The verse (of Qur'an) which speaks about the clarity of the message of Islam

Islam is one of the simplest Divine religion for it eases difficulties with Divine Help. Unlike other Divine scriptures which are based on volumes of books, Qur'an is merely a 600-700 pages Divine Book that encompasses the Divine Wisdom in very easy to understand commandments. Although, each verse of Qur'an makes it easier to understand the message of Islam, we share today the 5th verse of Surah Al-Bayyina (The Clear Evidence) which speaks about the clarity of the message of Islam.

وَمَاۤ اُمِرُوۡۤا اِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُوا اللّٰهَ مُخۡلِصِيۡنَ لَـهُ الدِّيۡنَ  ۙ حُنَفَآءَ وَيُقِيۡمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَيُؤۡتُوا الزَّكٰوةَ​ وَذٰلِكَ دِيۡنُ الۡقَيِّمَةِ ؕ‏ 

(98:5) Yet all that they had been commanded was that they serve Allah, with utter sincerity, devoting themselves exclusively to Him, and that they establish Prayer and pay Zakah. That is the Right Faith.

Let us examine the verse in detail:

"And they were not commanded except to worship Allah"

The verse begins by emphasizing that the fundamental command from Allah to humanity is to worship Him alone. This worship is not just in terms of rituals, but it encompasses all aspects of life, including submitting to Allah’s will and following His guidance.

"[Being] sincere to Him in religion"

The sincerity mentioned here refers to the purity of faith and the intention behind one's acts of worship. It emphasizes that a person should not worship Allah for show or out of mere tradition but with a genuine, sincere heart. This means that all acts of worship should be done solely for the pleasure of Allah.

"Inclining to truth"

This part highlights that the sincere worship of Allah must be aligned with the truth — meaning the teachings of Islam, which are based on the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It encourages believers to follow the correct path, one that is straight and free from falsehood.

"And to establish prayer and give zakah"

These are two important pillars of Islam. Salat (prayer) is the act of worship that connects the believer with Allah five times a day, and Zakah (charity) is the obligation to give a portion of one's wealth to those in need. These acts are essential in Islam and reflect both spiritual devotion and social responsibility.

"And that is the correct religion."

The verse concludes by stating that this path — sincere worship of Allah, following the truth, and establishing the pillars of Islam (prayer and charity) — is the "correct religion." It implies that there is no other acceptable way of life than submitting to Allah in this way.

The verse thus provides a concise summary of the essence of Islam: sincere worship of Allah, adherence to the truth, and the practice of essential duties like prayer and charity. It underscores that the correct way to live is to follow these teachings, which are grounded in sincere devotion to Allah.

This is the basis of divine religion throughout history and in all its forms. It is simply the worship of God alone. A sincere and pure submission to Him, a detachment from polytheism in all its shapes and forms, the establishment of regular worship and the payment of the regular obligatory charity, or zakat.

It is a pure and sincere faith that is firmly established in the heart, the worship of God alone which is a translation of this faith, and spending money for God’s cause as He has stated. He who fulfils these injunctions has met the requirements of faith, as the people of earlier revelations were commanded to do, and as these requirements are outlined in all forms of divine faith. It is one religion, the same faith in all the successive messages, as preached by the messengers of God. It is a religion free from all ambiguity and complication; a faith which gives no reason for division and dispute. It is very clear and very simple. How completely different this religion is from those complicated and confusing concepts and from those lengthy polemics.

Allah in Qur'an does not demand much from the believers except that they are sincere to Him and adhere to certain norms that reflect the sincerity of believers towards Allah and His chosen religion: Islam. If we really want to be true believers, we need to ponder over this verse with sincerity of approach and clarify our thought process which should be aimed entirely to sincerity to our Creator.

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

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 |  

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses 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 addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

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

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

Follow @IslamUltimate

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

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Can a faithful child Disobey his parents?

Parents in Islam assume a very exclusive and elevated status in Islam. Both parents, specially the mothers, are to be respected and never to be disobeyed, for it is the mother who carries her offspring for nine months in her womb and endures extreme discomfort during these nine months and undergoes extreme pain during the childbirth. She then feeds her offspring and raise her with her best love and care to a standing youth. The father too works hard and undergoes extreme hardships to make arrangements for the raising of his offspring at the cost of his discomfort and extreme body limits.

