حزب: 5

Misguidance results from following one’s desires:

{ أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَٰهَهُ هَوَاهُ}

(Have you seen he who has taken as his god his [own] desire,) (Al-Jaathiya: 23)

(… زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ ) (Beautified for people …): The verb ‘beautified’ is passive, and the Almighty hasn’t stated the subject (who has beautified).

(… حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ …) (…is the love of that which they desire …): There are integral desires in humans, and such desires indicate the strong tendency by one’s self to do a certain thing. The sexual desire, for example, is integral in humans and is meant for sustaining mankind. Such desire is undeniable. Likewise, the love of children or money is an innate part of humans. Anyhow, there are ways set by the Almighty to fulfill such desires since they are integral in humans. Therefore, Allah is the One who beautifies desires when someone fulfill their desires in lawful ways, and vice versa, Satan is the one who beautifies desires when someone fulfill their desires in unlawful ways. For instance, the Almighty has made marriage the lawful way to fulfill sexual desire; and Prophet Muhammad (saws) said:

“The whole world is a provision, and the best object of benefit of the world is the pious woman[1].”

Yet, Satan beautifies fulfilling such desire unlawfully for the one who commits adultery and profane others’ honors.

(… مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالْبَنِينَ …) (…of women and sons,…): The Almighty doesn’t say ‘children’ but rather ‘sons’ which is a description of a common state and not meant to prefer males over females. Allah (swt) has made male and female equal in terms of faith and fiducial duties. Such preference here is based on the human desire as the one who has daughters wishes to have a son. This is because they think that sustaining their progeny is only possible through the sons because the daughter will be under her husband.

Why were ‘women’ mentioned before ‘sons’? because the sexual desire is more active; that’s why ‘women’ is mentioned first since women give birth to sons.

(… وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ …) (…heaped-up sums of gold and silver …): Gold and silver are still the basis of global monetization till date, and gold is the base of currencies.

(… وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ …) (…fine branded horses …): Fine-branded horses are the ones that are of a certain color or well-trained, or have special food. People still love horses till now. Besides, horses are a symbol of strength:

{ وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُم مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ}

(And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy.) (Al-Anfal: 60)

This is not something from the past. Nowadays, we have the horse power which is used to measure the power of automobile motors. Just consider how precise are the Quranic wordings; horses symbolizes strength, and no one can claim that their time is over.

(… وَالْأَنْعَامِ …) (…and cattle …): which refers to what humans can eat, i.e. livestock.

(… وَالْحَرْثِ …) (…and tilled land …): which refers to the land for growing crops, i.e. agriculture.

(… ذَٰلِكَ مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا …) (…That is the enjoyment of worldly life,…): Enjoyment is trivial, and such word refers to the worldly life in the Quran:

{ وَفَرِحُوا بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَاعٌ}

(while the worldly life is not, compared to the Hereafter, except [brief] enjoyment.) (Ar-Ra’d: 26)

And all that’s there in this life is trivial. That’s why Prophet Muhammad (saws) said:

“Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler[2].”

It’s taken for granted that a stranger or a traveler is never connected to a place or what’s there in that place because they will leave the place and return back to their people and roots.

( وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَآبِ … ) (…but Allah has with Him the best return): The best return is for those who follow the orders of Allah (swt).

Death, on the other hand, is inevitable; no one can reject it. Besides, despite all the scientific advancements, explorations and inventions, no one could ever keep someone alive when their moment of death is due. The problem here lies in the fear of death which accompanies people throughout their life; and the big question is: where to is the good return? Allah (swt) says:

{ وَلَئِن مُّتُّمْ أَوْ قُتِلْتُمْ لَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُحْشَرُونَ}

(And whether you die or are killed, unto Allah you will be gathered.) (Aal-Imran: 158)

This verse is meant to assure that humans will return to the All-Merciful. Once upon a time there was a poet whose only son passed away so he was very sad and composed a lengthy poem mourning his son. That poem is considered one of the masterpieces of Arabic poetry. The poet passed away after some time. Then, somebody saw him in a dream and asked: what happened to you (after death)? ‘My Lord had mercy upon me by virtue of a verse of poetry I’d composed:

His neighbor (the son’s neighbor) is His Lord,

Whereas I’m left with my enemy neighbors,

What a difference between mine and his.’

Allah has mercy upon him due to this line of poetry. So, to Allah is the good return; and we mustn’t fear death. You must fear our deeds which are our provision for death; the Almighty says:

{ وَتَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَىٰ ۚ وَاتَّقُونِ يَا أُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ}

(And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O you of understanding.) (Al-Baqara: 197)

You’re never afraid when you have your provision before the All-Merciful.

[1] Hadith no. 1467, Chapter: The best temporary joy of this world is a righteous woman, Suckling Vol. Sahih Muslim

[2] Hadith no. 6053, Chapter: “Be in this world as if you were a stranger.” Make the Heart Tender Vol. Sahih Al-Bukhari.

The Almighty mentions what happened in the Battle of Badr, which was the first armed clash between the camp of faith and the camp of polytheism, disbelief and misguidance led by Abu Jahl and Abu Sufian. There were no more than three hundred men along with Prophet Muhammad (saws). This very little number were recruited by the Prophet (peace be upon him) to retake part of their money and merchandise that had been stolen from them when the Muslims were forced out of their homes. So, it is very normal and logical that the larger group defeat the smaller one. The polytheists outnumbered the Muslims by three folds. Moreover, the former had more weapons than the latter. Anyway, Allah (swt) is giving a moral out of that battle which differentiated the right from the wrong:

(… قَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ آيَةٌ ) (Already there has been for you a sign …): A sign here indicates a ‘wonder.’

