An Index To The Qur'an /-A- 6
ARROGANCE
We said to the angels, 'Prostrate to Adam!' and they prostrated, with the exception of Diabolis. He refused and was arrogant and was one of the disbelievers. (2:34)
We gave Musa the Book and sent a succession of Messengers after him. We gave 'Isa, son of Maryam, the Clear Signs and reinforced him with the Purest Spirit. Why then, whenever a Messenger came to you with something your lower selves did not desire, did you grow arrogant, and deny some of them and murder others? (2:87)
What they call on apart from Him are female idols. What they call on is an arrogant Satan. (4:117)
The Messiah would never disdain to be a servant to Allah nor would the angels near to Him. If any do disdain to worship Him, and grow arrogant, He will in any case gather them all to Him. (4:172)
As for those who believe and do right actions, He will pay them their wages in full and will give them increase from His favour. As for those who show disdain and grow arrogant, He will punish them with a painful punishment. They will not find any protector or helper for themselves besides Allah. (4:173)
You will find that the people most hostile to those who believe are the Jews and the idolaters. You will find the people most affectionate to those who believe are those who say, 'We are Christians.' That is because some of them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant. (5:82)
Who could do greater wrong than someone who invents lies against Allah or denies His Signs, or who says, 'It has been revealed to me,' when nothing has been revealed to him, or someone who says, 'I will send down the same as Allah has sent down'? If you could only see the wrongdoers in the throes of death when the angels are stretching out their hands, saying, 'Disgorge your own selves! Today you will be repaid with the punishment of humiliation for saying something other than the truth about Allah, and being arrogant about His Signs.' (6:93)
He said, 'Descend from Heaven. It is not for you to be arrogant in it. So get out! You are one of the abased.' (7:13)
But as for those who reject Our Signs and are arrogant regarding them, they are the Companions of the Fire, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. (7:36)
As for those who deny Our Signs and are arrogant regarding them, the Gates of Heaven will not be opened for them, and they will not enter the Garden until a camel goes through a needle's eye. That is how We repay the evildoers. (7:40)
The Companions of the Heights will call out to men they recognise by their mark, saying, 'What you amassed was of no use to you, nor was your arrogance.' (7:48)
The ruling circle of those of his people who were arrogant said to those who were oppressed-those among them who believed-'Do you know that Salih has been sent from his Lord?' They said, 'We believe in what he has been sent with.' (7:75)
Those who were arrogant said, 'We reject Him in whom you believe.' (7:76)
The ruling circle of those of his people who were arrogant said, 'We will drive you out of our city, Shu'ayb, you and those who believe along with you, unless you return to our religion.' He said, 'What, even though we detest it?' (7:88)
So We sent down on them floods, locusts, lice, frogs and blood, Signs, clear and distinct, but they proved arrogant and were an evildoing people. (7:133)
I will divert from My Signs all those who are arrogant in the earth without any right. If they see every Sign, they will not believe in it. If they see the way of right guidance, they will not take it as a way. But if they see the way of error, they will take that as a way. That is because they denied Our Signs and paid no attention to them. (7:146)
Do not be like those who left their homes in arrogance, showing off to people and barring them from the way of Allah-Allah encompasses what they do. (8:47)
Then after them We sent Musa and Harun with Our Signs to Pharaoh and his ruling circle, but they were arrogant and were a people of evildoers. (10:75)
They will all parade before Allah and the weak will say to those who were arrogant, 'We followed you, so can you help us at all against the punishment of Allah?' They will say, 'If Allah had guided us, we would have guided you. It makes no difference whether we cannot stand it or bear it patiently. We have no way of escape.' (14:21)
Your God is One God. As for those who do not believe in the hereafter, their hearts are in denial and they are puffed up with pride. (16:22)
(The evildoers will be told,) 'Enter the gates of Hell, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. How evil is the abode of the arrogant!' (16:29)
Do not strut arrogantly about the earth. You will certainly never split the earth apart nor will you ever rival the mountains in height. (17:37)
('Isa said,) 'And (He directed me) to show devotion to my mother. He has not made me insolent or arrogant.' (19:32)
Everyone in the heavens and the earth belongs to Him. Those in His presence do not consider themselves too great to worship Him and do not grow tired of it. (21:19)
Among people there is one who argues about Allah without knowledge or guidance or any light-giving Book, turning away arrogantly, to misguide people from the Way of Allah. He will be disgraced in this world and on the Day of Rising We will make him taste the punishment of the Burning. (22:8-9)
Then We sent Musa and his brother Harun with Our Signs and clear authority to Pharaoh and his ruling circle. But they were proud and were a haughty people. (23:45-46)
(The affluent will be told,) 'My Signs were recited to you and you turned round on your heels, arrogant towards it, talking arrant nonsense all night long.' (23:66-67)
Those who do not expect to meet Us say, 'Why have angels not been sent down to us? Why do we not see our Lord?' They have become arrogant about themselves and are excessively insolent. (25:21)
And they repudiated them wrongly and haughtily, in spite of their own certainty about them. See the final fate of the corrupters. (27:14)
Pharaoh exalted himself arrogantly in the land and divided its people into camps, oppressing one group of them by slaughtering their sons and letting their women live. He was one of the corrupters. (28:4)
He and his troops were arrogant in the land without any right. They thought that they would not return to Us. (28:39)
That abode of the hereafter-We grant it to those who do not seek to exalt themselves in the earth or to cause corruption in it. The successful outcome is for those who guard against evil. (28:83)
And Qarun and Pharaoh and Haman-Musa came with the Clear Signs to them, but they were arrogant on the earth. They could not outstrip Us. (29:39)
When Our Signs are recited to such a person, he turns away arrogantly as if he had not heard, as if there was a great weight in his ears. So give him news of a painful punishment. (31:7)
Do not avert your face from people out of haughtiness and do not strut about arrogantly on the earth. Allah does not love anyone who is vain or boastful. (31:18)
The people who truly do believe in Our Signs are those who fall to the ground prostrating when they are reminded of them, and glorify their Lord with praise, and are not arrogant. (32:15)
Those who disbelieve say, 'We will never believe in this Qur'an, nor in what came before it.' If only you could see when the wrongdoers, standing in the presence of their Lord, cast accusations back and forth at one another! Those deemed weak will say to those deemed great, 'Were it not for you, we would have been believers!' (34:31)
Those deemed great will say to those deemed weak, 'Did we debar you from the guidance when it came to you? No, it is you who were evildoers.' (34:32)
They swore by Allah with their most earnest oaths that if a warner came to them they would be better guided than any other community. But then when a warner did come to them, it only increased their aversion, shown by their arrogance in the land and evil plotting. But evil plotting envelops only those who do it. Do they expect anything but the pattern of previous peoples? You will not find any changing in the pattern of Allah. You will not find any alteration in the pattern of Allah. (35:42-43)
When they were told, 'There is no god but Allah,' they were arrogant. (37:35)
So the angels prostrated (to Adam), all of them together, except for Diabolis who was arrogant and was one of the disbelievers. (38:73-74)
'No, the fact is that My Signs came to you but you denied them and were arrogant and were one of the disbelievers.' (39:59)
On the Day of Rising you will see those who lied against Allah with their faces blackened. Do not the arrogant have a dwelling place in Hell? (39:60)
They will be told, 'Enter the gates of Hell and stay there timelessly, for ever. How evil is the abode of the arrogant!' (39:72)
Musa said, 'I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every proud man who does not believe in the Day of Reckoning.' (40:27)
Those who argue about the Signs of Allah without any authority coming to them do something hateful in the sight of Allah and in the sight of the people who believe. That is how Allah seals up the heart of every arrogant oppressor. (40:35)
When they are squabbling with one another in the Fire, the weak will say to those deemed great, 'We were your followers, so why do you not relieve us of a portion of the Fire?' (40:47)
Those deemed great will say, 'All of us are in it. Allah has clearly judged between His servants.' (40:48)
Your Lord says, 'Call on Me and I will answer you. Those who who are too proud to worship Me will enter Hell abject.' (40:60)
(Disbelievers will be told,) 'Enter the gates of Hell, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. How evil is the abode of the arrogant!' (40:76)
'Ad were arrogant in the land, without any right, saying, 'Who has greater strength than us?' Did they not see that Allah, Who created them, had greater strength than them? But they renounced Our Signs. (41:15)
If they grow arrogant, those who are with your Lord glorify Him night and day and never grow tired. (41:38)
And (Musa said:) 'Do not exalt yourselves above Allah. I come to you with clear authority.' (44:19)
We rescued the tribe of Israel from the humiliating punishment, from Pharaoh-he was haughty, one of the profligate. (44:30-31)
Woe to every wicked liar who hears the Signs of Allah recited to him and then persists in his arrogance just as if he had never heard them. Give him the news of a painful punishment. (45:7-8)
But as for those who disbelieved: 'Were My Signs not recited to you and yet you proved arrogant; you were a people of evildoers?' (45:31)
Say: 'What do you think? If it is from Allah and you reject it, when a witness from the tribe of Israel testifies to its similarity and believes while you are arrogant...! Allah certainly does not guide wrongdoing people.' (46:10)
On the Day when those who disbelieved are exposed to the Fire: 'You dissipated the good things you had in your worldly life and enjoyed yourself in it. So today you are being repaid with the punishment of humiliation for being arrogant in the earth without any right and for being deviators.' (46:20)
When they are told, 'Come, and the Messenger of Allah will ask forgiveness for you,' they turn their heads and you see them turn away in haughty arrogance. (63:5)
(Nuh said,) 'Indeed, every time I called them to Your forgiveness, they put their fingers in their ears, wrapped themselves up in their clothes and were overweeningly arrogant.' (71:7)
Then he (who was obdurate about Our Signs) drew back and was proud. (74:23)
ARROWS
Forbidden for you are carrion, blood and pork, and what has been consecrated to other than Allah, and animals which have been strangled, and animals which have been killed by a blow, and animals which have fallen to their death, and animals which have been gored, and animals which wild beasts have eaten-except those you are able to slaughter properly-and animals which have been sacrificed on altars, and deciding things by means of divining arrows-that is deviance. Today those who disbelieve have despaired of overcoming your religion. So do not be afraid of them but be afraid of Me. Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed My blessing upon you and I am pleased with Islam as a religion for you. But if anyone is forced by hunger, not intending any wrongdoing, Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (5:3)
You who believe! Wine and gambling, stone altars and divining arrows are filth from the handiwork of Satan. Avoid them completely so that hopefully you will be successful. (5:90)
ASHAB AL-AYKA (SEE COMPANIONS OF THE THICKET)
ASHAB AL-FIL (SEE COMPANIONS OF THE ELEPHANT)
ASHAB AL-KAHF (SEE COMPANIONS OF THE CAVE)
ASHAB AL-MAIMANA (SEE COMPANIONS OF THE RIGHT)
ASHAB AL-MASH'AMA (SEE COMPANIONS OF THE LEFT)
ASHAB AL-'UKHDUD (SEE COMPANIONS OF THE PIT)
ASHAB AL-YEMEEN (SEE COMPANIONS OF THE RIGHT)
ASKING LORD (DU´A)
And when you said, 'Musa, we will not put up with just one kind of food so ask your Lord to supply to us some of what the earth produces-its green vegetables, cucumbers, grains, lentils and onions,' he said, 'Do you want to replace what is better with what is inferior? Go back to Egypt, then you will have what you are asking for.' Abasement and destitution were stamped upon them. They brought down anger from Allah upon themselves. That was because they rejected Allah's Signs and killed the Prophets without any right to do so. That was because they rebelled and went beyond the limits. (2:61)
They said, 'Ask your Lord to make it clear to us what it should be like.' He said, 'He says it should be a cow, not old or virgin, but somewhere between the two. So do as you have been told.' (2:68)
They said, 'Ask your Lord to make it clear to us what colour it should be.' He said, 'He says it should be a yellow cow, a pleasure to all who look.' (2:69)
They said, 'Ask your Lord to make it clear to us what it should be like. Cows are all much the same to us. Then, if Allah wills, we will be guided.' (2:70)
ASSOCIATING PARTNERS WITH ALLAH (SHIRK)
Some people set up equals to Allah, loving them as they should love Allah. But those who believe have greater love for Allah. If only you could see those who do wrong at the time when they see the punishment, and that truly all strength belongs to Allah, and that Allah is severe in punishment. (2:165)
Say, 'People of the Book! Come to a proposition which is the same for us and you-that we should worship none but Allah and not associate any partners with Him and not take one another as lords besides Allah.' If they turn away, say, 'Bear witness that we are Muslims.' (3:64)
We will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve because they have associated others with Allah for which He has not sent down any authority. Their shelter will be the Fire. How evil is the abode of the wrongdoers! (3:151)
Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him. Be good to your parents and relatives and to orphans and the very poor, and to neighbours who are related to you and neighbours who are not related to you, and to companions and travellers and your slaves. Allah does not love anyone vain or boastful. (4:36)
Allah does not forgive anything being associated with Him but He forgives whoever He wills for anything other than that. Anyone who associates something with Allah has committed a terrible crime. (4:48)
Allah does not forgive anything being associated with Him but He forgives whoever He wills for anything other than that. Anyone who associates something with Allah has gone very far astray. (4:116)
Those who say that the Messiah, son of Maryam, is Allah are disbelievers. The Messiah said, 'Tribe of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. If anyone associates anything with Allah, Allah has forbidden him the Garden and his refuge will be the Fire.' The wrongdoers will have no helpers. (5:72)
Say: 'What thing is greatest as a witness?' Say: 'Allah. He is Witness between me and you. This Qur'an has been revealed to me so that I may warn you by it, and anyone else it reaches. Do you then bear witness that there are other gods together with Allah?' Say: 'I do not bear witness.' Say: 'He is only One God, and I am free of all you associate with Him.' (6:19)
It is Him you call on and, if He wills, He will deliver you from whatever it was that made you call on Him; and you will forget what you associated with Him. (6:41)
Say: 'Allah rescues you from it, and from every plight. Then you associate others with Him.' (6:64)
Then when he saw the sun come up he (Ibrahim) said, 'This is my Lord! This is greater!' Then when it set he said, 'My people, I am free of what you associate with Allah!' (6:78)
(Ibrahim said,) 'Why should I fear what you have associated with Him when you yourselves apparently have no fear of associating partners with Allah for which He has sent down no authority to you? Which of the two parties is more entitled to feel safe, if you have any knowledge?' (6:81)
That is Allah's guidance. He guides by it those of His servants He wills. If they had associated others with Him, nothing they did would have been of any use. (6:88)
You have come to Us all alone just as We created you at first, leaving behind you everything We bestowed on you. We do not see your intercessors accompanying you, those you claimed were your partners with Allah. The link between you is cut. Those you made such claims for have forsaken you. (6:94)
Yet they make the jinn co-partners with Allah when He created them! And they attribute sons and daughters to Him without any knowledge. Glory be to Him! He is far above what they describe! (6:100)
If Allah had willed, they would not have associated anything with Him. We did not appoint you over them as their keeper and you are not set over them as their guardian. (6:107)
They assign to Allah a share of the crops and livestock He has created, saying, 'This is for Allah,'-as they allege-'and this is for our idols.' Their idols' share does not reach Allah whereas Allah's share reaches their idols! What an evil judgement they make! (6:136)
In the same way their idols have made killing their children appear good to many of the idolaters, in order to destroy them and confuse them in their religion. If Allah had willed, they would not have done it; so abandon them and what they fabricate. (6:137)
Those who associate others with Allah will say, 'If Allah had willed we would not have associated anything with Him, nor would our fathers; nor would we have made anything forbidden.' In the same way the people before them also lied until they felt Our violent force. Say: 'Do you have some knowledge you can produce for us? You are following nothing but conjecture. You are only guessing.' (6:148)
Say: 'Come and I will recite to you what your Lord has made forbidden for you': that you do not associate anything with Him; that you are good to your parents; that you do not kill your children because of poverty-We will provide for you and them; that you do not approach indecency-outward or inward; that you do not kill any person Allah has made inviolate-except with the right to do so. That is what He instructs you to do so that hopefully you will use your intellect. (6:151)
Say: 'My prayer and my rites, my living and my dying, are for Allah alone, the Lord of all the worlds, Who has no partner. I am commanded to be like that and I am the first of the Muslims.' (6:162-163)
Say: 'My Lord has forbidden indecency, both open and hidden, and wrong action, and unrightful tyranny, and associating anything with Allah for which He has sent down no authority, and saying things about Allah you do not know.' (7:33)
Or lest you say, 'Our forefathers associated others with Allah before our time, and we are merely descendants coming after them. So are You going to destroy us for what those purveyors of falsehood did?' (7:173)
Then when He granted them a healthy, upright child, they associated what He had given them with Him. But Allah is far above what they associate with Him! (7:190)
Do they make things into partner-gods which cannot create anything and are themselves created? (7:191)
Do they have legs they can walk with? Do they have hands they can grasp with? Do they have eyes they can see with? Do they have ears they can hear with? Say: 'Call on your partner-gods and try all your wiles against me and grant me no reprieve.' (7:195)
They have taken their rabbis and monks as lords besides Allah, and also the Messiah, son of Maryam. Yet they were commanded to worship only one God. There is no god but Him! Glory be to Him above anything they associate with Him! (9:31)
They worship, instead of Allah, what can neither harm them nor help them, saying, 'These are our intercessors with Allah.' Say: 'Would you inform Allah of something about which He does not know either in the heavens or on the earth?' May He be glorified and exalted above what they associate with Him! (10:18)
Recite to them the story of Nuh when he said to his people, 'My people, if my standing here and reminding you of Allah's Signs has become too much for you to bear, know that I have put my trust in Allah. So decide, you and your gods, on what you want to do and be open about it. Do with me whatever you decide and do not keep me waiting.' (10:71)
(Yusuf said,) 'I hold fast to the creed of my forebears Ibrahim and Ishaq and Ya'qub. We don't associate anything with Allah. And that is how Allah has favoured us and all mankind, but most do not give thanks.' (12:38)
Most of them do not believe in Allah without associating others with Him. (12:106)
Say: 'Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?' Say: 'Allah.' Say: 'So why have you taken protectors apart from Him who possess no power to help or harm themselves?' Say: 'Are the blind and seeing equal? Or are darkness and light the same? Or have they assigned partners to Allah who create as He creates, so that all creating seems the same to them?' Say: 'Allah is the Creator of everything. He is the One, the All-Conquering.' (13:16)
What then of Him Who is standing over every self seeing everything it does? Yet still they associate others with Allah! Say: 'Name them! Or would you inform Him of something in the earth He does not know, or are they words which are simply guesswork on your part?' However, the plotting of those who disbelieve seems good to them and they bar the way. Anyone misguided by Allah has no guide. (13:33)
Those to whom We gave the Book rejoice at what has been sent down to you but some of the parties refuse to acknowledge part of it. Say: 'I have only been ordered to worship Allah and not to associate anything with Him. I summon to Him and to Him I will return.' (13:36)
When the affair is decided Satan will say, 'Allah made you a promise, a promise of truth, and I made you a promise but broke my promise. I had no authority over you, except that I called you and you responded to me. Do not, therefore, blame me but blame yourselves. I cannot come to your aid nor you to mine. I reject the way you associated me with Allah before.' The wrongdoers will have a painful punishment. (14:22)
Allah's command is coming, so do not try to hasten it. Glory be to Him! He is exalted above anything they associate with Him. He sends down angels with the Spirit of His command to any of His servants He wills: 'Give warning that there is no god but Me, so have fear of Me!' He created the heavens and the earth with truth. He is exalted above anything they associate with Him. (16:1-3)
Then on the Day of Rising He will disgrace them, and say, 'Where are My partner gods for whose sake you became so hostile?' Those given knowledge will say, 'Today there is disgrace and evil for the disbelievers.' (16:27)
But when He removes the harm from you, a group of you associate others with their Lord. (16:54)
He (Satan) only has authority over those who take him as a friend and associate others with Allah. (16:100)
Say: 'Allah knows best how long they stayed. The Unseen of the heavens and the earth belongs to Him. How perfectly He sees, how well He hears! They have no protector apart from Him. Nor does He share His rule with anyone.' (18:26)
'He is, however, Allah, my Lord, and I will not associate anyone with my Lord.' (18:38)
The fruits of his labour were completely destroyed and he woke up wringing his hands in grief, rueing everything that he had spent on it. It was a ruin with all its trellises fallen in. He said, 'Oh, if only I had not associated anyone with my Lord!' (18:42)
On the Day He says, 'Call My partner-gods, those for whom you made such claims,' they will call on them but they will not respond to them. We will place between them an unbridgeable gulf. (18:52)
Say: 'I am only a human being like yourselves. It is revealed to me that your god is One God. So let him who hopes to meet his Lord act rightly and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.' (18:110)
And We located the position of the House for Ibrahim: 'Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who circle it, and those who stand and bow and prostrate.' (22:26)
Be people of pure natural belief in Allah, not associating anything else with Him. As for anyone who associates others with Allah, it is as though he had fallen from the sky and the birds had seized him and carried him away or the wind had dropped him in a distant place. (22:31)
those who do not associate anything with their Lord, (23:59)
Knower of the Unseen and the Visible! May He be exalted above all they associate with Him! (23:92)
Allah has promised those of you who believe and do right actions that He will make them successors in the land as He made those before them successors, and will firmly establish for them their religion with which He is pleased and give them, in place of their fear, security. 'They worship Me, not associating anything with Me.' Any who disbelieve after that, such people are deviators. (24:55)
Say: 'Praise be to Allah and peace be upon His servants whom He has chosen.' Is Allah better, or what you associate with Him? (27:59)
He Who guides you in the darkness of land and sea and sends out the winds bringing advance news of His mercy. Is there another god besides Allah? May Allah be exalted above what they associate with Him! (27:63)
On the Day when He summons them He will say, 'Where are they, those you claimed were My associates?' (28:62)
They will be told, 'Call on your partner-gods!' They will call on them but they will not respond to them. They will see the punishment. Oh if only they had been guided! (28:64)
Your Lord creates and chooses whatever He wills. The choice is not theirs. Glory be to Allah! He is exalted above anything they associate with Him! (28:68)
On the Day when He summons them He will say, 'Where are they, those you claimed to be My associates?' (28:74)
We have instructed man to honour his parents, but if they endeavour to make you associate with Me something about which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. It is to Me you will return and I will inform you about the things you did. (29:8)
When they embark in ships, they call on Allah, making their religion sincerely His, but then when He delivers them safely to the land, they associate others with Him. (29:65)
None of their partner-gods will intercede for them. They will reject their partner-gods. (30:13)
He has made an example for you from among yourselves. Are any of the slaves you own partners with you in what We have provided for you so that you are equal in respect of it, you fearing them the same as one another? In that way We make Our Signs clear for people who use their intellect. (30:28)
When harm touches people they call on their Lord, repenting to Him. But then, when He gives them a taste of mercy from Him, a group of them immediately associate others with their Lord. (30:33)
Or have We sent down some authority to them, which advocates associating others with Him? (30:35)
Allah is He Who created you, then provides for you, then will cause you to die and then bring you back to life. Can any of your partner-gods do any of that? Glory be to Him and may He be exalted above anything they associate with Him! (30:40)
When Luqman said to his son, counselling him, 'My son, do not associate anything with Allah. Associating others with Him is a terrible wrong.' (31:13)
We have instructed man concerning his parents. Bearing him caused his mother great debility and the period of his weaning was two years: 'Give thanks to Me and to your parents. I am your final destination. But if they try to make you associate something with Me about which you have no knowledge, do not obey them. Keep company with them correctly and courteously in this world but follow the Way of him who turns to Me. Then you will return to Me and I will inform you about the things you did.' (31:14-15)
Say: 'Call on those you make claims for besides Allah. They have no power over even the smallest particle, either in the heavens or in the earth. They have no share in them. He has no need of their support.' (34:22)
Say: 'Show me those you have joined to Him as associates. No indeed! He is Allah, the Almighty, the All-Wise.' (34:27)
If you call on them they will not hear your call, and were they to hear, they would not respond to you. On the Day of Rising they will reject your making associates of them. No one can inform you like One who is All-aware. (35:14)
Say: 'Have you thought about your partner gods, those you call upon besides Allah? Show me what they have created of the earth; or do they have a partnership in the heavens?' Have We given them a Book whose Clear Signs they follow? No indeed! The wrongdoers promise each other nothing but delusion. (35:40)
Allah has made a metaphor for them of a man owned by several partners in dispute with one another and another man wholly owned by a single man. Are they the same? Praise be to Allah! The fact is that most of them do not know. (39:29)
It has been revealed to you and those before you: 'If you associate others with Allah, your actions will come to nothing and you will be among the losers.' (39:65)
That is because when Allah alone is called upon you disbelieve, but if others are associated with Him, you believe. Judgement belongs to Allah, the All-High, the All-Great. (40:12)
You call me to reject Allah and to associate something with Him about which I have no knowledge, while I call you to the Almighty, the Endlessly Forgiving. (40:42)
Then they will be asked, 'Where are those besides Allah you associated with Him?' (40:73)
When they saw Our violent force, they said, 'We believe in Allah alone and reject what we associated with Him.' (40:84)
Knowledge of the Hour is referred to Him. And no fruit emerges from its husk, nor does any female get pregnant or give birth, without His knowledge. On the Day He calls out to them: 'Where are My associates?' they will say, 'We declare to you that none of us is a witness.' (41:47)
Or do they have partners who have laid down a religion for them for which Allah has not given any authority? Were it not for the prior Word of Decision, the judgement between them would already have been made. The wrongdoers will have a painful punishment. (42:21)
Say: 'Have you thought about those you call upon apart from Allah? Show me what they have created on the earth. Or do they have a partnership in the heavens? Produce a Book for me before this one or a shred of knowledge if you are telling the truth.' (46:4)
Do not set up another god together with Allah. Truly I bring you a clear warning from Him. (51:51)
He is Allah-there is no god but Him. He is the King, the Most Pure, the Perfect Peace, the Trustworthy, the Safeguarder, the Almighty, the Compeller, the Supremely Great. Glory be to Allah above all they associate with Him. (59:23)
O Prophet! When women who believe come to you pledging allegiance to you on the grounds that they will not associate anything with Allah or steal or fornicate or kill their children or give a false ascription of paternity-making up lies about their bodies-or disobey you in respect of anything right, then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (60:12)
Or do they have Divine partners? Then let them produce their partners if they are telling the truth! (68:41)
(Say,) 'It leads to right guidance so we believe in it and will not associate anyone with our Lord.' (72:2)
Say: 'I call only upon my Lord and do not associate anyone else with Him.' (72:20)
ASTRAY
Allah does not forgive anything being associated with Him but He forgives whoever He wills for anything other than that. Anyone who associates something with Allah has gone very far astray. (4:116)
You who believe! Believe in Allah and His Messenger and in the Book He sent down to His Messenger, and the Books He sent down before. Anyone who rejects Allah and His angels and His Books and His Messengers and the Last Day has gone very far astray. (4:136)
Those who disbelieve and bar access to the Way of Allah have gone very far astray. (4:167)
The call of truth is made to Him alone. Those they call upon apart from Him do not respond to them at all. It is like someone stretching out his cupped hands towards water to convey it to his mouth: it will never get there. The call of the disbelievers only goes astray. (13:14)
Say: 'As for those who are astray, let the All-Merciful prolong their term until they see what they were promised, whether it be the punishment or the Hour. Then they will know who is in the worse position and has the weaker troops.' (19:75)
If they do not respond to you then know that they are merely following their whims and desires. And who could be further astray than someone who follows his whims and desires without any guidance from Allah? Allah does not guide the people of the wrongdoers. (28:50)
Say: 'Who provides for you from the heavens and earth?' Say: 'Allah. It is certain that one or the other of us, either we or you, is following guidance or else clearly astray.' (34:24)
His inseparable comrade will say, 'Our Lord, I did not make him overstep the limits. He was, in any case, far astray.' (50:27)
ATTRACTIVE
Say: 'Bad things and good things are not the same, even though the abundance of the bad things may seem attractive to you.' Have fear of Allah, people of intelligence, so that hopefully you will be successful. (5:100)
If only they had humbled themselves when Our violent force came upon them! However, their hearts were hard and Satan made what they were doing seem attractive to them. (6:43)
Do not curse those they call upon besides Allah, in case that makes them curse Allah in animosity, without knowledge. In this way We make the actions of every nation seem attractive to them. Then they will return to their Lord, and He will inform them about what they did. (6:108)
Is someone who was dead and whom We brought to life, supplying him with a light by which to walk among people, the same as someone who is in utter darkness, unable to emerge from it? That is how what they were doing is made to seem attractive to the disbelievers. (6:122)
Restrain yourself patiently with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, desiring His face. Do not turn your eyes from them, desiring the attractions of this world. And do not obey someone whose heart We have made neglectful of Our remembrance and who follows his own whims and desires and whose life has transgressed all bounds. (18:28)
Pharaoh said, 'Haman, build me a tower so that perhaps I may gain means of access, access to the heavens, so that I can look on Musa's God. Truly I think he is a liar.' That is how Pharaoh's evil actions were made attractive to him and he debarred others from the Path. Pharaoh's scheming led to nothing but ruin. (40:36-37)
AUTHORITY
The People of the Book will ask you to bring down a Book from heaven to them. They asked Musa for even more than that. They said, 'Let us see Allah with our own eyes.' So the lightning-bolt struck them down for their wrongdoing. Then they adopted the Calf after the Clear Signs had come to them, but We pardoned them for that and gave Musa clear authority. (4:153)
Say: 'My Lord has forbidden indecency, both open and hidden, and wrong action, and unrightful tyranny, and associating anything with Allah for which He has sent down no authority, and saying things about Allah you do not know.' (7:33)
Or have We sent down some authority to them, which advocates associating others with Him? (30:35)
AVARICE
Satan promises you poverty and commands you to avarice. Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and abundance. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing. (2:268)
Those who were already settled in the abode, and in faith, before they came, love those who have migrated to them and do not find in their hearts any need for what they have been given and prefer them to themselves even if they themselves are needy. It is the people who are safe-guarded from the avarice of their own selves who are successful. (59:9)
So have fear of Allah, as much as you are able to, and listen and obey and spend for your own benefit. It is the people who are safe-guarded from the avarice of their own selves who are successful. (64:16)
AWE
We responded to him (Zakariyya) and gave him Yahya, restoring for him his wife's fertility. They outdid one another in good actions, calling out to Us in yearning and in awe, and humbling themselves to Us. (21:90)
All who obey Allah and His Messenger and have awe of Allah and fear of Him, they are the ones who are victorious. (24:52)
AYYUB (AS) (JOB)
We have revealed to you as We revealed to Nuh and the Prophets who came after him. And We revealed to Ibrahim and Isma'il and Ishaq and Ya'qub and the Tribes, and 'Isa and Ayyub and Yunus and Harun and Sulayman. And We gave Dawud the Zabur. (4:163)
We gave him Ishaq and Ya'qub, each of whom We guided. And before him We had guided Nuh. And among his descendants were Dawud and Sulayman, and Ayyub, Yusuf, Musa and Harun. That is how We recompense the good-doers. (6:84)
And Ayyub when he called out to his Lord, 'Great harm has afflicted me and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.' (21:83)
Remember Our servant Ayyub when he called on his Lord: 'Satan has afflicted me with exhaustion and suffering.' 'Stamp your foot! Here is a cool bath and water to drink.' We gave him back his family and the same again with them as a mercy from Us and a reminder for people of intellect. 'Take a bundle of rushes in your hand and strike with that but do not break your oath.' We found him steadfast. What an excellent servant! He truly turned to his Lord. (38:41-44)
AZAR
Remember when Ibrahim said to his father, Azar, 'Do you take idols as gods? I see that you and your people are clearly misguided.' (6:74)
AZRAEL (SEE ANGEL OF DEATH)
An Index To The Qur'an /-A- 5
APPETITE
To mankind the love of worldly appetites is painted in glowing colours: women and children, and heaped-up mounds of gold and silver, and horses with fine markings, and livestock and fertile farmland. All that is merely the enjoyment of the life of this world. The best homecoming is in the presence of Allah. (3:14)
Allah desires to turn towards you, but those who pursue their lower appetites desire to make you deviate completely. (4:27)
An evil generation succeeded them who neglected the prayer and followed their appetites. They will plunge into the Valley of Evil- (19:59)
But as for him who feared the Station of his Lord and forbade the lower self its appetites, the Garden will be his refuge. (79:40-41)
