Do not blame the Environment or Family Pressure for not finding the True Faith

Man has always had two choices to choose one from. No one needs formal education to know what is good or what is bad for him, for everyone intrinsically knows the difference. Yet when one makes a mistake or chooses a bad option, many lament that it was because of bad environment one has been part of or some family pressure that compelled him to make a bad choice.

Like all other walks of life, choosing the right faith also poses a dilemma for many who more often than not fall into the cobweb of family traditions, faith or even family pressures beside the pressure of a bad environment one is in and choose a bad option. It is not necessary that a person from a good family will always choose a better option and a person reared in a bad foamily to always follow the family traditions. It is often seen that people born in families with bad reputation or worshipping idols chose a better life and faith from them, while people born in pious and honourable families follow the path of the evil and destroy the name of their families forever.

This is the theme of the last three verses of Surah At-Taḥrīm in which Allah gives three powerful examples involving women. Let us know how personal decision can bring blessings or a doom.

Verse 10: Wives of Prophets who disbelieved

ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًۭا لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱمْرَأَتَ نُوحٍۢ وَٱمْرَأَتَ لُوطٍۢ ۖ كَانَتَا تَحْتَ عَبْدَيْنِ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا صَـٰلِحَيْنِ فَخَانَتَاهُمَا فَلَمْ يُغْنِيَا عَنْهُمَا مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًۭٔا وَقِيلَ ٱدْخُلَا ٱلنَّارَ مَعَ ٱلدَّٰخِلِينَ 

Allah sets forth an example for the disbelievers: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. Each was married to one of Our righteous servants, yet betrayed them.1 So their husbands were of no benefit to them against Allah whatsoever. Both were told, “Enter the Fire, along with the others!”

In the verse above, the wives of Nuh (Noah) and Lut (Lot) have been mentioned. Both were married to righteous prophets but rejected faith. and when the wrath of Allah fell on the people of Nuh and Lot, both perished along with their disbelieving people for their relationship did not save them since they disbelieved and did not follow the light of the true faith being shown by their husbands.

Ibn Kathir explains: 

• Their “betrayal” was not marital infidelity, but betrayal in faith. They disbelieved in their husbands’ message and supported the enemies and even mocked their prophet husbands.
• Key point: Even the closest relationship to a prophet did not benefit them without iman (faith)

The Lesson: Faith is personal — family ties cannot replace it

Verse 11: The believing wife of Pharaoh

وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًۭا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱمْرَأَتَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ٱبْنِ لِى عِندَكَ بَيْتًۭا فِى ٱلْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِى مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِۦ وَنَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ 

And Allah sets forth an example for the believers: the wife of Pharaoh, who prayed, “My Lord! Build me a house in Paradise near You, deliver me from Pharaoh and his ˹evil˺ doing, and save me from the wrongdoing people.”

Asiya bint Muzahim was married to Pharaoh, one of the most oppressive tyrants of the time. Yet she believed and prayed for a home in Paradise.

Ibn Kathir highlights:

• She was tortured by Pharaoh for believing, but she continued to pray for purification of her soul.
• Her du‘ā in the Qur’an is powerful: “My Lord, build for me a house with You in Paradise…”
• Despite her disposition with a abusive tyrant, She chose the Hereafter over worldly power - and for this very reason she is among the best women ever.

Lesson: A bad environment cannot stop true faith

Verse 12: Maryam (Mary)

وَمَرْيَمَ ٱبْنَتَ عِمْرَٰنَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِنَا وَصَدَّقَتْ بِكَلِمَـٰتِ رَبِّهَا وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَكَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْقَـٰنِتِينَ

˹There is˺ also ˹the example of˺ Mary, the daughter of ’Imrân, who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into her ˹womb˺ through Our angel ˹Gabriel˺.1 She testified to the words of her Lord and His Scriptures, and was one of the ˹sincerely˺ devout.

The third woman mentioned in the 12th verse is Maryam (Mary), the mother of Prophet Isa (Jesus). She was known for purity, faith, and devotion and was specially chosen as a model of obedience and spiritual excellence.

Ibn Kathir explains:

• She guarded her chastity and retained purity in both body and soul. And believed in Allah’s commandment to be blessed with a baby boy (and prophet to be) without hesitation.
• She thus represents Perfect faith, modesty, and obedience

Lesson: Spiritual excellence is based on sincerity, not status

Importance of These Verses

These verses completely break common assumptions about religion and identity:

• Lineage does NOT guarantee success Even being married to prophets didn’t save the wives of Nuh and Lut. That is why Islam rejects the idea of “automatic salvation”
• Individual responsibility Every person stands on their own faith. No one can rely on: Family, Culture, or Society.
• Faith can survive any environment Asiya lived in a palace of ظلم (oppression) - yet reached one of the highest spiritual ranks
• True honor is taqwa (piety) Maryam had no worldly power - but became one of the greatest women in history because of her piety and obedience to her Creator.

Relevance Today

These verses are extremely relevant in modern life:

• “My family is religious, so I’m fine” These verses challenge that mindset. Being born into a Muslim family is not enough - One needs personal belief and practice
• Living in a negative environment  
• Many people say: “My surroundings are bad” or “Society is corrupt”. But Asiya’s example shows you can still be righteous even in the worst system.
• If we look around, more and more people living in anti Islam environment are reverting to Islam despite family pressures or mocking by the people among whom they have lived since birth.
• Social pressure & identity
• Today people often follow Culture over religion and Trends over truth.
• These verses remind that Truth is not based on majority - rather it’s based on your connection with Allah.
• Women’s spiritual status  These verses are powerful because Allah gives female role models of both failure and success. It shows women are individually accountable and capable of the highest faith. Perhaps for this very reason most of the reverts are women, specially in the United States.

