Beware: Procrastination is Satanic

It is generally said: Time is money. And is rightly said so because every second that we lose results into a loss that can never be made good. Losing time due to laziness or thinking to pend a thing to be done later is costly - procrastinating. Before we move to the explanation why procrastination is satanic, first let us see what procrastination really means:

Procrastination is the act of delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant or boring. It is a self-defeating behavior pattern that can be seen as serving a psychological purpose, especially for people with perfectionist tendencies, by protecting the individual against fear of failure, judgment by others, and self-condemnation.

Procrastination is seen in Islam as something to avoid, as it leads to neglect of important responsibilities, particularly in spiritual matters. Both the Quran and Sunnah highlight the importance of acting without delay, utilizing time wisely, and seeking Allah's help in overcoming laziness. Satan plays a role in encouraging procrastination, making people delay their good deeds, particularly through whispers of doubt, laziness, or false promises of more time. The key is to act promptly, seek Allah’s assistance, and remain vigilant against the influence of procrastination.

We often experience delaying offering Salat / prayer in time or delaying doing something good for a later timeframe while we jump to do an evil thing right away for it provides pleasure. That is satanic for it is the endeavour of the Shaytan (Satan) to lure its target individuals into pleasurable acts by taking them away from doing the good. Let us dwell upon it in some detail:

The concepts of procrastination, delay, and laziness are discussed indirectly in the Quran and Sunnah (the teachings and practices of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him). Procrastination, in the Islamic perspective, can be seen as a harmful behavior that leads to neglecting responsibilities and duties, both spiritual and worldly.

Etymologically, “procrastination” is derived from the Latin verb procrastinare — to put off until tomorrow. But it's more than just voluntarily delaying. Procrastination is also derived from the ancient Greek word akrasia — doing something against our better judgment.

Procrastination in the Quran:

While the Quran does not mention procrastination directly, it strongly emphasizes the importance of time and immediate action in several verses. Here are some key themes from the Quran that can be applied to procrastination:

• Time is a Trust: 
• Surah Al-Asr (103:1-3) speaks about the value of time and how humans are in a state of loss unless they engage in righteous deeds:
• "By time, indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience."
• This highlights the importance of utilizing time for good deeds, as procrastination would lead to missing out on beneficial actions.
• Urgency in Worship and Action:
• Surah Al-Baqarah (2:2-3) emphasizes that faith and action are essential. Inaction or delay in performing good deeds, like prayer, charity, or repentance, is discouraged.
• "This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah, who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend from what We have provided for them."
• The call to immediate action in doing good is implicit in the idea of establishing prayer and giving charity.
• Procrastination in Repentance:
• In Surah Az-Zumar (39:53), Allah assures His mercy and forgiveness but advises people not to procrastinate in seeking repentance:
• "Say, 'O My servants who have harmed yourselves by your own hands, do not despair of Allah's mercy. Allah forgives all sins; He is truly the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.'"
• The verse encourages believers to turn to Allah immediately without delaying repentance.
• Procrastination and Laziness
• Procrastination stems from laziness for being lazy one tends to procrastinate good acts and then finds himself repenting when much water has flown under the bridge.
• Procrastination and laziness are also from the bad habits of the hypocrites (Munafiqs). Quran mentions about Munafiqs: When they stand for Salah (Prayer), they stand with laziness.(Sura 4, Verse 142). 
• There is also an attack in Quran on groups who claimed to be Muslims but were going against the orders of the Prophet. They were mentioned that they don't come for Salah but with laziness. (Sura 9, Verse 54).

The Role of Satan in Procrastination:

Shaytan uses the trick of deception to get people to procrastinate, especially when it comes to righteousness and repentance. The common phrase “I'll repent when I get older,” is a classic example of deceptive procrastination. We fool ourselves into thinking we have plenty of time to do something in the future.

Procrastination is the evil twin of productivity, tricking us into thinking that we've all the time in the world to complete a task, when in reality this couldn't be further from the truth. The thought of doing the task follows you everywhere, causing anxiety, sleepless nights and zero satisfaction.

The Sunnah and Quran both describe how Satan entices people to delay or abandon their tasks, particularly acts of worship, by exploiting human weaknesses like laziness, distraction, and forgetfulness.

• Satan's Influence on Delay:
• In the Sunnah, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) warned against procrastination, especially in matters of worship. Satan often whispers in the hearts of believers to delay good deeds.
• Hadith from Sahih Muslim: The Prophet said, “If any one of you gets up for prayer and he is in the process of doing so, then Satan comes to him and disturbs him and whispers to him until he forgets what he intended to do. Therefore, one should not leave off prayer but should offer it immediately.”
• Satan’s Whisper to Delay Repentance:
• Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim both contain narrations where Satan tries to convince people to delay repentance and good deeds, making them feel as though they have too much time.
• Satan convinces people to think, "There is no rush, you can do it later." This mindset encourages people to neglect their duties until it becomes too late.
• Satan and Laziness:
• Satan also encourages laziness and reluctance to act. In Surah An-Nisa (4:120), Allah mentions how Satan leads people away from beneficial actions and urges them toward laziness and delay:
• “Satan promises them and arouses desire in them. But Satan does not promise them except delusion.”
• This is related to how procrastination often comes from feeling distracted by worldly desires or feeling overwhelmed by tasks.
• Satanic Target Audience: 
• The Evil always target the young people for the reason that their desires, specially the sexual desires, are at their peak and enticing them and luring them into acts of wickedness and lewdness is easy.
• As hypothesized and consistent with previous studies, procrastination was highest in the youngest cohort (14–29 years). We have not found a consistent sex effect, however, only in the youngest (and most strongly procrastinating group) from 14–29 years, men procrastinated more than women.
• So youngsters are to be more on the lookout for any whispering them that take them away from their prayers / salat and tempt them to do evil.

