As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary
Today’s selection is from Surah 25, Al-Furqân or The Criterion, verses 21-44. Topics in this selection include: The unbelievers who ask for angels today but will tomorrow ask for a stone barrier between them and the angels of punishment. Next, an explanation of the wisdom behind revealing the Qur’an piecemeal rather than all at once. Futhermore, all nations which rejected Allah’s revelations and his Messengers were destroyed. Finally, those who take their desires as their Gods are nothing but animals.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.Those who do not expect to meet Us on the Day of Judgement say: “Why are the angels not sent down to us or why do we not see our Lord?” Certainly they have become arrogant within themselves and are scornful with that great arrogance.[21] On the Day when they see the angels, it will not be a Day of rejoicing for the criminal; rather they will cry: “May there be a stone barrier between us and the angels of punishment.”[22] Then We shall turn to the deeds which they did, based on their wrong opinions, and render them vain like blown dust.[23] In contrast, the heirs of paradise shall have the best residence and finest lodging on that Day.[24] 25:[21-24]
On that Day, when the heavens shall burst asunder with clouds and the angels will be sent down rank after rank,[25] the real Kingdom will belong only to Allah, a hard Day shall it be for the unbelievers.[26] On that Day, the wrongdoer will bite his hands saying: “Oh would that I had only taken the pathway alongside the Messenger![27] Oh would that I had never chosen so-and-so for my companion.[28] He was the one who led me astray from the admonition even after it had reached me.” Shaitãn is ever treacherous to man.[29] The Messenger will say: “O my Lord! Surely my people took this Qur’an for foolish nonsense.”[30] That is how We made for every Messenger an enemy among the criminals, but your Lord is sufficient for you (O Muhammad) as a Guide and Helper.[31] 25:[25-31]
The unbelievers ask: “Why is not the Qur’an revealed to him all in a single revelation?” This method of slow, well arranged, piecemeal revelations is adopted to strengthen your heart.[32] The other reason for this method is that any time they come to you with an argument, We reveal to you the Truth and properly explain it.[33] Those who will be dragged headlong into hell shall have an evil place to dwell in, for they had lost the Way by taking an utterly wrong stand.[34] 25:[32-34]
We gave Musa (Moses) the Book and appointed his brother Haroon (Aaron) as a deputy with him,[35] and said to them: “Both of you should go to the people who have denied Our Revelations.” But those people rejected Our Messengers; as a result We destroyed them with utter destruction.[36] Likewise, We drowned the people of Nüh (Noah) when they rejected the Messengers and made them an example for mankind; and We have prepared a painful punishment for such wrongdoers.[37] The nations of ‘Ad and Thamüd were also destroyed, and so were the dwellers of Ar-Rass, and many generations between them.[38] We admonished each of them by citing examples of those who were destroyed before them; even then they rejected Our revelations, so We exterminated each one of them.[39] These unbelievers must have passed by that town which was destroyed by a fatal rain; had they not seen its ruins? But the fact of the matter is they do not believe in the life of the hereafter.[40] Whenever they see you, they scoff at you, saying: “Is this the man whom Allah has sent as a Messenger?[41] Had we not stood firm, he (Muhammad) would have turned us away from our gods.” Very soon, when they face the punishment, they will realize who actually went off the Right Path.[42] Have you ever seen the one who has taken his own desires as his god? Would you take the responsibility of guiding him?[43] Or do you think that most of them listen or try to understand? They are nothing but animals – nay, they are even further off the track![44] 25:[35-44]
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.