For Those Who Think: Surah Ibrahim [ Abraham ] , 14....Prologue

Recitation by Shaykh Khalid al- Jaleel [ Part 1 ]:-

THE SURAH OPENS with the following words:

(This is) a Scripture which We have revealed unto thee (Muhammad) that thereby thou mayst bring forth mankind from darkness unto light, by the permission of their Lord, unto the path of the Mighty, the Owner of Praise, (1) Allah, unto Whom belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. and woe unto the disbelievers from an awful doom; (2)

Darkness is manifested in this world in many different forms: ignorance, conceit, corruption, disobedience to God, and so on. God revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad , the seal of the prophets, in order to lead people out of all kinds of darkness and to teach them that this life is a prelude to another one yet to come; that those who give priority to this life over the next are doomed to failure and that those who oppose God's revelation and resist His will are odious and corrupt

Long before the advent of Prophet Muhammad, god sent Moses to lead the people of Israel out of darkness of slavery and humiliation and secure their freedom of mind, conscience, and movement, and the privelege to enjoy God's kindness and generosities. All Moses asked of his people was to appreciate those favors and acknowledge God's grace.

We verily sent Moses with Our revelations, saying: Bring thy people forth from darkness unto light. And remind them of the days of Allah. Lo! therein are revelations for each steadfast, thankful (heart). (5)

All religions aim to transport man from a state of ignorance and perversion to one of knowledge and uprightness. the Book that Prophet Muhammad was given, the Quran, is well -equipped to guide man and save him from error and loss. However throughout human history, humankind has always resisted divine revelation and stood in opposition to God's messengers seeking to thwart and frustrate their missions. Many has exploited their power, wealth and influence to entice those who believe away from the truth but the believers have on their part persevered in their faith, saying: "How should we not put our trust in Allah when He hath shown us our ways? We surely will endure the hurt ye do us. In Allah let the trusting put their trust. (12)

The process of religious , moral and social reform of human communities does not bear fruit overnight. It requires diligence, dedication, and relentless effort. Muhammad spent twenty-three long years instructing his people and schooling them in the teachings and principles of the Qur'an in order to discipline their pedestrian, uncultured attitudes, eradicate their ignorance and backwardness in the fields of science and civilization, and prepare them for the leadership of humankind. The Qur'an took the Arabs on a huge quantum leap- culturally, politically, intellectually, and morally. When they took on their opponents they triumphed, there by earning a distinguished and established place in human history. The surah alludes to these concepts when it says:

And those who disbelieved said unto their messengers: Verily we will drive you out from our land, unless ye return to our religion. Then their Lord inspired them, (saying): Verily we shall destroy the wrong-doers, (13)And verily We shall make you to dwell in the land after them. This is for him who feareth My Majesty and feareth My warning. (14)

Weak, aimless, and neglected nations cannot rise to positions of leadership unless they are revitalized by the power and rigor of faith. When a nation believes in God, submits its energies and resources to Him and adopts His messages, it is transformed into a force to be reckoned with. Through this process, God decides the destinies of nations and communities: "And they sought help (from their Lord) and every froward potentate was brought to naught; "(15)

Muslims today who are resisting change all over the world should take note!

Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali
[ 1917 - 1996 ]
Excerpt from " A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "

Reflection and commentary by Shaykh Najib Khan :-

Part 1..1/4