Message for Muslims

Surah 11 Hud

The Qurraish had rejected Muhammad as an impostor, and the Quran as a forgery. Muhammad gives an account of several alleged Arab prophets (Hud, Salih and Shu’aib) who were sent to reclaim their people from idolatry. Like himself, they were all charged with imposture and such conduct was always followed by divine punishment on the unbelievers. The story of Hud is told in suras 7, 11, 26, 46 and 49, some of his details are recorded in the relevant verses in this chapter. This chapter Hud and its sisters (suras 21, 56, 69, 78, 81 or 101) are known as the Terrific Suras.’ It was said to have been written when the opposition was very strong. Tradition relates that one day Abu Bakr noted that Muhammad had black hair and yet his beard had more white hairs than his head. Muhammad gave the reason for his grey beard – ‘Hud and her sisters have hastened my white hair.’ As this Sura is very much a repetition of Sura 7 Al-Araf, quotations will be few.

Muhammad charged with imposture forging the Quran

“Or they may say, He forged it, Say, Bring ye then ten suras forged, like unto it, and call (to your aid) whomsoever ye can, other than Allah! If ye speak the truth! If then they (your false gods) answer not your (call), know ye that this revelation is sent down with the kno wledge of Allah, and that there is no god but He! will ye even then submit (to Islam)? (v 13, 14)

It should be noticed that the challenge in this passage and in other similar passages is not to produce a book which shall equal the Quran in points of poetry or rhetoric but rather in the importance of the subject-matter. Muhammad well knew that his references to the divine unity and future retribution were far superior to the conceptions of the deity in the idolatrous Arab literature.

As far as the standard of literature is concerned we may say that the argument is not satisfactory. In almost every country there is a book which is confessedly the best in the language. No other Sanskrit poet equalled Kalidasa; no other Greek poet can be compared with Homer; among English poets Shakespeare is unrivalled. Suppose Shakespeare claimed inspitation for his work, and said to the people in proof of it, ‘Bring ten dramas like unto mine forged by yourselves,’ would this be accepted? A poets own opinion of his writings must be received with caution.

Nothing special about Muhammad

But the chiefs of the unbelievers among his people said: “We see (in) thee nothing but a man like ourselves: Nor do we see that any follow thee but the meanest among us, in judgement immature: Nor do we see in you (all) any merit above us: in fact we thing ye are liars!” (v 27)

While Muhammad and some of his followers like, Abu Bakr had connections with influential families, the majority were gathered from the slaves and lower class of Arabs.

A son of Noah refuses to enter the ark

“So the ark floated with them on the waves like mountains, and Noah called out to his son, who had separated himself (from the rest): O my son! embark with us, and be not with the unbelievers! The son replied: I will betake myself to some mountain: it will save me from the water. Noah said: This day nothing can save, from the command of Allah, any but those on whom He hath mercy! And the waves came between them, and the son was among those overwhelmed in the flood” (v 42-43).

In Genesis 7:13 no son of Noah was drowned in the flood.

Hud rejected

“To the ‘Ad People (We sent) Hud, one of their own brethren. He said: O my people! worship Allah! ye have no other god but Him. (your other gods) ye do nothing but invent! They said: O Hud! No clear (sign) that hast thou brought us, and we are not the ones to desert our gods on thy word! Nor shall we believe in thee! We say nothing but that some of our gods may have seized thee with imbecility. He said: I call Allah to witness, and do ye bear witness, that I am free from the sin of ascribing, to Him” (v 50, 53, 54).

According to the Quran the prophet Hud appeared among the ‘Ad tribe which was said to be a powerful ancient tribe situated to the north of Mecca they were zealously pursuing idolatry worshiping four deities.

His genealogy is tied to the tribe of ’Ad but he is also identified with ’Abir i.e. Heber – the ancestor of the Hebrews, but this is uncertain. Like every ‘warner’ he is represented as being in the same position as Muhammad in Mecca having only a few followers. The legend describes how the whole tribe of ‘Ad was destroyed with the exception of Hud and his followers.

