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Encyclopedia
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
with 8 ayat.
Translation:
(I Swear) By the fig and (by) the olive (1)
And [I Swear by] Mount Sinai (2)
And [I Swear by] this secure land [of the city of Makkah], (3)
We have certainly created man (and woman) in the best of stature; (4)
Then We returned (him/her) to the lowest of the lowest, (5)
Except those who believe (in the oneness of Allah) and do righteous deeds, for they will have a reward uninterrupted. (6)
So what yet causes you to deny the Recompense? (7)
Is not Allah the most just of judges? (8)
Summary, Lines 1-8
This suraSura
A sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...
opens by mentioning the fig
Ficus
Ficus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphyte in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the semi-warm temperate zone. The Common Fig Ficus is a genus of...
(the sura's namesake), the olive
Olive
The olive , Olea europaea), is a species of a small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean Basin as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea.Its fruit, also called the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the...
, Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai , also known as Mount Horeb, Mount Musa, Gabal Musa , Jabal Musa meaning "Moses' Mountain", is a mountain near Saint Catherine in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. A mountain called Mount Sinai is mentioned many times in the Book of Exodus in the Torah and the Bible as well as the Quran...
, and "this city secured" (generally considered to be Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
).
(1) CONSIDER the fig and the olive,
(2) and Mount Sinai,
(3) and this land secure!
Muhammad Asad
Muhammad Asad
Muhammad Asad , was an Austrian Polish Jew who converted to Islam, and a 20th century journalist, traveler, writer, social critic, linguist, thinker, reformer, diplomat, political theorist, translator and scholar...
, the author of The Message of The Qur'an
The Message of The Qur'an
The Message of the Qur'an is a translation and interpretation of the Qur'an by Muhammad Asad, a Polish Jew who converted to Islam...
comments on these verses as follows:
The cosmology
Cosmology
Cosmology is the discipline that deals with the nature of the Universe as a whole. Cosmologists seek to understand the origin, evolution, structure, and ultimate fate of the Universe at large, as well as the natural laws that keep it in order...
of the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
states that God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
made mankind out of clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
. This sura suggests not only this, but that the mould which God used for man was "the best possible". The lowness of the clay has set humanity apart from God; because clay is heavier and more solid than fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
, from which the Jinn
Genie
Jinn or genies are supernatural creatures in Arab folklore and Islamic teachings that occupy a parallel world to that of mankind. Together, jinn, humans and angels make up the three sentient creations of Allah. Religious sources say barely anything about them; however, the Qur'an mentions that...
were made, or light
Light
Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, and is responsible for the sense of sight. Visible light has wavelength in a range from about 380 nanometres to about 740 nm, with a frequency range of about 405 THz to 790 THz...
, from which the angels came.
However, not all humanity is condemned to absolute removal from God's company. The passage continues that "those who believe and do what is right will have a reward that will never be cut off". A human life, when perfected, will thus rise above its modest origins, giving the human condition a unique possibility for glory on the Last Day. God's judgment, for Heaven
Jannah
Jannah , is the Islamic conception of paradise. The Arabic word Jannah is a shortened version meaning simply "Garden". According to Islamic eschatology, after death, one will reside in the grave until the appointed resurrection on . Muslims believe that the treatment of the individual in the life...
or Hell
Jahannam
Jahannam is the Arabic language equivalent to Hell. The term comes from the Greek Gehenna, itself derived from the Hebrew geographical name for the Valley of Hinnom.-Jahannam in the Qur'an:...
, cannot be contradicted, for "Is not God the best of judges?"
Interpretation and Commentary
The SuraSura
A sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...
starts with 3 Oaths;
When Quran presents an Oath
Oath
An oath is either a statement of fact or a promise calling upon something or someone that the oath maker considers sacred, usually God, as a witness to the binding nature of the promise or the truth of the statement of fact. To swear is to take an oath, to make a solemn vow...
, There is a response (jawab) which is related to the Oath. That is the central message of the Surah. So without understanding the Oath and it's Response, the Message of the Surah cannot be fully understood.
Ayah
Ayah
Ayah or Aayah is the Arabic word for sign or proof:"These are the Ayat of Allah, which We recite to you with truth...
1: وَالتِّينِوَالزَّيْتُونِ
Transliteration
Transliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
: Watteeni wazzaytoon
Translation
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
: I swear by the fig
Ficus
Ficus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphyte in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the semi-warm temperate zone. The Common Fig Ficus is a genus of...
and the olive
Olive
The olive , Olea europaea), is a species of a small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean Basin as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea.Its fruit, also called the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the...
.