Procrastination in Present times

I recently came a refference by someone who quoting "Sayf Productivity Network" explained procrastination as is applicable to our present times, specially attributed to the youth. Herein under is how it is explained:

• One of the most destructive traits that seem to have gained stronger momentum in recent times, especially with the advent of the Internet and other distractions, is procrastination.
• Many books have been written to tackle this enemy of productivity, and of all the solutions proffered in these books, you will not find any as effective as the solution provided in the Quran.
• One thing you need to understand as a Muslim is that procrastination is not just a trait but rather a punishment from Allah.
• Remember, your time is a ni'mah (favor) from Allah. The moment you waste it on frivolities, you lose the blessing in that time, and you tend to procrastinate.
• Another reason procrastination may be a punishment is that you delay acts of worship, specially salah.
• The acts of worship are best performed quickly and at their earliest times.
• Many Muslims today are fond of waiting to hear the Iqamah before they hasten to join Salah.
• Some will continue to scroll on their phones and will not put it down until the Imam makes Takbeer for the position of Ruku'.
• What makes you expect a productive day when you miss the Takbeeratul Ihram of the Imam, the blessings of standing with the angels on the first row, and even the recitation of Fatiha, which is considered one of the most important pillars of your prayer?
• You will not find any Muslim who hastens to do good deeds, establishes his prayer correctly, and at the earliest times (with the exception of Isha) except that they live a very productive life free of unnecessary procrastination.
• Second caliph Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, used to say, "Whoever misses his Salah finds it easier to miss other things."
• If you do not mend your relationship with Allah, you will continue to find procrastination as a companion, and your affairs will become scattered before your eyes.
• Stop wasting time reading self-help books over and over; take charge of your life and fix your relationship with Allah today.

Practical Advice from Sunnah to Overcome Procrastination:

• Take Action Quickly: 
• The best way to fight procrastination is to take immediate steps to do the thing one is postponing. So every time one is tempted to procrastinate, one must do whatever it takes to do just the opposite. It may be hard in the beginning, but by repeating it over and over, one learns to break the habit.
• The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) encouraged believers to act without delay when it comes to both religious and worldly responsibilities. He said, “Hasten to do good deeds before you are overtaken by one of seven disasters…” (Tirmidhi)
• Seeking Allah’s Help: 
• The Prophet (PBUH) taught the importance of seeking Allah’s help to overcome laziness and procrastination, asking for His assistance to do good deeds in a timely manner.
• Hadith in Sahih Muslim: “O Allah, I seek refuge with You from anxiety and sorrow, from weakness and laziness…”
• Set Realistic Goals and Avoid Delaying Worship:
• One advice given by the Prophet (PBUH) is to be consistent in actions rather than procrastinating. Even if the actions are small, consistency leads to greater reward.
• Hadith from Sahih Bukhari: “The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if they are small.”

Thus it can be seen that it is always whispering of the Satan that makes us delay good acts and entice us to evil is certainly procrastination and a true believer should immediately attend to his prayer / salat or the good act he was intending to do to be done immediately. And if one has fallen to Satanic whispering and done something evil or haram, one should immediately repent his act and seek forgiveness from Allah, for who knows one will be alive the very next second. If someone dies without repenting one's bad deeds, it will definitely go in favour of Satan and the loser will be us. So let us always defeat evil by not delaying our prayers, good deeds and repentance.

You may now like to view a small video on Tips to Overcome Procrastination - Islamic Approach to Productivity by Mohammed Faris, founder of The Productive Muslim Company  @The Productive Muslim Company, and host Dr. Safiyyah Ally to learn how to overcome that desire to put things off for another day.:

 

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.

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Who is Shaytan (Satan) and what is his machinating strategy

We all aware of an invisible being called Shaytan or Satan or the Devil and simply attribute anything evil to this character that exists since the creation of Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) and his wife. Let us today in our this post talk about this being, his machinating strategy and agenda against the entire mankind till the end of this universe. 

Shaytan (also spelled Sahitan) is the Arabic term for "Satan" or "the Devil" in Islam. In Islamic theology, Shaytan is a supernatural being, a jinn, who rebelled against God (Allah). His main agenda is to lead humans astray, away from the worship and obedience of Allah. This is based on the Islamic narrative of the creation of humanity, where God created the first human, Adam, and ordered all the angels to bow to him. Shaytan, who was a jinn, refused to bow, citing his superiority over Adam, as he was created from smokeless fire, while Adam was created from clay. As a result, Shaytan was cast out of Paradise.

At that time, Shaytan confronted the God Almighty and promised him that: "Because You have sent me astray, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You].'" Surah Al-A'raf (7:16-17) 

* Also read our post: Beware: Procrastination is Satanic

His main role is as an antagonist in the Qur'an, where he attempts to tempt humans into disobedience. He uses various strategies, such as whispering evil thoughts, instilling doubt, and enticing people to sin. He is seen as the eternal enemy of humanity and is particularly concerned with leading people into wrongdoing by encouraging pride, arrogance, and desires that go against the teachings of Islam.