No indeed! You do not honour orphans nor do you urge the feeding of the poor; you devour inheritance with voracious appetites and you have an insatiable love of wealth. (89:17-20)
ARABIC
We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an so that hopefully you will use your intellect. (12:2)
Accordingly We have sent it down as a judgement in Arabic. If you followed their whims and desires after the knowledge that has come to you, you would have no protector or defender against Allah. (13:37)
We know that they say, 'It is only a human being who is teaching him.' The language of him they allude to is a foreign one whereas this is in clear and lucid Arabic. (16:103)
In this way We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an and We have made various threats in it so that hopefully they will guard against evil or it will spur them into remembrance. (20:113)
The Faithful Spirit brought it down to your heart so you would be one of the Warners in a clear Arabic tongue. (26:193-195)
If We had sent it down to a non-Arab who had then recited it to them, they still would not believe in it. (26:198-199)
We have given all kinds of examples to people in this Qur'an, so that hopefully they will pay heed-an Arabic Qur'an with no distortion in it, so that hopefully they will guard against evil. (39:27-28)
A Book whose verses have been demarcated for people who know as an Arabic Qur'an. (41:3)
Accordingly We have revealed to you an Arabic Qur'an so that you may warn the Mother of Cities (Makka) and those around it, and give warning of the Day of Gathering about which there is no doubt: one group in the Garden,the other in the Blazing Fire. (42:7)
We have made it an Arabic Qur'an so that hopefully you will use your intellect. (43:3)
But before it there was the Book of Musa as a model and a mercy. And this is a corroborating Book in the Arabic tongue so that you may warn those who do wrong, and as good news for the good-doers. (46:12)
A'RAF (SEE THE HEIGHTS)
ARAFAT
There is nothing wrong in seeking bounty from your Lord. When you pour down from Arafat, remember Allah at the Sacred Landmark. Remember Him because He has guided you, even though before this you were astray. Then press on from where the people press on and ask Allah's forgiveness. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (2:198-199)
ARGUMENT
Say, 'Do you argue with us about Allah when He is our Lord and your Lord? We have our actions and you have your actions. We act for Him alone.' (2:139)
What about the one who argued with Ibrahim about his Lord, on the basis that Allah had given him sovereignty? Ibrahim said, 'My Lord is He Who gives life and causes to die.' He said, 'I too give life and cause to die.' Ibrahim said, 'Allah makes the sun come from the East. Make it come from the West.' And the one who was a disbeliever was dumbfounded. Allah does not guide wrongdoing people. (2:258)
If they argue with you, say, 'I have submitted myself completely to Allah, and so have all who follow me.' Say to those given the Book and those who have no Book, 'Have you become Muslim?' If they become Muslim, they have been guided. If they turn away, you are only responsible for transmission. Allah sees His servants. (3:20)
This is news from the Unseen which We reveal to you. You were not with them when they cast their reeds to see which of them would be the guardian of Maryam. You were not with them when they quarrelled. (3:44)
If anyone argues with you about him after the knowledge that has come to you, say, 'Come then! Let us summon our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves. Then let us make earnest supplication and call down the curse of Allah upon the liars.' (3:61)
(Say,) 'People of the Book! Why do you argue concerning Ibrahim when the Torah and Gospel were only sent down after him? Why do you not use your intellect? You are people arguing about something of which you have no knowledge. Why do you argue about something of which you have no knowledge? Allah knows; you do not know.' (3:65-66)
(A group of the People of the Book say,) 'Do not trust anyone except for those who follow your religion.' Say, 'Allah's guidance is true guidance. But you think it is impossible for anyone to be given the same as you were given, or to argue with you before your Lord.' Say, 'All favour is in Allah's Hand and He gives it to whoever He wills. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.' (3:73)
Allah fulfilled His promise to you when you were slaughtering them by His permission. But then you faltered, disputing the command, and disobeyed after He showed you what you love. Among you are those who want this world and among you are those who want the hereafter. Then He turned you from them in order to test you-but He has pardoned you. Allah shows favour to the believers. (3:152)
No, by your Lord, they are not believers until they make you their judge in the disputes that break out between them, and then find no resistance within themselves to what you decide and submit themselves completely. (4:65)
Do not argue on behalf of those who betray themselves. Allah does not love any evildoing traitors. (4:107)
Here you are arguing on their behalf in this world, but who will argue with Allah on their behalf on the Day of Rising? Who will act as guardian for them then? (4:109)
And (on account of) their saying, 'We killed the Messiah, 'Isa son of Maryam, Messenger of Allah.' They did not kill him and they did not crucify him but it was made to seem so to them. Those who argue about him are in doubt about it. They have no real knowledge of it, just conjecture. But they certainly did not kill him. (4:157)
His people argued with him. He (Ibrahim) said, 'Are you arguing with me about Allah when He has guided me? I have no fear of any partner you ascribe to Him unless my Lord should will such a thing to happen. My Lord encompasses all things in His knowledge so will you not pay heed?' (6:80)
He (Hud) said, 'Punishment and anger have come down on you from your Lord. Do you argue with me regarding names which you and your forefathers invented and for which Allah has sent down no authority? Wait, then; I am waiting with you.' (7:71)
Remember when Allah showed them to you in your dream as only a few. If He had shown you them as many, you would have lost heart and quarrelled about the matter; but Allah saved you. He knows what your hearts contain. (8:43)
Obey Allah and His Messenger and do not quarrel among yourselves lest you lose heart and your momentum disappear. And be steadfast. Allah is with the steadfast. (8:46)
They said, 'Nuh, you have argued with us and argued much so bring us what you have promised us if you are telling the truth.' (11:32)
When the feeling of fear left Ibrahim, and the good news reached him, he disputed with Us about the people of Lut. (11:74)
The thunder glorifies His praise, as do the angels, out of fear of Him. He discharges the thunderbolts, striking with them anyone He wills. Yet still they argue about Allah when He is inexorable in His power! (13:13)
On that Day every self will come to argue for itself and every self will be paid in full for what it did. They will not be wronged. (16:111)
Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair admonition, and argue with them in the kindest way. Your Lord knows best who is misguided from His way. And He knows best who are guided. (16:125)
They argued among themselves about the matter and had a secret conference. (20:62)
Among people there is one who argues about Allah without knowledge, and follows every rebellious Satan. (22:3)
Among people there is one who argues about Allah without knowledge or guidance or any light-giving Book. (22:8)
Here are two rival groups who disputed concerning their Lord. Those who disbelieve will have garments of fire cut out for them, and boiling water poured over their heads. (22:19)
We have appointed for every nation a rite that they observe, so let them not dispute with you about the matter. Call the people to your Lord. You are guided straight. (22:67)
If they do argue with you, say: 'Allah knows best what you are doing.' (22:68)
Arguing in it with one another, they will say, 'By Allah, we were plainly misguided.' (26:96-97)
Only argue with the People of the Book in the kindest way-except in the case of those of them who do wrong-saying, 'We believe in what has been sent down to us and what was sent down to you. Our God and your God are one and we submit to Him.' (29:46)
Do you not see that Allah has subjected to you everything in the heavens and earth and has showered His blessings upon you, both outwardly and inwardly? Yet there are people who argue about Allah without knowledge or guidance or any illuminating Book. (31:20)
What are they waiting for but one Great Blast to seize them while they are quibbling? (36:49)
All this is certainly true-the bickering of the people of the Fire. (38:64)
Then on the Day of Rising you will argue in the presence of your Lord. (39:31)
Those who argue about the Signs of Allah without any authority coming to them do something hateful in the sight of Allah and in the sight of the people who believe. That is how Allah seals up the heart of every arrogant oppressor. (40:35)
Certainly those who argue about the Signs of Allah without any authority having come to them have nothing in their breasts except for pride which they will never be able to vindicate. Therefore seek refuge with Allah. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing. (40:56)
Do you not see those who argue about Allah's Signs? How have they been turned around? (40:69)
The argument of those who argue about Allah, once He has been acknowledged, has no basis whatsoever with their Lord. There is anger upon them and they will have a harsh punishment. (42:16)
Those who argue about Our Signs should know that they have no way of escape. (42:35)
He will say, 'Do not argue in My presence when I gave you advance warning of the Threat.' (50:28)
ARIM
But they turned away so We unleashed against them the flood from the great dam and exchanged their two gardens for two others containing bitter-tasting plants and tamarisk and a few lote trees. (34:16)
ARK (OF THE COVENANT)
Their Prophet said to them, 'The sign of his kingship is that the Ark will come to you, containing serenity from your Lord and certain relics left by the families of Musa and Harun. It will be borne by angels. There is a sign for you in that if you are believers.' (2:248)
ARK (OF NUH (AS))
But they denied him (Nuh) so We rescued him and those with him in the Ark. And We drowned the people who denied Our Signs. They were a blind people. (7:64)
But they denied him (Nuh) so We rescued him, and all those with him, in the Ark and We made them the successors and We drowned the people who denied Our Signs. See the final fate of those who were warned! (10:73)
(It was revealed to Nuh:) 'Build the Ark under Our supervision and as We reveal and do not address Me concerning the wrongdoers. They shall be drowned.' (11:37)
He (Nuh) began to build the Ark and every time some nobles of his people passed him by, they ridiculed him. He said, 'Though you ridicule us now, we will certainly ridicule you as you do us.' (11:38)
We rescued him (Nuh) and the occupants of the Ark and made that into a Sign for all the worlds. (29:15)
ARMY
Those of you who turned their backs on the day the two armies clashed-it was Satan who made them slip for what they had done. But Allah has pardoned them. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, All-Forbearing. (3:155)
What assailed you on the day the two armies met was by Allah's permission, so that He would know the believers, (3:166)
We did not send down to his people any army from heaven after him nor would We send one down. (36:28)
They have taken gods besides Allah so that perhaps they may be helped. They cannot help them even though they are an army mobilised in their support. (36:74-75)
It is Our army which will be victorious. (37:173)
(He said,) 'Leave the sea divided as it is. They are an army who will be drowned.' (44:24)
So We seized him and his armies and hurled them into the sea, and he was to blame. (51:40)
An Index To The Qur'an /-A- 4
ALMS (ZAKAH)
Perform prayer and give the alms and bow with those who bow. (2:43)
Remember when We made a covenant with the tribe of Israel: 'Worship none but Allah and be good to your parents and to relatives and orphans and the very poor. And speak good words to people. And perform prayer and give the alms.' But then you turned away-except a few of you-you turned aside. (2:83)
Perform prayer and give the alms. Any good you send ahead for yourselves, you will find with Allah. Certainly Allah sees what you do. (2:110)
It is not devoutness to turn your faces to the East or to the West. Rather, those with true devoutness are those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, the Angels, the Book and the Prophets, and who, despite their love for it, give away their wealth to their relatives and to orphans and the very poor, and to travellers and beggars and to set slaves free, and who perform prayer and give the alms; those who honour their contracts when they make them, and are steadfast in poverty and illness and in battle. Those are the people who are true. They are the people who guard against evil. (2:177)
Those who believe and do right actions and perform prayer and give the alms, will have their reward with their Lord. They will feel no fear and will know no sorrow. (2:277)
Do you not see those who were told: 'Hold back from fighting but perform prayer and give the alms'? Then when fighting is prescribed for them, a group of them fear people as Allah should be feared, or even more than that. They say, 'Our Lord, why have you prescribed fighting for us? If only You would give us just a little more time!' Say, 'The enjoyment of this world is very brief. The hereafter is better for those who guard against evil. You will not be wronged by so much as the smallest speck.' (4:77)
But those of them who are firmly rooted in knowledge, and the believers, believe in what has been sent down to you and what was sent down before you: those who perform prayer and give the alms, and believe in Allah and the Last Day-We will pay such people an immense wage. (4:162)
Allah made a covenant with the tribe of Israel and We raised up twelve leaders from among them. Allah said, 'I am with you. If you perform prayer and give the alms, and believe in My Messengers and respect and support them, and make a generous loan to Allah, I will erase your wrong actions from you and admit you into Gardens with rivers flowing under them. Any of you who disbelieve after that have gone astray from the right way.' (5:12)
Your friend is only Allah and His Messenger and those who believe: those who perform prayer and give the alms, and bow. (5:55)
(Musa said,) 'Prescribe good for us in this world and the hereafter. We have truly turned to You.' He said, 'As for My punishment, I strike with it anyone I will. My mercy extends to all things but I will prescribe it for those who guard against evil and give the alms, and those who believe in Our Signs.' (7:156)
Then, when the sacred months are over, kill the idolaters wherever you find them, and seize them and besiege them and lie in wait for them on every road. If they repent and perform prayer and give the alms, let them go on their way. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (9:5)
But if they repent and perform prayer and give the alms, they are your brothers in the religion. We make the Signs clear for people who have knowledge. (9:11)
The mosques of Allah should only be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and perform prayer and give the alms, and fear no one but Allah. They are the ones most likely to be guided. (9:18)
Among them there are some who find fault with you concerning the alms. If they are given some of it, they are pleased but if they are not given any, they are angry. (9:58)
The alms are for: the poor, the destitute, those who collect it, reconciling people's hearts, freeing slaves, those in debt, spending in the Way of Allah, and travellers. It is a legal obligation from Allah. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. (9:60)
The men and women of the believers are friends of one another. They command what is right and forbid what is wrong, and perform prayer and give the alms, and obey Allah and His Messenger. They are the people on whom Allah will have mercy. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (9:71)
Do they not know that Allah accepts repentance from His servants and acknowledges their alms, and that Allah is the Ever-Returning, the Most Merciful? (9:104)
'Isa said, 'He has made me blessed wherever I am and directed me to perform prayer and give the alms as long as I live.' (19:31)
He (Isma'il) used to command his people to perform prayer and give the alms and he was pleasing to his Lord. (19:55)
We made them leaders, guiding by Our command, and revealed to them how to do good actions and perform prayer and give the alms, and they worshipped Us. (21:73)
(Believers are) those who, if We establish them firmly on the earth, will perform prayer and give the alms, and command what is right and forbid what is wrong. The end result of all affairs is with Allah. (22:41)
Strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has selected you and not placed any constraint upon you in the religion-the religion of your forefather Ibrahim. He named you Muslims before and also in this, so that the Messenger could be witness against you and you could be witnesses against all mankind. So perform prayer and give the alms and hold fast to Allah. He is your Protector-the Best Protector, the Best Helper. (22:78)
(Believers are) those who give the alms. (23:4)
... there are men who proclaim His glory morning and evening, not distracted by trade or commerce from the remembrance of Allah and the performance of prayer and the giving of the alms; fearing a day when all hearts and eyes will be in turmoil. (24:36-37)
Perform prayer and give the alms and obey the Messenger so that hopefully mercy will be shown to you. (24:56)
(Believers are) those who perform prayer and give the alms and are certain about the hereafter. (27:3)
What you give with usurious intent, aiming to get back a greater amount from people's wealth, does not become greater with Allah. But anything you give as alms, seeking the Face of Allah-all who do that will get back twice as much. (30:39)
(Believers are) those who perform prayer and give the alms and are certain of the hereafter. (31:4)
Remain in your houses and do not display your beauty as it was previously displayed in the Time of Ignorance. Perform prayer and give the alms and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah desires to remove all impurity from you, People of the House, and to purify you completely. (33:33)
Say: 'I am only a human being like yourselves. It is revealed to me that your god is One God. So be straight with Him and ask His forgiveness.' Woe to those who associate others with Him: those who do not give the alms and reject the hereafter. (41:6-7)
Are you afraid to give gifts of charity before your private consultation? If you do not and Allah turns to you, at least perform prayer and give the alms, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah is aware of what you do. (58:13)
Your Lord knows that you stay up nearly two-thirds of the night-or half of it, or a third of it-and a group of those with you. Allah determines the night and day. He knows you will not keep count of it, so He has turned towards you. Recite as much of the Qur'an as is easy for you. He knows that some of you are ill and that others are travelling in the land seeking Allah's bounty, and that others are fighting in the Way of Allah. So recite as much of it as is easy for you. And perform prayer and give the alms and lend a generous loan to Allah. Whatever good you send ahead for yourselves you will find it with Allah as something better and as a greater reward. And seek forgiveness from Allah. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (73:20)
They were only ordered to worship Allah, making their religion sincerely His as people of pure natural belief, and to perform prayer and give the alms-that is the religion of the correct. (98:5)
ALTAR
Forbidden for you are carrion, blood and pork, and what has been consecrated to other than Allah, and animals which have been strangled, and animals which have been killed by a blow, and animals which have fallen to their death, and animals which have been gored, and animals which wild beasts have eaten-except those you are able to slaughter properly-and animals which have been sacrificed on altars, and deciding things by means of divining arrows-that is deviance. Today those who disbelieve have despaired of overcoming your religion. So do not be afraid of them but be afraid of Me. Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed My blessing upon you and I am pleased with Islam as a religion for you. But if anyone is forced by hunger, not intending any wrongdoing, Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (5:3)
You who believe! Wine and gambling, stone altars and divining arrows are filth from the handiwork of Satan. Avoid them completely so that hopefully you will be successful. (5:90)
AL-YASA' (AS)
And Isma'il, al-Yasa', Yunus and Lut. All of them We favoured over all beings. (6:86)
Remember Our servants Isma'il, Al-Yasa' and Dhu'l-Kifl; each of them was among the best of men. (38:48)
ANCESTORS
Or were you present when death came to Ya'qub and he said to his sons, 'What will you worship when I have gone?' They said, 'We will worship your God, the God of your forefathers, Ibrahim, Isma'il and Ishaq-one God. We are Muslims submitted to Him.' (2:133)
When they are told, 'Follow what Allah has sent down to you,' They say, 'We are following what we found our fathers doing.' What, even though their fathers did not understand a thing and were not guided! (2:170)
When you have completed your rites, remember Allah as you used to remember your forefathers-or even more. There are some people who say, 'Our Lord, give us good in this world.' They will have no share in the hereafter. (2:200)
When they are told, 'Come to what Allah has sent down and to the Messenger,' they say, 'What we found our fathers doing is enough for us.' What! Even if their fathers did not know anything and were not guided! (5:104)
They do not measure Allah with His true measure when they say, 'Allah would not send down anything to a mere human being.' Say: 'Who, then, sent down the Book which Musa brought as a Light and Guidance for the people?' You put it down on sheets of paper to display it while concealing much. You were taught things you did not know, neither you nor your forefathers. Say: 'Allah!' Then leave them engrossed in playing their games. (6:91)
Those who associate others with Allah will say, 'If Allah had willed we would not have associated anything with Him, nor would our fathers; nor would we have made anything forbidden.' In the same way the people before them also lied until they felt Our violent force. Say: 'Do you have some knowledge you can produce for us? You are following nothing but conjecture. You are only guessing.' (6:148)
Whenever they commit an indecent act, they say, 'We found our fathers doing it and Allah commanded us to do it too.' Say: 'Allah does not command indecency. Do you say things about Allah you do not know?' (7:28)
They said, 'Have you come to us to make us worship Allah alone and abandon what our fathers used to worship? Then bring us what you have promised us if you are telling the truth.' (7:70)
He (Nuh) said, 'Punishment and anger have come down on you from your Lord. Do you argue with me regarding names which you and your forefathers invented and for which Allah has sent down no authority? Wait, then; I am waiting with you.' (7:71)
Then We gave them good in exchange for evil until they increased in number and said, 'Our forefathers too underwent both hardship and ease.' Then We seized them suddenly when they were not expecting it. (7:95)
Or lest you say, 'Our forefathers associated others with Allah before our time, and we are merely descendants coming after them. So are You going to destroy us for what those purveyors of falsehood did?' (7:173)
They said (to Musa), 'Have you come to us to turn us from what we found our fathers doing, and to gain greatness in the land? We do not believe you.' (10:78)
They said, 'Salih, we had great hopes in you before this happened. Do you forbid us to worship what our fathers worshipped? We have grave doubts about what you are calling us to.' (11:62)
They said, 'Shu'ayb, do your prayers instruct you that we should abandon what our fathers worshipped or stop doing whatever we want to with our wealth? You are clearly the forbearing, the rightly-guided!' (11:87)
So be in no doubt about what these people worship. They only worship as their forebears worshipped previously. We will pay them their portion in full, with no rebate! (11:109)
(Yusuf's father said,) 'Accordingly your Lord will pick you out and teach you the true meaning of events and perfectly fulfil His blessing on you as well as on the family of Ya'qub as He fulfilled it perfectly before upon your forebears, Ibrahim and Ishaq. Most certainly your Lord is Knowing, Wise.' (12:6)
(Yusuf said,) 'I hold fast to the creed of my forebears Ibrahim and Ishaq and Ya'qub. We don't associate anything with Allah. And that is how Allah has favoured us and all mankind, but most do not give thanks.' (12:38)
(Yusuf said,) 'What you serve apart from Him are only names which you and your forefathers have made up. There is no mandate for them from Allah. Allah alone is qualified to judge. His order is to worship none but Him. That is in truth the straight and upright religion, but most of mankind simply do not know.' (12:40)
The idolaters say, 'If Allah had willed we would not have worshipped anything apart from Him, neither we nor our fathers, nor would we have forbidden anything without His say.' Those before them said the same. Are the Messengers responsible for anything but clear transmission? (16:35)
They have no knowledge of this, neither they nor their fathers. It is a monstrous utterance which has issued from their mouths. What they say is nothing but a lie. (18:5)
No indeed! We have given these people enjoyment, as We did their fathers, until life seemed long and good to them. Do they not see how We come to the land eroding it from its extremities? Or are they the victors? (21:44)
They said, 'We found our fathers worshipping them.' (21:53)
He (Ibrahim) said, 'You and your fathers are clearly misguided.' (21:54)
Strive for Allah with the striving due to Him. He has selected you and not placed any constraint upon you in the religion-the religion of your forefather Ibrahim. He named you Muslims before and also in this, so that the Messenger could be witness against you and you could be witnesses against all mankind. So perform prayer and give the alms and hold fast to Allah. He is your Protector-the Best Protector, the Best Helper. (22:78)
The ruling circle of those of his people who disbelieved said, 'This is nothing but a human being like yourselves who simply wants to gain ascendancy over you. If Allah had wanted He would have sent angels down. We never heard of anything like this among our ancestors, the earlier peoples.' (23:24)
Do they not ponder these words? Has anything come to them that did not come to their ancestors, the previous peoples? (23:68)
(They say,) 'We and our forefathers were promised this before. This is nothing but the myths of previous peoples!' (23:83)
They will say, 'Glory be to You! It would not have been fitting for us to have taken any protectors apart from You. But You let them and their fathers enjoy themselves so that they forgot the Reminder. They were people devoid of good.' (25:18)
He (Musa) said, 'Your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers, the previous peoples.' (26:26)
They said, 'No, but this is what we found our fathers doing.' He said, 'Have you really thought about what you worship, you and your fathers who came before?' (26:74-76)
Those who disbelieve say, 'When we and our fathers are turned to dust will we then be brought forth again? We have been promised this before, we and our fathers. This is nothing but myths and legends of previous peoples.' (27:67-68)
But when Musa brought them Our Clear Signs they said, 'This is nothing but trumped-up magic. We never heard anything like this among our earlier forefathers.' (28:36)
When they are told: 'Follow what Allah has sent down,' they say, 'No, we will follow what we found our fathers doing.' What! Even if Satan is calling them to the punishment of the Blazing Fire? (31:21)
(They say,) 'When we are dead and turned to dust and bones will we then be raised up again alive? And our earlier ancestors as well?' (37:16-17)
They found their fathers misguided. (37:69)
(Ilyas said to his people,) 'Allah is your Lord and Lord of your forefathers, the previous peoples.' (37:126)
No, in fact they say, 'We found our fathers following a religion and we are simply guided in their footsteps.' (43:22)
Similarly We never sent any warner before you to any city without the affluent among them saying, 'We found our fathers following a religion and we are simply following in their footsteps.' (43:23)
Say: 'What if I have come with better guidance than what you found your fathers following?' They say, 'We reject what you have been sent with.' (43:24)
I let those people and their forefathers enjoy themselves until the truth came to them and a Messenger to make it clear. (43:29)
There is no god but Him-He gives life and causes to die-your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers, the previous peoples. (44:8)
(They say,) 'Bring us our fathers if you are telling the truth.' (44:36)
When Our Clear Signs are recited to them their only argument is to say, 'Bring us our fathers if you are telling the truth.' (45:25)
They are nothing but names which you yourselves have given, you and your forefathers. Allah has sent down no authority for them. They are following nothing but conjecture and what their own selves desire. And that when guidance has reached them from their Lord! (53:23)
And (before that the Companions of the Left were) saying, 'When we are dead and turned to dust and bones, shall we then be raised again or our forefathers, the earlier peoples?' (56:47-48)
ANGEL OF DEATH (AZRAEL)
Say: 'The Angel of Death, who has been given charge of you, will take you back and then you will be sent back to your Lord.' (32:11)
ANGELS
When your Lord said to the angels, 'I am putting an overlord on the earth,' they said, 'Why put on it one who will cause corruption on it and shed blood when we glorify You with praise and proclaim Your purity?' He said, 'I know what you do not know.' (2:30)
He taught Adam the names of all things. Then He arrayed them before the angels and said, 'Tell me the names of these if you are telling the truth.' (2:31)
We said to the angels, 'Prostrate to Adam!' and they prostrated, with the exception of Diabolis. He refused and was arrogant and was one of the disbelievers. (2:34)
(Say,) 'Anyone who is the enemy of Allah and of His angels, and of His Messengers and of Gabriel and Michael, should know that Allah is the enemy of the disbelievers.' (2:98)
They follow what the Satans recited in the reign of Sulayman. Sulayman did not disbelieve, but the Satans did, teaching people sorcery and what had been sent down to Harut and Marut, the two angels in Babylon, who taught no one without first saying to him, 'We are merely a trial and temptation, so do not disbelieve.' People learned from them how to separate a man and his wife but they cannot harm anyone by it, except with Allah's permission. They have learned what will harm them and will not benefit them. They know that any who deal in it will have no share in the hereafter. What an evil thing they have sold themselves for if they only knew! (2:102)
But as for those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers, the curse of Allah is upon them and that of the angels and all mankind. (2:161)
It is not devoutness to turn your faces to the East or to the West. Rather, those with true devoutness are those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, the Angels, the Book and the Prophets, and who, despite their love for it, give away their wealth to their relatives and to orphans and the very poor, and to travellers and beggars and to set slaves free, and who perform prayer and give the alms; those who honour their contracts when they make them, and are steadfast in poverty and illness and in battle. Those are the people who are true. They are the people who guard against evil. (2:177)
What are they waiting for but for Allah to come to them in the shadows of the clouds, together with the angels, in which case the matter will have been settled? All matters return to Allah. (2:210)
Their Prophet said to them, 'The sign of his kingship is that the Ark will come to you, containing serenity from your Lord and certain relics left by the families of Musa and Harun. It will be borne by angels. There is a sign for you in that if you are believers.' (2:248)
The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. Each one believes in Allah and His angels and His Books and His Messengers. We do not differentiate between any of His Messengers. They say, 'We hear and we obey. Forgive us, our Lord! You are our journey's end.' (2:285)
Allah bears witness that there is no god but Him, as do the angels and the people of knowledge, upholding justice. There is no god but Him, the Almighty, the All-Wise. (3:18)
The angels called out to him while he (Zakariyya) was standing in prayer in the Upper Room: 'Allah gives you the good news of Yahya, who will come to confirm a Word from Allah, and will be a leader and a celibate, a Prophet and one of the righteous.' (3:39)
And when the angels said, 'Maryam, Allah has chosen you and purified you. He has chosen you over all other women.' (3:42)
When the angels said, 'Maryam, your Lord gives you good news of a Word from Him. His name is the Messiah, 'Isa, son of Maryam, of high esteem in this world and the hereafter, and one of those brought near.' (3:45)
He would never command you to take the angels and Prophets as Lords. Would He command you to disbelieve after being Muslim? (3:80)
The repayment of such people is that Allah's curse is on them and that of the angels and of all mankind. (3:87)
And when you said to the believers, 'Is it not enough for you that your Lord reinforced you with three thousand angels, sent down?' (3:124)
Yes indeed! But if you are steadfast and guard against evil and they come upon you suddenly, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels, clearly identified. (3:125)
The angels ask those they take while they are wronging themselves, 'What were your circumstances?' They reply, 'We were oppressed on earth.' They say, 'Was Allah's earth not wide enough for you to have migrated elsewhere in it?' The shelter of such people will be Hell. What an evil destination! (4:97)
You who believe! Believe in Allah and His Messenger and in the Book He sent down to His Messenger, and the Books He sent down before. Anyone who rejects Allah and His angels and His Books and His Messengers and the Last Day has gone very far astray. (4:136)
But Allah bears witness to what He has sent down to you. He has sent it down with His knowledge. The angels bear witness as well. And Allah suffices as a Witness. (4:166)
The Messiah would never disdain to be a servant to Allah nor would the angels near to Him. If any do disdain to worship Him, and grow arrogant, He will in any case gather them all to Him. (4:172)
They say, 'Why has an angel not been sent down to him?' If We were to send down an angel, that would be the end of the affair and they would have no reprieve. (6:8)
And if We had made him an angel We would still have made him a man, and further confused for them the very thing they are confused about! (6:9)
Say: 'I do not say to you that I possess the treasuries of Allah, nor do I know the Unseen, nor do I say to you that I am an angel. I only follow what has been revealed to me.' Say: 'Are the blind the same as those who can see? So will you not reflect?' (6:50)
Who could do greater wrong than someone who invents lies against Allah or denies His Signs, or who says, 'It has been revealed to me,' when nothing has been revealed to him, or someone who says, 'I will send down the same as Allah has sent down'? If you could only see the wrongdoers in the throes of death when the angels are stretching out their hands, saying, 'Disgorge your own selves! Today you will be repaid with the punishment of humiliation for saying something other than the truth about Allah, and being arrogant about His Signs.' (6:93)
Even if We sent down angels to them, and the dead spoke to them, and We gathered together everything in front of them right before their eyes, they would still not believe unless Allah willed. The truth is that most of them are ignorant. (6:111)
What are they waiting for but for the angels to come to them or for your Lord Himself to come, or for one of your Lord's Signs to come? On the day that one of your Lord's Signs does come, no faith which a self professes will be of any use to it if it did not believe before and earn good in its faith. Say: 'Wait, then; We too are waiting.' (6:158)
We created you and then formed you and then We said to the angels, 'Prostrate before Adam,' and they prostrated-except for Diabolis. He was not among those who prostrated. (7:11)
Then Satan whispered to them, disclosing to them their private parts that had been concealed from them. He said, 'Your Lord has only forbidden you this tree lest you become angels or among those who live for ever.' (7:20)
Remember when you called on your Lord for help and He responded to you: 'I will reinforce you with a thousand angels riding rank after rank.' (8:9)
And when your Lord revealed to the angels, 'I am with you so make those who believe firm. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve, so strike their necks and strike all their finger joints!' (8:12)
If only you could see when the angels take back those who disbelieved at their death, beating their faces and their backs: 'Taste the punishment of the Burning!' (8:50)
Perhaps you are leaving aside part of what has been revealed to you and your breast is constricted by this because they say, 'Why has treasure not been sent down to him or an angel not accompanied him?' You are only a warner and Allah is Guardian over all things. (11:12)
(Nuh said,) 'I do not say to you that I possess the treasuries of Allah; nor do I know the Unseen; nor do I say that I am an angel; nor do I say to those who are vile in your eyes that Allah will not give them any good. Allah knows best what is in their hearts. If I did, I would certainly be one of the wrongdoers.' (11:31)
But when she heard of their malicious talk, she sent for them and made a sumptuous meal and then she gave a knife to each of them. She said, 'Go out to them.' When they saw him (Yusuf), they were amazed by him and cut their hands. They said, 'Allah preserve us! This is no man. What can this be but a noble angel here!' (12:31)
The thunder glorifies His praise, as do the angels, out of fear of Him. He discharges the thunderbolts, striking with them anyone He wills. Yet still they argue about Allah when He is inexorable in His power! (13:13)
