Message for Muslims

75 Sura Al-Qiyamah (The Resurrection)

This chapter deals with the resurrection,  Judgement Day, Muhammad’s method of the recitation of the Quran and the hopelessness of one who does not believe. The chapter title is taken from the first section in its consideration of the resurrection “I do call to witness the Resurrection Day” (v 1)

The Resurrection in Islam

The doctrine of the resurrection and the judgement is second only to that of Allah’s creation. Allah is  the Creator and also the Judge. Muhammad saw in nature many analogies of the repetition and restoration of life. For the Arabs of Muhammad’s day the notion of the resurrection was a harder doctrine to grasp than creation and so he used creation to illustrate his doctrine of resurrection.

The theme of the resurrection of the body, including the bodily resurrection of Christ, is given more space in the New Testament than any other basic Christian truth, with the possible exception of the death of the Lord Jesus but the Quran completely rejects the biblical basis for its belief with its hope of the resurrection resting solely on the acts found in Nature.

When will be this resurrection day?

“Does man think that We cannot assemble his bones?

Nay, We are able to put together in perfect order the very tips of his fingers” (v 3, 4 and on to v 15).

Muhammad not to hurry when repeating the Quran

“Move not thy tongue concerning the (Quran) to make haste therewith.

It is for Us to collect it and to promulgate it:

But when We have promulgated it, follow thou its recital:

Nay more, it is for Us to explain it” (v.16-19)

Muhammad is told not to be hurried in repeating the Quran so as to commit it to memory. The recitation of the Quran is governed by the science of tajwid, which means a striving for excellence. In respect for the Quran, a full and balanced articulation is sought. Full attention to the movement of the tongue is given to each consonant while pauses and punctuation, emphasis and intonation, softness and speed are carefully addressed.

Verses 16-19 are parenthetical, and either an address to Muhammad by Gabriel desiring him:  a) not to be overcome by any fear of bing unable to follow and retain the revelation of this particular sura; or b) not to interrupt him, but to await the completion of the entire revelation before he should proceed to its public recitation. In either case we are led to the conclusion that Muhammd, right from the beginning had formed a plan of promulgating a written book.

A reliable tradition states: Narrated Ibn Abbas: When Gabriel revealed the Divine Inspiration in Allah’s Apostle, he (Allah’s Apostle) moved his tongue and lips, and that state used to be very hard for him, and that movement indicated that revelation was taking place. So Allah revealed in Surat Al-Qiyama the verses:’ Move not your tongue concerning (the Quran) to make haste therewith …………………………..  So whenever Gabriel came to Allah’s Apostle ‘ he would keep quiet (and listen), and when the Angel left, the Prophet would recite that revelation as Allah promised him.(Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 451).

Agony of an unbeliever at the time of parting

“And some faces, that day, will be sad and dismal, In the thought that some back-breaking calamity was about to be inflicted on them; Yea, when (the soul) reaches to the collar-bone (in its exit), And there will be a cry, “Who is a magician (to restore him)?” And he will conclude that it was (the time) of parting; And one leg will be joined with another: That day the drive will be to thy Lord! So he gave nothing in charity, nor did he pray! But on the contrary, he rejected truth and turned away!” (v 24-32)

 

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76 Sura Al-Insan (Man) Mecca

The chapter begins with man’s conception, his birth and his gifts; those who aree ungrateful will be burned in the fire while the grateful will experience the joys of heaven. There are a few verses that refer to how the Quran was revealed in stages over a period of time.

Man’s conception and birth

“Has there not been over man a long period of time, when he was nothing (not even) mentioned?

Verily We created man from a drop of mingled sperm, in order to try him:

So We gave him hearing and sight We showed him the way: whether he be grateful or ungrateful” (v 1-3).

 

What is prepared for the ungrateful

“For the rejecters we have prepared chains, yokes, and a blazing fire” (v 4).

What is prepared for the grateful believers

“As to the righteous, they shall drink of a cup (of wine) mixed with Kafur,

A fountain where the devotees of Allah do drink, making it flow in unstinted abundance” (v 5,6).

Kafur is the name of a fountain in paradise, it is said to resemble camphor in smell and whiteness. Some think that the wine of paradise will be mixed with camphor.

The grateful give charity

“They perform (their) vows, and they fear a day whose evil flies far and wide.

And they feed, for the love of Allah, the indigent, the orphan, and the captive,

(Saying),”We feed you for the sake of Allah alone: no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks.

“We only fear a day of distressful wrath from the side of our Lord.” (v 7-10)

The rewards of the grateful Muslims in Paradise

“But Allah will deliver them from the evil of that day, and will shed over them a light of beauty and joy.

And because they were patient and constant,

He will reward them with a garden and (garments of) silk.

Reclining in the (garden) on raised thrones, they will see there neither the sun’s (excessive heat) nor (the moon’s) excessive cold.

And the shades of the (garden) will come low over them, and the bunches (of fruit), there, will hang low in humility.

And amongst them will be passed round vessels of silver and goblets of crystal, crystal-clear, made of silver ” (for full text please see v 11-22)

The Muslim descriptions of heaven are notable in that God does not appear at all. There are, gardens, flowing springs, fruit, shade, couches, carpets, garments of silk, wine, beautiful virgins and wives, but God is absent. It has no relationship to the Christian teaching of a saved believer being purified and changed into the likeness of Christ or a worshipper of a holy God.

 

The gradual revelation of the Quran

“It is We who have sent down the Quran to thee by stages.

