Discover the Holy Quran, Surah 4. An-Nisa' Verses 153-176

[taul]

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


4:153 The people of the Book ask thee to cause a book to descend to them from heaven: Indeed they asked Moses for an even greater (miracle), for they said: "Show us Allah in public," but they were dazed for their presumption, with thunder and lightning. Yet they worshipped the calf even after clear signs had come to them; even so we forgave them; and gave Moses manifest proofs of authority.


4:154 And for their covenant we raised over them (the towering height) of Mount (Sinai); and (on another occasion) we said: "Enter the gate with humility"; and (once again) we commanded them: "Transgress not in the matter of the sabbath." And we took from them a solemn covenant.

4:155(They have incurred divine displeasure): In that they broke their covenant; that they rejected the signs of Allah; that they slew the Messengers in defiance of right; that they said, "Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah's Word; we need no more)";- Nay, Allah hath set the seal on their hearts for their blasphemy, and little is it they believe;-

4:156 That they rejected Faith; that they uttered against Mary a grave false charge;

4:157 That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.;- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:-

4:158 Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise;-

4:159 And there is none of the People of the Book but must believe in him before his death; and on the Day of Judgment he will be a witness against them;-

4:160 For the iniquity of the Jews We made unlawful for them certain (foods) good and wholesome which had been lawful for them;- in that they hindered many from Allah's Way;-

4:161 That they took usury, though they were forbidden; and that they devoured men's substance wrongfully;- we have prepared for those among them who reject faith a grievous punishment.


4:162 But those among them who are well-grounded in knowledge, and the believers, believe in what hath been revealed to thee and what was revealed before thee: And (especially) those who establish regular prayer and practise regular charity and believe in Allah and in the Last Day: To them shall We soon give a great reward.

4:163 We have sent thee inspiration, as We sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him: we sent inspiration to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and solomon, and to David We gave the Psalms.

4:164 Of some apostles We have already told thee the story; of others We have not;- and to Moses Allah spoke direct;-

4:165 Messenger. who gave good news as well as warning, that mankind, after (the coming) of the apostles, should have no plea against Allah. For Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.

4:166 But Allah beareth witness that what He hath sent unto thee He hath sent from His (own) knowledge, and the angels bear witness: But enough is Allah for a witness.

4:167 Those who reject Faith and keep off (men) from the way of Allah, have verily strayed far, far away from the Path.

4:168 Those who reject Faith and do wrong,- Allah will not forgive them nor guide them to any way-

4:169 Except the way of Hell, to dwell therein for ever. And this to Allah is easy.


4:170 O Mankind! The Messenger hath come to you in truth from Allah. believe in him: It is best for you. But if ye reject Faith, to Allah belong all things in the heavens and on earth: And Allah is All-knowing, All-wise.

4:171 O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of Allah aught but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) an apostle of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His apostles. Say not "Trinity" : desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is one Allah. Glory be to Him: (far exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs.


4:172 Christ disdaineth nor to serve and worship Allah, nor do the angels, those nearest (to Allah): those who disdain His worship and are arrogant,-He will gather them all together unto Himself to (answer).


4:173 But to those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, He will give their (due) rewards,- and more, out of His bounty: But those who are disdainful and arrogant, He will punish with a grievous penalty; Nor will they find, besides Allah, any to protect or help them.

4:174 O mankind! verily there hath come to you a convincing proof from your Lord: For We have sent unto you a light (that is) manifest.

4:175 Then those who believe in Allah, and hold fast to Him,- soon will He admit them to mercy and grace from Himself, and guide them to Himself by a straight way.

4:176 They ask thee for a legal decision. Say: Allah directs (thus) about those who leave no descendants or ascendants as heirs. If it is a man that dies, leaving a sister but no child, she shall have half the inheritance: If (such a deceased was) a woman, who left no child, Her brother takes her inheritance: If there are two sisters, they shall have two-thirds of the inheritance (between them): if there are brothers and sisters, (they share), the male having twice the share of the female. Thus doth Allah make clear to you (His law), lest ye err. And Allah hath knowledge of all things.


