The Quran - through my eyes.

[Muslimwoman]

Surah 7 called Al-Araf (meaning The Heights)

Then verily We shall question those unto whom (Our message) hath been sent, and verily We shall question the messengers. (7:6)

Then verily We shall narrate unto them (the event) with knowledge, for We were not absent (when it came to pass). (7:7)

The weighing on that day is the true (weighing). As for those whose scale is heavy, they are the successful. (7:8)

And as for those whose scale is light: those are they who lose their souls because they used to wrong Our revelations. (7:9)

A warning to us all, be careful what we believe and what we preach - Allah knows better than we do and will know if we twist the teachings of the Prophets (pbut).

The chapter then speaks of the refusal of Iblis (Satan) to bow before man and Allah sending him to hell for showing pride in heaven. Iblis asks for reprieve until the Day of Resurrection and Allah reprieves him until that day. It them speaks of the sin of both Adam and Eve (pbut) of eating from the forbidden tree.

The reason the chapter is called The Heights begins at verse 7:46. Al-Araf is a place between heaven and hell, where heaven and hell can be seen (from the heights). On the heights will stand the witnesses (the Prophets, Messengers, true martyrs, etc). They will be called upon to witness against mankind on the Day of Judgement.

The chapter goes on to tell us of messengers that were rejected by their people and the punishments that Allah sent to those people.

Being the chapter of the Heights it deals with the afterlife and Prophets, so has little to offer our issues of ethics and social order.


Chapter 8 Al-Anfal (meaning Spoils of War)

At the time of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) war was unavoidable. However restrictions were put on war.

(O Qureysh!) If ye sought a judgment, now hath the judgment come unto you. And if ye cease (from persecuting the believers) it will be better for you, but if ye return (to the attack) We also shall return. And your host will avail you naught, however numerous it be, and (know) that Allah is with the believers (in His Guidance). (8:19)

You can see from this verse that Allah instructs us only to fight until they stop attacking the Muslims but if they return to fight again the Muslims must be ready to defend themselves.

Tell those who disbelieve that if they cease (from persecution of believers) that which is past will be forgiven them; but if they return (thereto) then the example of the men of old hath already gone (before them, for a warning). (8:38)

And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah. But if they cease, then lo! Allah is Seer of what they do. (8:39)

Here we see that Muslims are only to fight until persecution of the Muslims ceases. I get so annoyed when people say the Prophet Mohammad (phuh) was a blood thirsty warlord. When people were being killed in Bosnia we sent armies to protect them, to fight until the persecution ceased yet the leaders that sent the armies are seen as heroes for stopping the persecution, not as warlords.

And know that whatever ye take as spoils of war, lo! a fifth thereof is for Allah, and for the messenger and for the kinsman (who hath need) and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, if ye believe in Allah and that which We revealed unto Our slave on the Day of Discrimination, the day when the two armies met. And Allah is Able to do all things. (8:41)

Spoils of war was simply a part of life in those days, yet we see that a portion must be given to the Prophet and the needy. It is noteworthy that the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) did not die a rich man, his aim was never to gain wealth or power for himself. He ensured that everyone in his community was taken care of.

Those of them with whom thou madest a treaty, and then at every opportunity they break their treaty, and they keep not duty (to Allah).(8:56)
If thou comest on them in the war, deal with them so as to strike fear in those who are behind them, that haply they may remember. (8:57)

If thou fearest treachery from any group, throw back (their covenant) to them, (so as to be) on equal terms: for Allah loveth not the treacherous. (8:58)

Again we see talk of treaties and those who break them. It also says that if the other tribe break the treaty then the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) should declare the treaty null and void, so as not to also break the treaty.

And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it, and trust in Allah. Lo! He, even He, is the Hearer, the Knower. (8:61)

The Prophet is not instructed or inclined to go to war for the sake of it. So if the other tribe requests peace, whether before fighting begins or after it has begun then the Muslims must accept peace.

There are 75 verses in chapter 8 ( just in case you think I have stopped half way through).

Salaam

[greymare]

funny,I havent read anything yet that I dont agree with???????

[Muslimwoman]

Originally Posted by greymare

funny,I havent read anything yet that I dont agree with???????

