In the name of God, the Kind, the Merciful

A systematic study of the Holy Qur'an-2

By

Dr Javed Jamil

The Supreme Being

          When we observe the phenomena occurring all around us "” on the earth and in the cosmos, we are able to discern the causes of some of these phenomena. Further investigation enhances our inquisitiveness to investigate the cause of the causes of these phenomena; and we finally feel compellingly inclined to conclude that there has to be an Ultimate Causer of all the causes. This Ultimate Causer is hidden, of course, from our own eyes and from the eyes of the instruments that we have invented irrespective of their sophistication and advancement. The more extensive­ly we study the nature of objects and countless phenomena occurring incessantly in the universe, the more strongly we get convinced about the Presence of a Supreme Being, who is not limited like every other thing in the universe but is Unlimited, is not dependent on others but is absolutely Self-sufficient and is not imperfect but is Absolute in every way. He is not bound by time, matter or space, and His judgment is never affected, like that of human beings, by inherent weaknesses. Thus to explain all that is happening in the universe, the assumption of the Supreme Being becomes unavoidable. The universe is huge and whole universe is being governed by the same laws. If the vast universe, so vast that the light, the fasted vehicle of communication known to the current Physicists, needs billions of years to traverse it, is being governed with the same set of laws and the whole universe seems to be in an unbreakable harmony, which is not possible without an uninterrupted communication, it is natural to assume that there is One who controls and governs it.  And for, without assuming his Presence, it becomes impossible to explain mysteries (physical and spiritual) of the universe, His presence does not merely remain an assumption or an article of faith but becomes the Greatest and Irrefutable Reality of the Universe.

          Since his unique appearance on the surface of the earth, man has been wondering, and will surely continue to wonder forever, what God is. But God has always been and will always remain beyond comprehension. He has been variously described though: as Energy, as Light, as Power, and as what not. But the truth is that they are all His, not that they are He. His Nature and Functions can be understood and studied, albeit partially, but not His structure or composition.  He is surely not what He can be in human perception. But He undoubtedly is. He is the Creator; He cannot in any way be a part of, or like, His creation.  He, whatever He is, encompasses all that the vast Universe can boast of. He cannot be within the Universe. His Chair of Authority, whatever It means, controls, governs and manages all that is there in the earth or in the cosmos. Anything that exists does so relative to Him; every being declares its submission by moving relative to Him; for He alone is Absolute; all others are but relative. He is Living but His Life knows neither birth nor death. He exists but His Existence is without any ponderable appearance. We can see everything testifying to His Presence, yet our eyes cannot capture Him; we can listen to Him speaking in every sound around us, yet our ears cannot hear Him; we can feel His Omniscient Presence everywhere, yet our brains cannot understand Him. And who can understand God but God Himself. And His introduction of Himself in the Qur'an is that He is the One and Only God (112: 1-4). Though all beautiful names are His, there cannot be a better name ("Allah", meaning God) for Him as no other name describes the relationship between God and His Creation better.  Indeed, nothing in the creation can be like Him; and therefore none else can be given a status that is only His unchallenged monopoly.

          The Supreme Being, God (or Allah), as believed by Islam, does not suffer from the weaknesses of God as believed by some other contemporary religions. The Supreme Being has to be Absolute and Eternal; and not for even an iota of time, should He become, or appear to have become, limited by space, matter or time. Thus Islam's concept of God can be clearly distinguished from the concept of Avatarwad. Islam has nothing as such against those eminent saints who are regarded Avatars some of whom might have been Messengers of God, and therefore, of Islam  (the religion revealed by God, from time to time, through His Messengers); but it cannot endorse the view of Avatarwad held by most of the present Hindu priests. "Avatars" are widely believed as "God Incarnate", or as argued by certain Hindu philosophers, as human forms of gods called devtas (Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh being the most well-known) who again seem to possess divine powers; this leads one to accept that, for a certain period of time, "God" or His "partner-gods" also become, or appear to become, polluted by the same weaknesses, as are the hallmark of human beings. To be precise, if one has faith in somebody as God Incarnate, it leads to dubious ideological consequences. An Avatar is sure to, or at least, seems to, have depended on his parents for his birth and growth; he appears to have felt hungry and eaten for his survival, had wives and children and after passing a certain period of time, left this world. Furthermore, if an avatar was a man, as is often the case, men would naturally become superior to women (god being a man); if he was dark in complexion, blacks would become superior to whites; and so on. The Christian doctrine of believing in Jesus, (glorified by the Qur'an as Apostle and Spirit of God,) as the "Son of God" suffers from similar ideological riddle; for why should God have begotten a son when He himself can create everything by His mere commandment of "Be!"  To beget a son, "Father" God should choose a woman to conceive, possess and deliver His Son. If this happens, He ceases to be self-sufficient. Further, the Mother possessing His son has to be equal, almost if not exactly, in status to the Father; for even in the biological world the parents of every being belong to the same species. Such a belief therefore seems to deprive God of His basic divine qualities.