Gardens of Eden which they will enter, and all of their parents, wives and children who were righteous. Angels will enter in to welcome them from every gate. (13:23)
(They say,) 'Why do you not bring angels to us if you are telling the truth?' (15:7)
The angels only descend with the truth and then they would be granted no reprieve. (15:8)
When your Lord said to the angels, 'I am creating a human being out of dried clay formed from fetid black mud.' (15:28)
Then the angels prostrated all together, every one of them. (15:30)
He sends down angels with the Spirit of His command to any of His servants He wills: 'Give warning that there is no god but Me, so have fear of Me!' (16:2)
As for those the angels take in death while they are wronging themselves, they will offer their submission: 'We did not do any evil.' Oh yes you did! Allah knows what you were doing. (16:28)
(Those who guard against evil are) those the angels take in a virtuous state. They say, 'Peace be upon you! Enter the Garden for what you did.'(16:32)
What are they waiting for but the angels to come to them or your Lord's command to come? That is like what those before them did. Allah did not wrong them; rather they wronged themselves. (16:33)
Everything in the heavens and every creature on the earth prostrates to Allah, as do the angels. They are not puffed up with pride. (16:49)
Has your Lord honoured you with sons and Himself taken the angels as daughters? It is truly something terrible that you say! (17:40)
When We said to the angels, 'Prostrate yourselves to Adam!' they prostrated, except for Diabolis. He said 'What! Am I to prostrate to one You have created out of clay?' (17:61)
They say, 'We will not believe you until you make a spring gush out from the earth for us; or have a garden of dates and grapes which you make rivers come pouring through; or make the sky, as you claim, fall down on us in lumps; or bring Allah and the angels here as a guarantee.' (17:90-92)
Say: 'If there had been angels on the earth going about in peace, We would have sent down to them an angel from heaven as Messenger.' (17:95)
When We said to the angels, 'Prostrate yourselves to Adam,' they prostrated with the exception of Diabolis. He was one of the jinn and wantonly deviated from his Lord's command. Do you take him and his offspring as protectors apart from Me when they are your enemy? How evil is the exchange the wrongdoers make! (18.50)
When We said to the angels, 'Prostrate yourselves to Adam!' they prostrated, with the exception of Diabolis who disdained to do it. (20:116)
The greatest terror will not upset them and the angels will welcome them: 'This is your Day, the one that you were promised.' (21:103)
Allah chooses Messengers from the angels and from mankind. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing. (22:75)
The ruling circle of those of his people who disbelieved said, 'This is nothing but a human being like yourselves who simply wants to gain ascendancy over you. If Allah had wanted He would have sent angels down. We never heard of anything like this among our ancestors, the earlier peoples.' (23:24)
They say, 'What is the matter with this Messenger, that he eats food and walks in the market-place? Why has an angel not been sent down to him so that it can be a warner along with him?' (25:7)
Those who do not expect to meet Us say, 'Why have angels not been sent down to us? Why do we not see our Lord?' They have become arrogant about themselves and are excessively insolent. (25:21)
On the Day they see the angels, there will be no good news that Day for the evildoers. They will say, 'There is an absolute ban.' (25:22)
The Day when Heaven is split apart in clouds, and the angels are sent down rank upon rank. (25:25)
Say: 'The Angel of Death, who has been given charge of you, will take you back and then you will be sent back to your Lord.' (32:11)
It is He Who calls down blessing on you, as do His angels, to bring you out of the darkness into the light. He is Most Merciful to the believers. (33:43)
Allah and His angels call down blessings on the Prophet. You who believe! Call down blessings on him and ask for complete peace and safety for him. (33:56)
On the Day We gather them all together and then say to the angels, 'Was it you whom these people were worshipping?' (34:40)
Praise be to Allah, the Bringer into Being of the heavens and earth, He Who made the angels messengers, with wings-two, three or four. He adds to creation in any way He wills. Allah has power over all things. (35:1)
They cannot eavesdrop on the Highest Assembly (of angels) and they are stoned from every side. (37:8)
Or did We create the angels female, with them as witnesses? (37:150)
(Say:) 'I knew nothing of the Highest Assembly (of angels) when they debated.' (38:69)
Your Lord said to the angels, 'I am going to create a human being out of clay.' (38:71)
So the angels prostrated, all of them together. (38:73)
You will see the angels circling round the Throne, glorifying their Lord with praise. It will be decided between them with truth. And it will be said: 'Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.' (39:75)
When the Messengers came to them from in front and from behind, saying, 'Do not worship anyone but Allah,' they said, 'If our Lord had willed, He could have sent angels down, so we reject the Message you have been sent with.' (41:14)
The angels descend on those who say, 'Our Lord is Allah,' and then go straight: 'Do not fear and do not grieve but rejoice in the Garden you have been promised.' (41:30)
The heavens are all but rent asunder from above when the angels glorify their Lord with praise and ask forgiveness for those who are on the earth. Allah is the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. (42:5)
They have designated the angels as female, those who are in the presence of the All-Merciful! Were they present to witness their creation? Their testimony will be recorded and they will be asked about it! (43:19)
(Pharaoh said,) 'Why have gold bracelets not been put upon his arms and why is there not a train of angels accompanying him?' (43:53)
If We wished We could appoint angels in exchange for you to succeed you on the earth. (43:60)
How will it be when the angels take them in death, beating their faces and their backs? (47:27)
And how many angels there are in the heavens whose intercession is of no benefit at all until Allah has authorised those He wills and is pleased with them! (53:26)
Those who do not believe in the hereafter give the angels female names. (53:27)
If the two of you would only turn to Allah, for your hearts clearly deviated... But if you support one another against him, Allah is his Protector and so are Gabriel and every right-acting man of the believers and, furthermore, the angels too will come to his support. (66:4)
The angels will be gathered round its edge. On that Day, eight will bear the Throne of their Lord above their heads. (69:17)
The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day whose length is fifty thousand years. (70:4)
We have only appointed angels as masters of the Fire and We have only specified their number as a trial for those who disbelieve; so that those who were given the Book might gain in certainty, and those who believe might increase in their faith, and both those who were given the Book and the believers might have no doubt; and so that those with sickness in their hearts and the disbelievers might say, 'What did Allah intend by this example?' In this way Allah misguides those He wills and guides those He wills. No one knows the legions of your Lord but Him. This is nothing but a reminder to all human beings. (74:31)
On the Day when the Spirit and the angels stand in ranks, no one will speak, except for him who is authorised by the All-Merciful and says what is right. (78:38)
And your Lord arrives with the angels rank upon rank. (89:22)
In it the angels and the Spirit descend by their Lord's authority with every ordinance. (97:4)
ANGER
Guide us on the Straight Path, the Path of those You have blessed, not of those with anger on them, nor of the misguided. (1:5-7)
And when you said, 'Musa, we will not put up with just one kind of food so ask your Lord to supply to us some of what the earth produces-its green vegetables, cucumbers, grains, lentils and onions,' he said, 'Do you want to replace what is better with what is inferior? Go back to Egypt, then you will have what you are asking for.' Abasement and destitution were stamped upon them. They brought down anger from Allah upon themselves. That was because they rejected Allah's Signs and killed the Prophets without any right to do so. That was because they rebelled and went beyond the limits. (2:61)
What an evil thing they have sold themselves for in rejecting what Allah has sent down, outraged that Allah should send down His favour on whichever of His servants He wills. They have brought down anger upon anger on themselves. The disbelievers will have a humiliating punishment. (2:90)
They will be plunged into abasement wherever they are found, unless they have a treaty with Allah and with the people. They have brought down anger from Allah upon themselves, and they have been plunged into destitution. That was because they rejected Allah's Signs and killed the Prophets without any right to do so. That was because they disobeyed and went beyond the limits. (3:112)
Is someone who pursues the pleasure of Allah the same as someone who incurs displeasure from Allah and whose refuge is Hell? What an evil destination! (3:162)
As for anyone who kills a believer deliberately, his repayment is Hell, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. Allah is angry with him and has cursed him, and has prepared for him a terrible punishment. (4:93)
Say: 'Shall I tell you of a reward with Allah far worse than that: that of those whom Allah has cursed and with whom He is angry-turning some of them into monkeys and into pigs-and who worshipped false gods? Such people are in a worse situation and further from the right way.' (5:60)
You see many of them taking those who disbelieve as their friends. What their lower selves have advanced for them is evil indeed, bringing Allah's anger down upon them. They will suffer punishment timelessly, for ever. (5:80)
He said, 'Punishment and anger have come down on you from your Lord. Do you argue with me regarding names which you and your forefathers invented and for which Allah has sent down no authority? Wait, then; I am waiting with you.' (7:71)
When Musa returned to his people in anger and great sorrow, he said, 'What an evil thing you did in my absence after I left! Did you want to hasten your Lord's command?' He threw down the Tablets and seized hold of his brother's head, dragging him towards him. Harun said, 'Son of my mother, The people oppressed me and almost killed me. Do not give my enemies cause to gloat over me. Do not include me with the wrongdoing people.' (7:150)
As for those who adopted the Calf, anger from their Lord will overtake them together with abasement in the life of this world. That is how we repay the purveyors of falsehood. (7:152)
When Musa's anger abated he picked up the Tablets and in their inscription was guidance and mercy for all of them who feared their Lord. (7:154)
Anyone who turns his back on them that day, unless he is withdrawing to rejoin the fight or withdrawing to support another group, brings Allah's anger down upon himself. His refuge is Hell. What an evil destination! (8:16)
Among them there are some who find fault with you concerning the alms. If they are given some of it, they are pleased but if they are not given any, they are angry. (9:58)
Those who reject Allah after having believed-except for someone forced to do it whose heart remains at rest in its faith-but as for those whose breasts become dilated with disbelief, anger from Allah will come down on them. They will have a terrible punishment. (16:106)
Eat of the good things We have provided for you but do not go to excess in it or My anger will be unleashed on you. Anyone who has My anger unleashed on him has plunged to his ruin. (20:81)
Musa returned to his people in anger and great sorrow. He said, 'My people, did not your Lord make you a handsome promise? Did the fulfilment of the contract seem too long to you or did you want to unleash your Lord's anger upon yourselves, so you broke your promise to me?' (20:86)
And Dhu'n-Nun when he left in anger and thought We would not punish him. He called out in the pitch darkness: 'There is no god but You! Glory be to You! Truly I have been one of the wrongdoers.' (21:87)
And the punishment is removed from her if she testifies four times by Allah that he (her husband) is lying and a fifth time that Allah's anger will be upon her if he is telling the truth. (24:8-9)
Those who disbelieved will be addressed: 'Allah's hatred of you, when you were called to faith but then chose disbelief, is even greater than your hatred of yourselves.' (40:10)
The argument of those who argue about Allah, once He has been acknowledged, has no basis whatsoever with their Lord. There is anger upon them and they will have a harsh punishment. (42:16)
(Believers are) those who avoid major wrong actions and indecencies and who, when they are angered, then forgive. (42:37)
That is because they followed what angers Allah and hated what is pleasing to Him. So He made their actions come to nothing. (47:28)
And so that He might punish the men and women of the hypocrites and the men and women of the idolaters-those who think bad thoughts about Allah. They will suffer an evil turn of fate. Allah is angry with them, and has cursed them and prepared Hell for them. What an evil destination! (48:6)
Do you not see those who have turned to people with whom Allah is angry? They belong neither to you nor to them. And they swear to falsehood and do so knowingly. (58:14)
You who believe! Do not make friends of people with whom Allah is angry, who have despaired of the hereafter as the disbelievers have despaired of the inhabitants of the graves. (60:13)
ANIMALS
Perform the pilgrimage and the pious visit for Allah. If you are forcibly prevented, make whatever sacrifice is feasible. But do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached the place of sacrifice. If any of you are ill or have a head injury, the expiation is fasting or charity or sacrifice when you are safe and well again. And if you are secure, then he who takes advantage of a pious visit before the pilgrimage should make whatever sacrifice is feasible. For any one who cannot, there is three days' fast on pilgrimage and seven on your return-that is ten in all. That is for anyone whose family does not live near the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram). Have fear of Allah and know that Allah is fierce in retribution. (2:196)
When he leaves you, he goes about the earth corrupting it, destroying crops and animals. Allah does not love corruption. (2:205)
You who believe! Fulfil your contracts. All livestock animals are lawful for you, except those that are recited to you now; but it is still not lawful to hunt while you are in the state of pilgrimage. Allah makes whatever judgements He wills. (5:1)
You who believe! Do not profane the sacred rites of Allah or the sacred months, or the sacrificial animals, or the ritual garlands, or those heading for the Sacred House, desiring profit and good pleasure from their Lord. When your pilgrimage is over, then you may hunt. Do not let hatred for a people who debar you from the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) incite you into going beyond the limits. Help each other to goodness and heedfulness. Do not help each other to wrongdoing and enmity. Have fear of Allah. Allah is severe in retribution. (5:2)
Forbidden for you are carrion, blood and pork, and what has been consecrated to other than Allah, and animals which have been strangled, and animals which have been killed by a blow, and animals which have fallen to their death, and animals which have been gored, and animals which wild beasts have eaten-except those you are able to slaughter properly-and animals which have been sacrificed on altars, and deciding things by means of divining arrows-that is deviance. Today those who disbelieve have despaired of overcoming your religion. So do not be afraid of them but be afraid of Me. Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed My blessing upon you and I am pleased with Islam as a religion for you. But if anyone is forced by hunger, not intending any wrongdoing, Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (5:3)
They will ask you what is lawful for them. Say: 'All good things are lawful for you, and also what is caught for you by hunting animals which you have trained as Allah has taught you. Eat what they catch for you, mentioning Allah's name over it.' And have fear of Allah. Allah is swift at reckoning. (5:4)
You who believe! Allah will test you with game animals which come within the reach of your hands and spears, so that Allah will know those who fear Him in the Unseen. Anyone who oversteps the limits after this will have a painful punishment. (5:94)
You who believe! Do not kill game while you are in the state of pilgrimage. If one of you kills any deliberately, the reprisal for it is a livestock animal equivalent to what he killed, as judged by two just men among you, a sacrifice to reach the Kaaba, or expiation by feeding the poor, or fasting commensurate with that, so that he may taste the evil consequences of what he did. Allah has pardoned all that took place in the past; but if anyone does it again Allah will take revenge on him. Allah is Almighty, Exactor of Revenge. (5:95)
Allah has made the Kaaba, the Sacred House, a special institution for mankind, and also the sacred months and the sacrificial animals and the ritual garlands. That is so you will know that Allah knows what is in the heavens and in the earth and that Allah has knowledge of all things. (5:97)
They say, 'These animals and crops are sacrosanct. No one may eat them except those we wish',-as they allege-and animals on whose backs it is forbidden to ride, and animals over which they do not mention Allah's name, inventing falsehood against Him. He will repay them for the things they have invented. (6:138)
They say, 'What is in the wombs of these animals is exclusively for our men and forbidden for our wives. But if it is stillborn, they can share in it.' He will repay them for their false depiction. He is All-Wise, All-Knowing. (6:139)
And also animals for riding and for haulage and animals for slaughtering and for wool. Eat what Allah has provided for you and do not follow in the footsteps of Satan. He is an outright enemy to you. (6:142)
We made forbidden for the Jews every animal with an undivided hoof, and in respect of cattle and sheep, We made their fat forbidden for them, except what is attached to their backs or guts or mixed up with bone. That is how We repaid them for their insolence. And We certainly speak the truth. (6:146)
The worst of animals in the sight of Allah are those who disbelieve and do not believe. (8:55)
The metaphor of the life of this world is that of water which We send down from the sky, and which then mingles with the plants of the earth to provide food for both people and animals. Then, when the earth is at its loveliest and takes on its fairest guise and its people think they have it under their control, Our command comes upon it by night or day and We reduce it to dried-out stubble, as though it had not been flourishing just the day before! In this way We make Our Signs clear for people who reflect. (10:24)
It is He Who sends down water from the sky. From it you drink and from it come the shrubs among which you graze your herds. (16:10)
Announce the Pilgrimage to mankind. They will come to you on foot and on every sort of lean animal, coming by every distant road so that they can be present at what will profit them and invoke Allah's name on specific days over livestock He has provided for them. Eat of them and feed those who are poor and in need. (22:27-28)
You can make use of the sacrificial animals until a specified time, and then their place of sacrifice is by the Ancient House. (22:33)
We have appointed the sacrificial animals for you as one of the sacred rites of Allah. There is good in them for you, so invoke Allah's name over them, as they stand in rows. And then when they collapse on their sides, eat of them and feed both those who ask and those who are too shy to ask. In this way We have subjected them to you so that hopefully you will be thankful. (22:36)
We revealed to him: 'Build the Ship under Our supervision and as We reveal. When Our command comes and water bubbles up from the earth, load into it a pair of every (animal) species, and your family-except for those among them against whom the word has already gone ahead. And do not address Me concerning those who do wrong. They shall be drowned. (23:27)
Allah created every animal from water. Some of them go on their bellies, some of them on two legs, and some on four. Allah creates whatever He wills. Allah has power over all things. (24:45)
It is He Who sends out the winds, bringing advance news of His mercy. And We send down from heaven pure water so that by it We can bring a dead land to life and give drink to many of the animals and people We created. (25:48-49)
ANSAR (SUPPORTERS)
The forerunners-the first of the Migrants (Muhajirun) and the Supporters (Ansar)-and those who have followed them in doing good: Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. He has prepared Gardens for them with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever and ever. That is the great victory. (9:100)
Allah has turned towards the Prophet, and the Migrants (Muhajirun) and the Supporters (Ansar), those who followed him at the 'time of difficulty', after the hearts of a group of them had almost deviated. Then He turned towards them-He is All-Gentle, Most Merciful to them. (9:117)
Those who were already settled in the abode, and in faith, before they came, love those who have migrated to them and do not find in their hearts any need for what they have been given and prefer them to themselves even if they themselves are needy. It is the people who are safe-guarded from the avarice of their own selves who are successful. (59:9)
ANT
Then, when they reached the Valley of the Ants, an ant said, 'Ants! Enter your dwellings so that Sulayman and his troops do not crush you unwittingly.' (27:18)
APE
You are well aware of those of you who broke the Sabbath. We said to them, 'Be apes, despised, cast out.' (2:65)
Say: 'Shall I tell you of a reward with Allah far worse than that: that of those whom Allah has cursed and with whom He is angry-turning some of them into monkeys and into pigs-and who worshipped false gods? Such people are in a worse situation and further from the right way.' (5:60)
When they were insolent about what they had been forbidden to do, We said to them, 'Be apes, despised, cast out!' (7:166)
An Index To The Qur'an /-A- 3
AFFLUENT When We desire to destroy a city, We send a command to the affluent in it and they become deviant in it and the Word is justly carried out against it and We annihilate it completely. (17:16) But then when We seize the affluent among them with the punishment, they will suddenly start praying fervently. (23:64) Those of you possessing affluence and ample wealth should not make oaths that they will not give to their relatives and the very poor and those who have migrated in the way of Allah. They should rather pardon and overlook. Would you not love Allah to forgive you? Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (24:22) We never sent a warner into any city without the affluent people in it saying, 'We reject what you have been sent with.' (34:34) Similarly We never sent any warner before you to any city without the affluent among them saying, 'We found our fathers following a religion and we are simply following in their footsteps.' (43:23) AGREEMENT Mothers should nurse their children for two full years-those who wish to complete the full term of nursing. It is the duty of the fathers to feed and clothe them with correctness and courtesy-no self is charged with more than it can bear. No mother should be put under pressure in respect of her child nor any father in respect of his child. The same duty is incumbent on the heir. If the couple both wish weaning to take place after mutual agreement and consultation, there is nothing wrong in their doing that. If you wish to find wet-nurses for your children, there is nothing wrong in your doing that provided you hand over to them what you have agreed to give with correctness and courtesy. Have fear of Allah and know that Allah sees what you do. (2:233) Nor is there anything wrong in any allusion to marriage you make to a woman, nor for any you keep to yourself. Allah knows that you will say things to them. But do not make secret arrangements with them, rather only speak with correctness and courtesy. Do not finally decide on the marriage contract until the prescribed period has come to its end. Know that Allah knows what is in your selves, so beware of Him! And know that Allah is Ever-Forgiving, All-Forbearing. (2:235) And also (forbidden for you are) married women, except for those you have taken in war as slaves. This is what Allah has prescribed for you. Apart from that He has made all other women lawful for you provided you seek them with your wealth in marriage and not in fornication. When you consummate your marriage with them give them their prescribed dowry. There is nothing wrong in any further agreement you might come to after the dowry has been given. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. (4:24) Among them there were some who made an agreement with Allah: 'If He gives us of His bounty we will definitely give charity and be among the righteous.' (9:75) (People of intelligence are) those who fulfil Allah's contract and do not break their agreement. (13:20) AHL AL-KITAB (SEE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK) AHMAD And when 'Isa son of Maryam said, 'Tribe of Israel, I am the Messenger of Allah to you, confirming the Torah which came before me and giving you the good news of a Messenger after me whose name is Ahmad.' When he brought them the Clear Signs, they said, 'This is downright magic.' (61:6) AKHIRAH (SEE THE HEREAFTER) ALAQ Mankind! If you are in any doubt about the Rising, know that We created you from dust then from a drop of sperm then from an alaq then from a lump of flesh, formed yet unformed, so We may make things clear to you. We make whatever We want stay in the womb until a specified time and then We bring you out as children so that you can reach your full maturity. Some of you die and some of you revert to the lowest form of life so that, after having knowledge, they then know nothing at all. And you see the earth dead and barren; then when We send down water onto it it quivers and swells and sprouts with luxuriant plants of every kind. (22:5) Then (We) formed the drop into an alaq and formed alaq into a lump and formed the lump into bones and clothed the bones in flesh; and then brought him into being as another creature. Blessed be Allah, the Best of Creators! (23:14) It is He Who created you from earth, then from a drop of sperm, then from an alaq, then He brings you out as infants, then so you may achieve full strength, then so you may become old men-though some of you may die before that time-so that you may reach a predetermined age and so that hopefully you will use your intellect. (40:67) Was he not a drop of ejaculated sperm, then an alaq which He created and shaped? (75:37-38) Recite: In the Name of your Lord Who created, created man from alaq. (96:1-2) AL-'UZZA Have you really considered al-Lat and al-'Uzza and Manat, the third (idol), the other one? (53:19-20) ALL THE WORLDS - ALL BEINGS Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. (1:1) Tribe of Israel! Remember the blessing I conferred on you and that I preferred you over all other beings. (2:47) Tribe of Israel! Remember the blessing I conferred on you, and that I preferred you over all other beings. (2:122) When his Lord said to him, 'Become a Muslim!' he (Ibrahim) said, 'I am a Muslim who has submitted to the Lord of all the worlds.' (2:131) And with Allah's permission they routed them. Dawud killed Goliath and Allah gave him kingship and wisdom and taught him whatever He willed. If it were not for Allah's driving some people back by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted. But Allah shows favour to all the worlds. (2:251) Allah chose Adam and Nuh and the family of Ibrahim and the family of 'Imran over all other beings. (3:33) And when the angels said, 'Maryam, Allah has chosen you and purified you. He has chosen you over all other women.' (3:42) Remember when Musa said to his people, 'My people! Remember Allah's blessing to you when He appointed Prophets among you and appointed kings for you, and gave you what He had not given to anyone else in all the worlds!' (5:20) Even if you do raise your hand against me to kill me, I am not going to raise my hand against you to kill you. Truly I fear Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. (5:28) Allah said, 'I will send it down to you but if anyone among you disbelieves after that, I will punish him with a punishment the like of which I will not inflict on anyone else in all the worlds!' (5:115) So the last remnant of the people who did wrong was cut off. Praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds! (6:45) Say: 'Are we to call on something besides Allah which can neither help nor harm us, and to turn on our heels after Allah has guided us, like someone the Satans have lured away in the earth, leaving him confused and stupefied, despite the fact that he has companions calling him to guidance, saying, "Come with us!"?' Say: 'Allah's guidance, that is true guidance. We are commanded to submit as Muslims to the Lord of all the worlds.' (6:71) And Isma'il, al-Yasa', Yunus and Lut. All of them We favoured over all beings. (6:86) They are the ones Allah has guided, so be guided by their guidance. Say, 'I do not ask you for any wage for it. It is simply a reminder to all beings.' (6:90) Say: 'My prayer and my rites, my living and my dying, are for Allah alone, the Lord of all the worlds.' (6:162) Your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then settled Himself firmly on the Throne. He covers the day with the night, each pursuing the other urgently; and the sun and moon and stars are subservient to His command. Both creation and command belong to Him. Blessed be Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. (7:54) He (Nuh) said, 'My people, I am not in error at all but rather am a Messenger from the Lord of all the worlds.' (7:61) He (Hud) said, 'My people, I am by no means a fool, but rather am a Messenger from the Lord of all the worlds.' (7:67) And Lut, when he said to his people, 'Do you commit an obscenity not perpetrated before you by anyone in all the worlds?' (7:80) Musa said, 'Pharaoh! I am truly a Messenger from the Lord of all the worlds.' (7:104) They said, 'We believe in the Lord of all the worlds.' (7:121) He (Musa) said, 'Should I seek something other than Allah as a god for you when He has favoured you over all other beings?' (7:140) Their call there is: 'Glory be to You, O Allah!' Their greeting there is: 'Peace!' The end of their call is: 'Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds!' (10:10) This Qur'an could never have been devised by any besides Allah. Rather it is confirmation of what came before it and an elucidation of the Book which contains no doubt from the Lord of all the worlds. (10:37) You do not ask them for any wage for it. It is only a reminder to all beings. (12:104) We delivered both him and Lut to the land which We had blessed for all beings. (21:71) And she (Maryam) who protected her chastity. We breathed into her some of Our Spirit and made her and her son a Sign for all the worlds. (21:91) We have only sent you as a mercy to all the worlds. (21:107) Blessed be He Who has sent down the Furqan (Discrimination) to His servant so that he can be a warner to all beings. (25:1) (He said to Musa,) 'Go to Pharaoh and say, "We are the Messenger of the Lord of all the worlds."' (26:16) Pharaoh said, 'What is the Lord of all the worlds?' (26:23) They said, 'We believe in the Lord of all the worlds.' (26:47) (Ibrahim said,) 'They are all my enemies-except for the Lord of all the worlds.' (26:77) (The misled will say,) 'By Allah, we were plainly misguided when We equated you with the Lord of all the worlds.' (26:97-98) (The Prophet said,) 'I do not ask you for any wage for it. My wage is the responsibility of no one but the Lord of all the worlds.' (26:109, 26:127, 26:164, 26:180) Truly it is revelation sent down by the Lord of all the worlds. (26:192) But when he (Musa) reached it, a voice called out to him, 'Blessed be Him who is in the Fire and all who are around it. Glory be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds!' (27:8) She (Queen of Sheba) was told: 'Enter the courtyard,' but when she saw it she supposed it to be a pool and bared her legs. He said, 'It is a courtyard paved with glass.' She said, 'My Lord, I have wronged myself but I have submitted with Sulayman to the Lord of all the worlds.' (27:44) But when he reached it a voice called out to him from the right hand side of the valley in the part which was full of blessing, from out of the bush: 'Musa, I am Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.' (28:30) We rescued him and the occupants of the Ark and made that into a Sign for all the worlds. (29:15) When Lut said to his people, 'You are committing an obscenity not perpetrated before you by anyone in all the worlds.' (29:28) The revelation of the Book, without any doubt of it, is from the Lord of the worlds. (32:2) 'Peace be upon Nuh among all beings!' (37:79) (Ibrahim said to his father and his people,) 'So what are your thoughts about the Lord of all the worlds?' (37:87) And praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds! (37:182) It is simply a reminder to all the worlds. (38:87) You will see the angels circling round the Throne, glorifying their Lord with praise. It will be decided between them with truth. And it will be said: 'Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.' (39:75) It is Allah Who made the earth a stable home for you and the sky a dome, and formed you, giving you the best of forms, and provided you with good and wholesome things. That is Allah, your Lord. Blessed be Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. (40:64) He is the Living-there is no god but Him-so call on Him, making your religion sincerely His. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. (40:65) Say: 'I was forbidden to worship those you call upon besides Allah when the Clear Signs came to me from my Lord and I was commanded to submit to the Lord of all the worlds.' (40:66) Say: 'Do you reject Him Who created the earth in two days, and make others equal to Him? That is the Lord of all the worlds.' (41:9) We sent Musa with Our Signs to Pharaoh and his nobles. He said, 'I am the Messenger of the Lord of the worlds.' (43:46) We chose them knowingly above all other people. (44:32) We gave the Book and Judgement and Prophethood to the tribe of Israel and provided them with good things and favoured them over all other people. (45:16) All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the heavens and the Lord of the earth, Lord of all the worlds. (45:36) Revelation sent down from the Lord of all the worlds. (56:80) They are like Satan when he says to a human being, 'Disbelieve,' and then when he disbelieves, says, 'I wash my hands of you. Truly I fear Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.' (59:16) But it is nothing less than a Reminder to all the worlds. (68:52) It is a revelation from the Lord of all the worlds. (69:43) It is nothing but a Reminder to all the worlds. (81:27) But you will not will unless Allah wills, the Lord of all the Worlds. (81:29) Do such people not realise that they will be raised up on a Terrible Day, the Day mankind will stand before the Lord of all the worlds? (83:4-6) ALLEGIANCE Those who pledge you their allegiance pledge allegiance to Allah. Allah's hand is over their hands. He who breaks his pledge only breaks it against himself. But as for him who fulfils the contract he has made with Allah, We will pay him an immense reward. (48:10) Allah was pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you under the tree. He knew what was in their hearts, and sent down serenity to them and has rewarded them with an imminent victory. (48:18) O Prophet! When women who believe come to you pledging allegiance to you on the grounds that they will not associate anything with Allah or steal or fornicate or kill their children or give a false ascription of paternity-making up lies about their bodies-or disobey you in respect of anything right, then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (60:12) |
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An Index To The Qur'an /-A- 2
AD (SEE HUD (AS) AND 'AD)
ADEM (AS) (ADAM)
When your Lord said to the angels, 'I am putting an overlord on the earth,' they said, 'Why put on it one who will cause corruption on it and shed blood when we glorify You with praise and proclaim Your purity?' He said, 'I know what you do not know.' (2:30)
He taught Adam the names of all things. Then He arrayed them before the angels and said, 'Tell me the names of these if you are telling the truth.' (2:31)
He said, 'Adam, tell them their names.' When he had told them their names, He said, 'Did I not tell you that I know the Unseen of the heavens and the earth, and I know what you make known and what you hide?' (2:33)
We said to the angels, 'Prostrate to Adam!' and they prostrated, with the exception of Diabolis. He refused and was arrogant and was one of the disbelievers. (2:34)
We said, 'Adam, live in the Garden, you and your wife, and eat freely from it wherever you will. But do not approach this tree and so become wrongdoers.' (2:35)
Then Adam received some words from his Lord and He turned towards him. He is the Ever-Returning, the Most Merciful. (2:37)
Allah chose Adam and Nuh and the family of Ibrahim and the family of 'Imran over all other beings-descendants one of the other. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (3:33-34)
The likeness of 'Isa in Allah's sight is the same as Adam. He created him from earth and then He said to him, 'Be!' and he was. (3:59)
Recite to them the true report of Adam's two sons when they offered a sacrifice and it was accepted from one of them but not accepted from the other. The one said, 'I shall kill you.' The other said, 'Allah only accepts from people who guard against evil.' (5:27)
We created you and then formed you and then We said to the angels, 'Prostrate before Adam,' and they prostrated-except for Diabolis. He was not among those who prostrated. (7:11)
He said, 'What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you to?' He replied, 'I am better than him. You created me from fire and You created him from clay.' (7:12)
(Allah said,) 'Adam, live in the Garden, you and your wife, and eat of it wherever you like. But do not go near this tree lest you become wrongdoers.' (7:19)