It is for this reason of bearing a child, raising him and educating him to be a good Muslim and valuable human being, that Allah has sent down many a instruction for being kind to one's parents. Likewise Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has on many a occasion directed his companions to be kind and respectful to their parents. 

*We have already written a number of posts on the subject which can be accessed from links  given below:

• Why Islam stresses on respect of parents
• Be good to your parents
• How should children honour their parents after their death (Hadith)

While so much is said about respect, kindness and obeying of one's parents, can their be an eventuality whereby a child could disobey his parents? This is a difficult question, but Allah gives out the answer to this question in the 8th verse of Surah 29 Al Ankabut being shared today:

وَوَصَّيۡنَا الۡاِنۡسَانَ بِوَالِدَيۡهِ حُسۡنًا​ ؕ وَاِنۡ جَاهَدٰكَ لِتُشۡرِكَ بِىۡ مَا لَـيۡسَ لَـكَ بِهٖ عِلۡمٌ فَلَا تُطِعۡهُمَا ؕ اِلَىَّ مَرۡجِعُكُمۡ فَاُنَبِّئُكُمۡ بِمَا كُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ‏ 

We have conjoined man to do good to his parents, but if they force you to associate with Me another (deity) whom you do not know (as such), you should not obey them." You have all to return to Me: then I shall tell you what you had been doing

Shirk, associating an deity with Allah or labelling someone as His son or His associate, is one of the biggest and unforgettable crime in the eyes of our Creator, the sole and unchallenged Master of the universe. He alone has created the entire universe, living creatures including man, and innumerous means of sustenance for everything that lives above and below the earth. Therefore, if someone adds any deity to His Lordship, He is utterly annoyed and displeased. Those who do so will be specially dealt with on the day of the Judgements and will be unpardonable no matter how good otherwise they have been in their earthly life.

Let us examine this verse in detail as explained by some of the eminent scholars and exegetes of Qur'an:

Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi:  

According to Muslim, Tirmidhi, Ahmad, Abu Da'ud and Nasa`i, this verse was Sent down in respect of Hadrat Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas. He was 18 or 19 years old when he embraced Islam. When his mother, Hamnah, daughter of Sufyan bin Umayyah (neice of Abu Sufyan), came to know that her son had become a Muslim, she said, "I will neither eat nor drink nor sit in shade unless you disown Muhammad. The rights of the mother are supermost even according to Allah's Command. Therefore if you disobey me, you will be disobeying Allah too." Hadrat Sa'd was perplexed and came before the Holy Prophet and told his whole story. At this, this verse was revealed. Possibly other young men who embraced Islam in the initial stage at Makkah were also confronted with similar situations. Therefore, the same theme has been repeated forcefully in Surah Luqman: 15 also.

What the verse means to impress is this: The rights of the parents, among the creation of Allah, are to be held as the supreme, but even if the parents force a person to adopt shirk, they should not be obeyed. The words, "If both of them force you to associate..." imply that a lesser pressure, or a pressure by either of them, deserves to be set aside much more promptly. The next sentence, ".... whom you do not know (as such)," is also noteworthy. This gives a sound reason for not obeying the parents in this regard. The parents certainly have the right that the children should serve them, respect them, and obey them in lawful things. But they do not have the right that one should obey them blindly against one's knowledge of the reality. Therefore, there is no reason why a person should go on following his parents' religion just because it is their religion. If the children come to know that their parents are following a false religion, they should give it up and adopt the right religion. and should not follow the wrong way whose falsehood has become clear to them even if the parents use every kind of pressure for it. When this is so in the case of even the parents, it should be so with every other person, too. No one deserves to be followed and obeyed unless one is sure that the person being followed is on the right path.  

"You have all to return to Me: then I shall tell you what you had been doing": That is, "The relationships of the world and their obligations are confined to the world. At last, the parents as well as the children have to return to their Creator, and before Him everybody will be held answerable only on the basis of his personal responsibility. If the parents have misled the children, they will be called to account . If the children have accepted deviation for the sake of the parents, they will be punished. And if the children adopted the right way, and showed no slackness in rendering the parents' lawful rights either, but the parents ill-treated them only for the reason that they did not join them in their deviation, they will not be able to escape Allah's punishment."