It is the duty of man to follow and invoke God because it is only to Him that he owes his existence. God is Bountiful. He has bestowed upon men all the essentials of life, though he did not even ask for them. Thus he has been given air to breathe, water to drink,  and food to eat.; he has been endowed with brain to think, eyes to see, ears to hear, mouth to speak , hands to work, legs to walk and skin to protect him. God's factory has been working for an incalculable time to produce all that is necessary not only for the survival of man but also for his pleasure and enjoyment. He is Merciful, for He is ever ready to forgive men's sins, provided they repent with their hearts. Why should we not implore Him to forgive our sins? When He has already bestowed His favours on us and has promised much greater reward in the Hereafter, why should we not follow His commands and make sacrifices in His Path?

In the name of God, the Kind, the Merciful

The Supreme Being

      in the Qur'an

* Say : He is God,

The One and Only;

God, The Eternal, Absolute;

He begetteth none

Nor is He begotten;

And there is none

Like unto Him. (112: 1-4/A)

* God! There is no god

But He, the Living,

The Self-Subsisting, Eternal.

No slumber can seize him

Nor sleep. His are all that is

In the heavens and earth.

Who is there (that) can intercede

In His presence except

As He permitteth? He knoweth

What (appeareth to His creatures

As) before or after

Or behind them.

Nor shall they compass

Aught of His Knowledge

Except as He willeth.

His Throne doth extend

over the heavens

And the earth, and He feeleth

No fatigue in guarding

And preserving them

For He is the Most High,

The Supreme (in glory). (2: 255/A)

* Praise be to God,

The Cherisher And Sustainer of The Worlds;

The Most Gracious, Most Merciful;

Master of the Day of Judgement. (1: 1-4/A)

* God is He than whom

There is no other god;

Who knows all (things)

Both secret and open;

He, Most Gracious,

Most Merciful,

God is He than Whom

There is no other god;

The Sovereign, the Holy One,

The source of Peace (and Perfection)

The Guardian of Faith,

The Preserver of Safety,

The Exalted in Might,

The Irresistible, the Supreme.

Glory to God!

(High is He)

Above the partners

They attribute to Him.

He is God, the Creator,

The Evolver,

The Bestower of Forms

(or Colours):

To him belong

The Most Beautiful Names;

Whatever is in

The heavens and earth,

Doth declare

His Praises and Glory:

And He is the Exalted

In might, the Wise. (59: 22-24/A)

* Blessed be the name

Of thy Lord,

Full of Majesty,

Bounty and Honour. (55: 78/A)

* With Him is the knowledge

of the Hour of Judgement:

And to Him shall ye

Be brought back. (43: 85/A)

* He knows all that goes

Into the earth, and all that

Goes out thereof; all that

Comes down from the sky

And all that ascends thereto;

And He is the Most Merciful,

The Oft-Forgiving. (34: 2/A)

* No vision can grasp Him,

But His grasp is over

All vision: He is

Above all comprehension,

Yet is acquainted with all things. (6: 103/A)

* And thy Lord knows all

That their hearts conceal

And all that they reveal.

And He is God: there is

No god but He. To Him

Be praise at the first

And at the last :

For Him is the Command.

And to Him shall ye

(All) be brought back. (28: 69-70/A)

* O my son ! (said Luqman),

"If there be (but) the weight

of the mustard-seed and

It were hidden in a rock,

Or (anywhere) in the heavens or

On earth, God will bring it

Forth: for God understands

The finest mysteries, (and)

Is well-acquainted with them ."(31: 16/A)

* Seest thou not that

God doth know (all) that is

In the heavens and

On earth? There is not

A secret consultation

Between three, but He

Makes the fourth among them,

Nor between five but

He makes the sixth;

Not between fewer nor more

But He is in their midst,

Wheresoever they be:

In the end will He

Tell them the truth

Of their conduct on the Day

Of Judgement; for God

Has full knowledge

Of all things. (58: 7/A)

* He knoweth the unseen

And that which is open:

He is the Great

The Most High. (13: 9/A)

* God! the Light

Of the heavens and the earth.

