Al-Qurʾān: Among the People of the Book are those who believe in Allah

Faith in One True God is undeniable. No matter how Divine words are twisted by priests, monks and Atheists, the really cannot be changed. Those who truly believe and understand what is written in the Divine Scriptures, after due deliberation and reflection, know for sure the Oneness of God without any pluses and minuses.  And it is this unflinching faith in the truth, that many men of the Book(s) know in their hearts the reality of truth about the Creator of the universes. This reality residing in the hearts of many, finally removes the man made barriers and takes on to the ultimate truth.

This reality has been expressed in the 199th verse of Al-i'Imran (The Family of Imran) expressed herein under:

وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ خَاشِعِينَ لِلَّهِ ۖ لَا يَشْتَرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ

"And indeed, among the People of the Book are those who believe in Allah and what was revealed to you and what was revealed to them, being humbly submissive to Allah. They do not sell the verses of Allah for a small price. For them is a reward with their Lord. Indeed, Allah is swift in account." — Surah Aal-Imran 3:199

Explanation of the Verse

Just before the sūrah ends, a fresh reference is made in verse 199 to the people of earlier revelations which states that some of them have similar beliefs to those of the Muslims. Although, they have not publicly declared their allegiance to Allah, these are considered to have joined the ranks of the Muslims and adopted their ways. Hence, they also deserve the same reward:

This reference is made in order to bring to a conclusion the long account, given in the sūrah, of the people of earlier revelations. The sūrah has referred to many groups among them and to many of their attitudes. Now that the sūrah is speaking about true faith and how people should accept it, and portraying a scene of supplication to God and His answering of believers’ prayers, it states that some of the people of earlier revelations have also followed the same path to its final end. They have believed in all God’s revelations and have not sought to isolate God’s messengers from Him, nor have they discriminated against any of His messengers. They believe in what was revealed to them in former times, and in what has been revealed to the Muslims. This is the distinctive characteristic of a faith which looks at all believers with loving tenderness and visualizes the whole procession of the faithful as leading directly to God. It looks at the Divine system as a complete whole. The one characteristic of those believers among the people of earlier revelations which is highlighted here is humility before God and the refusal to barter away God’s revelations for a trifling price. They are thus set apart from the ranks of the people of the Scriptures whose main characteristic is one of boastfulness and of being totally unashamed before God. Moreover, they fabricate lies and seek cheap worldly pleasures.

 

To those believers among the people of earlier revelations God promises the same reward as He gives to Muslim believers. God does not delay the reward of those who deal with Him. Far be it for Him to do so. “Swift is God’s reckoning.”

This verse highlights a positive exception among the People of the Book (Jews and Christians), acknowledging that not all disbelieve or oppose the truth. Some among them:

• Believe in Allah, and
• Believe in what was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, as well as
• What was previously revealed to them (Torah, Gospel),
• Are humble and submissive to Allah (خاشعين لله),
• Do not exploit the religion for worldly gain (i.e., they don't "sell" God's verses for profit).
• These individuals are promised a reward from Allah.

Cross-References in the Qur'an

• Surah Al-Baqarah (2):62
• "Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans — those [among them] who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness — will have their reward with their Lord..."
• Similar message: Faith and righteousness, regardless of origin, lead to reward — especially for those who recognized and accepted truth when it came.
• Surah Al-A'raf (7):159
• "And among the people of Moses is a community which guides by truth and by it establishes justice."
• Acknowledgement that even within the followers of previous prophets, there remain upright believers.
• Surah Al-Ma'idah (5):82
• "You will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers those who say, 'We are Christians.' That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant."
• This verse emphasizes Christian humility and sincerity — traits leading many to accept Islam when they heard the Qur'an.
• Surah Al-Qasas (28):52–53
• "Those to whom We gave the Scripture before it — they believe in it. And when it is recited to them, they say, 'We believe in it. Indeed, it is the truth from our Lord. Indeed we were, [even] before it, Muslims [submitting to Allah].'"
• This directly supports 3:199 — these are People of the Book who submit to Allah upon recognizing the truth in the Qur’an.

