As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary:
Today’s selection is from Surah 43, Az-Zukhruf or the Golden Adornments, verses 16-35. These verses tell of how some of the Arab unbelievers regarded the Angels to be female divinities being the daughters of God. Next we are told the story of how Prophet Abraham recognized the Oneness of God and rejected polytheism.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.Would Allah choose daughters (pagan Arabs believed that angels were the daughters of Allah) for Himself out of what He Himself creates and gives you sons?[16] Yet when a new born-girl – the gender that they ascribe to the Compassionate – is announced to one of them, his face darkens and he is filled with grief.[17] Do they ascribe to Allah, the female gender who is brought up among trinkets and is unable to make herself clear in disputation?[18] They regard the angels, who are themselves servants of the Compassionate, as female divinities. Did they witness their creation? They should know that their testimony shall be noted down and they shall be called to account for it.[19] They say: “Had it been the will of the Compassionate, We should never have worshiped them.” They have no knowledge about that; they are merely guessing.[20] Or have We given them a Book before this to which they hold authority for their angel-worshiping?[21] The only argument they have is to say: “We found our forefathers practicing this faith and we are walking in their footsteps.”[22] Even so, whenever We sent a Warner before you to forewarn a nation, its affluent people said: “We found our forefathers practicing this faith and surely we are going to follow their footsteps.”[23] Each Warner asked: “What if I bring you better guidance than that which your forefathers practiced?” But they replied: “Well! We reject the faith with which you have been sent.”[24] Consequently, We inflicted Our retribution on them; then see what was the end of those who disbelieved?[25] 43:[16-25]
Behold! Ibrãhïm said to his father and his people: “I renounce the gods you worship,[26] except Him Who created me, for He will surely guide me.”[27] And he left this statement as an abiding precept among his descendants, so that they should turn to it.[28] But they started worshiping others, and rather than punishing I kept on providing them and their forefathers the comfort of this life, until there came to them the truth and a Messenger to expound it clearly.[29] But now when the truth has came to them, they say: “This is magic and we do not believe it.”[30] They also say: “Why is this Qur’an not revealed to a man of great importance in the two towns (Makkah and Ta’if)”?[31] Is it they who distribute the blessings of your Lord? It is We Who distribute the means of their livelihood in the life of this world, raising some in rank above others, so that one may take others into his service. But the blessing of your Lord is far greater in value than the wealth of this world which they amass.[32] And were it not that all mankind might become one nation of unbelievers, We would have given those who disbelieve in Allah, such houses whose roofs, stairways by which they go to upper chambers all made with silver,[33] and also the doors of their houses and couches on which they recline,[34] along with ornaments of gold – for all these are nothing but merely comforts of this worldly life. It is the life of the hereafter which your Lord has reserved for the righteous.[35] 43:[26-35]
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.