Rare recitation of Surah al-Isra' by Shaykh Abdul Basit,
.....on inner jihad and ihsan
Once the external material struggle had been overcome and the Muslims had achieved victory, a new internal struggle took prominence as the self learned to do battle with its ego, pride, and desires. Muhammad was taught that to become closer to God he should perform extra prayers and devote more time to personal, spiritual regeneration and development. Establish worship at the going down of the sun until the dark of night, and (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn. Lo! (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn is ever witnessed. (78) In the course of my research on the Prophet's personality and spiritual devotion to God, I was overwhelmed by the feeling that humanity has never known a more devout and pious worshiper than Muhammad. This is firmly supported by the Qur'an and amply documented in the Prophet's recorded sayings and biographies. Muhammad was the last of the illustrious chain of prophets sent by God to mankind, and he was the seal of prophethood. His coming has been alluded to in the scriptures of the Jews and the Christians and they were aware of his imminent arrival. When the impending event occurred, the true believers among them accepted him without hesitation. God says: With truth have We sent it down, and with truth hath it descended. And We have sent thee as naught else save a bearer of good tidings and a warner. (105) And (it is) a Qur'an that We have divided, that thou mayst recite it unto mankind at intervals, and We have revealed it by (successive) revelation. (106) Say: Believe therein or believe not, lo! those who were given knowledge before it, when it is read unto them, fall down prostrate on their faces, adoring, (107) Saying: Glory to our Lord! Verily the promise of our Lord must be fulfilled. (108) History informs us that as the Roman empire began to decline, the Christians of Syria and Egypt accepted Islam willingly and en masse, and, together with the Arabs, they carried it forward to all corners of the globe. This is a vindication of the truth of the above verses and a strong indication of the true and genuine faith of large sections of pre-Islamic Jewish and Christian communities Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali " A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an " Commentary and reflection on verse 83 to 89 by Dr Lutfi al Patani : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7UD2VoBwkM
[ for the' modern man ' I would say....it is in the Qur'an, stupid! just read it with an open mind!]
Prophet Muhammad spared no effort to present the principle of tawhid in the simplest and most intelligible and forceful manner possible. Although miracles were demanded of him, and he was challenged to present extraordinary material evidence to support his arguments, there were no indications that his detractors would have believed him anyway. At one stage the Makkans demanded Muhammad to turn the hills of Safa, in Makkah, into gold before they would give any credence to what he was telling them.
However, there was no guarantee that they would have believed him, even if he had done as they asked, for God says: "Naught hindereth Us from sending portents save that the folk of old denied them. And We gave Thamud the she-camel - a clear portent--but they did wrong in respect of her. We send not portents save to warn "(59). The unbelievers of Qureysh were quite specific:
Or thou cause the heaven to fall upon us piecemeal, as thou hast pretended, or bring Allah and the angels as a warrant; (92) Or thou have a house of gold; or thou ascend up into heaven, and even then we will put no faith in thine ascension till thou bring down for us a book that we can read. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord be glorified! Am I aught save a mortal messenger? (93)
The truth of the matter, reiterated again and again, is that even if God has acceded to their demands, they still would not have believed in Him. The Qur'an says:
And even if We opened unto them a Gate of heaven and they kept mounting through it, They would say: Our sight is wrong - nay, but we are folk bewitched. (al-Hijr: 14-15)
The unbelievers are saturated with obstinacy and disbelief [ kufr ], an overwhelming persistent state of envy, stupidity, selfishness and greed. Freedom from kufr requires enlightenment, fair-mindedness and high moral standards. The conflict between kufr and faith [ iman ] is a continuing one in the history of man and its outcome will not become apparent until the hereafter, and then:
On the day when We shall summon all men with their record, whoso is given his book in his right hand - such will read their book and they will not be wronged a shred. (71) Whoso is blind here will be blind in the Hereafter, and yet further from the road. (72) However, the rejection of his people was not going to deter Muhammad from the task with which he had been entrusted; the timeless message had been addressed to all mankind and so was destined to spread to the far corners of the world. Muhammad's mission was made aoo the more difficult by the fact that, apart from the help and blessing of God, his methods had to rely on persuasion, education, and reform alone. Some prominent Makkan leaders demanded to be given special concessions and insisted on being treated differently from the rest. A similar situation had been faced by