Discover the Holy Quran, Surah 3. Al'Imran Verses 113-140

[taul]

---In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.


113- Not all of them are alike: Of the People of the Book are a portion that stand (For the right): They rehearse the Signs of Allah all night long, and they prostrate themselves in adoration.

114- They believe in Allah and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works: They are in the ranks of the righteous.

115- Of the good that they do, nothing will be rejected of them; for Allah knoweth well those that do right.

116- Those who reject Faith, - neither their possessions nor their (numerous) progeny will avail them aught against Allah. They will be companions of the Fire,-dwelling therein (for ever).

117- What they spend in the life of this (material) world May be likened to a wind which brings a nipping frost: It strikes and destroys the harvest of men who have wronged their own souls: it is not Allah that hath wronged them, but they wrong themselves.

118- O ye who believe! Take not into your intimacy those outside your ranks: They will not fail to corrupt you. They only desire your ruin: Rank hatred has already appeared from their mouths: What their hearts conceal is far worse. We have made plain to you the Signs, if ye have wisdom.

119- Ah! ye are those who love them, but they love you not,- though ye believe in the whole of the Book. When they meet you, they say, "We believe": But when they are alone, they bite off the very tips of their fingers at you in their rage. Say: "Perish in you rage; Allah knoweth well all the secrets of the heart."

120- If aught that is good befalls you, it grieves them; but if some misfortune overtakes you, they rejoice at it. But if ye are constant and do right, not the least harm will their cunning do to you; for Allah Compasseth round about all that they do.

121- Remember that morning Thou didst leave Thy household (early) to post the faithful at their stations for battle: And Allah heareth and knoweth all things:

122- Remember two of your parties Meditated cowardice; but Allah was their protector, and in Allah should the faithful (Ever) put their trust.

123- Allah had helped you at Badr, when ye were a contemptible little force; then fear Allah. thus May ye show your gratitude.

124- Remember thou saidst to the Faithful: "Is it not enough for you that Allah should help you with three thousand angels (Specially) sent down?

125- "Yea, - if ye remain firm, and act aright, even if the enemy should rush here on you in hot haste, your Lord would help you with five thousand angels Making a terrific onslaught.

126- Allah made it but a message of hope for you, and an assurance to your hearts: (in any case) there is no help except from Allah. The Exalted, the Wise:

127- That He might cut off a fringe of the Unbelievers or expose them to infamy, and they should then be turned back, frustrated of their purpose.

128- Not for thee, (but for Allah., is the decision: Whether He turn in mercy to them, or punish them; for they are indeed wrong-doers.

129- To Allah belongeth all that is in the heavens and on earth. He forgiveth Who He pleaseth and punisheth whom He pleaseth; but Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

130- O ye who believe! Devour not usury, doubled and multiplied; but fear Allah. that ye may (really) prosper.

131- Fear the Fire, which is repaired for those who reject Faith:

132- And obey Allah and the Messenger. that ye may obtain mercy.

133- Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Garden whoe width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous,-

134- Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men; - for Allah loves those who do good;-

135- And those who, have done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls, earnestly bring Allah to mind, and ask for forgiveness for their sins,- and who can forgive sins except Allah. - and are never obstinate in persisting knowingly in (the wrong) they have done.

136- For such the reward is forgiveness from their Lord, and Gardens with rivers flowing underneath, - an eternal dwelling: How excellent a recompense for those who work (and strive)!

137- Many were the Ways of Life that have passed away before you: travel through earth, and what was the end of those who rejected Truth.

138- Here is a plain statement to men, a guidance and instruction to those who fear Allah.

139- So lose not heart, nor fall into despair: For ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith.

140- If a wound hath touched you, be sure a similar wound hath touched the others. Such days (of varying forturnes) We give to men and men by turns: that Allah may know those that believe, and that He may take to Himself from your ranks Martyr-witnesses (to Truth). And Allah loveth not those that do wrong.