Salih rejected

“To the Thamud people (We sent) Salih, one of their own brethren. He said: O my people! Worship Allah: ye have no other god but Him. It is He Who hath produced you from the earth and settled you therein: then ask forgiveness of Him, and turn to Him for my Lord is near, ready to answer. They said: O Salih! thou hast been of us! a centre of our hopes hitherto! dost thou forbid us the worship of what our fathers worshipped? But we are really in suspicious doubt as to that to which thou invitest us. (v 161-162)

Salih was said to be a prophet who went to the Arab people of Thamud. He is depicted in the same warning style as Muhammad, demanding that the tribe should turn to him and pray to Allah alone. Allah sends the tribe a special sign in the form of a she camel. Salih begs them to share their water with it and leave it unharmed but they cause it to become lame and one member of their tribe kills it calling upon Salih to inflict the punishment he had threatened. The punishment is duly inflicted.

The Quran teaches that the tribe of Thamud were the successors of the ‘Ad yet both the story of Hud and Salih are in direct contradiction to the teaching of the Quran that no prophet had been sent to the Arabs before him

Shu’aib rejected

“To the Madyan people (We sent) Shu’aib, one of their own brethren: he said: O my people! worship Allah: Ye have no other god but Him. And give not short measure or weight: I see you in prosperity, but I fear for you the penalty of a day that will compass (you) all round. And O my people! give just measure and weight, nor withhold from the people the things that are their due: commit not evil in the land with intent to do mischief. They said: O Shu’aib! Does thy prayer command thee that we leave off the worship which our fathers practised, or that we leave off doing what we like with our property? truly, thou art the one that forbeareth with faults and is right-minded! He said: O my people! see ye whether I have a clear (sign) from my Lord, and He hath given me sustenance good as from Himself? I wish not, in opposition to you, to do that which I forbid you to do. I only desire (your) betterment to the best of my power; and my success can only come from Allah. In Him I trust, and unto Him I look.  They said: O Shu’aib! much of what thou sayest we do not understand! In fact among us we see that thou hast no strength! Were it not for thy family, we should certainly have stoned thee! for thou hast among us no great position! When Our decree issued, We saved Shu’aib and those who believed with him, by mercy from Ourselves: But the blast did seize the wrong-doers, and they lay prostrate in their homes by the morning, (v 85-88, 91, 94)

According to Sura 26:176-189 Shu’aib was sent to the people of Al-Aikah and the people of Madyan are considered to be his brothers. The same basic recitation occurs in the story of Shu’aib as in the other Arab prophets and the Arab Muhammad identifies his circumstances with these former Arabs.

Shu’aib preaches monotheism, encourages honesty in weights and measures, and warns the tribe against those who oppose those walking in the ways of Allah. He and his followers are threatened with expulsion and if it was not for his family he would have been stoned. The tribe are destroyed by an earthquake.

The fate of Pharaoh and his princes

“And we sent Moses, with Our clear (signs) and an authority manifest, unto Pharaoh and his chiefs: but they followed the command of Pharaoh and the command of Pharaoh was no right. He will go before his people on the day of judgement, and lead them into the fire but woeful indeed will be the place to which they are led!” (v 96-98)

All the above histories were related as a warning

“All that we relate to thee of the stories of the messengers, with it We make firm thy heart: in them there cometh to thee the truth, as well as an exhortation and a message of remembrance to those who believe (v 120).

If the Qurraish rejected Muhammad, they would likewise perish as those who did not believe in the former prophets or the Arabian prophets.

 

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Sura 12 Yusuf (Joseph) Mecca

This chapter differs from all the other chapters of the Quran in that it has only one subject, the history of Joseph. The order of events is incorrect and there are additions and changes, yet Muhammad professed that everything had been revealed to him: “Such is one of the stories of what happened unseen, which We reveal by inspiration unto thee; nor wast thou (present) with them then when they concerted their plans together in the process of weaving their plots.” (v 102)

Ap art from this sura Joseph is mentioned only twice in the Quran.