Sunnah References

• Najashi (Negus), the King of Abyssinia
• He was a Christian king who believed in the message of Islam and protected Muslim emigrants.
• The Prophet ﷺ said he was a believer and prayed the Janazah (funeral) prayer for him in absentia.
• "Your brother has died. Pray for him." — [Bukhari]
• He is a living example of 3:199 — a righteous individual from Ahl al-Kitab who accepted the truth.
• Note: Watch a video clip at the end of the post taken from the film The Message about a dialogue between the Muslims and King Negus.
• Waraqah ibn Nawfal
• A Christian monk and cousin of Khadijah (RA), who recognized Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as the final prophet.
• "This is the same angel who came to Musa..." — [Bukhari]
• Though he died early, his recognition of the truth is an example of sincere belief among People of the Book.

Core Message of 3:199

• Islam is universal, and sincere faith, humility, and submission to Allah are what matter — not tribal or religious labels.
• The Qur’an acknowledges truth and goodness in others, including non-Muslims who accept divine truth sincerely.
• Rejecting prejudice: Muslims are taught not to generalize or condemn all from other faiths.

May the truth residing into hearts of many among the Book one day and finally proclaim what their heart says about the ultimate truth of our lives. Ameen

Please visit our reference page:  Surah 3. Al-i'Imran (The Family of Imran)  for selected verses from Surah Al i'Imran.

You may now like to a video clip mentioned earlier when mentioning Negus, the King of Abyssinia. The background to this clip is the presentation of a contingent of the Muslim migrants to Abyssinia. This was abound the 5th year of Prophethood, facing intense persecution in Makkah a group of early Muslims were instructed by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to emigrate to Abyssinia. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ  of the view that Abyssinia was ruled by a just and Christian king (Negus) who would allow them to practice their religion freely. Upon arrival in Abyssinia, the Muslim group was presented in the court of King Negus. An infidel followed them to the court of the king, who had good relation with the court men, to persuade the king to return the "run away" Muslims so that they could be persecuted for breaking away from the traditions and faith of their forefathers. The king when heard the Muslim view point and specially the narration from Qur'an about the birth of Prophet Eesa (Jesus), was convinced that both the Injeel (The Gospel) and Qur'an talk of the same one true God and the miraculous birth of the Prophet Eesa. And thus allowed them to stay in his kingdom and were free to follow Islam:

This verse thus is part of a broader discussion in Surah Al-Imran about relations with other religious communities, particularly the People of the Book. It acknowledges that not all of them are antagonistic toward Islam; some are righteous and recognize the truth of the Quran. It promotes a message of unity among those who sincerely believe in God, regardless of their religious background, while also emphasizing the importance of staying true to divine guidance.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For more Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. .

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the 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 addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT / Grok is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

Al-Qurʾān: Selected verses from Surah Al-i'Imran (The Family of Imran)

Surah Al-i'Imran is the third Surah of Al-Qurʾān with 200 ayas. It is a Median Surah meaningby it was revelaed unto Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم after his migration from Makkah to Medinah. The Surah is named after the family of 'Imran, which includes Maryam (Mary) and Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him). It addresses core themes like faith, divine guidance, interfaith relations, battle and struggle, and steadfastness. Revealed in Medina, it responds to Christian delegations, Jewish challenges, and the aftermath of key battles like Badr and Uhud.

This Surah consists of four discourses given herein under:-

• The first discourse (vv. 1-32) was probably revealed soon after the Battle of Badr.
• The second discourse (vv. 33-63) was revealed in 9 A. H. on the occasion of the visit of the deputation from the Christians of Najran.
• The third discourse (vv. 64-120) appears to have been revealed immediately after the first one.
• The fourth discourse (vv. 121-200) was revealed after the Battle of Uhd.

Salient Themes and Key Topics

1. Tawheed and Divine Guidance

• Emphasis on the Oneness of Allah (Tawheed).
• Affirmation that the Qur’an confirms previous scriptures (Torah and Gospel) and is the final revelation.
• Allah is the source of all guidance and knowledge. "“There is no god but He – the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence.” (3:2)

2. The Family of Imran and Maryam (Mary)

• Story of Maryam's birth and upbringing under Zakariya (Zachariah).
• The miraculous birth of Isa (Jesus) and his status as a prophet, not divine.
• Jesus’ miracles are acknowledged but attributed to Allah’s permission.
• “Indeed, Allah chose Adam and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of ‘Imran over the worlds.” (3:33)

3. Debate with Christians (Najran Delegation)

• Responds to theological claims by Christian tribes, especially about the Trinity and divinity of Jesus.
• Offers rational argument: "Indeed, the example of Jesus before Allah is like that of Adam..." (3:59)
• Invites to common ground in belief in One God (3:64).

