Responding to Objections about Islam: Did Muhammad (ﷺ) write the Qur'an?

The non-Muslims around the world, averse to the religion of Islam, are never at ease to prove Islam and Qur'an wrong. Yet the reversion to Islam is far more than the objections being raised about Islam to play down the popularity Islam is gaining every passing day.

We have posted a number of posts to rebut the claims, lies, misconceptions and observations of Islam, but the observations and lies are never ending. We would continue to rebut such claims to silence the intended propaganda about down playing Islam. 

Today, we take on one of the 'major' observations about Islam: Did Muhammad (ﷺ) write the Qur'an? We have already written the fact sheet to respond to this question in one of our earlier posts: History of the compilation of the Qur'an. But let us take this issue from a different angle:

It is generally alleged that Islamic prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was a smart man and he would sit with people of other faiths, memorize some parts of Torah and Gospel and then included these in what is known as Qur'an today.  Although, it  is totally absurd to think that way as Muhammad (ﷺ) was totally illiterate and someone could not comprehend the intricacies of Divine Scriptures and reproduce the same to make Qur'an. But before we talk of something that is contained in Qur'an which was not known to the scholars of the time and discovered much later, let us answer some of the misconceptions and objections about writing of the Qur'an by Muhammad (ﷺ):

It is generally alleged that Muhammad (ﷺ) learnt the Qur'an from the Jews and Christians whom he met OUTSIDE ARABIA: But how could he do it as all historical records available show that Muhammad (ﷺ) had made only three trips outside Makkah before his Prophethood. (i) At the age of 6 he accompanied his mother to Madinah, (ii) Between the age of 9 & 12, he accompanied his uncle Abu-Talib on a business trip to Syria, and (iii) At the age of 25, he led Khadija's (RA) caravan to Syria. It is highly imaginary to assume that the Qur'an resulted from the occasional chats and meetings with the Christians or Jews from any of the above three trips.

The alleged 'learning' of Gospel by Muhammad (ﷺ) also makes a mention of a Christian noble man called Waraqa Ibn-Naufal who was blind and could not see. He was a relative of the Prophet's first wife Khadijah (RA.). He, although of Arab descent was a convert to Christianity and was very well versed with the New Testament. But the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) only met him twice in his lifetime. The first time was when the blind man was worshipping at Ka'abah and he kissed his forehead. The second was when wife of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) took him to the blind man after Muhammad (ﷺ) received the first revelation. And Waraqa told Khadija (RA) that whatever Muhammad (ﷺ) had told him sounds like a visitation by angel Gabriel who had been a messenger of Allah to all previous messengers. But Muhammad (ﷺ) died 3 years later while the revelation of Qur'an is spanned over a period of 23 years. If Muhammad (ﷺ) had learnt Qur'an from the blind man, why he would wait for next 23 years to make it public??

Some pagans even accused the Prophet (pbuh) of learning the Qur'an from a Roman Blacksmith, who was a Christian and lived in the outskirts of Mecca. The Prophet very often use to go and watch him do his work. A revelation of the Qur'an was sufficient to dismiss this change. The Qur'an says: "We know indeed that they say, "It is a man that teaches him." The tongue of him they wickedly point to is notably foreign, while this is Arabic, pure and clear." (Al Qur'an 16:103)

How could a person whose mother tongue was foreign and could hardly speak little but of poor broken Arabic be the source of the Qur'an which is pure, eloquent, fine Arabic? To believe that the blacksmith taught the Prophet (pbuh), the Qur'an, is somewhat similar to a Chinese immigrant to England, who did not know proper English, taught Shakespeare.

At the time of advent of Islam, the Arabic version of the Bible was not present. The earliest Arabic version of the old Testament is that of R. Saadias Gaon 900 C.E. - more than 250 years after the death of Muhammad (ﷺ). The oldest Arabic Version of the new testament was published by Erpenius in 1616 C.E. about a thousand years after the demise of our Prophet. So how could Muhammad (ﷺ) learn in detail the entire Bible from blacksmiths or interaction with traders in Syria and put across a well written document, known as Qur'an? 

The theory that Muhammad (ﷺ) authored the Qur'an or copied from other sources can be disproved by the single historical fact that he was illiterate. and this fact is testified none but Allah in the Qur'an: "And you were not (able) to recite a Book before this (Book came), nor were you (able) to transcribe it with your right hand: in that case, indeed, would the talkers of vanities have doubled." (Al Qur'an 29:48)

And the mention of coming of a prophet is made in Torah and Gospel. And Allah says: "Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (Scriptures) in the Law and the Gospel" (Al Qur'an 7:157) 

If all above is taken to be correct, then how it would be justified that the mention of victory of the Roman Christians is made in the opening verses of Surah 30. Ar Rum in Verses 2-10: Romans (Christians / The Byzantines) defeat at the hands of Persian (Pagans) was taken as a sign of the Muslims defeat at the hands of Arab's unbelievers, so Allah gave good tidings for Roman's victory as well as Muslims victory in a few year

( Verse 2 )   The Byzantines have been defeated

( Verse 3 )   In the nearest land. But they, after their defeat, will overcome.