Core Message Across All Three Verses

Your relationship with Allah is independent of everyone else: (1) Not your spouse, (2) Not your parents

Not your society. One is on his own when it comes to choosing a faith. In most cases reverts confronted hostile families and were even abandoned by friends and families. Yet they stand on their feet, confident, relieved of false and misleading teachings.

Simple Takeaway

• Bad family won’t ruin you (if you choose faith)
• Good family won’t save you (if you reject faith)
• What matters is your own sincerity and actions

Other Qur’anic Examples with the Same Message

These verses are part of a larger Qur’anic theme:

• Family ties cannot save you Son of Prophet Nuh (Noah) refused to believe and drowned in the flood when his father wanted him to denounce his faith and follow what he was preaching (Surah Hud (11:46)) - Even being the son of a prophet didn’t save him.
• Guidance is not inherited 
• Father of Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham) was a staunch idol worshipper. Yet despite pressure from his father, Prophet Abraham rejected family faith despite Ibrahim’s efforts (Mentioned in Surah At-Tawbah 9:114)
• This shows  Faith is independent and personal  and that guidance is not inherited - it permeates into the hearts of those who truly strive for it.
• Tyranny cannot suppress desire to find the true faith Like Asia, who despite being surrounded by tyranny, chose the Divine truth, Prophet Musa (Moses) who was raised in the alongside the Pharaoh, also did not succumb to treacheries and machination of Pharaoh and his magicians. 
• Leaving Corrupt society to Preserve Faith The example of the young People of the Cave, mentioned in Surah 18. Kahf, who left a corrupt society to preserve faith. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ too migrated from Makkah where he along with the newly reverted Muslims were subjected to torture by the polytheists of Makkah and found a new home for them in Medina to live by their faith.

Across the Qur’an, a consistent principle appears: “Individual accountability before Allah”

These examples form a pattern:

• Good family, bad individual: Example Wives of Nuh & Lut - Lesson: No inherited salvation
• Bad environment, good individual: Example Asiya - Lesson: Environment doesn’t define you
• Pure devotion Example Maryam - Lesson: Sincerity elevates you
• Prophet’s child rejecting truth Example Son of Nuh - Lesson: Even closest ties don’t matter

Final Powerful Insight

These verses end Surah At-Tahrim with a striking contrast: Two women close to prophets Failed, while two women in difficult or unique situations Succeeded. That means Your relationship with Allah is your true identity—not your circumstances.

Now having unpacked the last three verses of Surah At Tahrim, there is no reason left for anyone not to pursue the truth that Islam brings to them for it has been amply highlighted above that no matter how bad the environment or family pressures, one is till responsible for himself individually and will be answerable on the Day of Judgment in his own personal capacity to answer for the path he chose for himself. Time is now to take the correct decision and choose a faith that is more closer to Nature and Divinely true.

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.

Disclaimer: The purpose of this post and its contents is for education purpose and explain verses from Qur'an to the information of non Muslims. It is not  intended to force someone to accept Islam - but to provide an option duly explained for better understanding of Islam and Qur'an, which is oft misquoted.

You may refer to more Selected Verses from Sürah 66. At-Taḥrīm (The Prohibition)  already published. You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For verses on 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 | 4 |

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.

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Believers! Do not let love for people override obedience to Allah

Nature has provided man immense means of sustenance. These fulfill our daily needs and even taste and there are substitutes available in abundance in case one doesn't suit our taste. Yet despite the abundant availability, there are few eatables that are forbidden by Allah for He alone knows what wisdom lies behind such restrictions and prohibitions. 

For example, pork is not only made unlawful in other Divine religions, but in Islam too. We share herein under quote a verse from Al-Qurʾān Sürah al-Naḥl (The Honey Bee) verse 115:

اِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيۡكُمُ الۡمَيۡتَةَ وَ الدَّمَ وَلَحۡمَ الۡخِنۡزِيۡرِ وَمَاۤ اُهِلَّ لِغَيۡرِ اللّٰهِ بِهٖ​ۚ فَمَنِ اضۡطُرَّ غَيۡرَ بَاغٍ وَّلَا عَادٍ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِيۡمٌ‏ 

(16:115) Allah has forbidden you only carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine; also any animal over which the name of any other than Allah has been pronounced. But whoever eats of them under compelling necessity - neither desiring it nor exceeding the limit of absolute necessity - surely for such action Allah is Much Forgiving, Most Merciful.

* Read details in our earlier post: Why eyebrows are raised when Muslims label some food as Halāl (Lawful) and Harām (Unlawful) 

Other than these eatables mentioned above, rest all crops, fruits and their derivatives like honey and oil are made Halal (permissible) for Muslims. Yet some believers make certain Halal things Haram over them in order to appease someone, even one's family. We share herein under the very first verse from Surah At-Taḥrīm التحريم (The Prohibition) in which even Prophet Muhammad ﷺ under a peculiar situation vowed not to take honey to appease his wives and was instantly admonished by Allah for never making a Halal thing Haram, thus overrising obedience of Allah over love of people.

Let us read the verse below and then its explanation with reference to context and its implications for us today.

The Verse:

يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّبِىُّ لِمَ تُحَرِّمُ مَاۤ اَحَلَّ اللّٰهُ لَـكَ​ۚ تَبۡتَغِىۡ مَرۡضَاتَ اَزۡوَاجِكَ​ؕ وَاللّٰهُ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِيۡمٌ‏ 

(66:1) O Prophet, why do you forbid what Allah has made lawful for you? Is it to please your wives? Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Compassionate.

