Day 38; HQ 3:187-200, pages 75+76

Welcome Friends:  Ahlan wa sahlan!

Chapter Three of the Qur’an  ends with today’s Reading!

1.     Verses 187-188 tell us that those from the (earlier) Compilation who had turned their backs on the Message and ‘sold’ it off for cheap gain, were in fact doing so in breach of a pledge they had with God. 

Their ‘selling’ or ‘bartering’ of God’s signs for a ‘trifling gain’ (ثمناً قليلاً) has been mentioned several times so far, each time from a different angle. (HQ2:41; 2:79; 2:174; 3:77; 3:187).

Ali’s note 494 is interesting: “Privileged priesthood at once erects a barrier…But worse when such priesthood tampers with the truth.. it has sold God’s gift for a miserable ephemeral profit..” 

Muhammad Asad, with his early indoctrination in Torah and Hebrew, does not mince words saying: “The implication of verse 187 above is that the advent of the Prophet Muhammad was predicted in both the Old and New Testaments…..” and that they should have spread this prophecy NOT suppressed it.

2.     Verse 189 is a statement of fact.  The Omnipotence it describes punctuates the previous verse, and also introduces the wonder of creation in the following verse, 190.  We are also reminded here of the descriptive verses of HQ2:164.

3.     Verses 191-194 describe ‘ulul albaab’ (أولوا الأباب) translated by Yusuf Ali as ‘men of understanding,’ and by Muhammad Asad as ‘who are endowed with insight.’  Both translations are correct, but offer a limited rendering of the word.  Certainly, its singular, ‘Lub’ does means the core of something, and Arabs have used it to mean 'mind,' as in 'labeeb,' meaning intelligent, or witty. However, there is more: as it is derived from the root verb ‘labba’ which refers to being physically or emotionally settled and attached; committed.  The ‘talbiyah’ of Pilgrimage (Hajj) comes from that root verb ('Labbeyk Allaahuma Labbeyk'  the words which announce a pilgrim's dedication and commitment to God)!  
    As a Reader, what do you think of translating it as ‘those of insight and dedication, or commitment?’

Their prayer is worth memorizing. 

We have encountered those very special people in the Qur’an so far 5 times (HQ2:179; 197; 269; 3:7; 3:190)

4.     God responds to the prayers of the 'Insightful and Dedicated' in Verse 195, that no deed of any ‘worker’ will go unrewarded, for all are equal -one of the other-be they male or female, HOWEVER for those who have tasted hardship (listed in verse) there will be a special recompense: God Himself will ‘cover for them’ their misdeeds (سيئات) and bring them into gardens through which running rivers flow…

5.     In Verses 196-198 The Faithful are told not mistake as gifts from God any good fortune by which the Deniers 'transform' themselves (other verses such as 19:75 explain).  We are then shown the 'finale' of two opposite groups, the Forthcoming 'Abraar' versus those who had Denied 'allatheena Kafaru', narrating both their outcomes.  (For definition of 'bir' see Jan 16, Feb 4.) What a difference indeed!   

6.     Verse 199 is a conclusion: This Chapter, the ‘Family of Imran,’ having had as one of its main themes the Prophets bearing (earlier) Compilation and the People who followed them (أهل الكتاب), and having commended or criticized those followers for their faith or their failings, now arrives at a conclusion:  it wraps up its message on  a note of praise and reward to those who had earlier accepted the following tenets:

Say: "O followers of earlier revelation! Come unto that tenet which we and you hold in common: that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall not ascribe divinity to aught beside Him, and that we shall not take human beings for our lords beside God." And if they turn away, then say: "Bear witness that it is we who have surrendered ourselves unto Him." (3:64)

7.    Verse 199 is beautiful::

And, behold, among the followers of earlier revelation there are indeed such as [truly] believe in God, and in that which has been bestowed from on high upon you as well as in that which has been bestowed upon them. Standing in awe of God, they do not barter away God's messages for a trifling gain. They shall have their reward with their Sustainer - for, behold, God is swift in reckoning! (199)

8.     Success in life as an immediate goal has been mentioned so far 5 times in the Qur’an ( HQ2:5; 2:189; 3:104; 3:130; 3:200), root verb ‘falaha’ (فلح).  The first time we came across the word was at the very beginning of al Baqara- the Heifer.

9.    The Final Verse in today’s Reading is dedicated to those who have attained Faith:

 O you who have attained to faith! Be patient in adversity, and vie in perseverance with one another, and be ever ready [to do what is right], and remain Aware of God, so that you might succeed (in life)!

Enough said!

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Have a Blessed Weekend!

Our next Reading is HQ4:1-11, the new Chapter translated by most as ‘the Women.’

Peace unto all!

(لب)  يدلُّ على لزومٍ وثبات، وعلى خلوص وجَوْدة.

فالأوَّل ألَبَّ بالمكان، إذا أقام به، يُلبُّ إلبابا. ورجلٌ لَبٌّ بهذا الأمر، إذا لازَمه وحكى الفرّاء: امرأةٌ لَبَّةٌ: مُحِبَّةٌ لزوجها، ومعناه أنَّها ثابتة على وُدِّه أبداً. ومن الباب التلبية، وهو قوله: لَبَّيْك. قالوا: معناه أنا مقيمٌ على طاعتك.