4. Battle of Uhud and Lessons from Defeat

• Aftermath of Battle of Uhud addressed: why Muslims suffered losses.
• Critique of those who disobeyed the Prophet’s command.
• Encouragement to maintain steadfastness, unity, and obedience.
• “Do not lose heart nor fall into despair—you shall triumph if you are true believers.” (3:139)

5. Steadfastness, Patience, and Trust in Allah

• Believers are urged to be resilient and patient in adversity.
• Allah supports those who persevere and rely on Him.
• “O you who believe! Be steadfast and patient, and remain united, and fear Allah, so that you may succeed.” (3:200)

6. Charity and Detachment from Worldly Greed

• Encouragement to give in charity, seek Allah’s pleasure, and avoid greed.
• Warning against being attached to material wealth, especially at the cost of faith.

7. Warning Against Hypocrisy and Division

• Clear distinctions made between true believers, hypocrites, and disbelievers.
• Encouragement to hold fast to the rope of Allah (i.e., unity in faith) (3:103).
• Calls the Muslim Ummah to be a balanced nation, inviting to good (3:110).

Main Objectives of Surah Aal Imran

• Affirm and clarify Islamic belief in contrast to Christian and Jewish doctrines.
• Strengthen the Muslim community after trials (e.g., Uhud).
• Emphasize unity, steadfastness, and obedience.
• Promote charity, humility, and ethical conduct.
• Provide role models from the past (e.g., Maryam, Zakariya, Isa).

Key Verses and Messages

3:7     About clear and ambiguous verses in the Qur’an—calling for intellectual humility.

3:26      Allah gives and removes power as He wills—a reminder of divine control over leadership.

3:61      Verse of Mubahala—challenge to Christians regarding the truth of Jesus.

3:92      “You will never attain righteousness until you give of what you love…”

3:103    “Hold firmly to the rope of Allah and do not be divided.”

3:185    “Every soul will taste death…” — a reminder of accountability.

3:199    Certain believing Jews and Christians commended

3:200    Final verse: Encouragement to be patient, steadfast, and united.

Before we share some of the selected verses from the Surah, let us share link to its detailed tafsir / explanation already published in aprts owing to the length of the Surah:

| Overview | Exegesis: | Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI |

Let us now share the published verses from Surah Al-i'Imran:

• Our Lord! let not our hearts deviate after Thou hast guided us (verse 8)
• How should a believer supplicate for forgiveness (verse 16)
• Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and keep us safe from the chastisement of the Hell Fire (verse 16)
• Behold! the only [true] religion in the sight of God is Islam [man's self-surrender unto Him] (verse 19)
• O Allah, You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will (verse 26)
• No share in the Hereafter for those who sell away their oaths for a small price (verse 77)
• The Test of Charity in Islam (verse 92)
• Believers!! Do not be like those who fell into factions  after clear signs had come to them (verse 105)
• Three Likeable Traits of Believers (verse 134)
• Allah loves those who restrain their anger, and forgive others  (verse 134)
• Allah loves those who spend plenty in His way, restrain their anger and forgive others (verse 134)
• Hold fast together to the cable of Allah and be not divided (verse 103)
• Prophetic Supplication (Dua / دُعا) - attributed to Prophet Zechariah for Goodly and Pious Offspring  (verse 138)
• Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, and help us against those who deny the Truth (verse 147)
• Place your trust in Allah;  surely Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him) (verse 159)
• If Allah helps you, none shall prevail over you (verse 160)
• Allah is Sufficient for us; and what an excellent Guardian He is! (verse 173)
• Do not Fear none But Allah - If you truly believe (verse 175)
• Every soul shall have a taste of death (verse 185)
• True Believers remember Allah and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth (verse 191)
• Our Lord, wipe out our evil deeds and make us die with the truly pious (verse 193)
• 'Our Lord, disgrace us not on the Day of Resurrection; indeed You never go back on Your promise. (verse 194)
• Among the People of the Book are those who believe in Allah - verse 199

We will continue to add more important verses in due course.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For more Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. .

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the 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 addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

How should a believer supplicate for forgiveness

Man is prone to be enticed by the Evil and commit acts that are prohibited and not desired at all. But the lust for sinful acts is so lucrative that sometimes even the most pious find themselves wavering as to which way they go: The way of truth or the way of Allah or the path lucratively laced for them by the Satan. And when one stumbles or is about to stumble, the inner-self pinches them to seek forgiveness for having even thought of being tempted to commit a sin.

