Beware! Do not strut about in the land for you can neither cleave the earth nor attain the height of the mountains (Al Qur'an)

False ego and pride are an inflated sense of self-importance that makes a person imagine that wealth, education, status, intelligence, lineage, appearance, power, or even religious knowledge makes him inherently superior to others. In Islamic terms, this is close to kibr (arrogance): the Prophet ﷺ defined it as rejecting truth and looking down upon people. Such pride is false because every ability and possession is ultimately a gift from Allah, and human beings share the same fragile origin and final return. The cure is humility: recognize blessings without worshipping the self, accept correction, treat people with dignity regardless of status, and remember that true worth before Allah is measured by taqwā and character—not by how important we appear to ourselves or others.

Surah Al-Isrāʾ 17:37 is a direct warning against arrogance, egoism and looking down upon others in deceit and contempt:

وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّكَ لَن تَخْرِقَ الْأَرْضَ وَلَن تَبْلُغَ الْجِبَالَ طُولًا

“Do not strut about in the land for you can neither cleave the earth nor attain the height of the mountains.”

The verse appears near the end of the great moral passage 17:23–39. After commanding kindness to parents, responsible spending, protection of life, chastity, honesty in contracts and intellectual responsibility, the Qur’an turns inward to the ego. The message is that even if a person performs many outwardly correct acts, pride can still corrupt the whole character.

Scholarly Explanation

1.    Ibn Kathīr explains the verse as a prohibition against walking with conceit, swagger and self-importance. The comparison with the earth and mountains is meant to humble the human being: no matter how wealthy, powerful or famous someone becomes, he remains physically small within Allah’s creation. 

2.    Al-Ṭabarī similarly interprets maraḥan as excessive pride and boastful behaviour. 

3.    Maududi emphasizes that arrogance is not merely an unpleasant manner; it reflects a false understanding of one’s place in creation. Human beings are dependent creatures, not self-sufficient masters. This instruction warns against the ways of tyrants and vain people and is not merely meant for the individual but also for the collective conduct of the Muslim Community. It was because of this guidance that the rulers, governors and commanders of the Islamic State which was established on the basis of this Manifesto, were free from every tinge of tyranny, arrogance, haughtiness, pride and vanity, so much so that even in the battlefield they never uttered a word which had the slightest indication of any of these vain things. Their gait, dress, dwelling and conveyance showed humility. In short, their ways of conduct were not those of "big ones" but those of humble persons. That is why they never tried to overawe the people of a conquered city by show of pomp and pride.

4.    Ghamdi explains:

This is the tenth directive. Quoting Imām Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī he writes:

… The implication is that the God whose glory and grandeur one witnesses in the vast expanse of the earth that He has spread out on which one’s status is not even that of an ant or an insect and the God who has created these towering mountains before which one’s status is not even that of a squirrel. One should try to recognize one’s status and always surrender oneself to the majesty and splendour of God. (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 4, 502)

The manner in which a person walks is specially mentioned here. The reason is that the gait obviously reflects one’s inner-self. Wealth, authority, beauty, knowledge, power and other similar things produce pride and vanity in a person. Each of these produces a specific type of pride in one’s gait showing that his heart is devoid of the perception of serving God and there is no concept in it of God’s glory and greatness. The heart which has the perception of serving God and of His greatness only beats in the chests of people who have humility. Instead of walking arrogantly, they walk with their heads bent.  Thus walking with pride and vanity is a very bad trait and its punishment is very grave too.

Relevance Today The verse is highly relevant today because modern culture often rewards self-display, status, luxury, titles, followers and public recognition. Social media can intensify the temptation to project superiority, while wealth and professional rank can make people look down upon workers, the poor or those with less education. 17:37 tells us that success should produce gratitude, not superiority.

To live by this verse, we should speak respectfully to people regardless of their status, avoid flaunting wealth or achievements, accept correction without feeling humiliated, and remember that every ability we possess is ultimately a gift from Allah. Humility does not mean weakness or lack of confidence; it means knowing one’s worth without imagining oneself above others. 

The imagery of the verse is especially powerful: however proudly a person stamps upon the ground, he cannot split the earth; however highly he thinks of himself, he cannot become taller than the mountains. The lesson is simple: greatness before people is temporary, but humility before Allah gives true dignity.