(… فِئَةٌ تُقَاتِلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ …) (…one fighting in the cause of Allah …): Fighting in the cause of Allah is defined by Prophet Muhammad (saws) as defending one’s honor, family, fortune, and home against aggression.

(… وَأُخْرَىٰ كَافِرَةٌ …) (…and another of disbelievers…): This complement part of the sentence could have been (and another of disbelievers fighting in the cause of the devil). Yet, this part is deleted. Here, the opposite of what’s in one sentence is not mentioned in the second and left to be understood from context. No doubt, the polytheists of Quraysh fighting against the Prophet (saws) were fighting in the cause of the devil.

(… يَرَوْنَهُم مِّثْلَيْهِمْ رَأْيَ الْعَيْنِ …) (…They saw them [to be] twice their [own] number by [their] eyesight …): Which group saw the other to be double their number by eyesight? The believers or the polytheists? The former is three hundred whereas the latter is one thousand. We know, of course, that the Almighty speaks about the Battle of Badr:

 {إِذْ يُرِيكَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي مَنَامِكَ قَلِيلًا ۖ وَلَوْ أَرَاكَهُمْ كَثِيرًا لَّفَشِلْتُمْ وَلَتَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ سَلَّمَ ۗ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ}

(And know that anything you obtain of war booty – then indeed, for Allah is one fifth of it and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives and the orphans, the needy, and the [stranded] traveler, if you have believed in Allah and in that which We sent down to Our Servant on the day of criterion – the day when the two armies met. And Allah, over all things, is competent.) (Al-Anfaal: 43)

So, the eyesight can go for both parties. On one hand, the polytheists may have seen Muslims double of their number as Allah (swt) made them fear the Muslims; on the other hand, the Muslims saw the polytheists double their number so that they have the courage to fight them. In all, the Almighty has not stated who (They saw them [to be] twice their [own] number by [their] eyesight.) were.

(… وَاللَّهُ يُؤَيِّدُ بِنَصْرِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ …) (…But Allah supports with His victory whom He wills …): Here is the good news: victory comes from the Almighty without a doubt. The Almighty has stated here His absolute will and capacity. Still, He has stated, in other verses who deserves to get victory from Allah:

{ وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ}

(And Allah will surely support those who support Him.) (Al-Hajj: 40) And

 {وَكَانَ حَقًّا عَلَيْنَا نَصْرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ}

(and incumbent upon Us was support of the believers.) (Ar-Room: 47)

(… إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً …) (…Indeed in that is a lesson …): There is a lesson here:

 {فَاعْتَبِرُوا يَا أُولِي الْأَبْصَارِ}

(So take warning, O people of vision.) (Al-Hashr: 2)

And change your thought because the disbelievers had all the reasons to claim victory: number of soldiers and arms. the believers, however, have less number of soldiers and arms; so their victory is contrary to reason. Here is the lesson. You change your thought, forget about logical reasons and think of the Creator.

( لِّأُولِي الْأَبْصَارِ … ) (…for those of vision): ‘vision’ is related to eyesight, while ‘insight’ is related to the mind and heart. The almighty here says: (for those of vision.) and (for those of insight) because he is talking about a visual incident taking place before their eyes: the smaller group defeated the larger one by consent of Allah (swt).

Keeping the word (Say) is a great evidence that Prophet Muhammad (saws) can never change a single letter in the Holy Quran. Had the Quran been by the Prophet as claimed by the enemies of Islam, the Prophet would have crossed out the word (Say).

(… قُل لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا سَتُغْلَبُونَ ) (Say to those who disbelieve, “You will be overcome …): Allah (swt) states that faith will prevail:

 {وَقُلْ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا}

(And say, “Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed is falsehood, [by nature], ever bound to depart.”) (Al-Israa: 81)

There are always two parties: faith and polytheism, disbelief, and corruption on earth as well as an ongoing conflict between the right and the falsehood. The right will prevail subsequently. This verse is a proof on the same. When Prophet Muhammad (saws) entered Mecca in the Year of Conquest, he used to point towards the statues around the Kaaba with a small stick in his hands, and the statues were destroyed immediately. This is another proof that the falsehood will be defeated by wisdom, argument, evidence, and proof:

 {قُلْ هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ}

(Say, “Produce your proof, if you should be truthful.”) (An-Naml: 64)

rather than by swords.

(… وَتُحْشَرُونَ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ …) (…and gathered together to Hell …): The Day of Gathering is the day when Allah the Almighty brings all creatures together for reckoning and reward. In that day, hell is the destiny of the disbelievers.

( وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ … ) (…and wretched is the resting place.”): How wretched is the resting place the disbelievers are destined to.

‘custom’ refers to continuous action.

(… كَدَأْبِ آلِ فِرْعَوْنَ وَالَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ) (Theirs is] like the custom of the people of Pharaoh and those before them.…): It’s like what the people of the Pharoah did, like their custom. The Almighty exemplifies with the continuous disbelief and denial of the signs of Allah and what had been sent down to Moses (pbuh).

(… كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا …) (…They denied Our signs …): A ‘sign’ refers to a miracle or a wonder.

