All religions propagate peace, love, enjoining good and forbidding wrong. But in Islam, it is more than that mere pursuing good or forbidding bad. In fact it is incumbent upon every Muslim to enjoin good and make his/her utmost to prevent wrong. In the Holy Quran, at nine different places, Muslims have been asked to enjoin good and forbid wrong. In Arabic this is called as:
الأمر بالمَعْرُوف والنَهي عن المُنْكَر
(Amr bil Ma'roof wa Nahi ‘anil Munkar)
"You enjoin what is right and forbid what is reprehensible"
That is to say that in the first place every Muslim should strive his/her best to do good and resist from doing what is forbidden by Allah. If every Muslim sticks to good deeds, it will have tranquil effect in the society and others will be attracted towards doing good too, as there will be nothing bad to be seen around them. Doing good may not raise any eyebrows as it is something that one is doing himself and those not doing good may not be affected by such deeds, if they have no fear of Allah left in them. However, in some conditions, even a righteous person or a person who always enjoins good may pose a difficult situation for those doing otherwise. It is often seen that hardworking employees are seldom liked by dodgers and those shirking their duties to evade handwork and enjoy life as it comes to them without someone comparing them with the good employees. Even under such trying conditions, one must continue to do good no matter what - that is the minimum. Thus a Muslim must himself be good and encourage others to do good, either through setting personal example or by words of mouth - in Islam this duty is called "Amr bil Ma'roof", which means enjoining the right. The Arabic word Amr means instruct or urge (someone) to do something or to enjoin, while Ma'roof means ‘good, known, well-known, generally recognized, beneficence, approved by Shariah”. So Amr bil Ma’roof means ‘Enjoining the good, the approved” or "ordering for acknowledged virtues". At the same time, a Muslim must also refrain from violating the laws enunciated in the Holy Qur'an, and the laws of the land and of the state. Besides, he must also refrain from committing sins or acts which have been forbidden by Allah and as explained in the Holy Qur'an and elaborated by the Prophet Muhammad. It will only be then he will be justified to to prevent sins and corruption from the society he lives in. Islam calls this duty "Nahi ‘anil Munkar", which means forbidding the wrong. Munkar, which is the opposite of Ma’roof, which means ‘bad, evil, detestable, disagreeable, abominable, disapproved’. Thus Nahi ‘anil Munkar means ‘Forbidding evil, wrong, the disapproved’. Thus Amr bil Ma'roof and wa Nahi ‘anil Munkar together form one of the most important and foremost duties of every Muslim. It is in fact the rai·son d’être of the Muslim Ummah. But the problem arises when it comes to stopping someone who is doing bad things are following a wrong path. Here as A Muslim, we have have an obligation: To stop wrong being done or forbid its happening. This is something which is very difficult thing to do but as I said before it is the obligation which has been thrust upon us by the Almighty Allah. Now here there are three ways a Muslim can stop or forbid the wrong being committed:
If he is powerful and have guts to stand before a demagogue, he must stop the wrong be done forcibly. However, he must be perfectly sure that that what he is stopping is really wrong as sometimes apparent wrong may not be so in reality.
And if does not find him powerful enough to physically stop someone from doing wrong, he may forbid the wrong doer by tongue. This can be forceful command if one can muster enough courage or even a persuasive tone to convince the wrong doer that he is doing a wrong thing which may not only harm him, but may have a collateral effect in the society as well.
And the least one can do is that one must detest the act of wrong doing from his heart, which though is considered to be the sign of the weakest faith.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) has quoted to have said by Abu Sa'd al Khudri (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 79): "He who among you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do that, then he should do it with his tongue; and if he has not strength enough to do even that, then he should (at least abhor it) from his heart; and that is the least of faith."
Since forbidding or stopping wrong to take place is a difficult thing, more stress is laid not only on resisting temptations and lust of wrongdoing but also preventing it to happen by others. Those who can do it rise much above the others, the bystanders who cannot muster courage to prevent wrong being done. This is often seen that when two people are fighting or a wicked man is harassing the poor or threatening to give into his demands, most of the people watching these scene do not seem to mustering enough courage to stop him for fear of personal damage or hurt. But there is always someone who picks up the courage to stop the wrong being committed, though in many situation being personally harmed too. It is for such people, that Allah says in Surah Aal `Imran, Chapter 3, verse 110 of the Holy Qur'an:
“Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. If only the People of the Book had faith, it were best for them: among them are some who have faith, but most of them are transgressors.”.
The verse above clearly states that the earlier people too were asked to to enjoin what was good and forbid what was right, but they did not have faith and became transgressors. As I said before, each religions commands men to be good and stop wrong. But what happens is that while a messenger or prophet is with them or have gone away, the followers continue to observe what Divine message he had brought to them. But after a while, there rises a group of people who start to do what had been forbidden and stop doing what was commanded. This is what has been mentioned in the above quoted verse from the Holy Qur'an. The Muslims thus have an obligation on them to enjoin good and forbid wrong so as to be the best people as promised by Allah. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) had therefore stressed: "Never forget practicing "Nahi ‘anil Munkar" otherwise cruel will become your masters and then your prayers will not be accepted by Allah (SWT)." And how true these words have been as we see around us tyrants ruling some of the Muslim countries, usurping upon the rightful rights of their people and filling up their coffers. In Surah Al `Imran [Chapter 3 of Holy Qur'an], verse 104 Allah commands:
Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain felicity.