The 16th verse of Surah 3. Al-i'Imran gives out a format for the believers as how to supplicate to Allah no sooner an evil and wicked thought comes to their mind or a step further by falling into the trap of Evil, given herein under:

اَلَّذِيۡنَ يَقُوۡلُوۡنَ رَبَّنَاۤ اِنَّنَاۤ اٰمَنَّا فَاغۡفِرۡ لَنَا ذُنُوۡبَنَا وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ​ۚ‏ 

(3:16) These are the ones who pray: 'Our Lord! We do indeed believe, so forgive us our sins and keep us safe from the chastisement of the Fire';

This verse describes the sincere believers who turn to Allah with a humble and repentant heart. In this three stepped verse, They:

• Affirm their belief: They declare their faith in Allah and acknowledge Him as their Lord.
• Seek forgiveness: They ask Allah to forgive their sins, showing their awareness of their shortcomings and need for divine mercy.
• Pray for protection from Hellfire: Their plea indicates their fear of Allah’s punishment and their hope in His protection.

The verse reflects the mindset of a true believer who combines faith with humility, repentance, and fear of Allah. Such a person recognizes their imperfections and constantly seeks Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.

It has been attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ who once said: “The one who repents from sin is like one who did not sin.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)

This hadith highlights the power of sincere repentance and supplication in erasing sins, mirroring the believers' plea for forgiveness in the verse.

Lessons Derived from the aforementioned Supplication:

• Importance of Repentance: The verse, along with the hadiths, emphasizes the need for sincere repentance and seeking Allah’s forgiveness.
• Humility and Supplication: Approaching Allah with humility and making heartfelt supplications is a sign of a true believer.
• Belief and Action: The verse demonstrates that true faith is not just a declaration; it is coupled with actions, such as seeking forgiveness and fearing the consequences of sins.

The verse and these hadith collectively remind believers of the importance of maintaining a humble, repentant attitude and constantly seeking Allah’s mercy. It should thus be borne in mind that whenever making a supplication, one must use this divine three-stepped format to making a supplication. We should not straightaway seek forgiveness. Rather, first we should affirm our faith and belief in Allah, for whiteout firm faith we can never be sure of acceptance of our supplication. Having done so, we should then seek forgiveness for the wrongs we have committed and reiterate our firm resolve not to repeat the same. Sine sins lead to the hell fire, we must seek Allah's mercy to save us for the torturous life of hell and earnestly invoke mercy of Allah to be forgiven and granted an abode in Jannatul firdous.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Invocations / Dua " دُعا " from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

| Photo | 

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

No share in the Hereafter for those who sell away their oaths for a small price

Keeping covenants and taking oaths is one of the most sacred obligation for men of any faith. Whether these oaths are taken as a pledge to Allah for keeping our faith intact as commanded to us in all Divine Scriptures or when making a pledge between two or people, the importance of keeping the oaths respected remains the same. 

Although, the 77th verse of Surah 3. Al-i'Imran is related to the making and breaking of the covenants by Jews that they made with Allah, the importance of keeping covenants and oaths is equally applicable to us in our day to day dealings. We will not go into the historical perspective of this verse as is discussed in the earlier verses, for it is not the subject for sharing this verse today. Instead we  will correlate this verse concerning us as applicable today.

We see oaths and covenants broken every day, specially by the leaders of a country to secure a position of authority and then breaking their oaths to the people, leaving them in the same state as they were since long. This is practically demonstrated when elections in a country are held and prior to it, tall promises are made and yet these not being fulfilled when the former are successful and assume positions of authority. Likewise, we see witnesses taking oaths on holy books, yet selling away their oaths afterwards for a few pennies. 

It is for all those who break their promises, oaths and covenants that the following verse is beige shared as a warning for Allah does not like such dishonest people and promises them no place in the Hereafter, that is Paradise. Instead these people will rot and burn in blazing fire of hell for deceiving others.   

