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Monday, 05 February 2018
 

Surat Al-Anaam/Cattle- Meccan –Ayats 165 – Section – Ten– Verses 145-165

 

Say (O’ Muhammad):”I do not find in that Message which has been revealed to me by inspiration anything (meat) forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it, unless it be a dead meat [cadaver], or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the like), or the flesh of the swine (pork); for it is surely an abomination an impure or impious (unlawful) meat (of an animal) which is slaughtered as a sacrifice invoked for others than God (i.e. slaughtered for idols, or God’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering). But (even so) if whosoever a person is forced by necessity without willful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits (for him) certainly your Lord is Oft-Forgiving- Most Merciful”. (145)  

قُلْ لَا أَجِدُ فِي مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَى طَاعِمٍ يَطْعَمُهُ إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ مَيْتَةً أَوْ دَمًا مَسْفُوحًا أَوْ لَحْمَ خِنْزِيرٍ فَإِنَّهُ رِجْسٌ أَوْ فِسْقًا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِ فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ (145)

And for those who are Jews (who followed the Jewish Law), We forbade every (animal) with undivided hoof, and We forbade for them the fat of the ox and the sheep, except what adheres to their backs or their entrails, or what is mixed up with a bone. Thus We recompensed them for their willful rebellion and disobedience; and verily, We are Truthful (In Our ordinance). (146)

وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ هَادُوا حَرَّمْنَا كُلَّ ذِي ظُفُرٍ وَمِنَ الْبَقَرِ وَالْغَنَمِ حَرَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ شُحُومَهُمَا إِلَّا مَا حَمَلَتْ ظُهُورُهُمَا أَوِ الْحَوَايَا أَوْ مَا اخْتَلَطَ بِعَظْمٍ ذَلِكَ جَزَيْنَاهُمْ بِبَغْيِهِمْ وَإِنَّا لَصَادِقُونَ (146)

If they (Jews) accuse you of falsehood and deny you [O’ Muhammad PPBUH] say:”your Lord is the Owner of Vast Mercy all-embracing; but His wrath will never be turned back from the people who are in guilt (criminals-polytheists-sinners). (147)

فَإِنْ كَذَّبُوكَ فَقُلْ رَبُّكُمْ ذُو رَحْمَةٍ وَاسِعَةٍ وَلَا يُرَدُّ بَأْسُهُ عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ (147)

Those who took partners (in worship) with God will say:”If God had Willed/Wished, we would not have taken partners (in worship)with Him, nor would our fathers, nor we would have taken taboos or forbidden anything (against His Will)”. Likewise did their ancestors argued falsely, until they Our wrath. Say:”have you any (certain) knowledge? If so, produce it before us! Verily, you follow nothing but conjecture, and you do nothing but lie/fabricate lies”. (148)   

سَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا لَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا أَشْرَكْنَا وَلَا آَبَاؤُنَا وَلَا حَرَّمْنَا مِنْ شَيْءٍ كَذَلِكَ كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ حَتَّى ذَاقُوا بَأْسَنَا قُلْ هَلْ عِنْدَكُمْ مِنْ عِلْمٍ فَتُخْرِجُوهُ لَنَا إِنْ تَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَإِنْ أَنْتُمْ إِلَّا تَخْرُصُونَ (148)

Say:”With God is the perfect proof and argument that reaches home: if it had been His Will, He would had been guided you all” (149)

قُلْ فَلِلَّهِ الْحُجَّةُ الْبَالِغَةُ فَلَوْ شَاءَ لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ (149)

Say:”Bring forward your witnesses, who can testify to proof that God has forbidden so and son.” If they –bring such witness and- testify, do not [O’ Muhammad PPBUH] testify with them. And you should not follow the vain desires of such as treat Our Signs as falsehood, and such as believe not in the Hereafter, and they hold others equal with their Guardian Lord”. (150)   