This commands clearly means that it is obligatory for every Muslim to confront what is wrong and stop it. So unless, righteous Muslims rise to save them and the society from the wrong being done to them, their conditions can never improve. Talking of Amr bil Ma'roof wa Nahi ‘anil Munkar in the prevalent environment, besides people of other faith, Muslims too have joined the practices that are tangent to teachings of Islam. All innovations (bid'at) and false social practices continue under social pressures. Bribery, backbiting, corruption, indecency, and dishonesty flourish under social approval. It is frightening to see how our real life matches the description given for the hypocrites.
“The hypocrite men and hypocrite women are of one another. They enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right and close their hands. They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them [accordingly]. Indeed, the hypocrites – it is they who are the defiantly disobedient”. (Surah At-Tawbah 9:67)
And it has literally become impossible to propagate Amr bil Ma'roof wa Nahi ‘anil Munkar. Under the influence of wave of freedom, if someone is asked to do good or someone is stopped from doing a wrong, one often comes across the notion: "This is my life, leave me alone." Even Muslim women who disregard the Islamic teachings of attire, are adamant to change for it is their life. Nevertheless, despite all objections and barriers, propagation of Amr bil Ma'roof wa Nahi ‘anil Munkar remains foremost duty of every Muslim and we have to take a start from within us - a family where the head of the family not only exhibits a righteous behaviour which should serve as a role model for his family, bu also caution them from doing wrong, while himself committing any wrong deed. This gives a birth to a righteous family and as every family grows, the society becomes clean of wrong doings and prosperous in doing good. The chain reaction thus should not stop, and a Muslim society is born of "best people" as envisioned by Allah Almighty. I hope this post leaves a positive impression on my readers to take up their scared duty to reform their rest of their lives to enjoin good and forbid wrong. Remember, in a world of moral relativism these permanent values are the hope for the whole mankind.
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.
Islam in Canada has not been very old, something like 150 years since. Although the first Muslims recorded were immigrants, they were not from a traditionally Muslim country. Agnes and James Love were of Scottish origin. James Jr., born in 1854, was the first Muslim born in Ontario. John and Martha Simon, another Muslim couple, migrated to Canada from the United States around 1871. The first Canada Census in 1871 recorded the presence of 13 Muslims. The Muslim population grew since specially after the influx of immigrants after the Second World War raised the number to 33 370 by 1971. The majority of immigrants have been highly educated, westernized professionals. They were mostly from Lebanon, Syria, Indonesia, Morocco, Palestine, Egypt, Iraq and the Indian-Pakistani-Bangladeshi subcontinent. From 1966 to 1970, thousands of unskilled labourers of Indo-Pakistani background immigrated to escape discrimination in East Africa and Britain. More recently, Muslim immigrants have included unskilled workers from southern Lebanon, Somalia and the Balkans fleeing their war-torn countries, as well as political refugees from Iran and Afghanistan. [1] According to Canada's 2011 National Household Survey, there were 1,053,945 Muslims in Canada, or about 3.2% of the population, making Islam the second largest religion in the country after Christianity. Currently, every province and territory has a notable Muslim community, with the largest existing in Toronto with over 250,000 Muslims residing in the city and over 20 mosques.[2]
The life as Muslim is as challenging in Canada as any other European country. While men generally get merged with the surrounding people, Muslim women wearing Hijab are singled out and have to bear the brunt of anti Islam sentiments: [5]
“There’s a constant tension for young Muslims — and particularly young Muslim girls — in trying to forge their own identities against the way they’re often represented,” says Jasmin Zine, a professor of sociology at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont., who studies Muslim youth in Canada. They may not remember 9/11, but they've spent their lives in its specter, she says, aware that a simple decision to go play paint ball could track as terrorism-in-training. Those tensions are everywhere: Wear a hijab or don’t wear a hijab? Pray in the hallways of school or skip it to hang out with friends? Respond to an Islamophobic comment on line or remain silent?
Fajar Khan, 15, says that when we have only girls around us, we are allowed to take off our hijab, and I've done that in the locker room many times. I've been told, “Wow, you have amazing long hair. Why don’t you take off that scarf?” I explain to them what the hijab means to me — it is my honour and my modesty — and how beautiful I feel with it on. I try to encourage my hijabi friends to play sports; I tell them it’s an amazing experience. It is harder to play with a hijab on, but it’s not that hard.
Marium Vahed, 16, says: You see a lot of Islamophobia out there. Sometimes, as a young Muslim girl who is still trying to understand my own religion, I think, “How should I refute that?” Often I find myself being a bystander, because I don’t know how to respond with something that will actually persuade them, or I know from experience that whatever I say won’t persuade them. And I don’t want to put myself out there in a way that’s so public, especially in this world where everything you say can come back to bite you.
