None in this world can claim the position one is holding or wealth he has in coffers because of his efforts. We have seen people and empires boasting of their strength and power rising and claiming the absoluteness, looking down upon the weak and meek. But history also tells us how once mighty and greater empires crumbled and today only their ruins remain. The winds whistle pass these and foliage grow haphazardly and people walk in the corridors of power unchallenged where once only the kings and queens walked with pride and vanity.
What is this and why empires and rich rise to pinnacle of glory and then crumble to the ground? Allah tells in Quran, Surah 3. Al i'Imran verses 26-27:
قُلِ اللّٰهُمَّ مٰلِكَ الۡمُلۡكِ تُؤۡتِى الۡمُلۡكَ مَنۡ تَشَآءُ وَتَنۡزِعُ الۡمُلۡكَ مِمَّنۡ تَشَآءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَنۡ تَشَآءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَنۡ تَشَآءُ ؕ بِيَدِكَ الۡخَيۡرُؕ اِنَّكَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ قَدِيۡرٌ
(3:26) Say: 'O Allah, Lord of all dominion! You give dominion to whom You will, and take away dominion from whom You will, and You exalt whom You will, and abase whom You will. In Your Hand is all good. Surely You are All-Powerful.
The history is replete with references and evidences when arrogance of Pharaoh and Nimrod was abased when they thought the world belonged to them. Pharaoh made fun of Prophet Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) when the latter claimed to have brought message to Pharaoh from Allah, the Master of the universe and questioned that how in his presence there could be anyone greater king or master. And the same God who had bestowed wealth and power to Pharaoh, had him drowned in the sea and left his body as a mark of admonition for the coming generations.
Karun, a wealthy rich man, whose mention is made in the Qur'an, was boastful of his wealth, the keys of his coffers were carried by dozens of camels. Allah gave him free hand so that one day becomes a believer and thankful to Allah. But when he transgressed, his entries wealth was sunk in the loose sand along with him. In recent times, many a kings have lost their kingdoms which otherwise seemed strong and dominating. The example of King of Iran is a case in point. He not only lost his kingdom, but also could not find a refuge anywhere in the world and died in Egypt, abandoned by all his friends.
The two verses mentioned herein were specially revealed for the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
When Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) proclaimed Islam and told Quraish, the powerful tribe of Makkah to obey one true God, they mocked him. But a time came when their vanity and pride was taken away from them and Muslims marched in Makkah triumphantly. An orphan who was looked down upon by the non believers, rose to the glory of the prophet-hood and honour that would remain so for as long as the world remains. Thereafter, Allah allowed Ummah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to reach the eastern and western parts of the world and gave dominance to his religion and Law over all other religions and laws. May Allah's peace and blessings be on the Prophet until the Day of Judgment, and as long as the day and night succeed each other.
Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:
This apparently seems to be a supplication; however, in reality, a little deliberation will show that great glad tidings are concealed in it for the Ishmaelites. The reason is that this supplication clearly indicates that the being in whose hands lies all good has decided that the sovereignty of the world should be bestowed upon the Ishmaelites and no amount of opposition from the Israelites would be able to change this decision. Humiliation after humiliation is destined for them. Consequently, if they will continue living in this world, they will live in subservience to the Ishmaelites. There is no other way in which they will be able to survive here.
Not only this, besides these glad tidings a great piece of advice is also hidden in the verse: the Ishmaelites while accepting this sovereignty should not become proud and conceited by considering themselves entitled to it; they should accept it with great humility and with emotions of serving the Almighty; this is because all good is in the hands of God and it is His mere blessing that He has chosen them – the Ishmaelites out all of the nations of the world for this position.
تُوۡلِجُ الَّيۡلَ فِى النَّهَارِ وَتُوۡلِجُ النَّهَارَ فِى الَّيۡلِ وَتُخۡرِجُ الۡحَـىَّ مِنَ الۡمَيِّتِ وَتُخۡرِجُ الۡمَيِّتَ مِنَ الۡحَـىِّ وَتَرۡزُقُ مَنۡ تَشَآءُ بِغَيۡرِ حِسَابٍ
(3:27) You cause the night to pass into the day and the day to pass into the night. You bring forth the living out of the dead, and You bring the dead out of the living, and You give sustenance to whom You will beyond all reckoning.'
Those who disbelieved and disobeyed were seen to be prosperous, whereas the believers, with their devotion and loyalty to God, suffered all the deprivation, persecution and torment to which the Prophet and his followers were subjected around the year 3 A.H. The contrasting states of the two groups of men were the reverse of what would naturally be expected. This raised disturbing questions in people's minds about the underlying wisdom of this phenomenon. The verse conveys God's answer.
Yusuf Ali Explanation:
True in many senses. In every twenty-four hours, night merges into day, and day into night, and there is no clear boundary between them. In every solar year, the night gains on the day after the summer solstice, and the day gains on the night after the winter solstice. But further, if light and darkness are viewed as symbols of (a) knowledge and ignorance, (b) happiness and misery, (c) spiritual insight and spiritual blindness, Allah's Plan or Will works here too as in the physical world, and in His hand is all Good.
Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:
This is a testimony of the world around man on what has been said above: just as night appears from the day and vice versa and life from death and vice versa, on similar grounds are decisions made for the rise and fall, honour and disgrace and life and death of nations. The indication of life and death of the Israelites and the Ishmaelites found in this parable is explained thus by Imam Amin Ahsan Islahi:
… The plant which Abraham (sws) had sown in the lush and fertile lands of Palestine had now withered away and as the Prophet John had said that an ax had been placed on its roots. On the other hand, the plant he had sown in the desolate and barren lands of Arabia and which had shrunk was now beginning to blossom and as referred to by the Prophet Jesus (sws): it was to become a strong tree and was destined to take the whole world in the refuge of its shade. (Amin Ahsan Islahi, Tadabbur-i Qur’an, vol. 2, 65)
The last part of the verse 27 is linked with the verse 26: " وَتَرۡزُقُ مَنۡ تَشَآءُ بِغَيۡرِ حِسَابٍ " (Allah gives sustenance to whom He wills beyond all reckoning). He gives to such an extent that there is no limit to it and gives from where a person cannot even imagine. The believers should not take this as mere wealth that is bestowed upon them profusely, bu also a position of elevation, abundance of faith, good health, happiness, family life besides means of sustenance. Those who are thankful, true and firm in faith shall always be at the receiving end of countless bounties and treasures. But even a bit of pride and vanity of what one is bestowed with can destroy everything.
May Allah help us understand Qur'an and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. Aameen.
For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an
You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.
For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an
You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Holy Qur'an from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that:
- The plain translation has been taken from the Holy Quran officially published by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- The exegesis of the chapters of the Holy Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided by [2], additional input has been interjected from following sources:
- Towards Understanding the Quran
- Tafsir Ibn Khatir
- Muhammad Asad Translation
- Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
- Al-Quran, Yusuf Ali Translation
- Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
In addition the references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.
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