How could  Muhammad (ﷺ) predict that? Was he fortune teller or a man who could see in the future? Read The historical background of revelation of Surah Ar Rum - The Romans for details.

Let us accept for the sake of discussion that all above is true. But those who have read Qur'an, even non-Muslims, find information in Qur'an which was not known to the scholars of the time and in fact the mysteries hidden in Qur'an have only recently started to unfold due to scientific discoveries and expansion of knowledge about space and outer space. For example, how could Muhammad (ﷺ) know that the basis of life forms is water? A discovery that came much later than after the Qur'an. 

Many scientists believe that RNA, or something similar to RNA, was the first molecule on Earth to self-replicate and begin the process of evolution that led to more advanced forms of life, including human beings.

The Iron has been used since primitive or stone ages, but no one really know was Iron specific to earth, like we find mountains of stone, granite and other materials or has it come from the outer space.  Qur'an mentions that iron was sent from outer space so that man could use it. 

But look when it was found that iron is an alien materiel: The cache dates from about 3,300 bc, making the beads the oldest known iron artifacts from Egypt. A study in 1928 found that the iron in the beads had a high nickel content — a signature of iron meteorites — and led to the suggestion that it was of celestial origin.

And it was just about hundred years from now and some 1200 years ago that it was mentioned in Qur'an when no one else knew the origin of iron. How could Muhammad (ﷺ) know that?

Likewise there are many other facts that are contained in Qur'an like sky being the protective layer from harmful effects, mountains holding the earth from trembling and losing balance. And what about the stages of formation of embryo in the female body of all species, including humans, that Qur'an talks about and medical science came to know of out much too later?

We could go on to bring out facts mentioned in Qur'an which people of the time of advent of Islam and compilation of Qur'an were not even aware of. Let us watch a eye opening video in which nine scientific facts have been compiled from Qur'an that clearly show that Qur'an can never be a brain child of a human being, rather it is a Divine Scripture in which every single word comes from Allah, and no ordinary human being even if he may be a chosen messenger or prophet like Muhammad (ﷺ) 

With these nine facts mentioned in Qur'an which were not known to man in the 7th century, makes us to believe that it Divine knowledge and wisdom which man started to comprehend in a very later timeframe of history.  So let no one deceive about Islam by lies, misinformation and disinformation. Islam provides the easiest access to Allah without any intermediary to speak to Him, repent one's sins and seek forgiveness.

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 read more posts on countering / responding to lies / misinformation and disinformation about Islam: The Rebuttal: Countering disinformation being spread about Islam (Reference Page)

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

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.

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Great reward awaits those who fear Allah without seeing Him

Belief in anything is the most difficult to achieve, especially when it comes to Allah, the unseen but reality. It is not necessary to see the creator of anything to believe, like a chair or a car which we see and yet we do not need to know who designed these and who made and manufactured them.  But when it comes to believing in our Creator, we do not need to physically see Him but look at His creations. And His creations are such that could not have been work of a human. 

This is the dilemma the atheists face. They want to see the Creator believe in Him. Despite advancement in science, which is still not able to answer many a mystery of our life. Then how can an ordinary person find the answers to the unseen? Yet there are many, especially Muslims, who believe in One True God, we call Allah, without ever questioning His presence or existence. This what true faith is and for such believers who have an unflinching faith in Allah that Allah promises a great reward for them. 

This is the theme of 12th verse of Surah 67. Al Mulk (The Kingdom):

اِنَّ الَّذِيۡنَ يَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّهُمۡ بِالۡغَيۡبِ لَهُمۡ مَّغۡفِرَةٌ وَّاَجۡرٌ كَبِيۡرٌ‏ 

(67:12) Surely forgiveness and a great reward await those who fear Allah without seeing Him.

(Surely forgiveness and a great reward await those) That is, there are two inevitable results of fearing God unseen:

(1) That whatever errors and sins one will have committed because of human weaknesses, will be forgiven provided these were not committed because of fearlessness of God; and

(2) that whatever good acts a man performs on the basis of this belief, he will be rewarded richly for them.

(who fear Allah without seeing Him) The address is to all human beings, whether they are believers or unbelievers. For the believer it contains the admonition that while living his life in the world he should always remember that not only his open and hidden deeds but even his secret intentions and innermost thoughts are not hidden from Allah; and for the unbeliever the warning that he may do whatever he may please fearless of God, but nothing that he does can remain un-noticed and unseen by Him.