The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's positive view of Muslims and the challenges they are facing due to backlash of anti Islam sentiments around the world with its fallout on Canadian people and supports Muslims, saying: Muslim Canadians contribute enormously to the country. That creates a different example of what’s acceptable. Recently I shared a post in which Justin Trudeau is seen convincing an anti Immigrant Canadian how immigrants have been useful to Canada and how the Canadian must accommodate them despite all negativeness about immigrants. [5]
Muslims are a very useful part of Canada and are always moving forward to carry the positive image of Islam. Many mosques participate in the Doors Open event, inviting other Canadians To 'Visit My Mosque' And Ask Them Anything. These events event aim to dispel misconceptions, foster an appreciation of the Muslim faith in Canada, and celebrate the philanthropy of the Canadian-Muslim community throughout the year. Author's Note: The data above has been collected from the references as given below. IF any one 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. "We have nothing to hide," Shafiq Ebrahim, vice-president of Jaffari Islamic Centre in Thornhill, Ont., told HuffPost Canada by phone. "We aren't a secret society or mysterious in any way. We're law-abiding people who pay taxes and love our neighbourhood and want to build genuine relationships here." [4] Joel Harden, an NDP MPP for Ottawa Centre who toured the Ottawa Mosque, left some encouraging remarks on Twitter: Took my daughter for a visit with Ahmed, Fatma, Leen and Salma at the Ottawa Mosque for #VisitMyMosque day. I am so proud these folks are our neighbours. In the #ottstorm the @OMA_Mosque and other Ottawa Muslim groups fed over 5000 people. @canadianmv #OttawaCentre. How is it being a Muslim in Canada and the challenges they face that accrue out of the notion Islamophobia, watch the video below:
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.
The Holy Qur'an is the fountainhead of Divine guidance for every Muslim. This is a Divine Holy Scripture that was revealed unto Prophet Muhammad ( ) by Allah Almighty through His most trusted angel Jibraeel (Gabriel) over a time period of 23 years. The Holy Qur'an contains commandments and guidelines for the Muslims to lead a life as wanted by our Creator, Allah the Almighty. However, this is most unfortunate that this Holy Book of Guidance which was revealed for us to READ, for the word Qur'an literally means "the recitation" in Arabic, has been left out of our daily lives, duly wrapped in the upper most shelves of our cupboards. The chaos we witness in the Muslim world today is that we have stopped seeking guidance from Holy Qur'an and depend more on books written by humans to lead our lives. A lot many of us are fond of reading books like so many facets of successful men, how to become rich, how to become famous, or how to become a thriving entrepreneur and like but fail to realize that many such attributes and traits of successful men are given in the Holy Qur'an, but we never ventured to read, understand and implement the Divine guidance contained in the Holy Qur'an. In fact there is a difference of perception of a successful man in our ordinary lives and in a life prescribed by us in the Holy Qur'an. When we pursue worldly goals, it gives us success in a limited sense. One who attains the heights of of one's professional life can boast of being a successful man or businessman, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he is successful in life. But these short lived wordily gains do not help us to gain the best of both worlds. what we have today here, our wealth, our high ranks of offices and business community will be of no use when death begets us. Because from then on a life of different kind a a nature would start.
Those who lead a life keeping in view the life in the hereafter and follow the dictates of Divine commandments given in the Holy Quran are the ones who will be blessed when all ends and a new eternal life commences. Thus true definition of a successful person is one who has the consciousness to protect his soul, who comes to the Quran for guidance and finds it, and who then progresses to adopt the fruits of that guidance, for it is the Holy Qur'an that has an answer and antidote for every inconvenience that a man may encounter and come out of the difficulties.
“Take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it that perhaps you may become righteous.” (Surah Al Baqarah 2:63)
But the question remains: How often do we really READ to find out what is in it and understand the Divine commandments and guidelines given therein to live our life to being successful in this life and the hereafter?
Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness. And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood, and all that Allah has forbidden). And those who pay the Zakat . And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts) except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, for then, they are free from blame. But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors. Those who are faithfully true to their Amanat (all the duties which Allah has ordained, honesty, moral responsibility and trusts etc.) and to their covenants. And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory congregational) Salawat (prayers) (at their fixed stated hours). These are indeed the inheritors. Who shall inherit the Firdaus (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever. — Qur’an Al-Muminoon 23 :1–11]
Those who really care to read and understand the Holy Qur'an come to know the true meaning of faith, worship and social responsibilities. While faith and worship cleans one spiritually, the awareness of one's social responsibilities make him a better human being and a helper for others. In the Holy Qur'an word Falah is used for success. In Surah Al 'Imran Allah says: “There has to be a nation among you summoning to the good, bidding what is right, and forbidding what is wrong. It is they who are the felicitous.” (3: 104) So if we as individuals seek goodness and act what is right and abstain from what is wrong, we will be successful not in this world but in the hereafter too. It is time now that we take out the beautifully wrapped Qur'an from the cupboards and take time to read and understand it every day to live a life of Falah - the eternal success.
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.
Sūrah Muhammad is the forty seventh Surah with 38 ayahs with four rukus, part of the 26th Juzʼ of the Holy Qur'an. The Surah is named after the last of the prophets of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) - the name of the Holy Prophet is mentioned in the second verse of the chapter. Besides this Surah, the mention of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is made at three other different places in the Holy Quran:
1- Surah aal Imran (3:144) - وَمَامُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ - - and Muhammad is except a Messenger, many Messengers passed away before him.. 2 - Surah al Ahzab (33:40) مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ - Muhammad is not the father of your men but he is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the Prophets).. 3 - Surah al Fat-h (48:29) مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللَّهِ - Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
In Surah al-Saff 61:6 - Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) has been referred to as "Ahmad" as mentioned by Prophet Eesa (Jesus, peace be upon him):
وَمُبَشِّرًا بِرَسُولٍ يَأْتِي مِن بَعْدِي اسْمُهُأَحْمَدُ - [Jesus gave the good news of Prophet Muhammad] bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad."
