Surah 3 (Âli-‘Imrân), Verses 1-20 (Y6)

As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.

Summary

Today’s selection is from Surah 3, Âli-‘Imrân,or the Family of Imran, verses 1-20. It deals with the revelation of the Torah, the Gospels and the Qur’an. It talks about the decisive and allegorcial nature of the verses. It also discusses the excuses which people feel will save them from the hell-fire, the Battle of Badr as one of the main signs of Allah’s favor, and the comforts of this life vs the Al-Akhirah or the Hereafter. Lastly, the view of God that Islam is the true religion.

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Verses

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

Alif L’âm M’eem[1]

Allah! There is no god but He; the Living, the Eternal.[2] He has revealed to you this Book with the Truth, confirming the scripture which preceded it, as He revealed the Tawrât (Torah) and Injeel (Gospel),[3] before this, as a guidance for mankind and also revealed this Al-Furqân (criterion for judgment between right and wrong). Surely, those who reject Allah’s revelations will be sternly punished; Allah is Mighty, capable of retribution.[4] Surely, nothing in the earth or in the heaven is hidden from Allah.[5] It is He Who shapes you in the wombs of your mothers as He pleases. There is no god but He; the Mighty, the Wise.[6] 3:[1-6]

He is the One Who has revealed to you the Book. Some of its verses are decisive – they are the foundation of the Book – while others are unspecific. Those, in whose hearts is perversity, follow the unspecific part, seeking discord through giving it their own interpretation, but no one knows its true interpretation except Allah. Those who are well grounded in knowledge say: “We believe in it; it is all from our Lord.” None will take heed except the people of understanding.[7] They say: “Our Lord, do not let our hearts deviate from the truth after you have guided us, and grant us Your own mercy; You are the Grantor of bounties without measure.[8] Our Lord, You will surely gather all mankind before You on the Day about which there is no doubt; surely, Allah does not break His promise.”[9] 3:[7-9]

Surely, neither their wealth nor their children will save the unbelievers from the wrath of Allah: they are the ones who will become the fuel for hellfire.[10] Their end will be the same as that of the people of Fir‘aun (Pharaoh) and their predecessors who denied Our revelations, so Allah called them to account for their sins. Allah is strict in retribution.[11] O Muhammad, say to the unbelievers: “Soon you will be overpowered and driven together to Hell – which is a horrible refuge.[12] Indeed there was a sign (lesson) for you in the two armies which met on the battlefield (of Badr): one was fighting for the cause of Allah and the other had rejected Allah; the believers saw with their own eyes that the unbelievers were twice their number. But the result of the battle proved that Allah strengthens with His own aid whom He pleases. Surely, there is a lesson in this for those who have sight.[13] 3:[10-13]

The life of men is tempted by love and desire for women, children, the hoarding of treasures of gold and silver, branded horses, wealth of cattle and plantations. These are the comforts for the transitory life of this world; the excellent abode, however, is with Allah.[14] Say : “Shall I tell you of better things than these, with which the righteous will be rewarded by their Lord? There will be gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they will live forever with spouses of perfect chastity and the good pleasure of Allah. Allah is watching His servants very closely.”[15] The righteous people are those who pray: “Our Lord! We sincerely believe in You: please forgive our sins and save us from the agony of the hellfire;”[16] who are steadfast, sincere, obedient, and charitable, and who seek forgiveness from Allah in the last hours of the night.[17] 3:[14-17]

Allah Himself has testified to the fact that there is no god but He and so do the angels and those of knowledge – standing firm on justice. There is no god but He, the Mighty, the Wise.[18] Surely, the only Deen (true religion and the Right Way of life) in the sight of Allah is Islam. Those to whom the Book was given did not differ except out of envy among themselves, and after true knowledge had come to them. They should know that Allah is swift in calling to account those who deny His revelations.[19] So if they argue with you (O Muhammad), tell them: “I have submitted myself entirely to Allah and so have those who follow me.” Then ask those who are given the Book and those who are illiterate (Arab pagans): “Will you also submit yourselves to Allah?” If they become Muslims they shall be rightly guided but if they turn back, you need not worry, because your sole responsibility is to convey the Message. Allah is watching all His servants very closely. [20] 3:[18-20]

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.