In Classical Arabic
Classical Arabic
Classical Arabic , also known as Qur'anic or Koranic Arabic, is the form of the Arabic language used in literary texts from Umayyad and Abbasid times . It is based on the Medieval dialects of Arab tribes...
, a location would be called by what it was famous for. So fig and olive can refer to two locations. According to Mahmud al-Alusi
Mahmud al-Alusi
-Name:His full name was Imam Mahmud ibn Abd Allah al-Husayni al-Alusi al-Baghdadi.-External links:*...
in Ruh al-Ma'ani
Ruh al-Ma'ani
Ruh al-Ma'ani fi Tafseer al-Quran al-'Azim wa al-Sab al-Mathan is a thirty-volume tafsir of the Qur'an, authored by Mahmud al-Alusi .-Controversy:The printed version of the book published by his Salafi son is said to contain "tamperings and suppressions"....
fig refers to Mount Judi
Mount Judi
Mount Judi , according to very Early Christian and Islamic tradition , is the Noah's apobaterion or "Place of Descent", the location where the Ark came to rest after the Great Flood....
where Prophet Nuh's Ark landed. While At-Teen possibly referring to Prophet Noah, the location where his Ark ship landed, az-Zaytoon possibly referring to Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
who was born in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
where olives grow. According to Ibn Abbas az-Zaytoon refers to Al-Aqsa Mosque
Al-Aqsa Mosque
Al-Aqsa Mosque also known as al-Aqsa, is the third holiest site in Sunni Islam and is located in the Old City of Jerusalem...
in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
.
According to Mujahid ibn Jabr
Mujahid ibn Jabr
Mujahid ibn Jabr was a Tabi‘in and one of the major early Islamic scholars.-Biography:He was one of the leading Qur'anic commentators of the generation after that of the Prophet Muhammad and his Companions. He is the first to compile a written exegesis of the Qur'an. He is said to have studied...
, Ikrimah ibn Abi-Jahl
Ikrimah ibn Abi-Jahl
Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl was an important early Muslim leader and companion of Muhammad. As the son of Abu Jahl, Ikrimah was at first, one of the chief Mecca opponents to Muhammad....
, Hasan and Muhammad Ash-Shanqeeti
Muhammad Ash-Shanqeeti
Muhammad Al-Ameen Ibn Muhammad Al-Mukhtaar Ibn 'Abdil-Qaadir Al-Jaknee Ash-Shanqeetee was a Muslim scholar from Mauritania. His compound name was Muhammad Al-Ameen, just like the name of his father Muhammad Al-Ameen Ibn Muhammad Al-Mukhtaar Ibn 'Abdil-Qaadir Al-Jaknee Ash-Shanqeetee (1907–1973)...
: These Oaths are Referring to the 2 fruits and also their locations.
So the idea that fog & olive refers to both fruit and location was a view of the Sahabah
Sahabah
In Islam, the ' were the companions, disciples, scribes and family of the Islamic prophet...
and their early students. According to Ruh al-Ma'ani
Ruh al-Ma'ani
Ruh al-Ma'ani fi Tafseer al-Quran al-'Azim wa al-Sab al-Mathan is a thirty-volume tafsir of the Qur'an, authored by Mahmud al-Alusi .-Controversy:The printed version of the book published by his Salafi son is said to contain "tamperings and suppressions"....
by Mahmud al-Alusi
Mahmud al-Alusi
-Name:His full name was Imam Mahmud ibn Abd Allah al-Husayni al-Alusi al-Baghdadi.-External links:*...
: The intent by naming 2 fruits is to mention 2 mountains from the Holy land of Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
.
Ayah
Ayah
Ayah or Aayah is the Arabic word for sign or proof:"These are the Ayat of Allah, which We recite to you with truth...
2: وَطُورِ سِينِينَ
Transliteration
Transliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
: wat-Toori Seeneen
Translation
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
: And the Mount, Sinai,
Toor refers to a lush, full of trees, green kind of mountain. (According to Ibn Abbas and Qatadah).
After Sayna in Sura
Sura
A sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...
Al-Mu’minoon, Seeneen is the second version of the name of Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai , also known as Mount Horeb, Mount Musa, Gabal Musa , Jabal Musa meaning "Moses' Mountain", is a mountain near Saint Catherine in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. A mountain called Mount Sinai is mentioned many times in the Book of Exodus in the Torah and the Bible as well as the Quran...
which existed in the Hebrew Language among the Scholars. This mountain was not known amongst the Arabs generally. Moreover Muhammad was illiterate and he did not have any Jewish companions in the Makkan era when this surah was revealed. So without knowing the narrations of Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
or Hebrew language, Muhammad was describing the variations in language of Hebrew linguist scholars. This was a proof of the Quran being divine word of GOD
Göd
- Industry :Göd is famous for its thriving tourism. It has a thermal spa open almost 365 days a year with its water already declared as rich in minerals...
for the people who had most classified & secret narratives of Moses.