The parable of His Light

Is as if there were a Niche

And within it a Lamp:

The Lamp enclosed in Glass:

The Glass as it were

A brilliant star:

Lit from a blessed Tree,

An Olive, neither of the East

Nor of the East,

Whose oil is well-nigh

Luminous,

Though fire scarce toucheth it:

Light upon Light!

God doth guide

Whom He will

To His Light:

God doth set forth parables

For men: and God

Doth know all things. (24: 35/A)

* Verily when He intends

A thing, His command is

"Be", and it is! (36: 82/A)

* To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth: When He decreeth a matter, He saith to it: "Be," and it is. (2: 117/A)

* Whatever is in the heavens and on earth, doth declare the Praises and Glory of God,- the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. (62: 1/A)

* Whatever beings there are in the heavens and the earth do prostrate themselves to God (acknowledging subjection),- with goodwill or in spite of themselves: so do their shadows in the mornings and evenings.       (13: 15/A)

* Seest thou not that

To God bow down in worship

All things that are

In the heavens and on earth,

The sun, the moon, the stars;

The hills, the trees, the animals;

And great number among

Mankind? (22: 18/A)

* Do not the disbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were one solid mass which We tore asunder and that We made every living thing of water? Will they have no faith? (21: 30/Pickthall)

* It is God who has Created the heavens

And the earth, and all

Between them in six Days,

And is firmly established

On the Throne (of authority):

You have none besides Him,

To protect or intercede (for you).

Will ye not then

Receive admonition? (32: 4/A)

* Praise be to God,

Who created (out of nothing)

The heavens and the earth,

Who made the angels

Messengers with wings,

Two, or three, or four:

He adds to Creation

As He pleases: for God

Has power over all things.

What God out of His mercy

Doth bestow on mankind

There is none who can withhold,

There is none who can grant,

Apart from Him:

And He is the Elated

In power, Full of Wisdom. (35: 1-2/A)

* Have they not observed what is before them and what is behind the sky and the earth? If We will, We can make the earth swallow them, or cause obliteration from the sky to fall on them. Lo! herein surely is a portent for every slave who turneth (to Allah) repentant. (34: 9/P)

* It is Allah who keeps the heavens and the earth from falling. Should they fall none could hold them back but He. He is Forbearing, Forgiving. (35:  41/Mahmud Y. Zayid)

* Blessed be He who hath placed in the heaven mansions of the stars and hath placed therein a great lamp and a moon giving light. (25: 61/P)

* He it is who appointed the sun a splendour and the moon a light, and measured for her stages, that ye might know the number of the years, and the reckoning.  Allah created not (all) that save in truth. He detaileth the revelations for people who have knowledge.         (10: 5/P)

* And He it is who hath set for you stars that ye may guide your course by them amid the darkness of the land and the sea. (6: 97/P)

* It was He who created the night and the day, and sun and moon; each floats freely in its orbit. (21: 33/Z)

* Among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. But do not prostrate yourselves before the sun or the moon; rather prostrate yourselves before Allah who created them both, if you truly serve Him. (41: 37/Z)

* He who created

The seven heavens

One above another:

No want of proportion

Wilt thou see

In the Creation

Of (God) Most Gracious.

So turn thy vision again:

Seest thou any flaw?

Again turn thy vision

A second time: thy vision

Will come back to thee

Dull and discomfited,

In a state worn out.