May Allah help us act upon the guidance we receive from the Holy Quran

 

[taul]

--Surah 5. Al-Ma'ida Verses 1-18


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



1- O ye who believe! fulfill (all) obligations. Lawful unto you (for food) are all four-footed animals, with the exceptions named: But animals of the chase are forbidden while ye are in the sacred precincts or in pilgrim garb: for Allah doth command according to His will and plan.

2- O ye who believe! Violate not the sanctity of the symbols of Allah, nor of the sacred month, nor of the animals brought for sacrifice, nor the garlands that mark out such animals, nor the people restoring to the sacred house, seeking of the bounty and good pleasure of their Lord. But when ye are clear of the sacred precincts and of pilgrim garb, ye may hunt and let not the hatred of some people in (once) shutting you out of the Sacred Mosque lead you to transgression (and hostility on your part). Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancour: fear Allah. for Allah is strict in punishment.

3- Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah. that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form); that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion to you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, Allah is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.

4- They ask thee what is lawful to them (as food). Say: lawful unto you are (all) things good and pure: and what ye have taught your trained hunting animals (to catch) in the manner directed to you by Allah. eat what they catch for you, but pronounce the name of Allah over it: and fear Allah. for Allah is swift in taking account.

5- This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the People of the Book, revealed before your time,- when ye give them their due dowers, and desire chastity, not lewdness, nor secret intrigues if any one rejects faith, fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).

6- O ye who believe! when ye prepare for prayer, wash your faces, and your hands (and arms) to the elbows; Rub your heads (with water); and (wash) your feet to the ankles. If ye are in a state of ceremonial impurity, bathe your whole body. But if ye are ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from offices of nature, or ye have been in contact with women, and ye find no water, then take for yourselves clean sand or earth, and rub therewith your faces and hands, Allah doth not wish to place you in a difficulty, but to make you clean, and to complete his favour to you, that ye may be grateful.

7- And call in remembrance the favour of Allah unto you, and His covenant, which He ratified with you, when ye said: "We hear and we obey": And fear Allah, for Allah knoweth well the secrets of your hearts.

8- O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

9- To those who believe and do deeds of righteousness hath Allah promised forgiveness and a great reward.

10- Those who reject faith and deny Our Signs will be companions of Hell-fire.

11- O ye who believe! Call in remembrance the favour of Allah unto you when certain men formed the design to stretch out their hands against you, but (Allah) held back their hands from you: so fear Allah. And on Allah let believers put (all) their trust.

12- Allah did aforetime take a covenant from the Children of Israel, and we appointed twelve captains among them. And Allah said: "I am with you: If ye (but) establish regular prayers, practise regular charity, believe in my apostles, honour and assist them, and loan to Allah a beautiful loan, verily I will wipe out from you your evils, and admit you to gardens with rivers flowing beneath; but if any of you, after this, resisteth faith, he hath truly wandered from the path or rectitude.

13- But because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard; they change the words form their (right) places and forget a good part of the message that was sent them, nor wilt thou cease to find them- barring a few - ever bent on (new) deceits: but forgive them, and overlook (their misdeeds): for Allah loveth those who are kind.

14- From those, too, who call themselves Christians, We did take a covenant, but they forgot a good part of the message that was sent them: so we estranged them, with enmity and hatred between the one and the other, to the day of judgment. And soon will Allah show them what it is they have done.

15- O people of the Book! There hath come to you our Messenger, revealing to you much that ye used to hide in the Book, and passing over much (that is now unnecessary). There hath come to you from Allah a (new) light and a perspicuous Book,-

16- Wherewith Allah guideth all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety, and leadeth them out of darkness, by His will, unto the light, - guideth them to a path that is straight.

17- In blasphemy indeed are those that say that Allah is Christ the son of Mary. Say: "Who then hath the least power against Allah, if His will were to destroy Christ the son of Mary, his mother, and all every - one that is on the earth? For to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between. He createth what He pleaseth. For Allah hath power over all things."

18- (Both) the Jews and the Christians say: "We are sons of Allah, and his beloved." Say: "Why then doth He punish you for your sins? Nay, ye are but men,- of the men he hath created: He forgiveth whom He pleaseth, and He punisheth whom He pleaseth: and to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all that is between: and unto Him is the final goal (of all)"

May Allah help us act upon the guidance we receive from the Holy Quran.