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: The Reward of those Who fear their Lord unseen

Allah informs of he who fears standing before his Lord, being frightened about matters between himself and Allah when he is not in the presence of other people. So he refrains from disobedience and he performs acts of obedience when no one sees him except Allah. Allah mentions that this person will have forgiveness and a great reward. This means that his sins will be remitted and he will be rewarded abundantly. 

This is similar to what has been confirmed in the Two Sahihs:

(There are seven people whom Allah the Exalted will shade in the shade of His Throne on the Day when there will be no shade except its shade.) Then he mentioned that among those people are: (A man who is tempted by a beautiful woman of high social status, but he says: `Verily, I fear Allah.' Another person from among them is a man who gives charity and he conceals it so that his left hand does not know what his right hand spent.) 

Muhammad Asad Explanation:

This is same as the opening of verse 3 of Surah Al Baqarah, wherein it is said: "who believe in [the existence of] that which is beyond the reach of human perception". 

That is Al-ghayb (commonly, and erroneously, translated as "the Unseen") is used in the Qur'an to denote all those sectors or phases of reality which lie beyond the range of human perception and cannot, therefore, be proved or disproved by scientific observation or even adequately comprised within the accepted categories of speculative thought: as, for instance, the existence of God and of a definite purpose underlying the universe, life after death, the real nature of time, the existence of spiritual forces and their inter-action, and so forth. Only a person who is convinced that the ultimate reality comprises far more than our observable environment can attain to belief in God and, thus, to a belief that life has meaning and purpose. By pointing out that it is "a guidance for those who believe in the existence of that which is beyond human perception", the Qur'an says, in effect, that it will - of necessity - remain a closed book to all whose minds cannot accept this fundamental premise.

Yusuf Ali Explanation: 

Read "unseen" adverbially. To fear the Lord is to love Him so intensely that you fear to do anything which is against His Will, and you do it because you realise Him intensely in your hearts, though you do not see Him with your bodily senses. Nor is it of any consequences whether other people see your love or the consequences that flow from your love, for your good deeds are for the love of Allah and not for show in the eyes of men. Such intensity of love obtains forgiveness for any past, and is indeed rewarded with Allah's love, which is immeasurably precious beyond any merits you may possess.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

The implication is that these people comprehend their Lord through their vision and intellect and fear Him on this very basis. They do not insist on seeing Him and then believing in Him. 

Imām Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī writes: … The real test of a person in this world is that by using his intellect and reasoning, he professes belief in what the Almighty has informed him through His prophets. He who succeeded in this test deserves every reward of God, and he who failed in it is like an animal or even worse even though he might be a great philosopher and a scientist. (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 8, 495)

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:  

The phrase ' beyond the reach of human perception' expresses the meaning of the Qur'anic word ghayb. In its use in this verse, it includes their fear of God whom they have never seen, as well as their fear of Him when they are alone, unseen by any human eye. Both are fine qualities, reflecting a pure feeling and a profound understanding which together qualify a person to receive what the verse expresses in general terms as "forgiveness and a rich reward." To watch God when one is alone, unseen by any other human being is the gauge of a heart's sensitivity and the quality that keeps conscience alive.

Concluding remarks: In the light of the above quoted verse and its explanation by eminent scholars, it must be understood that the presence of One True God, we call Allah, falls beyond the realm of human perception. Yet His signs are ample proof of His existence, which are far more adequate for us to have firm belief in Him without the need to see Him. Those who deny His existence, like the atheists, also from withing their hearts may have doubts on their rather ill-founded belief. And it is because of this false belief, many of them have embraced Islam for Islam answers all questions regarding the existence of Allah.

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: Faith in Allah 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 | 5 | 6 |

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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Qur’an provides guidance to those who believe in the "Ghaib"

Belief in the unseen is one of the most difficult things to perceive. Yet, men since time immemorial have BELIEVED that there is Deity mightier than all that created this universe and controls the movement of everything in it. How do we develop this understanding, otherwise called Belief and Faith? For one thing, Divine revelations were passed on to some of the most pious and character strong men, we know as prophets and messengers. 

When these Divine revelations came to be known to the man, many believed while many did not. Those who believed found the relevance of what was said and what they saw around them. The celestial world above, the dawn of day and night, change of weather and growth of plants and all living beings all started to make sense that all that was seen was being managed and controlled by a power mightier than all, matchless to any earthly being. We thus came to know that there exists One Supreme Being, as mentioned in the successive Divine Scriptures, that is the Master of the entire universe.

On the contrary, there were many who did not believe in there being a Super Power because it was not seen anywhere. The present-day atheists are this branch of people who want scientific proof of everything. In fact, they "rubbish" the divine Scriptures for these do not prove anything scientifically. But what they fail to understand is that Divine Scriptures are not books of sciences but books of SIGNS. However, those with wisdom read the Godly signs and realize the reality of One Singular Deity that controls the world. We also come to know the reality of angels, heavens, and fate of earlier people who believed and those who did not. Through these Divine Books we come to know creation of man, their enticement by Satan and expulsion thereof to the earth.