{ فَأْتِ بِآيَةٍ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ}

(so bring a sign, if you should be of the truthful.”.) (Ash-Shu’araa: 154)

Meaning, a miraculous evidence.

They denied all the signs. Moreover, the signs of Allah are not only in the stunning miracles but also in existent miracles that go unnoticed like air, water, sunrise, sunset, rain, seas, rivers, to all what Allah (swt) has created:

 {وَفِي الْأَرْضِ آيَاتٌ لِّلْمُوقِنِينَ * وَفِي أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ}

(And on the earth are signs for the certain [in faith] %  And in yourselves. Then will you not see?) (Adh-Dhaariyat: 20-21)

So, Allah (swt) punished them for their denial of His signs. Allah has called all people to Islam which is generally the name of all religions:

 {مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۚ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِن قَبْلُ}

(It is] the religion of your father, Abraham. Allah named you “Muslims” before [in former scriptures].) (Al-Haj: 78)

 أَمْ كُنتُمْ شُهَدَاءَ إِذْ حَضَرَ يَعْقُوبَ الْمَوْتُ إِذْ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن بَعْدِي قَالُوا نَعْبُدُ إِلَٰهَكَ وَإِلَٰهَ آبَائِكَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ إِلَٰهًا وَاحِدًا وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ

(Or were you witnesses when death approached Jacob, when he said to his sons, “What will you worship after me?” They said, “We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac – one God. And we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.”.) (Al-Baqara: 133)

(… فَأَخَذَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ …) (…so Allah seized them for their sins …): There is no criminalization without a text; and their crime is the sin that made the Almighty punishes them after He have warned them.

( وَاللَّهُ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ … ) (…And Allah is severe in penalty): We all know that Islam is the religion of love and mercy. However, this doesn’t deny the fact that Allah is severe in punishment. Life can never go on without two wings: the first is the wing of desire, and the second is the wing of fear. Moreover, penalties are always there to implement any human statutory law.

(… إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَن تُغْنِيَ عَنْهُمْ أَمْوَالُهُمْ وَلَا أَوْلَادُهُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا ) (Indeed, those who disbelieve – never will their wealth or their children avail them against Allah at all …): We have said earlier that there is no criminalization, in statutory laws, without referring to a text; and such texts states why this goes to paradise and that goes to hell. As a matter of fact, humans leave two things in live after they cease to exist:

1- their progeny, and 2- wealth.

Allah (swt) states what benefits humans in the doomsday:

 {يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ * إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ}

(The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children. %  But only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart.”.) (Ash-Shu’araa: 88-89)

Thus, children and wealth will never benefit nor mediate for the disbelievers on that day.

( وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمْ وَقُودُ النَّارِ … ) (…And it is they who are fuel for the Fire): That is, they will be the fuel for hell since they have disbelieved in the verses of Allah and what is sent down to Prophet Muhammad (saws) as well as their denial of the blessings of Allah (swt).

(… رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ النَّاسِ لِيَوْمٍ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ) (Our Lord, surely You will gather the people for a Day about which there is no doubt …): Every person who considers this life only sees only an act of the play of life. The latter, however, has two acts: earthly life and the afterlife. So, you have a blurry image if you neglect the second act. The base for one’s deeds is that the Almighty brings people back in a day on which there is no doubt; i.e. the doomsday, the day of reckoning before Allah (swt):

 وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ الظَّالِمُ عَلَىٰ يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي اتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ الرَّسُولِ سَبِيلً * يَا وَيْلَتَىٰ لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَانًا خَلِيلًا * لَّقَدْ أَضَلَّنِي عَنِ الذِّكْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَاءَنِي ۗ وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِلْإِنسَانِ خَذُولًا

(And the Day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret] he will say, “Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way.%  Oh, woe to me! I wish I had not taken that one as a friend.% He led me away from the remembrance after it had come to me. And ever is Satan, to man, a deserter.”) (Al-Furqaan: 27-29)

The believers keep remembering, in their supplication, that the Almighty will bring people altogether back in the Day of Resurrection, settle and judge among them in all what they have had disagreement upon, and reward everyone according to their deeds in the earthly life, be it good or bad.

( إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ … ) (…Allah does not fail in His promise): When the Almighty promises something, such promise is an absolute reality.

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I used to hear the Prophet (peace be upon him) mostly supplicates with: ‘O Changer of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.’ So I said: “O Messenger of Allah, why do you supplicate so frequently: ‘O Changer of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.’ He said: ‘Verily, there is no human being except that his heart is between Two Fingers of the Fingers of Allah, so whomsoever He wills He makes steadfast, and whomever He wills He causes to deviate[1].’”

(… بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا …) (…after You have guided us …): Guidance comes from Allah (swt):

{وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ}

(but Allah guides whom He wills.) (Al-Qasas: 56)

{ إِنَّ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ}

(Indeed, this Qur’an guides to that which is most suitable.) (Al-Israa: 9)

and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws):

{ وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِي إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ}

(And indeed, [O Muhammad], you guide to a straight path -) (Ash-Shura: 52)

(… وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً…) (…and grant us from Yourself mercy …): ‘grant us’ because mercy is a grant by Allah (swt) and not a matter of right for you. The major characteristic of the religion of Islam is mercy because the Almighty says:

 {وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ}

(And We have not sent you, except as a mercy to the worlds..) (Al-Anbiyaa: 107)

Our religion, then, is the religion of mercy to mankind, animals, plants, and all creatures. How come a religion of mercy whose Lord is the Compassionate and the Merciful, and whose Prophet is a mercy to all worlds make Muslims a source of killing, evil, harm, and all vices in the society. Never. How can we change Islam from a religion of mercy, a heavenly gift, and a Prophet described by the Almighty as:

 {وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ}

(And indeed, you are of a great moral character.) (Al-Qalam: 4)

to crime and murder?