Shaytan's agenda in Islam is:

• To divert humans from worshiping Allah: 
• He tries to distract believers from fulfilling their purpose of worship and submission to God. 
• Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught his followers to seek refuge from Satan’s evil whispers, particularly before beginning certain important acts like prayer, eating, or entering the home. 
• In one of his Hadiths, the revered Prophet ﷺ cautioned: "When one of you enters his house, let him say: 'Bismillah' (In the name of Allah), for when he says it, Satan will not enter with him." (Sahih Muslim)
• He also recommended reciting certain supplications for protection from Satan, such as saying "A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajim" (I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan) before various activities.
• To tempt and incite people to disobey Allah: This is the first thing Satan did and enticed Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit by enticing them with sweet flavored words as mentioned in Qur'an: "Then Shaytan whispered to them to reveal to them that which was concealed from them of their private parts and said, 'Your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become angels or become of the immortals.'" Surah Al-A'raf (7:20-22). Deceived by his explanation of the Divine order, both Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, resulting in their fall from grace and ouster from the Paradise to earth.
• To spread corruption and evil: Shaytan encourages immoral behavior, lies, and deception.
• To instill doubt: He tempts people with doubt about their faith or Allah’s commands, leading them to question what is right and wrong.
• To weaken faith: Shaytan aims to make people lose their connection to Allah, tempting them to neglect their religious duties like prayer, fasting, and charity. This is mentioned in Qur'an: "Satan has overcome them and forgotten the remembrance of Allah. Those are the party of Satan. Verily, it is the party of Satan that will be the losers." Surah Al-Mujadila (58:19)
• To instill pride and arrogance among people: 
• Satan’s refusal to bow to Adam was a result of his arrogance and pride. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned against the dangers of pride, which is a trait that Satan tries to instill in humans.
• Prophet Muhammad, ﷺ, once said: "No one who has an atom's-weight of pride in his heart will enter Paradise." (Sahih Muslim) This warning was a reminder to Muslims to avoid arrogance, as it is one of Satan’s primary tools to lead people astray.

The Ultimate Satanic Betrayal 

While in this world, Shaytan is always enticing people, specially believers, away from the worship of Allah and into a life of lewdness and making them sinful and thus liable for Divine admonishment and chastisement. Having deceived people in this world, the bombshell awaits in the afterlife when Shaytan will simply shrug his shoulders when seeing people being punished for a way of life he enticed people into.  On that day, he will simple absolve him from the blame of deceiving people. 

This is exactly what has been mentioned in Qur'an: "And Shaytan will say when the matter has been decided, 'Indeed, Allah had promised you the promise of truth, and I promised you, but I betrayed you. And I had no authority over you except that I invited you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me, but blame yourselves.'" Surah Ibrahim (14:22)

In summary, Shaytan is depicted in the Qur'an as a deceiver, misleader, and enemy of humanity. His influence is presented as a constant challenge for believers, who are urged to seek protection from his whispers and to remain steadfast in their faith and obedience to Allah. The Qur'an emphasizes that humans have the free will to resist Shaytan's temptations by turning to Allah for guidance and strength.

How to Repel Satan’s Influence?

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized that performing righteous actions, such as prayer, charity, and recitation of the Qur'an, helps protect against Satan’s influence.

The Prophet ﷺ said: "When the son of Adam recites a verse of prostration and prostrates, Satan withdraws, weeping, and says: 'Woe to me! The son of Adam was commanded to prostrate, and he prostrated, so he will have Paradise. But I was commanded to prostrate, and I refused, so I will have Hell.'" (Sahih Muslim)

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized the importance of being aware of Satan's presence and influence in everyday life. His teachings highlight the constant battle between good and evil, encouraging believers to be vigilant, seek protection through supplication, and act righteously to guard themselves against the whispers and traps of Satan. The ultimate defense against Satan, as emphasized by the Prophet, is complete reliance on Allah and striving to live a life of sincerity, humility, and worship.

While many consider them too weak against the Satanic machinations, it must be understood that Shaytan's power is limited in Islam; he cannot force anyone to do anything but can only suggest and tempt. Muslims are taught to seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan’s whispers and to be vigilant against his attempts to lead them astray. One of the most common phrases used by Muslims to protect themselves from Shaytan’s influence is "A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajim - أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم" ("I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed devil").

This in brief is the true nature of ouster of Shaytan from the Divine court and descent to earth. You may now listen to a very informative lecture and an incredible explanation of Shaytan by Ustadh Nauman Ali Khan:

About Nouman Ali Khan: Born to a Pakistani family, Nouman Ali Khan is an American Muslim speaker and Arabic instructor who founded the Bayyinah Institute for Arabic and Qur’anic Studies, after serving as an instructor of Arabic at Nassau Community College. He has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan.

Let us listen to this video again and again and really understand how Allah wants us to be His servants and how we should always be looking towards him, and no one else, for our worldly needs. If we can really Ingrid the meaning of this verse into ourselves, we will never go astray or be misled by worldly desires or following the priests and imams or asking from the dead saints.

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 to convey only 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.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. 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.

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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.

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

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Don't let the Satan win

The life of believers is a severe test of test of tug of war between the good and the evil. No matter how pious a believer may be be, the Satanic enticements are so tempting and luring, that one sometimes slips and falls into the trap of evil by sinning. But remember, the Satan does not win by luring you to commit a sin, he wins when you think that Allah will not show His mercy to you and forgive you, even if you repent and seek Divine forgiveness.

In the Qur'an, and in many a Hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, believers are time and again reminded not to despair if they have sinned and always seek mercy of Allah and be rest assured that Allah will forgive their sins if His mercy is invoked, for Allah is Al-Ghafur (الغفور) - The Forgiving, The Pardoner and Ar Rahim (الرحيم) - The Most Merciful.

