In the name of God, the Kind, the Merciful

A systematic study of the Holy Qur'an-25

By

Dr Javed Jamil

I want to add a few points to what I have said in the last instalment. When we study the history of confrontation between Right and Wrong in Qur'an, we note that

1. While the reward and punishment to the individuals will be given in the Hereafter, the reward and punishment to the nations and communities are given here in this world. There will be no punishment to the nations as a whole in the Hereafter. Quranic accounts are full of stories of the punishments to the communities and nations on account of their failure to follow the System of God. It does not mean that individuals are not punished here; they can certainly be punished here or be allowed to go unpunished depending upon the will of God. Their final reward or punishment will be decided in the Hereafter..

2. It is clear from Quran that there is a clear relationship between moral degradation and natural disasters. While all natural disasters are not necessarily linked to the moral depravity of those who suffer from the disaster, moral depravity at a large scale can attract Divine punishment. It is also true that in this world people suffer on account of the mistakes of other fellow human beings.

3. The messengers of God came almost to all parts of the world. By tracing the life history of the messengers, Quran points to the common origin of the Guidance and the unity of mankind.

IBRAHIM (ABRAHAM)

* Lo ! Abraham said

To his father Azar:

"Takest thou idols for gods?

For I see thee

And thy people

In manifest error."

So also did we show

Abraham the power

And the laws of the heavens

And the earth, that he

Might (with understanding)

Have certitude.

When the night

Covered him over,

He saw a star:

He said: "This is my Lord."

But when it set,

He said: "I love not

Those that set,"

When he saw the moon

Rising in splendour,

He said: " This is my Lord."

But when the moon set,

He said; "unless my Lord

Guide me, I shall surely

Be among those

Who go astray."

When he saw he sun

Rising in splendour,

He said: "This is my Lord;

This is the greatest (of all)."

But when the sun set,

He said: "O my people!

I am indeed free

From your (guilt)

Of having partners to God.

For me, I have set

My face, firmly and truly

Towards Him who created

The heavens and the earth,

And never shall I give

Partners to God." (6: 74-79/A)

* His people disputed with him. He said: "(Come) ye to dispute with me, about God, when He (Himself) hath guided me? I fear not (the beings) ye associate with God. Unless my Lord willeth, (nothing can      happen). My Lord comprehendeth in His knowledge all things. Will ye not (yourselves) be admonished? How should I fear (the beings) ye associate with God, when ye fear not to give partners to God without any     warrant having been given to you? Which of (us) two parties hath more right to security? (tell me) if ye know. It is those who believe and confuse not their             beliefs with wrong - that are (truly) in security, for they are on (right) guidance." That was the reasoning about Us, which We gave to Abraham (to use) against           his people: We raise whom We will, degree after   degree: for thy Lord is full of wisdom and knowledge.                (6: 80-83/A)

* Also mention in the story of) Abraham: He was a man of Truth, a prophet. Behold, he said to his father: "O my father! why worship that which heareth not and seeth not, and can profit thee nothing?  "O my father! to me hath come knowledge which hath not reached thee: so follow me: I will guide thee to a way that is even and straight. O my father! serve not Satan: for Satan is a rebel against (God) Most    Gracious. O my father! I fear lest a Penalty afflict thee from (God) Most Gracious, so that thou become to Satan a friend." (The father) replied: "Dost thou hate my gods, O Abraham? If thou forbear not, I will     indeed stone thee: Now get away from me for a good long while!" Abraham said: "Peace be on thee: I will pray to my Lord for thy forgiveness: for He is to me Most Gracious. And I will turn away from you (all) and from those whom ye   invoke besides God. I will call on my Lord: perhaps, by my prayer to my Lord, I shall be not unblest."       (19: 41-48/A)

* And he said: "For you, ye have taken (for worship) idols besides God, out of mutual love and regard   between yourselves in this life; but on the Day of     Judgement ye shall disown each other and curse each other: and your abode will be the Fire, and ye shall have none to help." But Lut had faith in Him: He said: "I will leave home for the sake of my Lord: for He is Exalted in Might, and Wise." (29: 25-26/A)

* We bestowed aforetime on Abraham his rectitude of conduct, and well were We acquainted with him.  Behold! he said to his father and his people, "What are these images, to which ye are (so assiduously)  devoted?" They said, "We found our fathers worshipping them." He said, "Indeed ye have been in manifest error - ye and your fathers." They said, "Have you brought us the Truth, or are you one of those who jest?" He said, "Nay, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, He Who created them (from nothing): and I am a witness to this (Truth). And by God, I have a plan for your idols - after ye go away and turn your backs".. So he broke them to pieces, (all) but the biggest of them, that they might turn (and address themselves) to it. They said, "Who has done this to our gods? He must indeed be some man of impiety!"  They said, "We heard a youth talk of them: He is called Abraham." They said, "Then bring him before the eyes of the people, that they may bear   witness." They said, "Art thou the one that did this with our gods, O Abraham?" He said: "Nay, this was done by - this is their biggest one! ask them, if they can speak intelligently!" So they turned to themselves and said, "Surely ye are the ones in the wrong!" Then were they confounded with shame: (they said), "Thou knowest full well that these (idols) do not speak!"  (Abraham) said, "Do ye then worship, besides God, things that can neither be of any good to you nor do you harm? Fie upon you, and upon the things that ye worship besides God. Have ye no sense?" They said, "Burn him and protect your gods, If ye do (anything at all)!" We said, "O Fire! be thou cool, and (a means of) safety for Abraham!" Then they sought a           stratagem against him: but We made them the ones that lost most! But We delivered him and (his nephew) Lut (and directed them) to the land which We have blessed for the nations. And We bestowed on him Isaac and, as an additional gift, (a grandson), Jacob, and We made righteous men of every one (of them). And We made them leaders, guiding (men) by Our      Command, and We sent them inspiration to do good deeds, to establish regular prayers, and to practise regular charity; and they constantly served Us (and Us only). (21: 51-73/A)

* Hast thou not turned thy vision to one who disputed with Abraham About his Lord, because God had granted him power? Abraham said: "My Lord is He Who Giveth life and death." He said: "I give life and death". Said Abraham: "But it is God that causeth the sun to rise from the east: Do thou then cause him to rise from the West." Thus was he confounded who (in arrogance) rejected faith. Nor doth God give         guidance to a people unjust. (2: 258/A)

* Behold! Abraham said: "My Lord! Show me how Thou givest life to the dead." He said: "Dost thou not then believe?" He said: "Yea! but to satisfy My own undertaking." He said: "Take four birds; tame them to turn to thee; put a portion of them on every hill and call to them: They will come to thee (flying) with speed. Then know that God is Exalted in Power, Wise."          (2: 260/A)

* He said: " I will go

To my Lord! He

Will surely guide me!

O my lord ! Grant me

A righteous son !"

So We gave him

The good news

Of a boy ready

To suffer and forbear.

Then, when (the son)

Reached (the age of)

(Serious) work with him,

He said : "O my son

I see in vision

That I offer thee in sacrifice of son:

Now see what is

Thy view !"(The son )said :

"O my father ! Do

As thou art commanded: thou wilt find me

If God so wills one

Practising Patience and Constancy !"

So when they had both

Submitted their wills (to God)

and he had laid him

Prostrate on his forehead

(For sacrifice),

We called out to him,

"O Abraham !

Thou hast already fulfilled

The vision!""”thus indeed

Do We reward

Those who do right.

For this was obviously

A trial "”-

And We ransomed him

With a momentous sacrifice:

And We left (this blessing)

For him among generations

(To come) in later times :

"Peace and salutation

To Abraham!" (37: 99-109/A)

* There came Our messengers to Abraham with glad tidings. They said, "Peace!" He answered, "Peace!" and hastened to entertain them with a roasted calf. But when he saw their hands went not towards the (meal), he felt some mistrust of them, and conceived a fear of them. They said: "Fear not: We have been sent against the people of Lut."  And his wife was standing (there), and she laughed: But we gave her glad tidings of Isaac, and after him, of Jacob. She said: "Alas for me! shall I bear a child, seeing I am an old woman, and my      husband here is an old man? That would indeed be a wonderful thing!" They said: "Dost thou wonder at  God's decree? The grace of God and His blessings on you, o ye people of the house! for He is indeed  worthy of all praise, full of all glory!" (11: 69-73/A)

* When his Lord put Ibrahim to the proof by enjoining  on him certain commandments and Ibrahim      fulfilled them, He said : "˜I have appointed you a leader of  mankind.' "˜And what of my descendants?' asked Ibrahim. "˜My covenant', said He, "˜does not apply to the evil-doers.' And when We made the House (Ka'aba) a resort and a sanctuary  for mankind,    saying: "˜Make the place where Ibrahim stood a house of worship', We enjoined Ibrahim and Ismail to cleanse Our House for those who walk round it, who meditate in it, and who kneel and prostrate themselves. "˜Lord', said Ibrahim, "˜make this a land of peace and bestow plenty upon its people, those of them that  believe in Allah and the Last Day,' "˜As for those that do not' ,He answered, "˜I shall let them prosper awhile and then drag them to the scourge of the Fire. Evil shall be their fate.' And when Ibrahim and Ismail built the House and dedicated it, (they said): "˜Accept this from us, Lord. You are the Hearing, the Knowing Lord, make us submissive to you. Teach us our rites of  worship and turn to us mercifully; you are the        Forgiving, the Merciful. Lord, send forth to them an apostle of their own people who shall declare to them your revelations and instruct them in the Book and in     wisdom and purify them of sin. You are the Mighty, the wise One. Who but a foolish man would forsake the faith of Ibrahim ? We chose him in this world ,and in the world to come, he shall dwell among the righteous. When his Lord said to him : "˜Submit,', he     answered : "˜I have submitted to the Lord of the worlds.' (2: 125-131/Z)

