Surah 89 AL-FAJR–The dawn of enlightenment will cause people to become a proper human community in a kingdom for ensuring their own well being with help and full support of each other to fulfil the purpose for which God has created them and the rest of the creation.
This surah is named AL-FAJR from root FAA, JEEM and RAA. Concrete meaning of this root is something that breaks through something in some sense in some way for some reason or purpose. The morning breaks through darkness of the night, light of knowledge breaks through darkness of ignorance, division breaks through unity. To cut or divide lengthwise, to separate, to bite, to cleave, to clip, to trim, to prune, to violate social and religious norms, to commit adultery, to commit a crime or foul deed, to act immorally, to break the law, to behave in an outrageous manner, to bring forth, to cause to spring forth, to let gush forth, to eat, to devour, to gulp something down one’s throat, to cause dissention or dispute or difference or conflict, to break open, to rupture, to crack, to breach, to disrupt, to disturb, to fracture, to sever, to part, to explode, to expand, to open up, to rip open, to rent, to tear or tear through, to appear, to become visible, to vent, to burst through, to gush forth, to cause to gush forth, to rush through, to rush out, to act wickedly, to incline or decline, to deviate, to move aside, dawn, sunrise, daybreak, source, origin, beginning, seed, starting, something that happens suddenly, something that happens abundantly or very many times, something ample, generosity, bounty, a place from which water flows in abundance, immorality, inequity, depravation, debauchery, dissolution, something that can act as base or foundation, beast of burden, mule, camel, donkey, elephant, mouth, opening, entrance, hole, ditch, pit, bottom, libertine, violator of social norms or customs or laws, vice, wickedness, crookedness, evil, dawn light, separation, partition, screen, shield, protection, rift, conflict, split, divide, alienation etc etc.
This surah is named AL-FAJR because mankind are warned about inevitable worldwide bloody revolution if people do not mutually educate themselves to be united, peaceful, progressive and prosperous. Through this surah Allah wants to give mankind hope for the better future on basis of education. So people should not remain ignorant, illiterate and uneducated if their life means anything worth living for them. In this Surah it is made clear that knowledge and ignorance are two different things. Sometimes mankind went one way and sometimes another way but ignorance remained dominant for majority period of human existence. However this is going to change once knowledge based way of life becomes dominant in human societies. This Surah also defines what knowledge means as far as the Quran is concerned. Knowledge is not about some people being clever in order to dominant others and create master slave divide, hatred, animosity and wars and thereby unnecessary bloodshed and destruction. Knowledge is all about knowing the way the world works and the way people should set up their own human society so that they are able to live like a very successful human family in peace and security. So long as people do not have that knowledge and do not bring about such world they will remain ignorant and useless for themselves as well as harmful and destructive for each other. It is for this reason people must observe and learn from the world and also observe and learn about themselves as well as about the message from Allah.
The Quran makes clear to mankind that Allah has created them for his own purpose and set them goals to achieve along with guidelines so there is no time to be wasted. If mankind want respect for themselves within themselves and amongst each other then they all must do all they can to bring about a world of which all could be very proud. In this Surah it is made very clear that there is no respect in staying ignorant or in sitting idle or in learning and doing things to destroy each other. All this is below dignity of a human being so man must look to higher goals and be not like other animals. The Quran frightens humanity with dire consequences by their own hands if they do not listen to advice of Allah and learn from human experiences throughout ages. The way people have been acting and reacting against each other should make people think about consequences of their actions before they act in future. Only if they will do that they can change the world in to a place full of bliss otherwise the world will remain hell for as long as people will not change their mindsets, attitudes and behaviours to be in line with the provided guidance. This is why Allah says, if you want peace and security turn to my advice and bring about the divine kingdom the way you are told.