The contents of this Surah testify that it was sent down after the Hijrah to Madinah after the revelation of Surahs Al-Hajj and Al-Baqarah in which fighting was enjoined, but before the battle of Badr:
Verse 23:39 of Surah Al Haj, is the first verse of the Quran in which "permission to fight" was given in the month of Zil-Hajj in the first year after Hijrah according as per scholars: "Permission (to fight) has been granted to those for they have been wronged.78 Verily Allah has the power to help them."
Then the "command to fight" was given in (verse 190 of Surah Al-Baqarah) in Rajab or Shaban of A.H. 2: "Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you but do not transgress, for Allah does not love transgressors."
Thus this Surah mainly focuses on the Battle of Badr - the first battle between the believers (Muslims) and the non believers (pagans of Makkah). Therefore one may find the language used in this Surah to be rather strong in tone for its purpose was to arouse the Muslims to take arms and fight the non believers who had mustered a strong army with a view to annihilating the Muslims. This Surah is almost an entire explanation of the last ayah of the previous Surah; Ahqaf (46) - a Makkan Surah.
So bear with patience, (O Prophet), even as the Messengers endowed with firmness of resolve (before you) bore with patience, and do not be hasty in their regard. The Day when they see what they had been warned against they will feel as though they had remained in the world no more than an hour of a day. (The Truth has been conveyed.) Will any, then, suffer perdition except those who disobey?
Besides this Surah, we also find commentary on Battle of Badr in Surah Anfal (8) while Surah at-Tawba has a commentary on the last of battles in the seerah (Fat-h Makkah - the capture of Makkah, and Tabuk). Hence, Surah Muhammad is a introduction to the first victory - Badr. And then Surah al-Fat-h (49) which is about the next victory of al Hudaybiah. Let us now read explanation of the Surah segmented into portions as per the subject matter:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful"
The first verse of the Surah begins with the words "aladheena Kafaroo" (past tense/disbelieve disbelieved ) rahter than - "aladheena yaKfuroo" - those who disbelieve (present-future tense) - which would mean that their disbelief may change in the future. By using past tense - it is assuring that they will remain firm upon their disbelief for certain.
1 [ اَلَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا وَصَدُّوۡا عَنۡ سَبِيۡلِ اللّٰهِ اَضَلَّ اَعۡمَالَهُمۡ ] Those who disbelieved and debarred (others) from Allah's Way, Allah rendered their works fruitless.
Thereafter the verb sadd (from which saddu of the original is derived) is used both as a transitive and as an intransitive verb in Arabic. Thus, the verse means “they themselves refrained from adopting Allah’s Way” as well as “they prevented others from adopting this way.”
2 And those who believe and do good, and believe in that which has been revealed to Muhammad - and it is the Truth from their Lord - He will remove their evil from them and improve their condition.
In the verse 2 above, although after saying "those who believe" there was no need to say "and accepted that which has been sent down to Muhammad", for belief by itself implies believing in the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and in the teachings sent down to him, yet making a separate mention of it is particularly meant to assert this. After the appointment of Muhammad (ﷺ) to Prophet-hood, a person’s belief in Allah and the Hereafter and the former Messengers and the Books cannot be beneficial until he also believes in him and the teachings brought by him. This explanation was necessary because after the emigration, the Muslims had also to deal with those who recognized and accepted all the requirements of the faith but refused to acknowledge and accept the Prophet-hood of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
3 That is because those who disbelieve follow falsehood, and those who believe follow the Truth from their Lord. Thus does Allah set forth their descriptions for men.
In the verse 3 above, mention of two parties has been made to make them aware of their positions. One party insists on following falsehood; therefore, Allah has brought all its endeavors to naught. And the other party has adopted obedience of the Truth; therefore, Allah has purified it of its evils and corrected its condition.
The verse 4 is the most important verse which calls on the believers to fight those who have wronged them since proclamation of Islam.
4 So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, smite the necks; then, when you have overcome them, make (them) prisoners, and afterwards (set them free) as a favour or for ransom till the war lay down its burdens. That (shall be so). And if Allah please, He would certainly exact retribution from them, but that He may try some of you by means of others. And those who are slain in the way of Allah, He will never allow their deeds to perish.
The words of this verse as well as the context in which it occurs clearly show that it was sent down after the revelation of the command for fighting and before the actual fighting began. The words, “So when you meet (in battle) those who disbelieve”, indicate that the fighting has not yet taken place and the Muslims are being instructed that when it does take place, what they should do. Here it may be pertinent to mention that The permission to fight the infidels was first given in Surah Al-Haj 22:39: "Permission (to fight) has been granted to those for they have been wronged. Verily Allah has the power to help them." However, it was in Surah Al Baqarah, verses 190 that the command to fight was given: "Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you but do not transgress, for Allah does not love transgressors."