Here one thing more emerges that is sometimes questioned: What is Ghaib and is it Ghaib for the Creator of the universe as well?  The 3rd verse of Surah 2. Al Baqarah (The Cow) answers this question. First read the verse and its explanation and then we conclude with a plausible answer. In fact, this verse is continuation of the second verse of the Surah which says: This is the Book (Qur'an)about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah. Now connect this verse with the 3rd verse:

الَّذِيۡنَ يُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِالۡغَيۡبِ وَ يُقِيۡمُوۡنَ الصَّلٰوةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنٰهُمۡ يُنۡفِقُوۡنَۙ‏ 

(2:3) for those who believe in the existence of that which is beyond the reach of perception, who establish Prayer and spend out of what We have provided them,

(For those who believe in the existence of that which is beyond the reach of perception) The second condition for obtaining guidance from the Qur'an is that one must believe in the "unseen" -- those realities which cannot be perceived by the senses and which do not come within human experience and observation, e.g. the essence and attributes of Allah, Angels, Revelation, Heaven, Hell, etc. These things must be taken on trust from the experts (Prophets) just as we do in many cases in the physical world. Therefore, only such a person, who believes in the "unseen", can benefit from the Guidance of the Qur'an. As for the one who believes only in those things which can be seen, tasted and smelt, or can be measured and weighed, cannot get any guidance from this Book. 

(who establish Prayer) The third condition to benefit from the Qur'an is that one should be willing and ready to put into practice the teachings of the Qur'an. As the Salat (Prayer) is the first and foremost obligatory duty enjoined by the Qur'an, it is the practical proof and permanent test of the sincerity of one's Faith. Therefore, after a person's profession of Islam, the moment he hears the call to the Prayer (which sounds regularly five times a day from every mosque in the Muslim world), he should join the congregation for the Salat, because this determines whether he is sincere in his profession or not. If he does not attend to the call and join the congregation, it is an indication that he is not sincere in his profession. It must also be noted that "iqama-tus-Salat¦(the establishment of Prayer is the comprehensive term. It means that Salat should be performed in congregation and that permanent arrangements should be made for it in every habitation; otherwise, Salat will not be considered to have been established, even if every inhabitant of a place offers the Salat individually.

(and spend out of what We have provided them) The fourth condition to benefit from the Qur' an is that one should be willing to part with one's money according to the instructions of the Book in order to render the rights of Allah and Man and should make monetary sacrifices for the cause of Islam which he has accepted.

Muhammad Asad Explanation:

Al-ghayb (commonly, and erroneously, translated as "the Unseen") is used in the Qur'an to denote all those sectors or phases of reality which lie beyond the range of human perception and cannot, therefore, be proved or disproved by scientific observation or even adequately comprised within the accepted categories of speculative thought: as, for instance, the existence of God and of a definite purpose underlying the universe, life after death, the real nature of time, the existence of spiritual forces and their inter-action, and so forth. Only a person who is convinced that the ultimate reality comprises far more than our observable environment can attain to belief in God and, thus, to a belief that life has meaning and purpose. By pointing out that it is "a guidance for those who believe in the existence of that which is beyond human perception", the Qur'an says, in effect, that it will - of necessity - remain a closed book to all whose minds cannot accept this fundamental premise.

Ar-rizq ("provision of sustenance") applies to all that may be of benefit to man, whether it be concrete (like food, property, offspring, etc.) or abstract (like knowledge, piety, etc.). The "spending on others" is mentioned here in one breath with God-consciousness and prayer because it is precisely in such selfless acts that true piety comes to its full fruition. It should be borne in mind that the verb anfaqa (lit., "he spent") is always used in the Qur'an to denote spending freely on, or as a gift to, others, whatever the motive may be.

Yusuf Ali Explanation: 

All bounties proceed from God. They may be physical gifts, e.g., food, clothing, houses, gardens, wealth, etc. or intangible gifts, e.g., influence, power, birth and the opportunities flowing from it, health, talents, etc. or spiritual gifts, e.g, insight into good and evil, understanding of men, the capacity for love, etc. We are to use all in humility and moderation. But we are also to give out of every one of them something that contributes to the well-being of others. We are to be neither ascetics nor luxurious sybarites, neither selfish misers nor thoughless prodigals.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