Proclaim! In the name of Allah, the provider of psychological, sociological and biological needs of mankind,
1] We cite as evidence the inevitable dawn of enlightenment that is to take place
2] as well as periods of darkness of ignorance that passed over human family,
These verses tell mankind about their long past as well as their distant future and whatever has happened or will happen in between in its proper context. The Quran tells about origin of human beings as well as about their journey of learning and doing things along the way. Human beings began as simple creatures but gradually began learning and received divine guidance when they looked for it and their enlightenment journey began with many patches of periods of ignorance along the way which are going to become a thing of the past in due course as humanity becomes fully enlightened at some stage of its life about itself, its environment and divine revelation. These verses explain human evolution throughout times and places. In other words here we humans are learning about our journey of discovery as to how it all started and how it is going to come to its completion. People were not as knowledgeable in the past as they are today about the universal realities though they are not as learned about the revelation of God as they used to be. This has to change if people wish to have best human world possible.
3] in form of consecutive periods of darkness and odd period of enlightenment,
Word AL-SHAFI is from root SHEEN, FAA and AIN. Concrete meaning of this root is joining of one thing with another in some sense in some way for some reason or purpose. Individuals join to make pairs. Odd things join to make pairs and become even. Even numbers break up to become odd or individuals. Things join together or break up to accomplish some end. It also means double, two things, multiple, twofold, dual, twin, lookalike, counterpart, mate, imitation, fellow, replica, facsimile, duplicate, matched, complementary, even, support, recommendation, intervention, intercession, to intercede, to intervene, to advocate, to promote, to pair up, to make a single thing into a pair, to be one of a pair, to be coupled with, to add a deed to another, to propagate, to recommend, to conjoin, to combine, to adjoin a thing to its like, to stand alongside with, to help or aid another against, to support, to assist, to aid or help, to petition on behalf of another, to mediate, to go between, to act as an intermediary, to be a middle man, to be a deal broker, to be an intercessor, to join or be joined in some sense in some way for some reason or purpose, to be in order, to be consecutive, to be one after the other, to back up, to back up each other, to take turns, to be one after the other, to follow each other, to be in series with each other, to precede or succeed each other, to be in front of each other, to protect each other, to guard each other, to shield or screen each other from, to be alike, to be similar, to be image of, to be likeness of, to be copy of, to be an example of, to be sample of, to ask on behalf of, to make a request for another, to demand something of someone for someone else etc etc.
Word WATR is from root WOW, TAA and RAA. Concrete meaning of this root is tendon in some sense in some way for some reason or purpose. Also tough cord, a strong piece of rope, string of a bow, string of a catapult, something that links two opposite sides in some sense in some way for some reason or purpose, hatred, animosity, antagonism, opposition, resistance, repulsion, reluctance, hesitation, to push away, to stretch, to extend, to put under tension, to put under pressure, to suffer loss, to defraud or be defrauded, to hate, to render odd, to make odd, to become odd, to be strange or a stranger, to be one of a kind, to be unique, to be alone, to be only one, to be single, to be lonely, to harass, to do mischief, to render any one solitary, to be the best or worst etc etc.
The point to be noted here is that it is good to come together to support something constructive or good and beneficial but bad to come together to support something bad or harmful and destructive. The idea that prophets and saint can intervene on behalf of sinner is not an Islamic idea because it is a religious idea to begin with and Islam is not a religion but a way of life or a way for people for carrying out a program given by God for his purpose. In Islam program or law means you do everything by the book and the book is only good if it has a good program or set of laws that benefit people so that people never give up the program or break the laws for personal gains at each other’s expense but if any does then one must face the penalty and pay the price. This is why no prophet or saint can intervene on behalf of criminals because crime is actually crime against humanity itself by human beings against the law of Allah. If some people had the right to intervene on behalf of criminals to save them from legal punishments then what is meaning of corruption or useless law? In fact if everybody thought they could do to each other whatever harms they liked and at the end of the day they will be forgiven then who will bother to follow the given program or law or why people will need a program or law at all? As already explained, Islam is basically all about a self organised and self regulated human community and self organisation and self regulation needs clear program and law and educated people to go by them. Therefore people should not take Islamic program or laws in place of religious beliefs and practices. People who break law in Quranic sense commit crimes not sins and crimes are punished not forgiven through interventions by individuals. How can one person forgive any criminal when it is God and society against which the criminal has committed the crime? In the natural world if anyone falls in fire or is thrown in fire he will burn. Intervention will be ok to save someone from being thrown into the fire ie to stop one from committing the crime in the first place. Once a crime is committed then punishment is inevitable because Allah tells us he enforces his laws strictly as we see them working in the natural world. Most anti Quran beliefs and practices that are taken as Islamic are actually borrowed from religious people of various religions. This becomes obvious when religious people debate their beliefs and practices with each other. They try to show their personality cults are better than all the rest but in actual fact they cannot. Mullas of Muslim ummah always did the same and still do exactly the same and if Muslim masses will remain stupid then mullas will continue doing the same in future as well at their expense or at the expense of the Muslim ummah. However none succeeds against the other because they are all telling each other lies based upon their ignorance of their scriptures. This is why people need to study their scriptures themselves independent of their priestly classes otherwise they are unlikely to get out of traps set for them by their rulers, mullahs and money lenders to loot and plunder them or to enslave them.
