In response to objection on verses 69:44-47
Anayat Bukhari
Points to remember:
Before going to answer this question it seems appropriate to remind a few points of principle regarding Quran.
· According to Quran it is a guidance for many but it leads astray many. One of such verses is here to contemplate on.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي أَن يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًا مَّا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا ۚ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًا ۘ يُضِلُّ بِهِ كَثِيرًا وَيَهْدِي بِهِ كَثِيرًا ۚ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلَّا الْفَاسِقِينَ - 2:26
“Indeed, Allah is not timid to present an example - that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it. And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, "What did Allah intend by this as an example?" He misleads many thereby and guides many thereby. And He misleads not except the defiantly disobedient,….” Baqarah 2;26
Extracting meanings of Quran out of context, reading Quran to find faults in it, considering Quran similar to a man written book, etc. are among some of the factors which can lead a person astray.
· Quran is not in the style of a chronicle rather it’s a speech from The Lord to His slaves. Most of the times it skips details and comes directly on the required issue. It ensures fluency and conveys the message more effectively. When we say that Quran is the Word of Allah, it proves itself literally. Allah frequently addresses to people, people of the book, believers, etc. in Quran and conveys His message in an easy way. Difference of mood and expression of feelings can be perceived easily in the Message.
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ - 54:17
“And We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?”
Commentary on Surah Al-Haaqah:
It’s hard to comprehend the aim of the verses mentioned in the question without knowing the background of Surah Alhaaqah. This Surah was descended in the initial five years of prophet hood of Muhammad PBUH. A narration by Umar bin Khatab R.A is a clue to it. He said, one day I left home with an intention to afflict Muhammad PBUH. I found him offering prayers in Masjid al haram. I got close to him to listen. He was reciting Surah Alhaaqah. It mesmerized me and I thought that Quraish rightly call him a poet. Just on the next moment Muhammad recited the verse; “this is recited by a noble Messenger and not a poet”. I thought in my mind, if not a poet then might be a soothsayer. Instantly, Muhammad PBUH recited; “not recited by a soothsayer. You ponder very little. This is descended by the Lord of the worlds.” After hearing this, Islam penetrated deep in my heart.
Even after this Umar R.A didn’t accept Islam for long until 6th year of prophet hood which means that Alhaaqah was descended long before his accepting Islam. This was the time when Muhammad PBUH had already started preaching Islam publicly and a group of opponents were planning to check spread of Islam.
First ruku up to verse 37 mentions some details of doomsday. It also mentions the result of rejecting the Messengers along with their Messages. How the people with good deeds and those with bad deeds will be treated.
Analysis of 2nd Ruku (verse 38-52):
The second ruku starting at verse 38 is the peak of this fluency. In verse 38-39 Allah Almighty swears by two things; what you see and what you don’t see.
فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِمَا تُبْصِرُونَ - 69:38
“So I swear by what you see”
وَمَا لَا تُبْصِرُونَ - 69:39
“And what you do not see”
The brief explanation to “what you see” includes the person of Holy Prophet PBUH whose life was like an open book to people of Makkah:
· A gentleman who was titled “sadiq” and “amen” by themselves which means the truthful and the honest respectively.
· A person who had no personal benefit attached to his mission rather he lost even his close relationships.
· Accepting his message was like a practical revolution in the life in every aspect.
· Quran recited by his tongue was absolutely different from the language he spoke so there was no chance to blame him for inventing Quran. However, they did so because they didn’t find any other option.
· The stories, injunctions and the text Quran was presenting could not be expected from Muhammad PBUH who was unaware of these things to the best of their knowledge.
· The system of Universe was going on exactly in the way Quran was presenting, etc.
What they were not seeing was Allah – The Creator, Cherisher and Merciful Who descended Quran on His last Messenger Muhammad PBUH.
After swearing Allah explains the status of Quran recited by Muhammad PBUH. It is summarised up to the end of Surah.
· إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ - 69:40
“[That] indeed, the Qur'an is the word of a noble Messenger.”
Quran is only recited by a Noble Messenger (Muhammad PBUH). His nobility is very well known to you. He is not its inventor as you know his lack of literacy.
· وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوْلِ شَاعِرٍ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تُؤْمِنُونَ - 69:41
“And it is not the word of a poet; little do you believe.”