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: The Command to be Good and Dutiful to Parents 

Allah commands His servants to be dutiful to parents, after urging them to adhere to belief in His Tawhid, because a person's parents are the cause of his existence. So he must treat them with the utmost kindness and respect, his father for spending on him and his mother because of her compassion for him. 

Allah says: (And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them, but address them in terms of honor. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: "My Lord! Bestow on them Your mercy as they did bring me up when I was young.") (17:23-24) 

Although Allah orders us to show kindness, mercy and respect towards them in return for their previous kindness, He says: (but if they strive to make associate with Me, which you have no knowledge of, then obey them not.) meaning, if they are idolaters, and they try to make you follow them in their religion, then beware of them, and do not obey them in that, for you will be brought back to Me on the Day of Resurrection, and Allah will reward you for your kindness towards them and your patience in adhering to your religion. It is Allah Who will gather you with the group of the righteous, not with the group of your parents, even though you were the closest of people to them in the world. For a person will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection with those whom he loves, meaning, religious love. 

Allah says: (And for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, surely, We shall make them enter with the righteous.) In his Tafsir of this Ayah, At-Tirmidhi recorded that Sa'd said: "Four Ayat were revealed concerning me – and he told his story. He said: "Umm Sa'd said: 'Did Allah not command you to honor your parents? By Allah, I will not eat or drink anything until I die or you renounce Islam.' When they wanted to feed her, they would force her mouth open. 

Then this Ayah was revealed: (And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful to his parents; but if they strive to make you associate with Me, of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not.)" This Hadith was also recorded by Imam Ahmad, Muslim, Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

"[None has a greater right than God.] We have directed human beings to treat their parents with kindness but [at the same time clarified that] if they force you to associate someone with Me of which you have no knowledge": This an argument in favour of refutation of polytheism. Imām Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī writes:

The word علم here means “argument” and “proof.” As far as one God is concerned, it is an obvious reality that even a polytheist acknowledges. As far as His associates are concerned, it is the responsibility of those who regard them to be His associates to present a proof of this. In the absence of any such proof, it is not permissible for any reasonable person to become their servant by regarding them to be God’s partners. (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 6, 19)

"Then do not obey them": Among the trials mentioned earlier, a big trial was that at times parents forced their children to obey them in matters of religion. Those who accepted the call of Muḥammad (sws) must have faced this trial as well. Thus the Qur’ān has made it evident that though the right of parents is an obvious fact, God has not granted them the right that they be obeyed in matters of religion without any reasoning or they compel their children in matters of religion.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

The sūrah then refers to a type of test which we have already mentioned: that of ties and bonds with family and loved ones. It gives clear and decisive guidance in such a difficult situation. Parents are the closest of all relatives. They give much to their children. Hence, to be kind to one’s parents is a duty required of everyone. Indeed parents must be treated with love, respect, and care. Yet when it comes to one’s duty towards God, they cannot be obeyed in opposition to Him. The paramount bond is that with God. Hence, if one’s parents are unbelievers, they should be treated with care and kindness, but must not be obeyed or followed. Once this present life is over, all return to God.

So my dear sisters and brothers in Islam, despite the status of parents in Islam and the respect and obedience due to them, Oneness of Allah cannot be denied and anything tangent to this reality is not to be accepted at all. If parents pressurize their children for not accepting Islam, they can be disobeyed as per the Divine Directive above. However, even after entering the fold of Islam, one should never abandon one's parents and continue to respect them and be kind to them.

Remember, as mentioned in Qur'an, even Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham, peace be upon him) was admonished for praying in favour of his father who was a polytheist and refused to enter fold of Islam and continued to worship the idols. Likewise, when Prophet Nuh (Noah, peace be upon him) was onboard his ship, his arrogant son refused to come onboard and was drowning in the flood. Prophet Nuh wanted to save his son despite his disobedience to enter into the fold of Islam and was let to drown. So much is the punishment of not accepting Oneness of Allah.

And it is heartening to note that more and more non-Muslims, specially Christians, are entering the fold of Islam in huge number all over the world. The false concept of Trinity is finally crumbling and new reverts are finding message of Qur'an more logical than man made concept of the 4th century. In many cases, parents which were hostile to reversion of their offspring to Islam, later too reverted to Islam when they felt the strong ambiance of Divine faith from their offspring. 

Please read the revert experiences of some of the reverts as given in our reference page: Entering the fold of Islam - The revert experiences.