LUT (LOT) 

* The people of Lut rejected the apostles. Behold, their brother Lut said to them: "Will ye not fear      (God))? I am to you an apostle worthy of all trust. So fear God and obey me. No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the lord of the Worlds. Of all the creatures in the world, will ye approach males, and leave those whom God has created for you to be your mates? Nay, ye are a people transgressing (all limits)!"  (26: 160-166/A)

* We also (sent) Lut: He said to his people: "Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? For ye practise your lusts on men in preference to women : ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds." (7: 80-81/A)

* (He said to his people): "Do ye indeed approach men, and cut off the highway?- and practise wickedness (even) in your councils?" (29: 29/A)

* And his people gave no answer but this: they said, "Drive them out of your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!" (7: 82/A)

* But his people gave no answer but this: they said: "Bring us the Wrath of God if thou tellest the truth." (29: 29/A)

* He said: "I do detest your doings. O my Lord!   deliver me and my family from such things as they do!"           (26: 168-169/A)

* He said: "O my Lord! help Thou me against people who do mischief!" When Our Messengers came to Abraham with the good news, they said: "We are   indeed going to destroy the people of this township: for truly they are (addicted to) crime." He said: "But there is Lut there." They said: "Well do we know who is there : we will certainly save him and his following,- except his wife: she is of those who lag behind!"         (29: 30-32/A)

* "¦"¦he began to plead with Us for Lut's people. For Abraham was, without doubt, forbearing (of faults), compassionate, and given to look to God. Abraham! Seek not this. The decree of thy Lord hath gone forth: for them there cometh a penalty that     cannot be turned back! When Our messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on their account and felt himself powerless (to protect) them. He said: "This is a distressful day." And his people came rushing towards him, and they had been long in the habit of practising abominations. He said: "O my people! Here are my daughters: they are purer for you (if ye marry)! Now fear God, and cover me not with shame about my guests! Is there not among you a single right-minded man?" They said: "Well dost thou know we have no need of thy daughters: indeed thou knowest quite well what we want!" He said: "Would that I had power to suppress you or that I could betake myself to some powerful support." (The Messengers) said: "O Lut! We are Messengers from thy Lord! By no means shall they reach thee! Now travel with thy family while yet a part of the night remains, and let not any of you look back: but thy wife (will remain behind); to her will  happen what happens to the people. Morning is their time appointed: Is not the morning nigh?" When Our Decree issued, We turned (the cities) upside down, and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay, spread, layer on layer,- marked as from thy Lord: Nor are they ever far from those who do wrong!       (11: 74-83/A)

* But the (mighty) Blast overtook them before      morning, and We turned (the cities) upside down, and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay.  Behold! in this are Signs for those who by tokens do understand. And the (cities were) right on the high-road. (15: 73-76/A)

ISMAIL, ISHAQUE AND YAQUB

* We gave him (Abraham) Isaac and Jacob: all (three) guided: and before him, We guided Noah, and among his   progeny, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron: thus do We reward those who do good: and Zakariya and John, and Jesus and Elias: all in the ranks of the righteous: and Isma'il and Elisha, and Jonah, and Lot: and to all We gave favour above the nations: (6: 84-86/A)

* When he had turned away from them and from those whom they worshipped besides God, We bestowed on him Isaac and Jacob, and each one of them We made a prophet. (19: 49/A)

* And We gave (Abraham) Isaac and Jacob, and  ordained among his progeny Prophethood and      Revelation, and We granted him his reward in this life; and he was in the Hereafter (of the company) of the Righteous. (29: 27/A)

* ..and Isma'il and Elisha, and Jonas, and Lot: and to all We gave favour above the nations... (6: 86/A)

* Also mention in the Book (the story of) Isma'il: He was (strictly) true to what he promised, and he was an apostle (and) a prophet.  (19: 54/A)

* And this was the legacy that Abraham left to his sons, and so did Jacob; "Oh my sons! God hath   chosen the Faith for you; then die not except in the Faith of Islam."  Were ye witnesses when death     appeared before Jacob? Behold, he said to his sons: "What will ye worship after me?" They said: "We shall worship thy God and the God of thy fathers, of Abraham, Isma'il and Isaac,- the one (True) God. To Him we bow (in Islam)." (2: 132-133/A)

YUSUF (JOSEPH)

* A.L.R. These are the symbols (or Verses) of the perspicuous Book.  We have sent it down as an    Arabic Qur'an, in order that ye may learn wisdom.  We do relate unto thee the most beautiful of stories, in that We reveal to thee this (portion of the) Qur'an: before this, thou too was among those who knew it not.  Behold! Joseph said to his father: "O my father! I did see eleven stars and the sun and the moon: I saw them prostrate themselves to me!" Said (the father): "My (dear) little son! relate not thy vision to thy      brothers, lest they concoct a plot against thee: for  Satan is to man an avowed enemy! Thus will thy Lord choose thee and teach thee the interpretation of stories (and events) and perfect His favour to thee and to the   posterity of Jacob - even as He perfected it to thy fathers Abraham and Isaac aforetime! for God is full of  knowledge and wisdom." Verily in Joseph and his brethren are signs (or symbols) for seekers (after Truth).  They said: "Truly Joseph and his brother are loved more by our father than we. But we are a goodly body! really our father is obviously wandering (in his mind)! Slay ye Joseph or cast him out to some (unknown) land, that so the favour of your father may be given to you alone: (there will be time enough) for you to be righteous after that!" Said one of them: "Slay not Joseph, but if ye must do something, throw him down to the bottom of the well: he will be picked up by some caravan of travellers." They said: "O our father! why dost thou not trust us with Joseph,- seeing we are   indeed his sincere well-wishers? Send him with us  tomorrow to enjoy himself and play, and we shall take every care of him." (Jacob) said: "Really it saddens me that ye should take him away: I fear lest the wolf should devour him while ye attend not to him." They said: "If the wolf were to devour him while we are (so large) a party, then should we indeed (first) have    perished ourselves!" So they did take him away, and they all agreed to throw him down to the bottom of the well: and We put into his heart (this Message): "˜Of a surety thou shalt (one day) tell them the truth of this their affair while they know (thee) not'  Then they came to their father in the early part of the night, weeping. They said: "O our father! We went racing with one another, and left Joseph with our things; and the wolf devoured him. But thou wilt never believe us even though we tell the truth." They stained his shirt with false blood. He said: "Nay, but your minds have made up a tale (that may pass) with you, (for me) patience is most fitting: Against that which ye assert, it is God (alone) Whose help can be sought".

 Then there came a caravan of travellers: they sent their water-carrier (for water), and he let down his bucket (into the well)...He said: "Ah there! Good news! Here is a (fine) young man!" So they concealed him as a treasure! But God knoweth well all that they do! The (brethren) sold him for a miserable price, for a few dirhams counted out: in such low estimation did they hold him! The man in Egypt who bought him, said to his wife: "Make his stay (among us) honourable: may be he will bring us much good, or we shall adopt him as a son." Thus did We establish Joseph in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of   stories (and events). And God hath full power and control over His affairs; but most among mankind know it not.

            When Joseph attained His full manhood, We gave him power and knowledge: thus do We reward those who do right. But she in whose house he was, sought to seduce him from his (true) self: she fastened the doors, and said: "Now come, thou (dear one)!" He said: "(God) forbid! truly (thy husband) is my lord! he made my sojourn agreeable! truly to no good come those who do wrong!" And (with passion) did she desire him, and he would have desired her, but that he saw the evidence of his Lord: thus (did We order) that We might turn away from him (all) evil and shameful deeds: for he was one of Our servants, sincere and purified. So they both raced each other to the door, and she tore his shirt from the back: they both found her lord near the door. She said: "What is the (fitting) punishment for one who formed an evil design against thy wife, but prison or a grievous chastisement?" He said: "It was she that sought to seduce me - from my (true) self." And one of her household saw (this) and bore witness, (thus):- "If it be that his shirt is rent from the front, then is her tale true, and he is a liar! But if it be that his shirt is torn from the back, then is she the liar, and he is telling the truth!" So when he saw his shirt,- that it was torn at the back,- (her husband) said: "Behold! It is a snare of you women! truly, mighty is your snare! O Joseph, pass this over! (O wife), ask forgiveness for thy sin, for truly thou hast been at fault!"