Sürah At-Tahrīm (66:1) is a powerful and deeply personal verse addressed to the Prophet ﷺ, yet it carries universal guidance.

Context of Revelation (Asbāb al-Nuzūl)

Classical scholars (like Ibn Kathīr and others) mention two closely related reports explaining this verse:

• The Honey Incident
• The Prophet ﷺ used to visit his wife Zaynab bint Jahsh, where he would drink honey. Some of his other wives (notably Aisha bint Abi Bakr and Hafsa bint Umar) felt a bit of natural jealousy and agreed to say that his breath had an unpleasant smell (maghāfīr).
• Out of consideration, the Prophet ﷺ said he would stop drinking honey—making something lawful effectively “forbidden” upon himself.
• The Incident of Māriyah Another narration relates to Māriyah al-Qibtiyya, where the Prophet ﷺ, to please one of his wives, vowed to abstain from her.

The detail of these incidents have been highlighted in detail which can be read from our earlier post on the Exegesis / Tafsir of Sürah At-Tahrīm. Herein under we only explain the Divine commandment of admonishment for making Halal things Haram.

Key Insight on Context

Regardless of which specific incident is preferred, the core issue is the same: The Prophet ﷺ restricted something Allah made lawful, out of a noble intention—to please his family, thus overriding obedience to Allah.

Core Message of the Verse

• Even Good Intentions Have Limits
• The Prophet ﷺ acted out of kindness and sensitivity. But Allah corrected him: "You cannot declare something unlawful, even for emotional or relational reasons, that Allah has made lawful.
• This shows: Divine law is above personal compromise.
• Balance Between Relationships and Principles Although Islam acknowledges Love, Emotional sensitivity, and Family harmony, yet it sets a boundary: Do not compromise what Allah has permitted or commanded to please people
• Allah’s Gentle Correction 
• Notice the tone for it does not harshly condemn the act for it ends with “Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” That is the act is disliked, yet Allah is forgiving and merciful.
• This teaches: Even the best of people can make small judgment errors—and Allah corrects with mercy.
• That is, although the act of making a lawful thing unlawful only in order to please your wives was an act unbecoming of your high and responsible office, yet it was no sin, which might have entailed a punishment. Therefore, Allah has only pointed it out to you and corrected it, and has forgiven you for this error.

Implications for Us Today

• Don’t Make Halal into Haram
• A very common mistake most of us still make by declaring permissible things as “bad” or “sinful” without evidence - that is cultural or emotional biases overriding Sharīʿah.
• Example: Forbidding yourself (or others) from lawful things out of guilt, pressure, or image
• Avoid People-Pleasing at the Cost of Truth
• This verse directly addresses a subtle weakness: Living to please people instead of pleasing Allah
• Today this appears as: (1) Compromising religious values for social acceptance, (2) Altering truth to avoid conflict, and (3) Suppressing what is right to maintain relationships.
• This is specially true for Muslims living in non Muslim countries who make many a compromises so as not to look "fundamentalist" to the non Muslim community. for example not observing Hijab in order to be singled out or observing religious matters openly.
• Emotional Intelligence with Boundaries Islam does not reject sensitivity like The Prophet ﷺ caring deeply about his wives’ feelings. But kindness must not override divine guidance
• Self-Imposed Restrictions in Religion 
• This verse warns against unnecessary strictness like Inventing personal rules and treating them like religion, making life harder than Allah intended.
• This connects with a broader principle: Islam is a religion of balance—not self-imposed hardship.

A Deeper Spiritual Reflection

This verse exposes a hidden spiritual test and asks: Whose approval matters most in your life?  The People?, Family?, Society?, or Allah?

Even the Prophet ﷺ was gently reminded: Do not let love for people subtly override obedience to Allah.

That is not eating pork or drinking is not something that one should be ashamed of in societies where these are allowed and eaten and drink openly. These can be avoided by polite rejection with no discussions or arguments.

One-Line Takeaway: “Never compromise what Allah has made lawful or true in order to please others—even with the best intentions.”

The reproach in the verse above is mild but effective. It is not proper for a believer to prohibit himself something that God has made lawful. The Prophet had not imposed a legal prohibition on himself - he only decided to refrain. This gentle reproach makes it clear that it is not right to deliberately deprive oneself of what God has made lawful in order to appease someone else. The comment at the end of the verse is: 'God is much-forgiving, ever merciful,' suggests that such deliberate action would require questioning unless it was overlooked by an act of God's forgiveness and grace.

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.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Islam - frequently asked Q & A 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

Beware! You are being watched

Man has always wanted to live a boundless life and is on the lookout of opportunities when he can do whatever he feels like doing - unobserved and unhindered. But if he is allowed to do so, there will be utter chaos and it will be difficuilt to harness the outburst of innate himan desire to be free. And whenever controlls are applied, a "sense" of discipline seems to set in. Let us quote here two examples:

• The speed cameras on highways if placed without any notification, drivers tend to overspeed. But whenever a cautionary board is placced or drivers know of presence of a speed camera, suddenly brakes are applied tolower the speed within given speed limit. It is the fear of being watched and caught that induce displine in people.
• Let us g o a step further. Let two young boy and girl be left in a room alone with a caustion htat a camera is placed to monitor their every movement and conversation, which could be used for public viewing. Rest assured even after 24 hours of "solitary confinement" none of the two would try crossing any limits of decency, both physical or verbal. Suppose there was no camera installed or they were not notified of presence of camera, one can very conveniently conclude what would transpire between the two. This means the fear of being watched makes us cautious of our acts and forbids us fro crossing prescribed limits.

