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Welcome Friends: Ahlan wa sahlan!
I don’t know about you, dear Reader, but I felt utterly humbled yesterday by the great honor bequeathed to us as Humans, in that some of us would be considered ‘Awliyaa’ul-Lah- أولياء الله-’- ‘Those with a close relationship to God’ … and by Whom! This goes to show the role of Awareness in helping us maintain a straight path to our Lord.
Their commentaries can only be read in verse by verse view.
COMMENTS:
1. Today’s Reading begins with Verse 71 in which Prophet Muhammad is told to narrate the story of Prophet Noah, peace upon them both. The Qur’an had mentioned him earlier, and on April 9th we discussed his mission and the definition of ‘fulk- فلك’ as Arc (with a ‘c’ not a ‘k’).
As we said then, his mission as the first of all Prophet-Messengers, was simply to get his people to worship God Alone, which was well-suited to the mental capacity and levels of human advancement at the time. It is truly mind-boggling to try and pair the elaborateness of Revelation with human advancement, but each Messenger did in fact, teach new skills and bring about a leap in human knowledge and responsibility. But the CORE message in all missions was the same:
Worship God Alone (in pure reverence to Him) AND do good deeds.
Verse 72, as we see, ends with Noah stating that he was commanded to be among those who are pure in reverence to God. Interestingly, since Noah was the first Prophet-Messenger to mankind, and Muhammad was the last, the Qur’an mentions both their identical statements, tying all the missions together with both ends of this single thread. Copy + paste "أكون من المسلمين" with quotes in Tanzil, and note that both of them say:
“…and I was commanded to be of those whose Reverence is Purely to God – (of the ‘Muslimeen’).”
2. Verse 74 is well-explained by both Ali and Asad, except for the word ‘apostles’ which is not a good translation for ‘rusul,’ or Messengers!
This verse shows us that once people belie or deny EVIDENCE, they will not believe in it later. This is how people who initially close their minds inevitably seal themselves up, in accordance with human nature (which is created by God).
3. Verse 75 mentions Moses and Aaron, discussed on April 14th, and April 17th. Here we remember that this is a Meccan Chapter, and that the mention of arrogance in this verse would be directed at arrogant listeners then, and now.
Verses 76- 77- 78 continue the narrative. We notice in Verse 78 how adamantly the message of Moses and Aaron was refused by those who could not conceive of forsaking the ways of their forefathers, even though these ways were wrong. This is an indirect reminder to listeners, in Mecca at the time, and everywhere today!
At the end of verse 81 we encounter a statement:
“…indeed God does not set aright the work of Corrupters.”
What this informs us indirectly, is that He actually DOES set aright the work of others!
But who are these O so fortunate people?
· Have attained Faith.
· Are Aware OF GOD.
· Who say what is just and true.
So, their good fortune is related to their Faith and Awareness!
And we find out that, not only does God rectify their works/deeds for them, but He also ‘forgives their sins’ and grants them the supreme accomplishment.
Think. How wonderful is that?
May we be among them!
Verse 82 is another strong statement!
5. Verse 83 shows us the effect of INTIMIDATION: People are often mentally restrained (by those of higher authority) into NOT taking the action they really want to take.
In Verse 84 Moses advises his people (who were intimidated by Pharaoh) to rely on God, if indeed they are pure in Reverence to Him (Muslimeen). They announce their reliance on God, asking Him not to make them an obsessive distraction (fitnah-فتنة) to the Excessive people (Verse 85).
6. Muhammad Asad had already explained to us the word ‘fitnahفتنة-’ earlier saying:
“……. and the noun fitnah have the same root, comprising a great complex of meanings: e.g., test, trial, affliction, temptation to evil, seduction, persecution, oppression, discord, civil strife, etc. (cf. sūrah 8, note 25). Since it is impossible in any language but Arabic to reproduce all these many shades of meaning in a single expression, the rendering of the term fitnah must necessarily vary in accordance with the context in which it is used.”