5 He will guide them and improve their condition.
Guidance here obviously implies guiding to Paradise; setting the condition right implies that before their entry into Paradise, Allah will adorn them with robes of honor and remove every filth which had polluted them in the life of the world; and the third stage means that even in this world they have been told through the Quran and the Prophet (peace be upon him) what kind of Paradise it is that has been prepared for them. When they enter that Paradise they will enter a place with which they will already be familiar and they will come to know that they have been blessed precisely with the same that had been promised to them in the world. The verse 6 below means that this is the profit that the martyrs falling in the way of Allah will gain. Its three grades have been stated: That Allah will guide them, That He will set their condition right and That He will admit them into the Paradise with which He has acquainted them beforehand.
6. And make them enter the Garden, which He has made known to them.
7. O you who believe, if you help Allah, He will help you and make firm your feet.
If you help Allah: If you participate in the work of raising Allah’s Word with your life and wealth. At various places the Qur'an characterizes man's participation in the effort to establish the supremacy of Islam as 'helping Allah'. This needs a little explanation. Allah has endowed man with the freedom of will and choice, with the result that He does not resort to His omnipotent will to compel man either to do certain things or to refrain from others. He rather leaves man free to adopt the course that pleases him - be it that of either belief or unbelief, of either obedience or disobedience. Allah prefers to instruct man by means of persuasive argument and admonition, so as to bring home to him that even though he is free to disbelieve, disobey and defy the Will of God, his own interest and well-being lie in serving and obeying his Creator. Now here are few verses about the about the disbelievers. It has been said that they are deprived of Allah's support and guidance: none of their designs will succeed in their conflict with the believers, and they will meet a most evil fate both in this world and in the Hereafter. They thought they had achieved a great success by driving the Prophet of Allah out of Makkah, but in fact by this they had hastened their own doom.
8. And those who disbelieve, for them is destruction, and He will destroy their works. 9. That is because they hate that which Allah reveals, so He has rendered their deeds fruitless.
10. Have they not traveled in the land and seen what was the end of those before them? Allah destroyed them. And for the disbelievers is the like thereof.
The verse below has two meanings: (1) The same destruction that was met by those disbelievers now awaits these disbelievers, who are not accepting the invitation of Muhammad (peace be upon him). (2) The ruin of those people does not end with the torment of the world; the same doom also awaits them in the Hereafter.
11. That is because Allah is the patron of those who believe, and because the disbelievers have no patron.
The verse 11 is in reference to Battle of Uhud. After being wounded when the Prophet (ﷺ) was resting in a hill pass with a few companions, leader of the pagans of Makkah Abu Sufyan shouted: We have Uzza and there is no Uzza for you. Thereupon the Prophet (ﷺ) told his companions to respond, saying: Our Protector and helper is Allah, and you have no protector and helper at all. This reply of the Prophet was derived from this very verse.
12. Surely Allah will make those who believe and do good enter Gardens wherein flow rivers. And those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as the cattle eat, and the Fire is their abode.
The second part of the verse 12 above is for the disbelievers. That is, just as an animal eats and does not think where from the food it eats has come, who has created it, and what rights of the creator are imposed on it for providing it with food, so are these people also eating and have no higher values or ideals beyond eating. The Prophet (ﷺ) was sorely distressed on leaving Makkah. When he was compelled to emigrate, he had stood facing the city outside it and said: O Makkah, you are the most beloved city in the sight of Allah, and I have the greatest love for you out of all the cities of Allah. If the polytheists had not driven me out, I would never have left you.
13 And how many a town, more powerful than thy town which has driven thee out - We destroyed them, so there was no helper for them.
Thus in verse 13 it has been said: After driving you out of the city the people of Makkah think that they have achieved a great success, whereas, in fact, they have hastened only their own ruin by this evil act. The style of the verse clearly indicates that it must have been revealed soon after the Hijrah.
14 Is then he who has a clear argument from his Lord like him to whom his evil conduct is made fair-seeming; and they follow their low desires.
That is, how is it possible that when the Prophet and his followers have been guided by God to a clear and straight path and they have started following it in the light of full knowledge and vision, they should walk along, with those who are still persisting in their ways of ignorance, who regard their deviation as guidance and their evildoing as a praiseworthy thing, and who judge on the basis of their personal desires, and not by argument as to what is the truth and what is falsehood. Now, neither can the lives of these two groups be alike in this world nor can their end be alike in the Hereafter. The verse 15 paints an inviting landscape of Paradise, which is being promised to the believers who remain steadfast in their pursuits to bow to the Divine commandments and teachings of the Prophet of Allah.
15 A parable of the Garden which the dutiful are promised: Therein are rivers of water not altering for the worse, and rivers of milk whereof the taste changes not, and rivers of wine delicious to the drinkers, and rivers of honey clarified; and for them therein are all fruits and protection from their Lord. (Are these) like those who abide in the Fire and who are made to drink boiling water, so it tends their bowels asunder?
The milk mentioned above will be unique and pleasant to drink. In a Hadith directly reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him), it has been explained thus: It will not be the milk squeezed from the milk glands of animals. That is, it will be the milk which Allah will bring out in the form of springs from the earth and cause it to flow into canals of Paradise. About this natural milk it has been said: Its flavor will not change at all; that is, it will not give even the slightest offensive smell that is found in every kind of milk squeezed from the animal milk glands. The verse 16 below concerns the hypocrites:
16. And there are those of them who seek to listen to thee, till, when they go forth from thee, they say to those who have been given knowledge: What was it that he said just now? These are they whose hearts Allah has sealed and they follow their low desires.