We share today the 53rd verse from Surah 39 Az Zumar, in which Allah directs His messenger, Muhammad ﷺ, to tell the believers never to despair of Allah's mercy for He would forgive their sins no matter whatever the size or enormity, for He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. This verse is meant to one should not seek the support of others while losing hope in God. If they repent after confessing their sin, He will forgive even the greatest of sins.

قُلۡ يٰعِبَادِىَ الَّذِيۡنَ اَسۡرَفُوۡا عَلٰٓى اَنۡفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُوۡا مِنۡ رَّحۡمَةِ اللّٰهِ​ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَغۡفِرُ الذُّنُوۡبَ جَمِيۡعًا​ ؕ اِنَّهٗ هُوَ الۡغَفُوۡرُ الرَّحِيۡمُ‏ 

(39:53) Tell them, (O Prophet): “My servants who have committed excesses against themselves, do not despair of Allah's Mercy. Surely Allah forgives all sins. He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.

The address here is to all mankind. There is no weighty argument to regard only the believers as the addressees. As has been observed by 'Allama Ibn Kathir, to address such a thing to the common men does not mean that Allah forgives all sins without repentance, but Allah Himself has explained in the following verses that sins are forgiven only when the sinner turns to Allah's worship and service and adopts obedience to the message sent down by Him. As a matter of fact, this verse brought a message of hope for those people who had committed mortal sins like murder, adultery, theft, robbery, etc. in the days of ignorance, and had despaired whether they would ever be forgiven. To them it has been said: "Do not despair of Allah's mercy: whatever you might have done in the past, if you sincerely turn to your Lord's obedience, you will be forgiven every sin." The same interpretation of this verse has been given by Ibn `Abbas, Qatadah, Mujahid and Ibn Zaid. (Ibn Jarir, Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Da'ud, Tirmidhi). For further explanation, see AI-Furqan: 70-71 and the E.N.'s thereof. 

Note: 

Some commentators have given a strange interpretation to these words. They say that Allah Himself has commanded the Holy Prophet to address the people as "My servants" therefore, all men are the servants of the Holy Prophet. This interpretation is no interpretation at all but a worst distortion of the meaning of the Qur'an and indeed tampering with the Word of Allah. If this interpretation were correct, it would falsify and negate the whole Qur'an.

For the Qur'an, from the beginning to the end, establishes the concept that men are the servants of Allah alone, and its whole message revolves around the point that they should serve none but One Allah alone. The Holy Prophet (upon whom be Allah's peace) himself was Allah's servant. Allah had sent him not as rabb (sustainer, providence) but as a Messenger so that he should himself serve Him and teach the other people also to serve Him alone. After all, how can a sensible person believe that the Holy Prophet might have one day stood up before the disbelieving Quraish of Makkah and made the sudden proclamation: "You are in fact the slaves of Muhammad and not of al- `Uzzah and ash-Shams." (We seek Allah's refuge from this) 

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: 

Verse 53 opens with the words: قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَ‌فُوا (0 servants of Mine who have acted recklessly against their own selves, do not despair of Allah's mercy. Surely, Allah will forgive all sins.). Taba` i, Said Ibn Jubayr reports from Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ that there were some people who had killed a lot of people unjustly and had committed a lot of shameful acts. They came to the Holy Prophet ﷺ and submitted before him, 'The religion you invite us to is, no doubt, very good, but we have a problem. We think about all those major sins we have already committed. Now if we were to become Muslims, do you hope that our repentance will be accepted?' Thereupon, Allah Ta’ ala revealed this verse to the Holy Prophet ﷺ - reported by al-Bukhari in that sense (al-Qurtubi).

Therefore, the outcome of the subject taken up in the verse comes to be that, well before death arrives, the repentance made from sins, no matter how serious, even from kufr (disbelief) and shirk (ascribing of partners to Allah), gets to be accepted. And by virtue of a genuine taubah (repentance), all sins will be forgiven, therefore, no one should lose hope in the mercy of Allah.

Sayyidna ` Abdullah Ibn ` Umar ؓ said that, out of all verses of the Qur'an, this verse brings the strongest message of hope for sinners. But, Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ said that the strongest such verse is: إِنَّ رَ‌بَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَ‌ةٍ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ ظُلْمِهِمْ (And surely, your Lord is the lord of forgiveness for the people against their wrongdoings - Ar-Ra'd, 13:6)

Qur'an Wiki explanation:

It is divine mercy that will erase every transgression, whatever it happens to be. It is an invitation to all those who have gone far into error and led a life that has taken them far astray, telling them hope still remains available and God’s mercy and forgiveness are not far from them. God is most merciful to His servants. He knows their weaknesses and the factors that work on them, whether these are within themselves or in society. He is aware that Satan sets traps for them at every corner, using a great variety of forces, never tiring of his attempt to seduce them. Moreover, God knows that man can easily fall when he lets his bond to the truth weaken, and that his desires and aspirations can easily disturb his equilibrium, pulling him this way or that, leading him into error.

As God knows all this about man, He provides him with ample help, opening the gates of His mercy. He does not take him to task for his sin until He has facilitated for him all the ways and means to rectify his error and mend his ways. Nevertheless, when man goes deep into sin, thinking that he is totally rejected by God and that all is lost, he hears at this point of utter despair a fine address expressing the unlimited mercy available to him: “Say: [Thus speaks God]: You servants of Mine who have transgressed against their own souls! Do not despair of God’s mercy: God forgives all sins; He alone is Much-Forgiving, Merciful.” (Verse 53)

This means that despite his repeated sins, going far into disobedience of God, all he needs to receive God’s grace that revives all that is good in him is to repent. All he needs to do is turn back to God through the gate that is left wide open, without a guard, and with no need for any special permission.