prophet Noah when the more powerful members of his community had asked him: They said: Shall we put faith in thee, when the lowest (of the people) follow thee? He[ Noah ] said: And what knowledge have I of what they may have been doing (in the past)? Lo! their reckoning is my Lord's concern, if ye but knew; And I am not (here) to repulse believers. (as-Shuara: 111-114) If Muhammad could have been swayed into paying more attention to the demands of the influential people this would have been at the expense of the lesser, more ordinary folk, who had just as much right to learn and understand about the religion. The surah tells him, however: And they indeed strove hard to beguile thee (Muhammad) away from that wherewith We have inspired thee, that thou shouldst invent other than it against Us; and then would they have accepted thee as a friend. (73) And if We had not made thee wholly firm thou mightest almost have inclined unto them a little. (74) Then had we made thee taste a double (punishment) of living and a double (punishment) of dying, then hadst thou found no helper against Us. (75) Whatever means one adopt to spread the message of Islam, it must be in accordance with the principles of faith and cannot deviate from them. This is why the Prophet was reprimanded for giving more attention and energy to the pursuit of rich and influential individuals whilst neglecting the needs of the poor and ordinary ones. In any case, there was no way of ensuring that the powerful were simply not deceiving him in their continuous scheming to undermine the Muslims. "And they indeed wished to scare thee from the land that they might drive thee forth from thence, and then they would have stayed (there) but a little after thee "(76). Makkan Arabs resorted to persecution and conspiracy in order to intimidate the Prophet and his followers, and force then out of Makkah. At one point, they were poised to kill him, but God led him to safety. Prophet Muhammad emigrated to Madinah and, within a few years, Islam had prevailed and he returned to Makkah triumphant. Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali
VERSE 83 OF AL-BAQARAH cites God's advice to the Israleites to: "Be courteous to others, " emphasizing the point that politeness and civility are nccessary features of the believers. Echoing this counsel verse 53 of this surah also directs Muslims, through Prophet Muhammad, to be courteous and pleasant to one another: "Tell My servants to be courteous in their speech, for Satan sows discord among them. satan is the sworn enemy of man "(53). This is followed by an assumption that Islam, and the Muslims, shall eventually triumph. "Your Lord is best aware of all who dwell in the heavens and on the earth. We have exalted some prophets above others, and to David We gave the Psalms" (55)
Elsewhere in the Qur'an, the Psalms of David are said to include this promise: "We ordained in the Psalms, as in the Book previously, that My righteous servants shall inherit the land of paradise" (al-Anbiya: 105). Taken together, these statements affirm the continuity of God's message throughout history. This continuity is based on the concept of tawhid, the distinguishing and most fundamental principle that binds the community of believers together and link them firmly to God,
Say, "Pray to whomever you wish besides God. They cannot relieve your suffering, nor end it." Those to whom they pray themselves seek God's grace, vying to be close to Him, pleading for His mercy, and fearing His punishment. Your Lord's punishment is ever fearful. (56-57)
Following these verses the surah moves on to give a most profound statement concerning Adam and his offspring. "We have placed Adam's offspring in high regard, facilitated their travel on land and by sea, provided them with good things, and exalted them significantly above many of Our creatures....."(70). But Adam himself proved lacking in will-power, whilst some of his offspring showed and have continued to show a remarkable lack of gratitude for the generosity extended to them. The Qur'an relates some astonishing instances of human disrespect of, and indifference towards, God and His kindness to humankind. Humankind have been especially favored with intellectual powers which enable them to discern, rationalize, and judge values, objects, ideas, behavior, and principles. However, once they begin to disregard or defy the logical foundations of the world in which they live, their rationalization and, subsequently, communication with it break down.
Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali " A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an " Reflection and commentary by Dr Yusuf Kavakci, part 6 [ ayat 76 - ayat 96 ]
....what I can't perceive, measure or comprehend is NOT THERE !.....
THE SURAH GOES ON TO ADDRESS and educate the unbelievers about God, accusing them of preferring to live in darkness rather than to accept the truth of God's existence. By refusing to accept His message, the unbelievers of Muhammad's time suspended their rational intellectual faculties and thereby denigrated themselves to a level lower than the animals which only live life on a day-to-day basis and see nothing beyond their immediate material existence. Their excuse was that Muhammad must have been a victim of incantation, influenced by a magic spell, and that what he was saying to them was absolute nonsense for there could not be life after death.
