  zur-riyyatahum  wa  ‘ash-hadahum  ‘alaaa  ‘anfu-sihim.  “’A-lastu  bi-Rabbikum”.  Qaaluu  “Balaa;  shahidnaa”.  ‘An-  taquuluu  Yawmal-Qiyaamati  ‘innaa  kunnaa  ‘an  haazaa  gaa-filiin.

Commentary

By meditating in the subject of this verse it becomes clear that human being does not need any bigger, logical and philosophical arguments for knowing his Lord. With a little attention, he understands that “Lord of mine and everything is there Someone else” Who is Exalted and Higher than these outward things of the universe. Of the outward things, even the greatest thing is able to do nothing at its own, but is bound up in rules and laws, from which it appears that its Lord is there Someone else Who sets rules and works for it also and Who cannot be seen here. But His epithets and signs are so clear that no problem happens in accepting Him. That is why the ignorant, the immature and even the illiterate understand with just signs that “My Lord is the Greatest of all appearances”. The reason for it is known from this verse.

It is commanded: O Our Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him): Thy Lord has taken covenant from every human being, the entire fathers and those all children who had to be borne, before their birth, by collecting their souls and asking from every soul separately that they should reply God’s question: Am I not your Lord? Those entire souls testified: Yes, verily, You are our Lord. But after birth, they forget their covenant being entangled in apparent things. Sometimes they tell about anyone that; that is our lord and sometimes they begin to say: that thing is our lord. Therefore, We remind to every humankind by sending this Qur’an through Our Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him): Behold! You have accepted that I am your Lord, so you should remember it.

Holy Qur’an has been exclaiming that every human being can know easily his actual Lord because his soul has testified before birth that He is One Lord, and this covenant has been reminded by God’s Messengers (peace be upon Them) and His Scriptures again and again in the world.

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif). https://youtu.be/UZ2UvWkD_lk

History is an exemplary lesson - Quran Chapter 7 – 171 (Pt-9, Stg-2) (L-1050) - درس قرآن

Quran Chapter 7 – 171 (Pt-9, Stg-2) (L-1050) - درس قرآن

History is an exemplary lesson

Chapter ‘Al-‘A’raaf (The Heights) – Surah – 7)

‘A-‘uu-zu  Billaahi minash-Shay-taanir- Rajiim. 
(I seek refuge in God from Satan the outcast)

Bis-Millaahir-Rah-maanir-Rahiim.
(In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful)

Holy Qur’an has put before us the circumstances of the ancient people, not as successive history or complete stories, but at different occasions, those circumstances have been described again and again in different ways; from which, we may learn something and any new useful matter may be known for dwelling. Till this time, the circumstances of Prophet Adam, Noah, Hud, Salih, Lot, Shoaib and Moses (peace be upon Them) have been explained in this Chapter, and in every incident; many useful things exist for us. Particularly, we should learn much from the circumstance of the Children of Israel. These people were present at that time; when foundation of human civilization was being laid in that period. They were being taught “how to live straight forward and peacefully, and those evils were being brought to fore, in which germs of human destruction were hidden.

There is no doubt in this matter that if the Children of Israel had obeyed the Commands of Torah with true heart, then this dangerous map of the world would not have existed, which, we have been looking now. Entire responsibility of putting the human being on wrong path is on the same nation, who is called Israelite, the Children of Israel or the Jews. The Holy Qur’an has placed their necessary circumstances in front of us opened. First aim from it is to induce the Jews unto a sense of their responsibility, along with it, it is a stress for us that if they do not accept, you should abstain absolutely from their inhumanity acts, so that; you may produce for the mankind; correct way of living in this world, and may show yourselves as being an example of it. And which responsibility was given to the Jews but they could not perform, now you should complete it and prove yourself worthy of the title of “A Good Nation”.

In the previous lessons, attention was drawn to the invaluable benefits from time to time, which we can acquire from the circumstances of the Children of Israel. At this stage, while the circumstances of the Children of Israel have ended in this Chapter, we should pay attention to those particular matters due to which, the Children of Israel were deprived of being leaders of the mankind. And presently, they have no work to do in the world save spreading the temptation and destruction of the humanity:

They considered that only the life of this world is everything. And despite losing the power of sovereignty, they remained in this effort that helter shelter, they should obtain the mastery and honor over others. The result of which was nothing except that they spread confusion and disorder.

Collecting the wealth and property and hoarding it with themselves had become their habit, and they engaged in the effort of making and keeping other people as their necessitous. It was the result that two permanent classes were in existence into them i.e. the rich and the poor. Those two classes will remain existent always and the rich will press the poor.

Nowadays, which tension has been spreading among the capitalists and the laborers in the world and both classes have been trying to choke each other, and have been frightening to one another with atomic weapons, these entire are the results of the Jewish mindset. 

