As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary
Today’s selection is from Surah 37, As-Sãffãt or Those Ranged in Ranks, verses 75-98. These verses tell the story of how Prophet Noah prayed to God and saw his prayers answered. Next we begin a story about Prophet Abraham, the “Friend of Allah”.
Tafseer for this selection concerns the response of the unbelievers to Prophet Abraham’s argument in favor of God.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.Noah (Nüh) prayed to Us; see how excellent was Our response to his prayer![75] We delivered him and his people from the mighty distress,[76] and made his progeny to be the only survivors,[77] and We left his good name among the later generations.[78] Salutation to Noah among the people of the worlds.[79] Thus do We reward the righteous.[80] Surely he was one of Our believing devotees.[81] Then the rest We drowned in the great flood.[82] 37:[75-82]
Surely Abraham (Ibrãhïm) belonged to the first group (who followed Noah’s way),[83] when he came to his Lord with a pure heart.[84] Behold, he said to his father and to his people: “What are these that you worship?[85] Would you serve false gods instead of Allah?[86] What is your idea about the Lord of the worlds?”[87] Then he looked at the stars one time[88] and said “I am feeling sick.”[89] So his people left him behind and went away to their national fair.[90] He sneaked into the temple of their gods and addressed them: “Why don’t you eat from these offerings before you?[91] What is the matter with you that you don’t even speak?”[92] Then he fell upon them, smiting them with his right hand.[93] The people came running to the scene.[94] “Would you worship that which you have carved with your own hands,” he said,[95] “when Allah is the One Who created you and that which you have made?”[96] They said to one another: “Prepare for him a furnace and throw him into the blazing flames.”[97] (This failing), they then sought a stratagem against him, but we made them the ones most humiliated![98] 37:[83-98]
Ameen.
Tafseer
Concerning the response of the unbelievers to Prophet Abraham’s ministry:
The argument of Abraham was so sound that it could not be met with argument. In such cases, Evil resorts to violence, or secret plotting. Here there was both violence and secret plotting. The violence consisted in throwing him into a blazing furnace. But by the mercy of Allah, the fire did not hard him (21:69), and so they resorted to plotting. But the plotting was a boomerang that recoiled on their own heads.
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.