Ladies said in the City: "The wife of the (great) "˜Aziz is seeking to seduce her slave from his (true) self: Truly hath he inspired her with violent love: we see she is evidently going astray." When she heard of their malicious talk, she sent for them and prepared a banquet for them: she gave each of them a knife: and she said (to Joseph), "Come out before them." When they saw him, they did extol him, and (in their       amazement) cut their hands: they said, "(God)        preserve us! no mortal is this! this is none other than a noble angel!" She said: "There before you is the man about whom ye did blame me! I did seek to seduce him from his (true) self but he did firmly save himself guiltless!....and now, if he doth not my bidding, he shall certainly be cast into prison, and (what is more) be of the company of the vilest!" He said: "O my Lord! the prison is more to my liking than that to which they invite me: unless Thou turn away their snare from me, I should (in my youthful folly) feel inclined towards them and join the ranks of the ignorant." So his Lord hearkened to him (in his prayer), and turned away from him their snare: Verily He heareth and knoweth (all things). Then it occurred to the men, after they had seen the signs, (that it was best) to imprison him for a time.

 Now with him there came into the prison two young men. Said one of them: "I see myself (in a dream) pressing wine." Said the other: "I see myself (in a dream) carrying bread on my head, and birds are eating, thereof." "Tell us" (they said) "The truth and meaning thereof: for we see thou art one that doth good (to all)." He said: "Before any food comes (in due course) to feed either of you, I will surely reveal to you the truth and meaning of this ere it befall you: that is part of the (duty) which my Lord hath taught me. I have (I assure you) abandoned the ways of a people that  believe not in God and that (even) deny the Hereafter. And I follow the ways of my fathers,- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and never could we attribute any partners whatever to God that (comes) of the grace of God to us and to mankind: yet most men are not grateful. O my two companions of the prison! (I ask you): are many lords differing among themselves better, or the One God, Supreme and Irresistible? If not Him, ye worship nothing but names which ye have named,- ye and your fathers,- for which God hath sent down no authority: the command is for none but God. He hath commanded that ye worship none but Him: that is the right religion, but most men understand not. O my two companions of the prison! As to one of you, he will pour out the wine for his lord to drink: as for the other, he will hang from the cross, and the birds will eat from off his head. (so) hath been decreed that matter whereof ye twain do enquire".

 And of the two, to that one whom he       consider about to be saved, he said: "Mention me to thy lord." But Satan made him forget to mention him to his lord: and (Joseph) lingered in prison a few (more) years. The king (of Egypt) said: "I do see (in a vision) seven fat kine, whom seven lean ones devour, and seven green ears of corn, and seven (others)          withered. O ye chiefs! Expound to me my vision if it be that ye can interpret visions." They said: "A      confused medley of dreams: and we are not skilled in the interpretation of dreams." But the man who had been released, one of the two (who had been in prison) and who now bethought him after (so long) a space of time, said: "I will tell you the truth of its interpretation: send ye me (therefore)." "O Joseph!" (he said) "O man of truth! Expound to us (the dream) of seven fat kine whom seven lean ones devour, and of seven green ears of corn and (seven) others withered: that I may return to the people, and that they may understand." (Joseph) said: "For seven years shall ye diligently sow as is your wont: and the harvests that ye reap, ye shall leave them in the ear,- except a little, of which ye shall eat. Then will come after that (period) seven dreadful (years), which will devour what ye shall have laid by in advance for them,- (all) except a little which ye shall have (specially) guarded. Then will come after that (period) a year in which the people will have abundant water, and in which they will press (wine and oil)."

So the king said: "Bring ye him unto me." But when the messenger came to him, (Joseph) said: "Go thou back to thy lord, and ask him, "˜What is the state of mind of the ladies who cut their hands'? For my Lord is certainly well aware of their snare." (The king) said (to the ladies): "What was your affair when ye did seek to seduce Joseph from his (true) self?" The     ladies said: "(God) preserve us! no evil know we against him!" Said the "˜Aziz's wife: "Now is the truth manifest (to all): it was I who sought to seduce him from his (true) self. He is indeed of those who are (ever) true (and virtuous). This (say I), in order that He may know that I have never been false to him in his absence, and that God will never guide the snare of the false ones. Nor do I absolve my own self (of blame): the (human) soul is certainly prone to evil, unless my Lord do bestow His Mercy: but surely my Lord is Oft- forgiving, Most Merciful." So the king said: "Bring him unto me; I will take him specially to serve about my own person." Therefore when he had spoken to him, he said: "Be assured this day, thou art, before our own presence, with rank firmly established, and       fidelity fully proved! (Joseph) said: "Set me over the store-houses of the land: I will indeed guard them, as one that knows (their importance)." Thus did We give established power to Joseph in the land, to take     possession therein as, when, or where he pleased. We bestow of our Mercy on whom We please, and We suffer not, to be lost, the reward of those who do good. But verily the reward of the Hereafter is the best, for those who believe, and are constant in righteousness.

Then came Joseph's brethren: they entered his presence, and he knew them, but they knew him not. And when he had furnished them forth with provisions (suitable) for them, he said: "Bring unto me a brother ye have, of the same father as yourselves, (but a     different mother): see ye not that I pay out full       measure, and that I do provide the best hospitality? Now if ye bring him not to me, ye shall have no    measure (of corn) from me, nor shall ye (even) come near me." They said: "We shall certainly seek to get our wish about him from his father; indeed we shall do it." And (Joseph) told his servants to put their stock-in-trade (with which they had bartered) into their    saddle-bags, so they  should know it only when they returned to their people, in order that they might come back. Now when they returned to their father, they said: "O our father! No more measure of grain shall we get (unless we take our brother); so send our brother with us, that we may get our measure; and we will indeed take every care of him." He said: "Shall I trust you with him with any result other than when I trusted you with his brother aforetime? But God is the best to take care (of him), and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!" Then when they opened their baggage, they found their stock-in-trade had been returned to them. They said: "O our father! What (more) can we desire? This our stock-in-trade has been returned to us: so we shall get (more) food for our family; we shall take care of our brother; and add (at the same time) a full camel's load (of grain to our    provisions). This is but a small quantity.  (Jacob) said: "Never will I send him with you until ye swear a     solemn oath to me, in God's name, that ye will be sure to bring him back to me unless ye are yourselves hemmed in (and made powerless). And when they had sworn their solemn oath, he said: "Over all that we say, be God the witness and guardian!" Further he said: "O my sons! enter not all by one gate: enter ye by different gates. Not that I can profit you aught against God (with my advice); none can command except God. On Him do I put my trust: and let all that trust put their trust on Him."

And when they entered in the manner their father had enjoined, it did not profit them in the least against (the plan of) God. It was but a necessity of Jacob's soul, which he discharged. For he was, by our instruction, full of knowledge (and experience): but most men know not. Now when they came into Joseph's presence, he received his (full) brother to stay with him. He said (to him): "Behold! I am thy (own) brother; so grieve not at aught of their doings." At length when he had furnished them forth with provisions   (suitable) for them, he put the drinking cup into his brother's saddle-bag. Then shouted out a crier: "O ye (in) the caravan! behold! ye are thieves, without doubt!" They said, turning towards them: "What is it that ye miss?" They said: "We miss the great beaker of the king; for him who produces it, is (the reward of) a camel load; I will be bound by it." (The brothers) said: "By God, well ye know that we came not to make mischief in the land, and we are no thieves!" (The  Egyptians) said: "What then shall be the penalty of this, if ye are (proved) to have lied?" They said: "The penalty should be that he in whose saddle-bag it is found, should be held (as bondman) to atone for the (crime). Thus it is we punish the wrong- doers!" So he began (the search) with their baggage, before (he came to) the baggage of his brother: at length he brought it out of his brother's baggage. Thus did We plan for Joseph. He could not take his brother by the law of the king except that God willed it (so). We raise to degrees (of wisdom) whom We please: but over all endued with knowledge is one, the All-Knowing. They said: "If he steals, there was a brother of his who did steal before (him)." But these things did Joseph keep locked in his heart, revealing not the secrets to them. He (simply) said (to himself): "Ye are the worse situated; and God knoweth best the truth of what ye assert!" They said: "O exalted one! Behold! he has a father, aged and venerable, (who will grieve for him); so take one of us in his place; for we see that thou art (gracious) in   doing good." He said: "(God) forbid that we take other than him with whom we found our   property: indeed (if we did so), we should be acting wrongfully." Now when they saw no hope of his (yielding), they held a conference in private. The leader among them said: "Know ye not that your father did take an oath from you in God's name, and how,   before this, ye did fail in your duty with Joseph?  Therefore will I not leave this land until my father   permits me, or God commands me; and He is the best to command. Turn ye back to your father, and say, "˜O our father! behold! thy son       committed theft! We bear witness only to what we know, and we could not well guard against the       unseen! Ask at the town where we have been and the caravan in which we  returned, and (you will find) we are indeed telling the truth.'" Jacob said: "Nay, but ye have yourselves   contrived a story (good enough) for you. So patience is most fitting (for me). Maybe God will bring them (back) all to me (in the end). For He is indeed full of knowledge and wisdom." And he turned away from them, and said: "How great is my grief for Joseph!" And his eyes became white with sorrow, and he fell into silent melancholy.  They said: "By God! (never) wilt thou cease to remember Joseph until thou reach the last extremity of illness, or until thou die!" He said: "I only complain of my distraction and      anguish to   God, and I know from God that which ye know not. O my sons! go ye and enquire about Joseph and his brother, and never give up hope of God's Soothing Mercy: truly no one despairs of God's Soothing Mercy, except those who have no faith." Then, when they came (back) into (Joseph's) presence they said: "O exalted one! distress has seized us and our family: we have (now) brought but scanty capital: so pay us full measure, (we pray thee), and treat it as charity to us: for God doth reward the charitable." He said: "Know ye how ye dealt with Joseph and his brother, not knowing (what ye were doing)?" They said: "Art thou indeed Joseph?" He said, "I am Joseph, and this is my brother: God has indeed been gracious to us (all): behold, he that is righteous and patient,- never will God suffer the reward to be lost, of those who do right." They said: "By God. indeed has God preferred thee above us, and we certainly have been guilty of sin!" He said: "This day let no reproach be (cast) on you: God will forgive you, and He is the Most     Merciful of those who show mercy! Go with this my shirt, and cast it over the face of my father: he will come to see (clearly). Then come ye (here) to me  together with all your family." When the caravan left (Egypt), their father said: "I do indeed scent the     presence of Joseph: Nay, think me not a dotard." They said: "By God. truly thou art in thine old wandering mind." Then when the bearer of the good news came, He cast (the shirt) over his face, and he forthwith    regained clear sight. He said: "Did I not say to you, "˜I know from God that which ye know not?'" They said: "O our father! ask for us forgiveness for our sins, for we were truly at fault." He said: "Soon will I ask my Lord for forgiveness for you: for he is indeed Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful." Then when they entered the presence of Joseph, he provided a home for his parents with himself, and said: "Enter ye Egypt (all) in safety if it please God." And he raised his parents high on the throne (of dignity), and they fell down in prostration, (all) before him. He said: "O my father! this is the fulfilment of my vision of old! God hath made it come true! He was indeed good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you (all here) out of the desert, (even) after Satan had sown enmity  between me and my brothers. Verily my Lord understandeth best the mysteries of all that He planneth to do, for verily He is full of knowledge and wisdom. O my Lord! Thou hast indeed bestowed on me some power, and taught me something of the interpretation of dreams and events,- O Thou Creator of the heavens and the earth! Thou art my Protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Take Thou my soul (at death) as one     submitting to Thy will (as a Muslim), and unite me with the righteous."