It addresses those disbelievers and hypocrites and unbelieving followers of the former Books, who sat in the assemblies of the Prophet (peace be upon him), listened to his discourses, or the verses of the Quran, but since in their hearts they were averse to the themes presented by him, they would understand nothing in spite of listening to him. Therefore, when they came out, they would ask the Muslims: What was he saying just now?
17 And those who follow guidance, He increases them in guidance and grants them their observance of duty.
That is, the same revelations about which the disbelievers and hypocrites ask: What was the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying just now? become a cause of further guidance for the rightly guided people, and from the same assembly from which these unfortunate people rise without gaining anything, the fortunate ones return with a new treasure of knowledge and insight. is, Allah grants them the grace to develop in themselves the kind of piety Taqwa that they have the capability to develop.
18 Wait they for aught but the Hour that it should come upon them of a sudden? Now tokens thereof have already come. For how will they have their reminder, when it comes on them?
That is, as far as the explanation and clarification of the truth is concerned; it has been explained well by argument and reasoning, the miraculous discourses of the Quran, the pure character of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the revolution in the lives of his companions. Now, are these people awaiting that Resurrection itself should take place and then only they will believe?
19 So know that there is no God but Allah and ask protection for thy sin and for the believing men and the believing women. And Allah knows your moving about and your staying (in a place).
20 The believers used to say: “Why is a surah (that would ordain fighting) not revealed?” But when a definitive surah was revealed wherein fighting was mentioned, you saw that those in whose hearts there was a sickness looked at you as though they were about to faint at the approach of death. Pity on them!
The verse 20 is in view of the conditions through which the Muslims were passing and the attitude that the disbelievers had adopted towards Islam and the Muslims. The believers were generally of the opinion that they should be permitted to fight even before fighting was actually enjoined by Allah. Rather they were asking Allah’s command in this regard impatiently and were asking again and again: Why are we not permitted to fight these wicked people? But the condition of the people who had joined the ranks of the Muslims hypocritically was quite different from that of the believers. They held their lives and their properties as dearer to themselves than Allah and His religion, and were not prepared to risk them at any cost. Therefore, as soon as fighting was enjoined, they were clearly sorted out from the true believers. Until the time when fighting had not been enjoined, the hypocrites and the common believers could not be distinguished one from the other. The hypocrites offered the Prayer just as the true believers did, they observed the Fast just like them, and practiced every article of the faith as made no demand of a sacrifice on them. But when the time came for making the supreme sacrifice of life for the sake of Islam, their hypocrisy was exposed and their veil of false display of the faith was rent asunder. In Surah An-Nisa, their this state has been described thus: Have you marked those to whom it was said: Withhold your hands a while and establish the salat and pay the zakat? Now that the fighting has been enjoined for them, some of them fear the people as they should fear Allah, or even more than that. They say: Our Lord, why have You enjoined fighting for us? Why have You not given us a brief respite?
21 Obedience and a gentle word (was proper). Then when the affair is settled, it is better for them if they remain true to Allah. 22 But if you turn away, you are sure to make mischief in the land and cut off the ties of kinship! 23 Those it is whom Allah has cursed, so He has made them deaf and blinded their eyes.24 Do they not reflect on the Qur'an? Or, are there locks on the hearts? 25 Surely those who turn back after guidance is manifest to them, the devil embellishes it for them and lengthens false hopes for them. 26 That is because they say to those who hate what Allah has revealed We will obey you in some matters. And Allah knows their secrets.27 But how will it be when the angels cause them to die, smiting their faces and their backs? 28 That is because they follow that which displeases Allah and are averse to His pleasure, so He makes their deeds fruitless. 29 Or do those in whose hearts is a disease think that Allah will nor bring forth their spite?
30 And if We please, We could show them to thee so that thou shouldst know them by their marks. And certainly thou canst recognize them by the tone of (their) speech. And Allah knows your deeds. 31 And certainly We shall try you, till We know those among you who strive hard, and the steadfast, and manifest your news. 32 Surely those who disbelieve and hinder (men) from Allah's way and oppose the Messenger after guidance is quite clear to them, cannot harm Allah in any way, and He will make their deeds fruitless.
33 O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and make not your deeds vain.
34 Surely those who disbelieve and hinder (men) from Allah's way, then die disbelievers, Allah will not forgive them.
To better understand the verse 35 below, one should bear in mind the fact that when this discourse was revealed only a handful of the Muslims consisting of a couple of hundreds of the Muhajirin and Ansar living in the small town of Madinah were upholding the standard of Islam and they were not only faced by the powerful Quraish but also by the whole of pagan Arabia.
35 So, be not faint-hearted and do not cry for peace. You shall prevail. Allah is with you and will not bring your works to nought.
Such were the conditions when they were exhorted not to show weakness and not to beg (the enemy) for peace, but to make preparations for the decisive conflict. This does not mean that the Muslims should never negotiate for peace, but it means that in a state like this it is not right to initiate peace negotiations when it shows the Muslims’ weakness, for it will still further embolden the enemy. The Muslims should first establish their superiority in power and strength; then if they negotiate peace there will be no harm.