Ayah
Ayah
Ayah or Aayah is the Arabic word for sign or proof:"These are the Ayat of Allah, which We recite to you with truth...
3: وَهَٰذَا الْبَلَدِ الْأَمِينِ
Transliteration
Transliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
: wa haadhal baladil ameen
Translation
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
: i swear by this entrusted city.
According to several scholars including Dr.Israr Ahmed
Israr Ahmed
Israr Ahmed was a Pakistani Islamic theologian followed particularly in South Asia and also among the South Asian diaspora in the Middle East, Western Europe, and North America. Born in Hissar, in India, the second son of a government servant, he is the founder of the Tanzeem-e-islami, an...
and Mahmud al-Alusi
Mahmud al-Alusi
-Name:His full name was Imam Mahmud ibn Abd Allah al-Husayni al-Alusi al-Baghdadi.-External links:*...
, "This entrusted city" primarily referring to Mekah also refers to Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
just as Noah, Moses
Islamic view of Moses
Musa , known as Moses in the Old Testament, is considered an Islamic prophet, messenger, lawgiver and leader in Islam. Moses is mentioned more in the Quran than any other individual, and his life is narrated and recounted more than that any other prophet...
and Jesus were referred by means of mentioning their relative locations in previous 2 ayaat. A contemporary scholar Nouman Ali Khan
Nouman Ali Khan
Nouman Ali Khan is a Muslim preacher or speaker and the CEO and founder of Bayyinah, an Arabic educational institution in the United States.His early education in Arabic started in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and continued in Pakistan. His serious Arabic training began in 1999 in the United States...
suggests that it also refers to Abraham as he was the person who established the city Mekah.
Ayah
Ayah
Ayah or Aayah is the Arabic word for sign or proof:"These are the Ayat of Allah, which We recite to you with truth...
4: لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ
Transliteration
Transliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
: Laqad khalaqna al-insana fee ahsanitaqweem
Translation
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
: We have certainly created man in the best of stature;
This ayah is Jawab-ul-qasam (Response of the Oath).
Quran tells that the Messengers:
Noah, Abraham/Ibraheem, Jesus, Moses, and Muhammad are the 'Uluw al 'azam (the most persevering of the Prophets) are the best examples for humanity in the perfect (taqweem) form, they are higher examples for humanity in contrast with the animals and low levels that philosophers/psychologists have put forward for mankind.
Hamiduddin Farahi
Hamiduddin Farahi
Hamiduddin Farahi was a celebrated Islamic scholar of Indian subcontinent known for his groundbreaking work on the concept of Nazm, or Coherence, in the Quran...
says;
at-Teen - Mount Judi
Mount Judi
Mount Judi , according to very Early Christian and Islamic tradition , is the Noah's apobaterion or "Place of Descent", the location where the Ark came to rest after the Great Flood....
. Noah/Nuh.
Az-Zaytoon - mount olive and Al-Aqsa Mosque
Al-Aqsa Mosque
Al-Aqsa Mosque also known as al-Aqsa, is the third holiest site in Sunni Islam and is located in the Old City of Jerusalem...
. Jesus/'Eesa.
Toori seeneen - Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai , also known as Mount Horeb, Mount Musa, Gabal Musa , Jabal Musa meaning "Moses' Mountain", is a mountain near Saint Catherine in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt. A mountain called Mount Sinai is mentioned many times in the Book of Exodus in the Torah and the Bible as well as the Quran...
. Moses/Musa.
Balad al ameen - Mekah. Ibraheem/Abraham and Muhammad. 5 created beings, 5 'Uluw al 'Azam [5 Most Persevering Messengers' of Allah] - taqweem - best human beings. Study these 5 great personalities.
Ayah
Ayah
Ayah or Aayah is the Arabic word for sign or proof:"These are the Ayat of Allah, which We recite to you with truth...
5: ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَاهُ أَسْفَلَ سَافِلِينَ
Transliteration
Transliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
: Thumma radadnahu asfala safileen
Translation
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
: Then We return him to the lowest of the low,
The context of this Surah is the Ethical and Moral concept of the Soul:
Radad = to return / reject / lower. Rejected him and lower him.
Allah created him in the best form, but he did bad things - so Allah rejected him.