Alhamdulillah, we have such a forgiving and merciful Lord. His Mercy extends to all who seek it. Even the most hardened sinner is told to never lose hope in Allah’s Infinite Mercy.

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 the explanation of the same verse by other scholars in one of our earlier posts 39:53. You may read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Compiled verses on specific subjects from Qur'an: Repentance and Seeking Divine Forgiveness

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 | 

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.

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Responding to objections / lies about Islam: Islam is a demonized religion

It is a general tendency that when you hate someone, without knowing him, based on ideas fed to you, specially when it comes to matter related to faith, you tend to become extremely emotional that mar or obscure your judgmental abilities. Since the proclamation of Islam, the other Divine religions, like the Jewism and Christianity, felt threatened and their priests and scholars embarked upon a hate campaign about Islam, which unfortunately continues till date.

We have already published a number of posts to respond to the lies, misinformation and objections about Islam which can be found in our exclusive reference page: The Rebuttal. Continuing with our endeavour to clear the fog of lies, today we take yet another lie about Islam. The lie is so damning that we could not write it verbatim in our caption for it is far below the diginity of any sane human, no matter what religion or faith he belongs to, to utter such a derogatory mindset. The lie is appended below and we will thereafter respond to it:

Islam is centered around a false god - He is really Satan in disguise 

Now this objection is totally baseless, derogatory that expresses the mind of the sick, who in their hatred about Islam can go to this utterly baseless. Although this is not the perception and mindset of mainstream Christians, but a perspective held by certain fringe groups or individuals. This perspective is rooted in a combination of theological, historical, and cultural misunderstandings. 

Here are the detailed reasons behind this phenomenon:

Theological Differences

Trinity vs. Tawhid: A central theological difference is the Christian belief in the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) versus the Islamic concept of Tawhid (absolute oneness of God). Some Christians who misunderstand or reject Tawhid might perceive the Islamic rejection of the Trinity as heretical or even demonic.

Christology: Christians believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, whereas Islam regards Jesus (Isa) as a prophet, not divine. This fundamental difference leads some Christians to view Islamic teachings about Jesus as not just different, but as opposing their own, which can be demonized.

Historical and Cultural Misunderstandings

Medieval Polemics: During the Middle Ages, Christians and Muslims often viewed each other as existential threats. Christian polemicists sometimes depicted Muhammad and Islam in extremely negative terms, equating them with heresy and devilry. These polemics have left a lingering suspicion and misrepresentation.

Lack of Knowledge: Many Christians who equate Allah with Satan do so out of ignorance about Islam. They may not realize that "Allah" is simply the Arabic word for God, used by Arab Christians and Jews as well. This misunderstanding is exacerbated by limited exposure to authentic Islamic teachings.

Extremist Narratives

Extremist Views: Some fringe Christian groups promote the idea that Islam is a satanic deception. This view is often propagated by those who interpret end-time prophecies in a way that demonizes Islam, viewing it as part of a satanic plot against Christianity.

Cultural and Political Factors

Geopolitical Conflicts: The association of Islam with terrorism in the media, especially after events like 9/11, has led to a fear and demonization of Muslims and their beliefs. This climate of fear can foster extreme views where Islam is seen not just as different, but as malevolent.

Religious Exclusivism: Some Christians hold an exclusivist view of salvation, believing that their faith is the only true path to God. From this perspective, other religions, including Islam, are seen as false and potentially influenced by evil forces.

Misinterpretation of Islamic Teachings

Misunderstanding Jihad: The concept of jihad is often misunderstood by non-Muslims. While mainstream Islam teaches that jihad primarily refers to a spiritual struggle, extremists' misuse of the term has led to its association with violence, further fueling misconceptions.

Summary

The equation of Allah with Satan by some Christians stems from a mix of theological differences, historical polemics, cultural misunderstandings, ignorance, and extremist narratives. These factors combine to create a perception that is not based on an informed understanding of Islamic teachings but rather on fear, misrepresentation, and prejudice.

Mainstream Christianity, however, does not endorse this view. Many Christian leaders and scholars recognize that Muslims worship the same God that they do, albeit with different understandings and beliefs about His nature and revelations. Efforts towards interfaith dialogue continue to address and reduce these misunderstandings, promoting mutual respect and understanding between Christians and Muslims.

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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Do not let Satan steal your prayer

Salat / prayer is the second pillar of Islam. It is an act of one-to-one communication between Allah and His servant. It is therefore incumbent on every believer to establish communication with extreme devotion and humility. That is when one is offering one's salat / prayer, one should focus wholeheartedly to his act of communication for he is standing in front of his Lord, the Lord of universe. Any mean thoughts that may start to wander into one's mind to distract and disrupt the communication is thus an act of Satan who does his utmost to derail one's concentration. This happens to most of us and if we do not check this Satanic interruption, he may steal away that part of our prayer wherein we are being carried away by Satan's machinations. 

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has warned believers to refrain from losing concentration and let not Satan steal our prayer.

This Hadith is mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī  (Book 59 - Beginning of Creation /  كتاب بدء الخلق / Chapter 11: The characteristics of Iblis (Satan) and his soldiers / باب صِفَةِ إِبْلِيسَ وَجُنُودِهِ ) as Hadith 3291, given herein under:

Narrated by `Aisha: I asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about one's looking here and there during the prayer. He replied, "It is what Satan steals from the prayer of any one of you."