All these things are necessary for us to avoid. We should not be involved in mutual antagonism like the Jews, but should sow the seed of co-operation, alliance and unity among ourselves; keeping the Islamic principle of equation and human brotherhood in front of us.

Holy Qur’an does not tell the history of the nations but describes the science of the history that “What can be learnt from the life of the nations”?

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif). https://youtu.be/KHMHspWoPMc

Covenant of the Children of Israel - Quran Chapter 7 – 171 (Pt-9, Stg-2) (L-1049) - درس قرآن

Quran Chapter 7 – 171 (Pt-9, Stg-2) (L-1049) - درس قرآن

Covenant of the Children of Israel

Chapter ‘Al-‘A’raaf (The Heights) – Surah – 7)

‘A-‘uu-zu  Billaahi minash-Shay-taanir- Rajiim. 
(I seek refuge in God from Satan the outcast)

Bis-Millaahir-Rah-maanir-Rahiim.
(In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful)

وَإِذْ نَتَقْنَا ٱلْجَبَلَ فَوْقَهُمْ كَأَنَّهُۥ ظُلَّةٌ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُۥ وَاقِعٌۢ بِهِمْ خُذُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَيْنَٰكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ مَافِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ 171

171.  And when We shook the Mount above them, as if it were a covering, and they supposed that it was going to fall upon them (and We said): Hold fast that which We have given you, and remember that which is therein, that ye may ward off (evil).

171.  Wa  ‘iz  nataqNal-Jabala  faw-qahum  ka-‘annahuu  zullatunw-wa  zannuuu  ‘annahuu  waaqi-‘um-bihim.  Khuzuu  maaa  ‘aatay-Naakum-  bi-quwwatinw-waz-kuruu  maa  fiihi  la-‘allakum  tattaquun.

Commentary

NataqNaa – (We shook, elevated), it is past tense, which has been derived from nataqun. Nataqun means “to raise, to lift, to pick up.

Zullatun – (a thatched roof, a sunshade, a shadow), this word is from zillun, which means “a shadow, or to afford shelter, to cast a shadow”.  Zullatun is the thing which overshadows above the head as any roof, shelter etc.

It was explained in the previous verse that the Children of Israel were commanded in Torah that they should act upon those commands which have been written in it and transfer them unto other people “as it is” correctly without any kind of change. They should not make any change in its commands for a little worldly benefit. The abode of the Hereafter is ever so much better than the world and that will be acquired by those people only who are abstinent. God Almighty says: We promise that We shall give full reward to those who will adhere to the Commands of the Scripture and establish worship wholeheartedly, and nothing shall be reduced from their reward.

It has been described about the matter also that they had made covenant that they will perform in accordance with all commands, and this covenant was taken from them particularly, so that; they should remember it always and would not have any pretense of forgetting.

It is commanded: When any special arrangement would have been managed for getting accepted from someone, then there is no reason of forgetting it. They should have in their mind that they disputed instead of accepting the obedience fairly. It was the reason that Allah Almighty shook the Mount above their heads, as if it were covering, and they supposed that it was going to fall upon their head.

They began to tremble with fear and were confident that the Mount would fell upon them if they did not accept at the spot and they would have been pressed under the Mount. In this condition, they were ordered: Hold fast that which Commands have been mentioned in this Scripture (Torah) and bear in mind every time that it was the only form of their being abstemious. If they did not do so, then they would live nowhere.

This terrible scene of the Mount was produced for the purpose that they should remember it forever and that the covenant would come in their mind also which they made, because with which happening; any uncommon incident is paired, that cannot be forgotten easily.

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif). https://youtu.be/EaPLiEUFR1Y

Opposing the Scripture clearly - Quran Chapter 7 – 169b & 170 (Pt-9, Stg-2) (L-1048) - درس قرآن

Quran Chapter 7 – 169b & 170 (Pt-9, Stg-2) (L-1048) - درس قرآن

Opposing the Scripture clearly

Chapter ‘Al-‘A’raaf (The Heights) – Surah – 7)

‘A-‘uu-zu  Billaahi minash-Shay-taanir- Rajiim. 
(I seek refuge in God from Satan the outcast)

Bis-Millaahir-Rah-maanir-Rahiim.
(In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful)

فَخَلَفَمِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ وَرِثُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَٰذَا ٱلْأَدْنَىٰ وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَا وَإِن يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضٌ مِّثْلُهُۥ يَأْخُذُوهُ أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِم مِّيثَٰقُٱلْكِتَٰبِ أَن لَّا يَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْحَقَّ وَدَرَسُوا۟ مَا فِيهِ وَٱلدَّارُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ 169

وَٱلَّذِينَ يُمَسِّكُونَ بِٱلْكِتَٰبِوَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُصْلِحِينَ 170

169b.  Hath not the Covenant of the Scripture been taken on their behalf that they should not speak aught concerning Allah save the truth? And they have studied that which is therein. And the abode of the Hereafter is better, for those who ward off (evil). Have ye then no sense? 170.  And as for those who adhere to the Scripture, and establish worship. Lo! We squander not the reward of reformers.