May Allah help us follow the lessons we learn from the Holy Quran.

 

[patriot]

3:113 They are not all alike. Among the People of the Scripture are those who take a firm stand for the right cause, reflect on the revelations of God all night long and submit in adoration.

3:114 They believe in God (as the One True God), and in the Last Day. They advocate virtue by example, and close the doors to vice by example, and try to lead in acts of collective good. Such are the ones who enrich the society, increase the human potential and thus, rectify their own selves. [Saaliheen embraces all three meanings given in the last sentence]

3:115 Of the good they do, nothing will be rejected of them. For, God is Aware of those who live upright.
[Muttaqeen = Those who walk on a secure path = Those who seek to journey through life in security = Those who live upright. See Taqwa 2:41]

3:116 Indeed, those who reject the Truth and thus choose to live in the darkness of ignorance, neither their wealth nor their children will avail them in the least against (the inevitable consequences of violating the Laws of) God. They are the companions of the Fire, abiding therein.
[Reward and punishment are built-in as the logical consequence of actions e.g. disuse of muscles causes them to atrophy. God does not punish people like human tyrants, out of rage or vengeance 3:182, 4:111, 20:15, 7:147, 27:90]

3:117 The likeness of what they unleash (upon others) in the life of the world is the likeness of an icy wind which destroys their own harvest - a people who failed to protect it. For, it is not God Who wronged them, but it is they who hurt themselves.
[Nafaq = To keep open = To unleash. Zulm includes wrongful acts of commission and omission]

3:118 (Quranic Ideology will always be the basis of an Islamic state.) O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Do not take as confidant intimates others than your own folk. They leave no stone unturned in order to disrupt the harmony in your social fabric, and love to see you in distress. Their malice has already become manifest by their utterances, and what their hearts conceal is far greater. We have made plain the revelations for you so that you exercise reason.

3:119 Ah! You are those who love them, but they do not love you, although you acknowledge (the Truth in) all) the Scripture. When they meet you they assert, We believe (as you believe)." But in their privacy, they bite their fingers in rage against you. Say, Perish in your rage. Surely, God is fully Aware of what is hidden in the hearts." [For my interpolation of the Truth in, please see 2:101]

3:120 If you are blessed with good fortune, it grieves them, and if a calamity befalls you, they rejoice in it. But if you persevere and be on guard, their plotting cannot harm you at all. For, surely, God is All Encompassing whatever they may contrive. [Taqwa = Living upright = Seeking to journey through life in security = Be on guard 2:41]

3:121 (And recall O Prophet, the day of the Uhud Battle), when you left your household early in the morning to deploy the believers in battle positions. And God is All Hearing, All Knowing. [Knowing this, you remembered to use your faculties of listening and observing]

3:122 When two of your units were about to lose heart, God was Patron of them both. God it is, then, in Whom the believers must put their trust. [3:151-152]

3:123 For, indeed, God had granted you help and the victory at Badr, although you were utterly disadvantaged (few and ill-equipped 8:9). Therefore, guard yourselves according to Gods Laws so that your efforts bring results, such that you have cause to be grateful in word and action.

3:124 Remember when you said unto the believers, Is it not sufficient for you that your Lord should help you with three thousand angels, sent down to your hearts?
[Fearlessness, determination, inner calm, and courage are the angels God sends down upon those who strive in His Cause. 8:9-12, 41:30. Taking such verses literally, leads us to wrongly conclude the utter feebleness of 'angels' - the Battle of Badr was fought between 313 Muslims and about 1,000 opponents]

3:125 Surely! If you take a firm stand and be on guard, and the enemy launches on you a sudden attack, your Lord will aid you with five thousand angels, specialized.
[Musawwimeen = Clearly marked = Those given a clear assignment = Branded horses = Destined to succeed = Special forces = Specialized. Once again, the term refers to invincible determination]