Such is one of the stories of what happened unseen, which We reveal by inspiration unto thee; nor wast thou (present) with them then when they        concerted their plans together in the process of     weaving their plots. Yet no faith will the greater part of mankind have, however ardently thou dost desire it. And no reward dost thou ask of them for this: it is no less than a message for all creatures. And how many Signs in the heavens and the earth do they pass by? Yet they turn (their faces) away from them! And most of them believe not in God without associating (other as partners) with Him! Do they then feel secure from the coming against them of the covering veil of the wrath of God,- or of the coming against them of the (final) Hour all of a sudden while they perceive not? Say thou: "This is my way: I do invite unto God,- on evidence clear as the seeing with one's eyes,- I and whoever follows me. Glory to God. and never will I join gods with God." Nor did We send before thee (as         apostles) any but men, whom we did inspire,- (men) living in human habitations. Do they not travel through the earth, and see what was the end of those before them? But the home of the hereafter is best, for those who do right. Will ye not then understand?  (Respite will be granted) until, when the apostles give up hope (of their people) and (come to) think that they were treated as liars, there reaches them Our help, and those whom We will are delivered into safety. But never will be warded off our punishment from those who are in sin. There is, in their stories, instruction for men      endued with understanding. It is not a tale invented, but a   confirmation of what went before it,- a detailed     exposition of all things, and a guide and a mercy to any such as believe.

In the name of God, the Kind, the Merciful

A systematic study of the Holy Qur'an-26

By

Dr Javed Jamil

MUSA (MOSES)

* We rehearse to thee some of the story of Moses and Pharaoh in Truth, for people who believe. Truly Pharaoh elated himself in the land and broke up its people into sections, depressing a small group among them: their sons he slew, but he kept alive their       females: for he was indeed a maker of mischief. And We wished to be Gracious to those who were being depressed in the land, to make them leaders (in Faith) and make them heirs, to establish a firm place for them in the land, and to show Pharaoh, Haman, and their hosts, at their hands, the very things against which they were taking precautions.

So We sent this inspiration to the mother of Moses: "Suckle (thy child), but when thou hast fears about him, cast him into the river, but fear not nor grieve: for We shall restore him to thee, and We shall make him one of Our apostles."  Then the people of       Pharaoh picked him up (from the river): (It was      intended) that (Moses) should be to them an adversary and a cause of sorrow: for Pharaoh and Haman and (all) their hosts were men of sin.

 The wife of Pharaoh said: "(Here is) joy of the eye, for me and for thee: slay him not. It may be that he will be use to us, or we may adopt him as a son." And they perceived not (what they were doing)!  But there came to be a void in the heart of the mother of Moses: She was going almost to disclose his (case), had We not strengthened her heart (with faith), so that she might remain a (firm) believer. And she said to the sister of (Moses), "Follow him" so she (the sister) watched him in the character of a stranger. And they perceived not. And we ordained that he refused suck at first, until (His sister came up and) said: "Shall I point out to you the people of a house that will nourish and bring him up for you and be sincerely attached to him?".  Thus did We restore him to his mother, that her eye might be comforted, that she might not       grieve, and that she might know that the promise            of God is true: but most of them do not understand. (28: 3-13/A)

* When he reached full age, and was firmly              established (in life), We bestowed on him wisdom and knowledge: for thus do We reward those who do good. And he entered the city at a time when its    people were not watching: and he found there two men fighting,- one of his own religion, and the other, of his foes. Now the man of his own religion appealed to him against his foe, and Moses struck him with his fist and made an end of him. He said: "This is a work of Evil (Satan): for he is an enemy that manifestly misleads!" He prayed: "O my Lord! I have indeed wronged my soul! Do Thou then forgive me!" So ((God)) forgave him: for He is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. He said: "O my Lord! For that Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace on me, never shall I be a help to those who sin!" So he saw the morning in the city, looking about, in a state of fear, when behold, the man who had, the day before, sought his help called aloud for his help (again). Moses said to him: "Thou art truly, it is clear, a quarrelsome fellow!" Then, when he decided to lay hold of the man who was an enemy to both of them, that man said: "O Moses! Is it thy intention to slay me as thou slewest a man yesterday? Thy intention is none other than to become a powerful violent man in the land, and not to be one who sets things right!" And there came a man, running, from the furthest end of the City. He said: "O Moses! the Chiefs are taking counsel together about thee, to slay thee: so get thee away, for I do give thee sincere advice." He therefore got away there from, looking about, in a state of fear. He prayed "O my Lord! save me from people given to wrong-doing."

            Then, when he turned his face towards (the land of) Madyan, he said: "I do hope that my Lord will show me the smooth and straight Path." And when he arrived at the watering (place) in Madyan, he found there a group of men watering (their flocks), and   besides them he found two women who were keeping back (their flocks). He said: "What is the matter with you?" They said: "We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take back (their flocks). And our father is a very old man." So he watered (their flocks) for them; then he turned back to the shade, and said: "O my Lord! truly am I in (desperate) need of any good that Thou dost send me!" Afterwards one of the    (damsels) came (back) to him, walking bashfully. She said: "My father invites thee that he may reward thee for having watered (our flocks) for us." So when he came to him and narrated the story, he said: "Fear thou not: (well) hast thou escaped from unjust        people." Said one of the (damsels): "O my (dear)   father! engage him on wages: truly the best of men for thee to employ is the (man) who is strong and trusty". He said: "I intend to wed one of these my daughters to thee, on condition that thou serve me for eight years; but if thou complete ten years, it will be (grace) from thee. But I intend not to place thee under a difficulty: thou wilt find me, indeed, if God wills, one of the righteous." He said: "Be that (the agreement) between me and thee: whichever of the two terms I fulfil, let there be no ill-will to me. Be God a witness to what we say." 