And We have

Adorned the lowest heaven

With Lamps, and We

Have made such

As missiles to drive

Away the Evil Ones,

And have prepared for them

The Penalty

Of the Blazing Fire. (67: 3-5/A)

* And We made the sky a roof withheld (from them). Yet they turn away from the portents. (21: 32/Z)

* He maketh the night to pass into the day and He maketh the day to pass into the night. He hath subdued the sun and moon to service. Each runneth unto an appointed term. (35: 13/P)

* A token unto them is night. We strip it of the day and lo! they are in darkness. And the sun runneth on unto a resting-place for him. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Wise. As for the moon We have appointed mansions till she return like an old shrivelled palm-leaf. It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor doth  the night outstrip the day. They float each in an orbit. (36:  37-40/P)

* He directs the ordinance from the heaven unto the earth; then it ascends unto him in a day, whereof the measure is a thousand years of that you reckon. (32: 5/P)

* Do you not see how your Lord lengthens the shadow? Had it been His will, He could have made it constant. But he makes the sun an indication of it; little by little we shorten it. (25: 45-46/Z)

* Assuredly the creation of the heavens and the earth is a greater (matter) than the creation of men: Yet most men understand not. (40: 57/A)

* Say : "˜Roam the earth and see how Allah initiated

the creation. Then Allah will create a later creation. Allah has power over all things. (29: 20/Z)

* ..Or, We have made the earth

Firm to live in; made

Rivers in its midst; set

Thereon mountains immovable... (27: 61/A)

* And We have placed in the earth firm hills lest it quake with them, and We have placed therein ravines and roads that haply they may find their way. (21: 31/P)

* He hath created the heavens without supports that ye can see, and hath cast into the earth firm hills, so that it quake not with you; and hath dispersed therein all kinds of beasts. And We sent down water from the sky and We cause (plants) of every goodly kind to grow there in... (31: 10/P)

* Do they not se how We get to the land and reduce its borders? If Allah decrees a thing none can reverse it. Swift is His reckoning. (13: 41/Z)

* Allah hath created every animal of water. Of them is a kind that goeth upon its belly, and a (kind) that goeth upon two legs, and a (kind) that goeth upon four.   Allah createth what He will... (24: 45/P)

* Glory be to God, who created

In pairs all things that

The earth produces, as well as

Their own (human) kind,

And the other thing of which

They have no knowledge. (36: 36/A)

* He who hath made

Everything which He has created

Most good: He began

The creation of man

With (nothing more than) clay,

And made his progeny

From a quintessence

Of the nature of

A fluid despised:

But He fashioned him

In due proportions, and breathed

Into him something of

His spirit. And He gave

You (the faculties of) hearing.

And little thanks do ye give! (32: 7-9/A)

* Verily We created man from the product of wet earth; Then placed him as a drop in a safe lodging; then fashioned We the drop a clot, then fashioned We the clot a little lump, then fashioned We the little lump bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then produced it as another creation; so blessed be Allah, the Best of creators. Then lo! after that ye surely die. (23: 12-15/P)

* Men, if you are in doubt about the Resurrection, remember that We first created you from dust, then from a life-germ, then from a clot, and then from a lump of flesh partly formed and partly unformed, so that We might manifest to you (Our power). We cause to remain in the wombs whatever We please for an appointed term, and then We bring you forth as infants, that you may grow up and reach your prime. Some of you die (young), and some live on to the abject old age when all that they once knew they shall know no more. (22: 5/A)

* God doth know what every female (womb) doth bear, by how much the wombs fall short (of their time or number) or do exceed. Every single thing is before His sight, in (due) proportion. (13: 8/A)

* And God did create

You from the dust;

Then from a single drop;

Then He made you

In pairs. And no female

conceives or lays down

(Her load), but with His knowledge. Nor is a man

Long-lived granted length

Of days, nor is a part

Cut off from his life,

But is in a Decree

(Ordained), All this

Is easy to God. (35: 11/A)

* And He it is who created man from water, and hath appointed for him kindred by blood and kindred by marriage; for thy Lord is ever Powerful. (25: 54/P)

* We have indeed created man

In the best of moulds,

Then do We abase him

To be the lowest

Of low . (95: 4-5/A)

* It is He who brought you

Forth from the wombs

Of your mother when

Ye knew nothing; and He

Gave you hearing and sight

And intelligence and affections:

That ye may give thanks

(To God). (16: 78/A)

* Behold the semen you emit: did you create it or We? It was We that ordained death among you.   Nothing can hinder Us from replacing you by others like yourselves or transferring you into beings you know nothing of. (56: 58-59/P)

* It was He who created man, and We know

what dark suggestions his soul

Makes; We are nearer to him

Than (his) jugular vein. (50: 16/A)

* Who  originates creation,

Then repeats it,

And who gives you sustenance

From heaven and earth?

