Message for Muslims

 

Sura 39  Az-Zumar (The Troops) Mecca

Muhammad repeats his claim to have received the ‘pure religion’, he points out to the Meccans the great eternal differences between believers and unbelievers yet they continue in their idolatry. The title is given because the chapter states that Muslims and infidels would be conducted to heaven and hell ‘by crowds or troops.’

Rebuking idolaters in favour of the pure religion

“Lo! We have revealed the scripture unto thee (Muhammad) with truth; so worship Allah, making religion pure for Him. Surely pure religion is for Allah only. And those who choose protecting  friends beside Him (say): We worship them only that they may bring us near unto Allah.” (v. 2, 3)

Al-Lat, Uzza, Manat and etc, were the idols through which the Quarraish found intercession to Allah

Had Allah wished to take to Himself a son

“Had Allah wished to take to Himself a son, He could have chosen whom He pleased out of those whom He dot h create” (v 4)

Idolaters only call upon Allah in times of trouble

“When some trouble toucheth man, he crieth unto his Lord, turning to Him in repentance: but when He bestoweth a favour upon him as from Himself, (man) doth forget what he cried and prayed for before, and he doth set up rivals unto Allah, thus misleading others from Allah’s path.” (8)

Eternal differences between believers and unbelievers

“Say, “Enjoy thy blasphemy for a little while: verily thou art (one) of the companions of the Fire!” Is one who worships devoutly during the hour of the night prostrating himself or standing, who takes heed of the hereafter, and who places his hope in the mercy of his Lord (like one who does not)? Say: “Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition. Say: “O ye my servants who believe! Fear your Lord, good is for those who do good in this world. Spacious is Allah’s earth! those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure!” (v 8-10)

“Say: “Truly, those in loss are those who lose their own souls and their people on the day of judgement: Ah! that is indeed the evi dent loss! They shall have layers of fire above them, and layers below them” (v 15, 16)

“But it is for those who fear their Lord that lofty mansions, one above another, have been built: beneath them flow rivers: the promise of Allah: never doth Allah fail in (His) promise” (v 20).

Muhammad the first Muslim

“And I am commanded to be the first of those who bow to Allah in Islam.” (v.12)

Either Muhammad was the first of the Qurraish tribe to become a Muslim or he is the first in the sense that he is the foremost Muslim.

The Arabic Quran claims to be consistent but repetitive

“Allah has revealed the most beautiful message in the form of a book, consistent with itself, (yet) repeating (its teaching in various aspects): the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble thereat; then their skins and their hearts do soften to the celebration of Allah’s praises. Such is the guidance of Allah: He guides therewith whom He pleases, but such as Allah leaves to stray, can have none to guide” (v 23).

“(It is) a Quran in Arabic, without any crookedness (therein): in order that they may guard against evil” (v 28)

Troops of unbelievers and believers

“The unbelievers will be led to hell in crowd: until, when they arrive, there, its gates will be opened. And its keepers will say, “Did not messengers come to you from among yourselves, rehearsing to you the signs of your Lord, and warning you of the meeting of this day of yours?” The answer will be: “True: but the decree of punishment has been proved true against the unbelievers!” (To them) will be said: “Enter ye the gates of hell, to dwell therein: and evil is (this) abode of the arrogant!” And those who feared their Lord will be led to the garden in crowds: until behold, they arrive there; its gates will be opened; and its keepers will say: “Peace be upon you! well have ye done! enter ye here, to dwell therein.” They will say: “Praise be to Allah, Who has truly fulfilled His promise to us, and has given us (this) land in heritage: We can dwell in the garden as we will: how excellent a reward for those who work (righteousness)!” (v 71-74)

 

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Sura 40. Al-Ghafir (The Forgiver) or Al-Mu’min (The Believer) Mecca

The Meccans are considered to be prosperous and speak out against Muhammad calling him a liar, a sorcerer and an impostor. Muhammad believes this is how unbelievers acted towards the former prophets. Those who take the title as Al-Ghafir do so on the basis of verse 3: “Who forgiveth sin, accepteth repentance, is strict in punishment, and hath a long reach (in all things), there is no god but He: to Him is the final goal” others take the title name from verse 28: “A believer, a man from among the people of Pharaoh”

Former prophets rejected

“But (there were people) before them, who denied (the signs), the people of Noah, and the Confederates after them; and every people plotted against their prophet, to seize him, and disputed by means of vanities, therewith to condemn the truth; but it was I that seized them! and how (terrible) was My requital!” (v 5)

Unbelievers will cry ‘Is there any way out of this?