Hi Grey

Erm, how about ...... chocolate brownies for breakfast is a healthy diet?

Sorry I will try to get back to this tonight but am busy setting up my website and blog - only 5 weeks left until I go home YIPEE but very short amount of time to finish the project off YIPES.

Salaam

[flowperson]

Salaam MW..

Of course you WILL IMMEDIATELY post a link to your website and blog for us at their moment of birthing ? I wouldn't want to miss that for anything in the world ! I've got a place in my Bookmarks bar reserved for it already.

flow....

[Muslimwoman]

Hi Flow

Thank you my friend (isn't moral support heartening ). I have posted the link to the blog in General, so people can tell me what is wrong with it and I hope the site will be finished next week and of course I will need reviews and 'that looks rubbish' comments.

Salaam
MW

[Snoopy]

Originally Posted by Muslimwoman

busy setting up my website and blog
Salaam

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

s.

[Muslimwoman]

Surah 8 is called Al-Anfal (meaning Spoils of war) the chapter has 75 verses and was revealed after the Battle of Badr, which I have spoken about before. This Surah deals with military conduct.

Many people ask why a Scripture from G-d should talk about the spoils of war. The Quran deals with all aspects of society, we are given rules for everything but rules that allow us to live in a decent, ethical society. 1400 years ago, in any society in the world, tribes went to war with each other and to the winner went the spoils (land, money, women, animals, stores, etc).

The chapter begins by talking about how Allah protects and helps the believers during just wars. Remember that the Meccans had come to Medina with a huge army and the Muslims were badly betrayed. Much of the first half of this chapter deals with building the moral of the Muslims.

Tell those who disbelieve that if they cease (from persecution of believers) that which is past will be forgiven them; but if they return (thereto) then the example of the men of old hath already gone (before them, for a warning).
(8:38)

Again the Muslims are told that if the Meccans stop the oppression and attempts to kill the Muslims cease then peace should be offered. However, the Muslims had beaten the Meccans before and if they continued their persecution then the Muslims would beat them again. Sounds fair enough to me.

And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah. But if they cease, then lo! Allah is Seer of what they do. (8:39)

Read that verse slowly. Yes it says fight them (the pagan Meccans) until the persecution ceases and their religion is for Allah .... BUT if they cease (ie fighting and oppressing the Muslims).

This verse has been translated on one of the Muslim watch type websites as follows:

Fully armed, relentless and endless war against all unbelievers, armed or not, with the intention of taking plunder and subduing them (Quran 8:39)

Do you see how people can get it so absolutely wrong when they fail to understand the context of the verses they are reading. I get so tired of reading how this verse translates into 'fight everyone until the whole world is Muslim'. At the time there were a few hundred Muslims fighting for survival in their own country, how on earth were they going to fight the whole world? Let us have a little logic here.

And know that whatever ye take as spoils of war, lo! a fifth thereof is for Allah, and for the messenger and for the kinsman (who hath need) and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, if ye believe in Allah and that which We revealed unto Our slave on the Day of Discrimination, the day when the two armies met. And Allah is Able to do all things. (8:41)

Spoils of war were divided between the soldiers and the whole society, not used to make the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) rich as some would have you believe.

The chapter again deals with building the morale of the Muslims and giving back treaties if people betray the Muslims.

Make ready for them all thou canst of (armed) force and of horses tethered, that thereby ye may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others beside them whom ye know not. Allah knoweth them. Whatsoever ye spend in the way of Allah it will be repaid to you in full, and ye will not be wronged.
(8:60)

Here Allah tell the Muslims to ready themselves for war. Note the use of the term 'all thou canst', as said before the Muslims were far outnumbered.

Again as I have said before, when violence is mentioned in the Quran it is generally followed by:

And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it, and trust in Allah. Lo! He, even He, is the Hearer, the Knower. (8:61)

Even for those of you that do not believe the Quran was revealed by G-d but was made up by a man to control people, please ask yourself why this so called 'blood thirsty warlord' would include so many verses that say if the enemy inclines to peace then the Muslims should as well? Would a warlord make that up?