The actual words are: يُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِالۡغَيۡبِ. In the opinion of this writer, the particle ب denotes a ظرف (nomen locus). The implication is that they profess belief while remaining in الْغَيْبِ. This means that they are not slaves to what can be observed or is tangible; they have a spiritual and intellectual existence and hence do not insist that they will only accept those facts which they can behold. They tread their way in the light of their intellect and they accept all those things to which their intellect testifies or nature points to and in order to fulfil the obligations entailed by professing faith in these realities are also ready to go as far as to sacrifice their material needs to fulfil them.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

The most essential quality of the God-fearing believers is their conscious, active moral unity that enriches their souls with profound belief in the imperceptible, or ghayb, dedication to their religious obligations, recognition of all God’s messengers, and unshakeable certainty in the hereafter. Such are the ingredients that make the Muslim faith a complete whole and distinguishes believers from unbelievers. Such a thorough outlook is worthy of God’s final message to man, which was intended as a focus and a guide for all human endeavour on this earth. Man is called upon to adopt this message and lead a complete and wholesome life, guided by its light which shapes man’s feelings, actions, beliefs and ways of living and behaviour.

Concluding remarks: It may be added here that some question the word "Ghaib" and ask is there anything which beyond the perception of even God? Nay, it is not. In fact, whenever the word Ghaib is used in Qur'an, it means things hidden from man or from his perception. Nothing can be hidden from the Deity Who creates everything. So, the realm of Ghaib is from the perspective of man and not God.

After having read this verse, and connecting it with the previous verse, it can be concluded that Qur'an provides guidance to those who are:

• Conscious of Allah
• Believe in the existence of that which is beyond the reach of perception
• Establish Prayer
• And spend out of what We have provided them

Are we, my brothers and sisters in Islam among these, with true faith and belief in Allah?

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 read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Compiled verses from Qur'an on specific subjects: Life

You may read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Social Relations and Etiquettes 

You may read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Al Qur'an guides and helps those who sincerely seek Divine Guidance and Help.

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

You may read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Importance of charity in Islam

You may refer to our reference page: Faith in Allah 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 | 5 | 6 |

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.

Read More

Has Qur'an really reached in you?

Memorizing the entire Qur'an is the ambition of every Muslim and there is a large number of Muslims who memorize the Qur'an right in their childhood. These Qur'an memorizers are called Hafiz (plural Huffaz) and are respected and revered by everyone in a Muslim society. As for the rest of the non-memorizer of Qur'an, almost everyone knows how to recite Qur'an, mostly in Arabic even when Arabic is not their mother tongue. Although, it is great honour to memorize the whole Qur'an and becoming a walking Qur'an, but the big question is: 

Has Qur'an reached in us? 

Although, many boast of have memorized the Qur'an, but can others know whether Qur'an resides in us without us telling them? Or the simple question, can non-Muslims guess from our outward behaviour that we are Muslims as defined in Qur'an?

First of all, we must understand that Qur'an is note mere a sacred book - but it is a book of Divine Wisdom and knowledge. Thus, it not only needs to merely read but understood as well. Unless we know what is ready and why, there is no need to just read it and shelve it. Afterall it is a Book of Guidance as is said in the very second of Surah 2. Al Baqarah: [(2:2) This is the Book of Allah, there is no doubt in it; it is a guidance for the pious] And then the second chapter of Qur'an continues to explain till the end how believers can be guided and how can the understand the many mysteries hidden in the Qur'an.

 

And contrary to the Divine Wisdom to understand Qur'an, it is often seen that in Qur'an reading sessions in a gathering or even when reading in isolation, the Qur'an is generally seen to be hastily. And in most cases without understanding or contemplating its content. In fact, Qur'an is often used as a means for justifying and supporting some preconceived ideas and judgments. People have also subjected the Qur'an to themselves, rather than subjecting themselves to it. They have rendered the Qur'an relative, and their selfish goals and concerns absolute. The Qur'an has partially been made the object of their one-dimensional and patchy -- often outright flawed -- intellectual, spiritual and cultural pursuits. The Qur'an is meant thereby to be superficially and partially comprehended and implemented, at best, and misused and even abused, at worst. 

For such Qur'an readers, Prophet (pbuh) warned that there will be times when certain people will recite the Qur’an but it will not go beyond their throats, meaning it will not enter their hearts and they will not understand it. “They will go out from (leave) Islam as an arrow darts through the game's body” (Sahih al-Bukhari).

When we are unaware of what Qur'an expects of us and how can we reflect its practical manifestation in our daily life? In fact, we need to let non-Muslims see the Qur'an in your action. And how can we do it? Let us see how:

We should be seen using the best of language while conversing with others, free from any foul words and showing respect for others. Is our behaviour free of arrogance, false pride and vanity no matter how high a position we hold? Are we seen feeding the hungry, clothing the poor and not warding off the poor using harsh words? Are we being helpful to the wayfarers, strangers and passersby and showing them the way respectfully? Are we merciful to orphans, and protect their rights? Do we often forgive those who have mistreated us and exhibit an aura of love and respect? 

