Surah 9 (At-Tauba), Verses 90-99 (Y6)

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.

Summary

Today’s selection is from Surah 9, At-Tauba or Repentance, verses 90-99. These verses talk of genuine exemptions from staying away from battle and those hypocrites who make excuses to avoid serving in armed struggle.

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Surah 8 (Al-Anfâl), Verses 65-75 (Y6)

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.

Summary

Today’s selection concludes Surah 8, Al-Anfâl or the Spoils of War, verses 65-75. These verses deal with the treatment of prisoners of war, the duties and obligations of Muslim government and Muslims living in non-Muslim countries.

Tafseer for this selection further elaborates on the Qur’anic points regarding prisoners of war and general conduct in war or struggle.

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Surah 9 (At-Tauba), Verses 73-89 (Y6)

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.

Summary

Today’s selection is from Surah 9, At-Tauba or Repentance, verses 73-89. This selection discusses Allah’s order to make Jihãd against hypocrites and unbelievers and the behavior of hypocrites relating to the bounty of Allah. In historical context, these people did not join the Tabük expedition and subsequently God decreed a prohibition against offering funerary prayers for them.

[Reminder: this is the only Surah in which we do not say, “Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.”]

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Ramadan 2021: Surah 2 (Al-Baqarah), Verses 183-196

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.

Summary

Welcome to a bonus episode of the 17 Verses podcast. As today is the first day of Ramadan (at least in my neck of the woods), I wanted to wish everyone Ramadan Kareem and also re-release a selection from Surah 2, Al-Baqarah or the Cow, verses 183-196. These verses concern fasting and prayer, as well as issues of defending one’s faith from aggressors during the month of Ramadan.

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Surah 5 (Al-Mâ‘idah), Verses 35-50 (Y6)

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.

Summary

Today’s episode is from Surah 5, Al-Mâ‘idah or the Repast, verses 35-50. These verses discuss struggling in God’s name and the punishment for stealing. Next there is a discussion of how if God intends to test a person, even the Prophet could not intervene, the laws of the Torah, and finally, establishing justice based on Allah’s revelations.

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Verses

Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.

O believers! Fear Allah and seek the means to be closer to Him and make Jihad (holy struggle) in His Way so that you may be successful.[35] As for those who are unbelievers, if they have everything that the earth contains or twice as much to offer as a ransom to redeem themselves from the punishment of the Day of Resurrection, it will not be accepted from them and they shall have a painful punishment.[36] They will desire to get out of the fire but will not be able to do so and they shall have an everlasting punishment.[37] 5:[35-37]

Male or female, whoever is guilty of theft, cut off the hand (that was used in theft) of either of them as a punishment for their crime. This is, exemplary punishment, ordained by Allah. Allah is Mighty, Wise.[38] But whoever repents after committing the crime and reforms his conduct, Allah will surely turn to him with forgiveness. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.[39] Do you not know that Allah has sovereignty over the heavens and the earth? He may punish whom He pleases and forgive whom He pleases. Allah has power over everything.[40] 5:[38-40]

O Rasool (Messenger)! Do not grieve for those who plunge headlong into unbelief; those who say with their tongues: We believe, but have no faith in their hearts; and do not grieve for those Jews, who listen to lies and spy for other people who had never come to you. They tamper with the words of Allah and take them out of their context and say: “If you are given such and such commandment, accept it; but if it is other than this, reject it.” If Allah intends to put anyone to trial, you have no authority in the least to save him from Allah. Such people are those whose hearts Allah does not desire to purify; they will have humiliation in this world and a grievous punishment in the hereafter.[41] That is because they listen to falsehood and eat what is forbidden. Therefore, if they come to you with their cases, you may judge between them or refuse to do so. Even if you refuse, they will not be able to harm you the least, but if you do act as a judge, judge between them with fairness, for Allah loves those who judge with fairness.[42] But why do they come to you for Judgment when they have the Tawrât which contains Allah’s commandments? Yet, they turn back after that. In fact, they are not true believers.[43] 5:[41-43]

cropped-quran-header-20151.jpg

Indeed, We revealed the Tawrât  (Torah) to Moses, in which there is guidance and light: By its laws, all the Prophets, who were Muslims, judged those who call themselves Jews and so did the Rabbis and jurists of law. They were entrusted the protection of Allah’s Book and they themselves were witnesses. Have no fear of people; fear Me, and do not sell My revelations for a petty price: those who do not judge by the law which Allah has revealed, are indeed kafirs (unbelievers).[44] We ordained in Torah for them: “A life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth and for a wound an equal retaliation.” But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it will be an act of atonement for him; those who do not judge by the law which Allah has revealed, are indeed the wrongdoers.[45] 5:[44-45]

Then in the footsteps of those Prophets, We sent Isa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), confirming whatever remained intact from the Torah in his time, and gave him the Injeel (Gospel) wherein was guidance and light, corroborating what was revealed in the Torah; a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.[46] Therefore, let the people who follow the Gospel, judge by the Law which Allah has revealed therein; those who do not judge by the Law which Allah has revealed, are indeed the transgressors.[47] 5:[46-47]

To you, O Muhammad, We have revealed this Book with the truth. It confirms whatever has remained intact from the Book which came before it and also to safeguard it. Therefore, judge between them according to Allah’s revelations and do not yield to their vain desires, diverging from the truth which has come to you. We have ordained a law and a Way of life for each of you. If Allah wanted, He could have made all of you a single nation. But He willed otherwise in order to test you in what He has given you; therefore, try to excel one another in good deeds. Ultimately you all shall return to Allah; then He will tell you the truth of those matters in which you dispute.[48] 5:[48]

So, O Muhammad, pronounce Judgment among them according to the law which Allah has revealed and do not follow their vain desires, and beware of them lest they tempt you away from a part of that which Allah has revealed to you. If they reject your Judgment, then know that it is Allah’s wish to scourge them for some of their sins. In fact, most of the people are transgressors.[49] By rejecting the Divine Law, do they wish to be judged by the laws of ignorance? Who is a better Judge than Allah for those who believe in Him?[50] 5:[49-50]

Ameen.

This concludes today’s episode of the 17 Verses Podcast. I hope that this selection has helped increase your understanding of the holy Qur’an just a little bit.

Thank you and be well.

Surah 66 (At-Tahrïm) (Y6)

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.

Summary

Today’s selection is the entirety of Surah 66, At-Tahrïm or the Prohibition, verses 1-12. The topics covered in this Surah are: do not make something lawful which Allah has made unlawful. The wives of the Prophet (pbuh) are admonished regarding their behavior with him. Believers are commanded to turn to Allah in repentance. And lastly, the example of the wives of Noah and Lot who will go to Hell while the wives of the Pharaoh of Egypt and Maryam, mother of Prophet Jesus, will go to Paradise.

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Surah 9 (At-Tauba), Verses 17-29 (Y6)

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.

Summary

Today’s selection is from Surah 9, At-Tauba or Repentance, verses 17-29. These verses cover a number of subjects. The Mushrikeen (or those who associate others with Allah) cannot be caretakers of mosques. Service to pilgrims who come on the Haaj is not equal to true belief in God. Do not take your fathers and brothers as friends if they prefer Kufr (unbelief) over Imaan (belief). Lastly, God only helps the qualities of followers, not the quantity of them.

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