(Can there be another) God

Besides God? Say, "Bring forth

Your argument, if ye

Are telling the truth." (27: 64/A)

* Allah takes away men's souls upon their death, and those that do not die during their sleep. Those who are doomed He keeps with Him, and restores the others for the time ordained. Surely there are signs in this for thinking men. (39: 42/Z)

* And who sendeth down water from the sky in (due) measure? And We revive a dead land therewith. Even so ye will be brought forth; He who created all the pairs and appointed for you ships and cattle whereupon you ride; that ye may mount upon their backs, and may remember your Lord's favour when ye mount thereon, and may say: Glorified be He who hath subdued these unto us, and we were not capable of (subduing them). (43: 11-13/P)

* A sign for them

Is the earth that is dead:

We do give it life,

And produces grain there from,

Of which do ye eat.

And we produce there in

Orchards with date-palms

And vines, and We cause

Springs to gush forth therein:

That they may enjoy

The fruits of this (artistry)

It was not their hands

That made this:

Will they not then give thanks? (36: 33-35/A)

* And a token unto them is that We bear their offspring in the laden ship, and We have created for them of the like thereof where on they ride. And if We will, We drown them, and there is no help for them, neither can they be saved, unless by mercy from Us and as comfort for a while. (36: 41-44/P)

* Have they not seen how We have created for them of Our handiwork the cattle, so that they are their owners, and have subdued them unto them, so that some of them they have for riding, some for food? Benefits and (diverse) drinks have they from them. Will they not then give thanks? (36: 71-73/P)

* Say, "He will give them

Life who created them

For the first time!

For he is well-versed

In every kind of creation!

The same who produces

For you fire out of

The green tree, when behold!

Ye kindle there with

(your own fires.) (36: 79-80/A)

* Nor are the two bodies

Of flowing water alike,

The one palatable, sweet,

And pleasant to drink,

And the other, salt

And bitter. Yet from each

(kind of water) do ye

Eat flesh, fresh and tender,

And ye extract ornaments

To wear: and thou seest

The ships therein that plough

the waves, that ye may

Seek (thus) of the Bounty

Of God that ye

May be grateful. (35: 12/A)

* It is He who brings out

The living from the dead

And brings out the dead

From the living, and He

Gives life to the earth

After it is dead:

And thus shall ye be

Brought out (from the dead).

Among His signs is this

That he created you

From dust; and then

Behold, ye are men

Scattered (far and wide)!

And among His signs

Is this, that He created

For you mates from among

Yourselves, that ye may

Dwell in tranquillity with them,

And He has put love

And mercy between your (hearts):

Verily in that are signs

For those who reflect.

And among His Signs

Is the creation of the heavens

And the earth, and the variations

In your languages.

And your colours; verily

In that are signs

For those who know.

And among His Signs

Is the sleep that ye take

By night and by day

And the quest that ye make

Out of His Bounty: verily,

In that are signs

For those who hearken.

He shows you the lightening

By way both of fear

And of hope, and He sends

Down rain from the sky

And with it gives life to

The earth after it is dead:

Verily in that are signs

For those who are wise. (30: 19-24/A)

* It is God who sends

the winds, and they raise

The clouds: then does He

Spread them in the sky

As He wills, and breaks them

In fragments, until thou seest

Raindrops issue from the midst

Thereof: then when He has

Made them reach such

Of his servants as He wills,

Behold, they rejoice!

Even though, before this

They were dumb with despair. (30: 48-49/A)"¦

* Seest thou not that God makes the clouds move gently, then joins them together, then makes them into a heap? - then wilt thou see rain issue forth from their midst. And He sends down from the sky mountain masses (of clouds) wherein is hail: He strikes therewith whom He pleases and He turns it away from whom He pleases, the vivid flash of His lightning well-nigh blinds the sight. It is God Who alternates the Night and the Day: verily in these things is an instructive example for those who have vision!  (24: 43-44/A)

* Did you not see how Allah sent down water from the sky and brought forth fruits of different hues? In the mountains there are streaks of various shades and cattle have their different colours, too. (35: 27/Z)..

* And how many an animal there is that beareth not its own provision. Allah provideth for it and for you. He is the Hearer, the knower. (29: 60/P).

* We sent down water from the sky in due measure and lodged it into the earth. But, if, We please, We can take it all away. With it We caused vineyards and palm-graves to spring up, yielding abundant fruit for your sustenance. Also a tree which grows on mount Sinai and gives oil and relish for the eaters. In the cattle, too, you have an example of Our Power. You drink of that which is in their bellies, you eat their flesh, and gain other benefits from them, besides. By them, as by the ships that sail the sea, you are carried.          (23: 18-22/Z)..