With this premise in view, let us turn to our day to day life where many of us hoodwink others, tell lies, make ingresses of decency and rob others of what is rightfully due to them.

Take a turn from here to a spiritual explanation of self discpline. Allah, our Creator, has created this universe to thrive under set rules of discipline. And has made everything to obey His orders and directives. While the celestial movements are centrally controlled and all living beings other than humans are prgrammed to work under a Divine network, man has been given a leverage to do what he wants: Good or bad but with a caution of being divinely watched.

Since the Divine camera is invisible, many a man elect to break the barriers and cross limits. Although, man has been cautioned through all  Divinne Sccriptures that every movement and act of theirs is being watcched and recored, many do not seem to pay a heed to such cautions for immediate hauling up in Divine Justice is deliberately being pended, yet recordded to be presented in adossier to be handed over to everyone on the Day of Judgement. 

As already mentioned, the Divine recording is invisible, man doesnt pay any heed to being caught one day right here in this world or in the life of the hereafter. Atheists since do not beleive in Divine presence, for them being watched or otherwise does not matter for them the concept of right or wrong doesnt matter for they fear not any camera recording their acts. Even many many others, Divine watching does not scare. And it is for this reason we find people robbing rights of others, hurting and robbine to have an upper edge over whosoever they can instill their fear and subdue. 

Many a Muslim too fall in this category, unfortunately. Many of us usurp others rights, tell lies even when under oath taken on the Qur'an, hurt and kill fellow Muslim brthern, backbite and create uhurdles lest others progress ahead of them. This is happening despite clear instructions in the Qur'an which tell us that Allah is All Seeing and Hearing - Al-`Alim (العليم) - The All-Knowing and Ash-Shahid (الشهيد) - The Witness to every deed of ours.  He has also assigned two angels over every man (and woman) who are constantly recording all our activities round the clock. This is the same recording like a speed camera or a spy camera placed around us - though with a difference. While the spy and speed cameras could malfunction or stop working, the Divine Eye has never blinked even for a fraction of second since the creation of the universe and even beyond the time when this universe will be no more. For Allah has been there since time immemorial to the limitless time in futre.

So my brothers and sisters, beware of the Divine Eye for its recording will decide our ultimate future in the life of the hereafter: Whether we will be provided an abode in the Heavens or thrown into the fathomless bit of molten fire and boiling water. Time is running fast - so let us trun to Qur'ana dn Sunnah to mend our ways now, lest it is too late to make amends. Remember, Allah is oft forgiving (Al-Ghafur (الغفور) - The Forgiving, The Pardoner) and extremely merciful (Ar Rahim (الرحيم) - The Most Merciful ) to those who repent their sins, seek Divine forgiveness and live a life on a path shown to us by many messengers and prophets sent by Allah. 

Next time you intend watching a porn stuff, talk something bad in his absence or indulge in extra matrimonal intimacy, be it be known that the Divine Eye is watching you and every act of yours is being recorded, which will be presented against you on the Day of Judgement.

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 Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Important DOs and DON'Ts from Qur'an (Understanding Qur'an) fro more Divine cautions.

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

Photo | 

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of the Qur'ān from authentic sources. 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. 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.

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Do not show conceit for Allah does not like the conceited (Selected verses from Qur'an)

No two men are gifted or blessed alike. In fact there exists a vast disparity between the HAVEs and HAVE NOTs. And it is the general human psyche to boast of one's wealth and possessions for they think whatever have the achieved is all because of their own efforts and handwork, not realizing that no one is blessed unless the Lord of the world so desired.

There have been nations and individuals mentioned in the Divine Scriptures that showed arrogance and conceit due to their possessions and positions who were wiped out with for Allah does not like the conceited and the arrogance.  In Qur'an, there is a mention of one such man by the name of Qarun (mentioned as Korah in Bible and Torah) who was mighty rich, yet was too boastful and conceited about his wealth. People around him warned him lest Divine wrath enveloped and destroyed him. He did not heed to the warnings and was sunk in the sand along with his entire wealth.

Such anecdotes are mentioned in Divine Scriptures to guide people to show humility rather than conceit and be always thankful to their Lord so that they are given and blessed more. And also any eye opener for those who despite knowing such anecdotes, boast and forget to thank their Lord in an expression of humility.

We share today the 76th verse of Surah 28. Al Qasas (The Story) about arrogance and conceit of Qarun:

اِنَّ قَارُوۡنَ كَانَ مِنۡ قَوۡمِ مُوۡسٰى فَبَغٰى عَلَيۡهِمۡ​ وَاٰتَيۡنٰهُ مِنَ الۡكُنُوۡزِ مَاۤ اِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهٗ لَـتَـنُوۡٓاُ بِالۡعُصۡبَةِ اُولِى الۡقُوَّةِ اِذۡ قَالَ لَهٗ قَوۡمُهٗ لَا تَفۡرَحۡ​ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الۡفَرِحِيۡنَ‏  

[They should not show arrogance on their means and resources. Tell them:] Korah was from among the nation of Moses;  then  he became rebellious against them. We had given him so many treasures that its keys were barely lifted by a band of many strong men. When the people of his nation counselled him: “Do not show conceit because God does not like the conceited 

Tafsir Ibn Kathir: It was recorded that Ibn 'Abbas said:

(إِنَّ قَارُونَ كَانَ مِنْ قَوْمِ مُوسَىٰ Verily, Qarun was of Musa's people,) "He was the son of his paternal uncle." This was also the view of Ibrahim An-Nakha'i, 'Abdullah bin Al-Harith bin Nawfal, Sammak bin Harb, Qatadah, Malik bin Dinar, Ibn Jurayj and others; they all said that he was the cousin of Musa, peace be upon him. Ibn Jurayj said: "He was Qarun bin Yashar bin Qahith, and Musa was the son of 'Imran bin Qahith.

(وَآتَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْكُنُوزِ And We gave him of the treasures,) meaning, of wealth;

( مَا إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُ لَتَنُوءُ بِالْعُصْبَةِ أُولِي الْقُوَّةِ that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men.) Groups of strong men would not have been able to carry them because they were so many. Al-A'mash narrated from Khaythamah, "The keys of Qarun's treasure were made of leather, each key like a finger, and each key was for a separate storeroom. When he rode anywhere, the keys would be carried on sixty mules with white blazes on their foreheads and white feet." Other views were also given, and Allah knows best.

(إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ قَوْمُهُ لَا تَفْرَحْ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْفَرِحِينَ Remember when his people said to him: "Do not exult. Verily, Allah likes not those who exult.") means, the righteous ones among his people exhorted him. By way of sincere advice and guidance, they said: "Do not exult in what you have," meaning, 'do not be arrogant and proud of your wealth.'

(  إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْفَرِحِينَ Verily, Allah likes not those who exult.) Ibn 'Abbas said, "This means, those who rejoice and gloat." Mujahid said, "It means those who are insolent and reckless, and do not thank Allah for what He has given them." His saying:

(وَابْتَغِ فِيمَا آتَاكَ اللَّهُ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ ۖ وَلَا تَنْسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا ۖ But seek, with that which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world;) means, 'use this great wealth and immense blessing Allah has given you to worship your Lord and draw closer to Him by doing a variety of good deeds which will earn you reward in this world and the Hereafter.'

Explanation Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi:

This fact also is being related in continuation of the answer to the excuse which has been the theme of the discourse from verse 57 onward. In this regard, one should bear in mind the fact that the people who feared that the Holy Prophet Muhammad's message would affect the overall national interests adversely were, in fact, the big money owners, money-lenders and capitalists of Makkah, who by virtue of their international trade and money-lending business had become the Korahs of their time. These were the people who thought that the real truth was to earn and amass maximum wealth. Anything that seemed to vitiate this object was an untruth which could not be accepted in any case. On the other hand, there were the common people who looked with longing eyes at these magnates and earnestly desired that they should also attain the same heights as those people had attained. In an atmosphere charged with the love of money, as it was, people considered it to be a weighty argument that if the invitation of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace) towards Tauhid and the Hereafter and the moral code was accepted it would spell ruin for the Quraish not only commercially but economically too. 

Qarun who has been called Korah in the Bible and the Talmud was a first cousin of the Prophet Moses. According to the account of descent given in Exodus (ti: 18-21) the fathers of the Prophet Moses and Korah were real brothers. At another place in the Qur'an it has been stated that this man had joined with Pharaoh in spite of being an Israelite and become one of his favorites; so much so that one of the two ring-leaders of opposition to Prophet Moses after Pharaoh was this same Korah: "We sent Moses to Pharaoh and Haman and Korah with Our Signs and a clear authority of appointment, but they said, `He is a sorcerer, a liar'." (Al-Mu'min :23-24).

From this it follows that Korah had rebelled against his own people and become a supporter of the hostile forces which were bent upon wiping out the Israelites. On account of this rebellion against his own people he had attained a high place with Pharaoh and the two persons, besides Pharaoh, to whom the Prophet Moses had been sent were Pharaoh's minister, Haman, and this Israelite capitalist, Korah. All other chiefs and couriers were of inferior status, who were not worth mentioning. The same position of Korah has been alluded to in Al' Ankabut: 39. 

In the story related of him in the Bible (Num., ch. 16), there is no mention of this man's wealth. But according to the Jewish traditions, he possessed immense wealth, so much so that three hundred mules were required to carry the keys of his treasures. (Jewish Encyclopedia, Vol. VII, p. 556). Though greatly exaggerated.

Qur'an Wiki explanation:

Now the sūrah tells us about Qārūn, or Korah, portraying the power of wealth and knowledge and how, when coupled with arrogance and ingratitude, this leads to the same end. In essence, the sūrah depicts those values that make wealth and luxury practically insignificant when compared with faith and righteousness, as also with moderation in enjoying life’s pleasures without arrogance or corruption.

Qārūn belonged to Moses’ people. God had given him abundant wealth, described in the sūrah as “treasures”, a term that signifies a hoarded surplus of money which is taken out of circulation. Indeed the mere carrying of the keys to these treasures represented a heavy burden even for a band of strong men. It was because of his wealth that Qārūn treated his people unjustly. The sūrah does not specify the form of injustice dealt out by Qārūn, leaving it indefinite so as to include all types of injustice. He might have taken their land and property unfairly, as is often done by those who use power and wealth to deprive others of their rights. He might also have deprived them of their fair share in his property. God has given the poor their rightful share in the property of the rich, so that wealth does not circulate exclusively among the rich while all around them the poor are in desperate need. When this happens, corruption becomes manifest. Qārūn might equally have been guilty of other forms of injustice.

However, some in his community tried to stop such injustice, counselling him to maintain the path that earns God’s pleasure. Thus, he would be able to enjoy his wealth and partake of the pleasures it provides, but in moderation and within reason. More importantly, this path requires wealthy people to watch God in all their actions, for it is He who granted them all they have. They too will have to account for their deeds on the Day of Judgement.