قُلْ هَلُمَّ شُهَدَاءَكُمُ الَّذِينَ يَشْهَدُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَ هَذَا فَإِنْ شَهِدُوا فَلَا تَشْهَدْ مَعَهُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآَيَاتِنَا وَالَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآَخِرَةِ وَهُمْ بِرَبِّهِمْ يَعْدِلُونَ (150)

Say [O’ Muhammad PPBUH]:”Come, I will rehearse /recite what God has (really) prohibited you from: join not anything as equal with Him, be good and dutiful to your parents, do not kill your children on a plea of want and poverty;- We provide sustenance for you and for them;- do not come near to the shameful deeds-dissolution- whether (committed) openly or secretly;- and do not kill/ take the life, which is forbidden, and God has made it sacred –except by way of justice and law. This He commanded you that you may learn wisdom and understand”. (151)    

قُلْ تَعَالَوْا أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَلَّا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ مِنْ إِمْلَاقٍ نَحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ (151)

“And come not near to the orphan’s property, except to improve it, until he (or she) attain the age of full strength; and give measure and weight with (full) justice;- We do not place burden on any person/soul , but that which he can bear;- and whenever you speak (i.e. give your judgment between men or give evidence), speak justly and say the truth even if a near relative is concerned; and the Covenant of God. Thus He commanded you, that you may remember.” (152)  

وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَأَوْفُوا الْكَيْلَ وَالْمِيزَانَ بِالْقِسْطِ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَاعْدِلُوا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَى وَبِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ أَوْفُوا ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ (152)

“And verily, this is My Way(Strait Path-verses 151-152) follow it, and do not follow (other) paths; for they will separate and scatter you about from His (great) Path: that is what He Has ordained and commanded you, that you may become pious and be righteous.” (153)

وَأَنَّ هَذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ (153)

Moreover, We gave Moses the Book (the Torah), completing (Our Favor) to those who would do right, and explaining all things -in details- and a guidance and mercy, that they may believe in the Meeting with their Lord. (154)   

ثُمَّ آَتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ تَمَامًا عَلَى الَّذِي أَحْسَنَ وَتَفْصِيلًا لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لَعَلَّهُمْ بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّهِمْ يُؤْمِنُونَ (154)

And this is a blessed Book (the Qur’an) which We have sent down, so you follow it and be pious and righteous ( i.e. fear God) that you may receive Mercy. (155)

وَهَذَا كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ مُبَارَكٌ فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَاتَّقُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ (155)

Lest you (Pagan Arabs) should say:”The Book was sent down only to two peoples/sects before us (the Jews and Christians), and for our part, we –in fact- have remained unaware/unacquainted with all that they learned by assiduous study.” (156)   

أَنْ تَقُولُوا إِنَّمَا أُنْزِلَ الْكِتَابُ عَلَى طَائِفَتَيْنِ مِنْ قَبْلِنَا وَإِنْ كُنَّا عَنْ دِرَاسَتِهِمْ لَغَافِلِينَ (156)

Or lest you should say:”if the Book had only been sent down to us, we would have followed its guidance, and surely we would have been better guided than they are”. So, now has come to you a Clear Signs (the Qur’an) from your Lord, and a guide and a Mercy: then who would does more wrong than the one who rejects God’s Signs, and turns away there-from? We shall requite those who turn away from Our Signs with a dreadful penalty and evil torment, because of their turning away (from them). (157)    

أَوْ تَقُولُوا لَوْ أَنَّا أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْنَا الْكِتَابُ لَكُنَّا أَهْدَى مِنْهُمْ فَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ بَيِّنَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ كَذَّبَ بِآَيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَصَدَفَ عَنْهَا سَنَجْزِي الَّذِينَ يَصْدِفُونَ عَنْ آَيَاتِنَا سُوءَ الْعَذَابِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَصْدِفُونَ (157)

