Dear John Smith At your request please enjoy "STAGE TO STAGE" from the Holy Qur'an
�084.019 YUSUFALI: Ye shall surely travel from stage to stage. PICKTHAL: That ye shall journey on from plane to plane. SHAKIR: That you shall most certainly enter one state after another. 084.020 YUSUFALI: What then is the matter with them, that they believe not?- PICKTHAL: What aileth them, then, that they believe not SHAKIR: But what is the matter with them that they do not believe, 002.087 YUSUFALI: We gave Moses the Book and followed him up with a succession of messengers; We gave Jesus the son of Mary Clear Signs and strengthened him with the holy spirit. Is it that whenever there comes to you a messenger with what ye yourselves desire not, ye are puffed up with pride?- Some ye called impostors, and others ye slay! PICKTHAL: And verily We gave unto Moses the Scripture and We caused a train of messengers to follow after him, and We gave unto Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs of God�s sovereignty , and We supported him with the Holy spirit. Is it ever so, that, when there cometh unto you a messenger from God with that which ye yourselves desire not, ye grow arrogant, and some ye disbelieve and some ye slay? SHAKIR: And most certainly We gave Musa the Book and We sent messengers after him one after another; and We gave Isa, the son of Marium, clear arguments and strengthened him with the holy spirit, What! whenever then a messenger came to you with that which your souls did not desire, you were insolent so you called some liars and some you slew. 002.088 YUSUFALI: They say, "Our hearts are the wrappings which preserve God�s Word: we need no more ." Nay, God�s curse is on them for their blasphemy: Little is it they believe. PICKTHAL: And they say: Our hearts are hardened. Nay, but God hath cursed them for their unbelief. Little is that which they believe. SHAKIR: And they say: Our hearts are covered. Nay, God has cursed them on account of their unbelief; so little it is that they believe. 034.043 YUSUFALI: When Our Clear Signs are rehearsed to them, they say, "This is only a man who wishes to hinder you from the worship which your fathers practised." And they say, "This is only a falsehood invented!" and the Unbelievers say of the Truth when it comes to them, "This is nothing but evident magic!" PICKTHAL: And if Our revelations are recited unto them in plain terms, they say: This is naught else than a man who would turn you away from what your fathers used to worship; and they say: This is naught else than an invented lie. Those who disbelieve say of the truth when it reacheth them: This is naught else than mere magic. SHAKIR: And when Our clear communications are recited to them, they say: This is naught but a man who desires to turn you away from that which your fathers worshipped. And they say: This is naught but a lie that is forged. And those who disbelieve say of the truth when it comes to them: This is only clear enchantment. 034.044 YUSUFALI: But We had not given them Books which they could study, nor sent messengers to them before thee as Warners. PICKTHAL: And We have given them no scriptures which they study, nor sent We unto them, before thee, any Warner. SHAKIR: And We have not given them any books which they read, nor did We send to them before you a Warner. 034.045 YUSUFALI: And their predecessors rejected the Truth ; these have not received a tenth of what We had granted to those: yet when they rejected My messengers, how terrible was My rejection of them ! PICKTHAL: Those before them denied, and these have not attained a tithe of that which We bestowed on them of old ; yet they denied My messengers. How intense then was My abhorrence of them ! SHAKIR: And those before them rejected the truth , and these have not yet attained a tenth of what We gave them, but they gave the lie to My messengers, then how was the manifestation of My disapproval? 034.046 YUSUFALI: Say: "I do admonish you on one point: that ye do stand up before God,- It may be in pairs, or it may be singly,- and reflect within yourselves : your Companion is not possessed: he is no less than a Warner to you, in face of a terrible Penalty." PICKTHAL: Say unto them, O Muhammad : I exhort you unto one thing only: that ye awake, for God�s sake, by twos and singly, and then reflect: There is no madness in your comrade. He is naught else than a Warner unto you in face of a terrific doom. SHAKIR: Say: I exhort you only to one thing, that rise up for God�s sake in twos and singly, then ponder: there is no madness in your fellow-citizen; he is only a Warner to you before a severe chastisement. 034.047 YUSUFALI: Say: "No reward do I ask of you: it is all in your interest: my reward is only due from God: And He is witness to all things." PICKTHAL: Say: Whatever reward I might have asked of you is yours. My reward is the affair of God only. He is Witness over all things. SHAKIR: Say: Whatever reward I have asked of you, that is only for yourselves; my reward is only with God, and He is a witness of all things. 