“We gave him Isaac and Jacob: all guided: and before him, We guided Noah, and among his progeny, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron: thus do We reward those who do good” (Al-Anam 6:84)

“And to you there came Joseph in times gone by, with clear signs, but ye ceased not to doubt of the (mission) for which he had come: At length, when he died, ye said: ‘No messenger will Allah send after him.’ thus doth Allah leave to stray such as transgress and live in doubt” (Ghafir 40:34).

The following are some of the additions to the biblical story, some may have been based on the Talmud.

Joseph is warned by Jacob not to tell his dream to his brothers.

The brothers ask their father to confine Joseph into their care.

The brothers lie, saying that they had gone off to run a race and left Joseph near the baggage. In their absence a wolf had torn him to pieces.

Jacob is blinded by his weeping.

The Egyptian who buys Joseph proposes to his wife that they should adopt him.

The shirt of Joseph is torn from behind proving his innocence.

When Joseph enters a banquet ladies are dazzled by the beauty of Joseph.

Joseph interprets Pharaohs dreams while he is still in prison.

Joseph makes himself known to his brothers and sends his father a shirt, which is to restore his eyesight.

Jacob’s sons ask for forgiveness and he prays to Allah for them.

It is also worth pointing out certain omissions from the biblical story

There is no description of the character of Joseph.

There is no mention of the sheaves which bow down to Joseph.

No one is named apart from Joseph, Jacob, not even the brothers. ‘Aziz (Potipher) is said to be his rank not his proper name.

The number of his brothers is not mentioned.

Why the Quran was given in Arabic

“We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran, in order that ye may learn wisdom” (v 2 ).

The story of Joseph revealed by God to Muhammad

“We do relate unto thee the most beautiful of stories,in that We reveal to thee this (portion of the) Quran:

before this, thou too was among those who knew it not” (v 3).

It is here stated that Muhammad was unacquainted with this story before it was revealed by God.

Jacob tells Joseph not to make known his dreams

“Behold! Joseph said to his father: O my father! I did see eleven stars and the sun and the moon: I saw them prostrate themselves to me! Said (the father): My little son! relate not thy vision to thy brothers, lest they concoct a plot against thee: for Satan is to man an avowed enemy! (v 4, 5)

The Bible says that Joseph related his dreams to his brothers and father. Genesis 37: 5, 10.

Joseph’s brothers ask that Joseph be placed in their care

“They said: O our father! why dost thou not trust us with Joseph, seeing we are indeed his sincere well-wishers? Send him with us tomorrow to enjoy himself and play, and we shall take every care of him. (Jacob) said: Really it saddens me that ye should take him away: I fear lest the wolf should devour him while ye attend not to him. They said: If the wolf were to devour him while we are (so large) a party, then should we indeed have perished ourselves! (v  11-14).

The Bible says that Jacob sent Joseph of his own freewill, and that he sent him not with his brothers but in search of them, so that he could have news of his sons and the flocks. Genesis 37:12 -14.

Joseph is put in a well, but it is reported that he has been killed by a wolf

“So they did take him away, and they all agreed to throw him down to the bottom of the well: and We put into his heart (this message): ‘Of a surety thou shalt (one day) tell them the truth of this their affair while they know (thee) not’ Then they came to their father in the early part of the night, weeping. They said: O our father! We went racing with one another, and left Joseph with our things; and the wolf devoured him…. But thou wilt never believe us even though we tell the truth. They stained his shirt with false blood. He said: Nay, but your minds have made up a tale with you, (for me) patience is most fitting: Against that which ye assert, it is Allah whose help can be sought” (v 15-18).

The Bible says nothing about running races. The brothers sent Joseph’s coat dipped in blood to their father, simply saying, that they had found it, and asking whether it was Joseph’s coat. Genesis 37:32,33.