Are they (then) waiting to see if the angels comes to them, or your Lord (Himself), or certain parts of your Lord’s Signs! The day that certain parts of the Signs of your Lord do come, no good will it do to a soul/person to believe in them then, if it did not believed in them before, nor earned righteousness through his Faith. Say:”Wait you! We too are waiting”. (158)

هَلْ يَنْظُرُونَ إِلَّا أَنْ تَأْتِيَهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَوْ يَأْتِيَ رَبُّكَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَ بَعْضُ آَيَاتِ رَبِّكَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِي بَعْضُ آَيَاتِ رَبِّكَ لَا يَنْفَعُ نَفْسًا إِيمَانُهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ آَمَنَتْ مِنْ قَبْلُ أَوْ كَسَبَتْ فِي إِيمَانِهَا خَيْرًا قُلِ انْتَظِرُوا إِنَّا مُنْتَظِرُونَ (158)

Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into sects; you [O’ Muhammad PPBUH] have no concern (or part) with them in the least. Their affair is only with God, Who then Will -in the end- tell them the truth of all that they used to do. 159 

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا لَسْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُمْ إِلَى اللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ (159)

He whoever does good deed, shall have ten times as much thereof to his credit, and whoever brings and do evil deed shall only be recompensed according to his evil thereof, and they will not be wronged. (160) 

مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا وَمَنْ جَاءَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ فَلَا يُجْزَى إِلَّا مِثْلَهَا وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ (160)

Say [O’ Muhammad PPBUH!]:”Verily, truly my Lord has guided me to a Strait Path, a right religion, the path Trod by Ibrahim/Abraham, the true in Faith, and he certainly was not of the polytheists.” (161)   

قُلْ إِنَّنِي هَدَانِي رَبِّي إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ دِينًا قِيَمًا مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ (161)

Say [O’ Muhammad PPBUH !]:”Verily, truly my prayer, and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death, are all for God, the Cherisher of the worlds. (162)

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (162)

“He has no partner, and of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims (who bow to His Will. (163)

لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ (163)

Say:” Shall I seek a Lord for (my) Cherisher other than God; when He is the Cherisher of all things (that is exists)? Every soul draws the meed of its acts (of sins)on none but itself; and no bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another. Then your goal is towards your Lord (your return), so He will tell you the truth of the things wherein you are disputed. (164)   

قُلْ أَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْغِي رَبًّا وَهُوَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَلَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ إِلَّا عَلَيْهَا وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ (164)

And it is He Who has made you (His) agents (generations coming after generations) replacing each other on the earth. And He has raised you in ranks, some above others, that He may try you in the gifts He has given you. Surely, your Lord is Swift/Quick in punishment and retributions; yet He is certainly is indeed is Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful . (165)

وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَكُمْ خَلَائِفَ الْأَرْضِ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَكُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَاتٍ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آَتَاكُمْ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ سَرِيعُ الْعِقَابِ وَإِنَّهُ لَغَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ (165)

 

