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Welcome Friends: Ahlan wa sahlan!
Today we salute our Partners in faith of Jewish and Christian background, those Purely Reverent to God: Our Reading today includes several most beautiful verses about you!
Their commentaries can only be read in verse by verse view.
COMMENTS:
1. Today’s Reading (Verse 29) leaps 8-10 years forward: Prophet Moses, peace upon him (now married and travelling with his family), feels comforted by the fire he perceives ‘by the side of the Ttoor.’ ‘Ttoor[i]’ denotes an expanse, a towering ‘height,’ a‘mountain.’
He decides to approach the fire on his own to and return with news and kindling (we read something similar in HQ 20:10 and 27:7, but each time it is recounted we gain more information).
Aside: ‘Ttoor’ is the origin of the English word ‘tower’ and French ‘tour,’ but, as usual NOBODY MENTIONS THIS, although it really is quite obvious (see footnote).
If interested, check out this list of ‘Arabic Loanwords.’ I have many other words to add to this list, but they would probably not ‘qualify’ because I did not ‘get them from a leading Etymology Dictionary!’
2. Verses 30- 31- 32 tell us what God said to Moses (also mentioned previously in Chapters 20 & 27). Moses answers in Verses 33- 34, expressing his apprehension of being killed by Pharaoh for having killed one of his people. He also shows his need for his brother Aaron’s support, seeing that the latter is more eloquent.
God grants him his request in Verse 35, promising him victory over Pharaoh and his hosts, who would not be able to get to them.
3. In Verses 36- 37 we listen to Pharaoh’s people accusing Moses of ‘concocted sorcery,’ and to Moses’ response.
4. Verses 38- 40 tell us about Pharaoh: After announcing to his people that he knew of no God other than himself for them, he asked for a lofty building to be erected (as in HQ 40:36) so that he might take a look at Moses’ God …!
Let us compare that with his wife. Actually, Pharaoh’s wife is considered a paragon of Faith as we see in HQ 66:11:
‘And God sets forth, as an example to those who believe, the wife of Pharaoh: Behold she said: "O my Lord! Build for me, in nearness to Thee, a mansion in the Garden, and save me from Pharaoh and his doings, and save me from those that do wrong.’
(Yusuf Ali)
Let’s think:
As King, as Ruler leading his people, Pharaoh had the responsibility of guiding them, but as the statement in HQ 20:79 assured us:
‘Pharaoh led his people astray instead of leading them aright!’ (Yusuf Ali)
It comes to mind, to compare him, as Ruler of his people, to the Queen of Sheba, as Ruler of her people! Where he was an arrogant tyrant, she was an advice-seeking peacemaker. He couldn’t handle the fact that Bani Isra’eel were free, and went after them even after having witnessed the Nine powerful Signs sent by God, even as his own wife was praying for an abode in Heaven! The Queen of Sheba needed no forceful Signs; she had became a Believer by simple observation.
It is indicative of the Qur’anic view of womanhood to see examples such as these. Even before believing in Solomon, the Queen of Sheba was:
· Farsighted and wise (HQ 27:34): A Queen stating that she should try to prevent invasion, because the known M.O, of invaders is to despoil any township they enter, demeaning its honorable citizens!
· A Peacemaker (HQ 27:35): A Queen preferring to defend her nation by interaction, sending an offering rather than an army.
As for Pharaoh and his hosts, Verses 41- 42 show us their violent and ugly end, brought on by the ugliness and violence of their deeds.
In Verse 43 we hear a statement concerning the Compilation delivered to Moses, peace upon him, describing it as ‘….Insight to Cognizant Humans, and Guidance and Mercy perchance they might Remember.’
5. In Verses 44- 46 we read the words ‘..and you were not at… when...وما كنت’ FOUR times! This is one reason why this Chapter is called ‘the Accurate Account,’ because God is giving His Messenger an account of important occurrences which took place at specific locations and times… which he had not witnessed. Here we ‘hear the voice’ of God showing us His Messenger’s human limitations.
(Again, I don’t agree at all with Asad’s ‘Sinai;’ it is NOT what this verse says.)