اِنَّ الَّذِيۡنَ يَشۡتَرُوۡنَ بِعَهۡدِ اللّٰهِ وَاَيۡمَانِهِمۡ ثَمَنًا قَلِيۡلًا اُولٰٓـئِكَ لَا خَلَاقَ لَهُمۡ فِى الۡاٰخِرَةِ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللّٰهُ وَلَا يَنۡظُرُ اِلَيۡهِمۡ يَوۡمَ الۡقِيٰمَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيۡهِمۡ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ اَ لِيۡمٌ‏ 

(3:77) There shall be no share in the Life to Come for those who sell away the covenant of Allah and their oaths for a trivial gain. On the Day of Resurrection Allah will neither address them, look at them, nor will He purify them. A painful chastisement lies ahead of them.

AS for the explanation of this verse in view of its historical perspective, it is being said: Although they (Jews) were guilty of the blackest sins, yet they had taken it for granted that they would rise as the favourites of God on the Day of Resurrection and they alone would receive His blessings and favours, for they would be rescued from the consequences of the sins they committed in this world by the intercession of their saints in the Next World, but the fact is that they will be dealt with on that Day in quite a different manner. 

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: There is No Share in the Hereafter for Those Who Break Allah’s Covenant

Allah states that whoever prefers the small things of this short, soon to end life, instead of fulfilling what they have promised Allah by following Muhammad , announcing his description ﴿from their books﴾ to people and affirming his truth, then, (they shall have no portion in the Hereafter.)

They will not have a share or part in the Hereafter’s rewards, (Neither will Allah speak to them nor look at them on the Day of Resurrection) with His mercy. This Ayah indicates that Allah will not speak words of kindness nor look at them with any mercy, (nor will He purify them) from sins and impurities. Rather, He will order them to the Fire, (and they shall have a painful torment.)

There are several Hadiths on the subject of this Ayah, some of which follow. 

The First Hadith: Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Dharr said, “The Messenger of Allah said, (There are three persons whom Allah will not speak to, look at on the Day of Resurrection or purify, and they shall taste a painful torment. I said, `O Messenger of Allah! Who are they, may they gain failure and loss’ He said, repeating this statement thrice, `The Musbil (man whose clothes reach below the ankles), he who swears while lying so as to sell his merchandize and the one who gives charity and reminds people of it).’)” This was also recorded by Muslim, and the collectors of the Sunan. 

Another Hadith: Imam Ahmad recorded that `Adi bin `Amirah Al-Kindi said, “Imru’ Al-Qays bin `Abis, a man from Kindah, disputed with a man from Hadramut in front of the Messenger of Allah concerning a piece of land. The Prophet required the man from Hadramut to present his evidence, but he did not have any. The Prophet required Imru’ Al-Qays to swear to his truthfulness, but the man from Hadramut said, `O Messenger of Allah! If you only require him to swear, then by the Lord of the Ka`bah (Allah), my land is lost.’ The Messenger of Allah said, (Whoever swears while lying to acquire the property of others, will meet Allah while He is angry with him.)” Raja’ one of the narrators of the Hadith, said that the Messenger of Allah then recited, (Verily, those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah’s covenant and their oaths…) Imru’ Al-Qays said, `What if one forfeits this dispute, what will he gain, O Messenger of Allah’ The Prophet answered, `Paradise.’ Imru’ Al-Qays said, `Bear witness that I forfeit all the land for him.”’ An-Nasa’i also recorded this Hadith.

Note:  You may like to read one of our earlier posts related to the subject being discussed: Grave consequences for those who take false oath to unlawfully take the right of another Muslim, based on a Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

(On the other hand, those who sell the covenant of God) The covenant referred to here is the one which was taken from the Jews regarding the sharī‘ah of the Almighty and the last prophet of God.

(and their own oaths) This refers to the oaths they had sworn at the time of making a covenant to support and back the prophets of God, in particular the unlettered prophet. In verse 81 ahead, this covenant and these oaths are mentioned.

(for a trivial price have no share in the world to come. And God shall neither speak to them nor look at them with favour, nor purify) The implication is that their crimes are not such that the Almighty may cleanse them after a little punishment; such is the heinous nature of their crimes that their only punishment can be eternal Hell.

(them [from their sins] on the Day of Judgement. In fact, a grievous punishment awaits them there.)  Everyone can have an idea of the extent of hate and disgust for the Jews concealed in the words of the verse. The status they had been invested with by the Almighty and the way He dealt with them thereafter entailed that they be treated thus. Details are mentioned in Sūrah al-Baqarah. A person who is aware of them will not be surprised at this hate and disgust expressed.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

Those who betray their trust and do not honour their pledges are indeed people who “barter away their covenant with God and their oaths for a trifling gain.” In matters of pledges and trust the relationship is between man and God in the first place although the pledges are made to other people. For this reason, people who do not honour their agreements have no share with God in the life to come. The betrayal of their trust and pledges is perpetrated for only a trifling gain, for something which is available in this life. Therefore, as punishment for their disavowal of His covenant, and their pledge to convey His message to other people, God does not care for them.