And how do we treat our parents, family and kith and kin? Does our attitude change for the worse as we attain a higher position or when more wealth comes our way?

All above said questions are mentioned in Qur'an and believers are cautioned to exhibit a positive attitude that embodies the etiquette mentioned in Qur'an, and augmented by the Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

All above leads us to one thing: It isn't how far you have reached in the Qur'an, but how far Qur'an has reached inn you. Remember, knowledge is that benefits, and not that has been memorized.

There are many a non-Muslim who have embraced Islam by seeing the outward attitude of Muslims who exhibited Qur'an in their everyday chores. Unless we become a walking Qur'an, as is ordained by Allah, we can be rest assured that Qur'an has not reached into us. And this is a serious thing to ponder over and every effort be made to let Qur'an reach in our soul and drive our actions purely based on commandments of Qur'an. So, while we memorize Qur'an or recite it otherwise, we must make an endeavor to understand the spirit and lesson behind each word and verse of Qur'an and try to implement that lesson on to us while performing our daily chores. 

When a Muslim has Qur'an reached in him, his heart opens up to the mysteries of life and he can confidently move his abilities towards the ultimate realization of his life mission and purpose. When one has developed a deeper insight into Qur'an, he starts to learn the integration of revelation and reason, science and religion, the matter and spirit, the body and soul, the heavens and earth. This is what Qur'an actually want us to do, rather than mere reading or reciting it without diving into the fathomless sea of knowledge that hides between each word and Ayat of the Qur'an. 

Shouldn't we start trying to let Qur'an in ourselves from this day onward?

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 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 | 5 | 6 |

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.

Read More

Two main obligations of Muslim Community: Fulfilment of Trust – Maintenance of Justice

Nations rise and fall due to quality or otherwise of their leaders and the lead. A nation of stags lead by a lion can lead the stags to glory, while a monkey in chair can dismember the unity of the lions. We have seen nations rising when they were led by selfless, honest, bold and competent leaders. And we also saw the same nations falling apart when greedy, dishonest and selfish leaders were in chairs.

History is replete with such examples as mentioned and the vicious cycle continues till date. It is heart wrenching to note that there have been some Muslim rulers who have defied the public trust and the justice and dishonoured their own people by usurping their rights. Unless the people handover their trusts to the honest, they cannot be sure of development and protection of their rights. This is the very theme of the 58th verse of Surah 4. An Nisa (The Women) beings shared today:

اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَاۡمُرُكُمۡ اَنۡ تُؤَدُّوا الۡاَمٰنٰتِ اِلٰٓى اَهۡلِهَا ۙ وَاِذَا حَكَمۡتُمۡ بَيۡنَ النَّاسِ اَنۡ تَحۡكُمُوۡا بِالۡعَدۡلِ​ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُمۡ بِهٖ​ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ سَمِيۡعًۢا بَصِيۡرًا‏

(4:58) Allah commands you to deliver trusts to those worthy of them; and when you judge between people, to judge with justice. Excellent is the admonition Allah gives you. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.

Here the Muslims have been fore-warned that they should avoid those evils in which the children of Israel were involved. Their basic error was that during their degeneration they entrusted the positions of trust to incompetent people. They began to entrust positions of responsibility and religious and political leadership to inefficient, narrow-minded, immoral, dishonest and wicked people. As a result, the whole community became corrupt. The Muslims are being cautioned against this evil and enjoined to entrust positions of responsibility to qualified and competent people of good moral character.

Another evil that was prevalent among the Jews was injustice. They had lost the very sense and spirit of justice and become utterly unjust, openly dishonest, and sinfully obdurate and would commit acts of gross injustice without any pangs of conscience. The Muslims were personally having a bitter experience of this. The Jews were siding with the idolatrous Quraish against the Believers in one God though the lives of the two clearly showed "who was more rightly guided."On the one side, they saw the pure lives of the Holy Prophet and his followers; on the other, they witnessed the immoral lives of their enemies, who buried their daughters alive, married their step mothers and went round the Ka`bah in naked state. Still these "people of the Book" preferred the idolatrous people to the Believers and brazen-facedly declared that the former were more rightly guided than the latter. Allah warns the Believers against this sort of injustice and enjoins them always to say what is just and right and judge between the people with justice whether they be friends or foes.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir: (The Command to Return the Trusts to Whomever They Are Due) Allah commands that the trusts be returned to their rightful owners. 