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

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Compiled verses from Qur'an on specific subjects: Life
• Faith in Allah 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Follow @IslamUltimate

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

Read More

Has Qur'an really reached in you?

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

Has Qur'an reached in us? 

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Follow @IslamUltimate

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[Believers!] Tell them: We believe in God and Qur'an and which was revealed to Abraham and all later prophets

The priests, pundits and all religious scholars and imams defend the religions they belong to and are neither ready to accept the viewpoint of the other religions and believe in their prophets other than the one they follow. This happens because of very limited scope of viewpoint and the fear that if the later religions are believed in, their own religion will be left redundant. 

If we look back and follow the history of prophethood and the Divine religion they preached, it was the same as was embodied in all the four Divine Scriptures. It was also been seen that all religions stem from the father of all prophets, Ibraheem (Abraham, peace be upon him). The only difference being that every new Divine Scripture had something to add upon what was revealed previously. And the lineage of prophets after Abraham finally culminated with the last of the prophets, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and last of the Divine Scriptures, Qur'an. And unlike man made religious names like Jews and Christians, it is only Islam which addresses all believers who believe in One True God as Muslims, and no other name attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

And whenever the Prophet tried to talk to them (Jews and Christians) and asked them to join in the final religion, they would say (as mentioned in 135th verse of Surah 2. Al Baqarah): [This is the tradition of their forefathers] and, contrary to this, they insist: “Only if you become a Jew or a Christian that you will be guided.” [And it was commanded by Allah] to Tell them: Adopt, in fact, the religion of Abraham, who was fully inclined [to His Lord] and was not among the idolaters.

Muslims do not discriminate between the prophets of God – something which the People of other Books do. Muslims do not disprove a directive of God nor refute it and believe in all directives without any discrimination.

And next verse, 136th, then explains that we as Muslims believe in all the prophets right from Abraham, and his following prophets and Divine Scriptures given to them and that we do not We do not discriminate between anyone among them:

قُوۡلُوۡۤا اٰمَنَّا بِاللّٰہِ وَ مَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَیۡنَا وَ مَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلٰۤی اِبۡرٰہٖمَ وَ اِسۡمٰعِیۡلَ وَ اِسۡحٰقَ وَ یَعۡقُوۡبَ وَ الۡاَسۡبَاطِ وَ مَاۤ اُوۡتِیَ مُوۡسٰی وَ عِیۡسٰی وَ مَاۤ اُوۡتِیَ النَّبِیُّوۡنَ مِنۡ رَّبِّہِمۡ ۚ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَیۡنَ اَحَدٍ مِّنۡہُمۡ ۫ۖ وَ نَحۡنُ لَہٗ مُسۡلِمُوۡنَ

[Believers!] Tell them: “We have believed in God and that which has been revealed to us and that which was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and their children and that which was given to Moses and Jesus and to all other prophets by their Lord. We do not discriminate between anyone among them. [All of them are the messengers of God,] and to Him alone we submit.”

"We do not discriminate against any of them" means that we believe in all the Prophets of Allah and reject none. It is obvious that all the Prophets who came from Allah brought the same Truth and invited the people to the same Guidance and Right Way. Hence anyone who follows the Truth must accept all the Prophets. Those who accept one Prophet and reject the other really reject even the one whom they profess to accept. Had they followed the universal Guidance taught by Moses, Jesus and other Prophets, they could not have rejected any other Prophet (i.e. Muhammad, Allah's peace be upon him). As a matter of fact, they were not following the teachings of any Prophet, but merely professing to accept their own Prophets just because their fathers did so. Thus, their real religion was prejudice, race-worship and blind imitation of their forefathers.

Above is explanation by Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi. Let us now read what other eminent Muslims scholars in various time frames have explained this verse:

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: (The Muslim believes in all that Allah `revealed and all the Prophets)

Allah directed His believing servants to believe in what He sent down to them through His Messenger Muhammad and in what was revealed to the previous Prophets in general. Some Prophets Allah mentioned by name, while He did not mention the names of many others. Allah directed the believers to refrain from differentiating between the Prophets and to believe in them all. They should avoid imitating whomever Allah described as:

(And wish to make distinction between Allah and His Messengers (by believing in Allah and disbelieving in His Messengers) saying, "We believe in some but reject others,' and wish to adopt a way in between. They are in truth disbelievers) (4:150-151).