“Do not exult” in your riches nor be so proud of them as to forget the One who has granted you this blessing. Do not neglect to give due thanks. Do not treat your money as an object of extreme delight so that you become insolent and arrogant in your treatment of other people. “For God does not love those who are exultant.” His compatriots remind him of God and the fact that He does not love those who are infatuated with wealth, showing arrogance and using its power to humiliate others.

Summarizing the above quoted verse, eminent Muslim scholar of present times Javed Ahmed Ghamidi notes: It is this wisdom and comprehension of the truth about which it is stated at another instance that he who is blessed with these is blessed with a great treasure. The implication is that everything in this world is God-given; they should not regard it to be a consequence of their own ability or a legacy of their forefathers; it is purely a favour of God that He has granted so much wealth and affluence to them. Whatever from it that will be a benefit for them will be the part they spend for the cause of God. He wants to see the reflection of His own attributes in His servants as well and likes those among them who look upon with favour at their fellow brethren.

Such anecdotes are not repeated without any reason nor these are specific to any time period. Such like verses are to warn the entire mankind to shun any notions that show conceit, arrogance and pride to boast of one's family. These are to warn all such people to bow in humbleness to their Lord and show utter humility. And if this is not done, wrath of the Lord can be any minute knocking at their door with news of misfortune. Remember, within seconds, empires crumble and man robbed of his proud possessions.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) helpnes' wealth, health, position or fa 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: The Utter Losers (in worldly life and the Hereafter) in the light of Qur'an

You may refer to more Selected Verses from Sürah (28) Al-Qaṣaṣ ( القصص “The Stories”)  already published. 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 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. 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

Believers! Do not go near ADULTERY [Zināʾ (زِنَاء)] because it is blatant lewdness and a very evil path

One of the oldest recorded sins is adultery, an act when man and woman indulge into sex outside their marriage. The word adultery is from adulterāre (“to pollute, defile, commit adultery”), a word formed ultimately from the Latin elements ad- “to, near” and alter “other.” That is polluting an otherwise scared relation between man and woman by defying all noble norms of the society and Divine Commandments as contained in all Divine religions. In simple words, adultery is the "voluntary violation of the marriage bed." That is, it destroys the sanctity of the bedroom, meant exclusively for husband and wife.

In Islam, Adultery is known as Zināʾ (زِنَاء) referring to unlawful sexual intercourse. According to traditional jurisprudence, zina can include adultery, fornication, prostitution, rape, sodomy, incest, and even bestiality. All such forms are strictly forbidden in Islam and sever punishment are prescribed in the Islamic law for unlawful sex destroys and compromises the very moral fiber of the inter personal relations and society as a whole.

While the menace of adultery is widespread in the non-Muslim countries, where even boys and girls indulge in this heinous act of lewdness even in their early teens, this menace is also creeping in to Muslim societies as well in the name of liberalism. Parents feel helpless to harness their children against this menace and stop them from falling into a depth of lewdness and evil ways.

In order to create awareness against unlawful sex outside marriage, today we share the 32nd verse of Surah 17. Al Isra (The Night Journey), also known as Bani Israil (The Children of Israel) which warns the believers even not to go near adultery, what to talk of committing the actual act:

وَلَا تَقۡرَبُوا الزِّنٰٓى اِنَّهٗ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً  ؕ وَسَآءَ سَبِيۡلًا‏ 

(17:32) Do not go near adultery because it is blatant lewdness and a very evil path.

"Do not even go near fornication." This commandment is meant both for individuals and society as a whole. It warns each individual not only to guard against adultery or fornication itself but against all those things that lead to or stimulate it. As regards society as a whole the commandment enjoins it to make such arrangements as prevent adultery and eradicate the means and stimulants that lead to adultery. Therefore, society should employ all those legal and educative means that help develop such an environment as preventing and eradicating indecency.

Finally, this article formed the basis of laws and regulations of the Islamic system of life. In order to fulfill its implications adultery and false accusation of adultery were made criminal offenses: regulations about "Purdah" was promulgated: the publication of indecent things was banned and drinking of intoxicants was made unlawful: restrictions on music, dancing and pictures which are conducive to adultery were imposed. Then such laws were enacted as made marriage easy, and cut at the root of adultery.

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: The Command to avoid Zina (Unlawful Sex) and Everything that leads to it. Allah says, forbidding His servants to commit Zina or to approach it or to do anything that may lead to it:

(وَلاَ تَقْرَبُواْ الزِّنَى إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً and come not near to unlawful sex. Verily, it is a Fahishah (immoral sin)) meaning a major sin, (وَسَآءَ سَبِيلاً and an evil way.) meaning, a terrible way to behave. 

Imam Ahmad recorded Abu Umamah saying that a young man came to the Prophet and said, "O Messenger of Allah! Give me permission to commit Zina (unlawful sex).'' The people surrounded him and rebuked him, saying, "Stop! Stop!' But the Prophet said:

(Come close) The young man came to him, and he said, (Sit down) so he sat down. The Prophet said, (Would you like it (unlawful sex) for your mother) He said, "No, by Allah, may I be ransomed for you.'' The Prophet said, (Neither do the people like it for their mothers.) The Prophet said, (Would you like it for your daughter) He said, "No, by Allah, may I be ransomed for you.' The Prophet said, (Neither do the people like it for their daughters. ) The Prophet said, (Would you like it for your sister) He said, "No, by Allah, may I be ransomed for you.' The Prophet said, (Neither do the people like it for their sisters.) The Prophet said, (Would you like it for your paternal aunt) He said, "No, by Allah, O Allah's Messenger! may I be ransomed for you.' The Prophet said, (Neither do the people like it for their paternal aunts.) The Prophet said, (Would you like it for your maternal aunt) He said, "No, by Allah, O Allah's Messenger! may I be ransomed for you.' The Prophet said, (Neither do the people like it for their maternal aunts.) Then the Prophet put his hand on him and said, (O Allah, forgive his sin, purify his heart and guard his chastity.) After that the young man never paid attention to anything of that nature.