031.027 YUSUFALI: And if all the trees on earth were pens and the ocean were ink , with seven oceans behind it to add to its supply , yet would not the words of God be exhausted in the writing : for God is Exalted in Power, full of Wisdom. PICKTHAL: And if all the trees in the earth were pens, and the sea, with seven more seas to help it, were ink, the words of God could not be exhausted. Lo! God is Mighty, Wise. SHAKIR: And were every tree that is in the earth made into pens and the sea to supply it with ink , with seven more seas to increase it, the words of God would not come to an end; surely God is Mighty, Wise. 018.109 YUSUFALI: Say: "If the ocean were ink wherewith to write out the words of my Lord, sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it, for its aid." PICKTHAL: Say: Though the sea became ink for the Words of my Lord, verily the sea would be used up before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even though We brought the like thereof to help. SHAKIR: Say: If the sea were ink for the words of my Lord, the sea would surely be consumed before the words of my Lord are exhausted, though We were to bring the like of that sea to add 010.049 YUSUFALI: Say: "I have no power over any harm or profit to myself except as God willeth. To every people is a term appointed: when their term is reached, not an hour can they cause delay, nor an hour can they advance it in anticipation ." PICKTHAL: Say: I have no power to hurt or benefit myself, save that which God willeth. For every nation there is an appointed time. When their time cometh, then they cannot put it off an hour, nor hasten it . SHAKIR: Say: I do not control for myself any harm, or any benefit except what God pleases; every nation has a term; when their term comes, they shall not then remain behind for an hour, nor can they go before their time . 7:33 Unto every nation there is a prefixed term; therefore when their term is expired, they shall not have respite for an hour, neither shall they be anticipated. O CHILDREN OF ADAM, VERILY APOSTLES FROM AMONG YOU SHALL COME UNTO YOU, WHO SHALL EXPOUND MY SIGNS UNTO YOU: WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL FEAR GOD AND AMEND, THERE SHALL COME NO FEAR ON THEM, NEITHER SHALL THEY BE GRIEVED. But they who shall accuse our signs of falsehood, and shall proudly reject them, they shall be the companions of hell fire; they shall remain therein for ever. 013.038 YUSUFALI: We did send messengers before thee, and appointed for them wives and children: and it was never the part of a messenger to bring a sign except as God permitted or commanded . For each period is a Book revealed . PICKTHAL: And verily We sent messengers to mankind before thee, and We appointed for them wives and offspring, and it was not given to any messenger that he should bring a portent save by God�s leave. For everything there is a time prescribed. SHAKIR: And certainly We sent messengers before you and gave them wives and children, and it is not in the power of an messenger to bring a sign except by God�s permission; for every term there is an appointment. 023.044 YUSUFALI: Then sent We our messengers in succession: every time there came to a people their messenger, they accused him of falsehood: so We made them follow each other in punishment : We made them as a tale that is told : So away with a people that will not believe! PICKTHAL: Then We sent our messengers one after another. Whenever its messenger came unto a nation they denied him; so We caused them to follow one another to disaster and We made them bywords. A far removal for folk who believe not! SHAKIR: Then We sent Our messengers one after another; whenever there came to a people their messenger, they called him a liar, so We made some of them follow others and We made them stories; so away with a people who do not believe! No nation shall be punished before their determined time; neither shall they be respited after. Afterwards we sent our apostles, one after another. So often as their apostle came unto any nation, they charged him with imposture: and we caused them successively to follow one another to destruction; and we made them only subjects of traditional stories. http://www.imamreza.net/old/eng/lib/ency/chapter4/3.htm The Tragedy of Thursday On a Thursday, just three days before the demise of Prophet (PBUH&HF), the Messenger of God asked for pen and paper in order to state his last will and repeat the declaration/assignment of his successor for his Ummah. Major Sunni sources including Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim mentioned that an opposition group among the companions whose leader was Umar, accused prophet of talking non sense (May God protect us) in order to prevent this writing. They questioned the rationality of Prophet to discredit the his will. Below is some of the traditions concerning this tragic episode: It is narrated in Sahih Muslim that: Ibn Abbas said: "Thursday! And how tragic that Thursday was!" Then Ibn Abbas cried severely so that his tears flowed to his cheeks. Then he added Prophet said: "Bring me a flat bone or a sheet and an ink so that I could write (order to write) a statement that will prevent you people to go astray after me." They said: "Verily the messenger of God is talking no sense." Reference: Sahih Muslim, Chapter of "Kitabul-Wasiyyah" in section "Babut- Tarkil-Wasiyyah", 1980 Edition, Arabic version (Saudi Arabia), v3, P1259, Tradition (#1637/21). The other version is given by al-Bukhari and Muslim which indicates the role of Umar in that catastrophe: Sahih al-Bukhari Hadiths: 9.468 and 7.573 Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: When the time of the death of the Prophet approached while there were some men in the house, and among them was 'Umar Ibn al-Khatttab, the Prophet said: "Come near let me write for you a writing after which you will never go astray." 