SUM=
MARY OF
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----------------------------------------------
Thi=
s Surah
was revealed in Macca as indicated by the Hadeeth that Ibn Masoud recited t=
his
Surah at the Haram, and that Qoraysh beat him because of that.
Thi=
s Surah
contains many lessons :
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------------------------------------------
1- Allah blessed mankind with many
gifts, the most important of which is the Qur’an
2- Man is distinguished from other
creation by his intelligence and ability to speak and reason
3- Scenes from the Day of Judgment
comparing the fate of those who reject faith and their suffering, versus the
joy and happiness of those who believe
4- Everything will perish except =
for
Allah, glory be to Him
5- How can we deny Allah’s
numerous blessings!
THE
QUR’AN IS ALLAH’S GREATEST GIFT TO MANKIND
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-
=
” (Allah) Most Gracious! “
&=
nbsp; Ar-Rahman 55 : 1
=
”It
is He Who has taught the Qur-an. ”
&=
nbsp; Ar-Rahman 55 : 2
Ar-=
Rahman
is one of the names and attributes of Allah, Most-Gracious. It is derived f=
rom
Rahma ( mercy ). Tabari said: ( Rahman indicates that Allah is the Lord for=
all
creation; but Raheem is specific for the believer=
s )
Bec=
ause the
Qur’an is Allah’s greatest blessing, He started with this gift,=
and
showed that Allah taught man the Qur’an. He sent the Qur’an to =
His
messenger ( PBUH ), and ordered him to deliver the message of the Qur’=
;an
and to explain it; then apply it in his character and behavior in order to
become an example for others.
The
Qur’an has been safeguarded from alteration by Allah who made the pro=
mise
on himself, in contrast to other divine revelations:
“We have, without doubt, sent=
down
the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption). “
&=
nbsp; Al-Hijr 15 : 9
The
Qur’an provides guidance, and is a mercy for the ills of our hearts, a
cure and a blessing from Allah. It offers guidelines of how we can live our
lives as Muslims, aware of our accountability to Allah:
ALL=
AH GAVE
US OUR INTELLECT
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---------------------------------------------
What
distinguishes Man from other creation is his ability to think, consider and
reason. Allah also taught man the ability to speak and communicate effectiv=
ely:
=
“He
has created man: ”
&=
nbsp; Ar-Rahman 55 : 3
“He has taught him speech (an=
d Intelligence).”
&=
nbsp; Ar-Rahman 55 : 4
We =
learn by
reading and writing, and listening to others, and by example. This ability =
to
learn and adapt and grow is a blessing from Allah:
“It is He Who brought you forth from the wombs of your mot=
hers
when ye knew nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and
affection: that ye may give thanks (to Allah).”
&=
nbsp; An-Nahl 16 : 78
Man=
needs
direction: Allah did not leave us alone. He sent Messengers and divine book=
s to
guide us to His way. And He told us to follow the example of His messengers,
and to reason and reflect using our intellect:
“They
will further say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we sh=
ould
not (now) be among the Companions of the Blazing Fire!"
&=
nbsp; Al-Mulk 67 : 10
Lis=
tening
here refers to Divine revelation, one of the sources of knowledge, especial=
ly
in areas that we have little knowledge about or understand poorly, like mat=
ters
of the Unseen, Allah or His angels, or the Day of Judgment, or that Allah k=
nows
and controls our destiny.
The
Qur’a encourages us to think and reflect. Many verses in the Qur̵=
7;an
ends by stating: “ Do you not then think, or reflect, or consider?
“. For example, the Qur’an dignifies the relationship between
husband and wife and makes it one of God’s signs, and stresses that t=
his
relationship should be based on kindness, love and mercy. The verse ends by
stating that indeed in this are signs for those who reflect:
“And
among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselve=
s,
that ye may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy
between your (hearts): verily in that are Signs for those who reflect. R=
20;
&=
nbsp; Ar-Rum 30 : 21
CON=
TRASTING
THE FATE OF THE WICKED AND THE
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEL=
IEVERS
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---------------
One=
of the
methods of the Qur’an in explaining concepts and clarifying complex
issues is to contrast and compare two situations side by side. This way
differences emerge and we begin to understand clearly these differences and
their effect on our lives. The objective is o change our behavior and corre=
ct
our mistakes before it is too late. Here in this Surah the fate of the wick=
ed
and those who reject faith is contrasted to the fate of those who believe a=
nd
do good. The wicked are suffering in Hell, while the believers are enjoying
what Allah promised them for their faith and patience and self-control.
“(For) the sinners will be kn=
own by
their Marks: and they will be seized by their forelocks and their feet. =
220;
&=
nbsp; Ar-Rahman 55 : 41
“
Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?”