Children of Adam! We have sent down clothing to you to conceal your private parts, and fine apparel, but the garment of heedfulness-that is best! That is one of Allah's Signs, so that hopefully you will pay heed. (7:26)
Children of Adam! Do not let Satan tempt you into trouble as He expelled your parents from the Garden, stripping them of their covering and disclosing to them their private parts. He and his tribe see you from where you do not see them. We have made the Satans friends of those who have no faith. (7:27)
Children of Adam! Wear fine clothing in every mosque and eat and drink but do not be profligate. He does not love the profligate. (7:31)
Children of Adam! If Messengers come to you from among yourselves, recounting My Signs to you, those who guard against evil and put things right, will feel no fear and will know no sorrow. (7:35)
When your Lord took out all their descendants from the loins of the children of Adam and made them testify against themselves 'Am I not your Lord?' they said, 'We testify that indeed You are!' Lest you say on the Day of Rising, 'We knew nothing of this.' (7:172)
It is He Who created you from a single self and made from him his spouse so that he might find repose in her. Then when he covered her she bore a light load and carried it around. Then when it became heavy they called on Allah, their Lord, 'If You grant us a healthy child, we will be among the thankful!' (7:189)
We created mankind out of dried clay formed from fetid black mud. (15:26)
When your Lord said to the angels, 'I am creating a human being out of dried clay formed from fetid black mud. When I have formed him and breathed My Spirit into him, fall down in prostration in front of him!' (15:28-29)
When We said to the angels, 'Prostrate yourselves to Adam!' they prostrated, except for Diabolis. He said 'What! Am I to prostrate to one You have created out of clay?' (17:61)
We have honoured the sons of Adam and conveyed them on land and sea and provided them with good things and favoured them greatly over many We have created. (17:70)
When We said to the angels, 'Prostrate yourselves to Adam,' they prostrated with the exception of Diabolis. He was one of the jinn and wantonly deviated from his Lord's command. Do you take him and his offspring as protectors apart from Me when they are your enemy? How evil is the exchange the wrongdoers make! (18:50)
Those are some of the Prophets Allah has blessed, from the descendants of Adam and from those We carried with Nuh, and from the descendants of Ibrahim and Isra'il and from those We guided and chose. When the Signs of the All-Merciful were recited to them they fell on their faces, weeping, in prostration. (19:58)
We made a contract with Adam before, but he forgot. We did not find that he had a firm resolve. (20:115)
When We said to the angels, 'Prostrate yourselves to Adam!' they prostrated, with the exception of Diabolis who disdained to do it. (20:116)
We said, 'Adam, this is an enemy for you and your wife, so do not let him expel you from the Garden and thus make you miserable.' (20:117)
But Satan whispered to him, saying, 'Adam, shall I show you the way to the Tree of Everlasting Life and to a kingdom which will never fade away?' (20:120)
So the two of them ate from it and their private parts were disclosed to them and they started stitching together the leaves of the Garden to cover themselves. Adam disobeyed his Lord and became misled. (20:121)
ADMONITION
When you divorce women and they are near the end of their waiting period, do not prevent them from marrying their first husbands if they have mutually agreed to it with correctness and courtesy. This is an admonition for those of you who believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and purer for you. Allah knows and you do not know. (2:232)
This is a clear explanation for all mankind, and guidance and admonition for those who guard against evil. (3:138)
Men have charge of women because Allah has preferred the one above the other and because they spend their wealth on them. Right-acting women are obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded. If there are women whose disobedience you fear, you may admonish them, refuse to sleep with them, and then beat them. But if they obey you, do not look for a way to punish them. Allah is All-High, Most Great. (4:34)
And We sent 'Isa son of Maryam following in their footsteps, confirming the Torah that came before him. We gave him the Gospel containing guidance and light, confirming the Torah that came before it, and as guidance and admonition for those who guard against evil. (5:46)
We wrote about everything for him on the Tablets as an admonition and making all things clear. 'Seize hold of it vigorously and command your people to adopt the best in it. I will show you the home of the deviators!' (7:145)
Mankind! Admonition has come to you from your Lord and also healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers. (10:57)
He said, 'Nuh, he is definitely not of your family. He is someone whose action was not righteous. Do not, therefore, ask Me for something about which you have no knowledge. I admonish you lest you should be among the ignorant.' (11:46)
We have given you all this news about the Messengers so We can make your heart firm by means of it. The truth has come to you in this and an admonishment and reminder to the believers. (11:120)
Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair admonition, and argue with them in the kindest way. Your Lord knows best who is misguided from His way. And He knows best who are guided. (16:125)
We have sent down Clear Signs to you and the example of those who passed away before you and an admonition for those who guard against evil. (24:34)
Then when they have reached the end of their waiting period either retain them with correctness and courtesy or part from them with correctness and courtesy. Call two upright men from among yourselves as witnesses and they should carry out the witnessing for Allah. This is admonishment for all who believe in Allah and the Last Day. Whoever has fear of Allah-He will give him a way out. (65:2)
ADOPTION (OF A CHILD)
Allah has not allotted to any man two hearts within his breast, nor has He made those of your wives you equate with your mothers your actual mothers, nor has He made your adopted sons your actual sons. These are just words coming out of your mouths. But Allah speaks the truth and He guides to the Way. (33:4)
Call them after their fathers. That is closer to justice in Allah's sight. And if you do not know who their fathers were then they are your brothers in the religion and people under your patronage. You are not to blame for any honest mistake you make but only for what your hearts premeditate. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (33:5)
When you said to him whom Allah has blessed and you yourself have greatly favoured, 'Keep your wife to yourself and have fear of Allah,' while concealing something in yourself which Allah wished to bring to light, you were fearing people when Allah has more right to your fear. Then when Zayd divorced her We married her to you so that there should be no restriction for the believers regarding the wives of their adopted sons when they have divorced them. Allah's command is always carried out. (33:37)
ADORNMENT
And horses, mules and donkeys both to ride and for adornment. And He creates other things you do not know. (16:8)
We made everything on the earth adornment for it so that We could test them to see whose actions are the best. (18:7)
They will have Gardens of Eden with rivers flowing under them. They will be adorned in them with bracelets made of gold and wear green garments made of the finest silk and rich brocade, reclining there on couches under canopies. What an excellent reward! What a wonderful repose! (18:31)
Wealth and sons are the embellishment of the life of this world. But, in your Lord's sight, right actions which are lasting bring a better reward and are a better basis for hope. (18:46)
But Allah will admit those who believe and do right actions into Gardens with rivers flowing under them where they will be adorned with gold bracelets and pearls, and where their clothing will be of silk. (22:23)
Say to the believing women that they should lower their eyes and guard their chastity and not display their adornments-except for what normally shows-and draw their head-coverings across their breasts. They should only display their adornments to their husbands or their fathers or their husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons or their brothers or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons or their women or those they own as slaves or their male attendants who have no sexual desire or children who still have no awareness of women's private parts. Nor should they stamp their feet so that their hidden ornaments are known. Turn to Allah every one of you, believers, so that hopefully you will have success. (24:31)
As for women who are past child-bearing age and no longer have any hope of getting married, there is nothing wrong in their removing their outer clothes, provided they do not flaunt their adornments; but to refrain from doing so is better for them. Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. (24:60)
They will enter Gardens of Eden where they will be adorned with gold bracelets and pearls, and where their clothing will be of silk. (35:33)
We have adorned the lowest heaven with the beauty of the planets. (37:6)
In two days He determined them as seven heavens and revealed, in every heaven, its own mandate. We adorned the lowest heaven with lamps and guarded it. That is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing. (41:12)
We have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps and made some of them stones for the Satans for whom We have prepared the punishment of the Blaze. (67:5)
ADVICE
He (Satan) swore to them, 'I am one of those who give you good advice.' (7:21)
A man came running from the furthest part of the city, saying, 'Musa, the Council are conspiring to kill you, so leave! I am someone who brings you good advice.' (28:20)
AFFECTION
You will find that the people most hostile to those who believe are the Jews and the idolaters. You will find the people most affectionate to those who believe are those who say, 'We are Christians.' That is because some of them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant. (5:82)
He (Ibrahim) said, 'You have adopted idols apart from Allah as tokens of mutual affection in this world. But then on the Day of Rising you will reject one another and curse one another. The Fire will be your shelter. You will have no helpers.' (29:25)
Among His Signs is that He created spouses for you of your own kind so that you might find tranquillity in them. And He has placed affection and compassion between you. There are certainly Signs in that for people who reflect. (30:21)
An Index To The Qur'an /-A- 1
AARON (SEE HARUN (AS))
ABASEMENT
And when you said, 'Musa, we will not put up with just one kind of food so ask your Lord to supply to us some of what the earth produces-its green vegetables, cucumbers, grains, lentils and onions,' he said, 'Do you want to replace what is better with what is inferior? Go back to Egypt, then you will have what you are asking for.' Abasement and destitution were stamped upon them. They brought down anger from Allah upon themselves. That was because they rejected Allah's Signs and killed the Prophets without any right to do so. That was because they rebelled and went beyond the limits. (2:61)
Say, 'O Allah! Master of the Kingdom! You give sovereignty to whoever You will You take sovereignty from whoever You will. You exalt whoever You will You abase whoever You will. All good is in Your hands. You have power over all things.' (3:26)
They will be plunged into abasement wherever they are found, unless they have a treaty with Allah and with the people. They have brought down anger from Allah upon themselves, and they have been plunged into destitution. That was because they rejected Allah's Signs and killed the Prophets without any right to do so. That was because they disobeyed and went beyond the limits. (3:112)
He said, 'Descend from Heaven. It is not for you to be arrogant in it. So get out! You are one of the abased.' (7:13)
As for those who adopted the Calf, anger from their Lord will overtake them together with abasement in the life of this world. That is how we repay the purveyors of falsehood. (7:152)
Fight those of the people who were given the Book who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day and who do not make forbidden what Allah and His Messenger have made forbidden and do not take as their religion the religion of Truth, until they pay the poll tax with their own hands in a state of complete abasement. (9:29)
If you do not help him, Allah did help him when those who disbelieved drove him out and there were two of them in the Cave. He said to his companion, 'Do not be despondent, Allah is with us.' Then Allah sent down His serenity upon him and reinforced him with troops you could not see. He made the word of those who disbelieved undermost. It is the word of Allah which is uppermost. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (9:40)
And say: 'Praise be to Allah Who has had no son and Who has no partner in His Kingdom and Who needs no one to protect Him from abasement.' And proclaim His Greatness repeatedly! (17:111)
She (Queen of Sheba) said, 'When kings enter a city, they lay waste to it and make its mightiest inhabitants the most abased. That is what they too will do.' (27:34)
(Sulayman said,) 'Return to them. We will come to them with troops they cannot face and we will expel them from it abased and humiliated.' (27:37)
They tried to outwit him but We made them the lowest. (37:98)
You will see them as they are exposed to it, abject in their abasement, glancing around them furtively. Those who believe will say, 'Truly the losers are those who lose themselves and their families on the Day of Rising.' The wrongdoers are in an everlasting punishment. (42:45)
Those who oppose Allah and His Messenger will be subdued and overcome as those before them were also subdued and overcome.We have sent down Clear Signs. The disbelievers will have a humiliating punishment. (58:5)
Those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, such people will be among the most abased. (58:20)
Whatever palm-trees you cut down, or left standing upright on their roots, it was done by Allah's permission in order to disgrace the deviators. (59:5)
ABEL (HÂBIL) AND CAIN (QÂBIL)
Recite to them the true report of Adam's two sons when they offered a sacrifice and it was accepted from one of them but not accepted from the other. The one said, 'I shall kill you.' The other said, 'Allah only accepts from people who guard against evil. Even if you do raise your hand against me to kill me, I am not going to raise my hand against you to kill you. Truly I fear Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. I want you to take on both my wrongdoing and your wrongdoing and so become one of the Companions of the Fire. That is the repayment of the wrongdoers.' So his lower self persuaded him to kill his brother, and he killed him and became one of the lost. (5:27-30)
ABLUTION
You who believe! Do not approach the prayer when you are drunk, so that you will know what you are saying, nor in a state of major impurity-unless you are travelling-until you have washed yourselves completely. If you are ill or on a journey, or any of you have come from the lavatory or touched women, and you cannot find any water, then take for yourselves clean earth, wiping your faces and your hands. Allah is Ever-Pardoning, Ever-Forgiving. (4:43)
You who believe! When you get up to perform prayer, wash your faces and your hands and your arms to the elbows, and wipe over your heads, and (wash) your feet to the ankles. If you are in a state of major impurity, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey, or have come from the lavatory, or have touched women, and cannot find any water, then take for yourselves clean earth, and wipe your faces and your hands therewith. Allah does not want to make things difficult for you, but He does want to purify you and to perfect His blessing upon you so that hopefully you will be thankful. (5:6)
ABODE
(The servants of the All-Merciful are) those who say, 'Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell, its punishment is inescapable pain. It is indeed an evil lodging and abode'. (25:65-66)
They will remain in it timelessly, for ever. What an excellent lodging and abode! (25:76)
ABRAHAM (SEE IBRAHIM (AS))
ABROGATE
Whenever We abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten, We bring one better than it or equal to it. Do you not know that Allah has power over all things? (2:106)
ABU LAHAB
Ruin to the hands of Abu Lahab and ruin to him! His wealth has not helped him nor anything he has earned. He will burn in a Flaming Fire. And so will his wife, the firewood-carrier, with a rope of twisted fibre round her neck. (111:1-5)
ACT - ACTION
Give the good news to those who believe and do right actions that they will have Gardens with rivers flowing under them. When they are given fruit there as provision, they will say, 'This is what we were given before.' But they were only given a simulation of it. They will have there spouses of perfect purity and will remain there timelessly, for ever. (2:25)
Those with faith, those who are Jews, and the Christians and Sabaeans, all who believe in Allah and the Last Day and act rightly, will have their reward with their Lord. They will feel no fear and will know no sorrow. (2:62)
No indeed! Those who accumulate bad actions and are surrounded by their mistakes, such people are the Companions of the Fire, remaining in it timelessly, for ever; whereas those who believe and do right actions, such people are the Companions of the Garden, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. (2:81-82)
Say, 'Do you argue with us about Allah when He is our Lord and your Lord? We have our actions and you have your actions. We act for Him alone.' (2:139)
When those who were followed disown those who followed them, and they see the punishment, and the connection between them is cut, those who followed will say, 'If only we could have another chance, we would disown them just as they have disowned us.' In that way Allah will show them their actions as a cause of anguish and remorse for them. They will never emerge from the Fire. (2:166-167)
They will ask you about the Sacred Month and fighting in it. Say, 'Fighting in it is a serious matter; but barring access to the Way of Allah and rejecting Him and barring access to the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) and expelling its people from it are far more serious in the sight of Allah. Discord is worse than killing.' They will not stop fighting you until they make you revert from your religion, if they are able. As for any of you who revert from their religion and die disbeliever, their actions will come to nothing in this world and the hereafter. They are the Companions of the Fire, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. (2:217)
If you make your charity public, that is good. But if you conceal it and give it to the poor, that is better for you, and We will erase some of your bad actions from you. Allah is aware of what you do. (2:271)
Those who believe and do right actions and perform prayer and give the alms, will have their reward with their Lord. They will feel no fear and will know no sorrow. (2:277)
As for those who disbelieve, their wealth and children will not help them against Allah in any way. They are fuel for the Fire, as was the case with the people of Pharaoh and those before them. They denied Our Signs so Allah seized them for their wrong actions. Allah is fierce in retribution. (3:10-11)
(His servants are) those who say, 'Our Lord, we believe, so forgive us our wrong actions and safeguard us from the punishment of the Fire.' (3:16)
As for those who reject Allah's Signs, and kill the Prophets without any right to do so, and kill those who command justice, give them news of a painful punishment. They are the ones whose actions come to nothing in this world or the hereafter. They will have no helpers. (3:21-22)
Say, 'If you love Allah, then follow me and Allah will love you and forgive you for your wrong actions. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.' (3:31)
As for those who believe and do right actions, We will pay them their wages in full. Allah does not love wrongdoers. (3:57)
... Allah loves the good-doers-those who, when they act indecently or wrong themselves, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their bad actions (and who can forgive bad actions except Allah?) and do not knowingly persist in what they were doing. (3:134-135)
All they said was, 'Our Lord, forgive us our wrong actions and any excesses we went to in what we did and make our feet firm and help us against these disbelieving people.' (3:147)
(Believers say,) 'Our Lord, we heard a caller calling us to faith: "Believe in your Lord!" and we believed. Our Lord, forgive us our wrong actions, erase our bad actions from us and take us back to You with those who are truly good.' (3:193)
Their Lord responds to them: 'I will not let the deeds of any doer among you go to waste, male or female-you are both the same in that respect. Those who migrated and were driven from their homes and suffered harm in My Way and fought and were killed, I will erase their bad actions from them and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, as a reward from Allah. The best of all rewards is with Allah.' (3:195)
If you avoid the serious wrong actions you have been forbidden, We will erase your bad actions from you and admit you by a Gate of Honour. (4:31)
But as for those who believe and do right actions, We will admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever and ever. In them they will have spouses of perfect purity and We will admit them into cool, refreshing shade. (4:57)
But as for those who believe and do right actions, We will admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever and ever. Allah's promise is true. Whose speech could be truer than Allah's? (4:122)
Anyone, male or female, who does right actions and is a believer, will enter the Garden. They will not be wronged by so much as the tiniest speck. (4:124)
As for those who believe and do right actions, He will pay them their wages in full and will give them increase from His favour. As for those who show disdain and grow arrogant, He will punish them with a painful punishment. They will not find any protector or helper for themselves besides Allah. (4:173)
Today all good things have been made lawful for you. And the food of those given the Book is also lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. So are chaste women from among the believers and chaste women of those given the Book before you, once you have given them their dowries in marriage, not in fornication or taking them as lovers. But as for anyone who rejects faith, his actions will come to nothing and in the hereafter he will be among the losers. (5:5)
Allah has promised those who believe and do right actions forgiveness and an immense reward. (5:9)
Allah made a covenant with the tribe of Israel and We raised up twelve leaders from among them. Allah said, 'I am with you. If you perform prayer and give the alms, and believe in My Messengers and respect and support them, and make a generous loan to Allah, I will erase your wrong actions from you and admit you into Gardens with rivers flowing under them. Any of you who disbelieve after that have gone astray from the right way.' (5:12)
The Jews and Christians say, 'We are Allah's children and His loved ones.' Say: 'Why, then, does He punish you for your wrong actions? No, you are merely human beings among those He has created. He forgives whoever He wills and He punishes whoever He wills. The kingdom of the heavens and the earth and everything between them belongs to Allah. He is our final destination.' (5:18)
Judge between them by what Allah has sent down and do not follow their whims and desires. And beware of them lest they lure you away from some of what Allah has sent down to you. If they turn their backs, then know that Allah wants to afflict them with some of their wrong actions. Many of mankind are deviators. (5:49)
Those who believe say, 'Are these the people who swore by Allah, with their most earnest oaths, that they were with you?' Their actions have come to nothing and they now are losers. (5:53)
Those who believe and those who are Jews and the Sabaeans and the Christians, all who believe in Allah and the Last Day and act rightly will feel no fear and will know no sorrow. (5:69)
Those who believe and do right actions are not to blame for anything they have eaten provided they guard against evil and have faith and do right actions, and then again guard against evil and have faith, and then guard against evil and do good. Allah loves good-doers. (5:93)
Have they not seen how many generations We destroyed before them which We had established on the earth far more firmly than We have established you? We sent down heaven upon them in abundant rain and made rivers flow under them. But We destroyed them for their wrong actions and raised up further generations after them. (6:6)
Do not curse those they call upon besides Allah, in case that makes them curse Allah in animosity, without knowledge. In this way We make the actions of every nation seem attractive to them. Then they will return to their Lord, and He will inform them about what they did. (6:108)
As for those who believe and do right actions-We impose on no self any more than it can bear-they are the Companions of the Garden, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. (7:42)
Is it not clear to those who have inherited the earth after these people that, if We wanted to, We could strike them for their wrong actions, sealing up their hearts so that they cannot hear? (7:100)
As for those who denied Our Signs and the encounter of the hereafter, their actions will come to nothing. Will they be repaid except for what they did? (7:147)
But as for those who do evil actions and then subsequently repent and believe, in that case your Lord is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (7:153)
You who believe! If you have fear of Allah, He will give you discrimination and erase your bad actions from you and forgive you. Allah's favour is indeed immense. (8:29)
Do not be like those who left their homes in arrogance, showing off to people and barring them from the way of Allah-Allah encompasses what they do-when Satan made their actions appear good to them, saying, 'No one will overcome you today for I am at your side.' But when the two parties came in sight of one another, he turned right round on his heels saying, 'I wash my hands of you. I see what you do not see. I fear Allah. Allah is severe in retribution.' (8:47-48)
Such was the case with Pharaoh's people and those before them. They rejected Allah's Signs so Allah seized them for their wrong actions. Allah is Strong, Severe in Retribution. (8:52)
Such was the case with Pharaoh's people and those before them. They denied their Lord's Signs so We destroyed them for their wrong actions. We drowned Pharaoh's people. All of them were wrongdoers. (8:54)
It is not for the idolaters to maintainthe mosques of Allah, bearing witness against themselves of their disbelief. They are the ones whose actions will come to nothing. They will be in the Fire timelessly, for ever. (9:17)
Deferring a sacred month is an increase in disbelief by which those who have disbelieved are led astray. One year they make it profane and another sacred to tally with the number Allah has made sacred. In that way they profane what Allah has made sacred. Their bad actions are made to seem good to them. Allah does not guide disbelieving people. (9:37)
Like those before you who had greater strength than you and more wealth and children. They enjoyed their portion; so enjoy your portion as those before you enjoyed theirs. You have plunged into defamation as they plunged into it. The actions of such people come to nothing in this world or the hereafter. They are the lost. (9:69)
They will make excuses to you when you return to them. Say: 'Do not make excuses, we will not believe you. Allah has already informed us about you. Allah will see your actions, as will His Messenger. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the Unseen and the Visible, and He will inform you regarding what you did.' (9:94)
But others have acknowledged their wrong actions and mixed a right action with another which is wrong. It may well be that Allah will turn towards them. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (9:102)
Say: 'Act, for Allah will see your actions, and so will His Messenger and the believers. You will be returned to the Knower of the Unseen and the Visible and He will inform you regarding what you did.' (9:105)
It was not for people of Madina, and the desert arabs around them, to remain behind the Messenger of Allah nor to prefer themselves to him. That is because no thirst or weariness or hunger will afflict them in the Way of Allah, nor will they take a single step to infuriate the disbelievers, nor secure any gain from the enemy, without a right action being written down for them because of it. Allah does not let the wage of the good-doers go to waste. (9:120)
Each and every one of you will return to Him. Allah's promise is true. He brings creation out of nothing and then regenerates it so that he can repay with justice those who believed and did right actions. Those who disbelieved will have a drink of scalding water and a painful punishment because of their disbelief. (10:4)
But as for those who believe and do right actions, their Lord will guide them by their faith. Rivers will flow under them in Gardens of Delight. (10:9)
But as for those who have earned bad actions-a bad action will be repaid with one the like of it. Debasement will darken them. They will have no one to protect them from Allah. It is as if their faces were covered by dark patches of the night. Those are the Companions of the Fire, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. (10:27)
If they deny you, say, 'I have my actions and you have your actions. You are not responsible for what I do and I am not responsible for what you do.' (10:41)
When they had thrown, Musa said, 'What you have brought is magic. Allah will certainly prove it false. Allah does not uphold the actions of corrupters.' (10:81)
It is He Who created the heavens and the earth in six days when His Throne was on the water, in order to test which of you has the best actions. If you say, 'You will be raised up after death,' those who disbelieve will say, 'This is nothing but downright magic.' (11:7)
Except for those who are steadfast and do right actions. They will receive forgiveness and a large reward. (11:11)
As for those who desire the life of this world and its finery, We will give them full payment in it for their actions. They will not be deprived here of their due. (11:15)
As for those who believe and do right actions and humble themselves before their Lord, they are the Companions of the Garden, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. (11:23)
Your Lord will pay each one of them in full for his actions. He is aware of what they do. (11:111)
Perform prayer at each end of the day and in the first part of the night. Good actions eradicate bad actions. This is a reminder for people who pay heed. (11:114)
Those who believe and do right actions, happiness will be theirs and a wonderful Homecoming. (13:29)
Their Messengers said, 'Is there any doubt about Allah, the Bringer into Being of the heavens and the earth? He summons you to forgive you for your wrong actions and to defer you until a specified time.' They said, 'You are nothing but human beings like ourselves who want to debar us from what our fathers worshipped; so bring us a clear authority.' (14:10)
The metaphor of those who reject their Lord is that their actions are like ashes scattered by strong winds on a stormy day. They have no power at all over anything they have earned. That is extreme misguidance. (14:18)
Those who believed and did right actions will be admitted into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever by the permission of their Lord. Their greeting there is 'Peace!' (14:23)
The evil actions they did assailed them. They were engulfed by what they mocked. (16:34)
Do those who plot evil actions feel secure that Allah will not cause the earth to swallow them up or that a punishment will not come upon them from where they least expect? (16:45)
If Allah were to punish people for their wrong actions, not a single creature would be left upon the earth, but He defers them till a predetermined time. When their specified time arrives, they cannot delay it for a single hour nor can they bring it forward. (16:61)
By Allah, We sent Messengers to communities before your time, but Satan made their actions seem good to them. Therefore today he is their protector. They will have a painful punishment. (16:63)
Anyone who acts rightly, male or female, being a believer, We will give them a good life and We will recompense them according to the best of what they did. (16:97)
This Qur'an guides to the most upright Way and gives good news to the believers who do right actions that they will have a large reward. (17:9)
How many generations We destroyed after Nuh! Your Lord is well able to be aware of and see the wrong actions of His servants! (17:17)
It is straight, to warn of violent force direct from Him, and to give the good news to the believers, those who do right actions, that for them there is an excellent reward. (18:2)
We made everything on the earth adornment for it so that We could test them to see whose actions are the best. (18:7)
Restrain yourself patiently with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, desiring His face. Do not turn your eyes from them, desiring the attractions of this world. And do not obey someone whose heart We have made neglectful of Our remembrance and who follows his own whims and desires and whose life has transgressed all bounds. (18:28)
But as for those who believe and do right actions, We will not let the wage of good-doers go to waste. (18:30)
Wealth and sons are the embellishment of the life of this world. But, in your Lord's sight, right actions which are lasting bring a better reward and are a better basis for hope. (18:46)
(Dhu'l-Qarnayn said,) 'But as for him who believes and acts rightly, he will receive the best of rewards and we will issue a command, making things easy for him.' (18:88)
Say: 'Shall I inform you of the greatest losers in their actions?' (18:103)
Those are the people who reject their Lord's Signs and the meeting with Him. Their actions will come to nothing and, on the Day of Rising, We will not assign them any weight. (18:105)
Those who believe and do right actions will have the Gardens of Firdaws as hospitality. (18:107)
Say: 'I am only a human being like yourselves. It is revealed to me that your god is One God. So let him who hopes to meet his Lord act rightly and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.' (18:110)
Except for those who repent and believe and act rightly. They will enter the Garden and they will not be wronged in any way. (19:60)
Allah augments those who are guided by giving them greater guidance. In your Lord's sight, right actions which are lasting are better both in reward and end result. (19:76)
As for those who believe and do right actions, the All-Merciful will bestow His love on them. (19:96)
But as for those who come to Him as believers, having done right actions, they will have the highest ranks. (20:75)
But I am Ever-Forgiving to anyone who repents and believes and acts rightly and then is guided. (20:82)
But anyone who does right actions, being a believer, need fear no wrong or any belittlement. (20:112)
We made them leaders, guiding by Our command, and revealed to them how to do good actions and perform prayer and give the alms, and they worshipped Us. (21:73)
We responded to him and gave him Yahya, restoring for him his wife's fertility. They outdid one another in good actions, calling out to Us in yearning and in awe, and humbling themselves to Us. (21:90)
As for anyone who does right actions and is a believer, his striving certainly does not go unthanked. We are writing it down on his behalf. (21:94)
Allah will admit those who believe and do right actions into Gardens with rivers flowing under them. Allah does whatever He wishes. (22:14)
But Allah will admit those who believe and do right actions into Gardens with rivers flowing under them where they will be adorned with gold bracelets and pearls, and where their clothing will be of silk. (22:23)
As for those who believe and do right actions, they will have forgiveness and generous provision. (22:50)
Sovereignty on that Day will be Allah's. He will judge between them. Those who believe and do right actions will be in Gardens of Delight. (22:56)
Messengers, eat of the good things and act rightly. I most certainly know what you do. (23:51)
When death comes to one of them, he says, 'My Lord, send me back again so that perhaps I may act rightly regarding the things I failed to do!' No indeed! It is just words he utters. Before them there is an interspace until the Day they are raised up. (23:99-100)
But the actions of those who disbelieve are like a mirage in the desert. A thirsty man thinks it is water but when he reaches it, he finds it to be nothing at all, but he finds Allah there. He will pay him his account in full. Allah is swift at reckoning. (24:39)
Or they (the actions of those who disbelieve) are like the darkness of a fathomless sea which is covered by waves above which are waves above which are clouds, layers of darkness, one upon the other. If he puts out his hand, he can scarcely see it. Those Allah gives no light to, they have no light. (24:40)
Allah has promised those of you who believe and do right actions that He will make them successors in the land as He made those before them successors, and will firmly establish for them their religion with which He is pleased and give them, in place of their fear, security. 'They worship Me, not associating anything with Me.' Any who disbelieve after that, such people are deviators. (24:55)
We will advance on the actions they have done and make them scattered specks of dust. (25:23)
Put your trust in the Living who does not die and glorify Him with praise. He is well aware of the wrong actions of His servants. (25:58)
Except for those who repent and believe and act rightly: Allah will transform the wrong actions of such people into good-Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful-for certainly all who repent and act rightly have turned sincerely towards Allah. (25:70-71)
Do you not see how they ramble on in every style and say things which they do not do, except those who believe and do right actions and remember Allah repeatedly and defend themselves after they have been wronged? Those who do wrong will soon know the kind of reversal they will receive! (26:225-227)
As for those who do not believe in the hereafter, We have made their actions appear good to them and they wander about blindly. (27:4)