[1] Hadith no. 7737, Chapter 47, Ta’beer Vol, Sunan An-Nasai’ Al-Kubra

(… هُوَ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُّحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ ۖ ) (It is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book; in it are verses [that are] precise – they are the foundation of the Book – and others unspecific …): There are many people, like orientalists and others who claim to have knowledge, who try to defame the Holy Quran and misunderstand the religion along with the verses of the Holy Quran.

(… آيَاتٌ مُّحْكَمَاتٌ …) (…verses [that are] precise …): Precise means something that can’t be misunderstood , straightforward, and has one interpretation only. Therefore, all the verses related to the dos and don’ts are precise. On the other hand, the unspecific means resemblance or likeness between two things or among many things, and thus, leads to confusion and doubt. So, the unspecific here means something that is unclear in terms of concept or that can have more than one interpretation. An example of the precise verses is:

 يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُوا بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّرُوا ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَاءَ أَحَدٌ مِّنكُم مِّنَ الْغَائِطِ أَوْ لَامَسْتُمُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُوا بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍ وَلَٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

(O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful.) (Al-Maaida: 6)

So, the precise verses are about what you have to do. Meanwhile, the unspecific verses are about what you only have to believe in. From the faith point of view, You have to believe in paradise although you can’t see it. We’re required to believe when it comes to faith and to do when it’s about the rules. So, all the verses about rules are precise; and no one, for example, can say that while performing the prayers, one has to be with heart and soul presence while this issue is crystal clear and can’t be interpreted anymore. Nevertheless, there are verses that you’re required to believe in without doing anything like when Allah (swt) says:

 { لَّا تُدْرِكُهُ الْأَبْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الْأَبْصَارَ ۖ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ}

(Vision perceives Him not, but He perceives [all] vision; and He is the Subtle, the Acquainted.) (Al-An’aam: 103)

where you’re not required to do anything whether you know how (vision perceives Him not) or not. Another example is:

 { يَدُ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ}

(The hand of Allah is over their hands.) (Al-Fath: 10)

{  الرَّحْمَٰنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَىٰ}

(The Most Merciful [who is] above the Throne established.) (Taa Haa: 5)

So, we believe in the fact that He is above the throne established without knowing how it’s done. All the verses on attributes are unspecific for us in term of howness. Still, we have a firm rule that Allah (swt):

{  لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ ۖ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ}

(There is nothing like unto Him.) (Ash-Shura: 11)

So, there is nothing like the attributes of (swt) who is unlike anything that crosses your mind. For instance, we believe in the verses:

{ وَلِتُصْنَعَ عَلَىٰ عَيْنِي}

(that you would be brought up under My eye.) (Taa Haa: 39)

{ وَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا}

(And be patient, [O Muhammad], for the decision of your Lord, for indeed, you are in Our eyes.) (At-Tur: 48)

{ يَدُ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ}

(The hand of Allah is over their hands.) (Al-Fath: 10)

As told by (swt) not as we think of it. Moreover, we may notice that whatever related to what the Almighty does and humans can’t understand is normally preceded by ‘exalted’:

{ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ}

(Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.) (Al-Israa: 1)

{ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَزْوَاجَ كُلَّهَا مِمَّا تُنبِتُ الْأَرْضُ وَمِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمِمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ}

(Exalted is He who created all pairs – from what the earth grows and from themselves and from that which they do not know.) (Yaseen: 36)

Therefore, in the Holy Quran, there are:

1-    Verses that are about unknown things no human mind can imagine and is unspecific about, so, people believe in them as made by Allah, and

2-    Verses that are about the rules, what believers have to do; and they are clear, leaving no doubt at the end of the hearer.

(… آيَاتٌ مُّحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ …) (…verses [that are] precise – they are the foundation of the Book …): They are the foundation, so, you have to weigh the unspecific verses by the precise ones. For example, we’ve had an example of the unspecific verses:

{ يَدُ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ}

(The hand of Allah is over their hands.) (Al-Fath: 10)

and an example of the precise ones:

{ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ}

(There is nothing like unto Him.) (Ash-Shura: 11)

Therefore, I say: ‘the hand of Allah’ with no representation or personification as: (There is nothing like unto Him,).

(… فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ …) (…As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord…): They have deviation from the right to the wrong in their hearts, so, they follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord}  because it’s not in the capacity of the human mind to figure out the meaning of the unspecific. For example, and Allah has the utmost example, we all know the meaning of a word like ‘television’ but if it’s mentioned somewhere this invention is unknown, no one would be able to figure it out. Thus, we resort to likening to make the image close to their minds. Allah (swt) says:

{ مَّثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ ۖ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ۖ أُكُلُهَا دَائِمٌ وَظِلُّهَا}

(The example of Paradise, which the righteous have been promised, is [that] beneath it rivers flow. Its fruit is lasting, and its shade.) (Ar-Ra’d: 35)

Paradise is never like that because the Almighty says: (The example of Paradise,) and this is merely an example to make it closer to the human mind. So, when we follow the unspecific verses we try to understand the actual meaning although our minds can’t get it. We can’t have the actual image of Zaqqum, the angels or the demons because nobody has ever seen them.

(… وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ…) (…and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them …): They want to interpret it as they like. Huthaifa (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Prophet Muhammad (saws) mentioned some people of his nation who recite the Quran, dispersing it like they disperse Ad-Daql and interpreting it in an incorrect manner.

(… ومَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ۗ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ رَبِّنَا…) (…And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge say, “We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord.”…): Reciters of the Holy Quran has different opinions on pausing here: the pause is either at the holy word (Allah) or at (those firm in knowledge).

The interpretation: there are two ends in the Quran:

One is to interpret the meaning of the reality of the thing and what such a thing ends up with. Allah (swt) says:

{ وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا لَهُ سُجَّدًا ۖ وَقَالَ يَا أَبَتِ هَٰذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُؤْيَايَ مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّي حَقًّا}

(And he raised his parents upon the throne, and they bowed to him in prostration. And he said, “O my father, this is the explanation of my vision of before. My Lord has made it reality.) (Yusuf: 100) and:

{ هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا تَأْوِيلَهُ ۚ يَوْمَ يَأْتِي تَأْوِيلُهُ يَقُولُ الَّذِينَ نَسُوهُ مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَاءَتْ رُسُلُ رَبِّنَا بِالْحَقِّ}

(Do they await except its result? The Day its result comes those who had ignored it before will say, “The messengers of our Lord had come with the truth,) (Al- A’raaf: 53)

i.e. how things end up in reality. So, if we go for this opinion, the pause should be at the holy word (Allah) because Allah (swt) is the only One who knows the reality of things.

Another one is to interpret to explain and state the thing as in:

{ نَبِّئْنَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِ}

(Inform us of its interpretation.) (Yusuf: 36)

Therefore, if this is what’s meant, the pause is at: (those firm in knowledge) since they know and understand what’s being told to them in the regard even if they don’t encompass the realities of things as they are.

(… يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ …) (…those firm in knowledge say, “We believe in it …): i.e. the unspecific.

(… كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ رَبِّنَا …) (…All [of it] is from our Lord.” …): All the unspecific and the precise are true, and they confirm each other as they are all by the Almighty who has nothing contradictory or different:

{ أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا}

(Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction.) (An-Nisaa: 82)

( وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ … ) (…And no one will be reminded except those of understanding): Those who have sound minds. You need logic and mind to weigh the unspecific verses by the precise ones. You get the unspecific verses by your Lord and keep saying: ‘I believe in what Allah says as He wants it to be’ as long as you believe in Him.

(… هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَوِّرُكُمْ فِي الْأَرْحَامِ كَيْفَ يَشَاءُ ) (It is He who forms you in the wombs however He wills.…): The verb here is in simple present (forms) not the past (formed). This is meant to indicate it as a matter of fact. Conceiving is never like molding where you may make hundreds of thousands of pieces following the same model. While conceiving, the egg can be fertilized at the womb and, then, pregnancy, takes place at any moment. Allah (swt) says:

 {وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ خَلْقُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافُ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَأَلْوَانِكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّلْعَالِمِينَ}

(And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and your colors. Indeed in that are signs for those of knowledge.) (Ar-Room: 22)

Thus, forming in wombs means getting the thing at a particular form: male or female, dark or fair, of different tongues or colors … etc. This is forming in wombs as the Almighty wills. He has made people with five fingers in a hand; yet, He may make someone with six, seven or even three fingers. Allah creates someone who’s blind; another one who’s deaf; and another one who’s got a defect; and so on. But, what’s the point behind that? The Almighty wants to draw the attention of people some of whom may think, as a result of the routine, that the creation is constant with no change. So, there comes a reminder to them that they are in the world of changeable where man can be healthy, rich, or alive and become ailing, poor, or dead respectively. Thus, such defect is aimed at making man consider Allah’s blessings and never dismiss them.

( لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ … ) (…There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise): Allah is Exalted in Might, and, thus, undefeatable. He is in no need of humans. Yet, He is also Exalted in Wise. So, no one should ask why that person is created one-armed, blind, deaf, or dumb because they lack wisdom. So, as we talk about the wisdom in religious matter, we have to highlight the fact that when someone believes in Allah (swt) and gets persuaded, with mental and verbal evidence that there is one god only who is the Creator, the Supreme Fashioner, the Initiator, they abide by the orders as given by the Almighty rather than for the wisdom in them. This is because who follow the wisdom in the orders worships the orders rather than Allah who is Exalted in Might. That’s why we have: (the Exalted in Might, the Wise.) For instance, a true believer never says that he or she will not eat pork because it harms the liver or not drink wine because it makes them lose their consciousness, and so on. A true believer abides by the order as a matter of obedience to Allah. Then, it’s fine if the wisdom is stated, and if it’s not stated then obedience to Allah is there at the first place. In this context, Prophet Muhammad (saws) says:

“None of you is a believer till his desire follows what I have brought[1].”