HADEETH SHARIF: (VERSE 158);- A} Narrated Abu Hurrairah: God’s Messenger [PPBUH] said:’ The Hour -+-+-will not be established until the sun rises from the west; and when the people see it, then whoever will be living on the surface of the earth, will have Faith, and that is –the time- when no good will it to do a person to believe then if he didn’t believed before’- Saheeh Al-Bukhary. B} Narrated Abu-Hurrairah: God’s Messenger [PPBUH] said: ’When the following three signs appear, no good will it do to a person to believe then if he didn’t believe before:-
1- RISING THE SUN FROM THE WEST.
2- THE COMING OF AL-MASIH AL-DAJJAL= THE PRETENDED CHRIST (FALSE MESSIAH).
3- The coming out of the Beast from the earth (Dabbatul-Ardh). (Saheeh Muslim-The Book of Fitnah- The signs of the coming of the hour).
C} Narrated Anas: The Prophet [PPBUH] said: ‘No Prophet was sent but that he warned his followers against the one-eyed liar (AL-MASIH AL-DAJJAL= THE PRETENDED CHRIST (FALSE MESSIAH). Beware! He is blind in one eye, and your Lord is not so, and there will be his eyes the word (Kafir i.e. disbeliever). This Hadeeth is also quoted by Abu-Hurrairah and Ibn-Abbas  In Saheeh Al-Bukhary.
COMMENTARY VERSES 144-165: 
(Verse 145)- Blood poured forth: as distinguished from blood adhering to flesh, or the liver, or such other internal organs purifying the blood.
(Verses 146-147)- a) Zufur: may mean claw or hoof; it is in the singular number; but as no animal has a single claw, and there is no point in a division of claws, we must look to a hoof for the correct interpretation. In the Jewish Law (Leviticus, xi 3.6-“3-if an animal has hooves that are split into two parts, and if that animal also chews the cud, then you can eat the meat from that animal.” 4-6” some animals chew the cud, but they don’t have split hooves. Don’t eat those animal, Camels, rock badgers, and rabbits, and the hare were not lawful, they do not ‘divide the hoof’, ‘undivided hoof’ therefore is the correct interpretation. These three animals -unlawful to the Jews- are lawful in Islam. See verse 160 Surat Al-Nisa’a -4. b)- In Leviticus vii, 23 is laid down that “you shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat”. As regards the exceptions, it is to be noticed that priests were enjoined (Leviticus vii, 6) to eat of the fat in the trespass offering, which was considered holy, i.e. ‘the rump’- (the back and bone)’ and the fat that covers the inwards (entrails) (Leviticus vii -3).
(Verse 148)- As used by the Pagans, the argument is false, for it implies: (a) that men have n personal responsibility: (b) that they are victims of a Determinism against which they are helpers, and: (c) that they might therefore go on doing just what they liked. It is also inconsistent, for if (b) is true, (c) cannot be true. Nor is it meant to be taken seriously.
(Verse 149)- On the other hand, the argument cuts true and deep, as from God to His creatures. God is Omnipotent, and can do all that we can conceive. But He –in His Plan- has given man some responsibility and some choice, in order to train man’s will. If man fails, he is helped in various ways by God’s Mercy and Grace. But man cannot go on sinning, and -in a state of sin- expect God to be pleased with him (verse 147).
(Verse 150)- A) The Pagan superstitions were of course baseless, and in many cases harmful and debasing. If God’s name was taken as supporting to them, no true man of God could be taken in, or join in support simply because God’s name was taken in vain. B) {see verse 1}. God, who created and who cherishes and cares for all, should have the first claim on our attention. Those who set up false gods fail to understand God’s true governance or their own true destiny.
(INTRODUCTION VERSES 151-165) ;-God’s commands are not irrational Taboos, but based on the moral law, and conformable to reason. His Way is the Straight Way, of justice and truth, in unity and faith we must dedicate all our life to His service, and His Alone, to Whom we shall return. 
(Verse 151-152) A/ Instead of following Pagan superstitions, and being in constant terror of imaginary taboos and prohibitions, we should study the true moral law, whose sanction is God’s Law. The first step is that we should recognize that He is the One and Only Lord and Cherisher. The mention of goodness to parents immediately afterwards suggests: (1) that God’s love of us and care for us may –on an infinitely higher plane- be understood by our ideal of parental love, which is purely unselfish; (2) that our first duty among our fellow creatures is to our father and mother, whose love leads us to the conception of divine love. Arising from that is the conception of our converse duties to our children. God provides sustenance (material and spiritual) not only for us, but for them; hence any custom like the Pagan custom of sacrificing children to