It is interesting to note here that modern civilization also adopts the exact same logic, with reference to life after death, as reflected clearly in its art, literature, law and philosophy. Ancient and modern skeptics would say in disbelief: And they say: When we are bones and fragments, shall we forsooth, be raised up as a new creation? (49) Say: Be ye stones or iron (50) Or some created thing that is yet greater in your thoughts! Then they will say: Who shall bring us back (to life). Say: He Who created you at the first. Then will they shake their heads at thee, and say: When will it be? Say: It will perhaps be soon; (51) A day when He will call you and ye will answer with His praise, and ye will think that ye have tarried but a little while. (52) This is the second time this argument appears in the surah, indicating that human beings are raised above the animals by virtue of their free will and intellectual capabilities, but that once these capabilities are relinquished, their senses lose their human functions and begin to resemble more those of the animals- they look without seeing, hear without understanding, and speak without knowledge. More ominously, however, as man openly denies the existence and sovereignty of God and refuses to believe in his accountability to Him, he forfeits the right to and the privilege of God's guidance. And he whom Allah guideth, he is led aright; while, as for him whom He sendeth astray, for them thou wilt find no protecting friends beside Him, and We shall assemble them on the Day of Resurrection on their faces, blind, dumb and deaf; their habitation will be hell; whenever it abateth, We increase the flame for them. (97) That is their reward because they disbelieved Our revelations and said: When we are bones and fragments shall we, forsooth, be raised up as a new creation? (98) Have they not seen that Allah Who created the heavens and the earth is Able to create the like of them, and hath appointed for them an end whereof there is no doubt? But the wrong-doers refuse aught save disbelief. (99) Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali " A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an " Reflection and commentary by Imam Dr Yusuf Ziya Kavakci, [ part 5 ] [ ayat 58 - ayat 75 ]
INCREASINGLY, ILLICIT SEXUAL RELATIONS, including extra-marital sex, or adultery, have become the norm in modern society. Free indulgence in promiscuous sex is seen as a healthy alternative to the so-called sexual repression associated with morality and family based societies. But God says: "And come not near unto adultery. Lo! it is an abomination and an evil way "(32). Murder, that is to say the unlawful killing of one human being by another, is recognized as a crime in all societies. However, the lawful killing of a human being for the commission of a crime, that is to say capital punishment has been made illegal in several countries today, and thus this has lead to the spread of insecurity and crime, resulting in the loss of innocent lives. The Qur'an exhorts:
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. (33)
The Qur'an also enjoins man to protect the property of the orphan, honor pledges, covenants, and contracts, and exercise justice and fairness in using weights and measures. Every individual bears responsibility for what he hears, or sees or feels. As humans, our lives have a purpose, our senses and actions carry liabilities and we are answerable for all experiences. The Qur'an tells us: "(O man), follow not that whereof thou hast no knowledge. Lo! the hearing and the sight and the heart - of each of these it will be asked " (36). A little discretion and reflection with respect to our thoughts and to what we hear and learn can help us avoid a great deal of misunderstanding and ill-feeling. This section is rounded off with the profound advice: "And walk not in the earth exultant. Lo! thou canst not rend the earth, nor canst thou stretch to the height of the hills " (37). These valuable exhortations are vital ingredient for the development of morally and spiritually balanced individuals and are, moreover, indispensable building blocks for the development of strong and enlightened societies.
The surah then turns on to an inspiring and reassuring discussion about God Almighty and His power and affinity with the believers. It touches on the natural physical world around us and the amazing harmony and rapport which distinguish its systems, movement, and existence. The infinite and incredibly complex universe, with its millions upon millions of stars, planets, and galaxies, is in constant motion, but this motion is so smooth and tranquil that every second that passes provides additional proof of the power and might of its Creator.
Another marvel of creation is the human body composed of hundreds of millions of cells which form a number of complex systems performing a wide range of vital well-integrated functions that make a man a central and effective force in shaping the destiny of the world. Does each of these cells realize the purpose of their existence or comprehend the functions they carry out? Do 'white cells' or 'red cells' have brains of their own that them what to do or how to behave? NO, it is Allah who controls them and who programmed them to perform a specific set of functions lasting for a determined period of time which could extend to whole generation. This marvel is duplicated, with the same efficiency and precision, in thousands of millions of human beings and has been done so hundreds of thousands of years.