“The unbelievers will be addressed: “Greater was the aversion of Allah to you than your aversion to yourselves, seeing that ye were called to the faith and ye used to refuse.” They will say: “Our Lord! twice hast Thou made us without life, and twice hast Thou given us life! Now have we recognised our sins: Is there any way out (of this)?” (The answer will be:) “This is because, when Allah was invoked as the only (object of worship), ye did reject faith, but when partners were joined to Him, ye believed! the command is with Allah, most high, most great!” (v 10- 12)

Moses rejected as a liar

“Of old We sent Moses, with Our signs and an authority manifest, To Pharaoh, Haman, and Qarun; but they called (him)” a sorcerer telling lies!”

(v 23, 24)

The legend of the apology of the Egyptian believer

“A believer, a man from among the people of Pharaoh, who had concealed his faith, said: “Will ye slay a man because he says, ‘My Lord is Allah’? when he has indeed come to you with clear (signs) from your Lord? and if he be a liar, on him is (the sin of) his lie: but, if he is telling the truth, then will fall on you something of the (calamity) “O my People! Yours is the dominion this day: Ye have the upper hand in the land: but who will help us from the punishment of Allah, should it befall us?” (v 28, 29)

The legend presented is that when Pharaoh was wishing to kill Moses a secret believer declared his faith. The long appeal of the believer resulted in Moses experiencing safety while Pharaoh was ruined.

Joseph’s message met with scepticism

“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 (v 34).

Joseph is presented as a prophet to the Egyptians yet they did not believe him. In the same way the Qurraish were sceptical of Muhammad.

Moses received the book of the law

“We did aforetime give Moses the (book of) guidance, and We gave the book in inheritance to the Children of Israel, A guide and a message to men of understanding Patiently, then, persevere: for the promise of Allah is true: and ask forgiveness for thy fault, and celebrate the praises of thy Lord in the evening and in the morning” (v 53-55).

Muhammad again acknowledges the book of Moses was God given and he is to exhorted to follow the patience and persevereness of the apostles of old.

The punishment of those who reject the Quran and the former messengers

“Those who reject the book and the (revelations) with which We sent our messengers: but soon shall they know, When the yokes (shall be) round their necks, and the chains; they shall be dragged along In the boiling fetid fluid: then in the fire shall they be burned; Then shall it be said to them: “Where are the (deities) to which ye gave part-worship” (v 70-73)?

This severe punishment which is threatened upon those who rejet both the Quran and the previous scriptures once again shows the high value that Muhammad placed on the Taurat, Zabur and the Injil.

Muhammad identified with all the previous prophets

“We did aforetime send messengers before thee: of them there are some whose story We have related to thee, and some whose story We have not related to thee. It was not (possible) for any messenger to bring a sign except by the leave of Allah” (v 78)

It is possible that Muhammad was conscious of his ignorance of Jewish history and that in this verse he intends to screen himself from the charge of the Jews that his histories of the prophets in many cases were suspect.

 

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Sura 41. Fussilat (They are explained in detail) Mecca

Apart from references to creation this chapter is very similar to the preceding one. The Quran is said to be the truth and is given to the people of Mecca in clear Arabic so that they could understand. Despite this the Meccans refuse the signs, the message and the prophet in a similar way, it is alleged, that earlier peoples refused the messenger.

“A book, whereof the verses are explained in detail; a Quran in Arabic, for people who understand” (v  3)

Muhammad claims it is inspiration that caused him to understand that Allah is one

“Say thou: “I am but a man like you: It is revealed to me by inspiration, that your Allah is one Allah” (v 6)

Allah and the days of creation

“Say: Is it that ye deny Him Who created the earth in two days? And do ye join equals with Him? He is the Lord of the worlds”.“He set on the (earth), mountains standing firm, high above it, and bestowed blessings on the earth, and measure therein all things to give them nourishment in due proportion, in four days, in accordance with (the needs of) those who seek (sustenance).” (v 9, 10)

“So He completed them as seven firmaments in two days, and He assigned to each heaven its duty and command. And We adorned the lower heaven with lights, and (provided it) with guard. Such is the decree of (Him) the exalted in might, full of knowledge” (v 12).

Other suras agree with the biblical account that the world was created in six days: “Your guardian-Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days” (Al-A’raf 7:54). “Verily your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days” (Yunus 10:3). Here it appears that by adding up the totals of these verses there is a contradiction concerning the number of creation days.

We read later in this sura of signs of the creation:

“Among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon.” (v 37).

“And among His signs is this: thou seest the earth barren and desolate; but when We send down rain to it, it is stirred to life and yields increase. Truly, He Who gives life to the (dead) earth can surely give life to (men) who are dead” (v 39)

Rejection of the messengers

“But if they turn away (the people of Mecca), say thou: “I have warned you of a stunning punishment like that which (overtook) the ‘Ad and the Thamud!” Behold, the messengers came to them, from before them and behind them, (preaching): “Serve none but Allah.” They said, “If our Lord had so pleased, He would certainly have sent down angels. Now we reject your mission. ” Now the ‘Ad behaved arrogantly through the land, against truth and reason, and said: “Who is superior to us in strength?” What! did they not see that Allah, who created them, was superior to them in strength? But they continued to reject Our signs!” (v 13-15)