            Now when Moses had fulfilled the term, and was travelling with his family, he perceived a fire in the direction of Mount Tur. (28: 14-29/A)

* As to thee, the Qur'an is bestowed upon thee from the presence of one who is wise and all-knowing. Behold! Moses said to his family: "I perceive a fire; soon will I bring you from there some information, or I will bring you a burning brand to light our fuel, that ye may warn yourselves. But when he came to the (fire), a voice was heard: "Blessed are those in the fire and those around: and glory to God, the Lord of the worlds. O Moses! verily, I am God, the exalted in might, the wise! Now do thou throw thy rod!" But when he saw it moving (of its own accord) as if it had been a snake, he turned back in retreat, and retraced not his steps: "O Moses!" (it was said), "Fear not: truly, in My    presence, those called as apostles have no fear,- But if any have done wrong and have thereafter substituted good to take the place of evil, truly, I am Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Now put thy hand into thy bosom, and it will come forth white without stain (or harm): (these are) among the nine Signs (thou wilt take) to Pharaoh and his people: for they are a people           rebellious in transgression." (27: 6-12/A)

* He said: "O my Lord! I have slain a man among them, and I fear lest they slay me. And my brother Aaron - he is more eloquent in speech than I: so send him with me as a helper, to confirm (and strengthen) me: for I fear that they may accuse me of falsehood." He said: "We will certainly strengthen thy arm through thy brother, and invest you both with authority, so they shall not be able to touch you: with Our Sign shall ye triumph,- you two as well as those who follow you." (28: 33-35/A)

* They (Moses and Aaron) said: "Our Lord! We fear lest he hasten with insolence against us, or lest he   transgress all bounds." He said: "Fear not: for I am with you: I hear and see (everything). So go ye both to him, and say, "˜Verily we are apostles sent by thy Lord: Send forth, therefore, the Children of Israel with us, and afflict them not: with a Sign, indeed, have we come from thy Lord! and peace to all who follow guidance! Verily it has been revealed to us that the Penalty (awaits) those who reject and turn away.'" (When this       message was delivered), (Pharaoh) said: "Who, then, O Moses, is the Lord of you two?" He said: "Our Lord is He Who gave to each (created) thing its form and nature, and further, gave (it) guidance." (Pharaoh) said: "What then is the condition of previous generations?" He replied: "The knowledge of that is with my Lord, duly recorded: my Lord never errs, nor forgets,- He Who has, made for you the earth like a carpet spread out; has enabled you to go about therein by roads (and channels); and has sent down water from the sky."  (20: 45-53/A)

* (Pharaoh) said: "Did we not cherish thee as a child among us, and didst thou not stay in our midst many years of thy life? And thou didst a deed of thine which (thou knowest) thou didst, and thou art an ungrateful (wretch)!" Moses said: "I did it then, when I was in error. So I fled from you (all) when I feared you; but my Lord has (since) invested me with judgement (and wisdom) and appointed me as one of the apostles. And this is the favour with which thou dost reproach me,- that thou hast enslaved the Children of            Israel!" (26: 18-22/A)

* (Pharaoh) said: "If thou dost put forward any god other than me, I will certainly put thee in prison!"  (Moses) said: "Even if I showed you something clear (and) convincing?" (Pharaoh) said: "Show it then, if thou tellest the truth!" So (Moses) threw his rod, and behold, it was a serpent, plain (for all to see)! And he drew out his hand, and behold, it was white to all  beholders! (Pharaoh) said to the Chiefs around him: "This is indeed a sorcerer well- versed. His plan is to get you out of your land by his sorcery; then what is it ye counsel?" They said: "Keep him and his brother in suspense (for a while), and dispatch to the Cities   heralds to collect- and bring up to thee all (our)     sorcerers well-versed." So the sorcerers were got  together for the appointment of a day well-known, and the people were told: "Are ye (now) assembled?- That we may follow the sorcerers (in religion) if they win?" So when the sorcerers arrived, they said to Pharaoh: "Of course - shall we have a (suitable) reward if we win? He said: "Yea, (and more),- for ye shall in that case be (raised to posts) nearest (to my person)."     (26: 29-42/A)

* They said: "O Moses! whether wilt thou that thou throw (first) or that we be the first to throw?" He said, "Nay, throw ye first!" Then behold their ropes and their rods-so it seemed to him on account of their magic - began to be in lively motion! So Moses conceived in his mind a (sort of) fear. We said: "Fear not! for thou hast indeed the upper hand: Throw that which is in thy right hand. Quickly will it swallow up that which they have faked; what they have faked is but a magician's trick: and the magician thrives not, (no matter) where he goes." So the magicians were thrown down to   prostration: they said, "We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses". (Pharaoh) said: "Believe ye in Him before I give you permission? Surely this must be your leader, who has taught you magic! be sure I will cut off your hands and feet on opposite sides, and I will have you crucified on trunks of palm-trees: so shall ye know for certain, which of us can give the more severe and the more lasting punishment!" They said: "Never shall we regard thee as more than the Clear Sings that have come to us, or than Him Who created us! So decree whatever thou desirest to decree: for thou canst only decree (touching) the life of this world. For us, we have believed in our Lord: may He forgive us our faults, and the magic to which thou didst compel us: for God is Best and Most Abiding." Verily he who comes to his Lord as a sinner (at Judgement),- for him is Hell: therein shall he neither die nor live. But such as come to Him as believers who have worked righteous deeds,- for them are ranks exalted,- Gardens of Eternity,   beneath which flow rivers: they will dwell therein for aye: such is the reward of those who purify themselves (from evil). (20: 65-76/A)

* Said the chiefs of Pharaoh's people: "Wilt thou leave Moses and his people, to spread mischief in the land, and to abandon thee and thy gods?" He said: "Their male children will we slay; (only) their females will we save alive; and we have over them (power) irresistible." Said Moses to his people: "Pray for help from God, and (wait) in patience and constancy: for the earth is God's, to give as a heritage to such of His servants as He pleaseth; and the end is (best) for the righteous. They said: "We have had (nothing but)    trouble, both before and after thou camest to us." He said: "It may be that your Lord will destroy your    enemy and make you inheritors in the earth; that so He may try you by your deeds." We punished the  people of Pharaoh with years (of droughts) and shortness of crops; that they might receive admonition. But when good (times) came, they said, "This is due to us;" When gripped by     calamity, they ascribed it to evil omens connected with Moses and those with him!  Behold! in truth the omens of evil are theirs in God's sight, but most of them do not understand.

            They said (to Moses): "Whatever be the Signs thou bringest, to work therewith thy sorcery on us, we shall never believe in thee. We sent (plagues) on them: wholesale death, locusts, lice, frogs, and blood: signs openly self-explained: but they were steeped in      arrogance,- a people given to sin. Every time the   penalty fell on them, they said: "O Moses! on your behalf call on thy Lord in virtue of his promise to thee: If thou wilt remove the penalty from us, we shall truly believe in thee, and we shall send away the Children of Israel with thee." But every time We removed the penalty from them according to a fixed term which they had to fulfil,- Behold! they broke their word!          (7: 127-135/A)

* By inspiration we told Moses: "Travel by night with my servants; for surely ye shall be pursued." Then Pharaoh sent heralds to (all) the cities, (saying): "These (Israelites) are but a small band, and they are raging furiously against us; but we are a multitude amply forewarned." So We expelled them from gardens, springs, treasures, and every kind of honourable position; thus it was, but We made the Children of Israel inheritors of such things. So they pursued them at sunrise. And when the two bodies saw each other, the people of Moses said: "We are sure to be overtaken." (Moses) said: "By no means! my Lord is with me! Soon will He guide me!" Then We told Moses by inspiration: "Strike the sea with thy rod." So it divided, and each separate part became like the huge, firm mass of a mountain. And We made the other party approach thither. We delivered Moses and all who were with him; but We drowned the others. (26: 53-67/A)

* We took the Children of Israel across the sea:    Pharaoh and his hosts followed them in insolence and spite. At length, when overwhelmed with the flood, he said: "I believe that there is no god except Him Whom the Children of Israel believe in: I am of those who submit (to God in Islam)." (It was said to him): "Ah now!- but a little while before, wast thou in rebellion!- and thou didst mischief (and violence)! This day shall We save thee in the body, that thou mayest be a sign to those who come after thee! But verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our Signs!" (10: 90-92/A)

* And We made a people, considered weak (and of no account), inheritors of lands in both east and west, - lands where on We sent down Our blessings. The fair promise of thy Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel, because they had patience and constancy, and We levelled to the ground the great works and fine buildings which Pharaoh and his people erected (with such pride). We took the Children of Israel (with safety) across the sea. They came upon a people   devoted entirely to some idols they had. They said: "O Moses! fashion for us a god like unto the gods they have." He said: "Surely ye are a people without knowledge. As to these folk,- the cult they are in is (but) a fragment of a ruin, and vain is the (worship) which they practise." He said: "Shall I seek for you a god other than the (true) God, when it is God Who hath endowed you with gifts above the nations?" And remember We rescued you from Pharaoh's people, who afflicted you with the worst of penalties, who slew your male children and saved alive your females: in that was a momentous trial from your Lord.

            We appointed for Moses thirty nights, and  completed (the period) with ten (more): thus was   completed the term (of communion) with his Lord, forty nights. And Moses had charged his brother Aaron (before he went up): "Act for me amongst my people: Do right, and follow not the way of those who do  mischief." When Moses came to the place appointed by Us, and his Lord addressed him, He said: "O my Lord! show (Thyself) to me, that I may look upon thee." God said: "By no means canst thou see Me  (direct); But look upon the mount; if it abide in its place, then shalt thou see Me." When his Lord manifested His glory on the Mount, He made it as dust. And Moses fell down in a swoon. When he recovered his senses he said: "Glory be to Thee! to Thee I turn in repentance, and I am the first to believe." (God)) said: "O Moses! I have chosen thee above (other) men, by the mission I (have given thee) and the words I (have  spoken to thee): take then the (revelation) which I give thee, and be of those who give thanks."