Al-Bukhari narrated that Abu Hurayrah said, "The People of the Book used to read the Torah in Hebrew and translate it into Arabic for the Muslims. The Messenger of Allah said:

(Do not believe the People of the Book, nor reject what they say. Rather, say, `We believe in Allah and in what was sent down to us.)'

Also, Muslim, Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "Mostly, the Messenger of Allah used to recite:

(We believe in Allah and that which has been sent down to us) (2: 136), and,

(We believe in Allah, and bear witness that we are Muslims (i.e. we submit to Allah)) (3:52) during the two (voluntary) Rak`at before Fajr.'

Abu Al-`Aliyah, Ar-Rabi` and Qatadah said, "Al-Asbat are the twelve sons of Jacob, and each one of them had an Ummah of people from his descendants. This is why they were called Al-Asbat.' Al-Khalil bin Ahmad and others said, "Al-Asbat among the Children of Israel are just like the tribes among the Children of Isma`il.'' This means that the Asbat are the various tribes of the Children of Israel, among whom Allah sent several Prophets. Moses said to the Children of Israel,

(Remember the favor of Allah to you: when He made Prophets among you, made you kings) (5:20). Also, Allah said,

(And We divided them into twelve tribes) (7:160).

Al-Qurtubi said, "Sibt is the group of people or a tribe all belonging to the same ancestors.' Qatadah said, "Allah commanded the believers to believe in Him and in all His Books and Messengers. '' Also, Sulayman bin Habib said, "We were commanded to believe in the (original) Torah and Injil, but not to implement them.''

Muhammad Asad Explanation:

(...Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and their descendants,) Lit., "the grandchildren" (al-asbat, sing. sibt) - a term used in the Qur'an to describe, in the first instance, Abraham's, Isaac's and Jacob's immediate descendants, and, consequently, the twelve tribes which evolved from this ancestry.

(We make no distinction between any of them) I.e., "we regard them all as true prophets of God".

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

Then the Muslims are called upon to acknowledge and declare an overall unity of faith, from that of Abraham right up to that of Jesus and Muhammad ﷺ. 

The principle of the unity and universality of faith, and the unity of all prophets and messengers all through the ages, is the cornerstone of Islamic faith. It lends legitimacy to the Muslim community’s claim to the legacy of Abraham and to the right of trusteeship for God’s religion in this world. It is this principle as a fundamental backbone of Islam that gives it its universal characteristic, which brings people together under the same banner, free of all prejudice or discrimination. It makes the Muslim community open to all people in a spirit of genuine love and peace.

This leads to the conclusion that Islam, in its broad, universal sense, is the true guidance. Its followers shall succeed and prosper while its opponents will never find a firm basis to stand upon. On the contrary, they will live in constant turmoil and confusion.

وَالْأَسْبَاطِ – Used in the Qur’an only to describe tribes connected to Jacob [Ya'qub] – appears 5 times in the Qur’an – of which 4 are immediately after name of Yaqub. 

 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.

Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Compiled verses from Qur'an on specific subjects: Religion

Keeping aside the many prejudices about Islam, more and more non-Muslims around the world are finally realizing that the religion of Islam has its universal applicability and it is the true monotheist religion which believes in Oneness of God without any associates or helpers. The mere notion of trinity and concept of father and son just because of miraculous birth of Prophet Eesa (Jesus, peace be upon him) cannot be relied upon, for God is above all human relations and does not need a family or a son to administer His fathomless universe.

Sürah 112.  Al Ikhlas spells out the Declaration of [God's] Oneness). Please read the complete Sürah and its explanation by a number of eminent Muslim scholars to understand the concept of Oneness of God, the very basis of Islam.

It is Divinely said in Surah 3. Al-i'Imran:19:

اِنَّ الدِّیۡنَ عِنۡدَ اللّٰہِ الۡاِسۡلَامُ ۟ وَ مَا اخۡتَلَفَ الَّذِیۡنَ اُوۡتُوا الۡکِتٰبَ اِلَّا مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَہُمُ الۡعِلۡمُ بَغۡیًۢا بَیۡنَہُمۡ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یَّکۡفُرۡ بِاٰیٰتِ اللّٰہِ فَاِنَّ اللّٰہَ سَرِیۡعُ الۡحِسَابِ

Behold, the only [true] religion in the sight of God is Islam [man's self-surrender unto Him]; and those who were vouchsafed revelation aforetime took, out of mutual jealousy, to divergent views [on this point] only after knowledge [thereof] had come unto them. But as for him who denies the truth of God's messages-behold, God is swift in reckoning!