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 refer to more Selected Verses from Sürah 17. Al-Isra'ʾ (The Night Journey) already published from Sürah 17. Al-Isra'ʾ.

You may also refer to our exclusive reference pages: 

• Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
• Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects
• Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

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

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

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

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

Follow @IslamUltimate

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

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Divine Reminders! It will be said 'Did We not give you a life long enough for whoever would reflect to take heed? (Al Qur'an)

Some men are seen pondering and debating the y why of the birth  of a man and the grant of long life to many, while many in their you pass away. The answer may be long and complex for the philosophers, but for men who reflect deeply on the verses of the Divine Scriptures often find the answer. Through this post today will share a post from Al Qur'an and a Hadith related to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to those wandering for an answer for why do man is granted a long life.

Today we share a very deeply reflective verse from AL Qur'an which is later explained by a Hadith of  Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

The Verse (Surah Fāṭir (35:37)

"And they will cry out therein, 'Our Lord! Take us out; we will do righteous deeds, not what we used to do.' (Allah will say:) 'Did We not give you a life long enough for whoever would reflect to take heed? And the warner had come to you. So taste (the punishment), for the wrongdoers will have no helper.'"

Context of the Verse

Surah Fāṭir is a Makkan surah whose central theme is Allah's absolute sovereignty, His creative power, human accountability, and the certainty of the Hereafter. The verses immediately preceding (35:32–36) describe two opposite destinies:

The believers inherit Paradise and praise Allah for removing all sorrow (35:32–35).

The disbelievers are cast into Hell where neither death ends their suffering nor is the punishment lightened (35:36).

Verse 35:37 continues this scene. It depicts the desperate plea of the inhabitants of Hell after realizing that every opportunity to repent has passed.

Scholarly Tafsir / Explanation

1.    Ibn Kathir explains the desperate plea of the disbelievers inside Hellfire. They beg Allah to let them return to the earthly life to do good deeds, but Allah reminds them that they were already given enough time, life, and clear warnings to take heed..

• Allah's response exposes the weakness of their excuse: "Did We not give you sufficient life?" That is Allah had already granted them enough years to recognize the truth, repent and reform. 
• Ibn Kathir quotes narrations explaining that this "sufficient life" refers to the age at which a person has ample opportunity to understand guidance.
• The Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah has left no excuse for a person whose life He has prolonged until sixty years of age." — Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
• This does not mean people younger than sixty are excused. Rather, sixty represents the completion of a long lifetime after abundant opportunities.

2.     Al-Tabari Al-Tabari states that: 

• Allah provided intellect and Allah provided time.
• Allah sent messengers and revealed scriptures.
• Allah showed signs throughout creation.

Therefore no one can say: "I never had a chance."

3. Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi

This implies every such age of life in which a person may be able to distinguish between good and evil, truth and falsehood, if he likes to, and turn to right guidance instead of deviation, if he wishes. If a person has died before attaining such an age, he will not be called to any account according to this verse. However, the one who has attained this age will certainly be held answerable for his actions. Then, as long as he lives after attaining this age and gets more and more opportunities for choosing and adopting the right path, his responsibility also will increase accordingly; so much so that the one who does not adopt right guidance even in old age will have no chance left for making any excuse. This same thing has been reported by Hadrat Abu Hurairah and Hadrat Sahl bin Sa'd as-Sa'idi in a Hadith, saying: "The one who lives a short life has an excuse to offer, but there is no room for making an excuse for him who lives for 60 years or more." (Bukhari Ahmad, Nasa'i, Ibn Jarir, Ibn Abi Hatim).

The gist of above scholarly explanation is  that the verse establishes one of Allah's great principles:

• Accountability only comes after sufficient opportunity and clear warning.
• No punishment is arbitrary.
• Allah first: gives life, grants understanding, sends guidance, repeatedly reminds mankind.
• And then only persistent rejection results in punishment.

"The Warner had come to you"

Scholars explained this phrase in several complementary ways. The "warner" includes: Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. all previous prophets, the Qur'an itself, , sincere callers to truth, reminders from life. According to some early scholars, even old age, because grey hair warns a person that death is approaching. These meanings are not mutually exclusive; they all serve as reminders from Allah.