Moloch stands condemned. Then come the moral prohibitions against lewdness and all unseemly acts, relating to sex or otherwise, open or secret. This is followed by the prohibition of killing and fighting. All these things are conformable to our own interests, and therefore true wisdom from our own point of view. B/ For the comprehensive word (Haqq) I have used the two words “Justice and Law”; other significations implied are: right, truth, what is becoming, etc.. it is not only that human life is sacred, but all life is sacred. Even in killing animals for food, a dedicatory formula “IN THE NAME OF GOD” has to be employed to make it lawful. {See Surat Al-Maida 5 verses 1+ 5, and verse 138 of Surat Al-An’am 6}.                 
(Verse 153)- Note again the triple refrain with variations, in verses 151-152 and 153. In verse 151, we have the moral law, which it is for our own good to follow: “This He commanded you, that you may learn wisdom and understand”. In verse 152, we have to deal justly and rightly with others; we are apt to think too much of ourselves and forget others: “Thus He commanded that you may remember.” In verse 153 our attention is called to the Straight Way, the Way of God, the only We that leads to righteousness: “: that is what He Has ordained and commanded you, that you may become pious and be righteous.”
(Verse 154)- The revelation to Moses went into the details of people’s lives, and thus served as a practical guide to the Jews and after them to the Christians. Admittedly the Message delivered by Christ dealt with general principles only and in no way with details. The message of Islam as in the Qur’an is the next complete guide in point of time after that of Moses.
(Verses 155-156)- Because the diligent studies of the earlier People of the Book were in language foreign to the new People of Islam, or because they were meant for circumstances different from those of the new world after Islam.
(Verse 157)- The Qur’an and the life and the teaching of Muhammad the Apostle of God [PPBUH].
(Verse 158) A/ There is no merit in faith; in things that you are compelled to acknowledge, when they actually happen. Faith is belief in things which you do not see with your eyes, but you understand with your spiritual sense; if your whole will consents to it, it results in deeds of righteousness, which are the evidence of your faith. B/ The waiting in the two cases is in quite different sense; the foolish man without faith is waiting for things which will not happen, and is surprised by the real things which do happen; the righteous man of faith is waiting for the fruits of righteousness, of which he has an assured hope; in a higher state of spiritual elevation, even the fruits have no personal meaning to him, for God is to him all-in-all (i.e. verse 162).
(Verse 159)- (Divide their religion): Farraqa i.e. (1) make a distinction between one part of it and another, take the part which suits them and reject the rest: or (2) have religion one day of the week and the world the rest of the six days: or (3) keep “religion in its right place”, as if it did not claim to govern the whole life: make a sharp distinction between the secular and the religious, or (4) show a sectarian bias, seek differences in views, so as to break up the unity of Islam.
(Verse 160)- God is just as well as generous. To the good the reward is multiplied ten times (i.e. far above merits) on account of His generosity. To the evil, the punishment is no more than commensurate with their sin, and even so the door of mercy is always open to those who sincerely repent and show in by their conduct.
(Verses 161-2-3-4)- The doctrine of personal responsibility again. We are fully responsible for our acts, ourselves; we cannot transfer the consequences to someone else. Nor can anyone vicariously atone for our sins. If people have honest doubts or differences about important questions of religion, they should not start futile disputes. All will be clear in the end. Our duty here is to maintain unity and discipline, and do the duty that comes to us. 
(Verse 165)- (See Suart Al-Bagara 2 verse 30 and commentary) – Where I have translated ‘KHALIFA’ as ‘Vicegerent’, it being God’s Plan to make Adam [as representing mankind] His vicegerent on earth, as also been construed the same word by the word of AGENT. Another idea implied in “Khalifa” is that of “successor, heir, or inheritor”, i.e. one who has the ultimate ownership after the present possessors, to whom a life-tenancy has been given by the owner have passed away. In Surat Al-Hijr (Rocky Tract) 15 verse 23 occurs the striking word “heirs”= ‘WARITHUN’ as applied to God: “We give life and death, and We are the Heirs (or Inheritors).” The same idea occurs in Surat Al-Imran 3 verse 180 and commentary. The translation here attempts to express both the ideas which we understand from the original.