Sura 45 -- Al-Jathiyah
The first part of this sura (verses 7-11) talked of those who laughed at the revelations of God and failed to take their warnings seriously. It speaks of the mockers' doom and how their good deeds and friends apart from God won't matter at all because of their disbelief in the Quran.
14. Tell the believers to forgive those who do not fear the visitations of God, so that He may requite the people for their deeds.
This is a peaceful verse that Muslims should use more to show they don't want to kill disbelievers wherever they are found such as another sura suggested. I like this idea of forgiving others and allowing God to be the judge. I believe our goals in life should be to share our messages in love and leave the judging for going astray to God. In other words, no threats of killing when someone decides to follow another religion or none at all. Spiritual beliefs are between an individual and God and each of us will answer to God for our thoughts towards Him. I never understand people who think they can play God and kill or abuse others for choices others have made.
16. We gave the children of Israel the Book, and the judgement and the prophethood, provided them with good things, favoured them over other people,
17. And gave them a clear exposition of Our laws. And they did not differ until after knowledge came to them, through mutual jealousies. Verily your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Judgement in what they differed about.
This is the part about the Jews that I referred to in the last post. Perhaps these are some of the "tokens to bring out the best in them." What knowledge here did they get that caused them to differ?
This is the part about the Jews that I referred to in the last post. Perhaps these are some of the "tokens to bring out the best in them." What knowledge here did they get that caused them to differ?
23. Just think: Who apart from God can show the way to him who deifies his ego into his god, whom God allows to go astray knowingly, and seals his ears and heart, and covers over his eyes with a veil? Why then do you not contemplate?
This reminds me of many humanists today who seem to do their best to elevate man and "reasoning" in order to stamp out the notion of a Creator God. They wrongly make themselves into gods by exalting man's intellect and accomplishments over faith. Some want so badly to "prove" this world came out of nothing - a mere chance - so they can "disprove" a Creator. I suppose they don't want to be accountable to anyone.
36. All praise be to God, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth, Lord of all the worlds. 37. His is the supremacy in the heavens and the earth; and He is the all-mighty and all-wise.
Very nice verses!
Sura 46 -- Al-Ahqaf
Mostly the same stuff in this sura except there was a pleasant mentioning of mothers and a prayer from her child to guide him to thank God for the blessings God had given him. About this person the Quran says:
16. They are those from whom We accept the very best of what they have done, and overlook their faults. They will be among the inmates of Paradise: A true promise they have been made.
The Quran does say nice things about mothers. I don't really care how mothers are often given the right to interfere in their grown children's lives and marriages though. But of course this can happen in any culture or religion. Just thought I'd mention it since I was on the topic of mothers.
Next up are a couple of suras that I didn't particularly like as "the average nonMuslim off the street who decided to pick up this Muslim holy book and see what it said for myself." Stay tuned if you want to read my honest thoughts on sura 47, Muhammad and sura 48, al-Fath.
6 comments:
You are a wonderful woman, Susanne. I respect you so much and love you even more :)
quran is the ward of success for the Muslims we just need guidance from it and realize i hope we do that
Suroor, I love you too, my sweet friend! I am so so so thankful God brought you into my life. You are such an encouragement to me! <3 <3 <3
Learning Quran, thanks for your comment. I appreciate your point of view. :)
Aaaa, Susanne, I meant to get started on writing about intercession but today was a ‘busy’ day, so I didn’t start. Instead, I popped in and thought I’d comment a bit :D
This is a really good question you asked about verses 16-17! I never really thought about it before, hehe, but I understood it to most likely mean not that the knowledge was the ‘cause’ of their differing, but it was their own vain desires that caused the differing. I understood it only as it was when knowledge came that they differed.
