Recitation by Shaykh Mishari Rashid al-Afasy, ayat 51 - ayat 70 ,
The fact that Prophet Muhammad was relating these details of Moses' life and the Israelites' history to the Arabs should have been sufficient proof that what he was telling them had come from another source. Muhammad was an illiterate man who had grown up in an idol-worshiping environment. How could he have come by all these historical accounts and details? The surah says:
And thou (Muhammad) wast not on the western side (of the Mount) when We expounded unto Moses the commandment, and thou wast not among those present; (44) But We brought forth generations, and their lives dragged on for them. And thou wast not a dweller in Midian, reciting unto them Our revelations, but We kept sending (messengers to men). (45)
God gave Muhammad a Book which revived earlier messages and restored their credibility, but many people refused to accept it. They asked for miracles, like the ones Moses performed. But what good did these miracles do? The unbelievers persisted in their refusal, even after witnessing them. About these people, God says:
But when there came unto them the Truth from Our presence, they said:" Why is he not given the like of what was given unto Moses?" Did they not disbelieve in that which was given unto Moses of old? They say:" Two magics that support each other"; and they say:" Lo! in both we are disbelievers. "(48)
As for those who followed Moses out of Egypt, having been saved by God from drowning in the Red sea, they had the audacity to ask Moses to make a god to worship and cetainly seem to have lost the point of his message altogether.
The believers among the Arabs opened their hearts to the Qur'an and benefited from it in understanding their role in this world and in charting their way through history, leading humankind to God and His guidance.
When a community loses its direction in life and is ruled by whims and desires, it can only fail and disintegrate. Islam faced strong resistance from the pagans of Arabia and only a minority saw the truth from the beginning and embraced the new faith. The Jews and Christians, were another matter. The Qur'an treated them with utmost fairness and courtesy, and those of them who embraced Islam were welcome with open arms. God says:
Those unto whom We gave the Scripture before it, they believe in it, (52) And when it is recited unto them, they say: We believe in it. Lo! it is the Truth from our Lord. Lo! even before it we were of those who surrender (unto Him). (53) These will be given their reward twice over, because they are steadfast and repel evil with good, and spend of that wherewith We have provided them, (54)
In the same context, the Prophet was reported to have said that God would double the reward of three types of people including: "a Jew or a Christian who believed in his prophet and lived to believe in me and follow me." [ narrated by Bukhari ]
When Islam began to spread outside Arabia, Western Asia and North Africa were largely populated by Jews and Christians living under Roman rule and large numbers of them embraced Islam a s soon as they were introduced to it. However the pagans of Arabia put up a strong resistance to the new faith and waged war against its followers. This hurt the Prophet and caused him a great deal of pain and anguish, but God console him saying:
"Lo! thou (O Muhammad) guidest not whom thou lovest, but Allah guideth whom He will. And He is best aware of those who walk aright. "(56)
This verse is believed to refer to Muhammad's uncle, Abu Talib, who, despite hos nephew's sincere wishes, had not embraced Islam. He acknowledged the efficacy and the truth of Islam, and the integrity of Muhammad, but remained strongly attached to the traditions and religious beliefs of his forefathers. Reports also speak of some MakkanArab dignitaries expressing coocern that, were they to embrace Islam, the rest of the Arab tribes would drive them out of Makkah. To this, God replied:
And they say:" If we were to follow the Guidance with thee we should be torn out of our land". Have We not established for them a sure sanctuary, whereunto the produce of all things is brought (in trade), a provision from Our presence? But most of them know not. (57)
But as the Arabs persisted in their resistance to Islam, the Qur'an warned them, saying: "And how many a community have We destroyed that was thankless for its means of livelihood! And yonder are their dwellings, which have not been inhabited after them save a little. And We, even We, were the inheritors. "(58)
The surah continues in a similar vein, promising and warning: "And whatsoever ye have been given is a comfort of the life of the world and an ornament thereof; and that which Allah hath is better and more lasting. Have ye then no sense?" (60)
The truth is that most people are reckless and do not heed such advice. The Pharaohs could have ruled with justice and benevolence and could have added to their achievements and glory. On the other hand, their subjects could have resisted and refused to submit to their tyranny. The Qur'an deplores the attitude of both camps, saying:
On the day when He will call unto them and say: "Where are My partners whom ye imagined?" (62) Those concerning whom the Word will have come true will say:" Our Lord! These are they whom we led astray. We led them astray even as we ourselves were astray. We declare our innocence before Thee: us they never worshipped." (63) And it will be said: "Cry unto your (so-called) partners (of Allah)". And they will cry unto them, and they will give no answer unto them, and they will see the Doom. Ah, if they had but been guided! (64)
" A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "
Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali
[ 1917 - 1998 ]
Reflection and commentary by Mufti Menk, of Zimbabwe, on ayat 51 onwards of surah al-Qasas , up to ayat 67 ?
25:10 ..ladies, don't wait until you are balding......
30:50 WE own the dunia.....
43:44 Where are your partners ?
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