O Muslims - 54

 

In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

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

9. Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo othkuroo niAAmata Allahi AAalaykum ith jaatkum junoodun faarsalnaAAalayhim reehan wajunoodan lam tarawha wakana Allahu bima taAAmaloona baseeran

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33:9. O you who believe! Remember Allah’s favour to you when there came against you armies against whom We sent a strong wind and armies that you saw not.² And Allah does ever see what you do.

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2. This Verse and the Verses following refer to one of the many armed confrontations the nascent Islamic State at Medina had to face the disbelievers of Makkah. Over 10 thousand Makkans and their allies had marched to Medina to finish the Muslims once for all. It took the vast army by surprise that the Medinians had dug a defensive trench which they could not cross. And during the month-long siege in the open outside this trench, the Makkan army had to face a strong wind that blew viciously against them and their things, forcing them ultimately to raise the siege and return home with a heavy loss of men and material. But the besieged believers too had to face many hardships, trials, and tribulations, which the Verses following reflect.

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Mohammad Shafi

Friday, the 19^th of February 2021.

O Muslims - 27

 

In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

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

2. Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo la tuhilloo shaAAa-ira Allahi wala alshshahra alharama wala alhadya wala alqala-ida wala ammeena albayta alharama yabtaghoona fadlan min rabbihim waridwanan wa-itha halaltum faistadoo wala yajrimannakum shanaanu qawmin an saddookum AAani almasjidi alharami an taAAtadoo wataAAawanoo AAala albirri waalttaqwa wala taAAawanoo AAala al-ithmi waalAAudwani waittaqoo Allaha inna Allaha shadeedu alAAiqabi

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5:2. O you who believe! Treat not irreverently the rites sanctified by Allah; nor the sacred month, nor the offerings, nor the garlands, and nor those going/coming to the Sacred House seeking the Favour and Pleasure of their Lord. And when you are free from the obligations of the pilgrimage, then hunt. And let not hatred of a people, because of their stopping you from going to the Sacred Place of Worship,³ lead you to transgression. And co-operate with one another in goodness/righteousness and piety, and do not co-operate with one another in sin and transgression, and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is severe in giving punishment.

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3. The reference here is to an event that occurred before the fall of Makkah to the Muslim forces. The Prophet (peace be upon him), with some of his companions, had come out from Medina for visiting the Kaabah, and the Makkans had then prevented the Prophet's party. But the divine statement here has a general import. It is applicable to all situations, wherein human tendency is for persons to commit transgression in dealings with those who had done some wrong to the former, earlier.

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Mohammad Shafi

Friday, the 14^th of August 2020.