3:126 God made this but an allegory to give you glad tiding, and to comfort your hearts, since there is no victory contrary to the Laws of God, the Almighty, the Wise.
3:127 This is how He cuts off a flank of the rejecters, and abases them so that they turn back utterly dejected.
[Yaqta' = He cut off = Sets apart = Sets aside. 'Aw' in this case more appropriately indicates 'and']

3:128 It is not your personal concern (O Messenger) whether He accepts their repentance or punishes them because they have been unjust aggressors.
[The matter will be decided according to Law. Zaalimoon = Oppressors = Violators of human rights = Those who commit unjust aggression = Who displace right with wrong = Those who relegate the Truth]

3:129 (Their case will be decided by Divine Law, since) all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth belongs to God and working His Plan. He (His Law) forgives him that deserves to be forgiven, and chastises him that deserves to be chastised. God is Absolver of faults, Merciful.
[8:42. Individuals and nations get to choose which Law applies to them. Yasha carries the connotations of 'will', deserve, choose, 'due measure' and 'Law']

3:130 [The battle was about repelling aggression. Your prime duty remains to preserve a benevolent society, to which usury is a big detriment. Usury is the return on money while trade is the return on labor. Usury or interest appears to you ever-increasing, but Gods Law blights usury and nourishes the acts of caring 2:275-279]
O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Devour not other people's money by way of usury which is compounded over and over again. Live upright as ordained by God in order to attain true prosperity of the society.

3:131 So, (by avoiding the interest-based economy in your society), guard yourselves against the Fire that has been readied for the rejecters (those who run systems contrary to Divine Laws).
[Kaafireen (disbelievers) in this context, reveals another shade of meaning that is clearly defined in 5:44, Whoever does not judge and rule according to what God has revealed, such are the disbelievers.]

3:132 And obey God and the Messenger (the Central Authority). That is how you will achieve the development of your self. A benevolent society helps you grow like a mother's womb nourishes the embryo. [Turhamoon from Rahm or womb = 'You may find Mercy', carries the meanings rendered in the last two sentences]

3:133 Move forward eagerly to the tranquil security that comes from your Lord, and to the Paradise that transcends spatial boundaries, encompassing the heavens and the earth. It has already been prepared for those who live upright. [Paradise is not confined to the heavens. Like Hell, it begins right here in this world]

3:134 The candidates to this Paradise keep their resources open for others in favorable or adverse circumstances. They divert and sublimate their anger and potentially virulent emotions to creative energy, becoming a source of tranquility and comfort to others. They pardon people gracefully. For, God loves the benefactors of humanity.

3:135 Such men and women quickly correct any wrong or indecency that has occurred from them, by remembering the Commands of God, and thus, protecting themselves from trailing behind in humanity. And who can absolve such imperfections but God? And they know well enough to refrain from persisting in whatever (wrong or indecency) had occurred from them.

3:136 These are the ones whose reward from their Lord is their preservation against the detrimental effects of their errors - and magnificent Gardens with streams flowing beneath, therein to abide. How excellent a reward for the sincere workers!

3:137 Many ways of life have passed away before your time. Travel, then, in the land and behold the end of nations that belied the Reality in their daily lives.
[Mukazzibeen = Those who deny the Truth in practice = Those who deny the Truth = Who live by conjecture instead of the unalterable Divine Laws]

3:138 This Quran is a declaration for the entire mankind, and a Beacon of Light and a beautiful Instruction for those who seek to journey through life in honor and security.

3:139 Do not ever, then, lose heart, and do not grieve, for you are bound to prevail if you are indeed believers. [4:141]

3:140 If a wound has touched you, be sure a similar wound has touched the other community. Such days of varying fortunes between people are governed by Universal Laws. God thus distinguishes the true believers, and takes among you witnesses as Truth personified. Know that God does not love the aggressors.
[Shuhada = Witnesses = Those who uphold the Truth even with their lives = Those slain in the Cause of God = Commonly translated as martyrs]