Why They Want to Return

Notice they do not ask: "Remove the punishment." - Instead they say: "We will do righteous deeds."

That is after seeing the punishment of theirs going astray in their worldly life by rejecting the Divine cautions and warning from the messengers, now they know: (1) faith was true, (2) resurrection was true, and (3) accountability was true.

But they did not know that repentance belongs only to worldly life. And when a person dies, all chances given to him to repent and seek forgiveness cease and Divine accountability will take over to teach them them that what they have been cautioned and warned about in the wordily life was true and resurrection was a reality which they mocked.

Connection with Other Qur'anic Verses

Since resurrection and accountability is a reality, man has been cautioned throughout the Qur'an to remind man time and again to take heed and follow the true faith. Following are some reference from Al Qur'an that echo the same theme:

 

1.    Surah Al-Mu'minun (23:99–100) When death comes, the sinner says:  "My Lord, send me back so that I may do righteousness." - But it is refused. That is when the angel of death finally knocks at the door then all doors of repentance are shut and even if the repentance is still made, itis denied.

2.    Surah As-Sajdah (32:12) The criminals say: "Our Lord, we have seen and heard, so send us back." Again, no return is granted.

3.    Surah Az-Zumar (39:58) The sinner says: "If only Allah had guided me." But guidance had already reached him and it that time they mocked it.

4.    Surah Al-An'am (6:27–28) Allah says that even if they were returned, they would return to what they had been forbidden, because their hearts had not truly changed. This demonstrates that their request arises from the immediate reality of punishment, not necessarily from genuine inner transformation.

Lessons for Today

Verse 35:37 is not only about the Hereafter; it is a call to reflect on the present.

1. Time is one of Allah's greatest blessings Every additional day is another opportunity to repent, learn, forgive, and do good. We often ask for more time, yet this verse reminds us that the time we already have is itself a trust.

2. Do not postpone repentance People frequently think:

"I'll become religious after retirement."

"I'll change after achieving my goals."

The verse warns that death may arrive before those intentions become actions.

3. Guidance carries responsibility Many people today have unprecedented access to the Qur'an, authentic hadith, translations, lectures, and scholarship. Access to guidance increases responsibility to seek and respond to the truth.

4. Regret cannot replace action One of the recurring themes of the Qur'an is that remorse after certainty is no substitute for faith and righteous deeds during earthly life.

5. Listen to life's warnings Illness, aging, the loss of loved ones, and witnessing death are reminders that our worldly life is temporary. The believer treats these experiences as opportunities to renew faith and priorities rather than ignoring them.

A Reflective Summary

Surah Fāṭir 35:37 is one of the Qur'an's most sobering portrayals of regret after the opportunity to choose has ended. It teaches that Allah does not hold people accountable without first granting life, intellect, guidance, and repeated reminders. The tragedy of the people in Hell is not merely that they sinned, but that they repeatedly delayed repentance until it was too late. 

For us today, the verse is a reminder to value the time Allah has given, respond to His guidance while we are able, and recognize that the greatest opportunity we possess is today, before tomorrow becomes a wish that can never be fulfilled.

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 refer to Summary and Selected verses of Sürah (35) Fāṭir “The Originator / The Creator” for more Selected Verses already published

You may also refer to our exclusive reference pages: 

• Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
• Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects
• Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

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

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

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

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

Follow @IslamUltimate

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

Read More

Beware of The Day of Matter Adequate

Man feels secure in his worldly life where he is protected by his parents, family and friends whenever any distress befalls him. There is always some hope or access to a helping hand that can save from a disaster or distress. For many evil doers, their advocates and lawyers come handy who save them from clutches of justice by tacit articulation of law and let them live a free life.

But behold!! for how long. Allah gives leverage to the criminals for a considered time and provides them adequate time to repent and seek Divine forgiveness. But those who, due to their sheer arrogance, position and wealth often brush off Divine warnings and cautions for they think they can prevail upon everyone due to their position and wealth. For such ungrateful people, we share the 37th verse of Surah 80. Abasa that warns them of the Day of Matter Adequate!! 