Arabic Text:

حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ الرَّبِيعِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ أَشْعَثَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، قَالَ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الْتِفَاتِ الرَّجُلِ فِي الصَّلاَةِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ هُوَ اخْتِلاَسٌ يَخْتَلِسُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنْ صَلاَةِ أَحَدِكُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏

As can be seen from the above quoted Hadith, when one is losing concentration and tends to look away, this is the time when Satan is taking that portion of our prayer away from us. Therefore, we must shun any worldly thoughts to wander into our mind or look at what others are doing. May Allah let not Satan to rob us from the benefit and blessing of our prayers.

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

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

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

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

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

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

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

Please refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. 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.

Photo | Source of Hadith

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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Beware of Satanic Whisperings (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

Satan's machinations are so luring and attractive that even Adam fell into his trap and disobeyed Allah's strict commandment not to approach a certain tree in the Paradise. He was thrown out of the Heavens but before leaving he promised Allah that he would mislead His creation and take them away from Allah's path. Since that day, till this day and the day when the earthly life will come to an end, he will continue to mislead man by his evil and tacit machinations. 

We should therefore be mindful of his whispers and that of his soldiers and should not be misled by anything that could take us away from our faith or create doubts about Divine reality. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has warned believers so that we should be on guard to defeat the Iblees (Satan).

The following Hadith in the same context is mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī  (Book 59 Beginning of Creation كتاب بدء الخلق / Chapter 11:  The characteristics of Iblis (Satan) and his soldiers باب صِفَةِ إِبْلِيسَ وَجُنُودِهِ) as Hadith 3276:

Narrated by Abu Huraira:

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ، قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ يَأْتِي الشَّيْطَانُ أَحَدَكُمْ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ خَلَقَ كَذَا مَنْ خَلَقَ كَذَا حَتَّى يَقُولَ مَنْ خَلَقَ رَبَّكَ فَإِذَا بَلَغَهُ فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ، وَلْيَنْتَهِ ‏"‏‏.‏

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Satan comes to one of you and says, 'Who created so-and-so? 'Till he says, 'Who has created your Lord?' So, when he inspires such a question, one should seek refuge with Allah and give up such thoughts."

Since a man cannot fathom the rationale of the creation of our Lord, such Satanic whisperings are likely to weaken our faith as no one can answer such questions. Therefore, whenever such doubt come to our mind, which of course would be initiated by none other than the Satan, one must immediately seek refuge with Allah and shun such deceiving thoughts.

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

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

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

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

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

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

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

Please refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. 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.

Photo | 

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

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 Believers! of the handiwork of Satan

Satan is the cleverest evil-minded creature ever created. It enticed the first of the humans to disrespect the Divine commandment and made them commit a sin they were asked not to. Since then, he and his evil forces have been unleashed to deceive the mankind and commit them to sins and games that take them away from the remembrance of God. Once a man falls into his trap, then there is no ending and a time comes when sins and gambling become their second nature.

Mindful of Satanic machinations, our Lord has always been guiding us to stay away from every act that takes us away from the straight path, Sirat e Mustaqeem. There are numerous Ayats / verses in Qur'an that caution man to be on the lookout on all activities that are unhealthy, unclean and sinful. We shared some of these in our earlier posts and add today yet another Ayat/verse that warn the believers of Satan's handiwork that may led us fall into his trap in the name of amusement and good time.

The following verses, the 90th verse of Surah Al Maida, Chapter Five, is one such Divine Warning. However, the irony is that many a man and woman who are already in grips of the evil forces mock such cautions and warnings for it robs them of joy and lewdness of their lives. To them, being religious or adhering to commandments of our Lord are a waste of time, making their lives boring and dull. To them drinking, dancing, listening to loud music and indulging in unlawful sex is real life. What can be said of their nativity for real life begins after this life, for which they have no foresight to think of.

Before we go to the verse, it may be clarified that all healthy physical activities, sports and other mind broadening games do not fall into the category of the ills talked of in this verse. But if these activities are turned into gambling, then the meanings differ altogether.

Coming to the selected verse of today:

يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِنَّمَا الۡخَمۡرُ وَالۡمَيۡسِرُ وَالۡاَنۡصَابُ وَالۡاَزۡلَامُ رِجۡسٌ مِّنۡ عَمَلِ الشَّيۡطٰنِ فَاجۡتَنِبُوۡهُ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُوۡنَ‏  

(5:90) Believers! Intoxicants, games of chance, idolatrous sacrifices at altars, and divining arrows are all abominations, the handiwork of Satan. So, turn wholly away from it so that you may attain true success.

The next verse further explains this Ayat as to why we must be cautious of Satan's enticement:

By intoxicants and games of chance Satan only desires to create enmity and hatred between you, and to turn you away from the remembrance of Allah and from Prayer. Will you, then, desist? (5:91)

The detailed explanation of above verses by eminent Muslim scholar Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi has already been given in Part IV of exegesis of Surah Al Maida. Herein under, we share the explanation of this verse by some of other scholars / exegetes as under: 

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: 

Allah forbids His believing servants from consuming Khamr and Maysir which is gambling. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Ali bin Abi Talib, the Leader of the Faithful, said that chess is a type of gambling. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Ata', Mujahid and Tawus, or, two of them, said that every type of gambling, including children's playing with (a certain type of) nuts, is Maysir. Ibn `Umar said that Al-Maysir means gambling, and this is the same statement that Ad-Dahhak reported from Ibn `Abbas, who added, "They used to gamble during the time of Jahiliyyah, until Islam came. Allah then forbade them from this evil behavior.'

Meaning of Ansab and Azlam: Al-Ansab were altar stones, in whose vicinity sacrifices were offered (during the time of Jahiliyyah), according to Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ata', Sa`id bin Jubayr and Al-Hasan. They also said that Al-Azlam were arrows that they used for lotteries to make decisions, as Ibn Abi Hatim narrated. 