Joseph said to have been found by travellers

“Then there came a caravan of travellers: they sent their water-carrier (for water), and he let down his bucket. He said: Ah there! Good news! Here is a young man! So they concealed him as a treasure! But Allah knoweth well all that they do! The (brethren) sold him for a miserable price, for a few dirhams counted out: in such low estimation did they hold him!” (v 19,20)

Muslims say that when the travellers let down a bucket to draw water, Joseph seized it, and was drawn up. The Bible says that the brothers took Joseph out of the well and sold him, and that the well was dry. Genesis 37:23,24,28.

Jacob’s sight restored by Joseph’s inner garment

“Go with this my shirt, and cast it over the face of my father: he will come to see (clearly). Then come ye to me together with all your family.When the caravan left (Egypt), their father said: I do indeed scent the presence of Joseph: Nay, think me not a dotard. They said: By Allah! truly thou art in thine old wandering mind. Then when the bearer of the good news came, He cast (the shirt) over his face, and he forthwith regained clear sight” (v 93-96).

The Muslim legend is that, the inner garment was given by Gabriel to Joseph, when in the well. It retained the smell of heaven, and could be perceived at a long distance.

Other Old Testament stories confirmed

“There is, in their stories, instruction for men endued with understanding. It is not a tale invented, but a confirmation of what went before it, a detailed exposition of all things, and a guide and a mercy to any such as believe” (v 111).

The Quran professes to confirm the scriptures previously revealed; but it often does the opposite. The Qurraish were unconvinced by these ‘revelations’ and insisted that someone had taught him. It is clear that Muhammad had Jewish acquaintances from whom he gathered materials and afterwards worked them into the form which they now appear in the Quran.

 

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Sura 13  Ar-Ra’d  (The Thunder) Mecca

This is said to be the last sura delivered at Mecca and deals with the Qurraish and Muhammad’s last words with them there. It has been well called the ‘Chapter of Apologies’ as it gives the reasons why Muhammad was not able to perform the miracles the unbelievers demanded. After thirteen long years he leaves Mecca warning and threatening those who rejected his claims with eternal fire and everlasting punishment. The title is taken from verse 13:   ’Nay, thunder repeateth His praises’.

Unbelievers will be the componions of the Fire

They are those who deny their Lord!

They are those round whose necks will be yokes (of servitude):

they will be Companions of the Fire, to dwell therein! (v 5)

Jewish and Christian converts to Islam

Those to whom we have given the Book rejoice at what hath been revealed unto thee:

but there are among the clans those who reject a part thereof. Say “I am commanded to worship Allah, and not to join partners with Him (v 36)

In the late Meccan suras the Jews must have been  highly gratified at the strong leaning towards, and respect for, their scriptures and their histories that Muhammad expressed. Baidawi (Vol 1 p.483) is  more definite by saying that this passage refers to the Jews and Christians who became Muslims. There were said to be eighty in all of whom forty were from the Najran, eight from Yemen and thirty-two from Abyssinia.

Unbelievers demand a sign

“And the unbelievers say: Why is not a sign sent down to him from his Lord? But thou art truly a warner, and to every people a guide” (v 7).

Jesus Christ by his wonderful miracles showed that he had come from God: but Muhammad wrought no miracles: he professed only to being a preacher.

Recording angels are always present

“For each there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him: They guard him by command of Allah” (v 11).

Muslims believe that two guardian angels attend on every man and write down his actions. They are called Mua’qqibat, i.e. those who succeed one another.’ They are also called Kiraman Katibin or ‘Illustrious recorders.’

“But verily over you (are appointed angels) to protect you, kind and honourable, writing down (your deeds)” (Al-Intifar  82:10-11)

Here is a hadith regarding Allah writing down good deeds: Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: The Prophet narrating about his Lord said, “Allah ordered (the appointed angels over you) that the good and the bad deeds be written, and He then showed (the way) how (to write). If somebody intends to do a good deed and he does not do it, then Allah will write for him a full good deed (in his account with Him); and if he intends to do a good deed and actually did it, then Allah will write for him (in his account) with Him (its reward equal) from ten to seven hundred times to many more times: and if somebody intended to do a bad deed and he does not do it, then Allah will write a full good deed (in his account) with Him, and if he intended to do it (a bad deed) and actually did it, then Allah will write one bad deed (in his account) .” (Bukhari Volume 8, Book 76, Number 498)

Thunder and angels praise God

“Nay, thunder repeateth His praises, and so do the angels, with awe: He flingeth the loud-voiced thunder-bolts, and therewith He striketh whomsoever He w ill.yet these (are the men) who (dare to) dispute about Allah, with the strength of His power!” (v 13)

The traditions and commentators generally say that this verse refers to Amir and Arbad ben Qais, who conspired against Muhammad and were struck down by lightening.