He (Sulayman) smiled, laughing at its words, and said, 'My Lord, keep me thankful for the blessing You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and keep me acting rightly, pleasing You, and admit me, by Your mercy, among Your servants who are righteous.' (27:19)
(The hoopoe said,) 'I found both her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah. Satan has made their actions seem good to them and debarred them from the Way so they are not guided.' (27:24)
Those who perform good actions will receive better than them and will be safe that Day from terror. (27:89)
Those who perform bad actions will be flung head first into the Fire: 'Are you being repaid for anything other than what you did?' (27:90)
When they hear worthless talk they turn away from it and say, 'We have our actions and you have your actions. Peace be upon you. We do not desire the company of the ignorant.' (28:55)
But as for those who repent and act rightly, they will hopefully be successful. (28:67)
But those who had been given knowledge said, 'Woe to you! Allah's reward is better for those who believe and act rightly. But only the steadfast will obtain it.' (28:80)
Anyone who does a good action will get something better. As for anyone who does a bad action, those who have done bad actions will only be repaid for what they did. (28:84)
Or do those who do bad actions imagine they can outstrip Us? How bad their judgement is! (29:4)
As for those who believe and do right actions, We will erase their bad actions from them, and recompense them for the best of what they did. (29:7)
As for those who believe and do right actions, We will admit them among the righteous. (29:9)
And 'Ad and Thamud-it must be clear to you from their dwelling places! Satan made their actions seem good to them and so debarred them from the Way, even though they were intelligent people. (29:38)
We seized each one of them for their wrong actions. Against some We sent a sudden squall of stones; some of them were seized by the Great Blast; some We caused the earth to swallow up; and some We drowned. Allah did not wrong them; rather they wronged themselves. (29:40)
As for those who believe and do right actions, We will lodge them in lofty chambers in the Garden, with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever. How excellent is the reward of those who act. (29:58)
As for those who believed and did right actions, they will be made joyful in a verdant meadow. (30:15)
Those who disbelieved will find that their disbelief was against themselves. Those who did right were making the way easy for themselves; so that He can repay with His bounty those who believed and did right actions. He certainly does not love the disbelievers. (30:44-45)
For those who believe and do right actions there are Gardens of Delight. (31:8)
If only you could see the evildoers hanging their heads in shame before their Lord: 'Our Lord, we have seen and we have heard, so send us back again and we will act rightly. Truly we now have certainty.' (32:12)
As for those who believe and do right actions, they will have the Gardens of Safe Refuge as hospitality for what they used to do. (32:19)
Allah knows the obstructers among you and those who say to their brothers, 'Come to us,' and who only come to fight a very little, and are begrudging towards you. Then when fear comes, you see them looking at you, their eyes rolling like people scared to death. But when fear departs they flay you with sharp tongues, grasping for wealth. Such people have no faith and Allah will make their actions come to nothing. That is easy for Allah. (33:18-19)
But those of you who are obedient to Allah and His Messenger and act rightly will be given their reward twice over; and We have prepared generous provision for them. (33:31)
He will put your actions right for you and forgive you your wrong deeds. All who obey Allah and His Messenger have won a mighty victory. (33:71)
This is so that He may recompense those who believe and do right actions. They will have forgiveness and generous provision. (34:4)
'Make full-length coats of mail, measuring the links with care. And act rightly, all of you, for I see what you do.' (34:11)
It is not your wealth or your children that will bring you near to Us-only in the case of people who believe and act rightly; such people will have a double recompense for what they did. They will be safe from all harm in the High Halls of Paradise. (34:37)
Those who disbelieve will suffer a harsh punishment. But those who believe and do right actions will receive forgiveness and an immense reward. (35:7)
And what of him the evil of whose actions appears fine to him so that he sees them as good? Allah misguides whoever He wills and guides whoever He wills. So do not let yourself waste away out of regret for them. Allah knows what they do. (35:8)
They will shout out in it, 'Our Lord! Take us out! We will act rightly, differently from the way we used to act!' Did We not let you live long enough for anyone who was going to pay heed to pay heed? And did not the warner come to you? Taste it then! There is no helper for the wrongdoers. (35:37)
He (Dawud) said, 'He has wronged you by asking for your ewe to add to his ewes. Truly many partners are unjust to one another-except those who believe and do right actions, and how few they are!' Dawud realised that We had put him to the test. He begged forgiveness from his Lord and fell down prone, prostrating, and repented. (38:24)
Would We make those who believe and do right actions the same as those who cause corruption on the earth? Would We make those who guard against evil the same as the dissolute? (38:28)
What confronts them will be the evil actions which they earned and what they used to mock at will engulf them. (39:48)
Say (from Me): 'My servants, you who have transgressed against yourselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Truly Allah forgives all wrong actions. He is the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.' (39:53)
It has been revealed to you and those before you: 'If you associate others with Allah, your actions will come to nothing and you will be among the losers.' (39:65)
They will say, 'Our Lord, twice You caused us to die and twice You gave us life. We admit our wrong actions. Is there no way out?' (40:11)
Have they not travelled in the earth and seen the final fate of those before them? They were greater than them in strength and left far deeper traces on the earth, yet Allah seized them for their wrong actions and they had no one to protect them from Allah. (40:21)
Pharaoh said, 'Haman, build me a tower so that perhaps I may gain means of access, access to the heavens, so that I can look on Musa's God. Truly I think he is a liar.' That is how Pharaoh's evil actions were made attractive to him and he debarred others from the Path. Pharaoh's scheming led to nothing but ruin. (40:36-37)
Whoever does an evil act will only be repaid with its equivalent. But whoever acts rightly, male or female, being a believer, such a person will enter the Garden, provided for in it without any reckoning. (40:40)
The blind and the seeing are not the same. Nor are those who believe and do right actions the same as evildoers. What little heed they pay! (40:58)
Those who believe and do right actions will have a wage which never fails. (41:8)
Who could say anything better than someone who summons to Allah and acts rightly and says, 'I am one of the Muslims'? (41:33)
Whoever acts rightly, it is to his own good. Whoever does evil, it is to his detriment. Your Lord does not wrong His servants. (41:46)
So call and go straight as you have been ordered to. Do not follow their whims and desires but say, 'I believe in a Book sent down by Allah and I am ordered to be just between you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. We have our actions and you have your actions. There is no debate between us and you. Allah will gather us all together. He is our final destination.' (42:15)
You will see the wrongdoers afraid of what they have earned, when it is about to land right on top of them, whereas those who believe and do right actions will be in the lush Meadows of the Gardens. They will have whatever they wish for with their Lord. That is the great favour. (42:22)
That is the good news which Allah gives to His servants who believe and do right actions. Say: 'I do not ask you for any wage for this-except for you to love your near of kin. If anyone does a good action, We will increase the good of it for him. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Ever-Thankful.' (42:23)
He responds to those who believe and do right actions and gives them increase from His favour. But the disbelievers will have a harsh punishment. (42:26)
(Believers are) those who avoid major wrong actions and indecencies and who, when they are angered, then forgive. (42:37)
Whoever acts rightly, it is to his own good. Whoever does evil, it is to his detriment. Then you will be returned to your Lord. (45:15)
Or do those who perpetrate evil deeds suppose that We will make them like those who believe and do right actions, so that their lives and deaths will be the same? How bad their judgement is! (45:21)
As for those who believed and did right actions, their Lord will admit them into His mercy. That is the Clear Victory. (45:30)
We have instructed man to be good to his parents. His mother bore him with difficulty and with difficulty gave birth to him; and his bearing and weaning take thirty months. Then when he achieves his full strength and reaches forty, he says, 'My Lord, keep me thankful for the blessing You bestowed on me and on my parents, and keep me acting rightly, pleasing You. And make my descendants righteous. I have repented to You and I am truly one of the Muslims.' (46:15)
Everyone will be ranked according to what they did. We will pay them in full for their actions and they will not be wronged. (46:19)
Our people, respond to Allah's caller and believe in Him. He will forgive you some of your wrong actions and save you from a painful punishment. (46:31)
As for those who disbelieve and bar others from the Way of Allah, Allah will make their actions go astray. (47:1)
But as for those who believe and do right actions and believe in what has been sent down to Muhammad-and it is the truth from their Lord-He will erase their bad actions from them and better their condition. (47:2)
Therefore when you meet those who disbelieve strike their necks. Then when you have decimated them,tie their bonds tightly and set them free or ransom them, until the war is finally over. That is how it is to be. If Allah willed, He could avenge Himself on them. But it is so that He can test some of you by means of others. As for those who fight in the Way of Allah, He will not let their actions go astray. (47:4)
But those who disbelieve will have utter ruin and He will make their actions go astray. (47:8)
That is because they hate what Allah has sent down, so He has made their actions come to nothing. (47:9)
Allah will admit those who believe and act rightly to Gardens with rivers flowing under them. Those who disbelieve have their enjoyment, eating as cattle eat, but the Fire will be their final residence. (47:12)
Is someone on a clear path from his Lord like those whose bad actions have been made to seem good to them and who follow their own desires? (47:14)
That is because they followed what angers Allah and hated what is pleasing to Him. So He made their actions come to nothing. (47:28)
If We wished, We would show them to you and you would know them by their mark and know them by their ambivalent speech. Allah knows your actions. (47:30)
Those who disbelieve and obstruct the Way of Allah and are entrenched in hostility towards the Messenger after the guidance has become clear to them, do not harm Allah in any way and He makes their actions come to nothing. (47:32)
You who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger. Do not make your actions of no worth. (47:33)
It is He Who sent down serenity into the hearts of the believers thereby increasing their faith with more faith-the legions of the heavens and the earth belong to Allah. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise-so that He may admit the men and women of the believers into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever, and erase their bad actions from them; and in Allah's sight that is a mighty victory. (48:4-5)
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him are fierce to the disbelievers, merciful to one another. You see them bowing and prostrating, seeking Allah's good favour and His pleasure. Their mark is on their faces, the traces of prostration. That is their likeness in the Torah. And their likeness in the Gospel is that of a seed which puts up a shoot and makes it strong so that it thickens and grows up straight upon its stalk, filling the sowers with delight-so that by them He may infuriate the disbelievers. Allah has promised those of them who believe and do right actions forgiveness and an immense reward. (48:29)
You who believe! Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet and do not be as loud when speaking to him as you are when speaking to one another, lest your actions should come to nothing without your realising it. (49:2)
The desert Arabs say, 'We believe.' Say: 'You do not believe. Say rather, "We have become Muslim," for faith has not yet entered into your hearts. If you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not undervalue your actions in any way. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.' (49:14)
And We will unite those who believed with their offspring, who followed them in faith, and We will not undervalue their own actions in any way. Every man is in pledge for what he earned. (52:21)
To whoever avoids the major wrong actions and indecencies-except for minor lapses-truly your Lord is vast in forgiveness. He has most knowledge of you when He first produced you from the earth, and when you were embryos in your mothers' wombs. So do not claim purity for yourselves. He knows best those who guard against evil. (53:32)
He will forgive you your wrong actions and admit you into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, and fine dwellings in the Gardens of Eden. That is the Great Victory. (61:12)
On the Day He gathers you for the Day of Gathering-that is the Day of Profit and Loss. As for those who believe in Allah and act rightly, We will erase their bad actions from them and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever and ever. That is the Great Victory! (64:9)
That is Allah's command which He has sent down to you. Whoever has fear of Allah-He will erase his bad actions from him and greatly increase his reward. (65:5)
(Allah has sent down) a Messenger reciting Allah's Clear Signs to you to bring those who believe and do right actions out of the darkness into the Light. Whoever believes in Allah and acts rightly, We will admit him into Gardens with rivers flowing under them remaining in them timelessly, for ever and ever. Allah has provided for him excellently! (65:11)
You who believe! Repent to Allah. It may be that your Lord will erase your bad actions from you and admit you into Gardens with rivers flowing under them on the Day when Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believed along with him. Their light will stream out ahead of them and on their right. They will say, 'Our Lord, perfect our light for us and forgive us! You have power over all things.' (66:8)
He Who created death and life to test which of you is best in action. He is the Almighty, the Ever-Forgiving. (67:2)
Then they will acknowledge their wrong actions. Away with the Companions of the Blaze! (67:11)
(Nuh said to his people,) 'He will forgive you your wrong actions and defer you until a specified time. When Allah's time comes it cannot be deferred, if you only knew.' (71:4)
Except those who believe and do right actions: they will have a wage which never fails. (84:25)
But those who believe and do right actions will have Gardens with rivers flowing under them. That is the Great Victory. (85:11)
Except for those who believe and do right actions: they will have a wage which never fails. (95:6)
But those who believe and do right actions-they are the best of creatures. (98:7)
That Day people will emerge segregated to see the results of their actions. (99:6)
Except for those who believe and do right actions and urge each other to the truth and urge each other to steadfastness. (103:3)
BOOK FIVE: THE PERFECTION OF THE QUR’AN FROM THE LITERARY ASPECT
BOOK FIVE:
THE PERFECTION THE INIMITABILITY OF THE QUR’AN
It first needs to be stated that the exposition in the Qur'an addresses all human groupings from all ages. No matter what the reader's education and cultural level, the Qur'an is written in a clear, comprehensible language which can be understood by everyone. In one verse, Allah reveals the following about the Qur'an:
Despite having such an easily comprehensible style, it has never been possible to imitate the Qur'an from any point of view. Some of the verses in which Allah draws attention to the inimitable nature of the Qur'an are:
One of the reasons that the Qur'an is described as miraculous stems from the fact that, as emphasized in the verses above, nothing like it can ever be written by human endeavour: The greater the scale of that impossibility, the greater the size of the miracle which we see before our very eyes. Therefore, the fact that the style of the Qur'an has been incapable of imitation by even one out of the billions of people down the centuries is one of the proofs of its miraculous nature. In his book, The Construction of the Bible and the Qur'an, F. F. Arbuthnot makes the following comment about the Qur'an: From the literary point of view, the Koran is regarded as a specimen of the purest Arabic, written on half poetry and half prose. It has been said that in some cases grammarians have adopted their rules to agree with certain phrases and expressions used in it, and that though several attempts have been made to produce a work equal to it as far elegant writing is concerned, none has as yet succeeded.257 The words employed in the Qur'an are exceedingly special, both in terms of meaning and also of fluency and effect of style. However, those who are unwilling to believe that the Qur'an is a holy book in which Allah has revealed His commandments and prohibitions, have come up with a variety of excuses as to why they should not follow it. They have attempted to take refuge from its beauty by turning to denial. Allah reveals the following about the unbelievers' descriptions of the Qur'an:
The Superior Nature of the Rhyming Scheme in the Qur'an
Another of the elements which make the Qur'an inimitable stems from its literary structure. Despite being in Arabic, the Qur'an bears no similarity to the forms used in Arabic literature. The rhyming system in the Qur'an is known as "rhymed prose" and linguists describe the use of this rhyme in the Qur'an as a miracle. In his book Science Miracles, a work prepared to demonstrate that the Qur'an is a linguistic miracle, the well-known British scientist Professor Adel M. A. Abbas carried out a wide-ranging study of the letters and rhyming scheme used in the Qur'an by means of graphics and diagrams. Some rather striking facts were established in this book with regard to the rhyming system in the Qur'an. As we know, 29 Suras in the Qur'an begin with one or more symbolic letters. These letters are known as "muqatta`ah-letters" or "initial letters." Fourteen of the 29 letters in Arabic comprise these initial letters: Qaf, Sad, Ta, Ha, Ya, Sin, Alif, Lam, Mim, Kaf, 'Ayn, Nun, Ra, Ha. Of these letters, when we look at the use of the letter "Nun" in Surat al-Qalam we see rhyming with the letter "Nun" in 88.8% of the verses. 84.6% of Surat ash-Shu'ara', 90.32% of Surat an-Naml and 92.05% of Surat al-Qasas are rhymed with "Nun." When applying these studies to the whole Qur'an, 50.08% is rhymed with the letter "Nun." To put it another way, more than half the verses in the Qur'an end with the letter "Nun." In no literary work of comparable length has it been possible to rhyme with a single sound in more than half the text. This applies to all languages, not just to Arabic. Distribution of verses ending with the letter "Nun" from those suras beginning with initial letters:
When a general examination of the rhyme scheme in the Qur'an is made, we see that around 80% of the rhymes consist of just three sounds (n, m, a) consisting of the letters Alif, Mim, Ya and Nun 258 Excluding the letter "Nun," 30% of the verses are rhymed with "Mim," "Alif" or "Ya." The four most frequently employed sounds in rhymes:
The above table shows the proportional distribution of the four letters comprising 79.92% of the rhyme system in the Qur'an. The following verses are just a few of the many examples of rhymes using these four letters.
The formation of rhymed prose with just two or three sounds in a poem of 200-300 lines may give that work an important quality, sufficient for it to be described as a masterpiece by literary critics today. However, bearing in mind the length of the Qur'an, the information it contains and its wise exposition, the extraordinary manner in which its rhymed prose system is used becomes even clearer and more beautiful. The Qur'an indeed contains an ocean of information relating to a wide variety of subjects. They include: religious and moral guidance, lessons from the lives of the peoples of the past, the message of the prophets and messengers of Allah, the physical sciences and historical accounts of important events. But all of this, although wonderful in itself, is delivered with the most fantastic literary rhythm and excellence. It is simply not possible for so much rhymed prose by use of so few sounds in the Qur'an, with its varied and knowledgeable subject matter, to be achieved by human endeavour. From that point of view, it is not surprising that Arab linguists describe the Qur'an as "very definitely inimitable." COMMENTS ABOUT THE QUR’AN FROM VARIOUS SCHOLARS Some Comments on the Literary Excellence and Inimitability of the Qur'an  the Meccans still demanded of him a miracle,
and with remarkable boldness
and self confidence Mohammad appealed as a supreme confirmation of his
mission
to the Koran itself. Like all Arabs they were the connoisseurs of
language and
rhetoric. Well, then if the Koran were his own composition other men
could rival
it. Let them produce ten verses like it. If they could not (and it is
obvious
that they could not), then let them accept the Koran as an outstanding
evident
miracle.259 (The well-known Arabist Hamilton Gibb of the University
of Oxford)•
•
The influence of the Koran on the development
of Arabic Literature has been incalculable, and exerted in many
directions. Its
ideas, its language, its rhymes pervade all subsequent literary works in
greater
or less measure. Its specific linguistic features were not emulated,
either in
the chancery prose of the next century or in the later prose writings,
but it
was at least partly due to the flexibility imparted by the Koran to the
High
Arabic idiom that the former could be so rapidly developed and adjusted
to the
new needs of the imperial government and an expanding society.261
(Well-known
Arabist Hamilton Gibb)••
It [the Qur'an] is a literal revelation of
Allah, dictated to [Prophet] Muhammad
[saas] by Gabriel, perfect in every letter. It is an ever-present
miracle witnessing
to itself and to [Prophet] Muhammad [saas], the Prophet of Allah. Its
miraculous
quality resides partly in its style, so perfect and lofty that neither
men nor
Jinn could produce a single chapter to compare with its briefest
chapter, and
partly in its content of teachings, prophecies about the future, and
amazingly
accurate information such as [Prophet] Muhammad [saas] could never have
gathered
of his own accord.263 (From Harry Gaylord Dorman's book, Towards
Understanding
Islam) •
•
A miracle of purity of style of wisdom and of truth.267
(From
Rev. R. Bosworth Smith's book, Mohammed and Mohammedanism)•
• ?It [the Qur'an] has a rhythm of peculiar beauty and a cadence that charms the ear. Many Christian Arabs speak of its style with warm admiration, and most Arabists acknowledge its excellence… indeed it may be affirmed that within the literature of the Arabs, wide and fecund as it is both in poetry and in elevated prose, there is nothing to compare with it.268 (From Alfred Guillaume's book, Islam) Some Comments on the Divine Nature of the Qur'an and Its Effect on People On the whole we find in it a collection of
wisdom which can be adopted by the
most intelligent of men, the greatest of philosophers and the most
skilful of
politicians… But there is another proof of the Divinity of the Qur'an;
it is
the fact that it has been preserved intact through the ages since the
time of
its Revelation till the present day… Read and reread by the Muslim
world, this
book does not rouse in the faithful any weariness, it rather, through
repetition,
is more loved every day. It gives rise to a profound feeling of awe and
respect
in the one who reads it or listens to it… Therefore, above all, what
caused the
great and rapid diffusion of Islam was through the fact that this Book…
was the
book of Allah…269
(From Laura Veccia Vaglieri's book, Apologie de
I'Islamisme) •
•
It must be acknowledged, too, that the Koran
deserves the highest praise for
its conceptions of the Divine nature in reference to the attributes of
Power,
knowledge and universal Providence and Unity-that its belief and trust
in the
one Allah of Heaven and Earth is deep and fervent-and that… it embodies
much
of the noble and deep moral earnestness, and sententious oracular
wisdom, and
has proved that there are elements in it on which mighty nations and
conquering… Empires
can be built up.271 (From the preface of The Koran, translated from the
Arabic
by Rev. J. M. Rodwell)•
• Here, therefore, its merits as a literary production should perhaps not be measured by some preconceived maxims of subjective and aesthetic taste, but by the effects which it produced in [Prophet] Muhammad's [saas] contemporaries and fellow countrymen. If it spoke so powerfully and convincingly to the hearts of his hearers as to weld hitherto centrifugal and antagonistic elements into one compact and well-organized body, animated by ideas far beyond those which had until now ruled the Arabian mind, then its eloquence was perfect, simply because it created a civilized nation out of savage tribes…272 (A statement of Dr. Steingass, quoted in T. P. Hughes' Dictionary of Islam) In making the present attempt… to produce
something which might be accepted as echoing however faintly the sublime
rhetoric of the Arabic Koran, I have been at pains to study the
intricate and richly varied rhythms which-apart from the message
itself-constitute the Koran's undeniable claim to rank amongst the
greatest literary masterpieces of mankind… This
very characteristic feature... has been almost totally ignored by
previous translators;
it is therefore not surprising that what they have wrought sounds dull
and flat
indeed in comparison with the splendidly decorated original.273 (From Arthur J. Arberry's book, The Koran
Interpreted)•
•?A totally objective examination of it [the Qur'an] in the light of the
modern
knowledge, leads us to recognize the agreement between the two, as has
been already
noted on repeated occasions. It makes us deem it quite unthinkable for a
man
of [Prophet] Muhammad's [saas] time to have been the author of such
statements
on account of the state of knowledge in his day. Such considerations are
part
of what gives the Qur'anic Revelation its unique place, and forces the
impartial
scientist to admit his inability to provide an explanation which calls
solely
upon materialistic reasoning.274
(Dr.
Maurice Bucaille, former chief of the Surgical Clinic, University of
Paris)•
•
... We have a book absolutely unique in its
origin, in its preservation… on the Substantial authority of which no
one has ever been able to cast a serious doubt.276 (From Rev. Bosworth Smith's book, Mohammed and
Mohammedanism)•
•
Sense of justice is one of the most wonderful
ideals of Islam, because as
I read in the Qur'an I find those dynamic principles of life, not mystic
but
practical ethics for the daily conduct of life suited to the whole
world.278
(From a lecture on "The Ideals of Islam" quoted
in the book Speeches and Writings
of Sarojini Naidu)•
•?We must not be surprised to find the Qur'an the fountainhead of the
sciences.
Every subject connected with heaven or earth, human life, commerce and
various
trades are occasionally touched upon, and this gave rise to the
production of
numerous monographs forming commentaries on parts of the holy book. In
this way
the Qur'an was responsible for great discussions, and to it was
indirectly due
to the marvellous development of all branches of science in the Muslim
world… This
again not only affected the Arabs but also induced Jewish philosophers
to treat
metaphysical and religious questions after Arab methods. Finally, the
way in
which Christian scholasticism was fertilised by Arabian theosophy need
not be
further discussed.•
• Spiritual activity once aroused within Islamic bounds was not confined to theological speculations alone. Acquaintance with the philosophical, mathematical, astronomical and medical writings of the Greeks led to the pursuance of these studies. In the descriptive revelations [Prophet] Muhammad [saas] repeatedly calls attention to the movement of the heavenly bodies, as parts of the miracles of Allah forced into the service of man and therefore not to be worshipped. How successfully Moslem people of all races pursued the study of astronomy is shown by the fact that for centuries they were its principal supporters. Even now many Arabic names of stars and technical terms are in use. Medieval astronomers in Europe were pupils of the Arabs. In the same manner the Qur'an gave an impetus
to medical studies and recommended
the contemplation and study of Nature in general.279
(From
Prof. Hartwig Hirschfeld's book, New Researches into the Composition and
Exegesis
of the Qur'an)•
•
However often we turn to it [the Qur'an]…,
it soon attracts, astounds, and in the end enforces our reverence… Its
style,
in accordance with its contents and aim is... ever and anon truly
sublime-Thus
this book will go on exercising through all ages a most potent
influence.281
(A
saying of Goethe quoted in T. P. Hughes' book, Dictionary of Islam)•
Some Scientists' Comments Regarding The Our'an … There are too many accuracies [in the Qur'an]
and, like Dr. Moore, I have
no difficulty in my mind that this is a divine inspiration or revelation
which
led him to these statements.282
(Dr. T. V. N. Persaud, Professor of Anatomy,
Pediatrics and Child Health, Obstetrics, Gynecology, Reproductive
Sciences at
the University of Manitoba) •
• … It follows, I think, that not only there is no conflict between genetics and religion but, in fact, religion can guide science by adding revelation to some of the traditional scientific approaches, that there exist statements in the Quran shown centuries later to be valid, which support knowledge in the Quran having been derived from God.283 (Dr. Joe Leigh Simpson, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Molecular and Human Genetics) As a scientist, I can only deal with things
which I can specifically see. I
can understand embryology and developmental biology. I can understand
the words
that are translated to me from the Quran. As I gave the example before,
if I
were to transpose myself into that era, knowing what I knew today and
describing
things, I could not describe the things which were described… So I see
nothing
here in conflict with the concept that divine intervention was involved
in what
he [Prophet Muhammad (saas)] was able to write.284
(Dr. E. Marshall Johnson,
Professor Emeritus of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at Thomas
Jefferson University) •
•
It has been a great pleasure for me to help
clarify statements in the Qur'an
about human development. It is clear to me that these statements must
have come
to [Prophet] Muhammad [saas] from God, or Allah, because most of this
knowledge
was not discovered until many centuries later. This proves to me that
[Prophet]
Muhammad [saas] must have been a messenger of God, or Allah.286
(Dr. Keith L.
Moore, Professor Emeritus, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology,
University
of Toronto. Distinguished embryologist and the author of several medical
textbooks)•
•
The intensive studies of the Qur'an and Hadith
in the last four years have
revealed a system of classifying human embryos that is amazing since it
was recorded
in the seventh century A.D... the descriptions in the Qur'an cannot be
based
on scientific knowledge in the seventh century...288
(Dr. Keith L. Moore, Professor
Emeritus, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of
Toronto)•
•
If you combine all these and you combine all
these statements that are being
made in the Qur'an in terms that relate to the earth and the formation
of the
earth and science in general, you can basically say that statements made
there
in many ways are true, they can now be confirmed by scientific
methods... And
that many of the statements made in there at that time could not be
proven, but
that modern scientific methods are now in a position to prove what
[Prophet]
Muhammad [saas] said 1400 years ago.290
(Alfred Kroner, Professor of the Department
of Geosciences, University of Mainz, Germany)•
•
Certainly, I would like to leave it at that,
that what we have seen is remarkable,
it may or may not admit of scientific explanation, there may well have
to be
something beyond what we understand as ordinary human experience to
account for
the writings that we have seen.292 (Professor Armstrong, Professor of Astronomy
serving with NASA)•
•
… I believe that everything mentioned in the
Qur'an 1400 years ago is true
and can be proven by scientific methods… This must be by inspiration
from God,
or Allah, Who knows all science. Thus, I believe that this is the time
to say: "There
is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."294
(Prof. Tejatat
Tejasen, Head of the Department of Anatomy and Embryology, University of
Chiang
Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand)•
•?The Qur'an came several centuries ago, confirming what we discovered.
This
indicates that the Qur'an is the word of God.295 (Prof. Joly Sumson, Professor
in Gynecology and Obstetrics)•
•
After a discussion about the function of
mountains for the fixing of the earth:•
• I believe that this [the Qur'an's information] is very very strange, it is nearly impossible, I believe truly that if what you are saying is right, thus, this book [the Qur'an] is very valuable to be noticed, I agree with you.297 (Professor Syawda, a Japanese scientist famous in Japan and internationally in the field of oceanic geology.) •A Selection of Other Statements Regarding the Qur'an•
I am not a Muslim in the usual sense, though I
hope I am a "Muslim" as "one
surrendered to God," but I believe that embedded in the Quran and other
expressions
of the Islamic vision are vast stores of divine truth from which I and
other
occidentals have still much to learn, and "Islam is certainly a strong
contender
for the supplying of the basic framework of the one religion of the
future."299 (From the book Islam and Christianity Today)•
•
I have read the Sacred Scriptures of every
religion; nowhere have I found
what I encountered in Islam: perfection. The Holy Qur'an, compared to
any other
scripture I have read, is like the Sun compared to that of a match. I
firmly
believe that anybody who reads the Word of Allah with a mind that is not
completely
closed to Truth, will become a Muslim.301 (Saifuddin Dirk Walter Mosig) •
•
I hope the time is not far off when I shall be
able to unite all the wise
and educated men of all the countries and establish a uniform regime
based on
the principles of Qur'an which alone are true and which alone can lead
men to
happiness.303
(French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte) |
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We have so far
considered the miraculous characteristics of the Qur'an from the
scientific and historical points of view. In addition to these, the
Qur'an also possesses an astounding, inimitable style from the literary
perspective. 
257. F. F.
Arbuthnot, The Construction of
the Bible and the Koran (London: 1985), 5.
258. Dr. Adel M. A. Abbas, Anne P. Fretwell, Science Miracles, No
Sticks
or Snakes (Beltsville, Maryland, USA: Amana Publications: 2000),
13.
259. H. A. R. Gibb, Islam-A Historical Survey (Oxford
University Press:
1980), 28.
260. H. A. R. Gibb, Arabic Literature-An Introduction (Oxford
at Clarendon
Press: 1963), 36.
261. Ibid., 37.
262. Paul Casanova, "L'Enseignement de I'Arabe au College de France"
(The
Arab Teaching at the College of France), Lecon d'overture,
April 26,
1909.
263. Harry Gaylord Dorman, Towards Understanding Islam (New
York:
1948), 3.
264. Edward Montet, Traduction Francaise du
Coran (French
Translation of the Qur'an), Introduction (Paris: 1929), 53.
265. John Naish, M. A. (Oxon), D. D., The Wisdom of the Qur'an (Oxford:
1937), preface 8.
266. George Sale, The Koran: The Preliminary Discourse (London
& New
York: 1891), 47-48.
267. Rev. R. Bosworth Smith, Mohammed and Mohammadanism,
www.ndirect.co.uk/~n.today/disc160.htm
268. Alfred Guillaume, Islam (Penguin Books: 1990
[Reprinted]), 73-74.
269. Laura Veccia Vaglieri, Apologie de I'Islamisme, 57-59.
270. John William Draper, A History of the Intellectual
Development of
Europe I (London: 1875), 343-344.
271. Rev. J. M. Rodwell, M. A., The Koran (London: 1918), 15.
272. Dr. Steingass, quoted in T. P. Hughes' Dictionary of Islam,
528.
273. Arthur J. Arberry, The Koran Interpreted (London: Oxford
University
Press: 1964), 10.
274. Maurice Bucaille, The Qur'an and
Modern Science,
1981, 18.
275. Edward Montet, Paris, 1890; Quoted by T. W. Arnold in The
Preaching
of Islam (London: 1913), 413-414.
276. Rev. Bosworth Smith, Muhammad and Muhammadanism,
(London: 1874).
277. James Michener in "Islam: The Misunderstood Religion," Reader's
Digest, May 1955, 68-70.
278. Lectures on "The Ideals of Islam," Speeches and Writings
of Sarojini Naidu (Madras: 1918), 167.
279. Hartwig Hirschfeld, Ph. D., M. R. AS., New Researches into
the Composition
and Exegesis of the Qur'an, (London: 1902), 9.
280. G. Margoliouth, Introduction to J. M. Rodwell's The Koran,
(New
York: Everyman's Library: 1977), 7
281. Goethe, quoted in T. P. Hughes' Dictionary of Islam,
526.
282. Video tape entitled This is the Truth;
www.islam-guide.com/ch1-1-h.htm
283. Ibid.
284. Ibid.
285. Ibid.
286. Video tape entitled This is the Truth;
www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Science/scientists.html
287. Ibid.
288. Ibid.
289. Ibid.
290. Ibid.
291. Ibid.
292. Ibid.
293. Ibid.
294.http://islamweb.net/english/new/week15/(10)THELEADERSOFMODERN.htm
295. Ibid.
296. Ibid.
297. Ibid.
298. "What they say about Islaam, the Qur'aan and Muhammad;"
www.al-sunnah.com/call_to_islam/articles/what_they_say_about_islaam.html
299. W. Montgomery Watt, Islam and
Christianity Today,
(London: 1983), 9.
300. "What they say about Islaam, the Qur'aan and Muhammad;"
www.al-sunnah.com/call_to_islam/articles/what_they_say_about_islaam.html
301. Ibid.
302. John Esposito, quoted in Jacqueline Blais' "People Want to Know,
So Koran is Best Seller," USA Today, November 27, 2001.