 

Here, the Qur’ān employs its familiar method of drawing an image in order to express a certain attitude. God’s neglect of such people and the fact that He withdraws His care from them are described in terms of His not speaking to them, looking at them or cleansing them. These are all familiar symptoms of neglect. The Qur’ān chooses to make use of them in order to draw a vivid image of what happens on the Day of Judgement. In this way, the verses have a much more profound effect on man than a mere statement of fact.

This verse should serve as a stern Divine Warning to all those who do not keep their oaths intact, specially by selling these away for a small price for their worldly gains. We too must take care of our oaths and promises, for breaking away from these may hurt many others to whom these promises and oaths mattered. Let us not invite the Divine wrath, both in this world and in the Hereafter.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may refer to our reference page: Important DOs and Don'ts from Qur'an to read more directives on the subject.

You may refer to our reference page: Believers!! Beware of the Rules of the Divine Court on the Day of Judgement to read more directives on the subject. 

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the 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, additional input has been interjected from the following sources: 

• Tafsir Ibn Khatir
• Muhammad Asad Translation
• Yusuf Ali Translation
• Translation Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
• Qur'an Wiki
• Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
• Towards Understanding the Quran

In addition, 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.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Our Lord, wipe out our evil deeds and make us die with the truly pious (Selected Invocations / Dua “ دُعا “from Qur'an)

If we look back into the history of Divine religions, we would note that majority outrightly rejected the prophets and messengers when they tried to convey to them the Divine revelations. Rather, thye ridiculed and even tortured the chosen men out of them so that they do not 'pollute' the minds of their people who could give away the faith of their forefathers.

But, there always were men of understanding, their Characteristics, Speech, and Supplications who listened to the prophets and always stood by them and spelt out the humility that resided in their hearts. Even today, when the world is mostly engrossed in evil thoughts, there are still men who are always on the lookout for any evil permeating in their thoughts and instantly supplicate to their Lord to forgive them and save them from any action that evil thoughts may compel them into. This is the very characteristic of a true believer.

Today, we in our series of posts on Selected Invocations / Dua “ دُعا “from Qur'an, we share a strong supplication as mentioned in the 193rd verse of Surah 3. Al-i'Imran wherein the men with a fear of Allah in their heart make so that they are forgiven and die as the forgiven:

رَبَّنَاۤ اِنَّنَا سَمِعۡنَا مُنَادِيًا يُّنَادِىۡ لِلۡاِيۡمَانِ اَنۡ اٰمِنُوۡا بِرَبِّكُمۡ فَاٰمَنَّا  ۖ رَبَّنَا فَاغۡفِرۡ لَنَا ذُنُوۡبَنَا وَكَفِّرۡ عَنَّا سَيِّاٰتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الۡاَبۡرَارِ​ۚ‏ 

(3:193) Our Lord! Indeed, we heard a crier calling to the faith saying: "Believe in your Lord"; so, we did believe. Our Lord, forgive us our sins, and wipe out our evil deeds and make us die with the truly pious.'

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

 Instead of showing vanity on their faith, these men of vision here are seen submitting before their Lord in utter humility. They are imploring Him to forgive their sins and ease out for them the way they tread for His cause just as He has granted them the urge to accept the truth.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

These hearts are open. They only need to receive the message in order to respond to it. Their sensitivity is enhanced. The first thing that impressed their minds is the fact that they commit sins and may be guilty of disobedience. Hence, they turn to their Lord, praying for His forgiveness and for their bad deeds to be effaced. They also pray to be grouped with the righteous when they die.

 

The message of these verses fits in with the message of the rest of the sūrah. The believers pray to God to forgive them their sins so that they can win their continuous battle against desire and temptation. Achieving victory in this battle is akin to victory in a military battle against the enemies of God and the enemies of faith. Thus, the sūrah is a whole unit, each part complementing the other, and delivering a complete and harmonious message.