169b.  ‘Alam  Yu’-khaz  ‘alay-him-Miisaaqul-Kitaabi  ‘allaa  yaquuluu  ‘alAllaahi  ‘illal-haqqa  wa  darasuu  maa  fiih.  Wad-Daarul-‘Aakhiratu  khayrul-lillaziina  yattaquun.  ‘Afa-laa  ta’-qiluun. 170.  Walla-ziina  yumassikuuna  bil-Kitaabi  wa  ‘aqaa-mus-Salaah.  ‘Innaa  laa  Nuzii-‘u  ‘ajral-Mus-lihiin.

Commentary

Miisaaqul-Kitaabi – (the Covenant of the Scripture, the Instructions mentioned in the Holy Book), the aim from Kitaabi is Holy Torah. Miisaaq – such Command, which is affirmed by the listener that he accepts it.

Darasuu – (they studied), it is a past tense which has been derived from dars. Dars means “to learn, to acquire, to study, to read”. The word tadriis has been derived from it also, which means to teach, to instruct, to discipline”. A word “Mudarras” is from its origin too; which means “the teacher, the school-master. Madrasah is also from dars, that is to say; a place of education i.e. School, College, Academy, Seminary etc.

It was described earlier that the true Words of Allah Almighty and His clear Commandments are entirely changed by the Children of Israel as and when they see any slightest worldly benefit. If any individual criticizes them, they put it aside fearlessly and say: We understand the Scripture of God. If any other desires to understand, he should approach us. We cannot commit any mistake. It is the consequence of this kind of thoughts that every individual considers: I have more knowledge than others. And he wants to assert his own point of view.

It is commanded that in Torah, they were instructed and they made a covenant that they will teach the people only those matters by the name of Allah Almighty, which really; He has taught and caused to understand them. They will never produce any self-invented before the people by saying: It is command of Allah Almighty.

These people have studied the Scripture and understood its commands. Now changing the Commands of Allah Almighty intentionally is just like breaking their covenant. Those people who fear God Almighty, they should bear in mind more about the Day of Resurrection. The Hereafter is better than this world. At last, have they been dull entirely of understanding? Allah Almighty says: We shall not squander the reward of those who adhere to the Scripture and establish worship regularly because they are righteous people.

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif). https://youtu.be/0S5-qT4qy94

Then what happened - Quran Chapter 7 – 169a (Pt-9, Stg-2) (L-1047) - درس قرآن

Quran Chapter 7 – 169a (Pt-9, Stg-2) (L-1047) - درس قرآن

Then what happened

Chapter ‘Al-‘A’raaf (The Heights) – Surah – 7)

‘A-‘uu-zu  Billaahi minash-Shay-taanir- Rajiim. 
(I seek refuge in God from Satan the outcast)

Bis-Millaahir-Rah-maanir-Rahiim.
(In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful)

فَخَلَفَمِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ وَرِثُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَٰذَا ٱلْأَدْنَىٰ وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَا وَإِن يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضٌ مِّثْلُهُۥ يَأْخُذُوهُ أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِم مِّيثَٰقُٱلْكِتَٰبِ أَن لَّا يَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْحَقَّ وَدَرَسُوا۟ مَا فِيهِ وَٱلدَّارُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ 169

169a.  And a generation hath succeeded them who inherited the Scriptures; they grasp the goods of this low life (as the price of evildoing) and say: It will be forgiven us. And if there came to them (again) the offer of the like, they would accept it (and would sin again).

169a.  Fa-khalafa  mim-  ba’-dihim  khalfunw-  warisul-Kitaaba  ya’-khuzuuna  ‘araza  haazal-‘adnaa  wa  yaquuluuna  sa-yugfaru  lanaa.  Wa  ‘iny-ya’-tihim  ‘arazum-misluhuu  ya’-khuzuuh.

Commentary

Khalafa – (came later, succeeded), it is past tense which is made of “kh-l-f”. It means “those who came/survived after someone, being the successor”. Khalfun– (a degenerate, bad or wicked son), if the children of someone rise unworthy after his death, those children are called khalfun, that is to say; the children, who has fallen from good qualities of their formers. And if the children are worthy and good, those are called khalaf (the dutiful and worthy children).

‘Araza – (the goods), it aims “wealth and property, valuables, revenue and effects etc. which are considered useful in this life.