303. Napoleon Bonaparte, quoted in Christian
Cherfils' Bonaparte
et Islam (Bonaparte and Islam), (Paris, France: 1914), 125.
BOOK FOUR;ALLAH’S MATHEMATICAL MIRACLES IN THE QUR’AN
BOOK FOUR;ALLAH’S MATHEMATICAL
MIRACLES IN THE QUR’AN
WORD REPETITIONS IN THE QUR’AN
Apart from the miraculous characteristics of the Qur'an which we have looked into so far, it also contains what we can term "mathematical miracles." There are many examples of this fascinating Qur'anic aspect. One example of this is the number of repetitions of certain words in the Qur'an. Some related words are surprisingly repeated the same number of times. Below is a list of such words and the number of repetitions in the Qur'an.
The statement of "seven heavens" (saba`a
samawaat) is repeated seven times. "The
creation of the heavens" (khalq al-samawaat) is also repeated seven
times.
| SEVEN HEAVENS | 7 times |
| THE CREATION OF THE HEAVENS | 7 times |
"Day (yawm)" is repeated 365 times in singular
form, while its plural and
dual forms "days" (ayyaam and yawmayn) together are repeated 30 times.
The
number of repetitions of the word "month" (shahar) is 12.
| DAY | yawm | 365 times |
| DAYS | ayyaam,yawmayn | 30 times |
| MONTH | shahar | 12 times |
The number of repetitions of the words "plant"(nabat)
and "tree"(shajar) is
the same: 26
| PLANT | 26 times |
| TREE | 26 times |
The word "payment or reward"(jazaa’) is
repeated 117 times, while the expression "forgiveness" (maghfirah),
which is one of the basic morals of the Qur'an, is repeated exactly
twice that
amount, 234 times.
| PAYMENT | 117 times |
| FORGIVENESS | 2x117=234 times |
When we count the word "Say," (qal) we
find
it appears 332 times. We arrive at the same figure when we count the
phrase "they
said." (qalu)
| SAY | 332 times |
| THEY SAID | 332 times |
The number of times the words, "world" (dunyaa)
and "Hereafter" (aakhirah)
are repeated is also the same: 115
| WORLD | 115 times |
| HEREAFTER | 115 times |
The word "satan" (shaytaan) is used in
the Qur'an 88 times, as is the word "angels" (mala'ikah).
| SATAN | 88 times |
| HEREAFTER | 88 times |
The word "faith" (eemaan) (without genitive) is
repeated 25 times throughout
the Qur'an as is also the word "infidelity" (kufr).
| FAITH | 25 times |
| INFIDELITY | 25 times |
The words "Paradise" (jannah) and
"Hell" (jahannam) are each repeated 77 times.
PARADISE 77 times
HELL 77 times
| PARADISE | 77 times |
| HELL | 77 times |
The word "zakaah" is repeated in the Qur'an 32
times and the number of repetitions of the word "blessing" (barakah)
is also 32.
| ZAKAAH | 32 times |
BLESSING |
32 times |
The expression "the righteous" (al-abraar) is
used 6 times and "the wicked" (al-fujjaar) is used half as much, i.e., 3
times.
| THE RIGHTEOUS | al-abraar | 6 times |
THE WICKED |
al-fujjaar | 3 times |
The number of times the words "summer-hot" (sayf-harr)
and "winter-cold" (shita’-bard) are repeated
is the same: 5.
| SUMMER-HOT | 1 + 4 = 5 time |
| WINTER-COLD | 1 + 4 = 5 time |
The words "wine" (khamr) and "intoxication"
(saqara) are repeated in the Qur'an the same number of times: 6
| WINE | al-abraar khamr | 6 times |
INTOXICATION |
saqara | 6 times |
The number of appearances of the words "mind" (‘aql)
and "light"(noor) is the same: 49.
| MIND | 49 time |
| LIGHT | 49 time |
The words "language" (lisan) and "advice"(mevize)
are both repeated 25 times.
| LANGUAGE | 25 time |
| ADVICE | 25 time |
The words "benefit"(naf`) and
"corrupt"(fasad) both appear 50 times.
| BENEFIT | 50 time |
| CORRUPT | 50 time |
"Reward" (ajr) and "action" (fa`il) are both
repeated 107 times.
| REWARD | 107 time |
| ACTION | 107 time |
"Love" (al-mahabbah) and "obedience" (al-taa`ah)
also appear the same number of times: 83
| LOVE | 83 time |
| OBEDIENCE | 83 time |
The words "destination" (masear) and "forever"
(abadan)
appear the same number of times in the Qur'an: 28
| DESTINATION | 28 time |
| FOREVER | 28 time |
The words "disaster" (al-museebah) and "thanks"
(al-shukr)
appear the same number of times in the Qur'an: 75.
| DISASTER | 75 time |
| THANKS | 75 time |
"Sun" (shams) and "light" (noor) both
appear 33 times in the Qur'an.
*In counting the word "light" only the simple forms of the word were included.
| SUN | al-abraar khamr | 33 times |
LIGHT |
noor | 33 times |
The number of appearances of "right guidance"
(al-hudaa) and "mercy" (al-rahmah)
is the same: 79
| ANNOYANCE | 79 time |
| REJOICE | 79 time |
The words "annoyance and distress" (dayq)
and "rejoice" (tamaniyye) are both repeated 13 times in the
Qur'an.
| TROUBLE | 13 time |
| PEACE | 13 time |
The words "man" (rajul) and "woman" (mar’ha)
are also
employed equally: 23 times.
| TROUBLE | 13 time |
| PEACE | 13 time |
The number of times the words "man" and "woman"
are repeated in the Qur'an,
23, is at the same time that of the chromosomes from the egg and sperm
in the
formation of the human embryo. The total number of human chromosomes
is 46;
23 each from the mother and father.
| WOMAN | 23 time |
| MAN | 23 time |
"Treachery" (khiyaanah) is repeated 16 times,
while the number of repetitions
of the word "foul" (khabeeth) is 16.•
| TREACHERY | 16 time |
| FOUL | 16 time |
"Human being" (insan) is used 65 times:
the sum of the number of references to the
stages of man's creation is the same: i.e.
| HUMAN BEING | insan | 65 times |
| SOIL | turaab | 15 times |
| DROP OF SPERM | nutfah |
12 times |
| EMBRYO | `alaq | 6 times |
| A HALF FORMED LUMP OF FLESH |
muthghah | 3 times |
| BONE | `idham | 15 times |
| FLESH | lahm | 12 times |
| TOTAL | 65 times |
The word "salaawaat" appear five times in the
Qur'an, and Allah has commanded
man to perform the prayer (salat) five times a day.
The word "land" (barr, yabas) appears
13 times in the Qur'an and the word "sea"(bahr) 32 times,
giving a total of 45 references. If we divide that number by that of
the number
of references to the land we arrive at the figure 28.888888888889%.
The number
of total references to land and sea, 45, divided by the number of
references
to the sea in the Qur'an, 32, is 71.111111111111%. Extraordinarily,
these figures
represent the exact proportions of land and sea on the Earth today.252
NUMEROLOGICAL CALCULATIONS (ABJAD) IN THE QUR’AN
Every letter in the Arabic alphabet has a numerical (gematrical) value. In other words, in Arabic every letter stands for a number. A number of calculations can be made from this basis. These are referred to as numerological (abjad) calculations or "hisaab al-jummal."253 Muslims who took advantage of the fact that every letter of the alphabet represents a number have used this in a number of fields. Ilm al-jafr is one of these.
Jafr is the science of foretelling what is likely to happen in the future. One of the methods employed by people who engage in this is to compare symbolic forms and letters' numerological values. The main difference between "abjad" and "jafr" methods is that the former refers to what has already taken place and the latter to what is likely to take place in the future.254
This method of calculation is a form of writing which goes back several centuries and which was widely used before the revelation of the Qur'an. Everything which happened in Arab history was written down by attributing numerical values to letters thus the date of every event was recorded. These dates were obtained by adding up the particular numerical values of every letter employed.
When certain verses of the Qur'an are examined in the light of the "abjad" method, we see that a number of dates emerge which are fully in accordance with the meanings of those verses. When we see that things referred to in these verses actually happened on the dates obtained by this method, we understand that there is a secret indication regarding those events in the verses. (Allah knows best.)
The 1969 Moon Landing is Indicated in the
Qur'an
The Hour has drawn near and the Moon has split. (Qur'an, 54:1)
The Arabic word "inshaqqa" (split) used in the above verse is derived from the word "shaqqa," which can also be used to mean "causing something to rise, ploughing or digging the soil":
We pour down plentiful water, then split the earth into furrows. Then We make grain grow in it, and grapes and herbs and olives and dates and luxuriant gardens and orchards and meadows. (Qur'an, 80:25-31)
As we can see, the word "shaqqa" in the above verse is not being used in the sense of "dividing into two" but of "slicing through the soil, reaping various crops." When evaluated in this sense, the meaning of the word "shaqqa" in the expression "the Moon has split" (Qur'an, 54:1) can also be seen to be referring to the 1969 moon landing and the studies performed on the Moon land. (Allah knows best.) In fact, there is another very important indication here: Some of the "abjad" values of certain words in this verse in Surat al-Qamar also point to the figure 1969.
One important point which needs to be stressed in this method of calculation is the likelihood of producing very large or irrelevant numbers. Despite the probability of a relevant number emerging being exceedingly small, it is striking that such a clear figure should result.
The Hour [has drawn near] and the Moon has split.
Hijri: 1390, Gregorian: 1969 
The phrase "has drawn near" is not included in the count, since it comes in the beginning the Arabic.
In 1969, American astronauts carried out research on the Moon, dug the soil up with various pieces of equipment, split it and carried specimens back to Earth.
We must, however, make it clear that the splitting of the Moon is of course one of the miracles given to our Prophet (saas) by Allah. This miracle is revealed thus in a hadith:
The people of Mecca asked Allah's messenger (saas) to show them a miracle. So he showed them the Moon split in two halves between which they saw the Hiram' mountain. (Sahih Bukhari)
The above miracle is the splitting of the Moon revealed in the verse. However, since the Qur'an is a Book that addresses all times, one may think of this verse as referring to the exploration of the Moon in our own day. (Allah knows best.)
THE MIRACLE OF 19 IN THE QUR’AN
Another mathematical miracle of the Qur'an is the manner in which the number 19 is numerologically encoded in verses. This number is stressed in the words of the Qur'an: "There are nineteen in charge of it." (Qur'an, 74:30), and is encoded in various places in the Book. Some examples of this can be listed as follows:
The formula consists of 19 letters.
The Qur'an consists of 114 (19 x 6) Suras.
The first Sura to be revealed (Sura 96) is the
19th from the end.
The first verses of the Qur'an to be revealed
are the first five verses of Sura 96 and the total number of words in
these verses is 19.
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As we have seen, the first five verses consist of 19 words. The " 
" is a letter, not a word. Likewise, letters " "
are
not included in the calculation either.
The first Sura to be revealed, Surat al-'Alaq,
consists of 19 verses and
285 (19 x 15) letters.
Surat an-Nasr, the final Sura to be revealed,
consists of a total
of 19 words.
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Furthermore, the first verse of Surat an-Nasr, which speaks of the help of Allah, contains 19 letters.
|
1st letter |
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8th letter |
|
15th letter |
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2nd letter |
|
9th letter |
|
16th letter |
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3rd letter |
|
10th letter |
|
17th letter |
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4th letter |
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11th letter |
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18th letter |
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5th letter |
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12th letter |
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19th letter |
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6th letter |
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13th letter |
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7th letter |
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14th letter |
There are 114 formulas in the Qur'an or 19 x 6.
•A total of 113 Suras in the Qur'an start with the formula. The only Sura not to start with one is the ninth, Surat at-Tawba. Surat an-Naml is the only Sura to have two formulas. One of these is at the beginning and the other in verse 30. Counting from Surat at-Tawba, which does not begin with the formula, Surat an-Naml follows 19 Suras on.
There is a formula at the beginning of the 27th Sura, Surat an-Naml, and in verse 30. There are thus two formulas in the 27th Sura. It is the formula in the 30th verse of the 27th Sura which completes the total of 114 formulas in the Qur'an. When we add together the number of the verse and the number of the Sura, 30 and 27, we find the number 57 (19 x 3).
The total number of Suras from Surat at-Tawba (9) to Surat an-Naml (27) is 342 (9 + 10 + 11 +12 +13 +14 +15 +16 + 17 + 18 + 19 + 20 + 21 + 22 + 23 + 24 + 25 + 26 + 27). That figure is 19 multiplied by 18.
The sum of all the occurrences of the name
"Allah" in all the verses whose
numbers are multiples of 19 (i.e., verses 19, 38, 57, 76, etc.) is 133,
or 19
x 7.
The "abjad" value of the word "wahd" meaning
"one" is 19. This word is used with various other words in the Qur'an,
such as one door, one variety of food. It is used 19 times together with
the name "Allah."
(The Arabic
letters are
shown here without the accent marks) |
Letters of
the word "wahd" |
Numerical
Values of the
Letters |
||||||||||||
|
|
|
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Total abjad
value of the
word |
19 |
The total of the Sura and verse numbers
of the occasions when the word "wahd" appears 19 times is 361: (19 x
19)
There are 38 (19 x 2) Suras without initial
letters between the first Sura
which has initial letters and the last to have them.
The word "Rahman" (All-Merciful) appears 57 (19 x
3) times in the Qur'an.
Thirty different numbers are mentioned
in the Qur'an
1 |
7 |
19 |
70 |
1.000 |
2 |
8 |
20 |
80 |
2.000 |
3 |
9 |
30 |
90 |
3.000 |
4 |
10 |
40 |
100 |
5.000 |
5 |
11 |
50 |
200 |
50.000 |
6 |
12 |
60 |
300 |
100.000 |
The total of these numbers (again without taking repetitions into account) is 162,146. This is 19 x 8,534:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 11 + 12 + 19 +20 + 30 + 40 + 50 + 60 + 70 + 80 + 99 + 100 + 200 + 300 + 1,000 + 2,000 + 3,000 + 5,000 + 50,000 + 100,000 = 162,146 (19 x 8,534).
In addition to these thirty numbers, the Qur'an
also refers to eight fractions: 1/10, 1/8, 1/6, 1/5, 1/4, 1/3, 1/2 and
2/3. The Qur'an thus contains a total of 38 (19 x 2) different numbers.
The Sura from the beginning to possess 19
verses is Surat al-Infitar. Another
feature of this Sura is that its final word is "Allah." At the same
time, this
is the 19th appearance of the name "Allah" from the end.
The 50th Sura, which begins with the letter Qaf,
contains a total of 57 (19 x 3) letters Qaf. There are also 57 letters
Qaf in the 42nd Sura with a letter Qaf at the beginning. The 50th Sura
contains 45 verses. Added together, these total 95 (19 x 5). There are
53 verses in the 42nd Sura. These again total 95 (42 + 53).
50th Sura |
57 (19x3)
Letter Qaf |
|
42nd Sura |
57 (19x3)
Letter Qaf |
|
50th
Sura |
45th
verse |
50+45=95
(19x5) |
42nd Sura |
53rd verse |
42+53=95
(19x5) |
The abjad value of the word "Majeed," used
for the Qur'an, in the first verse of Surah Qaf is 57 (19 x 3). As we
have
stated above, the total number of letters Qaf is also 57.
When we add together the number of times
that the letter Qaf appears in the Qur'an, we reach a total of 798 (19 x
42).
Forty-two is the number of another Sura with Qaf among its initial
letters.
The letter Nun appears at the beginning of only the 68th Sura. The total number of times it appears in that Sura is 133 (19 x 7).
When we add together the number of verses
(including the formulas) in Suras the number of which are multiples of
19,
the following is noteworthy:
SURA NUMBER |
NUMBER OF VERSES |
|
19x1 |
19th Sura |
99 |
19x2 |
38th Sura |
89 |
19x3 |
57th Sura |
30 |
19x4 |
76th Sura |
32 |
19x5 |
95th Sura |
9 |
19x6 |
114th Sura |
7 |
TOTAL |
=266 (19x4) |
The letters Ya and Sin appear at the beginning
of Surah Ya Sin. The letter Sin appears 48 times in Surah Ya Sin and the
letter Ya 237 times. The total of these letters is 285 (19 x 15).
Only one Sura, the seventh, begins with the
initial letters "Alif, Lam, Mim,
Sad." The letter Alif appears in this Sura 2,529 times, the letter Lam
1,530
times, the letter Mim 1,164 times and the letter Sad 97 times. These
four letters
thus appear a total of 2,529 + 1,530 + 1,164 + 97 times, or 5,320 (19 x
280)
times
The letters Alif, Lam and Mim are the most
frequently used letters in Arabic. They appear together at the beginning
of six Suras: numbers 2, 3, 29, 30, 31 and 32. The number of times
these three letters appear in each of these six Suras is a multiple of
19: 9,899 (19 x 521), 5,662 (19 x 298), 1,672 (19 x 88), 1,254 (19 x
66), 817 (19 x 43), and 570 (19 x 30), respectively. The total number of
times all these three letters appear in the six Suras is 19,874 (19 x
1,046).
The initial letters Alif, Lam and Ra appear
in Suras 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15. The total number of times these letters
appear
in these Suras is 2,489 (19 x 131), 2,489 (19 x 131), 2,375 (19 x 125),
1,197
(19 x 63) and 912 (19 x 48)
The frequency with which the initial letters
Alif, Lam, Mim and Ra appear is 1,482 (19 x 78) in total. The letter
Alif appears 605 times, Lam 480 times, Mim 260 times and Ra 137 times.
The initial letters Qaf, Ha, Ya, 'Ayn
and Sad appear in only one Sura, the 19th. The letter Qaf appears 137
times in
this Sura, Ha 175 times, Ya 343 times, 'Ayn 117 times and Sad 26 times.
The total
number of appearances of these five letters is 137 + 175 + 343 + 117 +
26 = 798
(19 x 42).
Other findings on this subject include:
In the whole of the Qur'an,
- the word "atee`" (obey!) appears 19 times,
- the words "`abd" (servant), "`aabid" (a person who serves) and "`abudu" (worship) appear a total of 152 (19 x 8) times,
The numerical abjad values of some of
the names of Allah given below are also multiples of 19:
- Al-Waahid (The One) 19 (19 x 1)
The miracle of 19 in the Qur’an
The number 19 is the total of the numbers 9 and
10 to the power of 1. The difference between the numbers 9 and 10 to the
power of 2 is again 19.
|
|
|
The Sun, Moon and Earth line up in the same
relative positions once every 19
years. 255•
•
Halley's Comet passes through the Solar System
once every 76 years (19 x 4).256
The total of the first 19 figures in the Pascal
triangle is 38 (19 x 2).
 Pascal’s triangle is an arithmetical one used in algebra and probability calculations. Figure 1: The first 19 figures |
Pascal's triangle is an arithmetical one used in algebra and probability calculations.
The total of the first 19 numbers in the Pascal
triangle is 57 (19 x 3).
|
Conclusion:
The total of the first 19 figures is a multiple of 19.
The total of the first 19 numbers is a multiple of 19.
The connection between the number 19 and the Pascal
triangle with regard to the revelation sequence of the Qur'anic verses
The 96th Sura, the first revealed, comes 19
before the end. It consists of 19 verses and contains a total of 285
letters (19x15). The first five verses of the revelation contain 76 (19 x
4) letters.
The first verses of the 68th Sura, the second to
be revealed, consist of 38 (19 x 2) words.
The third revelation, the 73rd Sura, contains 57
(19 x 3) words.
 |
It [the
Qur’an] is
simply a reminder to all the worlds. You will certainly know
the truth
of it after a while. (Qur’an, 38:87-88) |
252. "Scientific Miracles ;"
http://monak2.tripod.com/Peaceonline/id1.html
253. Ismail Yakit, Turk-Islam Kulturunde Ebced Hesabi ve Tarih
Dusurme (Abjad
Calculation and Date Deduction in Turkish-Islamic Culture), 36.
254. Ibid., 56.
255. "The Celtic Wheel of the Year Calendar;"
www.iol.ie/~plugin/stonecal.htm
256. Robert Nemiroff, Jerry Bonnell, "Astronomy Picture of the Day Index
- Solar System: Comets: Halley,"
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/halley.html
BOOK THREE: THE HISTORICAL FACTS RECORDED IN THE QUR’AN
BOOK THREE: THE HISTORICAL FACTS RECORDED IN THE QUR’AN
“HAMAN” AND ANCIENT EGYPT MONUMENTS
 The name "Haman" was not known until the decoding of Egyptian hieroglyphics in the 19th century. When the hieroglyphics were decoded, it was understood that Haman was a close helper of the Pharaoh and was "the head of the stone quarries." (Above are shown ancient Egyptian construction workers). The most important point here is that Haman is mentioned in the Qur'an as the person who directed construction work under the command of the Pharaoh. This means that information that could not have been known by anybody else at that time was given in the Qur'an, a point most worthy of note. |
The Qur'an relates the life of Prophet Musa (as) with great clarity. As it tells of the conflict with the Pharaoh and his dealings with the Children of Israel, the Qur'an reveals a wealth of information about ancient Egypt. The significance of many of these historical points have only recently come to the attention of the learned people of the world. If one considers these points with reason, it quickly becomes clear that the Qur'an, and the fountain of information contained within it, has been revealed by the All-Wise Allah for it correlates directly with all major scientific, historic and archaeological finds in recent times.
One such example of this wisdom can be found in the Qur'anic references to Haman: a character whose name is mentioned in the Qur'an, along with the Pharaoh. He is mentioned in six different places in the Qur'an, in which it informs us that he was one of Pharaoh's closest allies.
Surprisingly, the name "Haman" is never mentioned in those sections of the Torah pertaining to the life of Prophet Musa (as). However, the mention of Haman can be found in the last chapters of the Old Testament as the helper of a Babylonian king who inflicted many cruelties on the Israelites approximately 1,100 years after Prophet Musa (as).The Qur'an, far more in tune with recent archaeological discoveries, does indeed contain the word "Haman" in reference to the life of Prophet Musa (as).
The criticisms thrown at the book of Islam by some non-Muslims have disappeared by the wayside as an Egyptian hieroglyphic script had been deciphered, approximately 200 years ago, and the name "Haman" discovered in the ancient scripts. Until the 18th century, the writings and inscriptions of ancient Egypt could not be understood. The language of ancient Egypt was made up of symbols rather than words: hieroglyphics. These pictures, which tell stories and keep records of important events in the same way that modern words do, was usually engraved on rock or stone and many examples survived through the ages. With the spread of Christianity and other cultural influences in the 2nd and 3rd centuries, Egypt forsook its ancient beliefs along with the hieroglyphic writing which was synonymous with that now defunct belief system. The last known example of the use of hieroglyphic writing was an inscription dated 394. The language of pictures and symbols was forgotten, leaving nobody who could read and understand it. Naturally, this made historical and archaeological study virtually impossible. This situation remained-until just over two centuries ago.
In 1799, much to the delight of historians and other learned people,
the mystery of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics was solved by the
discovery of a tablet called the "Rosetta Stone." This amazing find
dated back to 196 B.C. The importance of this inscription was that it
was written in three different forms of writing: hieroglyphics, demotic
(a simplified form of ancient Egyptian hieratic writing) and Greek. With
the help of the Greek script, the ancient Egyptian writings were
decoded. The translation of the inscription was completed by a Frenchman
named Jean-François Champollion. Hence, a forgotten language and the
events related in it were brought to light. In this way, a great deal of
knowledge about the civilization, religion and social life of ancient
Egypt became available to mankind and this opened the way to greater
knowledge about this important era in human history.
Through the decoding of hieroglyph, an important piece of knowledge was revealed: The name "Haman" was indeed mentioned in Egyptian inscriptions. This name was referred to in a monument in the Hof Museum in Vienna. This same inscription also indicated the close relationship between Haman and the Pharaoh.214
In the dictionary of People in the New Kingdom, that was prepared based on the entire collection of inscriptions, Haman is said to be "the head of stone quarry workers."215
The result revealed a very important truth: Unlike the false assertion of the opponents of the Qur'an, Haman was a person who lived in Egypt at the time of Prophet Musa (as). He had been close to the Pharaoh and had been involved in construction work, just as imparted in the Qur'an.
Pharaoh said, "Council, I do not know of any other deity for you apart from Me. Haman, kindle a fire for me over the clay and build me a lofty tower so that perhaps I may be able to climb up to Musa's deity! I consider him a blatant liar." (Qur'an, 28:38)
The verse in the Qur'an describing the event where the Pharaoh asked Haman to build a tower is in perfect agreement with this archaeological finding. Through this brilliant discovery, the irrational claims of the opponents of the Qur'an were demonstrated to be false and intellectually worthless.
 |
In a miraculous way, the Qur'an conveys to us historical information that could not have been possessed or understood at the time of the Prophet (saas). Hieroglyphics could not be deciphered until the late 1700s so the information could not have been ascertained from Egyptian sources. When the name "Haman" was discovered in the ancient scripts, it was further proof of the infallibility of Allah's word.
PROPHET MUSA (AS) AND SEA’S SPLITTING IN TWO
The kings of Egypt-known as "Pharaohs" (or "Fir`awn" in the Arabic of
the Qur'an)-regarded themselves as divine in the polytheistic,
superstitious religion of ancient Egypt. At a time when the people of
Egypt favoured a superstitious belief system over a Divine belief
system-the same era in which when the Children of Israel were
enslaved-Allah sent Prophet Musa (as) as a messenger to the tribe of
Egypt.
However, Pharaoh and his court, and the people of Egypt in general, almost universally refused to abandon their idolatrous beliefs when Prophet Musa (as) called them to Divine religion and the Oneness of Allah. Prophet Musa (as) revealed to Pharaoh and his courtiers that they should avoid false worship, warning them of Allah's wrath. In response to this, they rose up and slandered Prophet Musa (as): They accused him of being mad, of being a sorcerer and of falsehood. Pharaoh and his people refused to submit to Prophet Musa (as) even though many troubles were visited upon them. They refused to accept Allah as the only deity. They even held Prophet Musa (as) responsible for what had befallen them and sought to exile him from Egypt. In the Qur'an, Allah makes this reference to Prophet Musa (as) and the believers with him:
We revealed to Musa: "Travel with Our servants by night. You will certainly be pursued." Pharaoh sent marshals into the cities: "These people are a small group and we find them irritating and we constitute a vigilant majority." We expelled them from gardens and springs, from treasures and a splendid situation. So it was! And We bequeathed them to the tribe of Israel. So they pursued them towards the east. (Qur'an, 26:52-60)
|
As revealed in the Qur'an, the two communities met at the edge of the sea following this pursuit. Allah divided the sea and saved Prophet Musa (as) and the believers with him, destroying Pharaoh and his people. This aid from Allah is revealed thus:
So We revealed to Musa, "Strike the sea with your staff." And it split in two, each part like a towering cliff. And We brought the others right up to it. We rescued Musa and all those who were with him. Then We drowned the rest. There is certainly a sign in that yet most of them are not believers. Truly your Lord is the Almighty, the Most Merciful. (Qur'an, 26:63-68)
In connection with this subject, the following account has recently been found in papyruses from the time of Pharaoh:
From Amenamoni, head of the protective books of the white room of the palace, to the scribe Penterhor:
When this letter reaches you and has been read point by point, surrender your heart to the sharpest pain, like a leaf before the storm, when you learn of the sorrowful disaster of the drowning in the whirlpool…
Calamity struck him suddenly and inescapably. Depict the destruction of the lords, the lord of the tribes, the king of the east and the west. The sleep in the waters has made something helpless out of something great. What news can compare to the news I have sent you?216
The fact that past events revealed in the Qur'an are being proved today is definitely an important miracle of the Qur'an. (See Harun Yahya, Perished Nations, Ta-Ha Publishers, UK, 2001; Global Publishing, Istanbul, 2002; The Prophet Musa (as), Millat Book Center, India, 2001)
 |
The mountain known as
Jabal-al Musa
is generally regarded as being in the Sinai Peninsula.
However, recent
findings have shown that it is actually on the Arabian shore
of the
Red Sea. |
 |
Following a long and
difficult journey
for the Prophet Musa (as) and the Israelites, a passage out
between
the mountains could be seen. |
 |
That part of the Sinai
Peninsula
opening onto the Gulf. |
This miracle, experienced by Prophet Musa (as) and the Children of Israel as they crossed the Red Sea, has been the subject of many studies. Archaeological investigations have established not only the path taken to the Red Sea after leaving Egypt, but also that the place where Pharaoh and Prophet Musa (as) and his tribe met was one surrounded by mountains. (Allah knows best.)
Following a great deal of study and investigation taking this as the starting point, scientists came to striking conclusions with regard to how the sea was divided into two. These conclusions are in full agreement with those revealed in the Qur'an. The way that historical events described in the Qur'an are today illuminated by historical records is without doubt an important miracle of the Book of Islam.
 Pharaoh’s royal chariot is on display in a museum in Egypt. A similar example was found during excavations in the location where the sea divided. |
Naum Volzinger and Alexei Androsov, two Russian mathematicians, proved that Prophet Musa (as) could indeed have parted the sea. Unlike those scientists who concentrated on the probability of such a miracle, the Russian mathematicians investigated the conditions that might have led to the miracle. In turn, this led to the confirmation of the miracle itself.