Al-Hasan narrated that Samurah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

«أَدِّ الْأَمَانَةَ إِلى مَنِ ائْتَمَنَكَ، وَلَا تَخُنْ مَنْ خَانَك»

(Return the trust to those who entrusted you, and do not betray those who betrayed you.) Imam Ahmad and the collectors of Sunan recorded this Hadith. This command refers to all things that one is expected to look after, such as Allah's rights on His servants: praying, Zakah, fasting, penalties for sins, vows and so forth. The command also includes the rights of the servants on each other, such as what they entrust each other with, including the cases that are not recorded or documented. Allah commands that all types of trusts be fulfillled. Those who do not implement this command in this life, it will be extracted from them on the Day of Resurrection. 

It is recorded in the Sahih that the Messenger of Allah said,

«لَتُؤَدَّنَّ الْحُقُوقُ إِلى أَهْلِهَا حَتَّى يُقْتَصَّ لِلشَّاةِ الْجَمَّاءِ مِنَ الْقَرْنَاء»

(The rights will be rendered back to those to whom they are due, and even the sheep that does not have horns will take revenge from the horned sheep.) Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn Jurayj said about this Ayah, "It was revealed concerning `Uthman bin Talhah from whom the Messenger of Allah took the key of the Ka`bah and entered it on the Day of the victory of Makkah. 

When the Prophet went out, he was reciting this Ayah, (إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤدُّواْ الاحَمَـنَـتِ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا Verily, Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom they are due). He then called `Uthman and gave the key back to him.' 

Ibn Jarir also narrated that `Umar bin Al-Khattab said, "When the Messenger of Allah went out of the Ka`bah, he was reciting this Ayah, (إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤدُّواْ الاحَمَـنَـتِ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا Verily, Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom they are due). May I sacrifice my father and mother for him, I never heard him recite this Ayah before that.' It is popular that this is the reason behind revealing the Ayah (4:58). Yet, the application of the Ayah is general, and this is why Ibn `Abbas and Muhammad bin Al-Hanafiyyah said, "This Ayah is for the righteous and wicked,'' meaning it is a command that encompasses everyone.

 The Order to Be Just: Allah said, (وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُواْ بِالْعَدْلِ and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice.) commanding justice when judging between people. Muhammad bin Ka`b, Zayd bin Aslam and Shahr bin Hawshab said; "This Ayah was revealed about those in authority'', meaning those who judge between people. 

A Hadith states, «إِنَّ اللهَ مَعَ الْحَاكِمِ مَا لَمْ يَجُرْ، فَإِذَا جَارَ وَكَلَهُ اللهُ إِلى نَفْسِه»

(Allah is with the judge as long as he does not commit injustice, for when he does, Allah will make him reliant on himself.) A statement goes, "One day of justice equals forty years of worship.' 

Allah said, (إِنَّ اللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُمْ بِهِ Verily, how excellent is the teaching which He (Allah) gives you!) meaning, His commands to return the trusts to their owners, to judge between people with justice, and all of His complete, perfect and great commandments and laws. 

Allah's statement, (إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعاً بَصِيراً Truly, Allah is Ever All-Hearer, All-Seer.) means, He hears your statements and knows your actions.

Muhammad Asad Explanation:

(BEHOLD, God bids you to deliver all that you have been entrusted with unto those who are entitled thereto, and whenever you judge between people, to judge with justice.) I.e., in the judicial sense, as well as in the sense of judging other people's motives, attitudes and behaviour. - The term amanah denotes anything one has been entrusted with, be it in the physical or moral sense (Razi). If one reads this ordinance in the context of the verses that precede and follow it, it becomes obvious that it relates to the message or - in view of the plural form amanat - to the truths which have been conveyed to the believers by means of the divine writ, and which they must regard as a sacred trust, to be passed on to "those who are entitled thereto" - i.e., to all mankind, for whom the message of the Qur'an has been intended. This, of course, does not preclude the ordinance from having a wider scope as well - that is, from its being applied to any material object or moral responsibility which may have been entrusted to a believer - and, in particular, to the exercise of worldly power and political sovereignty by the Muslim community or a Muslim state, to which the next verse refers.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

The word “trusts” is used for things which are entrusted to a person. Here they refer to the responsibilities and posts created in a collective system. The implication is that the people to whom this kingdom was granted before the Muslims had proved to be thieves; however, Muslims must not be like them. Their foremost responsibility is that after acquiring this great gift, they should hand over the trusts of the nation to people on the basis of merit and strive to establish justice in its ultimate form in every walk of life. Imām Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī comments on this verse in the following words:

