B i s m i l l a a h i r R a h m a a n i r R a h e e m
Teachings of the Qur'aan
Al-Mulk
Soorah 67:5-15
Name and Background
Teachings and Commentary
Ayub A. Hamid
The mention of heavens provides an opportunity for the next
verse to use the sights of the visible heaven to correct another
misunderstanding many Arabs used to have about soothsayers or fortune-tellers
as well as to transition human attention towards the punishment of those who go
against the pleasure of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala.
5 We have decorated the nearest sky with lamps, using them
as missiles to be thrown at devils for whom We have prepared the punishment of
blazing fire.
Those who have observed the night sky on a clear night know
the stunning beauty the stars present. In addition to the beauty, they were
also a source of guidance in the desert to know the directions and to find the
way. The night sky also presents the view of shooting stars and meteorites
burning brightly on their entry into the atmosphere of earth. The abundance of
meteorites in the space around Earth and their frequent entry into the
atmosphere presents an insurmountable hazard for any evil Jinns (Shayateen) who
dare to venture beyond the confines of earth. Mention of this hazard is to
correct the views of Arabs who used to think that Jinn devils can go up the
heavens and bring news of future events and inform the fortune tellers of their
discoveries. They are being told that this is not possible. Allaah Subhaanahu
wa Ta'aala has designed the universe in such a way that devils are precluded
from going beyond the confines of the earth. Hence whatever the fortune-tellers
or soothsayers say is baseless and fabricated. The mention of Jinn devils
necessitated the mention of Fire that has been prepared for their punishment,
which served as a segue into the description of punishment of all disbelievers,
who do not believe in the realities propounded by the Islamic faith.
6 Actually, for all those who disbelieve in their Lord, there
will be punishment of Hell - a wretched destination. 7 As they are thrown into
it, they will hear its roaring while it boils up, 8 almost bursting with rage.
Every time a group is thrown into it, its keepers will ask them, "Did no warner
come to you?" 9 They will respond, "Yes indeed; a Warner did come to us, but we
rejected him and said, 'Allaah never sent down anything, you are but grossly
misguided.'" 10 They will further say: "Had we listened or used our
intelligence to understand, we would not be among the inmates of the Blazing
Fire!" 11 Thus they will admit their fault, so, away with the inmates of the
Blazing Fire!
"Disbelieving in their Lord" does not necessarily mean
denying the existence of Allaah. People may believe in the existence of Allaah
Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala, but they will still be considered disbelievers if they
do not believe in Him in the right way with the correct views about all of His
attributes including such matters as His exclusive right to give commands and
to be obeyed, His holding people accountable and judging them on the Day of
Judgment and His rewarding and punishing them in the Hereafter.
Imagine the picture of the anger of the Fire that will rage
while receiving the disbelievers who ignored the warnings of the prophets and
messengers of Allaah about the accountability in the Hereafter or opposed their
mission. Even the keepers of the Fire will make the disbelievers realize their
own fault by asking them if anyone ever warned them about this punishment.
Although the disbelievers consider the Muslims as being
misguided and crazy for believing in the Hereafter, they will readily accept on
the Day of Judgment that it was them who were in fact misguided.
The believers, on the other hand, will be enjoying the
forgiveness of Allaah and tremendous reward. The shortcomings and errors in
their effort will be forgiven, because they accepted Allaah Subhaanahu wa
Ta'aala as their Lord and, fearing His displeasure, sincerely tried their best
to live in obedience to Him.
12 As for those who fear their Lord even though He is beyond
physical perception, there will be forgiveness and great reward for them.
The key quality of believers is that they used their
intellect and common sense to believe in Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala as He
should be believed in, instead of waiting to witness His existence and the life
Hereafter beyond any doubt. This is the key component of the test for which
human beings have been put in this world - to adopt the correct beliefs about
Allaah and the Hereafter through intellect, rather than physically perceivable
evidence.
The fear of All-Knowing, All-Aware Allaah's displeasure is
the only effective motive that keeps people on the path of goodness at all
times and in all circumstances and that keeps people away from doing something
wrong when no one is watching or no one could ever find out. Every other motive
to do good or to stay away from wrong breaks down in some circumstances or the
other, except the fear of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala.
Not only that Allaah knows what everyone does, He is also
fully aware of the motives behind the actions as well as all the thoughts that
go through one's mind. Thus, the disbelievers should realize that Allaah knows
why they disbelieve and the ulterior motives they harbour when rejecting Islam,
presenting excuses for not accepting it and the personal interests they are
trying to preserve by disobeying Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala. The believers
should rest assured that their sacrifices for their faith and their sincerity
behind their actions are all known to Allaah to be rewarded accordingly. Even
the most insignificant of their good deeds done with the intention of seeking
the pleasure of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala will be fully rewarded.
13 And conceal your thoughts or publicize them, He is fully
aware of whatever is on your minds. 14 Will He Who has created not know? He is
the Knower of the subtleties, the Fully-Aware.
Previously, Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala had invited people
to think about the heavens and consistency in the creation of the universe, and
in the next verse they are being invited to reflect upon their life on earth.
15 He it is Who made the earth tame for you, so walk in its
paths and eat from the sustenance He provides. And to Him will be the
resurrection.
Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala has made earth inhabitable and
put all the means of sustenance in it. Everything we consume comes from the
earth. He has taken care of our needs to gather us on the Day of Judgment and
hold us accountable for the use of its resources whether they were consumed
according to His guidance and for the objective set out by Him or not.
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Copyright © 2008 Ayub A. Hamid
All rights reserved
This document may be used, only with this copyright notice
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title must remain unchanged, in whole or in part; (3) Material must be
attributed to the author Ustaadz Ayub A. Hamid. Contact the author for all
other rights, which are reserved.
Note: This series is providing the teachings of the Qur'aan,
not a literal translation. Instead of literal translation, it gives
interpretive meanings of the verses, along with their contextual details.
Please remember that any translation of the Holy Qur'aan is in fact only an
expression of the translator's understanding of the Word of Allaah Subhaanahu
wa Ta'aala, and hence cannot be equated with the Qur'aan itself. Only the
original Arabic text can be called the Holy Qur'aan.
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Ustaadz Ayub A. Hamid is a visionary and strategic Islamic
thinker residing in Canada for the last 33 years. His recently published books
are:
1. Islam - Does It Make Sense?
2. Unveiling the Commands-The Truth about Hijaab, Khimaar
and Jilbaab.
3. Finding A Soulmate - A Guide for Parents and Youth.
4. A Book Unlike Any Other.
5. Islam - Adopting Its Paradigms.
6. Exploring the Islamic Beliefs.
http://soundvisioncanada.com/shop/pbrowse.asp?Pg=3&Cat=10004
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The following soowar 'Teachings of the Qur'aan' series by
Ustaadz Ayub A. Hamid, are available on request:-
Al Faatihah
Al Baqarah
Aali 'Imraan
A Nisaa'
Al Maaidah
Al An'aam
Al A'raaf
Al Anfaal
At Teen
Al`Alaq
Al Qadr
Al Bayyinah
Al Zilzaal
Al Aadiyatt
Al Qaari`ah
At Takaathur
Al`Asr
Al Humazah
Al Feel
Al Quraish
Al Maa`oon
Al-Kowthar
Al Kaafiroon
Al Nasr
Al Lahab
Al Ikhlaas
Al Falaq
An Naas
Al Mulk - Aayaat 1-4
K a r i m a
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