It is not fitting for a prophet that he should have prisoners of war until he hath thoroughly subdued the land. Ye look for the temporal goods of this world; but Allah looketh to the Hereafter: And Allah is Exalted in might, Wise. (8:67)

What the verse is saying is that the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) should not take prisoners of war until he has secured the battlefield, in other words keep fighting until you have 'won the day' (that is what it was called in england at the time). The secret to this verse is in the statement 'ye look for the temporal goods of this world'. This was the first real war the Muslims had been in as a group and Allah was reminding the Prophet that the Muslims were fighting for a cause, not for riches. This was held out in the next battle (battle of Uhud), when some Muslims left the fight to take prisoners of war for ransom and the Meccan 'cavalry' held in reserve attacked, injuring the Prophet.

I would like to digress from our search for ethics and moral teachings just for a moment. This verse is so often used to suggest Islam is a religion of violence, so I would like to add some historical context. Prior to Islam the tribes or Arabia used to raid each others encampments, in a sort of tit for tat game. If your tribe was doing badly then you raided a tribe that was doing well, you stole some of their animals and took hostages to ransom. This practice was accepted by all the tribes, as long as nobody was killed. If someone was killed during a raid then your tribe had to go and kill someone from the attackers tribe and so it went on, often for generations. So the taking of captives for ransom was a normal and accepted practice. With that knowledge imagine the first real battle for the Muslims, they were outnumbered, scared and used to taking captives to ransom for goods or money. Allah wanted them to understand that they were fighting for a cause, the days of fighting for profit were over, so you couldn't stop in the middle of a battle and spirit away a couple of captives to sell back later. You had to stay and fight until the Muslims won the day.

8:67—“It is not fitting for an Apostle that he should have prisoners of war until He thoroughly subdued the land….” (Allah insisting Prophet to kill all the prisoners, and should not keep any prisoners alive)

This is from a site that claims to be written by ex Muslims. Can someone explain to me how you can have any prisoners of war after you have won the battle, if you are not to keep any prisoners alive? This is how people become so misled by what Islam really teaches, they read rubbish like this.

O Prophet! Say unto those captives who are in your hands: If Allah knoweth any good in your hearts He will give you better than that which hath been taken from you, and will forgive you. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (8:70)

So these would be the captives that they were told to kill??


As you can see the chapter about the spoils of war tells Muslims to distribute those spoils fairly among the community and to fight for the cause, not for profit.

Salaam

[Muslimwoman]

Surah 9 Al-Tawba (meaning repentence/dispensation) has 129 verses.

Interesting fact - this is the only Surah of the Quran that does not begin with the words In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

The beginning of this chapter needs some historical context. This was after the peace treaty of Hudaibiyah with the Quraysh. Islam had spread to about a third of Arabia and was by then well organised. The peace treaty meant that Muslims and pagan arabs lived peacefully side by side. However the leaders of the Quraysh tribe didn't like the spread of Islam and the power that was bringing to the Muslims, so they broke the treaty and began attacking Muslims. They started to bring together an army .......

Freedom from obligation (is proclaimed) from Allah and His messenger toward those of the idolaters with whom ye made a treaty. (9:1)

Travel freely in the land four months, and know that ye cannot escape Allah and that Allah will confound the disbelievers (in His Guidance). (9:2)

And a proclamation from Allah and His messenger to all men on the day of the Greater Pilgrimage that Allah is free from obligation to the idolaters, and (so is) His messenger. So, if ye repent, it will be better for you; but if ye are averse, then know that ye cannot escape Allah. Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom to those who disbelieve, (9:3)

The historical context above, together with verses we have looked at already saying that if someone breaks a peace treaty that the Muslims can also break it, gives the explanation for the opening 3 verses above. The Quraysh had broken the treaty, so were given 4 months of freedom to re-evaluate their position. At the end of the 4 months if the Quraysh did not either surrender or convert to Islam then the Muslims would go to war with them.

Excepting those of the idolaters with whom ye (Muslims) have a treaty, and who have since abated nothing of your right nor have supported anyone against you. (As for these), fulfil their treaty to them till their term. Lo! Allah loveth those who keep their duty (unto Him). (9:4)

As usual we have the verse which tells Muslims they cannot fight with anyone that has not broken the treaty. But for those that had broken the treaty:

Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (9:5)

These were people that were building an army to kill the Muslims.