 

[patriot]

4:153 (O Prophet) People of the Scripture ask you to bring a published book from the sky. They made a greater demand to Moses when they said, "Show us God face to face". And their psyche was such that when a bolt of lightning struck around them, they fell in fear (2:55). They had displaced the true belief with falsehood. After that, they chose the calf for worship although they had seen the Manifest Truth. Yet, We pardoned them and gave Moses evident Authority (for their Guidance).

4:154 Then We made a Covenant with them at the raised Mount Sinai as a witness. We said to them, Enter the gate of the town humbly (2:63). And We said to them, Do not violate the Sabbath. Indeed We had made with them a Solemn Covenant.

4:155 They incurred condemnation for breaking their Covenant, rejecting Gods revelations, and killing the prophets wrongfully. And for saying, Our hearts are wrapped up; we have made up our minds. Nay, Gods Law sets the seal on their hearts because of their persistent denial. They lost their faculties of reasoning. So they do not acknowledge the Truth, except a few.

4:156 And for their disbelief to the extent that they brought a terrible charge against Mary.

4:157 And for claiming, We killed the Messiah Jesus son of Mary, Gods Messenger. They never killed him and never crucified him. But it appeared so to them and the matter remained dubious to them. Those who hold conflicting views on this issue are indeed confused. They have no real knowledge but they are following mere conjecture. Very certainly, they never killed him.

4:158 Nay, God exalted him unto Himself. (They had plotted thinking that crucifixion was a death of dishonor. But God raised him in honor.) God is Almighty, Wise.

4:159 Everyone among the People of the Book must believe before dying, in the Truth just stated. Jesus will be a witness against them on the Day of Resurrection [that he was neither crucified nor raised to the heavens. God is not confined to the heavens]

4:160 Due to the transgressions of the Jews We had forbidden them good things that were before allowed them, and because of their consistent hindering from the Way of God.

4:161 Their clergy made usury permissible although it was forbidden, and they devoured the wealth of people with falsification. We have readied for the rejecters grievous suffering.

4:162 Among them (the Jews) these are those who are well founded in knowledge. And have attained conviction in what has been revealed to you, and in what was revealed before you. They are supporters of the Divine System and of the Just Economic Order, believers in God and in the Last Day. We shall soon give them an immense reward. [Islam is for all humanity. Any prior affiliations are irrelevant. 2:62, 3:19, 4:125]

4:163 We have sent you the Revelation as We sent it to Noah and the prophets after him. We sent revelations to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and his progeny (the Tribes), Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon; and to David We gave Zaboor. [Zaboor = The Psalms = A book of Divine Wisdom]

4:164 We sent Our messengers to all nations with a uniform Message. We have told you the stories of some in the Quran, of the others We have not. (However, all of them were assigned a Common Mission.) And God spoke directly to Moses.

4:165 All messengers gave good news, as well as warning, so that humans would not have an argument against God, after the messengers conveyed to them the Guidance. God is Almighty, Wise.

4:166 God bears witness concerning what He has revealed to you. With His Own knowledge He has revealed it. If you reflect on the Order in the Universe, you shall find that His angels, the Universal Laws, bear witness. And God is Sufficient Witness.

4:167 Those who deny such obvious Reality and try to hinder from the Way of God, have wandered far astray.

4:168 Those who indulge in such blatant denial and hinder people from Gods Way, are wrongdoers. They are violating one of the basic human rights i.e. that of attaining knowledge (4:167). According to the Law of Requital, they block their own way to forgiveness and Guidance.

4:169 The only way the Divine Law leaves open for them is the lasting Hell of Requital. And it is easy for God.

4:170 O People! The Messenger has come to you with Truth from your Lord. If you believe, it is best for you. If you deny, know that to God belongs everything in the heavens and the earth. God is All Knowing, All Wise. [Following His Commands brings you to harmony with the Universe]

4:171 O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion. Say nothing about God except the Truth. The Messiah Jesus son of Mary was a Messenger of God, the fulfillment of His Word to Mary, created according to the Laws of Creation and given free will from the Divine Energy (like all human beings 15:29, 32:7-9, 38:72). Believe in God and His messengers, and say not: Three". Cease! It is for your own good. God is but One God. Far removed it is from His Supreme Majesty that He should have a son. Everything in the Highs and everything in the Lows belongs to Him. He is the Self-Sufficient Sustainer of the Universe. [2:255]

4:172 Never was the Messiah too proud to serve God, nor the angels nearest to Him shy from obeying Him. Whoever shuns His service and is proud, He will assemble all unto Him.