Every atom in the vast cosmos, every cell, in every human being, and every creature is a testament to God's predominance and authority. Is it not proof of His incontestable supremacy and unparalleled power? This world cannot exist on its own, nor could it have come into existence of its own free will or voilition. It is totally and completely dependent on the power of God. Skeptics who choose not to believe in God or acknowledge His authority do Him no harm whatsoever.
We verily have displayed (Our warnings) in this Qur'an that they may take heed, but it increaseth them in naught save aversion. (41) Say (O Muhammad, to the disbelievers): If there were other gods along with Him, as they say, then had they sought a way against the Lord of the Throne. (42) Glorified is He, and High Exalted above what they say! (43) The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein praise Him, and there is not a thing but hymneth His praise; but ye understand not their praise. Lo! He is ever Clement, Forgiving. (44)
Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali
" A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "
Reflection and Commentary by Imam Dr Yusuf Ziya Kavakci,
THE SURAH ESTABLISHES THE GOD-ORDAINED patterns that govern man's world: And We appoint the night and the day two portents. Then We make dark the portent of the night, and We make the portent of the day sight-giving, that ye may seek bounty from your Lord, and that ye may know the computation of the years, and the reckoning; and everything have We expounded with a clear expounding. (12) As time goes by the cycle of human progress and decline is repeated, as indicated in the surah; civilization rise and fall, and communities dominate and become dominated. The single common element in this process is man himself; his behavior and judgement decide his destiny and future. "Whosoever goeth right, it is only for (the good of) his own soul that he goeth right, and whosoever erreth, erreth only to its hurt. No laden soul can bear another's load, We never punish until we have sent a messenger " (15). This principle is universal, and equally applicable to individual as well as collective human behavior. However, the Qur'an points out that affluence and economic injustice are the first symptoms of corruption in a nation. The ascendancy of those who hoard wealth and exploit others is usually the main reason, and the first sign, of a nation's downfall. And when We would destroy a township We send commandment to its folk who live at ease, and afterward they commit abomination therein, and so the Word (of doom) hath effect for it, and we annihilate it with complete annihilation. (16) Implicit in these statements is the fact that nations and civilizations are liable to be weakened and undermined by affluence and extravagance. Their fate is also linked to their people's attitude towards the hereafter and the judgement that is sure to come. "Whoso desireth that (life) which hasteneth away, We hasten for him therein that We will for whom We please. And afterward We have appointed for him hell; he will endure the heat thereof, condemned, rejected " (18). Affluence and prosperity are bestowed on nations and individuals according to God's will, and they do not necessarily entail obedience and submission to Him. The surah sounds a stern warning: "How many generations have We destroyed since Noah! And Allah sufficeth as Knower and Beholder of the sins of His slaves "(17), for their corruption and transgression, and " There is not a township but We shall destroy it ere the Day of Resurrection, or punish it with dire punishment. That is set forth in the Book (of Our decrees) "(58). By way of advice, the surah recommends , in verses 23 - 39 inclusive, a list of social, moral, and and economic practices and measures which, if adopted, would strengthen the fabric of society and maintain justice, balance and cohesion within it. The section begins thus: "Thy Lord hath decreed, that ye worship none save Him, and (that ye show) kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age with thee, say not "Fie" unto them nor repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word "(23) , and ends with the statement: This is (part) of that wisdom wherewith thy Lord hath inspired thee (O Muhammad). And set not up with Allah any other god, lest thou be cast into hell, reproved, abandoned. (39) We note that the section opens and closes with an emphasis on tawhid, indicating that it is the backbone of righteousness and true submission to God. Along the tawhid comes respect and kindness towards parents and old people. To appreciate the value if this, one need only to look at how parents and old people are treated in today's Western materialistic societies. Once they reach a certain age, parents and grandparents are committed to old people's homes and institutions that are devoid of love and kinship, abandoned by their sons and daughters and left to die in loneliness and desolation. Despite the hard work and effort put into raising their children, parents in this society receive very little in return and nothing reflects more disloyalty and selfishness than uncaring, ungrateful offspring. Furthermore, the general trend in many societies