And if anyone of the idolaters seeketh thy protection (O Muhammad), then protect him so that he may hear the Word of Allah, and afterward convey him to his place of safety. That is because they are a folk who know not.
(9:6)

What was all that rubbish about kill everyone, leave no captive alive? And this verse was a long time after the Battle of Badr.

The next verses talk about fighting those that fight you but hold to treaties when people do not break them.

And if they break their pledges after their treaty (hath been made with you) and assail your religion, then fight the heads of disbelief - Lo! they have no binding oaths - in order that they may desist. (9:12)

Here it talks about fighting the leaders, the chiefs.

Will ye not fight a folk who broke their solemn pledges, and purposed to drive out the messenger and did attack you first? What! Fear ye them? Now Allah hath more right that ye should fear Him, if ye are believers (9:13)

Here it states very plainly who Muslims should fight.

The next verses talk about Mecca, that the believers should tend the Kabbah. It encourages the Muslims to see that idolators were keeping the holy place of the Kabbah. Some of the Muslims had loyalty issues, many had come from the Quraysh tribe and still had family in Mecca.

O ye who believe! Choose not your fathers nor your brethren for friends if they take pleasure in disbelief rather than faith. Whoso of you taketh them for friends, such are wrong-doers. (9:23)

Say: If your fathers, and your sons, and your brethren, and your wives, and your tribe, and the wealth ye have acquired, and merchandise for which ye fear that there will no sale, and dwellings ye desire are dearer to you than Allah and His messenger and striving in His way: then wait till Allah bringeth His command to pass. Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk. (9:24)

These verses are obviously dealing with the divided loyalties some people felt.

Allah hath given you victory on many fields and on the day of Huneyn, when ye exulted in your multitude but it availed you naught, and the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for you; then ye turned back in flight; (9:25)

Do you see how this blood thirsty Muslim army wreaked havoc in the land, killing everything before it!!!! Yes they were scared and at times even ran away from a fight. Not quite the image now portrayed by some.

Another worry for the Muslims in fighting the Quraysh at Mecca was that of trade. Mecca was the largest and wealthiest trading town in Arabia, so if the Quraysh were defeated what would happen to the economy:

O ye who believe! The idolaters only are unclean. So let them not come near the Inviolable Place of Worship after this their year. If ye fear poverty (from the loss of their merchandise) Allah shall preserve you of His bounty if He will. Lo! Allah is Knower, Wise. (9:28)

Allah assures the Muslims that if He wills they will thrive in Mecca.

Many of the verses now deal with morale building again. Verses then deal with those Muslims that made excuses for not going to battle, asking leave to stay behind with the old and the women (cowards). There were also some that refused to fight because they didin't feel they got their fair share of alms....

And of them is he who defameth thee in the matter of the alms. If they are given thereof they are content, and if they are not given thereof, behold! they are enraged. (9:58)

To which Allah responds:

The alms are only for the poor and the needy, and those who collect them, and those whose hearts are to be reconciled, and to free the captives and the debtors, and for the cause of Allah, and (for) the wayfarer; a duty imposed by Allah. Allah is Knower, Wise. (9:60)

Many of the next verses deal with wealthy hypocrites (unbelievers) refuse to go to fight.

If Allah bring thee back (from the campaign) unto a party of them and they ask of thee leave to go out (to fight), then say unto them: Ye shall never more go out with me nor fight with me against a foe. Ye were content with sitting still the first time. So sit still, with the useless. (9:83)

(this reminds me of my husband, he always waits until I have just finished the washing up before he asks if I need help ).

Not unto the weak nor unto the sick nor unto those who can find naught to spend is any fault (to be imputed though they stay at home) if they are true to Allah and His messenger. Not unto the good is there any road (of blame). Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (9:91)

Nor unto those whom, when they came to thee (asking) that thou shouldst mount them, thou didst tell: I cannot find whereon to mount you. They turned back with eyes flowing with tears, for sorrow that they could not find the means to spend. (9:92)

The road (of blame) is only against those who ask for leave of thee (to stay at home) when they are rich. They are content to be with the useless. Allah hath sealed their hearts so that they know not. (9:93)

I believe these verses explain well what was happening at the time. Each man had to provide his own weapons and horse/camel. Those that could not attend the battle because of lack of ability to provide for their defence were not blamed. Blame was reserved for the wealthy that had the means but did not use them to fight for the cause.