We also learn (Verses 47- 48) of one reason why the story of Moses is so often repeated in the Qur’an:
It seems that some of Prophet Muhammad’s contemporaries had been asking God for a Messenger so that they could follow His Signs and Believe. When the Truth arrived to them, they asked for something similar to what Moses had received, although they were among those who had denied Moses and Aaron and accused them of being two sorcerers.
In Verse 49 the Messenger, peace upon him, is told to challenge them to produce a better-guiding Compilation which he would then follow, if indeed they were truthful.
Verse 50 shows us that they won’t; they were but ignorantly ‘justifying their actions.’ This ‘ignorant justification’ is called in the Qur’an ‘تتبع الهوى following plummeting desire.’ This ‘Hawa’ is always based on ignorance, so it really is an ‘intellectual’ void.
Ali calls 'ahwaa' (plural of Hawa) ‘lusts,’ while Asad calls them ‘likes and dislikes.’
Dear Reader:
See my response (at bottom) to a Reader’s valuable comment on ‘Desire.’ Let me know what YOU think.
6. In Verses 51- 52 Qureish are warned that, after having received this Message, they are reminded and have no further excuse- furthermore, that those who had received (earlier) Compilation, DO believe in it.
Then, Verses 53- 55 describe the People of (earlier) Compilation, who now believe in this Message -in the most beautiful terms. When it is recited to these people of Jewish and Christian backgrounds they announce that:
· They have Believed in it.
· It is the Truth from their Lord.
· They were Purely Reverent (Muslim) even before it!
Dear Reader:
What you have just read is what most ‘New’ Believers say: They tell us that they were ‘Purely Reverent’ even before reading the Qur’an or being introduced to what we call ‘Islam.’
Q. How is that?
A. Because what was ORIGINALLY called Islam is truly universal. To grasp this concept, see the definition of ‘Islaam’ before you continue. It is unfortunate that most of us who call ourselves ‘Muslims’ today do not correctly portray ‘Islam.’ Often, those who enter ‘Islam’ by choice do a better job than we do because:
· It was a choice they made in all Awareness.
· They applied it without parental or societal conditioning.
Actually, ‘Pure Reverence to God’ has no label other than itself. Purely Reverent people might be perceived as ‘belonging’ to various so-called ‘Religions,’ although their hearts and minds believe purely in One God. Remember that Prophets Abraham and Jacob, peace upon them, both enjoined upon their children on their death-beds not to die except in Pure Reverence to God.
Deen’ in Arabic does NOT mean Religion.
Remember: According to the Qur’an and the Arabic language, there is nothing called ‘religions.’ It is not a different ‘religion’ that each of us has, but a different system شرعة and a different approach منهاج [ii]– and that’s how God willed it, to see who accomplishes best with what they are given (as explained on March 12th).
So, despite our different systems and approaches, each of us can have only one ‘Deen’ "دين" or ‘Standard of ‘accountability/ liability’ (with regard to ourselves).
As for God, HIS assessment of us –ie the Standard by which He calls us all to account- is pure and flawless:
“Indeed, the Standard of Accountability to God (by which He holds all to account), is pure and flawless…”
(HQ 3:19)
الدين عند الله الإسلام...) (إن
As we said on Jan. 29th:
This is why the word ‘deen’ HAS NO PLURAL (in other words, the word ‘adyan’ as plural of ‘deen,’ was coined in modern times, and does NOT exist in the oldest lexicon).
We are often liable to one another, and we are ALWAYS accountable to God: a debt is ‘deyn,’ and the Day of Accountability is ‘Yawm il Deen.’
'Medina' means 'she to whom all are liable and accountable.' It is a striking fact that no sooner had Prophet Muhammad, peace upon him, settled in 'Yethrib' that he changed the historic name of this town to one which indicates the new level of civic and moral accountability which would henceforth bind its citizens together and spread around the world! Civilization is 'medeniyyeh,' for there can be no civilization without accountability, in fact, the more advanced a civilization the higher the accountability of its governing and non-governing citizens to each other and to their laws. THIS is how early Muslims understood 'Deen' and how they spread their beautiful message.
'Medina' means 'she to whom all are liable and accountable.' It is a striking fact that no sooner had Prophet Muhammad, peace upon him, settled in 'Yethrib' that he changed the historic name of this town to one which indicates the new level of civic and moral accountability which would henceforth bind its citizens together and spread around the world! Civilization is 'medeniyyeh,' for there can be no civilization without accountability, in fact, the more advanced a civilization the higher the accountability of its governing and non-governing citizens to each other and to their laws. THIS is how early Muslims understood 'Deen' and how they spread their beautiful message.
