As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary
Today’s selection is from Surah 6, Al-An‘âm or the Cattle, verses 71-90. These verses establish that believers are commanded to submit to God’s will, to establish Prayer and to fear God. Prophet Abraham learned faith through studying nature. The mushrikïn’s arguments against Prophet Abraham and the existence of Allah are laid out. Lastly, the descendants of Prophet Abraham, including Moses, Jesus and Muhammad were not mushrikïn, or those who associate others with God.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.Ask the mushrikïn: “Should we call on those, instead of Allah, who can neither benefit us nor harm us? Should we turn upon our heels after Allah has guided us to the Right Way? Like the one whom Shaitãn has misled and is wandering around in the land, while his friends are calling him to the right way, shouting: “Come this way!” Tell them: “Allah’s guidance is the only guidance. We are commanded to surrender (become Muslims) to the Lord of the worlds,[71] to establish Prayer and fear Him, before Whom you shall all be assembled on the Day of Judgment.[72] He is the One Who has created the heavens and the earth to manifest the Truth. On the Day when He will say: “Be,” it shall be (the Day of Resurrection). His Word is the truth. He shall be the sole Sovereign on the Day when the trumpet will be blown. He has the full knowledge of the invisible and the visible. He is the Wise, the Aware.[73] 6:[71-73]
Tell them about Abraham (Ibrãhïm), who said to Azer, his father: “Are you taking idols for gods? Surely, I see you and your people in manifest error.”[74] We showed Abraham the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, as We show you with examples from nature, so he became one of the firm believers.[75] When the night drew its shadow over him, he saw a star and said, ”this is my Lord.” But when it set, he said: “I do not love to worship such a god that fades away.”[76] Afterwards he saw the moon shining, he said; “This is my Lord.” But when it also set, he cried: “If my Lord does not guide me, I shall certainly become one of those who go astray.”[77] Then when he saw the sun with its brighter shine, and he said: “This must be my Lord; it is larger than the other two.” But when it also set, he exclaimed: “O my people! I am done with your shirk (associating partners with Allah).[78] As far as I am concerned, I will turn my face, being upright, to Him Who has created the heavens and the earth, and I am not one of the mushrikïn.”[79] 6:[74-79]
When his people started arguing with him, he told them: “Will you argue with me about Allah, whereas He Himself has guided me? I do not fear those whom you take for gods besides Him, none can harm me unless my Lord so wills, the knowledge of my Lord encompasses everything, why don’t you get admonition?[80] Why should I fear your idols, when you are not afraid of your actions of making them partners with Allah, for which He has not given you any sanction? Which one from the two parties of us deserves to feel secure? Tell me, if you know the truth.[81] As a matter of fact those who believe and do not taint their faith with wrongdoings will feel more secure and will be better guided.”[82] 6:[80-82]
This was the argument which We furnished Ibrãhïm (Abraham) against his people. We exalt in ranks whom We please; surely your Lord is Wise, Aware.[83] We gave him Ishãq (Isaac) and Ya’qoob (Jacob) and guided them all as We guided Nüh (Noah) before them, and among his descendants were Dawõõd (David), Sulaimãn (Solomon), Ayüb (Job), Yüsuf (Joseph), Musa (Moses) and Haroon (Aaron); thus do We reward those who do good to others.[84] Other descendants include Zakariya, Yahya (John), Isa (Jesus), and Ilyãs (Elias); all of them were righteous;[85] and Isma`il (Ishmael), Al-Yas‘a (Elisha), Yünus (Jonah) and Lüt (Lot). We exalted every one of them over the worlds[86] as We exalted some of their forefathers, their children and their brothers. We chose them for Our service and guided them to the Right Way.[87] This is the guidance from Allah; He bestows it upon whom He pleases of His devotees. If they had committed shirk (worshiped anyone else besides Allah) all their deeds would have become void.[88] Such were the people to whom We gave the Book, wisdom and Prophethood. Now if these people deny this guidance, it does not matter; We would bestow this guidance upon other people who would not disbelieve.[90] O Muhammad, those were the people who were rightly guided by Allah, therefore, follow their guidance and tell these people: “I am not asking you any compensation for this work of delivering the Message to you, this message is nothing but a reminder to all the worlds.”[91] 6:[83-90]
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.