Allah said, (A Rijs of Shaytan's handiwork) meaning, abomination of Shaytan's handiwork, according to `Ali bin Abi Talhah who reported it from Ibn `Abbas. Sa`id bin Jubayr said that Rijs means `sin' while Zayd bin Aslam said; "An evil handiwork of Shaytan.''

(So, avoid that) avoid all of these abominations, (in order that you may be successful.) and this is a statement of encouragement.

(Shaytan wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with Khamr (intoxicants) and Maysir (gambling), and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from the Salah (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain) This is a threat and a warning.

Hadiths that Prohibit Khamr (Intoxicants)

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said, "There were three stages to prohibiting Khamr (intoxicants). When the Messenger of Allah migrated to Al-Madinah, the people were consuming alcohol and gambling, so they asked the Messenger of Allah about these things, Allah revealed,

(They ask you about alcoholic drinks and gambling. Say: "In them is a great sin, and (some) benefit for men.'') [2:219], until the end of the Ayah. The people said, `They (intoxicants and gambling) were not prohibited for us. Allah only said,

(In them is a great sin, and (some) benefit for men.)' So they went on drinking Khamr until one day, one of the emigrants lead his companions in the Maghrib prayer and mixed up the Ayat in his recitation. Thereafter, Allah sent down a tougher statement,

(O you who believe! Approach not the Salah (the prayer) when you are in a drunken state until you know (the meaning of) what you utter.)﴿4:43﴾ xThen, the people would drink before the time of the prayer so that they would attend the prayer while sober. A firmer Ayah was later revealed,

(O you who believe! Khamr, Maysir, Ansab, and Azlam are an abomination of Shaytan's handiwork. So avoid that in order that you may be successful.)﴿5:90-91﴾ So they said, `We abstained, O Lord!' Later, some people said, `O Allah's Messenger! Some people died in the cause of Allah, while some others died in their beds, but they used to drink alcohol and indulge in gambling, which Allah has made a Rijs of the work of Shaytan.' So, Allah sent down: (Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate...) ﴿5:93﴾, until the end of the Ayah. 

The Prophet said: (Had they been made impermissible for them; they would have abandoned them as you have abandoned them.) Ahmad recorded this Hadith. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Umar bin Al-Khattab said, "O Allah! Explain the verdict about Khamr to us clearly.' The Ayah in Surat Al-Baqarah was revealed,

(They ask you about alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: "In them is a great sin.'')[2:219] `Umar was summoned and this Ayah was recited to him, but he still said, "O Allah! Make the verdict of Khamr clear to us.'' Then the Ayah in Surat An-Nisa' was revealed,

(O you who believe! Do not approach the Salah when you are in a drunken state.)[4:43] 

Thereafter, the Prophet had someone herald when it was time to pray, "Those in a drunken state are not to approach the prayer.' `Umar was again summoned and the Ayah was recited to him, but he still said, "O Allah! Make the verdict concerning Khamr clear to us.' Then, the Ayah in Surat Al-Ma'idah [5:91] was revealed, and `Umar was summoned and it was recited to him. 

When he reached the part of the Ayah that reads, (So, will you not then abstain) [5:91], `Umar said, "We abstained, we abstained.' Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, and An-Nasa'i recorded this Hadith. `Ali bin Al-Madini and At-Tirmidhi graded it Sahih. It is recorded in the Two Sahihs, that `Umar bin Al-Khattab said in a speech; while standing on the Minbar of the Messenger of Allah (in the Prophet's Masjid in Al-Madinah) "O people! The prohibition of Khamr was revealed; and Khamr was extracted from five things: From grapes, dates, honey, wheat and barley. Khamr is what intoxicates the mind.' Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Umar said, "The prohibition of Khamr was revealed when there were five kinds of intoxicants in Al-Madinah, besides what was produced from grapes.'

Muhammad Asad Translation:

According to all the lexicographers, the word khamr (derived from the verb khamara, "he concealed" or "obscured") denotes every substance the use of which obscures the intellect, i.e. intoxicates. Hence, the prohibition of intoxicants laid down in this verse comprises not merely alcoholic drinks, but also drugs which have a similar effect. The only exception from this total prohibition arises in cases of "dire necessity" (in the strictest sense of these words), as stipulated in the last sentence of verse {3} of this surah: that is to say, in cases where illness or a bodily accident makes the administration of intoxicating drugs or of alcohol imperative and unavoidable. - As regards the expression "idolatrous practices" (ansab, lit., "idolatrous altars"), see note [8] of this surah. This term has, I believe, been used here metaphorically, and is meant to circumscribe all practices of an idolatrous nature - like saint-worship, the attribution of "magic" properties to certain inanimate objects, the observance of all manner of superstitious taboos, and so forth. - For an explanation of the expression rendered by me as "divining of the future" (al-azlam, lit., "divining-arrows"), see note [9] on the second paragraph of verse {3} of this surah.

Yusuf Ali Explanation: 

Cf. ii. 219:

They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: "In them is great sin and some profit for men; but the sin is greater than the profit." They ask thee how much they are to spend; say: "What is beyond your needs." Thus, doth Allah make clear to you His Signs: in order that ye may consider.

Wine: Khamr: literally understood to mean the fermented juice of the grape; applied by analogy to all fermented liquor, and by further analogy to any intoxicating liquor or drug. There may possible be some benefit in it, but the harm is greater than the benefit, especially if we look at it from a social as well as an individual point of view.