Sūrah ʻAbasa " سورة عَبَسَ " is the eightieth sürah with 42 āyāt with two rukus, part of the 30th Juzʼ  of the Holy Qur'ān. In its verses 33-42, the picture of the day of judgement is painted when no one shall care about his own mother, father, brother or children. The world as we know it will have so completely passed away that the landmarks in the heavens and on earth will also have vanished. Not only that, but the human relationships of mind and heart will have been transformed by sin into something ugly and dreadful. The sinners will be so overcome with terror at the realization of their personal responsibility that they will desert their most intimate friends, and indeed their very sight of each other will add to their agony.

لِكُلِّ امۡرِیءٍ مِّنۡهُمۡ يَوۡمَـئِذٍ شَاۡنٌ يُّغۡنِيۡهِؕ‏ 

(80:37)   For every man, that Day, will be a matter adequate for him.

A tradition has been reported in the Hadith by different methods and through different channels, saying that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: On the Day of Resurrection all men will rise up naked. One of his wives (according to some reporters, Aishah, according to others, Saudah, or a woman) asked in bewilderment: O Messenger of Allah, shall we (women) appear naked on that Day before the people. The prophet (peace be upon him) recited this very verse and explained that on that Day each one will have enough of his own troubles to occupy him, and will be wholly unmindful of others. (Nasai, Tirmidhi, Ibn Abi Hatim,)

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: (The Day of Judgement and the fleeing of the People from Their Relatives during it):

Ibn `Abbas said, "As-Sakhkhah is one of the names of the Day of Judgement that Allah has magnified and warned His servants of.' Ibn Jarir said, "Perhaps it is a name for the blowing into Trumpet.'' Al-Baghawi said, "As-Sakhkhah means the thunderous shout of the Day of Judgement. It has been called this because it will deafen the ears. This means that it pierces the hearing to such an extent that it almost deafens the ears.'

(That Day shall a man flee from his brother, and from his mother and his father, and from his wife and his children.) Qatadah said, "The most beloved and then the next most beloved, and the closest of kin and then the next closest of kin -- due to the terror of that Day.' 

Allah said, (لِكُلِّ امْرِىءٍ مِّنْهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ شَأْنٌ يُغْنِيهِ Every man that Day will have enough to make him careless of others.) meaning, he will be preoccupied in his business and distracted from the affairs of others. 

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from Ibn `Abbas that the Messenger of Allah said, (You will all be gathered barefoot, naked, walking and uncircumcised.) So, his wife said, "O Messenger of Allah! Will we look at or see each other's nakedness'' The Prophet replied, (Every man among them on that Day will have enough (worries) to make him careless of others) -- or he said: (he will be too busy to look.) 

Ibn `Abbas narrated that the Prophet said, (You will all be gathered barefoot, naked and uncircumcised.) So, a woman said, "Will we see or look at each other's nakedness'' He replied, (O so-and-so woman! Every man among them on that Day will have enough (worries) to make him careless of others.) At-Tirmidhi said, "This Hadith is Hasan Sahih.''

Yusuf Ali Explanation: 

That is "Nor friend will ask after a friend that Day. On the contrary the sinner will desire to save himself at the expense even of his own family and benefactors."

This is as said in Surah 70 Al Maarij (The Ascending Steps), verses 10-14:

• (70:10) And no friend will ask after a friend
• (70:11 Though they will be put in sight of each other the sinner's desire will be: would that he could redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by (sacrificing) his children) That is the sinner will offer his children, his family, his kinsmen, who had sheltered and protected him, -in fact everything on earth that he could-as a ransom for himself. Such would be his selfishness and his agony.
• (70:12) His wife and his brother
• (70:13) His kindred who sheltered him.
• (70:14 And all all that is on earth so it could deliver him) What would not the sinner give for his own deliverance! But nothing could save him. The Fire of Hell would be roaring for him!

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

The fearfulness depicted in this scene is purely psychological. It strikes the soul, isolates it and holds it in its grip. The result is that each of us will think only of ourselves. None shall have any time or power to think of others: “For each one of them will on that day have enough preoccupations of his own.” The description is vivid; yet there can be no shorter and yet more comprehensive statement to describe the general condition of worried minds and souls.