It is commanded that some of the earlier people were righteous but their successors rose as much unworthy that they made the entire matter disrupt. They possessed Holy Scripture Torah but made It source of income. If they seemed that a provision could be gained from anywhere, changed the words of Torah and sometimes they used to say something else by changing the actual meanings of the verses of Torah. They began to give a verdict according to the will of those who cherished them with gifts, presents and rarities, to please them. If anyone prevented them that such way of act was not correct, they might suffer from the severe wrath of Allah Almighty, in response, they used to say carelessly by shaking their head: We are children of Prophets. Their recommendation will save us clearly.

They used to say: We are dear children of God. We cannot be punished. When the nature of any individual becomes like this, then he takes courage to commit evils and whenever gets any opportunity, earns unlawfully as much as he wishes. Moreover, he seeks the chances: When will any prey be entangled and when shall I achieve my own purpose.  

After reciting this verse, those Muslim scholars should confess and be ashamed of their faults who don’t care: Whether have they not been going to explain the Divine’s Laws improperly to please the rich people? Sometimes, the human being commits any such act to please any patron or guardian which is unlawful according to the Law of Divine. At that time, he amuses with such matters which are in accordance with the matters of the Jews, for example; he says: Expedience is in it at the spot that it should be ignored. The door of repentance has been opened. This sin will be forgiven also where other sins will be forgiven. Intercession of so and so (any saint or venerable) will save me.

Allah Almighty save us from these kinds of absurd ideas. Sometimes these kinds of thoughts encourage the humankind to commit a sin. We should take warning from the wicked behavior of the Children of Israel.

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif). https://youtu.be/zE7jVzwbQQU

The Jews scattered - Quran Chapter 7 – 168 (Pt-9, Stg-2) (L-1046) - درس قرآن

Quran Chapter 7 – 168 (Pt-9, Stg-2) (L-1046) - درس قرآن

The Jews scattered

Chapter ‘Al-‘A’raaf (The Heights) – Surah – 7)

‘A-‘uu-zu  Billaahi minash-Shay-taanir- Rajiim. 
(I seek refuge in God from Satan the outcast)

Bis-Millaahir-Rah-maanir-Rahiim.
(In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful)

وَقَطَّعْنَٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أُمَمًا مِّنْهُمُ ٱلصَّٰلِحُونَ وَمِنْهُمْ دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ وَبَلَوْنَٰهُم بِٱلْحَسَنَٰتِ وَٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ 168

168.  And We have sundered them in the earth as (separate) nations. Some of them are righteous, and some far from that. And We have tried them with good things and evil things that haply they might return.

168.  Wa  qatta’-Naahum  fil-‘arzi  ’umamaa.  Minhu-mus-saali-huuna  wa  min-hum  duuna  zaalik.  Wa  balaw-Naahum  bil-hasanaati  was-sayyi-‘aati  la-‘allahum  yarji-‘uun.

Commentary

Qatta’-Naa – (We have sundered), it is past tense, origin of it is taqtiii’, which has been derived from qata’. Qata’ means “to cut”. Taqtiii’ means “to cut into little pieces”. Here it aims “they were divided in little tribes being dispersed due to the reason of their wicked deeds”.

The Children of Israel were descendants of twelve brothers and they had twelve big lineages, to whom, Prophet Moses (peace be upon Him) desired to accommodate in Palestine after getting them liberated from Egypt, where Pharaoh and his nation had made them target for tyranny and torment.

These people entered in the Peninsula of Sinai after crossing the Red Sea. But it was not possible for them to enter Palestine without fighting. Complete detail about this story has been described in Surah ‘Al-Maaa-‘idah that they denied from fighting and wandered in the dreary fields of Sinai Valley for forty years.

At last they conquered Palestine during the times of Prophet Yusha’ (peace be upon Him) and entered in the Holy Land. Then a very powerful sovereignty of the Children of Israel was established. That sovereignty remained established until they remained in the terms of intimacy mutually. The power and sovereignty was lost from them when their organizers departed. At last, due to quarrels with one another, they were dispersed hither and thither.

It has been commanded in this verse: Due to infighting between themselves and mutual rancor, We separated them in little tribes and shed abroad in different countries. Some of them were righteous and maximum people were disobedient and vicious. There was a time when they ruled prosperity as well as were entangled with calamities. They were required to learn and get warning from every kind of circumstances, and acquire collective power again; being unanimous in opinion among themselves, but they continued quarreling with one another, and their condition had gone from bad to worse.

The aim from describing about the circumstances of the Children of Israel is that the Muslims should learn and take a warning from them. And they should never let to lose their mutual alliance and amity. Alas! We did not take warning from their circumstances and could not be united, unanimous in our opinions. Holy Qur’an has been challenging us continuously, but we are those who don’t feel. (God forbid).

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif). https://youtu.be/zF2VSxuJwts