36 The life of this world is but idle sport and play, and, if you believe and keep your duty, He will give you your reward, and He does not ask of you your wealth.
37 If He should ask you for it and press you, you will be niggardly, and He will bring forth your malice.
In conclusion, the Muslims have been invited to spend their wealth in the cause of Allah. Although at that time they were economically very weak, the problem that they confronted was the very survival of Islam and the Muslims.
38. Behold! you are those who are called to spend in Allah's way, but among you are those who are niggardly; and whoever is niggardly, is niggardly against his own soul. And Allah is Self-Sufficient and you are needy. And if you turn back He will bring in your place another people, then they will not be like you.
The importance and delicacy of the problem demanded that the Muslims should not only risk their lives for safeguarding themselves and their Faith from the dominance of disbelief and for exalting Allah's Religion but should also expend their economic resources as far as possible in the preparations for war. Therefore, they were clearly warned to the effect. Anyone who adopted a niggardly attitude at the time, would not, in fact, harm Allah at all, but would result in his own destruction, for Allah does not stand in need of help from men. If one group of men shirked offering sacrifices in the cause of His Religion, Allah would remove it and bring another group in its place.
You may now like to listen to Arabic recitation of Sūrah Muḥammad with English subtitles:
You may refer to our post "114 Chapters (Sūrahs) of the Holy Qur'an" for translation, meaning and summary of other chapters (Though not complete but building up from 30th Part backwards for chapters in 30th Part are shorter and easier to understand).
Photo| References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | An effort has been made to gather explanation of the surahs of the Holy Qur'an from authentic souses and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the Surah. However, those wanting detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to sites the references of which are given above.
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Today while going through the traffic source of my posts, I noticed Saint Lucia beside many other countries from which readers have accessed my posts. Frankly speaking I newer knew that there were any Muslims on this small Caribbean island. But the traffic source led me to find about life of Muslims there and I was happy to know theta there does exists a small Muslim community on the island. So I dedicate this post to that lone someone from Saint Lucia who has led me to write this post.
Since many may not knowing where this Saint Lucia is located, let me share its geographical location first. It is a sovereign island country in the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 617 km2 (238 square miles) and reported a population of 165,595 in the 2010 census. Its capital is Castries. [1] There is a very small Muslim community in St Lucia, mainly made of converts or locals, who are of African descent. There have also been some immigrants from the Middle East, South Asia and other Caribbean countries. It was only in 1990s that Muslim presence was felt on this tiny island. Abdul Rabb is considered to be the first of having the presence of a Muslim felt on the Island. Sine he dressed differently from the locals, the locals would often inquire him of his being unique and he found this a God given opportunity to invite people to Islam. Due to good conduct of Muslims on the island, each month on an average 1-2 persons revert to Islam, mainly males. [2]
Thus by and by the Muslim community has started its presence felt on the island. There is no formal mosque in Saint Lucia, but there a few prayer rooms, called Musalla where Muslims get together for their prayers and other religious events. There are three Musalla in Castries the capital and one in Vieux Fort another town. The Muslims have registered Islam organization, which organize activities such as Eid Salah and Taraweh prayers during the month of Ramadan. At individual level, small groups arrange Islamic classes for children. While reading a post [2], I was amazed to find that students as far away as Pakistan and India are taking admission in Saint Lucia to study medicine and other branches of science. Majority of the Muslims are engaged in the construction industry either skilled as in masons, carpenters or semi skilled laborers. However, some Syrian Muslims run clothing and shoe stores, while others sell incense oils and perfumes. Those seeking Halal food can find at Y & J Cafe, Wiliam Peter Blvd. in island's capital Castries.[2] Watch this beautiful video "Islam with a Caribbean Flavour" which shows the life of Muslim community in Saint Lucia and which also plead for donation for construction of first mosque on the island:
Author's Note: The data above has been collected from the references as given below. IF any one 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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Faith in oneness of Allah is the foremost pillar of Islam. Although all Divine religions since the Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) have revolved round the concept of oneness of Allah, there seems to have been some deviation in the concept of belief regarding God in Christianity. The concept of Trinity negates the very concept of oneness of Allah and divide the concept of God into three. Islam and followers of Old Testament (Torah) however strongly believe in oneness of one trued God, called in Arabic: Allah. Thus the basic “doctrine of Oneness” (of Allah) is Islam’s most fundamental concept of Islam, called Tawheed. Surah Al Ikhlas, the 112th chapter of the Holy Qur'an clearly spells out the Declaration of Oneness of Allah, clearly dispelling any notion of Him being begotten or born:
Say (O'Muhammad), “He is Allah, (the) One (Ahad - In Arabic Ahad means One). Allah, the Absolute. He begets not, nor was He begotten;And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.”