'Umar said: "The Prophet is seriously ill, and you have the Quran, so God's Book is sufficient for us." The people in the house differed and disputed. Some of them said, "Come near so that God's Apostle may write for you a writing after which you will not go astray," while the others said what 'Umar said. When they made much noise and quarrelled greatly in front of the Prophet, he said to them, "Go away and leave me." Ibn 'Abbas used to say, "It was a great disaster that their quarrel and noise prevented God's Apostle from writing a statement for them. The above tradition can also be found in Sahih Muslim, Chapter of "Kitabul- Wasiyyah" in section "Babut-Tarkil-Wasiyyah", 1980 Edition, Arabic version (Saudi Arabia), v3, p1259, Tradition (#1637/22). As you see in the above traditions, the Prophet (PBUH&HF) was accused of talking no sense by an opposition group among the companions whose leader was Umar. In the above tradition, Ibn Abbas mentioned Umar and his company PREVENTED Prophet from writing his will which could prevent people from going astray after him. So the conclusion from the above tradition is that the writing it did NOT take place. In the following tradition, however, Sa'id Ibn Jubair alleged that the Prophet said three things but he has forgotten the third one which was beneficial for Muslims: Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith: 4.393 Narrated Said bin Jubair: I heard Ibn 'Abbas saying, "Thursday! And you know not what Thursday is? After that Ibn 'Abbas wept till the stones on the ground were soaked with his tears. On that I asked Ibn 'Abbas, "What is (about) Thursday?" He said, "When the condition (i.e. health) of God's Apostle deteriorated, he said, 'Bring me a bone of scapula, so that I may write something for you after which you will never go astray.' The people differed in their opinions although it was improper to differ in front of a prophet, They said, 'What is wrong with him? Do you think he is talking no sense (delirious)? Ask him (to see if he is talking no sense). The Prophet replied, 'Leave me, for I am in a better state than what you are asking me.' Then the Prophet ordered them to do three things saying: 'Turn out all the pagans from the Arabian Peninsula, show respect to all foreign delegates by giving them gifts as I used to do.' The third order was something beneficial which either Ibn 'Abbas did not mention or he mentioned but I forgot! Sa'id Ibn Jubair claims that Prophet said three things but he has forgotten the third one which was beneficial for Muslims. It is interesting to see that the narrators who used to memorize thousands of traditions, simply forgot the last will of Prophet (PBUH&HF). Now if you look at the two things that the sub-narrator allegedly attributed to the Prophet, i.e., 1. Expelling pagans from Arabian Peninsula 2. respecting foreign delegates One can see that these are not the things that if Muslim do, they will NEVER go astray after Prophet. The matter should be much more important that would Guarantee the salvation of Muslims, and it could be no less important than the subject of leadership. Moreover such claim contradicts the saying of Ibn Abbas (in the early mentioned traditions) who claimed that the quarrel of the companions prevented the prophet from stating his will. Here is the last tradition I would like to mention in this regard. Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith: 5.716 Narrated Ibn Abbas: Thursday! And how tragic that Thursday was! The ailment of God's Apostle became worse (on Thursday) and he said "Bring me something so that I (order) to write for you something after which you will never go astray." The people (present there) quarreled in this matter, and it was not right to quarrel in front of prophet. They said, "What is wrong with him? (Do you think) he is talking no sense (delirious)?" Here is the original Arabic text of above Hadith (5.716) given by al- Bukhari: The above tradition is also in Sahih Muslim, Chapter of "Kitabul-Wasiyyah" in section "Babut-Tarkil-Wasiyyah", 1980 Edition, Arabic version, (Saudi Arabia), v3, pp 1257-58, Tradition (#1637/20). More addresses for similar traditions: Sahih al-Bukhari, in the chapter named "The Book of Knowledge" (Kitabul-Ilm), also in the chapter named "The Book of Medicine" (Kitabut-Tib), also in the chapter named "Kitabul Itisam bil Kitab was-Sunnah". Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v1,pp 232,239,324f,336,355. And much more... Also as indicated above (Sahih al-Bukhari Hadiths: 9.468 and 7.573), Umar said: "The Prophet is seriously ill, and you have the Quran, so God's Book is sufficient for us." Umar and those who supported him prevented prophet from writing (ordering to write) that statement, by accusing him of talking no sense. As I have mentioned in the discussion about "Quran and Ahlul-Bayt", prophet clearly indicated that we should follow both Quran AND Ahlul-Byte in order not to go astray. So Quran alone is not sufficient as opposed to what Umar said above. There is a bizarre commentary in the footnote of above traditions in Sahih Muslim (1980 Edition, Arabic version). It says: The above incident shows the high virtue of Umar, since he knew that people might not follow what prophet would write, and as a result, people would go to hell because of their disobedience of the order of prophet. So Umar prevented Prophet from writing, in order to save people from going to hell ! Also in the footnote of the same section of Sahih Muslim it is mentioned that Prophet possibly wanted to assign a Caliph on that