… This is a delineation of the most important aspect of the trust referred to as well as an explanation of the responsibility attached to political authority. The foremost responsibility of those who are blessed with political authority by the Almighty is that they should decide all disputes that arise among their people with justice and fairness. Justice means that there should be no discrimination in the eyes of the law between the various classes of society like the rich and the poor or the upper and the lower class. Justice should not be a commodity that can be bought or sold. Partiality and bias should not creep into it nor should indifference and apathy arise in dispensing it. No power or influence, greed or fear of any kind should affect justice in any manner. Whoever is blessed with political authority by the Almighty in this world has been blessed so that he may discharge justice. Therefore, this is his primary responsibility. A just ruler will receive a great reward from the Almighty, and an unjust one will be punished grievously [on the Day of Judgement]. Consequently, the verse says that this is an excellent admonition from the Almighty to the believers, who, therefore, must not show slackness in following it. The attributes of the Almighty mentioned at the end of the verse (one who hears and sees all things) caution us that even the most concealed injustice is in His knowledge. (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 2, 323)

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

These are the main obligations placed on the Muslim community and these sum up its moral code: namely, fulfilment of trust and maintaining justice. The basic and most important trust is that which God has implanted in human nature. This is the one which the heavens, the earth and the mountains refused to accept, but which man undertook. It is that of willingly and deliberately recognising Divine guidance and believing in God. This is the trust that God has given to human beings alone in their very nature. Other creatures have been given faith without the need for any effort on their part. Thus, they recognise their Lord and worship Him without having to make any choice or exerting any special effort. It is man alone who has been given this task to fulfil on the basis of his guiding nature, knowledge, reasoning, will and effort. He will always receive God’s help in that: “As for those who strive hard in Our cause, We shall most certainly guide them to paths that lead to Us; for, indeed, God is with those who do good.” (29: 69)

This is, then, the first trust man has to fulfil. It is that which gives rise to all other trusts which God commands people to fulfil. An important one among these being to give testimony in favour of Islam. This takes the form firstly of striving hard within oneself so that one’s life, feelings, actions and behaviour become a practical translation of faith. Thus, when people praise a believer’s behaviour, values and manners and moral standards, they realise that it is only because he believes in Islam that he is able to attain such high standards.

Another way of giving testimony in favour of Islam is the realisation of just how much more profound and superior Islam is to other human beliefs. With this knowledge, a believer begins to call on people to believe in Islam, explaining its values and principles. It is not sufficient then for a believer to keep his faith to himself. He must fulfil his task of making it known, calling upon others to accept it. That is part of his trust and as such he should discharge it.

Testimony is further given by taking steps to help implement Islam as a code of living for the Muslim community, and in human life in general. To do this, believers should make use of every means available to them both as individuals and as members of that community. Such a practical implementation is the most important trust, second only to accepting the faith itself. No individual and no group are exempt from this trust. The Prophet says: “Jihād” continues until the Day of Resurrection.” Jihād in this sense is a fulfilment of a specific trust.

Another trust which is implied in the above is that of dealing with people and delivering to them whatever they have entrusted to us. That includes honesty in daily transactions, giving honest counsel to rulers and ruled, taking good care of young children, protecting the interests of the community and defending it against hostile forces and observing all duties and obligations outlined by the Divine code. All these are trusts that must be fulfilled.

The order to maintain justice is stated in the most general terms so as to make it obligatory between all people. It does not mean that justice should be confined to Muslims only, or to dealings between them and the followers of earlier Divine religions alone. Justice is due to every individual human being. The requirement to maintain justice only takes into account the fact that people are human beings, and that that alone qualifies them for just treatment. Hence, justice should be extended to all: believers and non-believers, friends and enemies, white and coloured, Arabs and non-Arabs, etc. The Muslim community, whenever it exercises power, is responsible for maintaining justice between them all. In fact, humanity has never experienced such justice except under Islamic rule, when Muslims were the leaders of mankind. Once Muslims lost that leadership, humanity has been unable to experience any similar justice that applies to all people, simply because they are human beings. Such administration of pure and complete justice is the cornerstone of Islamic government, and delivering trusts to their rightful owners is the basic characteristic of life under Islam.

The verse makes it clear that orders both to be true to one’s trust and to maintain justice between people are part of God’s admonition. Good and greatly beneficial indeed is whatever God directs and admonishes us to do. Besides, this is not a mere admonition; it is an order. God only describes it as admonition because that makes it easier to fulfil. Hearts and consciences accept admonition more readily, because its implementation appears to be more of a voluntary nature.

The final comment in the verse attaches the whole matter to fear of God and hope for His reward: “God hears all and sees all.” There is perfect harmony between the duties God imposes on Muslims and the requirements to fulfil trust and maintain justice on the one hand and God’s seeing and hearing everything on the other. God is certain to hear and see all matters related to the fulfilment of trust. Justice, on the other hand, requires good attention, sharp vision and proper evaluation and judgement, as well as taking into account all the relevant factors and circumstances so as to evaluate them properly. Moreover, the order to do both comes from the One who hears and sees all things.

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 read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Al Qur'an guides and helps those who sincerely seek Divine Guidance and Help.

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

You may read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Importance of charity in Islam

You may refer to our reference page: Faith in Allah 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 | 5 | 

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.

Read More