The above surah lays down the foundation of the concept of absolute monotheism and dispels any notion of there being any equal or comparable to Allah and amply clarifies there is only Allah, like the God of Jews. But not like the God of Christians which also shares the title with two other. This, however, does not mean that the three leading religions of Jews, Christians and Muslims worship a different God , because all religions believe in One True God, though with passage of time the term has assumed different meanings due to distortions and man made beliefs and interpretations. We Muslims thus believe that there is no plurality of gods, as the polytheist society of Makkah believed before the advent of Islam. It also negates the claims of the pagans of Makkah that angels are the off springs of Allah. The surah clearly states that Allah is far above being the progeny of anybody or having any offspring. Thus He has no son or father. He is eternal ,without beginning or end. He is such a unique being that there is nobody like Him or equal to Him in any manner whatsoever. As for the Three in One concept, Allah clearly says in the Holy Quran:
They have certainly disbelieved who say, " Allah is the third of three." And there is no god except one God. And if they do not desist from what they are saying, there will surely afflict the disbelievers among them a painful punishment. [Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:73]
The Holy Quran thus clearly asserts the existence of a single and absolute truth that transcends the world; a unique, independent and indivisible being, who is independent of the entire creation. Allah, is a universal God, rather than a local, tribal, or parochial one for Allah is an absolute, who integrates all affirmative values and brooks no evil. The concept of Tawheed unequivocally holds that God is One (Al-ʾAḥad) and Single (Al-Wāḥid). The Arabic term Tawheed is used to describe this belief in the absolute Oneness of God. Tawheed comes from an Arabic word meaning "unification" or "oneness"—it is a complex term with many depths of meaning in Islam. The word Tawheed is derived from the Arabic verb wahhada, which means "He made it one; or called it one". The Arabs say "Wāḥid, Ahad and Waheed," all meaning one. Allah is Waahid, meaning that He has no rivals or peers in any way. So Tawheed means knowing Allah is One, with none like unto Him. Whoever does not acknowledge Allah in these terms and does not describe Him as being One with no partner or associate does not believe in Tawheed. Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran [Surah Al Baqarah 2:255]:
“Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever- Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi (literally, a footstool) extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.”
Tawheed in nutshell is analogous to the monotheistic concept of God in Judaism, as declared in the Shema Yisrael, the Jewish declaration of faith. Tawheed is also analogous to Christian Unitarianism adhered to by a minority of Christian denominations which reject a trinitarian position of God in Christianity, which is in contrast to most Christian faiths that ascribe to the Trinity (God as three persons in one being; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
Prophet Muhammad Peace be upon him) has also stressed the concept of Tawheed in Saheeh al-Bukhaari (7372)
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: When the Prophet sent Mu`adh to Yemen, he said to him, You are going to a nation from the people of the Scripture, so let the first thing to which you will invite them, be the Tawheed of Allah. If they learn that, tell them that Allah has enjoined on them, five prayers to be offered in one day and one night. And if they pray, tell them that Allah has enjoined on them Zakat of their properties and it is to be taken from the rich among them and given to the poor. And if they agree to that, then take from them Zakat but avoid the best property of the people.
Therefore it is mandatory for all Muslims, specially the reverts, to know the concept of Tawheed and FIRMLY believe in Tawheed - To acknowledge Oneness of Allah, who is away from likeness and numeration and he is not divisible even in imagination. Allah must be recognized as The Lord or The Master and that He is so absolutely pure and above nature that nothing can be added to or subtracted from His being.
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Islam was revealed at a time when most of the people of Arabia were illiterate. Even the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) the last messenger and prophet of Allah was illiterate. So whenever, a revelation was made to him by Allah through His angel Jibraeel (Gabriel), the Prophet of Allah would recite the recently revealed verses to His trusted companions who would remember these by heart. And thus a time came when a large number of companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had remembered the entire Quran by heart. And when the second caliph Umer decided to preserve the Holy Quran in textual form, the hundreds of Huffaz or the memorizes of the Holy Quran were his main source of collecting the bits and pieces besides some written verses on camel skins and cloth. Although, after compilation of the Holy Quran in the text form, reading of the Holy Quran became easy, the remembering of the Holy Quran has never ceased and today a sizable number of Muslims are the Huffaz, plural of Hafiz (someone who remembers the Holy Quran by heart). The memorizing of the complete Holy Quran which comprises 114 Surahs (chapters), containing 6,236 verses (comprising some 80,000 words or 330,000 individual characters) is indeed a gigantic feat, yet many make an effort to memorize it and are generally successful. It takes something between three to six years to memorize the entire Quran. It is generally the belief of Muslims that anyone who knows the Quran by heart and follows the lawful and the banned according to the Holy Quran, he will be sent to Heaven by Allah. Those who cannot memorize the whole of the Holy Quran, do make an endeavour to memorize as much as they can, specially the shorter surahs of the 30th Part / Juz of the Holy Quran. Huffaz are highly respected within the Islamic community. They are privileged to use the title "Hafiz" before their names.
While memorizing the Holy Quran by adults is a dream of a majority, there are large number of parents who want their children to be Huffaz even at the very early tender ages. Thus it may not be surprising to see even small children are in forefronts to become Hafiz and memorize the Holy Quran with extreme religious zeal and fervour. In January 2018, Turkey sent 2000 children to perform Umrah on state expense who had the honour of memorizing the Holy Quran. This post today is also to also to endorse and commend a you boy from Algeria who at this tender age has memorized the Holy Quran and has the honour of being the youngest Hafiz of Quran today. Farah, who is hardly three years of age has his name added to encyclopedia Guinness Book of Records for memorizing the Holy Quran. Watch the video below of his final test for setting the world record.
This is something very unique among all other faiths where the Holy Scripture is preserved not in text form but into the hearts of the believers as young as Hafiz Abdur Rahman Farah of Algeria. He is now a role model for many Muslim children around the world to follow his suit.
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