Muhammad Asad Explanation:

Lit., "do not come near adultery", thus intensifying the prohibition. It is to be noted that the term zina signifies all sexual intercourse between a man and a woman who are not husband and wife, irrespective of whether either of them is married to another partner or not; hence, it denotes both "adultery" and "fornication" in the English senses of these terms.

Yusuf Ali Explanation:  

Adultery is not only shameful in itself and inconsistent with any self-respect or respect for others, but it opens the road to many evils. It destroys the basis of the family: it works against the interests of children born or to be born; it may cause murders and feuds and loss of reputation and property, and also loosen permanently the bonds of society. Not only should it be avoided as a sin, but any approach or temptation to it should be avoided.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

Until here (that is verses prior to the 3nd verse) the category of directives (justice, goodness and spending on kindred) which the Qur’ān wants its followers to observe are mentioned. From here onwards, the category of directives (lewdness, evil and arrogance) from which it forbids its followers is being mentioned. The first directive mentioned in this regard is that no one should even go near fornication. The reason stated for this is that it is open lewdness and a very dreadful practice. The implication is that no argument is required to prove its awfulness and lewdness. Human nature has always regarded it to be a grave sin and a terrible crime and will continue to do so as long as it does not get perverted. It is an indubitable reality that the institution of family is as essential a need for a person as air and water are. This institution can only sustain on natural feelings and emotions if the relationship between the spouses is permanent. If this aspect is missing, then a society can only consist of a herd of cattle which is devoid of natural and spiritual feelings and emotions; it cannot be founded on a right footing.

Because of this very terrible nature of fornication the Almighty has not merely forbidden it, He has asked us to not even go near it. This means that one should keep away from things that may lead to it or may ultimately entice a person to it.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

“Do not come near adultery. It is indeed an abomination and an evil way.” (Verse 32)

There is a definite link between the killing of children and adultery. We find that the prohibition of adultery here intervenes between the prohibition of killing one’s children and that of killing oneself. This takes into account the link to which we are here referring.

Adultery represents killing in various ways. It is a killing because it wastes life matter as it puts it in the wrong place. It is often followed by a desire to get rid of its natural consequences through abortion or infanticide. If the child is spared and allowed to live, it is abandoned to a life of misery and deprivation, which is a killing in a different form. Moreover, it is a killing of the community because family relations are thus lost, and blood ties are confused. People will have little trust that the children they bring up are their own. Thus, community relations become weakened and the spirit of the community more or less dies.

Adultery may also be described as a killing of the community for a different reason. The ease which it provides for the fulfilment of sexual desires makes marriage a redundant institution, and the family an unnecessary responsibility. We must not forget that the family provides the proper home where the young should be reared, and where sound human nature is consolidated. It is the home where sound upbringing can be ensured for boys and girls alike.

Throughout history, every community that allowed immorality to spread saw its own decline brought about. Some people may feel that this is not true, looking at the fact that Europe and the United States continue to enjoy power despite the fact that immorality is widespread there. Yet the results of such loose morality are now apparent in older nations, such as France. As for new nations like the US, it may take some time yet before such effects are visible. The case is like that of a young man who gives rein to his desire. The effects may not manifest themselves when he is young, but as he grows older, his decline is rapid.

The Qur’ān even warns against ‘coming near’ to adultery, in order to give stronger emphasis that it is something to guard against. Since adultery is committed to satisfying a strong desire, steering away from it is safer. When adultery is made easy, resisting it becomes much harder. Hence Islam takes appropriate preventive measures. It dislikes the mixing of the two sexes where it is unnecessary, forbids that a man stay with a woman in a closed place, and prohibits the indecent appearance of women when they go out or attend social functions. It encourages marriage and recommends fasting for those who cannot marry. It disapproves of all types of barriers that prevent people from getting married such as exorbitant dowries. It makes it clear that no one should ever fear poverty as a result of having children, and encourages its followers to provide help to those who wish to marry in order to preserve their chastity. It also prescribes very severe punishments for the crimes of adultery and false accusations of adultery against others, without providing proper evidence to support the same. Such measures are taken in order to prevent the Muslim community from throwing itself on the slippery road to decline.

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 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 | 7 |

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.

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Important DOs and DON'Ts from Qur'an (Understanding Qur'an)

In our last post "Who can benefit from Guidance of Qur'an" we emphasized on guidance that Qur'an provides to the one who are serious to receive the Divine Guidance. Guidance comes in plain commandments or in the form of DOs and DON'Ts. In this post today we are sharing a long list od these for easy reference and then acting upon these in our daily lives so that our lives are tailored and livable so Divinely guided to us. 

Although all the above referred DOs and DON'Ts are self-explanatory, we will provide explanation and tafsir/exegesis of these verses in our upcoming posts. The explanation / exegesis of some of these have already been shared and have been highlighted. Please click on the highlighted text to be taken to our series of posts on Selected Verses from Qur'an.