Thursday, and the matter might have been the matter of successorship which caused such dispute. In fact, most of the people who where present there, understood the intention of prophet, the same as what Umar did. Because prophet had previously indicated the issue when he said several times that: "I shall leave for you two precious Symbols: The book of God, and my progeny, that is my family (Itrat & Ahlul-bayt). If you follow them, you will never go astray after me." (Sahih al-Tirmidhi; a close version is also given in Sahih Muslim), and also they were present in GHADIR KHUM where prophet said: "Whoever I am his master, Ali is his master." (see Sahih al-Tirmidhi; Sunan Ibn Maja; Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal; al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim; Khasa'is, by al-Nisa'i). So when prophet during his illness said that "Let me write something that you never go astray after me", those people who were present, including Umar, quickly understood that prophet wants to repeat what he had already mentioned, but this time in writing. A few Quranic verses should also be mentioned here. God said in Quran: "O you who believe! Do not raise your voices above the voice of prophet ... lest your deeds become null while you do not perceive." (Quran 49:2). God also said: "Nor does he (prophet) speak out of his desire. (What he says) is nothing but revelation that is revealed." (Quran 53:3-4). He, Exalted, also said: "Whatever apostle tells you accept it, and from whatever he forbids you, keep back." (Quran 59:7). He, Exalted He is, also said: But no by thy Lord! They can have no Faith until they make thee judge in ALL disputes between them and find in their souls no resistance against thy decisions but accept them with the fullest conviction. (Quran 4:65) So when such a prophet, three days before his death, wished to write a document of his will to save the Muslims from going astray, he was accused of talking no sense (paranoid)! The reason that prophet did not repeat his request (if it is true) was that he already was discredited by his companions and was accused of talking no sense. So even if he would say something, those people would not believe in him and would say such instruction has been given while he was talking no sense (paranoid). So Umar made it easy, and by saying that prophet is talking nonsense, ended it up. There are few Sunni traditions which allege that prophet was confused to assign which person as his successor and finally failed to assign any body as his successor and left it to people to decide. Some even claim that prophet was willing to assign Abu Bakr, but he left it to people. If Umar have ever heard of such sayings (that prophet was willing to assign Abu Bakr as his successor), he would never stop prophet from stating his will, and would never accuse him of talking no sense. Rather he would let prophet tell his will and assign Abu Bakr as his successor. We all know, the main support in "Saqifah Bani Sa'idah" for the secret nomination of Abu Bakr for Caliphate, was Umar. So if Umar have not heard of such traditions (the tendency of Prophet to assign Abu Bakr), there is a great possibility that those traditions were fabricated later. Also it contradicts several authentic Sunni traditions regarding the assignment of Ali-Ibn-Abi-Talib as prophet's successor. As you know there are a huge number of fabricated traditions which was created by several pay- rolled scholars in support of some rulers, and mainly to justify what happened. Finally, I would like to bring to your attention the importance and seriousness of the tragedy: 1- Notice that any person utters his most important wishes when he wants to write the statement of his will at the end of his life. 2- Notice the importance of the person who wants to write the will, who is the last Prophet of God, the best mankind ever. No human in the world was more enthusiastic than him about his community. The person who God has ordered us in Quran to follow him unconditionally. 3- Notice that prophet said this statement would be the key element in the destiny of Muslims according to the above traditions. They will never go astray if they abide it. In such critical moment, people who claimed to be his sincere companions, stopped/insulted him. Those companions are responsible for misleading the Muslims throughout history and the generations to come. Side Comments Reading the article, a Sunni brother commented that: How could Umar prevent the manifestation of a Divine Commandment? If writing the will was the order of God to his Prophet, then how could be possible that God fails to manifest His own wish? This brother has confused two different issues. Umar was able to prevent the manifestation of divine commandment since he was a human and was gifted some free will. Yet, Umar or any other human can NEVER prevent what God foreordained (Taqdir) and what God wills (Mashiyyah). Please take a note of this: There is a difference between the commandment of God (which people can disobey) and the will of God (which people have no ability to go against). It was the commandment of God to write that statement, yet the Will of God was what happened. Another brother mentioned that Prophet Muhammad never wrote a single commandment or teaching of his during his 23 years of ministry. Then how could he order people to bring pen and paper to write somthing for them? Yes, the messenger of God did not write in public, because he used to dictate writing. However, this