[1] Hadith no. 41, P. 43, Vol. 1, Jame’ Al-Ulum wal Hikam

Allah (swt) wants to assure humans, particularly the believers in His existence, that He knows the secret and what’s beyond it. Thus, the Almighty knows your deeds and what’s there within yourself wherever and in whatever manner you are. Allah (swt) owns the skies and Earth:

 {لِلَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ}

(To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is within them. And He is over all things competent.) (Al-Maaida: 120)

So, He is the One who’s running the affairs of all creatures as He states in (verse 2) at the beginning of this Sura:

{ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ}

(Allah – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence.) (Aal-Imran: 2)

And nothing in heavens or earth is hidden from the Sustainer of all existence. There can’t be any ethics or values without the control of the religion which, in turn, stems out of man’s awareness that nothing can be hidden from Allah (swt). Such control, and such awareness that Allah is always there knowing and hearing, if any, is the guarantee that no one will dare do commit deadly sins such as telling lies, slander, backbiting, theft, adultery, bribery, drinking wine, … etc.

Someone may wonder why such repetition is there. The answer is that no repletion is there, and we have to consider the Quranic context of the verse.

(… مِن قَبْلُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ ) (Before, as guidance for the people.…): The Torah and the Gospel had been revealed, before the Quran was sent down, for the guidance of people. What’s guidance? It’s to show the straight path. That’s why the verse reads:

(… وَأَنزَلَ الْفُرْقَانَ …) (…And He revealed the Qur’an …): After it’s mentioned that the Torah and Gospel had been revealed before the Quran with the goal of showing that the Quran is also a guidance to people so that no one would think that the past Books are the only guidance to people. Thus, repetition is made to highlight the sending down of the Holy Quran.

The Holy Quran is named as ‘Al-Furqan’ in Arabic in this verse, and this word means that it separates the right from the wrong when there is a conflict between them as between the good and the evil.

(… إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ …) (…Indeed, those who disbelieve in the verses of Allah will have a severe punishment ): So, the disbelievers, after all the rhetoric and persuasion by proof and evidence, will have a severe punishment by Allah (swt). Anyhow, we never force anyone to convert to Islam as the Almighty tells His Prophet, Muhammad (saws):

 {فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌ* لَّسْتَ عَلَيْهِم بِمُصَيْطِرٍ}

(So remind, [O Muhammad]; you are only a reminder. %  You are not over them a controller.) (Al-Ghaashiya : 21-22)

( وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ … … ) (…and Allah is exalted in Might,): The Exalted in Might is the one who’s never defeated. Besides, it can also mean the one who can do without the worshipping of all people as stated in the Qudsi Hadith:

“O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as pious as the most pious heart of any one man of you, that would not increase My kingdom in anything. O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as wicked as the most wicked heart of any one man of you, that would not decrease My kingdom in anything.[1]”

Hence, Allah (swt) is needless of our worship.

( ذُو انتِقَامٍ … ) (…the Owner of Retribution): This is due to rejecting the belief in Allah (swt) and denying His blessings.

[1] Hadith no. 2577, Sahih Muslim

(… نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ ) (He has sent down upon you the Book in truth …): The Quran, as (swt) say states, has been sent down to you, Muhammad, in truth:

{ وَبِالْحَقِّ أَنزَلْنَاهُ وَبِالْحَقِّ نَزَلَ}

(And with the truth We have sent the Qur’an down, and with the truth it has descended.) (Al-Israa: 105)

Truth, as well, is the constant unchanging thing.

(… مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ …) (…confirming what was before it …): Meaning the books before it. The Holy Quran confirm what’s there in the Torah and Gospel with respect to faith, the afterlife, fundamentals of the religion, the oneness of Allah (swt), paradise, hell, … etc.

( وَأَنزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنجِيلَ … ) (…And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel): There is a difference between ‘sent down’ and ‘revealed.’ When the Almighty speaks about the Holy Quran, He says: (has sent down upon you,) but when He talks about the Torah and the Gospel, He says: (And He revealed). Nonetheless, there are some verses about the Quran in which ‘revealed’ is used like:

{إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ}

(Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree..) (Al-Qadr: 1)

The difference is that the Holy Quran was sent down to the Prophet (saws) in parts. However, when we say ‘revealed’ it means that it was sent down at once like the Torah and the Gospel. As for the Quran, it was sent down throughout 23 years. As for:

{ إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ}

(Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree..) (Al-Qadr: 1)

It means that it went down from the Preserved Slate in heaven to the lowest sky at once, then, it was sent down to Prophet Muhammad (saws). So, ‘revealed’ is used in the context of talking about the first revelation from the Preserved Slate to the lowest sky. As for, ‘sent down,’ it’s used to mean sent in parts. The first revelation in the Cave of Hira was:

{ اقْرَأْ}

(Read.) (Al-Alaq: 1)

However, we believe in all the heavenly Books, and this is what’s reiterated in the concluding verses of the Sura of (Al-Baqara).

(… اللَّهُ ) (Allah …): Absolutely exists and all people know Him innately, and the proof to that is what the Almighty says:

  وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِن بَنِي آدَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا بَلَىٰ ۛ شَهِدْنَا ۛ أَن تَقُولُوا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَٰذَا غَافِلِينَ

(And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam – from their loins – their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], “Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Yes, we have testified.” [This] – lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, “Indeed, we were of this unaware.”.) (Al-A’raaf: 173)

So, it’s innate for all humans to know Allah, but such disposition may deviate. That’s why Allah (swt) sends messengers and prophets in order to bring people back to the faith of ‘there’s no God but Allah.’

(… اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ) (Allah – there is no deity except Him …): Prophet Muhammad (saws) says:

“the best of what I and the prophets before me have said on the eve of the Day of Arafa, is ‘There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner[1].”

As Allah (swt) says that there is no God but Him and tells us that He has created the skies, earth, humans, non-humans, stones and plants, … etc., there is no objection to that which proves the correctness of such saying. Had there been another God, it would have claimed that it had been the god who’d created the skies and earth as such. Yet, Allah is the only God as long as there is no one to object to that, and there will never ever be. For example, and Allah has the utmost example, suppose a group of people meeting somewhere. Then, when they leave the place to their homes, the owner of the place of the meeting finds a wallet with money in there left in the place. After that a man who has been present in the meeting claims that the wallet and the money are his. They will be his as long as no one claims otherwise. Thus, things belong to whoever claims them and supports his claim with proof and evidence. Likewise, whatever is mentioned in the Holy Quran is dependent on proof, evidence and, above all, logic.

(… الْحَيُّ …) (…the Ever-Living …): Allah (swt) is Ever-Living. Besides all the aspect of life exist on earth and in the skies. Yet, the ‘Ever-Living’ is an attribute of the Almighty that means that the Almighty has been in existence before time and before everything else and never ceases to exist:

 {كلُّ شَيْءٍ هَالِكٌ إِلَّا وَجْهَهُ ۚ}

(Everything will be destroyed except His Face.) (Al- Qasas: 88)

(… الْقَيُّومُ …) (…the Sustainer of existence…): He is the Sustainer who’s in charge of all the affairs of His creatures. So, be assured, He will never forget you:

‘Never overthink a matter           Overthinkers are immortals

Leave it onto Us                          We care for you like no other

Do your part and rely on the Almighty who takes care of all the affairs of His creatures. Our clerics say: ‘never be worried of what people are planning for you for the maximum they can is to carry out what Allah has willed for you.’ This is because Allah is the Ever-Living and the Sustainer of existence.

[1] Hadith no. 12108, P. 73, Vol. 5, Knaz-ul-Ummal

The Sura of Al-Baqara tackles issues such as resurrection and the afterlife, human life, some rules with respect to the Qibla and Hajj, some rules with respect to women and breastfeeding, and debts and the prohibition of usury. Then, (Al-Baqara) is concluded by the believers saying: “we hear and obey.’ Next, we move to the first issue that follows the above rules: the issue of the heavenly messages before Islam and the unity of the religion. Allah (swt) says:

{ شرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ ۖ أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ}

(He has ordained for you of religion what He enjoined upon Noah and that which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus – to establish the religion and not be divided therein.) (Ash-Shura: 13)

So, the religion brings together and never divides; It units and never disperses. On the other hand, all the religions revealed by (swt) and called for by the messengers were about different rules that are suitable for different times. Yet, the faith has remained one based on the (Shahada): ‘There is no God but Allah.’ The doctrine, reward, punishment, paradise, hell, and the stories of the prophets are all one; and (swt) says in the Holy Quran:

{ نحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ وَإِن كُنتَ مِن قَبْلِهِ لَمِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ}

(We relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur’an although you were, before it, among the unaware.) (Yusuf: 3)

The stories tell us about incidents that have taken place throughout history, and such stories are one in all the heavenly messages. Moreover, (Al-Baqara) is concluded by stating that we, as believers, have to believe in all past messengers and books and not to make any distinction among them in terms of belief in them. The example Allah (swt) wants to give with respect to past religions and messengers is about Jesus Christ (PBUH), his family, grandmother, and the environment in which Virgin Mary used to live. Thus, we have the Sura of (Aal-Imran – the family of Imran).

Who are (Aal-Imran)? They are the family of Virgin Mary, and the Sura is named after them:

 إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَىٰ آدَمَ وَنُوحًا وَآلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ * ذُرِّيَّةً بَعْضُهَا مِن بَعْضٍ ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ * إِذْ قَالَتِ امْرَأَتُ عِمْرَانَ رَبِّ إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لَكَ مَا فِي بَطْنِي مُحَرَّرًا فَتَقَبَّلْ مِنِّي ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ * فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْهَا قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَضَعْتُهَا أُنثَىٰ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا وَضَعَتْ وَلَيْسَ الذَّكَرُ كَالْأُنثَىٰ ۖ وَإِنِّي سَمَّيْتُهَا مَرْيَمَ وَإِنِّي أُعِيذُهَا بِكَ وَذُرِّيَّتَهَا مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

(Indeed, Allah chose Adam and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of ‘Imran over the worlds – % Descendants, some of them from others. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing. % [Mention, O Muhammad], when the wife of ‘Imran said, “My Lord, indeed I have pledged to You what is in my womb, consecrated [for Your service], so accept this from me. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing.” % But when she delivered her, she said, “My Lord, I have delivered a female.” And Allah was most knowing of what she delivered, “And the male is not like the female. And I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge for her in You and [for] her descendants from Satan, the expelled [from the mercy of Allah].”) (Aal-Imran: 33-36)

Moreover, this Sura is one of the lengthy Suras of the Holy Quran after the Sura of (Al-Baqara). Prophet Muhammad (saws) speaks about both Suras (Al-Baqara & Aal-Imran) and said:

“Recite Al-Baqara and Aal-Imran; the two shining ones; for on the day of resurrection they will come as two clouds or two shades, or two flocks of birds in ranks* pleading for those who recite them[1].”