The DOs

• Speak Good Always (Surah 2 Al Baqarah:83)
• Postpone Loan (or even right off) if Debtor is in Hardship (Surah 2. Al-Baqarah: 280)
• Restrain their anger, and forgive others  (Surah 3 Al i Imran (The Family of Imran):134)
• Return a greeting in a better manner (Surah 4 An Nisa (The Women):86)
• Keep your oaths (Surah 5 Al Maidah (The Table Spread):89)
• Believers! Take heed of yourself, if you are rightly guided - the error of he who strays will not harm you (Surah 5 Al Maidah (The Table Spread):105)
• Give full measures and weight with justice (Surah 6 Al Anaam (The Cattle):152)
• Wear Raiment of Modesty and Righteousness (Surah 7. Al-A'raf: 26) 
• Hold to forgiveness (Surah 7. Al-A'raf:199)
• Keep your covenants (Surah 8 Al Anfal (The Spoils of War):58)
• If enemy wants peace, accept it (Surah 8 Al Anfal (The Spoils of War):61)
• Honour your treaties (Surah 9 At Taubah (The Repentance):4)
• Be Good to Your Parents (Surah 17. Al-Israa:23) (Surah 13. Ar-Ra'd:11)
• When planning something, always say In sha' Allah (Surah 18 Al Kahf: 24)
• Turn away from ill speech (Surah 23. Al Muminoon (The Believers):3)
• Be true to your trusts and covenants (Surah 23. Al Muminoon (The Believers):8)
• Cast down your looks (Surah 24 An Noor:30)
• Walk on earth Gently (Surah 25. Al Furqan (The Criterion):63)
• Fear Allah and speak the truth (Surah 33. Al Ahzabn (The Criterion):70-71)
• Respond to evil with good (Surah 41. Fussilat (Explained in Detail):34)
• Prostrate only to Allah - and not to His creations (Surah 41. Fussilat (Explained in Detail):37)
• Establish weight in justice and do not make deficient the balance (Surah 55. Ar-Rahman:7-9)
• Give Charity and give good loan to Allah (Surah 57. Al-Hadid:18)
• Make room for others in gatherings (Surah 58 Al Mujadilah (The Pleading Woman):11)
• Fear Allah and let every soul know what it has sent ahead for tomorrow (Sūrah 59 Al Hashr (The Banishment): 18)

DONT's

• Beware! You are being watched
• Do not knowingly conceal the truth (Surah 2 Al Baqarah:42)
• Do not use your property as bait for the JUDGES with intent that ye may eat up wrongfully (other) people's property (Surah 2. Al-Baqara:188)
• Do not nullify your acts of charity by stressing your benevolence and causing hurt (Surah 2 Al Baqarah:264)
• Do not plead for those who are dishonest to themselves (Surah 4. An-Nisaa:107)
• Believers!  Make not unlawful the good things which Allah hath made lawful for you (Surah 5 Al Maidah (The Table Spread):87)
• Believers! Do not be  Over-inquisitive and unnecessarily curious (Surah 5 Al Maidah (The Table Spread):101)
• Do not revile those whom they invoke other than Allah (Surah 6 Al Anaam (The Cattle):108)
• Do not draw near to the property of the orphan (Surah 4. An-Nisaa:2) (Surah 6 Al Anaam (The Cattle):152)
• Do not make mischief in the earth (Surah 7. Al-A'raf:56)
• Do not grieve. Allah is with us (Surah 9. At-Tauba:40)
• Do not be inclined (even in the least) towards those who do wrong - lest you be touched by the Fire (Surah 11. Hud: 113)
• Do not worship others beside Allah (Surah 10. Yunus:104)
• Do not worship any but Allah (Surah 17 Al Isra (The Night Journey):23)
• Don't be rude to parents (Surah 17 Al Isra (The Night Journey):23)
• Do not squander your wealth wastefully (Surah 17 Al Isra (The Night Journey):26)
• Believers!! Do not be Parsimonious (Surah 17. Al-Israa (The Night Journey)-29)
• Believers! Do not go near ADULTERY [Zināʾ (زِنَاء)] because it is blatant lewdness and a very evil path (Surah 17. Al-Israa (The Night Journey)-32)
• Do Not spread gossip, for in the sight of Allah it is a serious matter (Surah 24. An Noor (The Light):15)
• Do not Follow in Satan's Footsteps (Surah 24. An-Nur:21)
• Don't be miserly nor extravagant (Surah 25. Al Furqan (The Criterion):67)
• Don't take bribes (Surah 27. An Naml (The Ant):36)
• Do not show conceit for Allah does not like the conceited (Surah 28. Al Qasas:76)
• Do not exhibit Arrogance and Vanity (Surah 31. Luqman:18)
• Don't harm believers (Surah 33. Al Ahzab (The Clans):58)
• Do not scoff, taunt or revile others with nicknames for others may be better than thine (Surah 49. Al Hujaraat (The Private Apartments):11)
• Don't call others with bad names (Surah 49. Al Hujaraat (The Private Chambers):11)
• Don't spy nor backbite (Surah 49. Al Hujaraat (The Private Chambers):12)
• Don't claim yourselves to be pure (Surah 53. An Najm (The Star):32)
• Believers! Do not let love for people override obedience to Allah (Surah 66. At Tahrim:1)
• Do not blame the Environment or Family Pressure for not finding the True Faith (Surah 66. At Tahrim:10-12)
• Don't ask for repayment for favours (Surah 76. Al Insan (Man), also known as Ad Dahr (Time):9)

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the 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 compiled verses for more specific subjects, please refer to our exclusive reference page: "Selected verses from Al-Qurʾān about a specific subject."

In addition, 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.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. 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. 

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

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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.

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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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