As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary
Today’s selection is from Surah 37, As-Sãffãt or Those Ranged in Ranks, verses 114-138. These verses talk of the favors bestowed upon Prophets Moses, Aaron, Elias and Lot.
Tafseer for this selection further explains the story of Prophet Elias.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.We bestowed Our favor on Moses (Musa) and Aaron (Haroon).[114] We delivered them with all their people from the mighty distress.[115] We helped them so they became victorious.[116] We gave them the Glorious Book (Torah),[117] and guided them both to the Right Way.[118] We left their good names among the later generations.[119] Salutations to Moses and Aaron.[120] Thus do We reward the righteous.[121] Surely they were two of Our believing devotees.[122] 37:[114-122]
Elias (Ilyãs) was surely one of Our Messengers.[123] “Behold,” he said to his people: “Have you no fear of Allah?[124] Would you invoke Bã’l (their invented god) and forsake the best of the Creators[125] – Allah – Who is your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers?”[126] But they denied him, so they will certainly be called to account,[127] with the exception of sincere devotees of Allah.[128] We left his good name among the later generations.[129] Salutations to Elias.[130] Thus do We reward the righteous.[131] He was surely one of Our believing devotees.[132] 37:[123-132]
Lot (Lüt) was one of Our Messengers.[133] Behold, We delivered him and his whole family[134] except an old woman who was among those who remained behind,[135] and We destroyed the others.[136] Surely you pass by their ruins by day[137] and by night. Will you not use your common sense?[138] 37:[133-138]
Ameen.
Tafseer
Concerning the mission of Prophet Elias:
Elias is the same as Elijah, whose story is found in the Old Testament in 1 Kings xvii-xix and 2 Kings i-ii. Elijah lived in the time of Ahab (BC 896-874) and Ahaziah (BC 874-872), kings of the (northern) kingdom of Israel or Samaria. He was a prophet of the desert, like John the Baptist; unlike our Holy Prophet, who took part in, controlled and guided all the affairs of his people. Both Ahab and Ahaziah were prone to lapse into worship of Ba’l, the sun-god worshipped in Syria. That worship also included the worship of nature-powers and procreative powers, as in the Hindu worship of the Lingam, and led to many abuses. King Ahab had married a princess of Sidon, named Jezebel, a wicked woman who led her husband to forsake God and adopt Ba’l-worship. Elijah denounced all Ahab’s sins as well as the sins of Ahaziah and had to flee for his life. Eventually, according to the Old Testament (2 Kings, ii, 11), he was taken up in a whirlwind to heaven in a chariot of fire after he had left his mantle with Elisha the Prophet.
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.