Verse: 1

{الم }

(Alif, Lam, Meem.)

This Sura, like (Al-Baqara) starts with the separate letters: {Alif, Lam, Meem.} It’s a must, however, to recall some of the themes we get from the separate letters at the beginning of the Suras whenever we have them. What’s the point behind the separate letters? Allah (swt) says:

{ كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ}

([This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.) (Saad: 29)

Thus, the Quran is meant to remined of, reflect upon, and benefit from. What’s the point, then, of (Alif, Lam, Meem; and:

{ كهيعص}

(Kaf, Ha, Ya, ‘Ayn, Sad.) (Mayram: 1)

{ ن}

(Nun…) (Al-Qalam: 1)

{ الر}

(Alif, Lam, Ra…) (Yunus: 1)

And what’s the benefit of all the separate letters mentioned in the Book of (swt)? Here, we have to answer by reason in order to convince others. For us, we take the religion for granted because we’re Muslims. Nonetheless, we have to state the wisdom in that for other when we know such wisdom and convey what major clerics have said about the separate letters. The question we have to answer now is: don’t we get benefit out of what we don’t how it’s done? For example, you benefit from electricity; yet, you don’t know its nature. Your house is lit by electricity. So, we can benefit from the things whose nature is unknown to us. The question here is: why do we benefit from the separate letters without knowing the wisdom in them? This is because the Holy Quran is the saying of Allah (swt); and there’s a big difference between what (swt) says and what humans say. They can’t be of the same structure and expressions except for the ones which the Almighty intends to clarify for people. Still, there are secrets which Allah (swt) has kept for himself in the Holy Quran. That’s why, Prophet Muhammad (saws) says:

“The superiority of Allah’s words over all other words is like Allah’s superiority over His creatures[2].”

The action must always be attributed to the doer. So, there are precise and unspecific verse in the word of Allah (swt). And, Allah (swt) speaks about the precise and unspecific verses after three. Besides, the separate letters, including (Alif, Lam, Meem.) with which this Sura begins, are among the unspecified verses that we don’t know the reality of their meanings, but we believe in and benefit from them. Prophet Muhammad (saws) says:

“Whoever recites a letter from Allah’s Book, then he receives the reward from it, and the reward of ten the like of it. I do not say that Alif Lam Mim is a letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter[3].”

Therefore, we benefit from every letter we read in the Book of Allah (swt), the Holy Quran.

The other thing is that whenever you read the Holy Quran you do that with all the secrets Allah has kept in it and not with your understanding only. All human-made books are read and understood, but the Holy Quran, which is the sayings and attributes of Allah, is read with two things:

1-    Reason and understanding, and

2-    With a key, that is the secret Allah has kept in there.

Therefore, (Alif, Lam, Meem.) is one of the secrets of Allah. On the other hand, some scholars say that those letters are mean for drawing one’s attention, while other say they are the same of the letters the Holy Quran is made up with. Others suggest that they are the name of the Surah. The end here is miraculous, though. And the question here is: ‘is there any author in the world who would write a letter or a word in a book to be presented to people and say that they’ll keep the meaning of the word or the letter to themselves?” This is a proof that the Holy Quran is By Allah (swt) because if it’s written by a prophet or a human, they dare not write letters unknown to people and keep their secret to themselves. This is an evident proof that the Holy Quran is the sayings of Allah, as (swt) describes it:

{ تَنزِيلُ الْكِتَابِ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ}

(The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.) (Al-Jaathiya: 2)

and no human has to do with it:

 {أمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ ۚ بَلْ هُوَ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ لِتُنذِرَ قَوْمًا مَّا أَتَاهُم مِّن نَّذِيرٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ}

(Or do they say, “He invented it”? Rather, it is the truth from your Lord, [O Muhammad], that you may warn a people to whom no warner has come before you [so] perhaps they will be guided..) (As-Sajda: 3)

The separate letters form half of the Arabic Alphabet and when are put together they give an expression in Arabic (Nasun Hakimun Lahu Sirrun Qate’ – A wise text with a definite secret). As such, it’s miraculous to put those letters in one expression that means a text with a definite secret.

Moreover, the separate letters are written (in Arabic transcript) the same way as other words in other verses where the same letters are read by their sounds rather than their names. For example, (Alif, Lam, Meem.) is spelled the same way as in other verses in the Holy Quran like “Alam’ which is made up of (Ali, Lam, Meem) in Arabic orthography but means “haven’t you” as in:

{ أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ}

(Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with ‘Aad -.) (Al-Fajr: 6)

{ أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصْحَابِ الْفِيلِ}

(Have you not considered, [O Muhammad], how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant?) (Al-Fil: 1)

The Prophet (saws) has been taught that by Garbiel (PBUH). To that reason, scholars say that the Holy Quran can only be taught verbally through the master clerics who have authenticity traced back to the time of Prophet Muhammad (saws).

[1] Hadith no. 1989, Chapter: on the addiction to reciting the Holy Quran, the nineteenth of the branches of belief, Shuab-ul-Iman (The Branches of Belief)

[2] Hadith no. 3357, Chapter: The superiority of Allah’s words over all other words, The Superiority of the Quran, Sunan Ad-Darimi

[3] Hadith no. 2910, Chapter: the reward for whoever recites a letter of the Quran, The Virtues of the Quran Vol. Sunan At-Tirmidhi