Gambling: maisir: literally, a means of getting something too easily, getting a profit without working for it; hence gambling. That is the principle on which gambling is prohibited. The form must familiar to the Arabs was gambling by casting lots by means of arrows, on the principle of a lottery: the arrows were marked, and served the same purpose as a modern lottery ticket. Something e.g., the carcase of a slaughtered animal, was divided into unequal parts. The marked arrows were drawn from a bag. Some were blank and those who drew them got nothing. Others indicated prizes, which were big or small. Whether you got a big share or a small share, or nothing, depended on pure luck, unless that was fraud also on the part of some people concerned. The principle on which the objection is based is: that, even if there is no fraud, you gain what you have not earned, or lose on a mere chance. Dice and wagering are rightly held to be within the definition of gambling. But insurance is not gambling, when conducted on business principles. Here the basis for calculation is statistics on a large scale, from which mere chance is eliminated. The insurers themselves pay premia in proportion to risks, exactly and statistically calculated. 

Cf. v. 3: "Forbidden to you are carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, the animal slaughtered in any name other than Allah's, the animal which has either been strangled, killed by blows, has died of a fall, by goring or that devoured by a beast of prey - unless it be that which you yourselves might have slaughtered while it was still alive - and that which was slaughtered at the altars. You are also forbidden to seek knowledge of your fate by divining arrows. All these are sinful acts. This day the unbelievers have fully despaired of your religion. Do not fear them; but fear Me. This day I have perfected for you your religion, and have bestowed upon you My bounty in full measure, and have been pleased to assign for you Islam as your religion. (Follow, then, the lawful and unlawful bounds enjoined upon you.) As for he who is driven by hunger, without being willfully inclined to sin, surely Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Compassionate."

The stones there referred to were stone altars or stone columns on which oil was poured for consecration, or slabs on which meat was sacrificed to idols. Any idolatrous or superstitious practices are condemned here. The ansab were objects of worship, and were common in Arabia before Islam. See Renan, "History of Israel", Chapter iv, and Corpus Inscriptionum Semiticarum. Part 1. p. 154: Illustrations Nos. 123 and 123 bis are Phoenician columns of that kind, found in Malta.

Cf. v. 3. The arrows there referred to were used for the division of meat by a sort of lottery or rate. But arrows were also used for divination, i.e., for ascertaining lucky or unlucky moments, or learning the wishes of the heathen gods, as to whether men should undertake certain actions or not. All superstitions are condemned.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

It is evident from verse 43 of Sūrah al-Nisā’ and it is also evident from common sense that the real reason for the prohibition of liquor is the inebriation which it causes. For this reason, everything which intoxicates will similarly stand prohibited and a small quantity of it shall also be prohibited as a large quantity on the principle of forbidding things that may lead to grave evils.

The actual words are: فِي الۡخَمۡرِ وَ الۡمَيۡسِرِ. The word فِي here denotes deep engagement and involvement. I have translated it keeping in view this aspect. How gambling and liquor ignite the flames of enmity and revenge between people is explained thus by Imām Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī:

… It is a fact that a society in which these epidemic spreads in the first place becomes devoid of sensitivity towards modesty, chastity, honour and faithfulness (as is evident today from societies afflicted with western culture) and this in itself is a great disaster, and if there remains any trace of these values, then it is essential that every now and then due to them the society remain at war. Arabs were very sensitive to modesty, chastity, honour and integrity and this was a great quality in them. However, at the same time they were very fond of liquor and gambling. For this reason, bouts of liquor drinking and scuffles would cost them a lot. Wherever a person intoxicated with liquor attacked the honour of someone, belittled someone, teased someone or cheated in gambling (and such things are part and parcel of liquor and gambling), they would unsheathe their swords in the blink of any eye. This skirmish between two individuals would become a brawl between tribes and nations and such a progression of revenge after revenge would take place that this would not just be spread over months and years; even after a century this fire would seldom be extinguished. (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 2, 590)

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

At this point, the prohibition is issued, but is combined with the prospect of attaining success, which itself has its profound effect on the human mind: “Therefore, turn away from them so that you may be successful.” It is within the context of legislation, permissibility and prohibition, as well as the moulding of the Muslim community in Madinah, purging it from all remaining traces of past tradition of the dark days, that a clear and decisive verdict is given on intoxicating drinks and gambling, coupled with practices of associating partners with God. Drinking, gambling, idols and divining arrows were important aspects of pre- Islamic Arabia. They were closely related in both practice and tradition. The Arabs used to drink to the point of extravagance. They considered that drinking afforded people distinction. They often mention drinking in their poetry as a practice to be proud of or to praise others with. In social gatherings, drinking was coupled with the slaughter of animals which were immediately cooked to provide food to those who took part in these drinking bouts, those who served wine and those who frequented such gatherings. The animals were slaughtered at the feet of idols which were sprayed with the blood of their sacrifice. In such social events, the act of divining arrows was practised in order to determine the sharing out of the sacrificial meat. Everyone’s share was determined by his arrow, with the highest arrow giving the largest share, and the lowest giving no share whatsoever, even though it might have been the arrow of the person who provided the animal for slaughter. This gives us an idea of how traditions were intertwined with ignorant ideological concepts.

This is followed by a decisive statement on the nature of those practices which admit no counter argument: “Intoxicants, games of chance, idolatrous practices and divining arrows are abominations devised by Satan.” These are, then, foul practices and cannot be included among good and wholesome things which God has permitted. Moreover, they have been devised by Satan, man’s old enemy. It is sufficient for a believer to know that something is devised by Satan to make it totally repugnant to him.

Please listen to explanation of the Ayat by eminent Muslim scholar Nouman Ali Khan:

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 |

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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