As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary
Today’s selection is from Surah 13, Ar-Ra’d or the Thunder, verses 19-37. These verses discuss the fates of those who fulfill their pledges to God vs those who do not. It is the remembrance of God which provides tranquility to one’s heart for there is no God but Him and all things are subject to his command and Allah watches every soul minutely.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.How can the one who knows that which has been revealed to you from your Lord is the Truth, be like the one who is blind to this fact? Only those who use their common sense benefit from this reminder.[19] They are the ones who fulfill their covenant with Allah and do not break their pledge; [20] and they are the ones who join together what Allah has commanded to be joined, who fear their Lord and are afraid of the terrible reckoning;[21] also they are the ones who are patient, seek the pleasure of their Lord, establish Prayer, spend secretly and openly out of the sustenance which We have provided for them, and repel evil with good – they are the ones for whom there is the home of the hereafter[22] – the Paradise of perpetual bliss: they will enter into it along with their righteous forefathers, their spouses and their descendants. The angels will come to welcome them from every side,[23] saying: “Peace be upon you for all that you steadfastly endured in the world. Now! How excellent will be the home of the hereafter!”[24] As for those who break their covenant with Allah after confirming it and cut asunder what Allah has commanded to be joined and create mischief in the land, they are the ones on whom there shall be a curse and they are the ones who will have a terrible home.[25] Allah grants abundantly His provisions to whom He will and sparingly to whom He pleases. The unbelievers rejoice in the life of this world: but brief indeed is the comfort of this worldly life as compared to the life of the hereafter.[26] 13:[19-26]
The unbelievers say: “Why has no sign been sent down to him (Muhammad) from his Lord?” Say: “In fact Allah lets him go astray who wants, and guides to Himself those who turn to Him[27] – such are the ones who have believed and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah. Beware! It is the remembrance of Allah which provides tranquility to the hearts.[28] As for those who believe and do good deeds, for them there will be prosperity and a beautiful place of final return.”[29] 13:[27-29] O Muhammad! We have sent you among a nation before whom other nations have passed away, so that you may recite to them Our revelations which We have sent down to you; yet they are rejecting the Compassionate (Allah). Say: “He is my Lord! There is no god but Him. In Him I have put my trust and to Him shall I return.”[30] Even if there were a Qur’an that could move mountains, cleft the earth asunder or make the dead speak (do you think the result would have been different?) Surely all things are subject to Allah’s command. Have not yet the believers been satisfied that if Allah wanted, He would have certainly guided the whole of mankind? As for the unbelievers, the disaster will not cease to afflict them every now and then or to crouch at their very doorsteps because of their misdeeds, until the promise of Allah is fulfilled; surely Allah will not fail His promise.[31] 13:[30-31]
Messengers have been mocked before you (O Muhammad), but I always gave respite to the unbelievers and finally I seized them, so see how terrible was My requital![32] What! Are they so audacious that they ascribe partners to Allah, Who watches minutely over each and every soul and knows all that it does? O Prophet ask them: If Allah Himself has set them up as His partners, then tell me their names! Do you mean to inform Him of something new that He Himself does not know on this earth, or do you merely utter empty words?” Nay! Indeed their foul devices seem fair to the unbelievers, for they have been debarred from the Right Way; and there is none to guide those whom Allah has let go astray.[33] They shall be punished in the life of this world, still more grievous is the punishment of the hereafter, and there is none to protect them from Allah.[34] 13:[32-34]
As for the paradise which the righteous have been promised, it is like this: rivers flow beneath it; eternal are its fruits, and eternal are its shades; such is the reward of the righteous. But the reward of unbelievers is the fire.[35] O Prophet, some of those to whom We have given the Book rejoice at what is revealed to you, while there are some factions who deny a part of it. Tell them: “I am commanded to worship Allah and to associate none with Him. To Him I invite you and to Him I shall return.”[36] With these instructions, We have revealed this commandment in the Arabic language. Now, if you follow their vain desires after real knowledge has come to you, there will be none to save you or protect you against the wrath of Allah.[37] 13:[35-37]
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.