As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary
Today’s 17 Verses episode is from Surah 14, Ibrâhim, verses 18-34. These verses relay the message that God has created the heavens and the earth based on an understanding of immutable Truth. Satan has no power over human beings – he can only invite people to follow him away from the Path and those who are ungrateful towards their Lord will be cast into the fires of Hell.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.The parable of the deeds of those who deny their Lord is like ashes, on which the wind blows furiously on a stormy day; they will gain nothing from their deeds, and that will be straying far away from the goal of getting back to paradise.[18] Do you not see that Allah has based the creation of the heavens and the earth on Truth? That He can remove you if He wills and bring in your place a new creation?[19] That is not at all difficult for Allah.[20] When all people appear before Allah, those who were weak in the world will say to those who thought themselves mighty: “We were your followers. Now! Can you do anything to relieve us from the punishment of Allah?” They will reply: “Had Allah given us guidance, we would have guided you. Now it makes no difference whether we panic or bear it with patience, for there is no escape for us.”[21] 14:[18-21]
Once the matter has been decided, Shaitân will say: “In fact, the promises which Allah made to you were all true; I too made some promises to you but failed to keep any of them. However, I had no power over you. I just invited you, and you accepted my invitation. Now! Do not blame me, blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor you can help me. I reject your former act of associating me with Allah. Certainly, such wrongdoers will have a painful punishment.”[22] 14:[22]
Those who believe and do good deeds will be admitted to Paradise, beneath which rivers flow, to live therein forever with the permission of their Lord, and their greetings therein will be: “Peace!”[23] 14:[23]
Do you not see how Allah gave the example of comparing a good word with a good tree, whose roots are firm and its branches high in the sky?[24] It yields its fruits in every season by Allah’s leave. Allah cites these examples for people so that they may learn a lesson from them.[25] But the example of an evil word is that of an evil tree which is torn out from the earth and has no stability.[26] With firm words, Allah makes the believers steadfast in the life of this world and in the hereafter; but Allah lets the wrongdoers go astray. Allah does what He pleases.[27] 14:[24-27]
Have you not turned your vision to those who have changed the favor of Allah into blasphemy and caused their people to descend into the House of Perdition?[28] Which is hell! Wherein they shall burn, an evil place to live.[29] They set up equals with Allah to mislead people from His Way. Tell them: “Well, you may enjoy yourself for a while, but your final destination is going to be hell-fire.”[30] O Prophet, tell My devotees who have believed, to establish prayers and spend in charity openly and secretly out of the sustenance which We have given them, before the coming of that Day in which there will neither be trading nor any friendship.[31] It is Allah , Who has created the heavens and the earth. He sends down water from the sky with which He brings forth fruits for your sustenance. He has made the ships subservient to you, that they may sail through the sea by His command; and likewise, the rivers are made for your benefit.[32] The sun and the moon are assigned for your service, which steadfastly pursue their courses, and has made the night and the day for your benefit.[33] He has given you all that you could ask for; and if you want to count the favors of Allah, you will never be able to count them. In fact, man is unjust, thankless.[34] 14:[28-34]
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.