* He sends down water from the sky which fills the riverbeds to overflowing, so that their torrents bear a swelling foam, akin to that which rises from smelted ore when men make ornaments and tools. Thus Allah depicts truth and falsehood. The scum is cast  away but that which is of use to man remains behind. Thus Allah coins the parables. (13: 17/Z)

* And in the land, there are adjoining plots: gardens of vines and corn and palm-trees, the single and the clustered. They are watered with one water. Yet We make some excel others in taste. Surely in this there are signs for men of understanding. (13: 4/Z)

* Do they not observe

The birds above them,

Spreading their wings

And folding them in?

None can uphold them

Except (God) Most Gracious:

Truly it is He

That watches over all things. (67: 19/A)

* Children of Adam! We have given you clothing with which to cover your nakedness, and garments pleasing to the eye, but the finest of all those is the robe of piety. (7: 26/Z)

* Have ye observed the water which ye drink? Is it ye who shed it from the rain-cloud, or We the shedder? If we willed, We verily could make it bitter. Why then give ye no thanks? Have ye observed the fire which ye strike out; was it ye who made the tree thereof to grow, or, were We the grower? We, even We, appointed it a memorial and a comfort for the dwellers in the wilderness. (56: 68-73/P)

* Have ye seen that which ye cultivate? Is it ye who foster it, or, are We the Fosterer? If we willed, we verily could make it chaff, then would ye cease not to exclaim: Lo! we are laden with debt. (56: 63-66/P)

* Say: Have ye thought: If (all) your water were to disappear in the earth, who then could bring you gushing water? (67: 30/P)

* He has created man:

He has taught him speech

(And intelligence).

The sun and the moon

Follow courses (exactly) computed;

And the herbs and the trees

Both (alike) bow in adoration.

And the Firmament Has He

Raised high, and He has set up

The Balance of (Justice),

In order that ye may

Not transgress (due) balance;

So establish weight with justice

and fall not short in balance;

It is He who has

Spread out the earth

For his creatures:

There in is fruit

And date-palms, producing

Spathes (enclosing dates);

Also corn, with (its)

Leaves and stalk for fodder,

And sweet-smelling plants.

Then which of the favours

Of your Lord will ye deny? (55: 3-13/A)

* He has let loose the two seas: they meet one another. Between them stands a barrier which they can not overrun. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny. Pearls and corals come from both. (55: 19-21/Z)

* Lo! We it is who bring the dead to life. We record that which they send before (them), and their footprint. And all We have kept in a clear Register. (36: 12/P)

* Your Lord revealed to the bee, saying: Build your homes in the mountains, in the trees, and in the hives which men shall make for you. Feed on every kind of fruit, and follow the trodden paths of your Lord. From its belly comes forth a fluid of many hues, a healing (drink) for men. Surely in this there is a sign for those who would give thought. (16: 68-69/Z)

* Allah has caused some of you to excel others in worldly possessions. Those who have been favoured do not give their wealth to those whom their right hands possess so as to be equal in that respect. (16: 71/Z)

* Allah wishes to make this known to you and to guide you among the paths of those who have gone before you, and to turn to you in mercy. He is Wise, Knowing. (4: 26/P)

* Will they not in turn to Allah in repentance and seek forgiveness of Him? He is Forgiving, Merciful. (5: 74/Z)

* If anyone of you commits evil through ignorance and then repents and mends his ways, then He is   Forgiving, Merciful. (6: 54/Z)

* If Allah punished men for their sins, not one creature would be left alive. He reprieves them to an appointed day; when their hour is come, not for one moment shall they stay behind, nor can they go before it. (16: 61/Z)

* Say: "˜Lord, forgive and have mercy. You are the best of those that show mercy.' (23: 118/Z)

* Say: The guidance of Allah is the only guidance.        (6: 71/Z)

* Nor will Allah leave men in error after He has given them guidance, until He has made plain to them all that they should avoid. Allah has knowledge of all things. (9: 115/Z)

* It Allah were to enlarge the provision to His servants, they would tyrannise on the earth. He gives them what He will in due measure; He knows and observes His servants (42: 27/Z)

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