This is not the word of any poet. As many a time you realize that Quran is not the word of mankind. Still your stubbornness do not allow you to accept it as the Word of The Creator.
· وَلَا بِقَوْلِ كَاهِنٍ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ - 69:42
“Nor the word of a soothsayer; little do you remember.”
Even this is not the word of soothsayer. Soothsayers can’t invent such content. Don’t you ponder upon the realities?
· تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ - 69:43
“[It is] a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.”
Why you are so confused? Be sure; this is the word of The Creator, your Creator and The Lord of the worlds.
· Here start the verses that are in past tense and are inquired about in this question. Let’s read thoroughly these verses before making an opinion:
وَلَوْ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَيْنَا بَعْضَ الْأَقَاوِيلِ - 69:44
“And if Muhammad had made up about Us some [false] sayings,”
لَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُ بِالْيَمِينِ - 69:45
“We would have seized him by the right hand;”
ثُمَّ لَقَطَعْنَا مِنْهُ الْوَتِينَ - 69:46
“Then We would have cut from him the aorta.”
فَمَا مِنكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ عَنْهُ حَاجِزِينَ - 69:47
“And there is no one of you who could prevent [Us] from him.”
وَإِنَّهُ لَتَذْكِرَةٌ لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ - 69:48
“And indeed, the Qur'an is a reminder for the righteous.”
وَإِنَّا لَنَعْلَمُ أَنَّ مِنكُم مُّكَذِّبِينَ - 69:49
“And indeed, We know that among you are deniers.”
وَإِنَّهُ لَحَسْرَةٌ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ - 69:50
“And indeed, it will be [a cause of] regret upon the disbelievers.”
وَإِنَّهُ لَحَقُّ الْيَقِينِ - 69:51
“And indeed, it is the truth of certainty.”
فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ - 69:52
“So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great.”
Analysis:
a) Surah Alhaaqah was revealed in fifth year of Prophet Hood and a handsome part of Quran was already warming the hearts of believers. At the same time it was disturbing the status quo in the infidel society and they were cross examining Quran from different aspects. They were challenging its authenticity by putting forward various fabricated theories (we seek refuge in Allah):
· Muhammad PBUH is the author of Quran.
· Muhammad PBUH has become a poet.
· Muhammad PBUH has learned soothsaying.
· Someone comes to teach Muhammad PBUH and he make the lesson public as Quran and word of Allah.
· Muhammad PBUH is under the effects of spell,
b) Allah has negated these theories in verses 69:40-43 that are related in the lines above.
c) The verses 69:44-47 explicitly informs these fabricators of false theories that if these were true, Allah was there to respond and punish anyone attempting to do so. Even Muhammad PBUH was not an exception. Allah is always vigilant and has ultimate authority to punish anyone who use His name with an ill intention. Allah doesn’t need to wait for five long years to punish anyone playing with His word.
d) God forbid, if Muhammad PBUH had done this, he would have dealt with iron hand. Definitely, it needs to be said in past tense. There is nothing wrong with it.
e) The speech again turns to Quran in verses 69:48-51. That although Quran is a guidance for all people but actually righteous one takes benefit of it. Allah also declares that He is well aware of those who lie (by self-fabricated stories about Quran). Allah reminds the disbelievers that they will regret on their act of rejecting Quran as the Word of Allah. Again Allah gives them another chance by saying that Quran is Truth with utmost authenticity so think upon it and accept it.
f) Last verse (69:52) enjoins to exalt the name of Lord Almighty upon:
· Muhammad PBUH for the Trust Allah posed in him.
· Believers for accepting the word of Allah.
· Disbelievers by having time to ponder on word of Allah to accept it.
Conclusion:
· The verses 69:43-47 are well fitted in the text of Surah Alhaaqah.
· In fact these verses are a form of praise of Muhammad PBUH as Allah has revealed His full confidence and trust in person of His Messenger. These verses are proof that Muhammad PBUH discharged his duties with utmost sincerity, perfection and confidently.
· These verses are also a testimony by Lord of the universe that Quran as the Word of God is pure and is absolutely free from any kind of contamination and pollution.
. These verses are also an open invitation for all to accept Quran as the Word of Almighty Allah and follow it instead of finding faults in it as there can’t be any fault in the Word of Allah.
Allah Knows The Best
ความคิดเห็น