According to the study which was published in the Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences, there was a reef, which was close to the surface in the Red Sea at that time. From there, the scientists set about establishing the speed of the wind and the strength of the storm needed to leave the reef high and dry at low tide. As a result, it became apparent that a wind speed of 30 metres (98.5 feet) per second would have caused the sea to retract, leaving the reef exposed. Naum Volzinger, of the Institute of Oceanography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, stated that "if the [east] wind blew all night at a speed of 30 metres per second then the reef would be dry." He also said that "it would take the Jews-there were 600,000 of them-four hours to cross the 7 kilometre reef that runs from one coast to another… then, in half an hour, the waters would come back."217 In addition, Volzinger said that he and his colleague Androsov studied the issue strictly from Isaac Newton's point of view. As he put it, "I am convinced that God rules the Earth through the laws of physics."218
It must not be forgotten that there is always a possibility of this natural phenomenon taking place. If Allah so desires, this miracle can take place again when the requisite conditions-such as wind speed, time and place-are met. However, the truly miraculous aspect here is the fact that these events took place just when Prophet Musa (as) and his tribe were about to be vanquished. The fact that the waters withdrew just as Prophet Musa (as) and the community with him were about to cross them-not to mention the way that the waters returned just as Pharaoh and his army were crossing-is a clear example of the aid that Allah gives to the faithful. Indeed, the way that Prophet Musa (as) relied on and trusted in Allah is an example of the most pleasing moral values:
And when the two hosts came into sight of one another Musa's companions said, "We will surely be overtaken!" He said, "Never! My Lord is with me and He will guide me." (Qur'an, 26:61-62)
THE TROUBLES WHICH AFFLICTED PHARAOH AND THOSE AROUND HIM
Pharaoh and those people close to him were so devoted to their polytheistic system and pagan beliefs that not even message of Prophet Musa (as), armed with wisdom and spectacular miracles, could soften their hearts and thus turn them away from baseless superstitions. They also openly stated this fact:
They said, "No matter what kind of sign you bring us to bewitch us, we will not believe in you." (Qur'an, 7:132)
 In the early 19th century a papyrus dating back to the Middle Kingdom was discovered in Egypt. The papyrus was taken to the Leiden Museum in Holland and translated by A.H. Gardiner in 1909. The entire text appears in the book Admonitions of an Egyptian from a Hieratic Papyrus in Leiden, and describes major changes in Egypt; famine, drought, the slaves’ flight from Egypt with their assets, and death all over the nation. The papyrus was written by an Egyptian called Ipuwer and it appears from its contents that this individual personally witnessed the disasters that struck Egypt. This papyrus is a most significant hand-written description of the catastrophes, the death of Egyptian society |
Because of their haughty attitude, Allah sent to them afflictions, described as "Signs, clear and distinct" in one verse, in order to punish them for their haughtiness. (Qur'an, 7:133) The first of these was drought. As a result, there was a fall in production. The relevant verse of the Qur'an states:
We seized Pharaoh's people with years of drought and scarcity of fruits so that hopefully they would pay heed. (Qur'an, 7:130)
The Egyptians' agricultural systems depended on the River Nile and changes in natural conditions did not therefore generally affect them. However, Pharaoh and those around him suffered greatly because of their pride and refusal to recognise Allah's Messenger. Yet instead of "paying heed," they regarded these events as bad luck caused by Prophet Musa (as) and the tribe of Israel. Following that, Allah sent a series of tribulations. We are told of these in the Qur'an:
So We sent down on them floods, locusts, lice, frogs and blood, signs, clear and distinct, but they proved arrogant and were an evildoing people. (Qur'an, 7:133)
The details in the papyrus regarding the disasters that struck the people of Egypt are just as described in the Qur'an. In the Qur'an, we are told about these catastrophes. This Islamic account of this period of human history has been confirmed by the discovery in Egypt, in the early 19th century, of the Ipuwer papyruses dating back to the Middle Kingdom. After the discovery of this papyrus, it was sent to the Leiden Dutch Museum in 1909 and translated by A. H. Gardiner, a prominent scholar of ancient Egypt. In the papyrus were described such disasters in Egypt as famine, drought and the fleeing of the slaves from Egypt. Moreover, it appears that the writer of the papyrus, one Ipuwer, had actually witnessed these events. This is how the Ipuwer papyrus refers to these catastrophes described in the Qur'an:
Plague is throughout the land. Blood is everywhere.219
The river is blood.220
Forsooth, that has perished which yesterday was seen. The land is left over to its weariness like the cutting of flax.221
Lower Egypt weeps... The entire palace is without its revenues. To it belong (by right) wheat and barley, geese and fish.222
Forsooth, grain has perished on every side.223
The land-to its whole extent confusion and terrible noise… For nine days there was no exit from the palace and no one could see the face of his fellow… Towns were destroyed by mighty tides… Upper Egypt suffered devastation… blood everywhere… pestilence throughout the country… No one really sails north to Byblos today. What shall we do for cedar for our mummies?… Gold is lacking…224
Men shrink from tasting-human beings, and thirst after water.225
That is our water! That is our happiness! What shall we do in respect thereof? All is ruin!226
The towns are destroyed. Upper Egypt has become dry.227
The residence is overturned in a minute.228
The chain of disasters which struck the people of Egypt, according to this document, conforms perfectly with the Qur'anic account of these matters.229 This papyrus, which closely parallels the catastrophes which struck Egypt in the time of Pharaoh, once again demonstrates the Qur'an to be divine in origin.
Historical Documents Confirm the Information Given in the Qur’an
In the early 19th century a papyrus dating back to the Middle Kingdom was discovered in Egypt. The papyrus was taken to the Leiden Museum in Holland and translated by A.H. Gardiner in 1909. The entire text appears in the book Admonitions of an Egyptian from a Hieratic Papyrus in Leiden, and describes major changes in Egypt; famine, drought, the slaves' flight from Egypt with their assets, and death all over the nation. The papyrus was written by an Egyptian called Ipuwer and it appears from its contents that this individual personally witnessed the disasters that struck Egypt. ("The Ten Plagues – Live From Egypt," Rabbi Mordechai Becher, www.ohr.org.il/yhiy/article.php/838.) This papyrus is a most significant hand-written description of the catastrophes, the death of Egyptian society and the destruction of Pharaoh.
THE WORD “PHARAOH” IN THE QUR’AN
n the Old Testament,
the Egyptian ruler during the period of Prophet Ibrahim
(as) and Prophet Yusuf (as) are named "Pharaoh." However, this title
was actually
employed after the eras in which these two prophets lived.
While addressing the Egyptian ruler at the time of Prophet Yusuf (as), the word "Al-Malik" in Arabic is used in the Qur'an: It refers to a ruler, king or sultan:
The King said, ‘Bring him to me straight away!'… (Qur'an, 12:50)
The ruler of Egypt in the time of Prophet Musa (as) is referred to as "Pharaoh." This distinction in the Qur'an is not made in the Old and New Testaments nor by Jewish historians. In the Bible, the word "Pharaoh" is used, in every reference to an Egyptian monarch. On the other hand, the Qur'an is far more concise and accurate in the terminology it employs.
The use of the word "Pharaoh" in Egyptian history belongs only to the late period. This particular title began to be employed in the 14th century B.C., during the reign of Amenhotep IV. Prophet Yusuf (as) lived at least 200 years before that time.230
The Encyclopaedia Britannica says that the word "Pharaoh" was a title of respect used from the New Kingdom (beginning with the 18th dynasty; B.C. 1539-1292) until the 22nd dynasty (B.C. 945-730), after which this term of address became the title of the king. Further information on this subject comes from the Academic American Encyclopaedia, which states that the title of Pharaoh began to be used in the New Kingdom.
As we have seen, the use of the word "Pharaoh" dates from a specific period in history. For that reason, the fact that the Qur'an distinguishes between the different Egyptian titles in different Egyptian eras is yet another proof that the Qur'an is Allah's word.
THE PROPHET MUSA (AS) REFERRED TO AS A MAGICIAN
In papyruses from the time of Pharaoh, Prophet Musa (as) is regularly referred to as a magician. (The papyruses in question are held in the British Museum.) Despite all the best efforts of Pharaoh and his supporters, they were never able to get the better of Prophet Musa (as) in their all-out war against him and the Children of Israel.
This is written on the second day of the seventh month of Payni during the reign of Ramses, the elder brother of Ammon, the Sun's son who is the administrator of justice, and who lives eternally like his father, the Sun… When you receive this letter, rise, set to work and undertake the supervision of the fields. When you hear the news of a new disaster such as a flood ruining the entire cereals, think. Hemton destroyed them by consuming them greedily, granaries are cracked, rats are clumped in fields, fleas are like hurricane, scorpions are eating up greedily, wounds caused by little flies are too many to count. And these grieve the people… The Scribe [probably referring to Prophet Musa (as)] fulfilled the purpose to destroy the total amount of cereals… Sorceries are like their bread. Scribe… is the first of men in the art of writing.
The reference to Prophet Musa (as), and the "magician" accusations hurled at him, can be found in the following verses:
They said, "Magician, invoke your Lord for us by the contract He has made with you and we shall certainly follow the guidance." (Qur'an, 43:49)
They said, "No matter what kind of sign you bring us to bewitch us, we will not believe in you." (Qur'an, 7:132)
NUH’S FLOOD
We sent Nuh to his people and he remained among them for fifty short of a thousand years; yet the flood engulfed them while they were wrongdoers. (Qur'an, 29:14)
 According to the archaeological findings, Nuh’s Flood took place on the Mesopotamian Plain, the shape of which was very different to that of today. The present-day limits of the plain are shown with a dotted red line in the above diagram. The wide region beyond that line is known to have been part of the sea at that time. |
Prohet Nuh (as) was sent to his people by Allah. They had distanced themselves from the commandments of the Lord and ascribed partners to Him. Prophet Nuh (as) warned them that they should serve Allah alone and abandon the false worship which they had established in their community. Although Prophet Nuh (as) called on his people with great eloquence and wisdom, and warned them against the punishment of Allah, they rejected the prophet and continued to associate partners to Him. At this, Allah told Prophet Nuh (as) that He would punish the unbelievers by drowning them. But He also informed His Messenger that His mercy would save the believers, those who embraced true religion and worshipped the One and Only god. The destruction of the people of Nuh and the salvation of the believers is described thus in the Qur'an:
But they denied him so We rescued him and those with him in the ark. And We drowned the people who denied Our signs. They were a blind people. (Qur'an, 7:64)
When the time of punishment came, the water in the ground combined with violent rains to cause a giant flood. (Allah knows best.) It is revealed that before the flood came, Allah spoke to Prophet Nuh (as):
We revealed to him: "Build the ship under Our supervision and as We reveal. When Our command comes and water bubbles up from the earth, load into it a pair of every species, and your family-except for those among them against whom the word has already gone ahead. And do not address Me concerning those who do wrong. They shall be drowned." (Qur'an, 23:27)
Apart from those who boarded Prophet Nuh's (as) Ark, the entire tribe was drowned. The dead included the prophet's son who thought he could escape by seeking shelter on a mountain.
It was said, "Earth, swallow up your water!" and, "Heaven, hold back your rain!" And the water subsided and the affair was concluded and the ark came to land on al-Judi. And it was said, "Away with the people of the wrongdoers!" (Qur'an, 11:44)
Compared to the flood accounts contained in Jewish scriptures, and indeed the various cultural beliefs of other peoples, the Qur'anic account, which was revealed by Allah and is the only divine text to have remained uncorrupted, stands as the most reliable of all these accounts. The Old Testament, a corrupted text, says that this flood was universal and covered the whole world. On the contrary, it appears from the relevant verses that the flood was a regional one and punished not the whole world but only the tribe that rejected Prophet Nuh (as). Those who were destroyed in it were the people who rejected the message of Prophet Nuh (as) and persisted in their denial. There is no indication in the Qur'an that the flood was universal. The verses on the subject read:
We sent Nuh to his people: "I am a clear warner to you. Worship none but Allah. I fear for you the punishment of a painful day." (Qur'an, 11:25-26)
But they denied him so We rescued him and those with him in the ark. And We drowned the people who denied Our signs. They were a blind people. (Qur'an, 7:64)
As we have seen, we are told in the Qur'an that only the people of Prophet Nuh (as) were destroyed, not the whole world. The corrected states of the corrupted accounts in Christian and Jewish scriptures in the Qur'an prove that it is, in its entirety, a book sent down by Allah.
Excavations in the region where the flood is believed to have occurred also show that the flood was not a universal event, but a wide-scale disaster that affected part of Mesopotamia.
When the waters subsided, the ark came to rest. As revealed in the Qur'an, the resting place of the ark was al-Judi. The word "juudee" is sometimes taken to mean a particular mountain, although the Arabic word itself means "high place, hill." From that point of view, the word "juudee" can refer to the waters reaching only up to a certain height and not to the covering of all the land. In other words, we learn from the Qur'an that the flood did not swallow up all the land and all the mountains on Earth-as is related in Jewish scriptures and other legends-but only one particular region.
Archaeological Evidence for the Flood
 Excavations in the Mesopotamian Plain revealed the presence of a layer of mud and clay at a depth of 2.5 metres (8 feet). This stratum in all probability consisted of clay carried by the waters of the Flood, and is to be found only under the Mesopotamian Plain. |
If a natural disaster, sudden migration or war, for example, should result in the destruction of a civilisation, traces of that civilisation are well-protected. The houses people lived in and the objects people used in their daily lives are quickly buried under the earth. These are thus conserved for long periods without being touched by human hands. For students of the past, they provide invaluable clues when they are finally brought to light.
In recent times, the discovery of a large amount of evidence concerning Nuh's Flood has come to the attention of the world's most prominent archaeologists and historians. The Flood, believed to have occurred around 3000 B.C., destroyed an entire civilisation and allowed an entirely new one to be founded in its place. That evidence of the Flood was preserved for thousands of years provides a deterrent to those people who have come after this punishment of the wicked.
Many excavations have been carried out to study the flood, which was localised on and around the Mesopotamian Plains. Digs in the region have encountered traces of a flood in four main cities on the Mesopotamian Plain: Ur, Erech, Kish and Shuruppak. Excavations in these cities have shown that these cities were hit by flooding around 3000 B.C.
The oldest of the remains of the civilisation in the city of Ur-today known as Tell al Muqqayar-date back to 7000 B.C. The city of Ur, one of the oldest human civilisations, was a settlement region in which consecutive civilisations were born and died.
The archaeological discoveries which came from study of Ur unearthed information which clearly informs us that a civilisation there was interrupted by a terrible flood and that new civilisations gradually sprang up in its place. Leonard Woolley led a joint excavation by the British Museum and the University of Pennsylvania in the desert area between Baghdad and the Persian Gulf. Woolley's excavations are described by the German archaeologist Werner Keller as follows:
"The graves of the kings of Ur" - so Woolley, in the exuberance of his delight at discovering them, had dubbed the tombs of Sumerian nobles whose truly regal splendour had been exposed when the spades of the archaeologists attacked a fifty-foot mound south of the temple and found a long row of superimposed graves. The stone vaults were veritable treasure chests, for they were filled with all the costly goblets, wonderfully shaped jugs and vases, bronze tableware, mother of pearl mosaics, lapis lazuli, and silver surrounded these bodies which had mouldered into dust. Harps and lyres rested against the walls…
When after several days some of Woolley's workmen called out to him, "We are on ground level", he let himself down onto the floor of the shaft to satisfy himself. Woolley's first thought was "This is it at last". It was sand, pure sand of a kind that could only have been deposited by water.
They decided to dig on and make the shaft deeper. Deeper and deeper went the spades into the ground: three feet, six feet - still pure mud. Suddenly, at ten feet, the layer of mud stopped as abruptly as it had started. Under this clay deposit of almost ten feet thick, they had struck fresh evidence of human habitation…
The Flood - that was the only possible explanation of this great clay deposit beneath the hill at Ur, which quite clearly separated two epochs of settlement…231
Microscopic analysis revealed that this great clay deposit beneath the hill at Ur had accumulated here as a result of a flood, one so large and powerful as to annihilate ancient Sumerian civilisation. The epic of Gilgamesh and the story of Nuh were united in this shaft dug deep under the Mesopotamian desert.
Max Mallowan related the thoughts of Leonard Woolley, who said that such a huge mass of alluvium formed in a single time-slice could only be the result of a huge flood disaster. Woolley also described the flood layer, which separated the Sumerian city of Ur from the city of Al-Ubaid whose inhabitants used painted pottery, as the remains of the Flood.232
These facts demonstrated that the city of Ur was one of those places affected by the Flood. The German archaeologist Werner Keller also described the importance of the excavation in question. He has gone on record to say that the yield of city-remains beneath a muddy layer in the archaeological excavations made in Mesopotamia proves that there was indeed a flood in the region.233
Another Mesopotamian city to bear the traces of the Flood is the "Kish of the Sumerians," the present-day Tall Al-Uhaimer. Ancient Sumerian records describe this city as the "seat of the first postdiluvian dynasty."234
The southern Mesopotamian city of Shuruppak, the present-day Tall Fa'rah, also bears evident traces of the Flood. Archaeological investigations were carried out in this city between 1920 and 1930 by Erich Schmidt of the University of Pennsylvania. These excavations uncovered three layers of habitation which stretched from the late prehistoric period to the 3rd dynasty of Ur (2112-2004 B.C.). The most distinctive finds were ruins of well-built houses along with cuneiform tablets of administrative records and lists of words, indicating a highly developed society already in existence toward the end of the 4th millennium B.C.235
When one examines the opinions of these learned scientists, it is clear that they believe that the evidence which supports the Flood account is overwhelming. According to this opinion, this terrible flood took place in or around 3000-2900 B.C. According to Mallowan's account, 4-5 metres below the earth, Schmidt had reached a yellow soil layer (formed by flood) made up of a mixture of clay and sand. This layer was closer to the plain level than the tumulus profile and it could be observed all around the tumulus. Schmidt defined this layer made of mixed clay and sand, which separated the Jemdet Nasr period from the time of Ancient Kingdom, as "a sand with its origins in the river," and associated it with Nuh's Flood.236
In short, the excavations in the city of Shuruppak once again revealed the traces of a flood around 3000-2900 B.C. Together with the other cities, Shuruppak was in all probability struck by the Flood.237
The last settlement containing evidence of being struck by the Flood is the city of Erech, south of Shuruppak. Today, it is known as Tall Al-Warka. As in the other cities, a flood layer was also discovered here. Like the other cities, this flood layer has been dated to 3000-2900 B.C.238
The Euphrates and Tigris rivers divide Mesopotamia from one end to the other. It appears that in the era in question, these two rivers overflowed, together with all other water sources, great and small, combining with rainwater to create an enormous flood. This phenomenon is reported in these terms in the Qur'an:
So We opened the gates of heaven with torrential water and made the earth burst forth with gushing springs. And the waters met together in a way which was decreed. We bore him on a planked and well-caulked ship. (Qur'an, 54:11-13)
When the clues obtained from the research are evaluated, they indicate that the Flood covered all of the Mesopotamian plains. When we look at the succession of cities-Ur, Erech, Shuruppak and Kish-that bear the traces of the Flood, we see that they all lie in a line. In addition, the geographical structure of the Mesopotamian Plain was very different in around 3000 B.C. compared to its constitution today. At that time, the bed of the River Euphrates was much further to the east than it is today, lying on a line passing through Ur, Erech, Shuruppak and Kish. It therefore appears that the Euphrates burst its banks in this region and destroyed the four cities. (Allah knows best.)
Allah imparted the news of Nuh's Flood in order that it should act as a deterrent for those of that time and a valuable lesson to those who were to come after, people like us. By means of the prophets and books, He sent guidance to different societies. However, each time the texts which were brought to the people by Allah's prophets were corrupted from their original forms. Men added cultural, mystical or mythological elements to the true account of the Flood. The Qur'an, because it is from Allah and because He preserves it eternally, is the only source compatible with the archaeological findings of the past. (See Harun Yahya, Perished Nations, Ta-Ha Publishers, UK, 2001; Global Publishing, Istanbul, 2002)
THE CITY OF IRAM
 The above satellite photographs show a section of Oman in the south of the Arabian Peninsula. In the photographs of the city of Ubar, viewed from space by NASA in 1992, were identified traces of ancient desert tracks. The people of ‘Ad, revealed 1,400 years ago in the Qur’an, emerged as one of the miracles of the Qur’an through modern-day technology. |
At the beginning of 1990, press-releases in the well-known newspapers of the world declared "Fabled Lost Arabian city found," "Arabian city of Legend found" and "The Atlantis of the Sands, Ubar." What rendered this archaeological find particularly intriguing was the fact that this city is mentioned in the Qur'an. Many people had previously suggested ‘Ad was a legend or that the location in question could never be found. Such people could not conceal their astonishment at this phenomenal discovery.
It was Nicholas Clapp, a noted documentary filmmaker and a lecturer on archaeology, who found this legendary city mentioned in the Qur'an.239 Being an Arabophile and a winning documentary film maker, Clapp had come across a very interesting book during his research on Arabian history. This book was Arabia Felix, written by the English researcher Bertram Thomas in 1932. Arabia Felix meaning “Happy Arabia" was the Roman designation for the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula which today includes Yemen and much of Oman. Due to the advantages its green lands and temperate climate granted, the Greeks called this area "Eudaimon Arabia", which again means “Happy Arabia” Medieval Arab scholars called it "Al-Yaman as-Sa`eed", "meaning “Happy Yemen”240 because the people living in that region used to serve as middlemen in the lucrative spice trade between India and places north of the Arabian Peninsula. In addition, the people living in this region produced and distributed "frankincense," an aromatic resin from rare trees.
The English researcher Thomas described these tribes at length and claimed that he found the traces of an ancient city founded by one of these tribes.241 This was the city known as "Ubar" by the Bedouins. In one of the trips he made to the region, the Bedouins living in the desert had shown him well-worn tracks and stated that these tracks led toward the ancient city of Ubar. Thomas, who showed great interest in the subject, died before being able to complete his research.
Clapp, who examined what the English researcher Thomas wrote, was convinced of the existence of the lost city described in the book. He quickly started his research, attempting to carry on from where Thomas had left the project. Clapp took two different approaches in his mission to prove the existence of Ubar. First, he found the tracks which the Bedouins said existed and in order to aid his work, he applied to NASA to provide the satellite images of the area. After a long struggle, he succeeded in persuading the authorities to take the pictures of the region he so craved.242
Clapp went on to study the ancient manuscripts and maps in the Huntington library in California. Here, he quickly found a map covering the region he was studying so intensely. He found a map drawn by the Greek-Egyptian geographer Ptolemy in 200, which showed the location of an old city found in the region and the paths which actually led up to this city.
Meanwhile, his research received a further boost when he received the news that satellite photographs had been taken by members of NASA. In the pictures, caravan trails, which were virtually invisible to the naked eye, caught Clapp's attention. They could only be seen as a whole from the sky. Comparing these pictures with the old map he had in hand, Clapp immediately realised that the trails in the old map corresponded with the trails in the pictures taken from the satellite. The final destination of these trails was a broad site understood to have once been a city.
Finally, thanks to the work of Clapp and Thomas before him-along with a helping hand from NASA researchers-the location of this legendary city, which had been subject of the stories told orally by the Bedouins, was discovered. After a short while, excavations began and remains of an old city were brought to light. This lost city was dubbed "Ubar, the Atlantis of the Sands."
But let us ask: What was it that proved this to be the city of the people of ‘Ad mentioned in the Qur'an?
From the very beginning of the study of the site, it was understood that this ruined city belonged to ‘Ad. Researchers discovered Iram's pillars, which were specifically mentioned in the Qur'an, in the form of towers in the land of the people of ‘Ad. Dr. Juris Zarins, a member of the research team leading the excavation, said that since the towers were alleged to be the distinctive feature of Ubar and since Iram was mentioned as having towers or pillars, this then was the strongest proof so far that the site they had unearthed was Iram, the city of ‘Ad described in the Qur'an:
Don't you see what your Lord did with ‘Ad-Iram of the columns whose like was not created in any land? (Qur'an, 89:6-8)
As seen, that the information provided by the Qur'an about the events of the past is in total agreement with historical information is another evidence of the fact that the Qur'an is the word of Allah. (See Harun Yahya, Perished Nations, Ta-Ha Publishers, UK, 2001; Global Publishing, Istanbul, 2002)
THE CITIES OF SOODOM AND GOMORRAH
 A photograph of the Dead Sea |
Prophet Lut (as) lived at the same time as Prophet Ibrahim (as) and was sent as a messenger to a neighbouring tribe to Prophet Ibrahim (as). That tribe, according to the Qur'an, practiced a perversion never before seen in the world: homosexuality. When Prophet Lut (as) told the people to abandon one of the greatest sins and delivered to them the message of Allah, they rejected him. They denied that he was a prophet and continued with their horrid lifestyle. As a result of this, the tribe was destroyed in a terrible disaster by Allah.
And Lut, when he said to his people, "Do you commit an obscenity not perpetrated before you by anyone in all the worlds? You come with lust to men instead of women. You are indeed a depraved people." (Qur'an, 7:80-81)
We rained down a rain upon them. See the final fate of the evildoers! (Qur'an, 7:84)
[Our messengers said to Lut,] "We will bring down on the inhabitants of this city a devastating punishment from heaven because of their deviance." We have left a clear sign of them behind for people who use their intellect. (Qur'an, 29:34-35)
This city, in which Prophet Lut (as) lived and which was later destroyed, is called "Sodom" in the Old Testament. It appears that this people, who lived to the north of the Red Sea, was destroyed in a manner compatible with the description in the Qur'an. Archaeological excavations have revealed that the city lay close to the Dead Sea on the present-day Israeli-Jordanian border. According to scientists, the area is covered in large deposits of sulphur. For this reason, no life in the form of animals or plants is to be found there and the region stands as a symbol of destruction.
 The photographs above show the ancient settlement area around the volcano Mount Vesuvius. It is clear from the remains in the region that the Pompeiians who lived here enjoyed a luxurious and splendid lifestyle. The petrified body on the left is a remain testifying to the disasters that struck the people of Pompeii. |
Sulphur is an element which appears as a result of volcanic eruptions. Indeed, there is clear evidence in the Qur'an that the method of destruction was earthquake and volcanic eruptions. The German archaeologist Werner Keller says this about the region:
Together with the base of this mighty fissure, which runs precisely through this area, the Vale of Siddim, including Sodom and Gomorrah, plunged one day into the abyss. Their destruction came about through a great earthquake which was probably accompanied by explosions, lightning, issue of natural gas and general conflagration… The subsidence released volcanic forces that had been lying dormant deep down along the whole length of the fracture. In the upper valley of the Jordan near Bashan there are still towering craters of extinct volcanoes; great stretches of lava and deep layers of basalt have been deposited on the limestone surface.243
These layers of lava and basalt are the most important evidence showing that a volcanic eruption and earthquake once took place there. In any event Lake Lut, otherwise known as the Dead Sea, lies directly above a seismically active region-in other words, an earthquake belt:
The base of the Dead Sea is located in a tectonic depression-the Rift Valley, which extends 300 kilometres [186 miles] from the Sea of Galilee [Bahr Tabariyeh] in the north to the middle of the Wadi Arabah in the south.244
The technical aspect of the disaster suffered by the people of Lut has been revealed in studies carried out by geologists. These have shown that the earthquake which wiped out the people of Lut came about as the result of a very long fault line. The Jordan River drops a total of 180 metres (590 feet)during its 190 km (118 miles)course. This, and the fact that the Dead Sea is 400 metres below sea level, combined to prove that that there once took place a major geological event in and around this area.
This interesting structure of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea comprise only part of the crack or fissure which passes through this region. It begins at the slopes of the Taurus Mountains and runs southward past the southern shores of the Dead Sea, through the Arabian Desert, reaching the Gulf of Aqaba, from where it crosses the Red Sea before coming to an end in Africa. There is major volcanic activity in those areas through which the line passes. In fact, this occurs to such an extent that black basalt and lava can be found in the Mountains of Galilee in Israel, in part of the high plateaus in Jordan, the Gulf of Aqaba and other areas.
All these remains and geographical features show that there was a major geological event at the Dead Sea.
The December 1957 edition of National Geographic contained these statements on the subject:
The mount of Sodom, a barren wasteland, rises sharply above the dead sea. No one has ever found the destroyed cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, but scholars believe that they stood in the Vale of Siddim across from these cliffs. Possibly flood waters of the Dead Sea engulfed them following an earthquake.245
One of the pieces of information regarding this destroyed city is-as revealed in Surat al-Hijr 76-that these cities are still on the main line. Geographers have identified this region as being on a line to the south-east of the Dead Sea, extending from the Arabian Peninsula to Syria and Egypt. (See Harun Yahya, Perished Nations, Ta-Ha Publishers, UK, 2001; Global Publishing, Istanbul, 2002)
We turned the place completely upside down and rained down on them stones of hard-baked clay. There are certainly signs in that for the discerning. They were beside a road which still exists. There is certainly a sign in that for the believers. (Qur'an, 15:74-77)
THE PEOPLE OF SABA AND THE ARIM FLOOD
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Many centuries ago, the community of Saba was one of the four biggest civilisations which lived in South Arabia.
Historical sources relating to Saba usually say that this was a culture akin to that of the Phoenicians. It was particularly involved in commercial activities. The Sabaeans are recognised by historians as a civilised and cultured people. In the inscriptions of the rulers of Saba, words such as "restore," "dedicate" and "construct" are frequently used. The Ma'rib Dam, which is one of the most important monuments of this people, is an important indication of the technological level this people had reached.
The Sabaean state had one of the strongest armies in the region and was able to adopt an expansionist policy thanks to its potent army. With its advanced culture and army, the Sabaean state was without question one of the "super powers" of the region at the time. This extraordinarily strong army of the Sabaean state is also described in the Qur'an. An expression of the commanders of the Saba army related in the Qur'an, shows the extent of the confidence this army had in itself. The commanders call out to the female ruler (Queen) of the state:
… "We possess strength and we possess great force. But the matter is in your hands so consider what you command." (Qur'an, 27:33)
Because of the Ma'rib Dam which had been constructed, with the help of quite advanced technology for that particular era, the people of Saba possessed an enormous irrigation capacity. The fertile soil they acquired by virtue of this technique and their control over the trade route permitted them a splendid lifestyle, full of well-being. However, instead of giving thanks to Allah for all this, the Qur'an informs us that they actually "turned away from Him." Furthermore, they refused to heed the warnings and reminders issued to them. Because of these poor moral values, they merited punishment in the sight of Allah and their dams collapsed and the flood of Arim ruined all their lands.
 |
 |
The Ma’rib Dam (shown in the
pictures
above and to the side) was one of the major works of the
people of
Saba. The dam collapsed in the flood of Arim, mentioned in the
Qur’an,
and the Sabaean state was weakened economically and eventually
collapsed. |
|
The capital city of the Sabaean state was Ma'rib, which was extremely wealthy thanks to its advantageous geographical position. The capital city was very close to the River Adhanah. The point where the river reached Jabal Balaq was very suitable for the construction of a dam. Making use of this condition, the Sabaean people constructed a dam at this location at the time when their civilisation was first established, and they began irrigation. As a result, they reached a very high level of economic prosperity. The capital city, Ma'rib, was one of the most developed cities of the time. The Greek writer Pliny, who had visited the region and greatly praised it, also mentioned how green this region was.246
The height of the dam in Ma'rib was 16 metres (52.5 feet), its width was 60 metres (197 feet) and its length was 620 metres (2,034 feet). According to the calculations, the total area that could be irrigated by the dam was 9,600 hectares (37 square miles), of which 5,300 hectares (20.5 square miles)belonged to the southern plain. The remaining part belonged to the northern plain. These two plains were referred to as "Ma'rib and two plains" in the Sabaean inscriptions.247 The expression in the Qur'an, "two gardens to the right and to the left," points to the imposing gardens and vineyards in these two valleys. Thanks to this dam and its irrigation systems, the region became famous as the best irrigated and most fruitful area of Yemen. The Frenchman J. Holevy and the Austrian Glaser proved from written documents that the Ma'rib dam existed since ancient times. In documents written in the Himer dialect, it is related that this dam rendered the territory very productive and was the heartbeat of the economy.
The dam that collapsed in 542 led to the flood of Arim and caused enormous damage. The vineyards, orchards and fields cultivated for hundreds of years by the people of Saba were completely destroyed.
Following the collapse of the dam, the people of Saba appear to have entered a period of rapid contraction, at the end of which the Sabaean state came to an end.
