Surah Al Imran , 3 : 156 - 200

Excerpt from ' A Thematic Commentary On The Quran ',
Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali [ 1917 -1996 ]

Following this extensive coverage of the surah's two main subject, it closes with two verses. The first talks about the people of the Book and the stance expected of them towards Prophet Muhammad. It says:

And lo! of the People of the Scripture there are some who believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto you and that which was revealed unto them, humbling themselves before Allah. They purchase not a trifling gain at the price of the revelations of Allah. Verily their reward is with their Lord. Lo! Allah is swift to take account. (199) 

This verse, as we can see, extends to the Jews and the Christians as an open invitation, that is there  for posterity, to heed the call of the Prophet of Islam and accept the message he delivered on behalf of God to all humankind.

The second verse, and the closing one in the surah, is addressed to the Muslims. " O ye who believe! Endure, outdo all others in endurance, be ready, and observe your duty to Allah, in order that ye may succeed." (200).
This is a directive addressed to those who believed in Muhammad and followed him to hold fast to that message he delivered and with which God had honored them. They are expected to show a much higher degree of steadfastness than their predecessors in upholding it, and to vigorously defend it, its followers and their lands at all times. They are not to give any leeway to their enemies to overwhelm or dominate them, as witnessed over the last century or so when European colonialism swept over Muslim lands and controlled  the lives and destinies of hundreds of millions of Muslims for decades. It is a call addressed to Muslims everywhere and of every generation, and it is up to every one of us to respond to it.

Recitation by Shaykh Mishari Rashid al-Afasy

[ ayat 156 - ayat 200 ]

[ 1:00:00 -......... ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0n3tSC1h6k




Reflection and commentary by Dr Israr





part 28 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEWqZjJm1ug

part 29 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z9qhM1DyjI

part 30 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4IMJA0A_dQ

part 31 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jqYA_vrR6I

part 32 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTcDtci0pAA

part 33 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzg4tDGEQrc

part 34 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SXKQvYuJtQ

part 35 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-jq8tI0AGw

part 36 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfB__MtNb5M

part 37 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZb0RiNyejE