They will swear by Allah unto you, when ye return unto them, that ye may let them be. Let them be, for lo! they are unclean, and their abode is hell as the reward for what they used to earn. (9:95)

But as usual these people were not to be harmed.

Another issue at the time was the Bedouin tribes:

The wandering Arabs are more hard in disbelief and hypocrisy, and more likely to be ignorant of the limits which Allah hath revealed unto His messenger. And Allah is Knower, Wise. (9:97)

And of the wandering Arabs there is he who taketh that which he expendeth (for the cause of Allah) as a loss, and awaiteth (evil) turns of fortune for you (that he may be rid of it). The evil turn of fortune will be theirs. Allah is Hearer, Knower. (9:98)

And of the wandering Arabs there is he who believeth in Allah and the Last Day, and taketh that which he expendeth and also the prayers of the messenger as acceptable offerings in the sight of Allah. Lo! verily it is an acceptable offering for them. Allah will bring them into His mercy. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (9:99)

Many of these verses are telling the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) that among all people around him are real believers, non believers and those who claim to believe but do not, as demonstrated in this verse:

And among those around you of the wandering Arabs there are hypocrites, and among the townspeople of Al-Madinah (there are some who) persist in hypocrisy whom thou (O Muhammad) knowest not. We, We know them, and We shall chastise them twice; then they will be relegated to a painful doom. (9:101)

And the believers should not all go out to fight. Of every troop of them, a party only should go forth, that they (who are left behind) may gain sound knowledge in religion, and that they may warn their folk when they return to them, so that they may beware. (9:122)

This is Islam in action, not all rushing around to kill people but only some to fight, others to study the faith and when their companions return they should share their new knowledge.

There hath come unto you a messenger, (one) of yourselves, unto whom aught that ye are overburdened is grievous, full of concern for you, for the believers full of pity, merciful. (9:128)

Now, if they turn away (O Muhammad) say: Allah sufficeth me. There is no Allah save Him. In Him have I put my trust, and He is Lord of the Tremendous Throne. (9:129)

Here is the true Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) that you do not see on the anti Islamic sites. A man that cared deeply about his people, would fight hard to defend them but not a warlord that enjoyed war and killing.

Salaam

[greymare]

thats interesting stuff mw. and thanks for the historical background. Thats the kind of info I like. love the Grey

[Muslimwoman]

Oh look at the big baby on your new avatar, awwwwww how cute.

I had intended to keep the historical context to a minimum but it is very difficult as it changes how people perceive the verses so much when they understand what was happening at the time they were written. Thanks for sticking in with me so long.

Salaam

[Muslimwoman]

Surah 10 is called Yunus (meaning Jonah). Despite the name of the chapter it does not tell the story of the Prophet Yunus (pbuh).

There are 109 verses, which were revealed at Mecca. This is one of the chapters that was not revealed at different times and in different places. The revelations of this chapter came before the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and the Muslims fled Mecca to Medina. So at this time they were few in number and being terribly persecuted by the pagan Meccans. Some Muslims were being tortured and murdered. Scholars state that we can be sure this was before the Medina migration because there is no mention at all of the escape to Medina.

There is very little in this Surah which is relevant to our discussion in this thread. The chapter deals with the afterlife, the assurance that we will all have to answer for our every deed, good and bad. The chapter warns us not to reject Allah or his message, sent through the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh).

And if misfortune touch a man he crieth unto Us, (while reclining) on his side, or sitting or standing, but when We have relieved him of the misfortune he goeth his way as though he had not cried unto Us because of a misfortune that afflicted him. Thus is what they do made (seeming) fair unto the prodigal. (10:12)

I have included this verse because it always leaves a lump in my throat. As Muslims this is one of our greatest lessons to learn, to remember to look to and worship Allah in all times, good and bad. It is not right only to turn to Allah to seek his favour.