When we examine the Qur'an in the light of the historical data above, we observe that there is very substantial agreement here. Archaeological findings and the historical data both verify what is recorded in the Qur'an. As mentioned in the verse, these people, who did not listen to the exhortations of their Prophet and who rejected faith, were in the end punished with a dreadful flood. This flood is described in the Qur'an in the following verses:
There was, for Saba, aforetime, a sign in their home-land-two gardens to the right and to the left. "Eat of the sustenance [provided] by your Lord, and be grateful to Him: a territory fair and happy, and a Lord Oft-Forgiving!" But they turned away [from Allah], and We sent against them the flood [released] from the dams, and We converted their two garden [rows] into "gardens" producing bitter fruit, and tamarisks, and some few [stunted] lote-trees. That was the Requital We gave them because they ungratefully rejected faith: And never do We give [such] requital except to such as are ungrateful rejecters. (Qur'an, 34:15-17)
In the Qur'an, the punishment sent to the Sabaean people is named as "sayl al-`arim" which means the "flood of Arim." This expression used in the Qur'an also tells us the manner in which this disaster occurred. The word "`arim" means dam or barrier. The expression "sayl al-`arim" describes a flood that came about with the collapse of this barrier. Islamic commentators have resolved the issue of time and place being guided by the terms used in the Qur'an about the flood of Arim. For example, Mawdudi writes in his commentary:
As also used in the expression, sayl al-`arim, the word "`arim" is derived from the word "`ariman" used in the Southern Arabic dialect, which means "dam, barrier." In the ruins unearthed in the excavations made in Yemen, this word was seen to be frequently used in this meaning. For example, in the inscriptions which was ordered by Yemen's Habesh monarch, Ebrehe (Abraha), after the restoration of the big Ma'rib wall in 542 and 543 AD, this word was used to mean dam (barrier) time and again. So, the expression of sayl al-`arim means "a flood disaster which occurs after the destruction of a dam." "… We converted their two garden [rows] into gardens producing bitter fruit, and tamarisks, and some few [stunted] lote-trees" (Qur'an, 34:16). That is, after the collapse of the dam-wall, all the country was inundated by the flood. The canals that had been dug by the Sabaean people, and the wall that had been constructed by building barriers between the mountains, were destroyed and the irrigation system fell apart. As a result, the territory, which was like a garden before, turned into a jungle. There was no fruit left but the cherry-like fruit of little stumpy trees.248
The Christian archaeologist Werner Keller, writer of "Und Die Bible Hat Doch Recht" (The Holy Book Was Right), accepted that the flood of Arim occurred according to the description of the Qur'an and wrote that the existence of such a dam and the destruction of the whole country by its collapse proves that the example given in the Qur'an about the people of the garden was indeed realised.249
After the disaster of the Arim flood, the region started to turn into a desert and the Sabaean people lost their most important source of income. Their lands, which had been agricultural havens of prosperity and financial strength, disappeared. The people, who had not heeded the call of Allah to believe in Him and to be grateful to Him, were in the end punished with this disaster. (See Harun Yahya, Perished Nations, Ta-Ha Publishers, UK, 2001; Global Publishing, Istanbul, 2002)
THE PEOPLE OF AL-HIJR
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The people of Thamud are a tribe mentioned in the Qur'an about whom a substantial amount is known. Historical sources confirm that a people known as the Thamud existed many years ago. It is believed that the people of al-Hijr referred to in the Qur'an are actually the same people as Thamud, because another name for Thamud is "Ashaab al-Hijr." That being the case, the word "Thamud" may be the name of a people and al-Hijr one of the cities they founded. In fact, this is exactly what is suggested by the descriptions of the Greek geographer Pliny, who wrote that Thamud lived in places called Domotha and Hegra, the present-day city of Hijr.250
The oldest known historical source to refer to Thamud are the Babylonian state records. They relate the details of the victory of King Sargon II of Babylon over that people in the 8th century B.C. Sargon defeated them in a war in Northern Arabia. The Greeks also mention this people and Aristotle, Ptolemy and Pliny refer to them as the "Thamudaei" i.e. "Thamud."251 All trace of them vanished before the time of our Prophet (saas) in around 400-600. (See Harun Yahya, Perished Nations, Ta-Ha Publishers, UK, 2001; Global Publishing, Istanbul, 2002)
Today, one can see the finest examples of these peoples' stonework in the ancient city of Petra, in southwest Jordan. Indeed, the Qur'an refers to their expertise in stonework thus:
[Salih said to his people,] "Remember when He appointed you successors to 'Ad and settled you in the land. You built palaces on its plains and carved out houses from the mountains. Remember Allah's blessings and do not go about the earth, corrupting it." (Qur'an, 7:74)
214. Walter Wreszinski, Aegyptische
Inschriften aus dem K.K. Hof Museum in Wien (Egyptian Inscriptions
from
the K.K. Hof Museum in Vienna), (Leipzig: J C Hinrichs'sche
Buchhandlung: 1906).
215. Hermann Ranke, Die Ägyptischen Personennamen, Verzeichnis der
Namen (The
Egyptian Family Names, Listing of the Names), Verlag Von J J Augustin in
Glückstadt,
Band I,1935, Band II, 1952.
216. British Museum, Egyptian Papyri no.6.
217. Galina Stolyarova, "City Scientists Say Red-Sea Miracle Can Be
Explained," The
St. Petersburg Times, January 20, 2004; www.sptimes.ru/archive/times/936/top/t_11445.htm;
Galina
Stolyarova, "Mathematicians Dissect a Miracle," The Moscow
Times, January 21, 2004;
www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/01/21/003.html
218. Ibid.
219. "The Plagues of Egypt," Admonitions of Ipuwer 2:5-6;
www.mystae.com/restricted/streams/thera/plagues.html
220. Admonitions of Ipuwer 2:10;
www.mystae.com/restricted/streams/thera/plagues.html
221. Admonitions of Ipuwer 5:12;
www.geocities.com/regkeith/linkipuwer.htm
222. Admonitions of Ipuwer 10:3-6;
www.geocities.com/regkeith/linkipuwer.htm
223. Admonitions of Ipuwer 6:3;
www.students.itu.edu.tr/~kusak/ipuwer.htm
224. Admonitions of Ipuwer;
www.mystae.com/restricted/streams/thera/plagues.html
225. Admonitions of Ipuwer 2:10;
www.geocities.com/regkeith/linkipuwer.htm
226. Admonitions of Ipuwer 3:10-13;
www.geocities.com/regkeith/linkipuwer.htm
227. Admonitions of Ipuwer 2:11;
www.geocities.com/regkeith/linkipuwer.htm
228. Admonitions of Ipuwer 7:4;
www.geocities.com/regkeith/linkipuwer.htm
229. Rabbi Mordechai Becher, "The Ten Plagues – Live From Egypt," Ohr
Somayach Institutions; www.ohr.org.il/special/pesach/ipuwer.htm
230. Elias Karîm, "Qur'anic Accuracy vs. Biblical Error: The Kings
& Pharaohs
of Egypt;"
www.islamic-awareness.org/Quran/Contrad/External/josephdetail.html;
Dr.Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips, "An Aspect of the Qur'aan's Miraculous
Nature;" www.islaam.com/Article.asp?id=40
231. Werner Keller, Und die Bibel hat doch
recht (The
Bible as History; a Confirmation of the Book of Books), (New York:
William
Morrow: 1964), 25-29.
232. Max Mallowan, Noah's Flood Reconsidered (Iraq: XXVI-2:
1964), 70.
233. Keller, Und die Bibel hat doch recht, 23-32.
234. "Kish," Britannica Micropaedia 6, 893.
235. "Shuruppak," Britannica Micropaedia 10, 772.
236. Max Mallowan, Early Dynastic Period in Mesopotamia, Cambridge
Ancient
History 1-2, (Cambridge: 1971), 238.
237. Joseph Campbell, Eastern Mythology, 129.
238. Bilim ve Utopya (Science and Utopia Journal), July 1996,
176. Footnote,
19.
239. Thomas H. Maugh II, "Ubar, Fabled Lost City, Found by LA Team," The
Los
Angeles Times, February 5, 1992.
240. Kamal Salibi, A History of Arabia (Caravan Books: 1980).
241. Bertram Thomas, Arabia Felix: Across the "Empty Quarter" of
Arabia, (New York: Schrieber's Sons: 1932), 161.
242. Charlene Crabb, "Frankincense", Discover,
January 1993.
243. Keller, Und die Bibel hat doch recht, 75-76.
244. "Le Monde de la Bible" (The World of the Bible), Archeologie
et Histoire, July-August 1993.
245. G. Ernest Wright, "Bringing Old Testament Times to Life," National
Geographic
112, December 1957, 883.
246. Hommel, Explorations in Bible Lands (Philadelphia: 1903),
739.
247. "Marib", Islam Ansiklopedisi: Islam Alemi, Tarihi, Cografya,
Etnografya ve Bibliyografya Lugati (Encyclopedia of Islam:
Dictionary of
Islamic World, History, Geography, Ethnography, and Bibliography,) 7,
323-339.
248. Mawdudi, Tafhimul Qur"an 4, Insan Yayinlari (Istanbul),
517.
249. Keller, Und die Bibel hat doch recht,
230.
250. "Hicr", Islam Ansiklopedisi: Islam Alemi, Tarihi, Cografya,
Etnografya ve Bibliyografya Lugati (Encyclopedia of Islam:
Dictionary of
Islamic World, History, Geography, Ethnography, and Bibliography) Vol.
5/1, 475.
251. Phillip Hitti, A History of the Arabs (London: Macmillan:
1970),
37.
BOOK TWO: PREDICTIONS ON THE QUR’AN
BOOK TWO: PREDICTIONS ON THE QUR’AN INTRODUCTION Another miraculous aspect of the Qur'an is its prediction of future events, some of which have so far been fulfilled. This is one of the proofs that the Qur'an is the word of Allah. In the following pages, we will dwell on some of these events.
BYZANTINE EMPIRE’S VICTORY An astonishing prediction is found in the first verses of Surat ar-Rum, which refers to the Byzantine Empire, the eastern part of the later Roman Empire: The Byzantine Empire, which had met with a great defeat, would soon gain victory.
These verses were revealed around 620, almost 7 years after the idolatrous Persians had severely defeated Christian Byzantium in 613-14. In fact, Byzantium had suffered such heavy losses that it seemed impossible for it even to survive, let alone be victorious again. Following their defeat of the Byzantines at Antioch in 613, the Persians seized control of Damascus, Cilicia, Tarsus, Armenia, and Jerusalem. The loss of Jerusalem in 614 was particularly traumatic for the Byzantines, for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was destroyed and the Persians seized the "True Cross," the symbol of Christianity.187
In addition, the Avars, Slavs, and Lombards also were posing serious threats to the Byzantine Empire. The Avars had reached as far as the walls of Constantinople. Emperor Heraclius ordered the gold and silver in churches to be melted and turned into money in order to meet the army's expenses. When this proved insufficient, bronze statues were melted down in order to mint more money. Many governors had revolted against Heraclius, and Byzantium was on the point of collapse.188 Mesopotamia, Cilicia, Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Armenia, which had earlier belonged to Byzantium, were invaded by the idolatrous Persians.189 In short, everyone was expecting Byzantium to be destroyed. But during this time, the first verses of Surat ar-Rum were revealed, announcing that Byzantium would triumph in 3 to 9 years. This predicted victory seemed so impossible that the Arab polytheists thought it would never come true. Like all the other predictions in the Qur'an, however, this one also came true. In 622, Heraclius gained a number of victories over the Persians and conquered Armenia.190 In December 627, the two empires fought a decisive battle at Nineveh, some 50 kilometres (31 miles)east of the Tigris river, near Baghdad. This time too, the Byzantine army defeated the Persians. A few months later, the Persians had to sue for peace with Byzantium, which obliged them to return the territories they had taken from it.191 The Byzantine victory was completed when Emperor Heraclius defeated the Persian ruler Khosrow II in 630, recaptured Jerusalem, and regained the "True Cross" for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.192
In the end, "the victory of the Romans" proclaimed by Allah in the Qur'an miraculously came true within the verses' stated "three to nine years" time frame. Another miracle revealed in these verses is the announcement of a geographical fact that could not have been known by anyone at that time: that the Romans had been defeated in the lowest region of Earth. This Arabic expression adnaa al-ard is interpreted as "a nearby place" in many translations. However, this is not the literal meaning, but rather a figurative interpretation. The word adnaa, derived from the word dani' (low), means "the lowest." The word ard means "the world." Therefore, adnaa al-ard means "the lowest place on Earth." Some interpreters of the Qur'an, considering the closeness of the region in question to the Arabs, prefer the "closest" meaning of the word. However, the actual meaning indicates a very important geological fact: The Dead Sea basin, one of the regions in which the Byzantines were defeated in 613-14, is the lowest region on Earth.193 As stated earlier, for Christian Byzantium, the loss of the True Cross was the heaviest blow in that defeat in Jerusalem, located near the shores of the Dead Sea. The Byzantines and the Persians actually fought at the Dead Sea basin, which is situated at the intersection point of the lands belonging to Syria, Palestine, and Jordan. At 417 meters below sea level, the Dead Sea is the "lowest" place on Earth's surface.194 However, as only modern measuring methods and equipment can prove this fact, it would have been impossible for anyone living at that time to realise this truth. Yet, the Qur'an states clearly that this region was the "lowest land" on Earth and thereby provides further evidence that it is the word of Allah. THE PRESERVATION OF PHARAOH’S BODY
However, this last-minute conversion was not accepted, for it was not sincere. According to the Qur'an, Allah exclaimed:
The information that Pharaoh's corpse would serve as a sign for later generations may be regarded as an indication that his body would not decay. On display in the Royal Mummies Chamber of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo is a mummified body believed to be that of this tyrant. In all likelihood, Pharaoh's body floated to shore after being drowned, was found and mummified by the Egyptians, and then carried to a previously prepared burial chamber.195 THE CONQUEST OF MAKKAH
In Surat al-Fath 27, Allah revealed to the Prophet (saas) that He would help and support him, that the dream was true, and that the believers would enter Makkah. A short while later, with the Treaty of Hudaybiyah and the conquest of Makkah, the believers entered the Sacred Mosque in complete safety, just as the dream had foretold. That was how Allah showed that it had been His will that the Prophet's (saas) dream be fulfilled. On closer consideration, this verse can be seen to announce yet another victory that will take place before Makkah's capture: the capture of the Khyber Fortress, which was under the control of the Jews, before they entered Makkah.196 Other verses that give the glad tidings of Makkah's conquest are given below:
Surat al-Isra' 76 states that the unbelievers cannot stay in Makkah:
The Prophet (saas) entered Makkah and conquered it in 8 AH (630). Two years later, all of the unbelievers left Makkah, just as Allah had said that they would. Another point that should be noted here is that when the Prophet (saas) gave that good news to the believers, it looked totally out of the question. In fact, the situation pointed in quite the opposite direction, and the polytheists appeared quite determined never to let the believers enter Makkah. As a result, those who had doubts in their hearts began to doubt the Prophet's (saas) words. Yet, the Prophet (saas) trusted in Allah, paid no attention to the doubters' words, and told people what Allah had revealed to him. The Qur'an confirmed his words, and the prediction was fulfilled shortly afterwards. THE TRIBE OF ISRAEL WILL BECOME VERY HAUGHTY
When that verse was revealed to the Prophet (saas), the Jews were living under very difficult conditions in various countries and had no state of their own. Yet, Allah told the Children of Israel that one day they would recover their strength. At that time, however, there seemed to be almost no chance that this would really happen. Many centuries later, however, the Jews returned to Palestine and established the State of Israel in 1948. Subsequently, the attitudes of some racist Zionists living in Israel led to disorder in the Middle East. Such attitudes are still laying the foundations of acts of terror. This current state is a sign of the Children of Israel's second "corruption." However, it is important to note that this wicked behaviour certainly does not apply to all Jews, for many Jews are individuals of good conscience and common sense who do not agree with such behaviour. Certain racist and radical Zionists need to "take to forgiveness" (Qur'an, 7:199), as recommended by our Lord. If they follow this path, then it is clear that, by Allah's will, an environment of peace and brotherhood can again be established, for the Qur'an states:
In these verses in the Surat al-Isra', we notice that almost no one could believe that such things would ever come about. But Allah willed their fulfilment, and thereby provided believers with more proof that the Qur'an is a miraculous book revealed by Him for their benefit. THE EXPLORATION OF SPACE
In fact, the Qur'an revealed that such developments and achievements would one day be realised. For instance, Allah draws our attention to this in the following verse:
The Arabic word sultan, translated here as "a clear authority," has other meanings as well: force, power, sovereignty, dominion, law, path, permission, give leave, justify, and proof. Careful examination reveals that the above verse emphasizes that humanity will be able to move into the depths of Earth and sky, but only with a superior power. In all likelihood, this superior power is the superior technology employed in the twentieth century, for it enabled scientists to achieve this great feat. THE VOYAGE TO THE MOON
Indeed, the astronauts' spacecraft pass through each layer of the atmosphere one by one, and then begin to pass through the Moon's gravitational field. Thus, the Moon is reached by moving through individual layers. In addition, the swearing by the Moon in Surat al-Inshiqaq 18 further strengthens this emphasis, meaning that the verse may well be a sign that humanity will travel to the Moon. (Allah knows best.) MODERN MEANS OF TRANSPORT
The above verse indicates that in addition to the animals mentioned here, people will have various unknown (to them) means of transport. The following verse points to the fact that there will be such mass modes of transport as ships:
PLANE TECHNOLOGY
The expression "a month's journey in the morning and a month in the afternoon" may be drawing attention to the fact that Prophet Sulayman (as) moved rapidly between different regions perhaps by using a technology similar to an airplane, or developed wind-powered vehicles that could cover long distances quickly. (Allah knows best.) There is thus a strong possibility that these verses point to modern airplane technology. IMAGE TRANSMISSION
"He who possessed knowledge of the Book" told Prophet Sulayman (as) that he could bring the Queen of Saba's throne to him very quickly. This is a possible reference to the transmission of images with present-day advanced technology. Another verse on the subject reads:
In our day, text, pictures, and films can be sent anywhere in the world in a matter of seconds, thanks to the Internet and advances in computer technology. For instance, carrying the Queen's throne to Prophet Sulayman's (as) court very quickly may well refer to the fact that it will be possible to send a three-dimensional picture or image in the blink of an eye over the Internet. According to scientists, the teleportation of atoms and molecules, as well as larger bodies, may become possible in the near future. By this method, the item's material characteristics are removed from one location and transferred in every detail and atomic sequence to another location, where they are reconstructed. If this technology becomes operational one day, time and space will no longer represent an obstacle to travel and objects will be able to be transported anywhere in a single moment without traversing any physical distance.197 In 1998, physicists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) working with two European groups transported a photon. The scientists formed a copy of the photon by reading its atomic structure and then transmitted that information a distance of 1 metre (3.28 feet). In another recent teleportation experiment, Ping Koy Lam of the Australian National University (ANU) and other researchers transmitted a laser ray a short distance.198 Indeed, according to a CNN report on 17 July 2002, a group of physicists from the National Australian University in Canberra split a laser ray and "transmitted" it several metres. Ping Koy Lam, the team's head, stated that they had not yet succeeded in transmitting matter in its atomic state, but that such a thing was not impossible and may become a reality in the future. According to a study published in the science journal Nature, Eugene Polzik of Denmark's University of Aarhus, and his colleagues performed successful experiments on a large number of atoms, using laser rays and quantum physics.199 In his analyses of teleportation's potential, published in the journal Scientific American, Australian physicist Anton Zeilinger states that far more complex systems could be teleported without violating the laws of physics.200 As the Qur'an reveals in "We will show them Our signs on the horizon and within themselves until it is clear to them that it is the truth" (Qur'an, 41:53), these scientific advances may represent a part of the technologies indicated in the Qur'an, all of which reveal its miraculous aspects. SMELL TRANSFERENCE He [Yusuf] said: "No blame at all will fall on you. Today you have forgiveness from Allah. He is the Most Merciful of the merciful. Go with this shirt of mine and cast it on my father's face, and he will see again. Then come to me with all your families." And when the caravan went on its way, their father said: "I can smell Yusuf's scent! You probably think I have become senile." (Qur'an, 12:92-94) Today, scientists state that teleporting atoms and scent molecules may be possible in the near future. In Surah Yusuf 94, Prophet Yusuf's (as) father says that he can smell his son's scent. Scientists also say that it will soon be possible to send scents in the same way as pictures and three-dimensional images are sent. Therefore, this verse might be a sign of an advanced technology developing from the current research into transmitting scent. Like our other sense perceptions, smell forms in the brain. For example, a lemon peel's molecules stimulate the nose's scent receptors, which then transmit them in the form of electrical signals to the brain for analysis. Therefore, when the scent's signal is artificially formed in another form, the scent can be perceived in the same form. Indeed, the "electronic nose" is one of the research areas showing that this may well be possible in the near future. A human being's scent perception system makes it possible for a trained nose to name and distinguish some 10,000 odours. Professionals in the perfumery business who have received special chemical training are able to sniff a scent that contains 100 different odorants and then list the ingredients.201 This superior creation in the human nose has encouraged many scientists to design similar equipment. Efforts are underway in various research and development centres to replicate this human scent perception system. The models developed on this basis are termed "the electronic nose." The human nose's receptors are composed of proteins; those in its electronic counterpart are composed of a series of chemical receptors. Each receptor is designed to detect different odours; the more their distinguishing capacities are enhanced, the more difficult production becomes and the greater the cost. The signals collected by the sensors are turned into binary codes, by means of electronic systems, and then sent to a computer. The electronic systems can be thought of as imitating the nerve cells responsible for scent detection, and the computer as the brain. The computer is programmed to analyse the data and thus interprets the binary code signals. Electronic noses are currently being used in the food, perfumery, and chemical industries, as well as in medicine. Universities and international organizations are also providing major support for such projects. Nevertheless, as stated by Julian W. Gardner of the University of Warwick, researchers are still in the early stages of this technology.202 NASA researchers are developing an exquisitely sensitive artificial nose for space exploration. This device, which can be programmed to distinguish between almost any compound, is far more sensitive than a human nose. It will serve as part of an intelligent safety system, and will be able to detect hazardous substances in the space station.203 THE USE OF ELECTRICITY
One of Allah's great blessings to Prophet Sulayman (as) was "a fount of molten copper." This can be understood in several senses. By the use of melted copper, it may be referring to the existence, at his time, of an advanced technology that employed electricity. We know that copper is one of the best metals for conducting electricity and heat, and thus constitutes the basis of the electrical industry, which uses much of the copper produced in the world. The expression "flow out" may indicate that electricity can be used in many fields. (Allah knows best.)
ARTESIAN WELLS
The above verse describes how Prophet Musa's (as) people asked him for water and how he provided places where each tribe could drink. Clearly, his people were suffering from a shortage of water. Such shortages still exist, for more than 1 billion people today lack access to clean water, and 2.4 billion still live without improved sanitation. According to projected estimates, by 2025 about 5 billion people will not have access to sufficient amounts of water.204 Every year, some 12 million people die from water scarcity; 3 million of whom are children who die from waterborne diseases.205 Today, 31 countries, comprising 8 percent of the world's population, face chronic freshwater shortages. By 2025, this number is expected to rise to 48 countries.206 According to UN predictions, renewable freshwater will become an even more limited resource by 2025, and the number of 131 million people experiencing water problems will rise to either 817 million (according to low population growth projections) or 1.079 billion (according to high population growth projections).207 Groundwater, the largest source of fresh water on Earth, represents more than 90 percent of the readily available freshwater reserves208 and is therefore of vital importance to meeting the water needs of up to 2 billion people.209 It constitutes the primary source of water for up to 50 percent of the American population, a figure that rises to 95 percent in rural areas.210 Groundwater is also the safest and most reliable source of fresh water. At the same time, this water can be used to produce geothermal energy and save energy by using heat pumps. When the water sucked up from the soil meets an impermeable underground layer, it collects there and forms a water source. This water is then brought to the surface by the artesian method. Artesian springs are formed by sedimentary rocks that can store underground water. The fact that artesian wells are drilled in rocky areas runs parallel to the description in the Qur'an. Given that Allah commanded Prophet Musa (as) to strike the rock, Surat al-A`raf 160 may be indicating this method. (Allah knows best.) The verb idrib, translated as "strike," can also mean "to raise, to open." Thus, this verse may be describing a water source being opened by the raising of the rock. As a result, pressurized water may have emerged, as described in the verb inbajasa (to pour out, flow freely, bubble up, flow), just as happens with artesian wells. If sufficient pressure forms, water can continue to flow to the surface without the need for a pump. It is particularly striking that current solutions for dealing with water scarcity use underground water resources. In fact, one of the most effective methods of doing so is the artesian well. In other words, we might be copying Prophet Musa's (as) example of striking or lifting the rock without even knowing it. Surat al-A`raf 160 may therefore be a reference to artesian wells, the first of which was opened in 1126 in the French region of Artois. (Allah knows best.) THE ARMY-ANT IN TECHNOLOGY
The "Valley of the Ants" refers to a special place and special ants. In addition, the fact that Prophet Sulayman (as) could hear the ants talking among themselves may contain striking references to future developments in computer technology. The present-day term "Silicon Valley" refers to the centre of the world of technology. It is most significant that a "valley of the ants" appears in the account of Prophet Sulayman's (as) life. Allah may be drawing our attention to the advanced technology of the future. Furthermore, ants and other insect species are widely used in advanced technology as models in robot projects and are intended to serve in a wide range of areas, from the defence industry to technology. The verse may also be referring to these developments. Latest Developments in Miniature Technology:Army-Ant Robots
The "army-ant" robot system was originally designed as a "material-carrying system." According to this scenario, several small robots would be charged with jointly lifting and carrying objects. It was later decided that they could be used for other tasks. One report describes other tasks to which they might be assigned in the future: Nuclear and hazardous waste cleanup with robotic "swarms," mining (including material removal and search-and-rescue), mine sweeping (both land and water), surveillance and sentry, planetary surface exploration and excavation.211 In a report by Israel A. Wagner, an expert on ant robot technology, the ant robot projects were described in these terms: Ant-robots are simple physical or virtual creatures designed to cooperate in order to achieve a common goal. They are assumed to have very limited resources of energy, sensing and computing, and to communicate via traces left in the workspace or on the ground, like many insects naturally do… The distribution of work among multiple a(ge)nts can be made by either a central controller who sends orders to the agents, or by an a-priori agreement on a certain partitioning that, if obeyed by the agents, eventually leads to a completion of the given mission. A third way, used throughout the current work, is to design the behavior of individuals such that cooperation will naturally emerge in the course of their work, without making a-priori decisions on the structure of the cooperation. The specific application that we address is covering, which is also known as exploring or searching. This variety of names hints to the many applications this problem might have: from cleaning the floor of a house to mapping an unknown planet or demining a mine field.212 As can be seen in these examples, an ant's social lifestyle forms the basis of many projects, and the various ant-based robot technologies are providing benefits for human beings. That is why it is so important that ants and their valley are referred to in the Qur'anic account of Prophet Sulayman's (as) life. The term "ants" in the verse may refer to an army consisting of robots, future developments in robot technology, and how robots will play an important role in human life. For example, they may perform many arduous tasks and thus make people's lives more comfortable. (Allah knows best.) ATOMIC ENERGY AND FISSION
The terms "seed" (al-habb) and "kernel" (al-nawaa) in the above verse may indicate the splitting of the atom. Indeed, the dictionary meanings of al-nawaa include "nucleus, centre, atomic nucleus." Furthermore, the description of bringing forth the living from the dead can be interpreted as Allah creating matter from dead energy. Producing the dead out of the living may refer to energy (dead) emerging from matter (living), since the atom is in motion. (Allah knows best.) That is because as well as "living," al-hayy can also mean "active, energetic." With its meaning of "non-living," al-mayyit, translated above as "dead," may very probably refer to energy.
Scientists define energy as the capacity for doing work. Matter, the material that comprises all things on Earth and in the universe, consists of atoms and molecules that can be seen to be in motion under an electron microscope. In the early twentieth century, Albert Einstein (d. 1955) theorised that matter could be converted into energy, suggesting that the two were inter-related at the atomic level.213 This may be the bringing forth of the dead from the living, as described above, or, in other words, obtaining energy from matter, which is in motion at the atomic level. In addition, yukhriju, translated as "bringing forth," also means "bringing out, emitting" (as in the case of electrical waves). Therefore, the terms in this verse may be indicating the form of energy obtained from the atom. (Allah knows best.) Scientists can now split the atom by dividing its nucleus. Taking Einstein's theories as their starting point, they obtained energy from matter in the 1940s by means of nuclear fission, the process of splitting the atomic nucleus. The word faaliqu in Surat al-An`am 95, translated as "to split," may be a reference to fission's dictionary meaning: the process of splitting (the atom's nucleus). When this process takes place, enormous amounts of energy are released. The words in Surat al-An`am 95 are very wise in terms of their meanings. The phenomena described in this verse bear a very close resemblance to the splitting of the atom's nucleus in order to obtain atomic energy. The verse may therefore be a reference to nuclear fission, which was only made possible by twentieth-century technology. (Allah knows best.) |
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One night
in Madinah, the Prophet (saas) dreamed that the believers would enter
the Sacred Mosque and walk around the Ka`bah. After he awoke, he gave
this good news to the believers, for those who had migrated from Makkah
to Madinah with him had not been able to return since. 
As these verses
reveal, the Children of Israel were to cause two corruptions over the
world. After the first one, during which they adopted a very high level
of haughtiness, Allah sent a powerful army against them. Indeed, when
the Jews killed Prophet Yahya (as) and set a trap to kill Prophet ‘Isa
(as) ("reaching to a degree of great haughtiness"), they were exiled
shortly afterwards from Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 and wandered all
over the world.
Humanity's
exploration of space was accelerated with the Soviet satellite Sputnik
on 4 October 1957, which launch is considered by NASA as the dawn of the
“Space Age.” The first man to ever leave the Earth's atmosphere was the
Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin who made his space flight in 1961 in
Vostok 1 spacecraft. On 20 July 1969, the American astronaut Neil
Armstrong became the first human being ever to set foot on the Moon.
The best
known project using ants as a model are the "Army-Ant Robot" projects
being carried out independently in several countries. One study being
carried out by the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Virginia State
University seeks to develop small, inexpensive, and simple physically
identical robots that can be used as a robot army. Project officials
explain these robots' functionality in the following terms: "The way
they behave as a group, in a coordinated manner, perform a series of
physical actions, and take joint decisions." These robot armies'
mechanical and electrical designs have been based on the behaviour of an
ant community. They are called the "army-ant" robots because of their
similarities to their insect counterparts.
187. "Heraclius," Wikipedia;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraclius
188. Warren Treadgold, A History of the Byzantine State and Society
(Palo
Alto, CA: Stanford University Press: 1997), 287-99.
189. Ibid.
190. "Heraclius 610-641;"
http://fstav.freeservers.com/emperors/heraclius.html
191. Treadgold, A History, 287-99.
192. "Mediterranean Sea From Yarmuk to Poitiers;"
http://web.genie.it/utenti/i/inanna/livello2-i/mediterraneo-1-i.htm;
Michael McNeil, "Crusades IV - The Byzantine Crusades;"
http://impearls.blogspot.com/2003_12_07_impearls_archive.html;
and "Heraclius;" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraclius
193. "The Lowest Part on the Face of the Earth,"
www.beconvinced.com/science/QURANLOWEST.htm.
194. Bernard Reich, Ph.D., "Dead Sea," World
Book Encyclopedia, 2003, George Washington University.
195. "Archaeology;" www.angelfire.com/az/miracles/Archaeology.html
196. Imam al-Tabari, Taberi Tefsiri (Commentary of At-Tabari),
(Istanbul:
Umit Yayincilik), 5:2276.
197. Anil Ananthaswamy, "Teleporting larger objects becomes real
possibility," New
Scientist, February 6, 2002.
198. Dr. David Whitehouse, BBC News Online,
June
17, 2002.
199. "Atom Experiment Brings Teleportation a Step Closer," Reuters,
September 26, 2001; www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/quantum_teleportation_010926.html
200. James Schultz, "Teleporting, the Quantum Way," Space News,
October 12, 2000.
201. Elise Hancock, "A Primer on Smell," Johns Hopkins Magazine,
September 1996.
202. Mia Schmiedeskamp, "Plenty To Sniff At," Scientific American,
March 2001, www.sciam.com/2001/0301issue/0301techbus1.html
203. "Electronic Nose," October 6, 2004,
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/06oct_enose.htm?list1037616
204. "Climate Change Adding Stress to Scarce Water Resources," DevNews
Media
Center, June 5, 2003; http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:20114416~menuPK:34457~pagePK:34370~piPK:34424~theSitePK:4607,00.html
205. "Water-The Essence of Life," DevNews
Media Center, May 17, 2002; http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:20044610~menuPK:34459~pagePK:64003015~piPK:64003012~theSitePK:4607,00.html
206. "Solutions for a Water-Short World,"
www.infoforhealth.org/pr/m14edsum.shtml
207. "Water-Scarce Countries," excerpted from Sustaining
Water: Population and the Future of Renewable Water Supplies;
www.cnie.org/pop/pai/water-14.html
208. "Creation of an International Groundwater Resources Assessment
Centre (INGRACE) – an information note," IAH (International
Association
of Hydrogeologists)
News and Information Online;
www.iah.org/articles/mar2000/art002.htm
209. "Groundwater,"
http://ap.world.water-forum3.com/themeWwf/en/themeShow.do?id=36
210. "The Importance of Groundwater;"
http://pasture.ecn.purdue.edu/~agenhtml/agen521/epadir/grndwtr/importance.html
211. John S. Bay, "Design of the 'Army Ant' Cooperative Lifting Robot;"
http://armyant.ee.vt.edu/paper/robo_mag.html
212. Israel A. Wagner, "My Travels With my A(u)nts: Distributed Ant
Robotics;" www.cs.technion.ac.il/~wagner/pub/thesis_abs_eng.html
213. "Energy and Matter," Fundamentals of Physical Geography;
www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/6a.html