This above stated verse, and many other verses, tell man to believe in One God and restrain from committing the sin of Shirk (that is adding associates and helper or calling someone His begotten son). And those who can really understand the Qur'an are entering into fold of Islam every day, singly or even with their families so as to follow a religion that is the answer to all their queries and presents a wholesome way of life (for which Islam is called Deen, not merely a religion). 

Islam is based on Qur'an, the word of God.  Many non-Muslims who later embraced Islam confided that when they listened to the recitation of the Qur'an, even though they did not now Arabic or what was being said, they felt a serenity and spiritual peace that they had never found before - filling the spiritual void of the soul by answering all of its questions, including - Why was it created? What after death?  Islam thus reassures the soul with hope and removes anxiety and fear of the future.

We have already shared a number of verses from Qur'an on religion in the context of Islam. Herein under we have combined all these posts to serve as a ready reckoner:

• [Believers!] Tell them: We believe in God and Qur'an and which was revealed to Abraham and all later prophets (Surah 2. Al-Baqara:136)
• There is no compulsion in the religion (Surah 2. Al-Baqara:256)
• Behold! the only [true] religion in the sight of God is Islam (Surah 3. Al-i'Imran:19)
• Hold fast together to the cable of Allah and be not divided (Surah 3. Al-i'Imran:103)
• Beware! Following the majority may mislead from path of Allah (Surah 6. Al-An'am:116)
• Surely you have nothing to do with those who make divisions in religion and become factions (Surah 6. Al-An'am:159)
• He it is Who has sent the True Religion to prevail over all religions  (Surah 9. At Tauba (The Repentance) :33) 
• Can a faithful child Disobey his parents? (Surah 29. Al-Ankabut:8)
• Divine Command about Universality of Islam (Surah 48. Al Fath (The Victory): 28) 
• The verse (of Qur'an) which speaks about the clarity of the message of Islam (Surah Al-Baiyina: 5)

In addition to the above shared verses, you may read our previous following posts on questions and answers about Islam:

• What is Islam? Is it mentioned in the Qur'an?
• What are Basic Articles of Faith of Muslims
• Why Islam is called a Deen, and not merely a Religion?
• What is the essence of Islamic Teachings in the light of Holy Quran?
• What is Status of Women in Islam?
• Basic differences between Sunni and Shia sects of Islam - a dispassionate comparison
• The Hijrah Calendar 
• Four Actions: Never part with these ever in your life
• Who are those  whose eyes overflow with tears

Herein under, we share a very informative lecture by eminent Muslim scholar Nouman Ali Khan in which he defines Islam in very plain and simple words:

We will keep adding more verses so as to make this collection wholesome.

For compiled verses for more specific subjects, please refer to our exclusive reference page: "Selected verses from Al-Qurʾān about a specific subject."

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

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and 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.

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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

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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Are we really returning to religion?

To some of my readers, the topic may seem confusing for many people are returning to religion these days.  Yes, they are, but are all of them returning to religion as a right or as a duty, or in other words is their approach of returning to religion positive or negative?

Before we listen to a lecture by one of the eminent scholars of Muslim world, let me begin with a small premise. There were times when believers were attracted to religion taking as their scared duty. Those were the times when wants of people were less and everyone ran to the masjid as a duty with no worldly needs in mind. But then things started to become difficult and it is now becoming very difficult every day to make one's ends meet. Now people seek their rights, want baraka in their earnings and promotions in the office as rewards for their hard work. The focus from duty-oriented return to religion has turned into a right oriented approach.  Most people are now asking for an increase in wealth, means of sustenance, and very few really stick to the rope of Allah and exhibit sabr / tolerance or patience for they know they will be rewarded for their duty oriented positive approach to religion.

Please note that this post may be more pertinent to the born Muslims rather than the reverts.

Which mode should be adopted: The duty oriented or the right oriented? Listen to an enlightening lecture by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan on this important subject:

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan (1 January 1925 – 21 April 2021) was an Islamic scholar and peace activist known for having written a commentary on the Quran and having translated it into contemporary English and talking on issues related to Islam.

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

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

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. 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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For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

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, 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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