A picture has been painted, my brothers and sisters in Islam, as a caution and warning for all of us of a day when we shall stand all alone to answer for our bad deeds. And pray we do not fall short of good deeds that will be traded for each of our bad deeds, and that some good deeds are still left that could help us in achieving Divine forgiveness. However, before that day of matter adequate, let us leave all bad things and wrongdoings while we are still alive so that we do not have to stand in shame, for on that day any regret or apology will not help us.

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

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

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

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

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

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

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

You may read more posts on similar themes in our series of posts related to: Rules of Divine Court on Day of Judgement.

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

Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from the following sources: 

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

In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

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

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

Follow @IslamUltimate

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

Read More

If prompted by a provocation from Satan, seek refuge with Allah

The main target of Satan and all evil forces are the believers who always remain steadfast in the face of hardships, temptations and evil. However, the temptation by Satan are so lucrative that even Prophet Adam and his wife Eve fell into Satan's trap and disobeyed Allah by eating the fruit of the forbidden tree. All prophets and messengers of Allah have also been tempted by Satan but the remain steadfast. 

To hold firmly the rope of Allah and stay away from the evil machinations of Satan, Allah has time and again reminded His messengers to seek refuge with Him if and when prompted by a provocation from Satan. Herein under we share the 36th verse of Surah 41. Ha Mim (Also known as Surah As Sajdah and Surah Fussilat):

وَاِمَّا يَنۡزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيۡطٰنِ نَزۡغٌ فَاسۡتَعِذۡ بِاللّٰهِ​ؕ اِنَّهٗ هُوَ السَّمِيۡعُ الۡعَلِيۡمُ‏ 

(41:36) And if you are prompted by a provocation from Satan, seek refuge with Allah. He, and He alone, is All-Hearing, All- Knowing.

Satan feels grieved when he sees that in the conflict between the truth and falsehood, meanness is being resisted with nobility and evil with goodness. He wants that he should somehow incite the fighters for the sake of the truth and their prominent men in particular, and especially their leaders, to commit such a mistake, even if once, on the basis of which he may tell the common people that evil is not being committed by one side only. If mean acts are being committed by one side, the people of the other side also are not morally any better, they too have committed such and such a shameless act. The common people do not have the capability that they may assess and counterbalance fairly the excesses being committed by one party by the reactions of the other. As long as they see that while the opponents are adopting every mean act yet these people do not swerve at all from the path of decency and nobility, goodness and righteousness, they continue to regard and esteem them highly. But if at some time they happen to commit an unworthy act, even if it is in retaliation against a grave injustice, both the sides become equal in their esteem, and the opponents also get an excuse to counter one blamable act with a thousand abuses. That is why it has been said: Be on your guard against the deceptions of Satan. He will incite you as a well wisher to take note of every abuse and every insult and attack and urge you to pay the opponent in the same coin, otherwise you would be regarded as a coward and weaken your image of strength. On every such occasion whenever you feel any undue provocation, you should take care that this is an incitement of Satan who is arousing you to anger and wants you to commit a mistake. And after having been warned, do not be involved in the misunderstanding that you have full control over yourself, and Satan cannot make you commit any mistake. This high opinion of one’s own power of judgment and will is another and more dangerous deception of Satan. Instead of it you should seek Allah’s refuge, for man can save himself from mistakes only if Allah helps and grants him protection.

The best commentary of this subject is the event which Imam Ahmad has related in his Musnad on the authority of Abu Hurairah. He says that once a man started uttering invectives against Abu Bakr in the presence of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Abu Bakr kept on hearing the invectives quietly and the Prophet (peace be upon him) kept on smiling at it. At last, when Abu Bakr could restrain himself no longer, he also uttered a harsh word for the person in response. No sooner did he utter the word, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was seized by restraint, which appeared on his face, and he rose and left the place immediately. Abu Bakr also rose and went behind him. On the way he asked: How is it that as long as the person went on abusing me, you kept quiet and smiling, but when I also said a word in retaliation, you were annoyed. The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: As long as you were quiet, an angel remained with you who went on replying to him on your behalf, but when you spoke out, Satan came in place of the angel. I could not sit with Satan.

