Sunday 30 September 2012

Following Fathers' Footsteps

Qur'aanic Verse 37:70:







Transliteration:

70. Fahum AAala atharihim yuhraAAoona


Translation:

70. So they hasten to follow in their (fathers’) footsteps.4


Study Note:

4. This is the bane of our modern society as well. Right or wrong, people tend to follow their fathers’ footsteps. Muslims in the Indian subcontinent insist on visiting and praying at dead saints’ tombs because their fathers’ did so. They won’t listen if anyone tells them that their acts smack of shirk in Qur’aanic light.


The above is an extract from yet-to-be-published Qur'aanic Studies Manzil VI.

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Tooth for a Tooth

Islamic jurisprudence, as delineated in the Qur'aan, allows or permits retaliation by the a victim of any injustice done. But no excess of any kind is allowed. And the retaliation has strictly to be of the like kind and extent, as famously exemplified by the saying: 'a tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye'.

Now take the case of an American Jew making a derogatory film against Prophet Muhammad (peace on him). Muslims are naturally offended. But the retaliation permitted to them has to be of the like kind and extent. So, the Muslims can at most make a film derogatory to Prophet Moses (peace on him). But can they do this? They can't! Their religion directs them to respect Prophet Moses as much as they respect their own Prophet Muhammad. Now, what can they do in these circumstances? They can of course denounce the Jew making the film and explain to the world at large why the film is based on falsehoods and canards. They can then patiently wait for Allah's decision in the matter. Although their religion allows retaliation, it prefers for them forgiveness and patience.

And what do the Muslims factually do? They indulge in mindless violence against parties not directly connected with the Jew in question and issue death threats to him! They thus go brazenly against the dictates of their own religion to incur divine wrath on themselves.

Friday 21 September 2012

Advocates of Stagnation

Qur'aanic Verse 37:5:






Transliteration:

5. Rabbu alssamawati waal-ardi wama baynahuma warabbu almashariqi


Translation:

5. (And the One Whom you should worship is the) Lord of the heavens and the earth and what is in between, and Lord of the Easts! 2

Study Note:

2. The Sun has many planets other than the earth. All these planets have rotational movements around their respective axes. So like the earth, these other planets have their respective easts. Besides, there are innumerable stars out there in the vast cosmos. And these stars, like our own Sun, may also have their respective planets revolving and rotating around them. All these planets should therefore be having their own respective easts. ‘Lord of the easts’ is Lord of all these innumerable planets. The planets are of course included in the Arabic expression wama baynahuma contained in the earlier part of this Verse, but by mentioning ‘easts’ Allah Ta’ala has brought to light the factual positions of the planets, orbiting the Sun and other stars, that were unknown to mankind at the time the Qur’aan was revealed. [The people then thought that the Sun moved round the earth.] This also shows the need for interpreting Qur’aanic Verses in the light of knowledge gained by mankind from time to time. Those who advocate sticking to the interpretation at the time of revelation are advocates of stagnation.



The above is an extract from yet-to-be-published Qur'aanic Studies Manzil VI.

Tuesday 11 September 2012

God Particle

Qur'aanic Verse 34:3:










Transliteration:

3. Waqala allatheena kafaroo la ta/teena alssaAAatu qul bala warabbee lata/tiyannakum AAalimi alghaybi la yaAAzubu AAanhu mithqalu tharratin fee alssamawati wala fee al-ardi wala asgharu minthalika wala akbaru illa fee kitabin mubeenin

Translation:

3. And those who suppress the Truth say, “The Hour (the time when the present world will end and the Hereafter begin) is not going to come to us ever.” Say, “Yes, by my Lord, the Knower of the unseen! It is certainly going to come to you.” No mass (weight) particle1 is hidden from Him, either in the heavens or in the earth. And nor is there anything less than that nor greater, but clearly recorded.

Study Note:

1. As late as June 2012, scientists were unable to find the particle that gives an atom its weight. British scientist Higgs and an Indian Scientist Bose had theorized about its existence during the preceding century, but the scientists could not factually find it. In exasperation, therefore, they had called it ‘God-damned particle’, which later came to be shortened to ‘God particle’. The particle also came to be known as ‘Higgs Boson’ after the two scientists who had conceptualized about it earlier. It is only now (beginning of July 2012) that we are getting the ‘breaking news flashes’ in the news channels that the scientists have ‘almost’ got it. In any case, the Qur’aan had mentioned this particle 1400 years before human scientists could even conceptualize it. The particle was hidden from humans, but not from Allah.



The above is an extract from Qur'aanic Studies Manzil V