Because the word 'fatana- فتن' literally denotes 'trial by fire,' as in "trying the metal by fire to extract its gold," (see footnote) I would translate ‘fitnah’ here as a ‘burning, consuming distraction,’ since despite Asad’s excellent explanation of the word, his choice of ‘plaything’ here is unsuitable.
We must remember that humans first fell prey to ‘fitnah’ when the Deviant/Satan seduced the first Cognizant Humans with two unattainable concepts that would become Humanity's most debasing, yet 'burning' goals:
Everlasting Existence and Indestructible Possession الخلد وملك لا يبلى (April 6th).
These two concepts continue to lead us away from our Spirituality, and from our higher Achievements.
‘Fitnah’ is a VERY important topic, especially these days, and I don’t think many of us, as yet, realize what it means:
Moses’ followers asked God not to make of them a ‘fitnah’ for the wrong-doers, although, perhaps, they already were a ‘fitnah,’ a burning obsession to Pharaoh. As we see in other verses, he was so distracted from his own best interests, that he could not stay put, and followed them even after they had already left!
But the prayers of Moses’ followers were answered, in that their period of ‘fitnah’ was short-lived, ending quickly with Pharaoh’s complete destruction. This was the result of their reliance on God.
But the prayers of Moses’ followers were answered, in that their period of ‘fitnah’ was short-lived, ending quickly with Pharaoh’s complete destruction. This was the result of their reliance on God.
Let’s look at any age group, or ethnic group. At any community, nation, or group of nations on this earth.
What is the ‘consuming distraction,’ the ‘hot topic' which is guaranteed to pull their attention away from what is truly important, hindering them from achieving their potential as productive and spiritual Human Beings?
That is their ‘fitnah!’
It could be in the shape of an adversary or a need, whether real or imagined. It could be a pastime or a sport. It could masquerade as religion or secularism, morality or liberalism. It could be a quagmire of historic proportion, bringing perpetual guilt upon some and victimhood upon others. Whatever shape it takes, it gets hyped up until it consumes people’s thoughts and is perceived to threaten their sense of self and way of life, limiting their focus to immediate, short-term goals, and ultimately hindering them from achieving their full potential as productive and spiritual Human Beings.
Whether it is real, an exaggeration of reality, or a figment of imagination… THAT is their ‘fitnah.’
(How could we leave our children such a legacy?)
I believe that if Believers of all ‘faiths’ refocused on God and relied on Him, if Peace-lovers of all nations unmasked the war-mongers in their midst, we would begin to see the best in our fellow humans. Then perhaps, the ‘fitnah’ which we have all indeed become to each other, would gradually burn out, to the benefit of all.
I believe that if Believers of all ‘faiths’ refocused on God and relied on Him, if Peace-lovers of all nations unmasked the war-mongers in their midst, we would begin to see the best in our fellow humans. Then perhaps, the ‘fitnah’ which we have all indeed become to each other, would gradually burn out, to the benefit of all.
7. In Verse 86 Moses’ followers also ask God to deliver them, by His Mercy, from the Denying people. Verse 87 continues, as God informs Moses and his brother to tell their people to put all their energy into prayer, transforming each home into a ‘qiblah’ or prayer-direction.
In Verse 88 we feel Moses’ frustration, in his heartfelt, severe, prayer against Pharaoh and his chieftains.
Enough said!
Our next Reading is from HQ 10: 89-106.
Peace unto all!
فتن: يدلُّ على ابتلاء واختبار. من ذلك الفِتْنة. يقال: فتَنْتُ أفتِنُ فَتْناً. وفَتَنْتُ الذّهبَ بالنّار، إذا امتحنتَه. وهو مفتونٌ وفَتِين. والفَتَّان: الشَّيطان. ويقال: فتنه وأفْتَنَه. قال الخليل: الفَتْن: الإحراق. وشيءٌ فتين: أي مُحْرَق. ويقال للحَرَّة: فَتين، كأنَّ حجارتَها مُحرَقة
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