Asfal as-Safileen - The Lowest of the Low:
asfal - lowest
a'la [the antonym] - highest
Animals will not do crimes like humans do; genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
, mass rape etc.
If the animal is low, then the human has become the lowest of the low.
Thumma also signifies a space of time. It signifies that ALLAH did not make people the lowest of the low when they did sins. Rather - GOD
Göd
- Industry :Göd is famous for its thriving tourism. It has a thermal spa open almost 365 days a year with its water already declared as rich in minerals...
gave them time to repent and return to Him. Else-wise the culprit human is rejected to the lowest of the low.
ALLAH creates the human in a balance of body
Body
With regard to living things, a body is the physical body of an individual. "Body" often is used in connection with appearance, health issues and death...
and spirit
Spirit
The English word spirit has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance contrasted with the material body.The spirit of a living thing usually refers to or explains its consciousness.The notions of a person's "spirit" and "soul" often also overlap,...
. When there is an imbalance i.e. Too much worldly affairs and too less spiritual connection with GOD
Göd
- Industry :Göd is famous for its thriving tourism. It has a thermal spa open almost 365 days a year with its water already declared as rich in minerals...
- human gets weak/hasty/ungrateful etc. But when there is a balance of spiritual worship
Worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — to give, at its simplest, worth to something, for example, Christian worship.Evelyn Underhill defines worship thus: "The absolute...
to ALLAH and permissible worldly matters - man gets strong and in the most upright position.
Lack of focus on keeping balance causes human to be reduced to the lowest thinking and actions. (Just like a car does not work if you don't take care of its outside AND inside).
Ayah 6: إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍ
Transliteration
Transliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
: Illa allazheena amanoowaAAamiloo assalihati falahum ajrun ghayrumamnoon
Translation
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
: Except for those who believe and do righteous deeds, for they will have a reward uninterrupted.
Here the Sura
Sura
A sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...
presents the solution of human evilness.
Except those who believe (inside actions).
And do good deeds. (outside actions)
It is to stay firm in belief and do good deeds for Allah's pleasure.
This is just being alluded to, in this surah, but the full explanation is given in surah Al-Asr
Al-Asr
Sūrat al-‘Aṣr is the 103rd sūrah of the Qur’ān. It contains three āyāt, and is believed to be an early Meccan sura . Surat al-‘Asr is the second shortest sura, after al-Kawthar...
.
فَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍ
..Then it is - only - them who get the 'ajr / reward - ghayru mamnoon.
ajrun - pay.
ghayru mamnoon - without discontinuation.
mann - Cut. manantu (that which is cut).
ghayru Mamnoon - that which will not be cut off.
maneen - in dictionary of lisan al 'arab - dust - that separates itself from the ground.
Ghayru mamnoon - reward which does not be separated from.
mann = a favour.
Allah will give them a favor of Paradise
Jannah
Jannah , is the Islamic conception of paradise. The Arabic word Jannah is a shortened version meaning simply "Garden". According to Islamic eschatology, after death, one will reside in the grave until the appointed resurrection on . Muslims believe that the treatment of the individual in the life...
Paradise, and the believers will not credit it to anyone except Allah.
So now you do good deeds for Allah's pleasure, and you will get a reward for them forever (in jannah/paradise)without limit.
Ibn Kathir
Ibn Kathir
Ismail ibn Kathir was a Muslim muhaddith, Faqih, historian, and commentator.-Biography:His full name was Abu Al-Fida, 'Imad Ad-Din, Isma'il bin 'Umar bin Kathir, Al-Qurashi, Al-Busrawi...
: You have to climb a steep mountain (imagery from surah Al-Balad
Al-Balad
Sūrat al-Balad is the 90th sura of the Qur'an with 20 ayat.- External links :* at Sacred Texts...
90:11 and Al-Muddathir
Al-Muddathir
Sūrat al-Muddaththir is the 74th sura of the Qur'an with 56 ayat.-Arabic Verses: بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِ # یٰۤاَیُّہَا الۡمُدَّثِّرُ # قُمۡ فَاَنۡذِرۡ # وَ رَبَّکَ فَکَبِّر...
74:17).
Either you have to either climb the steep path in this life, or the next life.
Which mountain would you rather climb? The one of this life (which requires effort but brings Allah's reward), or the one in hell?
Ayah 7:
فَمَا يُكَذِّبُكَ بَعْدُ بِالدِّينِ
Transliteration
Transliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
: Fama yukazhibuka baAAdu biddeen
Translation
Translation
Translation is the communication of the meaning of a source-language text by means of an equivalent target-language text. Whereas interpreting undoubtedly antedates writing, translation began only after the appearance of written literature; there exist partial translations of the Sumerian Epic of...