4:173 God will give rewards and add of His Bounty on those who attain belief and contribute to the society. On the other hand, His Law of Requital will dispense an awful doom to those who were scornful and proud. And they will find no one besides God, to protect or help them.

4:174 O Mankind! There has come to you a Convincing Proof from your Lord, and We have sent unto you a profound Beacon of Light.

4:175 God will admit into His Grace those who believe in Him and hold fast to His Commands, and facilitate for them the Straight Road to Him.

4:176 They ask you about the inheritance of a person who is survived by neither ascendants nor descendants. If one dies and leaves no children, and he had a sister, she gets half the inheritance. If she dies first, he inherits from her if she left no children. If there were two sisters they get two-thirds of the inheritance, if there are sisters and brothers, the brother would get twice the share of the sister for reasons already explained (2:80, 4:11). God clarifies the Laws so that you might not go astray. God is the Knower of all things.

 

[patriot]

Surah 5. Al Maaedah The Table Spread

This is the fifth Surah of the Quran and it has 120 verses. Establishment of the Divine System ensures heavenly bounties on everyones table spread. The Quran is a perfected guide for all humanity.

With the Glorious Name of Allah, the Instant and Sustaining Source of all Mercy and Kindness

5:1 O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Fulfill your pledges and obligations. Permitted for you for food are all plant-eating livestock with the exceptions named (5:3). God has ordained that all hunting is prohibited during Hajj. Surely, God ordains as He deems fit. [Baheema-tul-Anaam = The herbivorous cattle = Plant-eating quadrupeds = Livestock]

5:2 O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Do not violate the symbols set up by God, nor the Sacred Months (2:194), neither the gifts nor the camels for use as transport or sacrifice, nor the garlands marking them, nor the people who proceed to the Sacred Sanctuary, Ka'bah, seeking God's Blessings and Approval. When you have completed the Hajj, you are free to hunt. Let not your hatred (or disapproval) of a people lead you to transgression, because they prevented you from going to the Sacred Masjid (48:25). Help one another in acts of collective benefit and in being mindful of God, and do not help one another in deeds that hurt humanity and in creating a wedge between people. Be mindful of Gods Laws. His Law of Requital is strong in grasping.

5:3 The following things are Forbidden to you:
Carrion, blood, the flesh of swine, anything (not just meat) that has been dedicated to any other than God (such as an idol, grave or saint), any animal that has been strangled to death, or beaten to death, or killed by fall, or gored to death, or eaten by a wild animal unless you are able to slaughter it while it is still alive, and (also Forbidden is) what is sacrificed on idolatrous altars (devotional stones or blocks in shrines considered sacred). And (you are forbidden) from dividing one anothers portions through raffling, and divining the future by such means as arrows, for these are deviations. This Day, the rejecters of the Truth have lost all hope of (making compromises with) your System of Life. But, do not fear them, but fear Me. This Day, I have perfected your Law for you, completed My favor upon you, and chosen for you Al-Islam as the System of Life. If anyone is forced by dire necessity (to consume the Forbidden), with no intention of transgression, God is indeed Forgiving, Merciful.
[Mayitah = Carrion = Dead meat = An animal that dies of itself. Azlaam = Divining arrows = The conjecture of foretelling the future = Raffle = Lottery = Dividing things or time for one another through randomly picking up slips of paper. Deen = System of Life = The Law. 2:173, 2:185, 2:219, 5:90]

5:4 They ask you (O Prophet) what foods are Permissible. Tell them all good things of life are Lawful to you. As for the hunting animals, the catch of your trained dogs and falcons, as God has taught you, is Permissible. Mention God's name thereupon. Always be mindful of Gods Laws. His Law of Requital is swift in reckoning.