Prophets may have wives and children

“We did send messengers before thee, and appointed for them wives and children and it was never the part of a messenger to bring a sign except as Allah permitted. For each period is a Book” (v 38).

This passage was revealed in answer to objections which were thrown against Muhammad because of the great number of wives he kept.

Response to the divine will

“For those who respond to their Lord, are good things. But those who respond not to Him, Even if they had all that is in the heavens and on earth, and as much more, would they offer it for ransom. For them will the reckoning be terrible: their abode will be hell, what a bed of misery!” (v 18)

Those who fulfil the covenant of Allah

“Those who fulfil the covenant of Allah and fail not in their plighted word …………… for such there is the final attainment of the (eternal) home, gardens of perpetual bliss: they shall enter there, as well as the righteous among their fathers, their spouses, and their offspring: and angels shall enter unto them from every gate. Peace unto you for that ye persevered in patience! Now how excellent is the final home!”(v 20, 22, 23).

Those who break the covenant of Allah

“But those who break the Covenant of Allah, after having plighted their word thereto, and cut asunder those things which Allah has commanded to be joined, and work mischief in the land; on them is the curse; for them is the terrible home!” (v 25)

The Quran claims to be mother of the book

“Allah doth blot out or confirm what He pleaseth: with Him is the Mother of the Book” (v 39).

Muslims believe that God gave written revelation not only to Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, but also to several other prophets although these are now lost.

Islam gains territory on the Hijab

“See they not that We gradually reduce the land (in their control) from its outlying borders? Allah commands, there is none to put back His command: and He is swift in calling to account. (v 41)

Some suggest this is a composite sura for this verse seems to be referring to the encroachments of the Muslims over the territories of the pagan Arabs while they were in Medina (Rev Canon Sell).

 

 

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Sura 14 Ibrahim (Abraham) Mecca

In this sura the idolaters continue to be warned by examples of similar tribes who rejected the former prophets which had been sent to them. The punishment is not only temporal for there is a severe torture in the hereafter awaiting those who continue in unbelief. Because there is not a lot of new detail in this Sura we take the opportunity afforded to us by the title to consider Abraham as seen by Muslims. The title takes its name from the prayer of Abraham as shown below :

“Remember Abraham said: O my Lord! Make this city one of peace and security: and preserve me and my sons from worshipping idols.’ O my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among mankind; He then who follows my (ways) is of me, and he that disobeys me, but Thou art indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation, by Thy Sacred House; in order, O our Lord, that they may establish regular prayer: so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits: so that they may give thanks. O our Lord! truly Thou dost know what we conceal and what we reveal: for nothing whatever is hidden from Allah, whether on earth or in heaven. Praise be to Allah, Who hath granted unto me in old age Isma’il and Isaac: for truly my Lord is He, the hearer of prayer! O my Lord! make me one who establishes regular prayer, and also (raise such) among my offspring O our Lord! and accept Thou my prayer.”(v 35-40)

Listed below are various Islamic ideas regarding Abraham

a) Abraham is one of the six great prophets and to him was given twenty portions of scripture. ‘The Books of Abraham and Moses’ (Al-A’la 87:19).