And when Our clear revelations are recited unto them, they who look not for the meeting with Us say: Bring a Lecture other than this, or change it. Say (O Muhammad): It is not for me to change it of my accord. I only follow that which is inspired in me. Lo! if I disobey my Lord I fear the retribution of an awful Day. (10:15)

When looking at the life of the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) it is imperative to remember that he knew absolutely that anything he did in this life he would answer for in the next. Unfotunately that is a lesson that Muslims who followed the Prophet quickly forgot, when they looked to this world only but that is not something we can blame our Beloved Prophet for. So when you read that he was a war lord or monster, etc please keep this verse in mind and look for the truth.

There are many verses that deal with people that ascribe partners to Allah, of course the chapter was revealed at Mecca, where the pagan tribes lived and traded. Each tribe had it's own god.

And if they deny thee, say: Unto me my work, and unto you your work. Ye are innocent of what I do, and I am innocent of what ye do. (10:41)

Here Allah speaks of the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), that when people call him a fake he is to answer in this way (not cut their heads off).

Forgive me if I digress for a moment but this next piece has great interest for me.

They say: Allah hath taken (unto Him) a son - Glorified be He! He hath no needs! His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. Ye have no warrant for this. Tell ye concerning Allah that which ye know not? (10:68)

Say: Verily those who invent a lie concerning Allah will not succeed. (10:69)

I have included these verses because they impress me with their historical context. We know that this chapter was revealed in the early days of Islam, before the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) had any difficulty with Christians. When the Prophet received the first revelation he was very scared and was comforted by his wife Khadijah (pbuh) and her cousin Waraqah ibn Nawfal a commited Christian monk. It was Waraqah that told Mohammad he had seen the angel Gabriel and the Meccans would reject him and drive him from the town. Waraqah believed in the Prophethood of Mohammad but he died a few days later, a Christian. The Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said that Waraqah was not to be slandered, as he would receive his place in Paradise. For me these verses are very significant because they confirm that Jesus (pbuh) was a Messenger of G-d but not his son. I say this because I try to be practical and honest, I ask myself why Mohammad would say this if it was not revealed by G-d, as this claim was guaranteed to cause difficulties for him and his followers. For those that believe that Mohammad was a false Prophet, just after power and wealth, I think they should ask themselves why he would say such a thing, when he could have claimed to be a Prophet sent to confirm the message of Jesus (pbuh) as the son of G-d and been more widely accepted as such.

Sorry just wanted to share my thoughts on those verses.

And if thy Lord willed, all who are in the earth would have believed together. Wouldst thou (Muhammad) compel men until they are believers? (10:99)

What an interesting rehtorical question. I get very troubled by Muslims that claim the whole world must be Muslim, if Allah tells us that He does not will this then who are we to argue? Of course this also shows that the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) was told by Allah, from the very early days, that you cannot force anyone to believe.

Which is confirmed here:

Say: "O ye men! Now Truth hath reached you from your Lord! those who receive guidance, do so for the good of their own souls; those who stray, do so to their own loss: and I am not (set) over you to arrange your affairs." (10:108)

There we have Surah 10, as I said it deals with the afterlife so there is very little for this life other than the need to believe in G-d, not ascribe partners to Him and remember that we will all be judged, there is no way to avoid it.

Salaam

[Muslimwoman]

Surah 11 is called Hud (meaning Hud ). It has 123 verses and is believed to have been revealed immeditaley after Surah 10 (but we are not sure about that). However, it follows the same theme as chapter 10 and is an invitation to believe in Allah, a warning of what will happen if you do not and that we can hide nothing from Allah. It is a sterner warning than chapter 10.

As Surah 11 does not deal with how we should bahave in this life we shall go straight to Surah 12.

Surah 12 is called Yusuf (meaning Joseph). It has 111 verses and was revealed at the very end of the Prophet Mohammads stay in Mecca before leaving for Medina. The Meccans were discussing whether to exile or imprison or kill the Prophet.

This Surah was a direct gift from Allah to the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh). In order to expose the Prophet as a fraud the people of the book (either Christians or Jews or both) in Mecca asked the Prophet 'why did the Israelites go to Egypt?'. This was a very clever question, as it was not an oral tradition known to the Arab pagans so the assumption was that either Mohammad would have to admit he did not know or would have to ask a Christian or Jew, thus proving himself to be a fraud. Instead Allah revealed the entire chapter right there and then, the whole story of Joseph. Allah did this obviously to prove that Mohammad was a true Prophet.