does not mean that he did not know how to write. It is also true that the Prophet was "Ummi", but this does not necessarily mean he did not know how to read and write. It rather means that Prophet did not have any human teacher to teach him how to read and write since the time he was born to his mother ("Ummi" derived from "Umm" meaning mother). His only teacher was God. And this is why Quran is a true miracle from a person who did not have a teacher and he who did not go to school. I would say, clearing doubt about the Quran as God's revelation was the only reason that the Messenger of God was not ordered attempt to write in public or claim as such. Reading and writing not only in Arabic but also in all other languages, as well as the knowledge of language of all other creatures are not a lot to claim for the master of all messengers when we see in Quran that Prophet Sulayman and David knew the language of the animals. Again, all such knowledge could be released to the Prophet when he really needed, by the permission of God. But to the time it is not necessary, he would act as if he does not have such knowledge. It is like having access to the database rather than having all the knowledge within oneself. About the Tragedy of Thursday, however, what the Prophet (PBUH&HF) meant by "writing" was the common sense of "ordering to write", and people were aware of it and was not the first time they have heard of it. Based on the traditions no body even said at that time that how he wants to write. Moreover, even we suppose that Prophet wanted to write by himself and people did not know about his ability to write, they could have given him the benefit of doubt (!!) to see if he can do such miracle (!?) beside all the miracles he has had already shown. Were they suspicious to his miracles? This is the same Prophet that God said about him "laa yantqu anil Hawaa" (he does not talk of his own desires)? Never mind verses 33:36, 59:7, 4:80, 4:59, etc., and yet to justify a disobedience by some companions can we accuse him of rave? Did God know that there would be a time that His prophet could not stand to the above standard, and still going ahead and revealing such verses in his honor? Another brother mentioned that if the Prophet inteneded to appoint Ali as the Imam, why did he not do so in the presence of the whole people and not in his house few days before his demise? The Prophet had already declared the appointment Imam Ali as Imam in many occasions from his first open preach in Mecca (see al-Tabari English, v6, pp 88-92; Ibn al-Athir, v2, p62; Ibn Asakir, v1, p85; al-Durr al-Manthoor, by al-Suyuti, v5, p97) to his last open sermon in Ghadir Khum (see Sahih Tirmidhi, v2, p298; Sunan Ibn Maja, v1, pp 12,43; Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal; al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim; Khasa'is, by al-Nisa'i). Note that it was not Prophet who appointed him on his own, but it was rather God who appointed him. What the messenger of God wanted to do in his last will was to write (or order to write) what he has already said. But, as quoted earlier, some people around him shamelessly reduced him to the level of insanity. What happened on that thursday is a proof by itself that the Prophet ALREADY assigned a successor, otherwise, there was no point of disobedience! ========= Another person mentioned the verse "Today I have perfected your religion and completed my bounty upon you, and I was satisfied that Islam be your religion (Quran 5:3)" which was revealed 2 months before the death of the Prophet shows that there was no new religious command is going to come thereafter. Otherwise, if that important statement the prophet was going to dictate to his followers would have been somthing which was forgotten, would make the verse untrue. Perhaps the above brother would be surprized to know that many Sunni commentators of Quran have confirmed that the above verse (5:3) was revealed in Ghadir Khum AFTER the Messenger of God said: "Whoever I am his leader, Ali is his leader. O' God, love those who love him, and be hostile to those who are hostile to him." (See the ariticled titled "Ghadir Khum" for extensive references). This means the perfection of the religion was due announcing the successor of the Prophet (PBUH&HF). In fact what prophet wanted to do on that Thursday (three days before his death) was just to repeat, to remind, and to emphasize the things that has been revealed before. He didn't want to add any thing new. No Muslim ever claimed that the position of prophethood has been taken from Muhammad sometime before his death. We do not have such case about other prophets either. Even let's suppose he was not prophet any more, or he wanted to say something new. Do you think you can find any man better or more enthusiastic than him about the destiny of his community?! Do you think his last wish was against the prosperity of his people?! How much should they have been rude that even they didn't let him talk!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "Have you not been there O' Ali, The believers would not have Been recognized after me." http://www.imamreza.net/old/eng/lib/ency/chapter4/3.htm __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[email protected] To unsubscribe, send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, use subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:[email protected] Web - http://list.jccc.edu/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