&=
nbsp; Ar-Rahman 55 : 42
“This is the Hell which the S=
inners
deny:”
&=
nbsp; Ar-Rahman 55 : 43
“In
its midst and in the midst of boiling hot water will they wander round!R=
21;
&=
nbsp; Ar-Rahman 55 : 44
Oth=
er
verses in the Qur’an describe in more detail the suffering of those w=
ho
reject faith. It also stresses that their punishment is a just reward for t=
heir
denial of their accountability and their rejection of Allah and His messeng=
ers.
In =
contrast
the believers are happy and rejoicing in paradise. Some of these blessings =
are
physical material aspects like trees with shades, food and drink, and cloth=
es
and wives.
“In
them will be Fruits of every kind, two and two. “
Ar-Rahman 55 : 52
“
Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?”
&=
nbsp; Ar-Rahman 55 : 53
“ They will recline on Carpet=
s,
whose inner linings will be of rich brocade: the Fruit of the Gardens will =
be
near (and easy of reach).”
&=
nbsp; Ar-Rahman 55 : 54
“ Then which of the favours o=
f your
Lord will ye deny?”
&=
nbsp; Ar-Rahman 55 : 55
“In
them will be (Maidens), chaste, restraining their glances, whom no man or J=
inn
before them has touched;”
&=
nbsp; Ar-Rahman 55 : 56
Oth=
er
verses in the Qur’an also stress the moral and spiritual pleasures and
the absence of sadness, boredom or difficulty:
“And
they will say: "Praise be to Allah, Who has removed from us (all) sorr=
ow:
for our Lord is indeed Oft-Forgiving ready to appreciate (service): “=
&=
nbsp; Fatir 35 : 34
"Who has, out of His Bounty, s=
ettled
us in a Home that will last: no toil nor sense of weariness shall touch us
therein."
Fatir
35 : 35
Suc=
h reward
is justified by the faith and behavior and good deeds of those who believe =
and
submit to Allah:
“Is there any Reward for Good=
other
than Good? “
&=
nbsp; Ar-Rahman 55 : 60
And
:
“Such will be the Garden of w=
hich
ye are made heirs for your (good) deeds (in life). “
Az-Zukhruff 43 : 72
EVE=
RYTHING
WILL PERISH EXCEPT ALLAH
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Not=
hing
will last forever, only Allah is permanent. Everyone else will die, then wi=
ll
be resurrected on the Day of Judgment to account.
“All
that is on earth will perish: “
&=
nbsp; Ar-Rahman 55 : 26
“But
will abide (forever) the Face of thy Lord, Full of Majesty, Bounty and Hono=
ur. “
&=
nbsp; Ar-Rahman 55 : 27
A
similar verse :
“And call not, besides Allah,=
on
another god. There is no god but He. Everything (that exists) will perish
except His own Face. To Him belongs the Command, and to Him will ye (all) be
brought back. “
&=
nbsp; Al-Qasas 28 : 88
Thi=
s verse
reminds us of our mortality, and stresses our accountability. We will not l=
ive
forever, nor will we take with us anything but our deeds. We leave behind o=
ur
money and other possessions, our spouses, children and our dwellings, as we=
ll
as our power and position. We came from the earth and to the earth shall we
return:
“Thou wilt indeed find them, =
of all
people, most greedy of life, even more than the idolaters: each one of them
wishes he could be given a life of a thousand years: but the grant of such =
life
will not save him from (due) punishment. For Allah sees well all that they =
do. “
&=
nbsp; Al-Baqara 2 : 96
Pro=
phet
Muhammad ( PBUH ) told us that a dead person is followed to his grave by th=
ree
things, two return and only one thing remains with him: he is followed by h=
is
family, wealth and deeds: his family and wealth return, and the only thing =
that
remains with him is his deeds: good or bad ( Bokhari ).
HOW=
CAN WE
DENY ALLAH’S BLESSINGS?
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---------------------------------------------------------
A v=
erse is
repeated numerous times in this Surah ( chapter ):
“ Then which of the favours o=
f your
Lord will ye deny? “
&=
nbsp; Ar-Rahman 55 : 13
Aft=
er
enumerating Allah’s blessings over mankind, the Qur’an asks the
question: Which of these blessings are you denying ? This emphasizes our
indebtedness to Allah and utter dependence on Him. This implies that we sho=
uld
acknowledge Allah’s blessings and obey
Fai= th encompasses many different concepts and is exemplified in different ways: <= o:p>
·
The
first step is knowledge
·
Then
comes submission
·
Few
are willing to change their priorities or way of life, based on their belie=
f
·
Even
fewer are committed and in for the long haul
“And
that those on whom knowledge has been bestowed may learn that the (Qur-an) =
is
the Truth from thy Lord, and that they may believe therein, and their hearts
may be made humbly (open) to it: for verily Allah is the Guide of those who
believe, to the
&=
nbsp; Al-Hajj 22 : 54