As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary
Today’s selection is from Surah 2, Al-Baqarah, Verses 21-39. These verses detail the rewards for believers, how Allah might use a gnat as a parable which only believers will understand, and the story of Adam and his fall from grace and subsequent repentance.
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Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful. O mankind!Worship your Lord Who created you and created those who came before you; by doing this you may become pious.[21] It is He Who has made the earth a resting place for you and the sky a canopy; and it is He Who sends down rain from the sky for the growth of fruits for your sustenance. Therefore, do not knowingly set up rivals to Allah.[22] 2:[21-22]
If you are in doubt concerning that which We have sent to Our servant (Muhammad), then produce one Sûrah like this; and call your witnesses (gods that you call upon) besides Allah to assist you, if you are right in your claim.[23] But if you are unable to do so, and you can never do so, then fear the Hell fire, whose fuel is men and stones which is prepared for the unbelievers.[24] 2:[23-24]
Give glad tidings to those who believe and do good deeds, for them there will be Gardens beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they will be given fruits to eat they will say: “This is similar to the one we used to eat before,” for they will be provided fruits which will resemble the fruits on the earth; and for them there will be companions, pure (and holy), and they shall live therein for ever.[25] 2:[25]
Allah does not hesitate to use the similitude of a gnat or an even more insignificant creature. Those who believe, know that it is the truth from their Lord; as for the unbelievers, they will say: “What does Allah mean by such a similitude?” By such a similitude, Allah confounds many and enlightens many. He confounds none except the transgressors:[26] those who break Allah’s Covenant after affirming it, and who cut aside what Allah has ordered to be united and cause mischief on earth. It is they, who are the losers.[27] 2:[26-27]
How can you deny Allah? You were lifeless and He gave you life. He will cause you to die, then again will bring you to life; and then you will ultimately return to Him?[28] It is He, Who has created for you all that there is in the earth; and directed Himself towards the sky and fashioned it into seven heavens. He has perfect knowledge of everything.[29] 2:[28-29]
Note that occasion, when your Lord said to the angels: I am going to place a vicegerent on earth. They said: “Will You place there one who will make mischief and shed blood while we glorify Your praises and sanctify Your name?” Allah said: “I know what you know not.”[30] 2:[30]
He taught Adam the names of all things; then He presented those things to the angels and said: “Tell Me the names of these, if what you say is true?” (This was to show Adam’s superior qualities).[31] “Glory to You,” they replied, “we have no knowledge except what You have taught us: in fact You are the One who is perfect in knowledge and wisdom.”[32] Allah said: “O Adam! Tell them their names.” When Adam told them their names, Allah said: “Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you conceal?”[33] 2:[31-33]
When We ordered the angels: “Prostrate before Adam in respect,” they all prostrated except Iblees (name of Shaitân) who refused in his arrogance and became a disbeliever.[34] To Adam We said: “Dwell with your wife in Paradise and eat anything you want from its bountiful food from wherever you wish, but do not approach this tree, or you shall both become transgressors.”[35] 2:[34-35]
But Shaitân tempted them with the tree to disobey Allah’s commandment and caused them to slip therefrom (paradise), and get them expelled from where they were. We said: “Get down from here, some of you being enemies to others, and there is for you in the earth an abode and provisions for a specified period.”[36] 2:[36]
Then Adam received appropriate words from his Lord and repented, and Allah accepted his repentance. Surely, He is the Acceptor of Repentance, the Merciful.[37] 2:[37]
“Get down from here all of you,” We said at the time of Adam’s departure from Paradise. “Henceforth there shall come to you guidance from Me, those who accept and follow that guidance shall have nothing to fear or to grieve.[38] But those who reject and defy Our revelations will be inmates of Hellfire, wherein they shall live forever.”[39] 2:[38-39]
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.