today is to raise children with the idea that they should break away from their families at the earliest possible age. In the West, for example, they meet only, if at all, once a year at Christmas, or at a family weddings and funerals. In Muslim societies, children should have a different relationship with their parents. God says : "And lower unto them the wing of submission through mercy, and say:" My Lord! Have mercy on them both as they did care for me when I was little " "(24). Regarding other family relations, He says: "Give the kinsman his due, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and squander not (thy wealth) in wantonness "(26). I understand this to mean one should not live in luxury when one is surrounded by others in desperate need of basic necessities of life. This is further stressed in the verse which says: "Be neither miserly nor extravagant, lest you would become despised or destitute" [29]. Alluding to the pre-Islamic Arab custom of burying alive unwanted new-born girls, the surah goes on to point out that such method of birth control are not the best solution for the world population problem. People must seek fair and equitable means of distribution of wealth and resources among all members of society: "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 "(31). Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali " A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an " Reflection and commentary :- 1. Imam Dr Yususf Ziya Kavakci, [ ayat 28 - ayat 40 ]
2. Tuan Guru Dr Ismail Lutfi al-Patani, [ 'French' ] [ ayat 23 - 25 ] 1/5
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...'mok ning nok pergo anok sepuloh buleh, anok ni sepuloh belong tentu buleh pergo mok sorge'.. 5/5
...dale dunio ning tak dok lagi ambo juppo mok pok nok nyusoh kae anok......
A UNIQUE FEATURE OF THIS SURAH is the direct use of the word ' Qur'an ' which is employed around eleven times, a characteristic not found in any of the other surahs. These reference occur in the following verses: Lo! this Qur'an guideth unto that which is straightest, and giveth tidings unto the believers who do good works that theirs will be a great reward. (9) We verily have displayed (Our warnings) in this Qur'an that they may take heed, but it increaseth them in naught save aversion. (41) And when thou recitest the Qur'an we place between thee and those who believe not in the Hereafter a hidden barrier; (45) And We place upon their hearts veils lest they should understand it, and in their ears a deafness; and when thou makest mention of thy Lord alone in the Qur'an, they turn their backs in aversion. (46) And (it was a warning) when we told thee: Lo! thy Lord encompasseth mankind, and We appointed the vision which We showed thee as an ordeal for mankind, and (likewise) the Accursed Tree in the Qur'an. We warn them, but it increaseth them in naught save gross impiety. (60) Establish worship at the going down of the sun until the dark of night, and (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn. Lo! (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn is ever witnessed. (78) And We reveal of the Qur'an that which is a healing and a mercy for believers though it increase the evil-doers in naught save ruin. (82) Say: Verily, though mankind and the jinn should assemble to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof though they were helpers one of another. (88) And verily We have displayed for mankind in this Qur'an all kinds of similitudes, but most of mankind refuse aught save disbelief. (89) And (it is) a Qur'an that We have divided, that thou mayst recite it unto mankind at intervals, and We have revealed it by (successive) revelation. (106) It appears that the reader's attention is drawn to the fact that the Qur'an is the most effective instrument that can unite the Muslims and make them into a great power again. In contrast, the abandonement and the negligence of its message by its followers will be considered inexcusable and unjustifiable. In the story of the Israelites we have a clear lesson and a warning. They were dominated and defeated by pagans and fire-worshipers because they did not respect their divine scripture. Looking at the dismal history of the Muslims, is it any wonder that, having been guilty of a similar infringement, they are also being humiliated by the worst and most lowly of enemies? All is not lost however and this downward trend can be reversed in order to surmount and overcome the situation. The Muslim nation's ethical, social, political, and economic life, its laws, practices, and relations with the outside world should stem from the Qur'an and be guided by its principles. In short, Muslims must learn to live every aspects of their life by the Qur'an. This process cannot be completed overnight and will be an on-going and gradual development, governed by the laws of human nature and imperatives of social change. Unfortunately, man is impatient and can easily be driven to despair. " Man prayeth for evil as he prayeth for good; for man was ever hasty "(11). " A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an " Shaykh Muhammad al- Ghazali Tuan Guru Dr Ismail Lutfi al-Patani, [ ayat 16 - 22 ] ...on Tsunami, bala and wrath of God...