5:5 This Day, all good food of your choice is made Lawful for you. The food of the People of the Scripture is Lawful for you. And your food is Lawful for them. You are permitted to marry chaste women of the People of the Scripture, (provided they do not indulge in Shirk not associate anyone with God 2:221). You are permitted to marry the virtuous, chaste women among the believers and the virtuous, chaste women of those who were given the Scripture before. You must give your brides a generous marital gift and live with them in honor, not in fornication as secret lovers. (It must be an honest wedlock 4:24.) Anyone who rejects belief, all his work will go vain and He will be among the losers in the Hereafter.

5:6 O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! When you congregate for Salaat, wash your faces and your forearms, hands to the elbows. Lightly rub your heads and your feet to the ankles. If you are in the post-coital state with your spouses, bathe your whole body. But, if you are ill or traveling, or coming from the privy, or are in the post-coital state and find no water, then observe dry ablution by touching clean dry soil and lightly rub your faces and hands. God does not wish to place upon you any difficulty, but to make you clean and to perfect His blessings upon you, that you be grateful. [4:43. Wudhu = Ablution will help prepare mentally for congregational prayer. Tayammum = Dry ablution]

5:7 Remember God's Blessing (Guidance) upon you and His Covenant binding upon you when you said, We hear and we obey. Be mindful of God. God is fully Aware of what is in the hearts. [1:4-5]

5:8 O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Be upholders of justice for the sake of God as witnesses to the Truth. Let not the hatred of any people move you away from justice. Deal justly. That is closer to being upright. Be mindful of your duty to God. Surely, God is fully Aware of what you do.

5:9 God promises the protection of forgiveness and a Great reward to those who attain belief and do works that fulfill the needs of people and increase the well being of society.

5:10 On the other hand, there are those who reject Our revelations openly, or deny them in action. They are the companions of the Insurmountable Barrier. [Selves that fail to develop, are unfit to move up to the higher levels of existence, so they merely survive instead of achieving true immortality. 69:27]

5:11 O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! Remember the Blessing of God. There were people who had aggressive designs against you but He withheld their hands from you. (Due preparation against danger is a strong deterrent 4:71, 8:60). Remain mindful of God and in God let believers put their trust.

5:12 Indeed God made a Covenant with the Children of Israel. We appointed twelve leaders among them. God said to them, "I am with you so long as you follow the Divine Commands, spend your wealth for the community, believe in My messengers, assist them, and give a beautiful loan to God (that is paid back to you manifold in both lives 2:261). I will absolve your imperfections, help you create balance in the society and admit you to Gardens with rivers flowing beneath. But, whoever among you disbelieves after this, will go astray from the Right Path."

5:13 When they broke their Promise, We rejected them and Our Law caused their hearts to harden. So, now they change words from their context and ignore a good part of the Message, forgetting what they were told to bear in mind. (O Prophet) You will not cease to discover betrayal from all but a few of them. Pardon them and forbear. Indeed, God loves those who serve humanity.

5:14 We also made a Covenant with those who say, We are Christians. But they ignored a good part of the Message that was sent to them and forgot what they were told to bear in mind. As a result, Our Law has caused enmity and hatred among them till the Resurrection Day, when God will inform them of what they contrived, (Rivalry based upon Sectarianism and Nationalism, a natural consequence of deviating from the True Message, whether people call themselves Jews, Christians or Muslims.)

5:15 O People of the Book! Now has come to you Our Messenger, to make clear to you much of what you have been concealing from yourselves and others. He ignores much of the irrelevant accounts and pardons much of your misdeeds. Now has come to you from God a Beacon of Light and a Clear Book.

5:16 Through this Book God guides to paths of Peace, those who seek His Approval. He brings them out of darkness into the Light of His Grace, and guides them to the Straight Path.

5:17 They indeed have denied the Truth who say, God is the Messiah, son of Mary. Say, "Who could oppose God if He willed to annihilate the Messiah son of Mary, and his mother and everyone on earth, all of them?" Gods is the Dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them. He creates all things according to His Laws. And God has Power over all things and events.

5:18 Jews and Christians say, "We are God's children and his loved ones". Ask them "Why does He, then, take you to task for your transgressions?" Nay, you are but human beings of His creating. He forgives and punishes according to His Laws. The Dominion of the heavens and the earth and all that is in between them, belongs to God. To Him is the Final Destination of all.