Anyways, the knowledge as I personally understood it was knowledge or understanding of the Scripture and its laws, the knowledge from the teachings of all the different prophets that were sent to the Jews , etc. The Jews were given clear proofs of the rightness of the religion- e.g. the miracles their prophets came with- but rather than acting upon the knowledge they had been given and their Scriptures, they chose to ‘interpret’ the religion as they wanted, according to their very own desires.
I also personally understood it to maybe even mean that the Jews who had been given clear knowledge of the Scripture knew that a final Prophet was coming- they saw all the signs of prophethood in Prophet Mohammed and knew the reality of his message, but out of their ‘jealousy’ (that the final prophet would arise from the Arabs), they chose to ignore the Message and differed about the truthfulness of it/etc. I got this understanding based on my understanding of this verse:
Those to whom We gave the Scripture know him (Prophet Mohammed) as they know their own sons. But indeed, a party of them conceal the truth while they know [it]. (2:146)
We also have a few stories regarding certain Jews who wre living during his time and actually said that he was the final Prophet but that they would never believe in him because he was an Arab, etc.
About mother's interfering in their grown up kid's...yeah, that’s a ‘cultural matter. Islamically , though, one of the worst things is to come between a couple (husband and wife) and cause a divorce.
But anyways, I just wanted to say that we can only fully appreciate the mother’s status in Islam by understanding where the word ‘womb’ comes from and by referring to the Prophet’s hadiths. (yeah, you had to comment on mothers, :P)
The Arabic word for womb is "rahem." This word is actually derived from the Arabic word meaning mercy. In fact, you may have noticed in my salvation post that I wrote one of God's 99 names is "Al-Raheem," or "the Most Merciful."
I like the way Joshua Brockwel put what I am trying to say: “There exists, therefore, a unique connection between God and the womb. Through the womb, we get a glimpse of the Almighty's qualities and attributes. It nurtures, feeds and shelters us in the early stages of life. The womb can be viewed as one manifestation of divinity in the world.
One cannot help but make the parallel between a Loving God and a compassionate Mother. (However, the Quran does not portray God as exclusively male or female). As a matter of fact, by revering our mothers, we are paying respect to God.”
[End of quote]
As for the two clear hadiths that indicate the significant status of mothers-
Once a man came to Prophet Muhammad, and asked permission to do jihad (with the others). The Prophet asked the man if he had a mother, when he replied yes, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Stay with her because Paradise lies beneath/at her feet”.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “A man came to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, who among the people is most deserving of my good companionship?’ He said, ‘Your mother.’ The man asked, ‘Then who?’ He said, ‘Your mother.’ He asked, then who?’ He said, ‘Your mother.’ He asked, ‘Then who?’ He said, ‘Your father.’
:)
I'll try and check out your honest thoughts about the next surahs! Inshaallah soonish <3
Sarira, welcome back! It's fine that you sometimes get busy and can't post as promised. Just so long you get to it eventually it's fine! ;)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the way the Jewish people didn't accept Muhammad due to his Arab heritage. That's interesting, but makes some sense. I know God promised them their prophets would come from among the twelve tribes (Deut 18) so I'm sure having an Arab make this claim WAS a bit shocking for them. Thank you for pointing out that verse:
"Those to whom We gave the Scripture know him (Prophet Mohammed) as they know their own sons. But indeed, a party of them conceal the truth while they know [it]. (2:146) "
Is Prophet Muhammad actually stated in this verse or was it added by the translator? Because their knowing "him as they know their own sons" could apply to other hims out there, couldn't it?
"I like the way Joshua Brockwel put what I am trying to say: “There exists, therefore, a unique connection between God and the womb. Through the womb, we get a glimpse of the Almighty's qualities and attributes. It nurtures, feeds and shelters us in the early stages of life. The womb can be viewed as one manifestation of divinity in the world."
That's really a nice visual...so sweet. Thanks for sharing the hadiths about mothers. I'd heard them before, but am glad you brought them to this post.
Hope to hear more from you as time allows. Thanks much for all you've added to my understanding of things! :)
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