A similar fate awaits the unbelievers who ignore the reading of the Quran

“The unbelievers say: “Listen not to this Quran, but talk at random in the midst of its (reading), that ye may gain the upper hand!” But We will certainly give the unbelievers a taste of a severe penalty, and We will requite them for the worst of their deeds. Such is the requital of the enemies of Allah, the fire: therein will be for them the eternal home: a requital, for that they were wont to reject Our signs.” (v 26-28)

The Arabic Quran claims to contain the same message of the earlier messengers

“Those who reject the message when it comes to them (are not hidden from Us). And indeed it is a book of exalted power. No falsehood can approach it from before or behind it: It is sent down by one full of wisdom, worthy of all praise. Nothing is said to thee that was not said to the messengers before thee: that thy lord has at his command forgiveness as well as a most grievous penalty. Had We sent this as a Quran other than Arabic, they would have said: “Why are not its verses explained in detail? What! (a book) not in Arabic and a messenger an Arab?” Say: “It is a guide and a healing to those who believe; and for those who believe not, there is a deafness in their ears, and it is blindness in their (eyes): They are (as it were) being called from a place far distant!” (v 41-44)

As with Muhammad there was uncertainty over the book of Moses

“We certainly gave Moses the book aforetime: but disputes arose therein. Had it not been for a word that went forth before from thy Lord, (their differences) would have been settled between them: but they remained in suspicious disquieting doubt thereon” (v 45).

Muhammad confident that the truth of the Quran will be revealed

“Say: “See ye if the (revelation) is from Allah, and yet do ye reject it? Who is more astray than one who is in a schism far (from any purpose)?” Soon will We show them our signs in the regions, and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the truth. Is it not enough that thy Lord doth witness all things?  Ah indeed! Are they in doubt concerning the meeting with their Lord?  Ah indeed! It is He that doth encompass all things!” (v 52-54)

 

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Sura 42. Ash-Shura (The Consultation) Mecca

In this sura Muhammad tries to establish his claims to be a prophet by the presentation of ‘signs’ and seeks to show that the Quran was not forged. The title of this sura is taken from verse 38 where believers are praised, amongst other things, for consulting together in order to act efficiently.” Those who hearken to their Lord, and establish regular prayer; who (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation”

Muhammad’s claims his inspiration is on a par with the Bible

“Ha-Mim ‘Ain. Sin. Qaf.

Thus doth (He) send inspiration to thee as (He did) to those before thee,

Allah, exalted in power, full of wisdom  (v 1-3).

The Jewish and Christian scriptures are here said to have been revealed in the same manner as the Quran, and are therefore entitled to the same reverence.

Muhammad sent to warn the Mother of Cities (Mecca) and all around her

“And those who take as protectors others besides Him, Allah doth watch over them; and thou art not the disposer of their affairs. Thus have We sent by inspiration to thee an Arabic Quran: that thou mayest warn the Mother of Cities and all around her, and warn of the day of assembly, of which there is no doubt: (when) some will be in the garden, and some in the blazing fire” (v  6,7)

Islam claims that it is the religion of all the Biblical characters and prophets

“The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah the which We have sent by inspiration to thee and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that ye should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein: to those who worship other things than Allah, hard is the (way) to which thou callest them.” (v 13).

Muhammad claims there should be no contention between those of the  ‘People of the Book’

“And they became divided only after knowledge reached them ….. But truly those who have inherited the book after them are in suspicious doubt concerning it. Now then, for that (reason), call (them to the faith), and stand steadfast as thou art commanded, nor follow thou their vain desires; but say: “I believe in the book which Allah has sent down; and I am commanded to judge justly between you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord: for us our deeds, and for you for your deeds. There is no contention between us and you. Allah will bring us together, and to Him is (our) final goal.” (v.14,15).

Muhammad accused of forgery

“What! Do they say, “He has forged a falsehood against Allah”? But if Allah willed, He could seal up thy heart. And Allah blots out vanity, and proves the truth by His words. For He knows well the secrets of all hearts” (v 24).

The sign of creation

“And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the living creatures that He has scattered through them: and He has power to gather them together when He wills” (v 29).

The sign of ships

“And among His signs are the ships, smooth-running through the ocean, (tall) as mountains” (v 32).

Those who refuse the signs

“But let those know, who dispute about Our signs, that there is for them no way of escape.” (v.35)

Muhammad the preacher

• “If then they run away, We have not sent thee as a guard over them. Thy duty is but to convey (the message)” (v.48).

How Allah sends His revelations

“It is not fitting for a man that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by the sending of a messenger to reveal, with Allah’s permission, what Allah wills: for He is Most High, Most Wise. And thus have We, by Our command, sent inspiration (Beidhawi – Gabriel) to thee” (v 51, 52)

These verses were given to answer those who objected that no person ever saw Muhammad when he was receiving his revelation.

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