Here it is worth remembering my earlier post that discussed the Jewish scholars in Medina that helped to teach the Prophet about the earlier Scriptures and the chronology of the Prophets. Jews and Christians traded in Mecca so it is not fair to suggest that Mohammad would know nothing of their faith but this chapter was revealed before he went to Medina, therefore before he had a deep understanding of the Prophets before him. So how could he recite the entire story of Joseph?

When the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) finished reciting the story of Joseph, Allah said:

This is of the tidings of the Unseen which We inspire in thee (Muhammad). Thou wast not present with them when they fixed their plan and they were scheming. (12:102)

In their history verily there is a lesson for men of understanding. It is no invented story but a confirmation of the existing (Scripture) and a detailed explanation of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for folk who believe. (12:111)

All praise be to Allah.

Salaam

[greymare]

very interesting mw. Keep going. oh and that so and so on the couch is "Tonka" (he who snuck in when I was out and got sprung as in the photo).

[Muslimwoman]

Surah 13 is called Al-Rad (meaning the thunder). There are 43 verses and again this chapter was revealed at the very end of the days in Mecca. Again, this chapter, like the 3 before, deals with the Prophethood of Mohammad and the message he brings. It is a warning for mankind but does not deal with matters of society.

Surah 14 is called Ibrahim (meaning Abraham), it does not tell the story of Abraham but deals with the giving of revelations from Allah to Prophets and the people that reject the messages. This Surah is once again a warning to unbelievers, it was revealed at around the same time as the previous chapter. There is a theme that runs through all of these chapters in this part of the Quran, telling how each Messenger was rejected by some and accepted by some but that we shall all return to Allah and answer to Him.

Surah 15 is called Al-Hijr (meaning stoneland, rock city). There are 99 verses and it follows the warnings of the previous few chapters. By now the Prophet Mohammad had been preaching his message for years and yet the people of Mecca still refused the message, they were by now becoming very hostile to the message. These chapters all speak of the folly of caring more for this life than the next.

Surah 16 is called An-Nahl (meaning the bee). It has 128 verses and is another Meccan verse. The verses deal with the blessings of Allah for mankind (animals, food, rain, shelter, etc) and the ingratitude of mankind for these gifts.

Of course there are lessons for us in these chapters but they are spiritual rather than to do with everyday society.

Surah 17 is called Al-Isra (night journey, the children of Israel). There are 111 verses. By now the message of Islam had been preached for 12 years in Mecca, many tribes had now been influenced by Islam inlcuding 2 tribes in Medina. The time had come for the move to Medina and to establish an Islamic state there.

Give the kinsman his due, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and squander not (thy wealth) in wantonness. (17:26)

The Quran repeatedly speaks of charity.

Slay not your children, fearing a fall to poverty, We shall provide for them and for you. Lo! the slaying of them is great sin. (17:31)

Families, who feared starvation, would in those days kill their children. This was forbidden by Islam.

And come not near unto adultery. Lo! it is an abomination and an evil way. (17:32)

Adultery is a major sin in Islam, for both men and women.

And slay not the life which Allah hath forbidden save with right. Whoso is slain wrongfully, We have given power unto his heir, but let him not commit excess in slaying. Lo! he will be helped. (17:33)

We are only to kill with justice (attackers, murderers, rapists, oppressors, etc). If you murder my father then my brother is allowed to be the one to carry out your capital punishment or he can appoint someone else to do it but he is not allowed to raid your home and kill any that are not responsible for the murder. The Quran speaks many times that forgiveness in this situation is better for your soul and it seen even now in Saudi, where a family moments before an execution will stay the execution and pardon the murderer.

Come not near the wealth of the orphan save with that which is better till he come to strength; and keep the covenant. Lo! of the covenant it will be asked. (17:34)

In the time of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) people would take in orphans, not from charity but from greed so they could spend the orphans inheritence. This was stopped by Islam, anyone that took in an orphan was not allowed to spend any of their inheritence other than for necessities if they could not afford to provide these themselves.