After seeking Allah’s refuge against the storm of opposition, the thing that brings patience and peace and tranquility to the heart of the believer is this conviction, Allah is not unaware. He knows whatever we are doing as well as that which is being done against us. He is hearing whatever we and our opponents utter and watches the conduct of both of us. On the basis of this very conviction, the believer entrusts his own and the opponents of the truth’s affair to Allah and remains satisfied.

This is the fifth place where the Prophet and, through him, the believers have been taught this wisdom of preaching and reforming the people. For the other four places, see (Surah Al-Aaraf, Ayats 199-204), (Surah An-Nahl, Ayats 125- 128), (Surah Al-Muminun, Ayats 96-98), (Surah Al-Ankabut, Ayats 46-47).

Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 

The devils among men may be deceived by your kind treatment of him, but the devils among the Jinn, when they insinuate their evil whispers, cannot be dealt with except by seeking refuge with the Creator Who gave him power over you. If you seek refuge with Allah and turn to Him, He will stop him from harming you and bring his efforts to naught. 

When the Messenger of Allah stood up to pray, he would say:

أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ السَّمِيعِ الْعَلِيمِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ، مِنْ هَمْزِهِ وَنَفْخِهِ وَنَفْثِه

(I seek refuge in Allah the All-Hearing, All-Knowing, from the accursed Shaytan and his evil insinuations, breath and impurity.)'' 

We have already stated that there is nothing like this in the Qur'an, apart from the passage in Surat Al-A`raf, where Allah says: 

وَاِمَّا يَنۡزَغَـنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيۡطٰنِ نَزۡغٌ فَاسۡتَعِذۡ بِاللّٰهِ​ؕ اِنَّهٗ سَمِيۡعٌ عَلِيۡمٌ‏ 

(Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish. And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaytan, then seek refuge with Allah. Verily, He is All-Hearer, All-Knower.) (7:200)

And the passage in Surat Al-Mu'minun where Allah says: (Repel evil with that which is better. We are Best-Acquainted with the things they utter. And say: "My Lord! I seek refuge with You from the whisperings of the Shayatin. And I seek refuge with You, My Lord! lest they should come near me.'') (23:96-98)

We should also be on the look out for any provocation by Satan which may derail us from the path of truth and instantly seek refuge with Allah. May Allah help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. Aameen.

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

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

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

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

• The plain translation has been taken from the Qur'ān officially published by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. [1]
• 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. [2]  

In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided by [2], additional input has been interjected from following sources: 

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

In addition the references of  other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

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

None shall have power to argue with Him [on Day of Resurrection]

The Day of Resurrection will happen one day whether many may not believe in its taking place. There are many who dispel the idea of the day when they will be presented before the Creator of the Universe and made to be answerable for their deeds in their earthly world. They believe that once they die and become dust, that is the end of their lives, so they can live a luxurious life and enjoy as much possible for what they have. Yet there are others, who do believe in the day to happening but think that their worldly gods and deities will protect them from any accountability and they will still have happy living in the life of hereafter. 

But would it be so? Would our false deities will be able to protect us from the Divine Accountability? Would they be able to intercede for us and have us absolved of our wrong doings? Well the answer is a bog NOT. Read what Allah says in the 37th verse / ayat of Surah. 78 An Naba:

رَّبِّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا الرَّحۡمٰنِ​ لَا يَمۡلِكُوۡنَ مِنۡهُ خِطَابًا​ ۚ‏ 

( 37 )   [From] the Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, the Most Merciful. None shall have power to argue with Him.

That is, the court of Allah Almighty will be so awe inspiring that no one, whether belonging to the earth or to the heavens, will dare open his mouth of his own will before Allah, nor interfere in the court's work and proceedings.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir:

Allah informs of His magnificence and His majesty, and that He is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, and whatever is in them and between them. He explains that He is the Most Gracious, Whose mercy covers all things. 

Then He says, (With Whom they cannot dare to speak.) meaning, no one is able to begin addressing Him except by His permission.