Therefore be patient with constancy to the command of thy Lord, and hearken not to the sinner or the ingrate among them” (v 23-24).

The Quran is slightly longer than the New Testament but comes from one source, Muhammad, and it was said to be revealed in stages over a period of twenty-three years. According to the following tradition new revelation was coming with increasing frequency to Muhammad just before he died: Narrated Anas bin Malik: Allah sent down His divine inspiration to His Apostle continuously and abundantly during the period preceding his death till He took him unto Him. That was the period of the greatest part of revelation; and Allah’s Apostle died after that (Bukhari Volume 6, Book 61, Number 505).

 

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77 Sura Al-Mursalat (Those sent forth) Mecca

The rising opposition from the idolaters was met by denunciations of the strongest kind. In this sura of fifty short verses the following statement of judgement on the Meccan Quarraish runs hauntingly through this chapter : “Ah woe, that Day, to the rejecters of truth!” (verses 15, 19, 34, 40, 45, 47 & 49)

The scattering winds

“By the (winds) sent forth one after another (to man’s profit);

which then blow violently in tempestuous gusts, And scatter (things) far and wide” (v 1-3)

The strong winds are continually blowing over the earth dispersing rain.

 

The inevitable judgement

“Assuredly, what ye are promised must come to pass” (v 7).

It will be a day of sorting out and the refrain

“For the day of sorting out.

And what will explain to thee what is the day of sorting out?

Ah woe, that day, to the rejecters of truth! (V13-17)

“Ah woe, that day, to the rejecters of truth!” (v 19)

Created man and the refrain

“Have We not created you from a fluid (held) despicable?

The which We placed in a place of rest, firmly fixed, For a period (of gestation), determined (according to need)?

For We do determine, for We are the best to determine (things).

Ah woe, that day! to the rejecters of truth!” (v 20-24)

The created earth and the refrain

“Have We not made the earth (as a place) to draw together. The living and the dead,

And made therein mountains standing firm, lofty; and provided for you water sweet?

Ah woe, that day, to the rejecters of truth!” (v.25-28)

Unbelievers to depart to hell and the refrain

“(It will be said) “Depart ye to that which ye used to reject as false!

“Depart ye to a shadow (of smoke ascending) in three columns, “(which yields) no shade of coolness, and is of no use against the fierce blaze.

“Indeed it throws about sparks (huge) as forts, “As if there were (a string of) yellow camels (marching swiftly).”

Ah woe, that day, to the rejecters of truth! (v 29-34)

A day when unbelievers will have no excuses and the refrain

“That will be a day when they shall not be able to speak. Nor will it be open to them to put forth pleas.

Ah woe, that day, to the rejecters of truth!” (v 35-37)

A day when no plot will succeed and the refrain

“That will be a day of sorting out! We shall gather you together and those before (you)!

Now, if ye have a trick (or plot), use it against Me!

Ah woe, that day, to the rejecters of truth! (v 38-40)

A day when the righteous shall be rewarded and the refrain

“As to the righteous, they shall be amidst (cool) shades and springs (of water). And (they shall have) fruits, all they desire.

“Eat ye and drink ye to your heart’s content: for that ye worked (righteousness).

Thus do We certainly reward the doers of good.

Ah woe, that day, to the rejecters of truth!” (v 41-45)

Unbelievers need to enjoy today and the refrain

“(O ye unjust!) Eat ye and enjoy yourselves (but) a little while, for that ye are sinners.

Ah woe, that day, to the rejecters of truth!” (v 47)

Unbelievers who refuse to submit and the refrain

“And when it is said to them, “Prostrate yourselves!” they do not so.

Ah woe, that day, to the rejecters of truth!

Then what message, after that, will they believe in?” (v 47-50)

 

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78 Sura An-Naba’ (The Great News) Mecca

The news refers to the resurrection. As in the previous chapters the main subject is the torments of the lost and the joys of the believers.

 

Concerning the great news

“Concerning what are they disputing? Concerning the great news, About which they cannot agree.

Verily, they shall soon (come to) know! Verily, verily they shall soon (come to) know! (v 1-5)

• “Have We not made the earth as a wide expanse, And the mountains as pegs? And (have We not) created you in pairs, And made your sleep for rest, And made the night as a covering, And made the day as a means of subsistence?” ( v.6-11 and on to v.16)

 

 

The coming judgement day

“Verily the day of sorting out is a thing appointed,

The day that the trumpet shall be sounded, and ye shall come forth in crowds;

And the heavens shall be opened as if there were doors,

And the mountains shall vanish, as if they were a mirage” (v 17-20).

The punishment of unbelievers in hell

“Truly hell is as a place of ambush, For the transgressors a place of destination: They will dwell therein for ages. Nothing cool shall they taste therein, nor any drink, Save a boiling fluid and a fluid, dark, murky, intensely cold, A fitting recompense (for them). For that they used not to fear any account (for their deeds), But they (impudently) treated Our signs as false. And all things have We preserved on record. “So taste ye (the fruits of your deeds); for no increase shall We grant you, except in punishment.” (v.21 -30)

The bliss of believers in heaven

“Verily for the righteous there will be a fulfilment of (the heart’s) desires;

Gardens enclosed, and grapevines; And voluptuous women of equal age;

And a cup full (to the brim). No vanity shall they hear therein, nor untruth:

Recompense from thy Lord, a gift, (amply) sufficient” (v 31-36).