O Muslims - 33

 

In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

Extract from QUR’AANIC STUDIES – A Modern Tafsir PART I:

57. Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo la tattakhithoo allatheena ittakhathoo deenakum huzuwan walaAAiban mina allatheena ootoo alkitaba min qablikum waalkuffara awliyaa waittaqoo Allaha in kuntum mu/mineena

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5:57. O you who believe! Do not consider persons – from among those who were given the Book before you and from among the suppressors of Truth – who take your religion for a mockery and fun, as your close friends. And fear Allah if you do believe.

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Mohammad Shafi

Friday, the 25^th of September 2020.

 

 

O Muslims - 32

 

In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

Extract from QUR’AANIC STUDIES – A Modern Tafsir PART I:

54. Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo man yartadda minkum AAan deenihi fasawfa ya/tee Allahu biqawmin yuhibbuhum wayuhibboonahu athillatin AAala almu/mineena aAAizzatin AAala alkafireena yujahidoona fee sabeeli Allahi wala yakhafoona lawmata la-imin thalika fadlu Allahi yu/teehi man yashao waAllahu wasiAAun AAaleemun

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5:54. O you who believe! If there be any from among you who turns back from his religion, then, Allah will bring a people whom He will love and who will love Him, humble with the believers, stern with those who suppress the Truth. They will strive in Allah's Path and will not fear the criticism of any critic. That is Allah's Favour which He gives to whom He wills. And Allah’s knowledge encompasses everything.

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Mohammad Shafi

Friday, the 18^th of September 2020.

O Muslims - 31

 

In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

Extract from QUR’AANIC STUDIES – A Modern Tafsir PART I:

35. Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo ittaqoo Allaha waibtaghoo ilayhi alwaseelata wajahidoo fee sabeelihi laAAallakum tuflihoona

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5:35. O you who believe! Fear Allah and seek means of approach to Him and struggle in His Path, so that you get success.¹⁹

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19. The Arabic word alwaseelata (means of approach) has been grossly misunderstood by many Muslims of today. They think that in the light of this Verse, they can invoke the good offices of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and other dead pious men, for conferring of worldly benefits to them and for redressal of their worldly woes. Attention of such Muslims is invited to Verses 17:56 and 17:57 wherein the futility of invoking anyone other than Allah, is clarified. And in Verse 35:22, the Qur'aan categorically tells mankind, "And you are in no position to make those to hear who are in the graves." The 'means of approach' to Allah are those means which were employed by those great men themselves. They had persistently struggled in Allah's Path as indicated at the end of this Verse itself. 'Struggling in Allah's Path' is therefore the means. And 'struggling in Allah's Path' does not mean suicide attacks on soft targets as some may mistakenly believe! It is, on the other hand, to "believe, and do righteous deeds, and admonish with the Truth and admonish with Patience" as enunciated in Surah 103. And 'righteous deeds' are deeds that Allah Almighty commands mankind to do through His Message, the Qur'aan.

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Mohammad Shafi

Friday, the 11^th of September 2020.

O Muslims - 30

 

In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

Extract from QUR’AANIC STUDIES – A Modern Tafsir PART I:

11. Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo othkuroo niAAmata Allahi AAalaykum ith hamma qawmun an yabsutoo ilaykum aydiyahum fakaffa aydiyahum AAankum waittaqoo Allaha waAAala Allahi falyatawakkali almu/minoona

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5:11. O you who believe! Remember Allah's Favour upon you when people had planned to raise their hands against you, but He stayed their hands from you.⁸ And fear Allah! And in Allah let the believers put their trust.

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8. The reference here is obviously to events during the time the Qur'aan was revealed. But many Muslims today may recall instances in their own personal lives when they were miraculously saved from attacks intended against them by others. I am aware of such instances in my own life. Although we are guilty of disobedience to Him in many matters, Allah still protects us sometimes so that we remember this and come back to the blessed path of complete obedience and submission to Him, putting our complete trust in Him.

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Mohammad Shafi

Friday, the 4^th of September 2020.