b) According to the Quran the biblical Abraham was the son of Azar, some believe this is a confusion made in the Quran linking him to Eleazer, Abraham’s servant. ‘Lo! Abraham said to his father Azar: Takest thou idols for gods? For I see thee and thy people in manifest error.’ (Al-An’am 6:74)

c) Abraham’s mother Usha, had to take refuge in a cave for fear of Nimrod. When still a child, Abraham came out of the cave and had the following experience. “When the night covered him over, he saw a star: He said: This is my Lord. But when it set, he said: I love not those that set. When he saw the moon rising in splendour, he said: This is my Lord. But when the moon set, he said: unless my Lord guide me, I shall surely be among those who go astray. When he saw the sun rising in splendour, he said: This is my Lord; this is the greatest (of all). But when the sun set, he said: O my people! I am indeed free from your (guilt) of giving partners to Allah For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, towards Him who created the heavens and the earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah.” (Al-An’am 6:75-79)

d) Abraham became zealous for monotheism and became a strong opponent of idolatry. “So he broke them (idols) to pieces, but the biggest of them, that they might turn to it. They said, Who has done this to our gods? He must indeed be some man of impiety! They said, We heard a youth talk of them: He is called Abraham. They said, Then bring him before the eyes of the people, that they may bear witness. They said, Art thou the one that did this with our gods, O Abraham? He said: Nay, this was done by this is their biggest one! Ask them, if they can speak intelligently! So they turned to themselves and said, Surely ye are the ones in the wrong! Then were they confounded with shame: Thou knowest full well that these (idols) do not speak! (Abraham) said, Do ye then worship, besides Allah, things that can neither be of any good to you nor do you harm? Fie upon you, and upon the things that ye worship besides Allah! Have ye no sense? (Al-Anbiya 21:58-67). c/f sura 37:83 ff; 6:75 ff; 11:69 ff; 21:51 ff; 29:16 f.

e) Nimrod was the chief opponent of Abraham. The whole story of Nimrod’s opposition to Abraham is based on rabbinical literature and legend. The opposition was so strong that it led to warfare. Nimrod is the ‘one who disputed with Abraham’, mentioned in the verse below. On one occasion Abraham was thrown into a fiery-limekiln but left unharmed after three or seven days. The story of Nimrod is scattered over many passages in the Quran. Muslim commentators say that Nimrod was the son of Canaan while the Bible states that he was the son of Cush (Genesis 10:8). “‘Hast thou not turned thy vision to one who disputed with Abraham about his Lord, because Allah had granted him power? Abraham said: My Lord is He who giveth life and death. He said: I give life and death. Said Abraham: But it is Allah that causeth the sun to rise from the east: Do thou then cause im to rise from the west. Thus was he confounded (Al-Baqarrah 2:258)’

f) Abraham, after completely defeating Nimrod is now called ‘the friend of God’ (Khalil Allah) and after his adventures in Sodom and Gomorrah he sets off to Palestine.

g) Abraham is an imam to the nations: “And remember that Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain commands, which he fulfilled: He said: I will make thee an Imam to the nations. He pleaded: And also (Imams) from my offspring! He answered: But My promise is not within the reach of evil- doers. (Al-Baqarrah 2:124) In the Quran the term ‘imam’ can mean: sign, indication, model pattern, leader.

h) Abraham raised the foundations of the Ka’aba with Ishmael: “Remember We made the House a place of assembly for men and a place of safety; and take ye the station of Abraham as a place of prayer; and We covenanted with Abraham and Isma’il, that they should sanctify My House for those who compass it round, or use it as a retreat, or bow, or prostrate themselves. And remember Abraham said: My Lord, make this a city of peace, and feed its people with fruits,such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day.(Al-Baqarrah 2:124-126)! “And remember Abraham and Isma’il raised the foundations of the House (with this prayer): Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: For Thou art the All-Hearing, the All-knowing” (Al-Baqarrah 2:127).

i) Abraham bequeaths Islam to his posterity: “Our Lord! make of us Muslims, bowing to Thy (will), and of our progeny a people Muslim, bowing to Thy (will); and show us our place for the celebration of rites; and turn unto us; for Thou art the Oft-Returning, Most Merciful” (Al-Baqarrah 2:128)

j) Abraham’s religion to be followed: “So We have taught thee the inspired (message), Follow the ways of Abraham the true in faith, and he joined not gods with Allah.” (An-Nahl 16:123) “Say: Allah speaketh the truth: follow the religion of Abraham, the same in faith; he was not of the pagans. The first House (of worship) appointed for men was that at Bakka: Full of blessing and of guidance for all kinds of beings” (Al-Imran 3:95,96).