And We ordained laws for him in the tablets in all matters, both commanding and explaining all things, (and said): "Take and hold these with firmness, and enjoin thy people to hold fast by the best in the precepts: soon shall I show you the homes of the wicked,- (How they lie desolate)." Those who      behave arrogantly on the earth in defiance of right - them will I turn away from My signs: Even if they see all the signs, they will not believe in them; and if they see the way of right conduct, they will not adopt it as the way; but if they see the way of error, that is the way they will adopt. For they have rejected our signs, and failed to take warning from them. (7: 137-146/A)

* O ye Children of Israel! We delivered you from your enemy, and We made a Covenant with you on the right side of Mount (Sinai), and We sent down to you Manna and quails: (Saying): "Eat of the good things We have provided for your sustenance, but commit no excess therein, lest My Wrath should justly descend on you: and those on whom descends My Wrath do perish indeed! But, without doubt, I am (also) He that forgives again and again, to those who repent, believe, and do right, who,- in fine, are ready to receive true guidance." (When Moses was up on the Mount, God said:) "What made thee hasten in advance of thy    people, O Moses?" He replied: "Behold, they are close on my footsteps: I hastened to thee, O my Lord, to please thee." (God) said: "We have tested  thy       people in thy absence: the Samiri has led them astray." So Moses returned to his people in a state of indignation and sorrow. He said: "O my people! did not your Lord make a handsome promise to you? Did then the    promise seem to you long (in coming)? Or did ye  desire that Wrath should descend from your Lord on you, and so ye broke your promise to me?" They said: "We broke not the promise to thee, as far as lay in our power: but we were made to carry the weight of the ornaments of the (whole) people, and we threw them (into the fire), and that was what the Samiri suggested.

Then he brought out (of the fire) before the (people) the image of a calf: It seemed to blow: so they said: This is your god, and the god of Moses, but (Moses) has forgotten!" Could they not see that it could not return them a word (for answer), and that it had no power either to harm them or to do them good? Aaron had already, before this said to them: "O my people! ye are being tested in this: for verily your Lord is   (God) Most Gracious; so follow me and obey my command." They had said: "We will not abandon this cult, but we will devote ourselves to it until Moses returns to us." (Moses) said: "O Aaron! what kept thee back, when thou sawest them going wrong from following me? Didst thou then disobey my order?" (Aaron) replied: "O son of my mother! Seize (me) not by my beard nor by (the hair of) my head! Truly I feared lest thou shouldst say, "˜Thou has caused a    division among the children of Israel, and thou didst not respect my word!'" (Moses) said: "What then is thy case, O Samiri?" He replied: "I saw what they saw not: so I took a handful (of dust) from the footprint of the Messenger, and threw it (into the calf): thus did my soul suggest to me."  (Moses) said: "Get thee gone! but thy (punishment) in this life will be that thou wilt say, "˜touch me not'; and moreover (for a future penalty) thou hast a promise that will not fail. Now look at thy god, of whom thou hast become a devoted worshipper: We will certainly (melt) it in a blazing fire and scatter it broadcast in the sea!" (20: 80-97/A)

* Moses prayed: "O my Lord! forgive me and my brother! admit us to Thy mercy! for Thou art the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!" Those who took the calf (for worship) will indeed be overwhelmed with wrath from their Lord, and with shame in this life: thus do We recompense those who invent (falsehoods). But those who do wrong but repent thereafter and (truly) believe,- verily thy Lord is thereafter Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. When the anger of Moses was appeased, he took up the tablets: in the writing there on was guidance and Mercy for such as fear their Lord. And Moses chose seventy of his people for Our place of meeting: when they were seized with violent       quaking, he prayed: "O my Lord! if it had been Thy will Thou couldst have destroyed, long before, both them and me: wouldst Thou destroy us for the deeds of the foolish ones among us? this is no more than Thy trial: by it Thou causest whom Thou wilt to stray, and Thou leadest whom Thou wilt into the right path. Thou art our Protector: so forgive us and give us Thy      mercy; for Thou art the best of those who forgive. And ordain for us that which is good, in this life and    in the Hereafter: for we have turned unto Thee."           (7: 151-156/A)

* And remember ye said: "O Moses! we cannot    endure one kind of food (always); so beseech thy Lord for us to produce for us of what the earth groweth, -its pot-herbs, and cucumbers, its garlic, lentils, and    onions." He said: "Will ye exchange the better for the worse? Go ye down to any town, and ye shall find what ye want!" They were covered with humiliation and misery; they drew on themselves the wrath of  God. This because they went on rejecting the Signs of God and slaying His Messengers without just cause. This because they rebelled and went on transgressing.

(2: 61/A)

* Of the people of Moses there is a section who guide and do justice in the light of truth. We divided them into twelve tribes or nations. We directed Moses by inspiration, when his (thirsty) people asked him for water: "Strike the rock with thy staff": out of it there gushed forth twelve springs: Each group knew its own place for water. We gave them the shade of clouds, and sent down to them manna and quails, (saying): "Eat of the good things We have provided for you": (but they rebelled); to Us they did no harm, but they harmed their own souls. (7: 159-160/A)

* Remember Moses said to his people: "O my      people! Call in remembrance the favour of God unto you, when He produced prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not given to any other among the peoples. O my people! Enter the holy land which God hath assigned unto you, and turn not back ignominiously, for then will ye be overthrown, to your own ruin." They said: "O Moses! In this land are a people of exceeding strength: never shall we enter it until they leave it: if (once) they leave, then shall we enter." (But) among (their) God-fearing men were two on whom God had bestowed His grace. They said: "Assault them at the (proper) gate: when once ye are in, victory will be yours; but on God put your trust if ye have faith." They said: "O Moses! while they     remain there, never shall we be able to enter, to the end of time. Go thou, and thy Lord, and fight ye two, while we sit here (and watch)." He said: "O my Lord! I have power only over myself and my brother: so separate us from this rebellious people!" God said: "Therefore will the land be out of their reach for forty years. In distraction will they wander through the      land. But sorrow thou not over these rebellious      people...(5: 20-26/A)

* And remember We took your covenant and We raised above you (The towering height) of Mount  (Sinai) : (Saying): "Hold firmly to what We have given you and bring (ever) to remembrance what is therein: Perchance ye may fear God." But ye turned back thereafter: Had it not been for the Grace and Mercy of God to you, ye had surely been among the lost.    (2: 63-64/A)

* And remember Moses said to his people: "(God) commands that ye sacrifice a heifer." They said: "Makest thou a laughing-stock of us?" He said:      "(God) save me from being an ignorant (fool)!" They said: "Beseech on our behalf Thy Lord to make plain to us what (heifer) it is!" He said, "He says: The heifer should be neither too old nor too young, but of      middling age. Now do what ye are commanded!" They said: "Beseech on our behalf Thy Lord to make plain to us Her colour." He said: "He says: a fawn-coloured heifer, pure and rich in tone, the admiration of beholders!" They said: "Beseech on our behalf Thy Lord to make plain to us what she is: To us are all heifers alike. We wish indeed for guidance, if God wills." He said: "He says: A heifer not trained to till the soil or water the fields; sound and without blemish." They said: "Now hast thou brought the truth." Then they offered her in sacrifice, but not with good-will. Remember ye slew a man and fell into a dispute among yourselves as to the crime: But God was to bring forth what ye did hide. So We said: "Strike the (body) with a piece of the (heifer)." Thus God bringeth the dead to life and showeth you His Signs: Perchance ye may understand. (2: 67-73/A)

* And remember We took a covenant from the    Children of Israel (to this effect): Worship none but God; treat with kindness your parents and kindred, and orphans and those in need; speak fair to the    people; be steadfast in prayer; and practise regular charity. Then did ye turn back, except a few among you, and ye backslide (even now).  And remember We took your covenant (to this effect): Shed no blood amongst you, nor turn out your own people from your homes: and this ye solemnly ratified, and to this ye can bear witness.) (2: 83-84/A)