Remember this was during the creation of the first Islamic state in Medina, so everyone was involved in this societal structure. If someone took in an orphan and suddenly purchased 10 camels and a few goats then society at large would have something to say about it. They didn't have police or court systems, the people policed themselves and each other. It was an amazing system given that it was 1400 years ago.

Fill the measure when ye measure, and weigh with a right balance; that is meet, and better in the end. (17:35)

Fairness in business is also dealt with.

Surah 18 is called Al-Kahf (meaning the Cave). There are 110 verses and again deal with challenges to the Prophet to recite stories about the prior Scriptures. Therefore this chapter has no relevence to our topic.

[Muslimwoman]

Surah 19 is called Maryam (meaning Mary the mother of Jesus (pbut)). Maryam is the only woman to be named in the Quran and she has a very special place in Muslim hearts. Maryam is actually mentioned more times in the Quran than in the NT. Unlike the Bible the Quran speaks of the birth and early life of Maryam. This chapter does actually tell the story according to it's title, from the birth of Maryam to the birth of Jesus (pbuh) and Maryam's return to her people.

All Muslims, male and female should strive to be like Maryam, she is honoured for her spirituality and truthfulness. The Quran even refers to her by a masculine plural form (qanitin - one who is truely Obedient to G-d). Muslims love and respect of both Maryam and Jesus (pbut) would be a whole other thread.


Surah 20 is called Ta-Ha for which there is no translation. There are 135 verses. This chapter begins by explaining to the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) that his Prophethood is not a burden for him, the Quran is not a new message but is a reminder of the previous Scriptures and it was not the responsibility of the Prophet to make people believe, only to give them the message. The chapter likens the mission of Prophet Mohammad to Prophet Moses (pbut) and goes on to tell the story of Moses.

People who say that Muslims believe in a different G-d to Jews and Christians need to check out this verse:

Your Allah is only Allah, than Whom there is no other Allah. He embraceth all things in His knowledge. (20:98)

The word Allah simply means G-d, as can be seen more clearly in the Yusufali translation of the same verse:

But the god of you all is the One Allah: there is no god but He: all things He comprehends in His knowledge. (20:98)


Then they twain ate thereof, so that their shame became apparent unto them, and they began to hide by heaping on themselves some of the leaves of the Garden. And Adam disobeyed his Lord, so went astray. (20:121)

This verse deals with Adam & Eve (pbut) and the eating from the forbidden tree. Please note that they are equally guilty. This is from a religion that is said to be so dismissive of women, if that were true would it not have been easier to blame Eve alone?


Surah 21 is called Al-Anbiya (meaning the Prophets). It has 112 verses. The chapter begins by talking about the chiefs of Mecca that claimed the Prophet Mohammad was a sourcerer or a poet or he just dreamt that and angel visited him. It goes on to talk about there being only One G-d. This is the main theme of the Quran, that there is only One G-d and He has no partners or sons. The Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) was surrounded by people that believed in gods or in sons or daughters of G-d and his main message was there is no such thing, we must worship only the One True G-d and that this had been G-d's message since the beginning of time. The Surah speaks of many Prophets that have preached the same message, to stop worshipping idols and worship only Allah.


Surah 22 is called Al-Hajj (meaning the pilgrimage) and has 78 verses. Scholars disagree as to whether this chapter was revealed in Mecca or Medina or in both (as some chapters were revealed over time). There is a distinct change in style during this chapter which would certainly suggest a period of time between revelation of verses.

This chapter deals with believers, non-believers and also those that believed but only if it meant they didn't have to endure any hardship. That sounds flippant but I do not mean it to, it was a very difficult time for people having to leave everything they know and be outcasts from their society. In Arabia at the time your tribe was everything, people did not think individually but as a tribe, without the tribe you died. So it must have been very difficult for people to turn their backs on their tribe, family and lifestyle.

The chapter begins by speaking to the waverers, explaining the right path and the punishment for choosing the wrong path.

To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to fight), because they are wronged;- and verily, Allah is most powerful for their aid (22:39)

Again we are instructed only to fight to defend ourselves.

This Surah deals with the afterlife, that whether we believe or not will be judged by Allah.