: So what yet causes you to deny the Recompense?
Now if we look at the placement of this ayah;
If you have realized that the human being is more higher than other animal species. If you know the human; has an intellect, can study the sciences, and live life more better than animals. Doesn't that then lead you to think that you might actually have a higher purpose?
Then what is going to make you lie against the religion?
Fa - (So) - after all that has just been mentioned..
Maa - (= what) - is of different types;
Maa masdariyyah - What?
Maa bi ma'na man - What kind of person (= who)..
Maa masdariyyah - What will make you lie against the religion/deen. What is it that is 'so powerful' that is making you lie against the religion?
yukazib - takzeeb - you know it's true, but you're lying against it [the religion] anyway.
Some people recognize that the religion is true and it makes sense, but they don't want to submit to Allah so they criticize it to live with themselves.
They poke fun of ayaat and ahadith, not out of curiosity, but to try to prove to themselves that the Muslims are wrong and illogical, even though they themselves are illogical.
Maa bi ma'na man [Ma - with a meaning of 'who'] - What is it then, that is going to make you lie against the religion / deen?
It could also be;
yukaziBU KA - against you (O Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
).
What kind of person would it have to be, to lie against you (yukazibuka) with the religion / deen.
It could only be the lowest of the low who would lie against Allah's Messenger. This is a direct humiliation to those who reject Allah's Messenger.
Deen - precise Judgment (in this world and the next).
The Messengers' brought the Deen - precise judgment - for wrong and right - for this life and the next.
Ayah 8:
أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَحْكَمِ الْحَاكِمِينَ
Alaysa Allahu bi-ahkami alhakimeen
Is not Allah the most just of judges?
A marvel of the Qur'an's beauty in speech.
Allah's Messenger would respond to this ayah - even in Salah/prayer - with;
"سبحانك الله و بلا أنا على ذلك من الشهيدين"
subhanakAllah wa bal-laa ana 'ala dhalik min ash-shahideen
(Glory be to Allah, and no doubt I am on that from the witnesses).
The way this question is asked is to poke at someone who is ungrateful.
'Didn't I take care of you?'
This ayah is like scolding someone for them forgetting the most obvious. Don't you remember that it was Allah who created you in the best form?
ahkam and hakeem comes from hikmah - wisdom, and hukm - judgment.
So the word Ahkam could mean wisest (from hakeem), and it could also mean the most appropriate Judge/Ruler (from hukm = judgment)
Haakimeen - could refer to; rulers or wise ones.
Haakimeen could imply either of the below;
- The wisest of the wise
- the most appropriate judge from those who claim wisdom.
- The most appropriate judge of all judges.
- The wisest of all rulers.
alaysaAllahu bi ahkam al hakimeen - isn't Allah the best of judges?
Allah does not use 1st person,rather He uses 3rd person speech because He cannot show closeness to His slave, since Justice comes first in the sight of the judge.
Beginning of the Surahs' Relation to its End:
The Surah in Summarised Form:
Allah begins the surah by mentioning the Legacies of the Great Messengers' ('Uluw al 'azam - the most perseverant from all the Messengers') with the best characteristics from humanity.
Then Allah discusses in the centre of the surah that He has made insan (man/humans) in the best perfect form.
Then the worst of the worst are mentioned (ayah 5) - those who rejected the best of the Messengers.
Then those who followed the best Messengers' are described after that (ayah 6) - those who believe and do good deeds.
Then finally; now that you have understood this basic message - what is preventing you from following the guidance? (ayah 7)
Isn't Allah the Best of Judges / Wise Ones to give the commands - which you should be following? (ayah 8).
Legacies of the Messengers' -
In the beginnin ayah; The Messengers' mentioned in the beginning of the surah are the best examples for humanity, and Allah taught them wisdom and judgment as examples for humanity.
In the final ayah; The final judgment and wisdom will be Allah's in relation to what commands He gave His Messengers'.
The Messengers taught us;
We are more than just animals. We don't just want to fill our bellies and desires. We want to purify ourselves on the inside and the outside.
We have some Muslims nowadays who are good on the inside,but do some bad on the outside.
We have some Muslims who look good on the outer actions, but they are corrupt on the inside. You might have the most knowledge, but it does not mean you are pure - since your actions have to reflect your knowledge.
This surah is based on balance. We need to realise that Allah has chosen us above animals by giving us an intellect ('aql), and through that we understand we have higher morality.
Once we understand this - we need to believe internally, and show that good through our actions by following the best Messengers' [the 'Uluw al 'Azam]. If we don't, Allah will reject us, and make us the lowest of the low.