* Behold, Moses said to his attendant, "I will not give up until I reach the junction of the two seas or (until) I spend years and years in travel." But when they reached the junction, they forgot (about) their Fish, which took its course through the sea (straight) as in a tunnel. When they had passed on (some distance), Moses said to his attendant: "Bring us our early meal; truly we have suffered much fatigue at this (stage of) our journey." He replied: "Sawest thou (what happened) when we betook ourselves to the rock? I did indeed forget (about) the fish: none but Satan made me forget to tell (you) about it: it took its course through the sea in a marvellous way!" Moses said: "That was what we were seeking after:" So they went back on their footsteps, following (the path they had come). So they found one of Our servants, on whom We had        bestowed Mercy from Ourselves and whom We had taught knowledge from Our own Presence. Moses said to him: "May I follow thee, on the footing that thou teach me something of the (Higher) Truth which thou hast been taught?" (The other) said: "Verily thou wilt not be able to have patience with me! And how canst thou have patience about things about which thy    understanding is not complete?" Moses said: "Thou wilt find me, if God so will, (truly) patient: nor shall I disobey thee in aught."  The other said: "If then thou wouldst follow me, ask me no questions about anything until I myself speak to thee concerning it." So they both proceeded: until, when they were in the boat, he scuttled it. Said Moses: "Hast thou scuttled it in order to drown those in it? Truly a strange thing hast thou done!" He answered: "Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no patience with me?" Moses said:       "Rebuke me not for forgetting, nor grieve me by raising difficulties in my case." Then they proceeded: until, when they met a young man, he slew him. Moses said: "Hast thou slain an innocent person who had slain none? Truly a foul (unheard of) thing hast thou done!" He answered: "Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no patience with me?" (Moses) said: "If ever I ask thee about anything after this, keep me not in thy company: then wouldst thou have received (full) excuse from my side." Then they proceeded: until, when they came to the inhabitants of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused them hospitality. They found there a wall on the point of falling down, but he set it up straight. (Moses) said: "If thou hadst wished, surely thou couldst have exacted some recompense for it!" He answered: "This is the parting between me and thee: now will I tell thee the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to hold patience. As for the boat, it belonged to certain men in dire want: they plied on the water: I but wished to render it unserviceable, for there was after them a certain king who seized on every boat by force. As for the youth, his parents were   people of Faith, and we feared that he would grieve them by obstinate rebellion and ingratitude (to God and man). So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange (a son) better in purity (of conduct) and closer in affection. As for the wall, it belonged to two youths, orphans, in the town; there was, beneath it, a buried treasure, to which they were entitled: their father had been a righteous man: so thy Lord desired that they should attain their age of full strength and get out their treasure - a mercy (and favour) from thy Lord. I did it not of my own accord. Such is the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to hold patience." (18: 79-82/A)

* But the transgressors among them changed the word from that which had been given them so we sent on them a plague from heaven. For that they repeatedly transgressed. Ask them concerning the town standing close by the sea. Behold! they transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath. For on the day of their       Sabbath their fish did come to them, openly holding up their heads, but on the day they had no Sabbath, they came not: thus did We make a trial of them, for they were given to transgression. When some of them said: "Why do ye preach to a people whom God will destroy or visit with a terrible punishment?"- said the preachers:" To discharge our duty to your Lord, and perchance they may fear Him." When they disregarded the warnings that had been given them, We rescued those who forbade evil; but We visited the wrong-doers with a grievous punishment because they were given to transgression. When in their insolence they transgressed (all) prohibitions, We said to them: "Be ye apes, despised and rejected." Behold! thy Lord did declare that He would send against them, to the Day of Judgement, those who would afflict them with grievous penalty. Thy Lord is quick in retribution, but He is also Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. We broke them up into sections on this earth. There are among them some that are the righteous, and some that are the opposite. We have tried them with both prosperity and adversity: in order that they might turn (to us). After them succeeded an (evil) generation. They     inherited the Book, but they chose (for themselves) the vanities of this world, saying (for excuse):         "(Everything) will be forgiven us." (Even so), if similar vanities came their way, they would (again) seize them. (7: 163-169/A)

SHU'AIB

* To the Madyan people We sent Shu'aib, one of their own brethren: he said: "O my people! worship God. Ye have no other god but Him. Now hath come unto you a clear (Sign) from your Lord! Give just measure and weight, nor withhold from the people the things that are their due; and do no mischief on the earth after it has been set in order: that will be best for you, if ye have Faith. And squat not on every road, breathing threats, hindering from the path of God those who believe in Him, and seeking in it something crooked. But remember how ye were little, and He gave you increase. And hold in your mind's eye what was the end of those who did mischief. And if there is a party among you who believes in the message with which I have been sent, and a party which does not believe; hold yourselves in patience until God doth decide  between us: for He is the best to decide." The leaders, the arrogant party among his people, said: "O Shu'aib! we shall certainly drive thee out of our city - (thee) and those who believe with thee; or else ye (thou and they) shall have to return to our ways and religion." He said: "What! even though we do detest (them)? We should indeed invent a lie against God, if we     returned to your ways after God hath rescued us there from; nor could we by any manner of means   return thereto unless it be as in the will and plan of God, Our Lord. Our Lord can reach out to the utmost           recesses of things by His knowledge. In the God is our trust. Our Lord! decide Thou between us and our people in truth, for Thou art the best to  decide." The leaders, the unbelievers among his  people, said:  "If ye follow Shu'aib, be sure then ye are ruined!"               (7: 85-90/A)

* They said: "Thou art only one of those bewitched! Thou art no more than a mortal like us, and indeed we think thou art a liar! Now cause a piece of the sky to fall on us, if thou art truthful!" (26: 185-187/A)

* But the earthquake took them unawares, and they lay prostrate in their homes before the morning! The men who reject Shu'aib became as if they had never been in the homes where they had flourished: the       men who rejected Shu'aib - it was they who were ruined! So Shu'aib left them, saying: "O my people! I did   indeed convey to you the messages for which I was sent by my Lord: I gave you good counsel, but how shall I lament over a people who refuse to             believe!" (7: 91-93/A)

ELIAS (ELIJAH)

* So also was Elias among those sent (by Us).      Behold, he said to his people, "Will ye not fear      (God))? Will ye call upon Baal and forsake the Best of Creators,- (God), your Lord and Cherisher and the Lord and Cherisher of your fathers of old?"  But they rejected him, and they will certainly be called up (for punishment),- except the sincere and devoted Servants of God (among them). And We left (this  blessing) for him among generations (to come) in       later times: "Peace and salutation to such as Elias!"              (37: 123-130/A)

AYUB (JOB)

* And (remember) Job, when He cried to his Lord, "Truly distress has seized me, but Thou art the Most Merciful of those that are merciful." So We listened to him: We removed the distress that was on him, and We restored his people to him, and doubled their number,- as a Grace from Ourselves, and a thing for commemoration, for all who serve Us. (21: 83-84/A)

* Commemorate Our Servant Job. Behold he cried to his Lord: "The Evil One has afflicted me with      distress and suffering!" (The command was given:) "Strike with thy foot: here is (water) wherein to wash, cool and refreshing, and (water) to drink." And We gave him (back) his people, and doubled their number,- as a Grace from Ourselves, and a thing for commemoration, for all who have Understanding. And take in thy hand a little grass, and strike therewith: and break not (thy oath)." Truly We found him full of patience and constancy. How excellent in Our service! ever did he turn (to Us)! (38: 42-44/A)

DAUD (DAVID)

* We bestowed Grace aforetime on David from ourselves: "O ye Mountains! Sing ye back the Praises of God with him! And ye birds (also)! And We made the iron soft for him;- (Commanding), "Make thou coast of mail, balancing well the rings of chain armour, and work ye righteousness; for be sure I see (clearly) all that ye do." (34: 10-11/A)

* We strengthened his kingdom, and gave him       wisdom and sound judgement in speech and decision. Has the Story of the Disputants reached thee?      Behold, they climbed over the wall of the private  chamber. When they entered the presence of David, and he was terrified of them, they said: "Fear not: we are two disputants, one of whom has wronged the other. Decide now between us with truth, and treat us not with injustice, but guide us to the even Path. This man is my brother. He has nine and ninety ewes, and I have (but) one. Yet he says, "˜commit her to my care,' and is (moreover) harsh to me in speech." (David) said: "He has undoubtedly wronged thee in demanding thy (single) ewe to be added to his (flock of) ewes: truly many are the partners (in business) who wrong each other. Not so do those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, and how few are they?". And David gathered that We had tried him: he asked     forgiveness of his Lord, fell down, bowing (in prostration), and turned (to God in repentance). So We    forgave him this (lapse): he enjoyed, indeed, a Near Approach to Us, and a beautiful place of (Final)   Return. O David! We did indeed make thee a   vicegerent on earth: so judge thou between men in truth (and justice): nor follow thou the lusts (of thy heart), for they will mislead thee from the Path of God. For those who wander astray from the Path of God, is a Penalty Grievous, for that they forget the Day of   Account. (38: 20-26/A)

SULAYMAN (SOLOMON)

* To David We gave Solomon (for a son),- how    excellent in Our service! Ever did he turn (to Us)!  Behold, there were brought before him, at eventide coursers of the highest breeding, and swift of foot; and he said, "Truly do I love the love of good, with a view to the glory of my Lord,"- until (the sun) was hidden in the veil (of night): bring them back to me." Then began he to pass his hand over (their) legs and their necks.  And We did try Solomon: We placed on his throne a body (without life); but he did turn (to Us in true    devotion). He said, "O my Lord! Forgive me, and grant me a kingdom which, (it may be), suits not another after me: for Thou art the Grantor of Bounties       (without measure). (38: 30-35/A)

* And remember David and Solomon, when they gave judgement in the matter of the field into which the sheep of certain people had strayed by night. We did       witness their judgment. To Solomon We inspired the (right) understanding of the matter: to each (of them) We gave Judgement and Knowledge.. (21: 78-79/A)

* Then We subjected the wind to his power, to flow gently to his order, whithersoever he willed,- as also the evil ones, (including) every kind of builder and diver,- as also others bound together in fetters. Such are Our Bounties: whether thou bestow them (on   others) or withhold them, no account will be asked. (38: 36-39/A)

* And Solomon was David's heir. He said: "O ye  people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and on us has been bestowed (a little) of all things: this is indeed Grace manifest (from God.)" And before Solomon were marshalled his hosts,- of Jinns and men and birds, and they were all kept in order and ranks. At length, when they came to a (lowly) valley of ants, one of the ants said: "O ye ants, get into your habitations, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you (under foot) without knowing it." So he smiled, amused at her speech; and he said: "O my Lord! so order me that I may be grateful for Thy favours, which thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may work the righteousness that will please Thee. And  admit me, by Thy Grace, to the ranks of Thy righteous Servants." And he took a muster of the Birds; and he said: "Why is it I see not the Hoopoe? Or is he among the       absentees? I will certainly punish him with a severe penalty, or execute him, unless he bring me a clear reason (for absence)."