4] and this period of darkness of ignorance as it gradually departs!
Here the Quran is telling mankind some historical facts about human mindset, attitude and behaviour as to how they at times did not bother to know things and at times they pushed ahead and became highly learned or knowledgeable. When people did not bother to learn things they fell in despair and caused immense damage to humanity but when they became learned humanity made progress in leaps and bounds. These are such facts that were unknown or were not thought about by most of the people till recently. Who knew human being evolved from tree of life? Who knew they will become enlightened because ignorance is just a passing phase, be it after a very long while? Here we are today when people have already landed on the moon and they have sent probes to mars which have landed on mars successfully. Human beings lived in utter darkness since the time of their origin depending solely upon their own minds, senses and real world realities like all other animals. They could only interact with whatever was there in order to survive. After evolving to stage of having sense of making proper sense of things they longed for guidance and they received guidance from their creator. Yet many still decided to continue living without guidance. So human beings in a way under went two periods of darkness and one period of enlightenment and another period of enlightenment is yet to come when enlightenment will take place worldwide. Perhaps this is what the Quran calls two deaths and two lives ie people were ignorant about revelation of God so God revealed his message for them through his very first messenger. Then people ignored that message and went dead again after becoming alive and then there is yet another time to come when they will become alive again by learning message of God and living according to it. The question is when this enlightenment will take place? Looking at the human development it seems it is round the corner but looking at number of people still lacking skill for reading and writing or lacking education and ability to think properly it seems yet far away. So only God knows what is really going on in the human world and when his message will find favour in the eyes of humanity as a whole. Rest is anyone’s guess.
5] Is there not in all that a major clue for people who are most learned and highly thoughtful that this Quran is from Allah?
6] Have you not considered how in the best interest of humanity your Creator and Sustainer dealt with Ad people,
7] the residents of Iram, the city of lofty pillars,
8] the like of which had not been built by people in other cities?
9] And with the people of Thamud who hewed out their dwellings in the rocks of the valley?
10] And with Pharaoh the owner of mighty structures, forts and pyramids?
Allah provided these people with all things including brains and senses as well as his guidance yet they failed to use them properly for becoming a proper human community in a kingdom for ensuring their own well being with help and full support of each other and instead they inflicted harms and destructions upon each other for petty personal gains at each other’s expense and ended up destroying themselves through hands of each other. Why then these people who are given this Quran must follow their harmful and destructive way of life instead of way of life advised for them by Allah to turn themselves into best people in the world?
11] He provided them with His guidance as to how they should live properly in this world yet most of these people inflicted harms and destructions upon each other for petty personal gains in their cities disregarding both the bonds of humanity as well as the advice of Allah,
12] and committed great crimes against each other.
13] Therefore your Creator and Sustainer found them facing the consequences of their own thoughts and actions against each other in form of painful suffering.
14] Surely your Creator and Sustainer constantly monitors and takes care of all things by way of His set up systems and laws and He always advised mankind to stay out of trouble and do what is told with ample good reasons.
15] However as for a human being, when his Creator and Sustainer finds him working according to His program and His set-up systems and laws deliver him blissful, dignified and secure life then he ends up saying, my Creator and Sustainer has honoured my hard work.
