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-Muzammil
Soorah 73:15-20 Ayub A. Hamid The next few verses address the opponents directly. 15 Surely We have sent to you a Messenger to be a witness over you, just as We sent a messenger to Fir'own. 16 Then when Fir'own disobeyed the messenger, We seized him with a violent hold. 17 Then how are you, if you disbelieve, going to save yourself on the day that will make the children grey-headed old, 18 and the sky thereby will be rent asunder? His promise is going to be fulfilled! 19 Verily this is a reminder; therefore, whoever wills should seek the path toward his Lord. The Prophet's sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam role as a witness includes that he conveys the message of Allaah and demonstrates to them fully how to live, both individually and collectively, a life that pleases Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala. In this respect, he is not the first messenger ever to come. So if they do not utilize this opportunity to learn Islam from him and live by it, they will be destroyed as was the Fir'own. Even if they die before such an event, no one can save them from the punishment of the Hereafter. “Making children grey-headed old” is a proverbial expression to indicate a condition of being stressed out due to dreadful, harsh circumstances. This concludes the first section of the Soorah. The next section was revealed in Madeenah about 10 years after the first section. In following the footsteps of the Prophet sall Allaahu`alayhi wa sallam, many Muslims had also adopted the practice of getting up in the second half of the night and standing for worship reciting the Qur-aan. Considering that many Muslims may not have the capacity to stay up that long at night due to illness or due to the demands on their time for earning their living, travelling for some noble purpose, or fighting in the way of Allaah, they have been mercifully advised to read only as much Qur-aan at night as they can easily manage. 20 Surely your Lord knows that you stand up for worship nearly two-thirds of the night, or half of it, or a third of it, and so does a party of your companions; and Allaah determines the duration of the night and the day. He knows that you people will be unable to keep up with it, so He has turned to you mercifully; therefore, recite as much of the Qur-aan as may be easy for you people. He knows that there will be among you in ill-health, and others traveling in the land seeking Allaah's bounty, and others fighting in Allaah's way, therefore, recite as much of it as may be easy for you. And continue to establish Salaah, pay Zakaah and offer to Allaah a goodly loan. Whatever of good you send on beforehand for yourselves, you will find it with Allaah such that it will be better and greater in reward; and seek forgiveness of Allaah; surely Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Although the Muslims have been advised to take it easy for the late-night worship, they must not show any complacency or weakness when it comes to establishing the Deen of Allaah through the establishment of Salaah, payment of Zakaah and spending extra in the way of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala. It should be noted how nightly worship has merely been referred to as "recitation of the Qur-aan" while the five-times-daily worship has been termed as "establishment of Salaah", though the format of both worships is the same. It underscores the difference in the fundamental objectives of both worships. The basic objective of the nightly worship is the individual and personal recitation of the Qur-aan and reflection on its message; hence, identified by that very objective. However, the basic objective of the five times daily worship, in addition to the personal remembrance of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala and reminder about the message of the Qur-aan, is the regimentation of the Muslim community collectively in the form of an organized society. For that objective, the financial system of the society is based on Zakaah and that is why it is often mentioned along with the establishment of Salaah. It should also be noted that when it comes to spending, two items have been mentioned: the prescribed Zakaah and additional contribution towards the projects undertaken for the establishment of the Deen in the society. The fact is that whatever people spend in Allaah's way for His pleasure is the only wealth that is really going to be beneficial for them as it will be rewarded greatly and superbly in the Hereafter. That is the smart saving and investment plan. Otherwise, whatever we save here is going to stay here for the benefit of others, rather than one's personal benefit in the permanent life of the Hereafter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 2009 Ayub A. Hamid All rights reserved This document may be used, only with this copyright notice included. Permission is granted to circulate among private individuals and groups, to post on internet forums, and include in not-for-profit publications subject to the following conditions: (1) Material used must be produced faithfully in full, without alteration or omission; (2) The author's subject 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ustaadz Ayub A. Hamid is a visionary and strategic Islamic thinker residing in Canada for the last 34 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Al Qalam Al Haaqqah Al Ma`aarij Nooh Al Jinn Al-Muzammil 1-14 K a r i m a -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