So, back to our three verses (53- 54- 55) which describe the Believers (of Jewish and Christian backgrounds), listing their qualities and recounting their beautiful declarations of faith (italicized below):
Firstly, they announced:
· We have Believed in this Message.
· It is the Truth from our Lord.
· We were Purely Reverent to God even before it!
Secondly, such esteemed persons shall be given their reward two-fold because:
· They patiently persevered.
· They warded off the Bad, with Good.
· They spent (on others) of what God had provided them.
· They turned away upon hearing vain talk, stating:
To each of us our deeds-
Peace upon you-
We shall not pursue the Ignorant!
What beauty of word and of Faith!
I've hyperlinked Muhammad Asad’s interpretation because he is one such person, and his comments show that he understood -and suffered- the hardships of such a pivotal life-change. A 'must-read' is his beautiful book 'The Road to Mecca' which, by taking us on his personal journey (as journalist Leopold Weiss) from Judaism to Islam, induces soul-searching so deep that it does not matter what 'faith' the reader 'belongs' to.
Among you, my dear Readers, are those who have made a conscious choice such as his. You are entitled by God to receive a double-reward for whatever you do (and it would be my honor, dear Friend, if you would count me as your assistant in explaining the Qur’an!).
Among you, my dear Readers, are those who have made a conscious choice such as his. You are entitled by God to receive a double-reward for whatever you do (and it would be my honor, dear Friend, if you would count me as your assistant in explaining the Qur’an!).
7. Verse 56 is oft-quoted.
We should realize that no matter how hard we wished for someone we love ‘to walk in the light of Guidance,’ it is not up to us in the end whether they do or don’t.
And we remember that this Verse was revealed to Prophet Muhammad:
If WE feel bad when our loved ones do not heed our advice, how do we think the Messenger felt with regard to his own uncles, cousins, and tribe, may God’s peace and blessings be upon him?!
Both Yusuf Ali and Muhammad Asad frame this verse historically in the ‘death of Abu Taleb,’ but I see it as general.
Verses 57 recounts Qureish’s fears of losing their advantage over the other tribes by following Guidance… how little foresight they had! Their fears are responded to in the same verse; read it and note how God’s Bounties are still plentiful upon the ‘Haram’ which is Inviolable and Secure. Then they are warned in Verses 58- 59 of dire consequences, as the presence of the Messenger among Wrong-doers is shown to be an ultimatum.
Enough said!
Our next Reading is from HQ 28:60-88.
Peace unto all!
[i] طور: يدلُّ على معنىً واحد، وهو الامتداد في شيءٍ من مكانٍ أو زمان. من ذلك طَوَار الدَّار، وهو الذي يمتدُّ معها من فِنائِها. ولذلك [يقال] عدا طَوْره، أي جاز الحدَّ الذي هو له من دارِهِ. ثم استعير ذلك في كل شيء يُتعدَّى. والطُّور: جبلٌ، فيجوز أن يكون اسماً عَلَمَاً موضوعاً، ويجوز أن يكون سمِّي بذلك لما فيه من امتدادٍ طولاً وعَرضاً.
ومن الباب قولهم: فعل ذلك طَوْراً بعد طَوْر. فهذا هو الذي ذكرناه من الزَّمان، كأنَّه فَعَلَه مَدَّةً بعد مدة.
O.E. torr, from L. turris "high structure" (cf. O.Fr. tor, 11c.; Sp., It. torre "tower"), possibly from a pre-I.E. Mediterranean language. Also borrowed separately 13c. as tour, from O.Fr. tur. The modern spelling first recorded in 1520s. Meaning "lofty pile or mass" is recorded from mid-14c. The verb is attested from c.1400.
[ii] “…to each of you have We rendered a System and an Approach, and if God had willed He would have indeed made of you a single ‘people/community,’ but (He willed it otherwise) to test (each of) you with what He has granted you, therefore compete towards all ‘virtues/good works,’ unto God will you all return then He will inform you of the matters in which you were (constantly) differing.” (HQ 5:48)