            But the Hoopoe tarried not far: he (came up and) said: "I have compassed (territory) which thou hast not compassed, and I have come to thee from Saba with tidings true. I found (there) a woman ruling over them and provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent throne. I found her and her people      worshipping the sun besides God. Satan has made their deeds seem pleasing in their eyes, and has kept them away from the Path,- so they receive no guidance,- (Kept them away from the Path), that they should not worship God, Who brings to light what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what ye hide and what ye reveal. (God)!- there is no god but He!- Lord of the Throne Supreme!" (Solomon) said: "Soon shall we see whether thou hast told the truth or lied! Go thou, with this letter of mine, and  deliver it to them: then draw back from them, and (wait to) see what answer they return". (The queen) said: "Ye chiefs! here is delivered to me - a letter worthy of   respect. It is from Solomon, and is (as follows): "˜In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Be ye not     arrogant against me, but come to me in  submission (to the true Religion).'" She said: "Ye chiefs! advise me in (this) my affair: no affair have I decided except in your presence." They said: "We are endued with strength, and given to vehement war: but the          command is with thee; so consider what thou wilt   command." She said: "Kings, when they enter a    country, despoil it, and make the noblest of its people its meanest; thus do they behave. But I am going to send him a present, and (wait) to see with what      (answer) return (my) ambassadors." 

Now when (the embassy) came to Solomon, he said: "Will ye give me abundance in wealth? But that which God has given me is better than that which He has given you! Nay it is ye who rejoice in your gift! Go back to them, and be sure we shall come to them with such hosts as they will never be able to meet. We shall expel them from there in disgrace, and they will feel humbled (indeed)." He said (to his own men): "Ye chiefs! which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?" Said an "˜Ifrit', of the Jinns: "I will bring it to thee before thou rise from thy council: indeed I have full strength for the purpose, and may be trusted." Said one who had knowledge of the Book: "I will bring it to thee within the twinkling of an eye!" Then when (Solomon) saw it placed firmly before him, he said: "This is by the Grace of my Lord!- to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful! and if any is grateful, truly his gratitude is (a gain) for his own soul; but if any is ungrateful, truly my Lord is Free of all Needs, Supreme in Honour !" He said: "Transform her throne out of all recognition by her: let us see whether she is guided (to the truth) or is one of those who receive no guidance."

So when she arrived, she was asked, "Is this thy throne?" She said, "It was just like this; and    knowledge was bestowed on us in advance of this, and we have submitted to God (in Islam)." And he diverted her from the worship of others besides God; for she was (sprung) of a people that had no faith. She was asked to enter the lofty Palace: but when she saw it, she thought it was a lake of water, and she (tucked up her skirts), uncovering her legs. He said: "This is but a palace paved smooth with slabs of glass." She said: "O my Lord! I have indeed wronged my soul: I do (now) submit (in Islam), with Solomon, to the Lord of the Worlds." (27: 16-44/A)

* And to Solomon (We made) the wind (obedient). Its early morning (stride) was a month's (journey), and its evening (stride) was a month's (journey); and We made a font of molten brass to flow for him; and there were Jinns that worked in front of him, by the leave of his Lord, and if any of them turned aside from our command, We made him taste of the Penalty of the Blazing Fire. They worked for him as he desired,  (making) arches, images, basons as large as reservoirs, and (cooking) cauldrons fixed (in their places): "Work ye, sons of David, with thanks! but few of My       servants are grateful!"

       Then, when We decreed (Solomon's) death, nothing showed them his death except a little worm of the earth, which kept (slowly) gnawing away at his staff: so when he fell down, the Jinns saw plainly         that if they had known the unseen, they would not have    tarried in the humiliating Penalty (of their Task).           (34: 12-14/A)

* They followed what the evil ones gave out (falsely) against the power of Solomon: the blasphemers Were, not Solomon, but the evil ones, teaching men Magic, and such things as came down at Babylon to the    angels Harut and Marut. But neither of these taught anyone (Such things) without saying: "We are only for trial; so do not blaspheme." They learned from them the means to sow discord between man and wife. But they could not thus harm anyone except by God's permission. And they learned what harmed them, not what       profited them. And they knew that the buyers of (magic) would have no share in the happiness of the Hereafter. And vile was the price for which they did sell their souls, if they but knew! (2: 102/A)

People of Sheeba

 (The following story relates to Saba, some        centuries later than the period of Solomon        described in the above verses.)

* There was, for Saba, aforetime, a Sign in their home-land - two Gardens to the right and to the left. "Eat of the Sustenance (provided) by your Lord, and be grateful to Him: a territory fair and happy, and a Lord Oft-Forgiving! But they turned away (from God., and We sent against them the flood (released) from the dams, and We converted their two garden (rows) into      "gardens" producing bitter fruit, and tamarisks, and some few (stunted) Lote-trees. That was the  Requital We gave them because they ungratefully   rejected Faith: and never do We give (such) requital except to such as are ungrateful rejecters. Between them and the  Cities on which We had poured our blessings, We had placed Cities in prominent positions, and between them We had appointed stages of journey in due proportion: "Travel therein, secure, by night and by day." But they said: "Our Lord! Place longer distances between our journey- stages": but they wronged themselves (therein). At length We made them as a tale (that is told), and We dispersed them all in scattered  fragments. Verily in this are Signs for every (soul that is) patiently constant and grateful.                  (34: 15-19/A)

YUNUS (JONAH)

* Those against whom the word of thy Lord hath been verified would not believe- even if every Sign was brought unto them,- until they see (for themselves) the penalty grievous. Why was there not a single township (among those We warned), which believed,-        so its faith should have profited it,- except the people of Jonah? When they believed, We removed from  them the penalty of ignominy in the life of the present, and permitted them to enjoy (their life) for a while. (10: 96-98/A)

* So also was Jonah among those sent (by Us). When he ran away (like a slave from captivity) to the ship (fully) laden, he (agreed to) cast lots, and he was   condemned.  Then the big Fish did swallow him, and he had done acts worthy of blame. Had it not been that he (repented and) glorified God, he would      certainly have remained inside the fish till the Day of Resurrection. But We cast him forth on the naked shore in a state of sickness, and We caused to grow, over him, a spreading plant of the gourd kind. And We sent him (on a mission) to a hundred thousand (men) or more. And they believed; so We permitted them to enjoy (their life) for a while. (37: 139-148/A)

* And remember Zun-nun, when he departed in wrath: He imagined that We had no power over him! But he cried through the depths of darkness, "There is no god but thou: glory to thee: I was indeed wrong!"                  So We listened to him: and delivered him from         distress: and thus do We deliver those who have faith.  (21:  87-88/A)

ZUL-QARNAIN

(Some of the scholars say that Zul-qarnain is none other than the Alexander, the Great, but, others        regard an ancient Persian king as the one indicated by this title.)

* They ask thee concerning Zul-qarnain. Say, "I will rehearse to you something of his story." Verily We  established his power on earth, and We gave him the ways and the means to all ends. One (such) way he followed until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water: Near it he found a People: We said: "O Zul-qarnain! (thou hast authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with kindness." He said: "Whoever doth wrong, him shall we punish; then shall he be sent back to his Lord; and He will punish him with a punishment unheard-of    (before). But whoever believes, and works righteousness,- he shall have a goodly reward, and easy will be his task as We order it by our Command." Then    followed he (another) way, until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no covering protection against the sun. (He left them) as they were. We completely understood what was before him. Then followed he (another) way, until, when he reached (a tract)       between two mountains, he found, beneath them, a people who scarcely understood a word. They said: "O Zul-qarnain! the Gog and Magog (People) do great mischief on earth: shall we then render thee tribute in order that thou mightest erect a barrier between us and them? He said: "(The power) in which my Lord has established me is better (than tribute). Help me therefore with strength (and labour). I will erect a strong barrier between you and them. Bring me blocks of iron." At length, when he had filled up the space    between the two steep mountain-sides, He said, "Blow (with your bellows)" Then, when he had made it (red) as fire, he said: "Bring me, that I may pour over it, molten lead." Thus were they made powerless to scale it or to dig through it. He said: "This is a mercy from my Lord. But when the promise of my Lord comes to pass, He will make it into dust; and the promise of my Lord is true." (18: 83-98/A)