16] But when his Creator and Sustainer finds him working according to his own desires and plans against His advised way of life therefore His set-up systems and laws deliver him consequences of his own harmful and destructive thoughts and actions against others whereby his provisions become restricted for him then he ends up unduly blaming his Creator and Sustainer saying, my Creator and Sustainer has put me through this disgraceful humiliation.
17] No, that is not true rather you people adopt the way of life based upon foundation of personal; gains at each other’s expense whereby you inflict harms and destructions upon each other for petty personal gains and that way you undermine dignity of weaker individuals among yourselves
18] because you do not set up, organise and regulate your people in your human family properly to fulfil their needs properly
19] that is how some of you devour what is rightfully assigned by Us for others among you to inherit and consume or use
20] because you gladly but needlessly unduly out of greed lay your hands on whatever fruits of human labour belong to others out of your burning desire or over powering love for it disregarding humanity and guidance of your Creator and Sustainer.
Word JAMMAA is from root JEEM, MEEM and MEEM. Concrete meaning of this root is to put in place a mechanism whereby all wealth ends up in same hand. A deep ditch with such slope wherein gathers rainwater from all sides. Also hoarding, gathering of ample wealth in various forms by various ways and means, to fill the pot totally to the top that any further drop will cause spill. To be filled or fully satisfied, to feel relieved and comfortable, to be full of something to the utmost degree, to have something overflowing, to gather too much of something, a huge gathering of people, gathering of wealth into a few hands, large group of people, multitude, to be abound or plentiful, forelock, dearly, excessive, extra, to have something beyond one’s need, to be relaxed, to cause dearth, to cause scarcity, to take too much of something that nothing is left for others, to cause poverty or hardship or difficulty or problem by doing something the wrong way, to hoard up beyond one’s need, to stop or prevent or hinder things from going to others etc etc.
This verse is talking about how people use tricks and mechanisms to grab power and wealth for purpose of dominating each other and that way end up undermining each other therefore they stop humanity from growth and prosperity out of jealousy and envy of each other, which leads to hatred of each other and then wars against each other. God created all things with advantages including human beings so people must not take undue advantages of each other through dividing humanity on various negative discriminatory grounds or result sooner and later will be painful suffering for humanity due to lack of growth and development of humanity to its full potential. Stopping or hindering growth or development of any human beings is a huge loss for humanity. The more members of human family are harmed or destroyed by each other the weaker or less capable becomes human family. If anything all people must do their utmost to help each other grow and develop so that human family could become stronger and more capable.
21] Be warned that things should not be this way, if you do not stop doing all this then time will come when the human world will be taken over by rapid successions of bloody revolutions,
22] and that way the rule of law based upon guidance of your Creator and Sustainer will be brought about by His missionaries, who will come wave upon wave.
23] That is why there could come a time when all hell breaks loose. At that time the group of people opponent of Our advised way of life will be made to face consequences of its thoughts and actions against each other but how will that reminder benefit it?
24] It will be wish of each of its member at the time, would that I had done the best with my life according to my Creator and Sustainer given abilities for ensuring well being of mankind.
25] As in that period of time there will not be worst consequences than those which such a person will suffer.
26] that is how His inescapable or binding law of cause and effect will make such people face the consequences of their harmful and destructive thoughts and actions against each other.
27] So O you, the members of human family who are looking for blissful, dignified and secure existence!
28] Turn to way of life advised by your Creator and Sustainer and be consistent with it as well as with each other as you ought to be.
29] Therefore join supporters of My advised way of life for mankind who are striving for establishment of this way of life
30] so that you all could enter blissful, dignified and secure existence as a proper human community in a kingdom for ensuring your own well being through help and full support of each other to fulfil My assigned mission.
What a great message for mankind from their creator and sustainer! People should give it its due consideration if they want to have the great life it promises and if one day people want to spread throughout the universe as explained already sooner rather than later. Individualism is only going to continue causing problem for human beings so people should come together ideologically as well as they are born of each other wherefore they are a family. Individualism within the family or group is fine because a family or group is as good as and as strong as its individual members. If a family or group prevents or hinders growth and development of its members, it ends up damaged or totally destroyed.