This is as Allah says, (Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission) (2:255) It is also similar to His statement, (On the Day when it comes, no person shall speak except by His leave.) (11:105)

Yusuf Ali Explanation:

No one has the right or the power to argue with Allah about the Gifts which He may bestow on His devotees beyond their deserts, (verse 36 above) or about the Penalty which His justice may inflict for sin or wrong-doing. He is high above all Creation. But He is also Most Gracious. Therefore He may permit special Dignitaries, of honour in His eyes, to plead for sinners, but they will only plead in truth and righteousness: see verse 38 below.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

These words caution and prod those who were wrongly infatuated by the notion that their deities will be able to cajole and convince the Almighty to grant them whatever they wish. The Arabs would specially worship the angels thinking them to be daughters of God and ascribed the above belief to them. The verse states that this is a baseless wish. No one there will have the authority to speak except if the God Almighty permits him.

May Allah help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. Aameen.

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

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

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

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

• The plain translation has been taken from the Qur'ān officially published by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. [1]
• 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. [2]  

In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided by [2], additional input has been interjected from following sources: 

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

In addition the references of  other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

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

Selected Verses from Quran: The Essence of Ritual of (Animal) Sacrifice

The Eid ul Adha is just a few days away on the 10th of Dhul Hajjah 1441 AH / 1st August 2020. The hallmark of Eid ul Adha is the sacrificing of animals to commemorate the tradition of great sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham, peace be upon him). Adha in Arabic means to sacrifice, thus on this day, Muslims attending the Hajj at Makkah, Saudi Arabia in particular, and Muslims around the world in general sacrifice animals as directed by Allah in the 34th verse of Surah 22. Al Hajj: 

وَلِكُلِّ اُمَّةٍ جَعَلۡنَا مَنۡسَكًا لِّيَذۡكُرُوا اسۡمَ اللّٰهِ عَلٰى مَا رَزَقَهُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَهِيۡمَةِ الۡاَنۡعَامِ ؕ فَاِلٰهُكُمۡ اِلٰـهٌ وَّاحِدٌ فَلَهٗۤ اَسۡلِمُوۡا​ ؕ وَبَشِّرِ الۡمُخۡبِتِيۡنَ ۙ‏ 

"And [thus it is:] unto every community [that has ever believed in Us] have We appointed [sacrifice as] an act of worship, so that they might extol the name of God over whatever heads of cattle He may have provided for them [to this end]. And [always bear in mind:] your God is the One and Only God: hence, surrender yourselves unto Him. And give thou the glad tiding [of God's acceptance] unto all who are humble"

This verse implies two things.

(1) Sacrifice has been an essential part of the worship of One Allah in all the revealed religions. In order to inculcate Tauhid, Allah prohibited sacrifice for anyone other than Himself. This was in keeping with the other prohibitions which were made for others than Allah. For instance, prostration before anyone other than Allah, making vows for others than Allah, visiting holy places other than those prescribed by Allah, fasting in the name of others than of Allah, etc., were all prohibited.

(2) The other thing which has been common in all the revealed religions was the object of the sacrifice in the name of Allah though its details have been different in different religions, times and countries.

The Arabic word mukhbitin has no equivalent in English. It includes those who; (1) Give up pride, arrogance and adopt humility before Allah, (2) Surrender themselves to His service and slavery, and (3) Accept His decrees sincerely.

This verse explains the true end of sacrifice, not propitiation of higher powers, for Allah is One, and He does not delight in flesh or blood (xxii. 37, see under), but a symbol of thanksgiving to Allah by sharing meat with fellow-men. The solemn pronouncement of Allah's name over the sacrifice is an essential part of the rite.

The understanding of this verse is not complete unless we go ahead and read the 37th verse:

لَنۡ يَّنَالَ اللّٰهَ لُحُـوۡمُهَا وَلَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَلٰـكِنۡ يَّنَالُهُ التَّقۡوٰى مِنۡكُمۡ​ؕ كَذٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَـكُمۡ لِتُكَبِّرُوا اللّٰهَ عَلٰى مَا هَدٰٮكُمۡ​ؕ وَبَشِّرِ الۡمُحۡسِنِيۡنَ‏ 

"Neither their flesh reaches Allah nor their blood; it is your piety that reaches Him. He has subjected these animals (to you) that you may magnify Allah for the guidance He has bestowed upon you. Give glad tidings, (O Prophet), to those who do good."