k) Abraham was neither a Jew or a Christian: “Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in faith, and bowed his will to  Allah’s (which is Islam), and he joined not gods with Allah” (c/f Al-Imran 3:67).

l) Abraham taught the resurrection: “When Abraham said: Show me, Lord, how You will raise the dead, He replied: Have you no faith? He said Yes, but just to reassure my heart. Allah said, Take four birds, draw them to you, and cut their bodies to pieces. Scatter them over the mountain-tops, then call them back. They will come swiftly to you. Know that Allah is Mighty, Wise.” (Al-Baqarrah 2:260) Presumably this is Muhammad’s own rendering of Genesis 15.

m) Abraham prepares to sacrifice his son: “O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)! So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear. Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) work with him, he said: O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is thy view! (The son) said: O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills one practising patience and constancy!” (As-Saffat 37:100-102).

The Quran confirms the biblical account of the sacrifice and summarises the two events of the good tidings of the birth of the son and the vision to sacrifice the same son in the following verse. “And We gave him the good news of Isaac a prophet, one of the righteous. We blessed him and Isaac:” (As-Saffat 37:112-113). Ishmael is not mentioned in this discourse associated with Abraham’s sacrifice while Isaac is twice mentioned by name.

Purpose of the Quran

“A Book which We have revealed unto thee, in order that thou mightest lead mankind out of the depths of darkness into light by the leave of their Lord” (v 1)

Messengers use the language of their people

“We sent not a messenger except in the language of his (own) people, in order to make (things) clear to them.” (v 4).

On the evidence of this verse the principle is that the Quran should be translated in order to make its teaching clear and understandable.

Former messengers rejected

“Has not the story reached you, of those who (went) before you? of the people of Noah, and ‘Ad, and Thamud? And of those who (came) after them? None knows them but Allah. To them came messengers with clear (signs); but they put their hands up to their mouths, and said: We do deny (the mission) on which ye have been sent, and we are really in suspicious doubt as to that to which ye invite us. Their messengers said: Is there a doubt about Allah, The Creator of the heavens and the earth? It is He who invites you, in order that He may forgive you your sins and give you respite for a term appointed! They said: Ah! ye are no more than human, like ourselves! Ye wish to turn us away from the (gods) our fathers used to worship: then bring us some clear authority” (v  9, 10).

Muhammad confidnet of ultimate success

And the unbelievers said to their messengers: “Be sure we shall drive you out of our land, or ye shall return to our religion.” But their Lord inspired (this message) to them: “Verily We shall cause the wrong-doers to perish! “And verily We shall cause you to abide in the land, and succeed them. This for such as fear the time when they shall stand before my tribunal, such as fear the punishment denounced.” (v 13,14)

Though Muhammad after thirteen years of constant work was faced with banishment from Mecca he was confident that the situation in Medina was suitable for the development and expansion of Islam.

The punishment of an unbeliever

“In front of such a one is hell, and he is given, for drink, boiling fetid water. In gulps will he sip it, but never will he be near swallowing it down his throat: death will come to him from every quarter, yet will he not die: and in front of him will be a chastisement unrelenting (v 16, 17).

Satan will desert idolaters in hell

“And Satan will say when the matter is decided: It was Allah who gave you a promise of truth: I too promised, but I failed in my promise to you. I had no authority over you except to call you but ye listened to me: then reproach not me, but reproach your own souls. I cannot listen to your cries, nor can ye listen to mine. I reject your former act in associating me with Allah. For wrong-doers there must be a grievous penalty.” (v 22).

Satan will tell the unbelievers not to lay the blame on his temptations, but on their own foolishness in listening to him. He had no power to compel them to sin.

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