Summarizing the explanation of the verse as mentioned above, we must always remember that Allah has power over everything; the creation of the universe and its precision is a sign for those who understand.  Those who remember Allah are the ones who understand, they believe in Allah and His promise of Paradise and ask for forgiveness.  When they call out to Allah, He answers promising that their good deeds will never be lost and those who had to flee their homes or were expelled or endured suffering for the sake of Allah will be rewarded with Paradise.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Invocations / Dua " دُعا " from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

Prophetic Supplication (Dua / دُعا) - attributed to Prophet Zechariah for Goodly and Pious Offspring

One of the greatest blessings of Allah is pious and goodly offspring, something that is the earnest desire of every parent. The pious and obedient offspring act as the light of their parents' eyes, especially as they age. But if the offspring turn out to be rude, arrogant and disrespectful, the whole life of parents turns into misery and living becomes a bane.  

Even prophets have been mentioned in Qur'an and other Divine Scriptures supplicating for goodly offspring. Today we share the 38th verse of Surah 3. Al-i'Imran: 38 in which Prophet Zechariah (زَكَرِيَّا علي السلام) has been mentioned supplicating to the Lord of the universe for grant of goodly offspring. 

It may be mentioned here that the birth of Mariam (Mary, the mother of Jesus), of Yahya (John the Baptist), the precursor of Jesus, and of Jesus, the prophet of Israel, whom Israel rejected, occurred in that order chronologically, and are told in that order. They are all inter-connected. Zakariya prayed for no ordinary son. He and his wife were past the age of parenthood. Seeing the growth of Mary, he prayed for some child from Allah, - "from Thee, a progeny that is pure". To his surprise, he is given a son in the flesh, ushered in by a special Sign. Details in the explanation of the verse below:

هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهٗ​ ​ۚ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبۡ لِىۡ مِنۡ لَّدُنۡكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً​ ​ ۚ اِنَّكَ سَمِيۡعُ الدُّعَآءِ‏ 

(3:38) Then Zechariah prayed to his Lord: 'O Lord! Grant me from Yourself out of Your grace the gift of a goodly offspring, for indeed You alone heed all Prayers.'

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: (The Supplication of Zakariyya, and the Good News of Yahya's Birth):

When Zechariah, also spelt Zakariyya, who had Maryam (Mary, mother of Jesus) under his care, saw that Allah provided sustenance for Maryam, when he visited her in her seclusion, by giving her the fruits of winter in summer and the fruits of summer in winter, he was eager to have a child of his own. By then, Zakariyya had become an old man, his bones feeble and his head full of gray hair. His wife was an old woman who was barren. Yet, he still supplicated to Allah and called Him in secret. 

Since Zechariah was special to God, his supplication was immediately accepted and an angel appeared right there at the place of his supplication and broke him the good news of a son being born to him. This mentioned right in the next verse:

فَنَادَتۡهُ الۡمَلٰٓـئِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَآئِمٌ يُّصَلِّىۡ فِى الۡمِحۡرَابِۙ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحۡيٰى مُصَدِّقًۢا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ وَسَيِّدًا وَّحَصُوۡرًا وَّنَبِيًّا مِّنَ الصّٰلِحِيۡنَ‏ 

(3:39) As he stood praying in the sanctuary, the angels called out to him: 'Allah gives you good tidings of Yahya (later John the Baptist), who shall confirm a command of Allah, shall be outstanding among men, utterly chaste, and a Prophet from among the righteous.'

(3:40) Zechariah (flabbergasted by such news and) exclaimed: 'My Lord! How shall I have a son when old age has overtaken me and my wife is barren?' He said: Thus, shall it be; Allah does what He wills.' and thus God granted Zechariah a son despite his old age and despite the barrenness of his wife. Thus, Yahya was born just six months before Jesus (peace be upon him). Yahya was born a son, destined to be a chaste leader and Prophet.

The purpose of sharing this supplication is for those who married people who for some reason lose hope of having an offspring born to them. If one sincerely prays with complete faith in Allah, the supplication never goes unanswered. And as is evident from the verses stated above, the most appropriate time to draw near the angels and to invoke and supplicate before the Almighty is that of the prayer.

We must never lose hope and get dejected if our supplications do not materialize for Allah knows the best for us. Waiting is just part of the Divine tests that are given to gauge the firmness of faith of His servants. Pray that we are never put to test and that Allah grants our wishes for us to be ever grateful to Him.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Invocations / Dua " دُعا " from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully.

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the 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, 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, 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.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More