This prescribes a very important condition for the sacrifice made in the worship of Allah. A sacrifice is acceptable to Allah only if it is accompanied by piety and sincerity. Though sacrifice is a symbol of Allah, yet it has been made plain that it is accepted only if it is accompanied by piety, saying: “Neither their meat that reaches Allah nor their blood, but what reaches Him is the piety from you”. This was also meant to condemn the ritual of the days of ignorance, when the Arabs took the flesh to the Kabah and smeared its walls with the blood of the sacrificed animal.

“That you may glorify Allah” at the time of sacrifice verbally also in order to acknowledge that the animals really belong to Allah and to no one else. One of the sentences uttered at the time of sacrifice is Allahumma minka wa laka (O Allah, this animal is Thine and is presented to Thee).

It should be noted that the command of sacrifice is not for the pilgrims alone and that the performance of sacrifice is not confined to Makkah on the occasion of Hajj. It is a general command for all those Muslims who are well off. They have been enjoined to be grateful to Allah because He has subjected these animals for the good of all human beings. Therefore, they are required to sacrifice the animals during these days so that they may spiritually join those who go to Makkah to perform Hajj.

There are many authentic traditions to the effect that the Prophet (peace be upon him) made sacrifice on this occasion, while he was personally at Al-Madinah.

(1) The one who does not perform sacrifice even though he can, should not join us in the Eid Prayer. (Musnad Ahmad, Ibn Majah).

(2) According to a tradition reported by Ibn Umar, the Prophet (peace be upon him) dwelt at Al-Madinah for ten years and performed sacrifice every year. (Tirmizi).

(3) According to Anas, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

The one who sacrificed an animal before the Eid Prayer, should offer another sacrifice; but the one who sacrificed his animal after the Eid Prayer, did the right thing and followed the way of the Muslims. (Bukhari).

It this connection, it is note-worthy that no Eid Prayer is held on the tenth of Zil-Hajj in Makkah: therefore, the injunction was meant for all Muslims and not only for those performing Hajj at Makkah.

Thus, it is clear that the sacrifice on the occasion of Eid which is observed in the entire Muslim world is a Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and has been enjoined by him. The only dispute is whether it is obligatory in nature or only a Sunnah. Ibrahim Nakhai, Imams Abu Hanifah, Malik, Muhammad and, according to a tradition, Imam Abu Yusuf too, are of the opinion that it is obligatory in nature. On the other hand, Imams Shafai and Ahmad bin Hanbal regard it only as a Sunnah of the Muslims, and Sufyan Thauri has also agreed with them, saying that there will be no harm if a person does not offer a sacrifice.

Yusuf Ali Explanation:

No one should suppose that meat or blood is acceptable to the One True God. It was a Pagan fancy that Allah could be appeased by blood sacrifice. But Allah does accept the offering of our hearts, and as a symbol of such offer, some visible institution is necessary. He has given us power over the brute creation, and permitted us to eat meat, but only if we pronounce His name at the solemn act of taking life, for without this solemn invocation, we are apt to forget the sacredness of fife. By the invocation we are reminded that wanton cruelty is not in our thoughts, but only the need of food. Now if we further deny the greater part of the food (some theologians fix the proportion at three-quarters or two-thirds) for the sake of our poorer brethren in solemn assembly in the precincts of the Haram (sacred territory), our symbolic act finds practical expression in benevolence, and that is the virtue sought to be taught. We should be grateful to Allah for His guidance in this matter, in which many Peoples have gone wrong, and we should proclaim the true doctrine so that virtue and charity may increase among men.

May Allah help us understand Qur'an and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. Aameen.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an

Please refer to our page: Dhu al-Hijja (ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة): The month of Pilgrimage - The Hajj to know more about Dhu al-Hijja and Hajj. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |  Why do Muslims sacrifice Animals | 

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

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

• The plain translation has been taken from the Holy Quran officially published by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. [1]
• The exegesis of the chapters of the Holy Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi. [2]  

In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided by [2], additional input has been interjected from following sources: 

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

In addition the references of  other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

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 Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More