Baqarah 40-44

Baqarah 40

125

With the next Ayah, Allah the Highest starts a dif- ferent topic in the Quran. It is about the Children of Israel. As mentioned earlier in introducing So- rah Al-Baqarah, there were three Jewish tribes liv- ing in Medina when Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him and the Muslims migrated to it.

The Jewish tribes of Medina were expected to join Islam for several reasons:

  1. They were people of the book who had faith in Allah the one and only.

  2. They knew about and were the expecting, a messenger of Allah, as the last messenger, who they considered would be the messiah (the savior). They knew that the time of his prophecy was near and they told the other non-believing tribes in Medina about him.

  3. There are many events which confirm that they saw the signs of Prophecy in Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him and recognized him as the expected messenger.

  4. They knew that this messenger was going to be a descendant of Ibrahim peace upon him. They did however, want and expected him to be of the line of Isaac and David, not the line

126

of Ismail, peace be upon them all, as Mo- hamed, peace be upon him is.

In the next 94 Ayahs, Allah the Highest tells us about the Children in Israel. There are many things in these Ayahs:

  1. They tell us some of the events which took place in the history and lives of the Children of Israel. Informing us of the truth where there had been any alterations, and remind- ing them of their past, for human beings like to forget what they do not like.

  2. Giving the true accounts of the events, about which the Muslims argued with them, to state the true facts. Allah the Highest said: “THIS QURAN NARRATES TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL MOST OF (THE ISSUES) ABOUT WHICH THEY DIF- FERED”. (S:27A:76)

  3. For the Muslims to learn good lessons from what happened to the Children of Israel and so, avoid the same mistakes.

  4. They are to comfort and reassure Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, and the Muslims. “ALL WE NARRATE TO

page126image11048page126image11208

127

YOU OF THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE MESSENGERS, TO STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART (RESOLVE), TO HAVE THE TRUTH, A LESSON AND REMINDER FOR THE BELIEVERS”. (S:11 A:120)

This is Ayah 40 the first of such Ayahs in Sorah Al-Baqarah.

40- O CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, REMEMBER THE FAVOUR I BESTOWED UPON YOU AND FULFIL YOUR COVENANT WITH ME, THEN I WILL FULFIL MY COVENANT WITH YOU AND FEAR ME.

This is addressing the Children of Israel. This name refers to them being descendants of Jacob (Israel) the sun of Isaac (Is,haq) the son of Ibrahim (Ibrahim), peace upon them all.

Allah the Highest reminds the Children of Is- rael, of His many favors upon them, they will be mentioned in the next Ayahs and throughout the Quran. Of them is, saving them from Pharaoh, parting the Red Sea for them to cross, providing them with food and water in the desert, forgiv-

128

ing them their worship of the golden calf, and many others.

Allah the Highest promises them to fulfill His covenant with them, if they fulfill their covenant with him first. This is Allah’s policy with all. “ALLAH MADE A COVENANT WITH THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND RAISED TWELVE CHIEFTAIN FROM THEM; THAT IF THEY STEADFAST IN PRAYER, PAY REGULAR ZAKAH, BELIEVE IN MY MES- SENGERS, SUPPORT THEM AND LEND ALLAH A KIND LOAN, I WILL FORGIVE YOU YOUR SINS AND ADMITS YOU TO GARDENS WITH RIVERS FLOWING UN- DERNEATH. BUT WHOEVER DISBE- LIEVES AFTER THAT THAT, HE WILL HAVE TRULLY GONE ASTRAY OF THE RIGHT PATH”. (S: 5 A: 12)

Then Allah the Highest wants them to fear Him. Why?
Fearing Allah the Highest is one of the reasons for obeying Him and refraining from what He prohibited. Indeed, fearing Allah the Highest is evidence of Faith. This does not mean that we

129

do not fear others, but the believers fear Allah the Highest more than all else.

In the next 93 Ayahs, there will be a great deal to learn about the Children of Israel, although all there is to learn about them is not only in these Ayahs.

Baqarah 41

41- AND BELIEVE IN WHAT I SENT DOWN TO YOU, CONFIRMING WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE, AND DO NOT BE THE FIRST TO DIS- BELIEVE IN IT, AND DO NOT SELL MY AYAHS FOR A MISERLY PRICE, AND GUARD YOURSELVES FROM MY DISPLEASURE.

The Jews of the Medina, and those of the present day, were expected to believe in Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, and the Book sent with him, the Quran. They knew about him, they were ex- pecting him, for they had read of his coming in the Torah, so they would know that the Quran con-

130

firms the teachings of the Torah. Also, the Quran confirms all the prophecies of all the Prophets and Messengers before Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him.

However, most of them disbelieved, only few be- lieved, why?

Most, if not all of the Jewish scholars at the time knew that the Quran is Allah’s book. However, they stood to loose in this life and in this world if they were to become Muslims. There is the loss of the status and prestige in their communities, as well as the persecution they might suffer from the other Jews elsewhere other than Medina.

This price, they felt to be too much to pay, except for the few of them who believed.

This however would have been a small price for:-

  • -  Protecting themselves from Allah’s Anger.

  • -  Gaining Allah’s Pleasure and His Paradise.

    Whatever gain they could have had in this world, is but miserly compared to what they could have gained. Their loss is great. Allah the Highest said:

131

“BUT YOU PREFER THE LOWER LIFE WHILE THE HEREAFTER IS BETTER AND MORE ENDURING”. (S: 87 A: 16, 17)

Allah’s Anger is what they incur at the end. Any true believer knows that it is well worth doing all that it takes to protect ones self from incurring Al- lah’s Anger. This is what they incur; they are those referred to in the seventh Ayah of Al-Fateha as “NEITHER THOSE WHO INCURE YOUR WRATH”.

Which is very well deserved, for Allah the Highest is not unjust.

Baqarah 42-44

42- DO NOT COMPOUND TRUTH WITH FALSEHOOD AND KNOWINGLY CONCEAL THE TRUTH.

This is a severe warning, not just for the Jews, but to all people, including the Muslims. This warning

132

is particularly for the scholars and the preachers for the following reasons:

  1. Allah the Highest tells us that they know, but they conceal the truth. They must be those who know.

  2. They have the responsibility for teaching those who do not know.

  3. As they are Scholars, they have people’s trust in their knowledge. They assume that they are telling them the truth. Therefore, their responsibility is greater, and conse- quently their reward or sin is greater too.

This is the responsibility of knowledge. Besides knowledge, there are those who have the persua- sive ability, the ability to convey information with authority. If they convey falsehood, they cause more harm and their sin is very great indeed. Al- lah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him said: “Allah forgives the ignorant what he does not for- give the knowledgeable”. (Ahmed)

He, prayer and peace upon him also said: “The most I fear for my nation is every well spoken hyp- ocrite”. (A: 1; 22, 44)

43- AND STEADFAST IN SALAH, GIVE ZAKAH AND BOW DOWN WITH THOSE WHO BOW DOWN.

This is a clear command to the Jews, to Jews and also to the Muslims.

For the Jews to embrace Islam, worship with the Muslims and give Zakah of their money like the Muslims do they had to give up their arrogance and denial of the prophecy of Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him.

It is not an excuse that they follow Moses, peace upon him, for once the messenger or the time, of the last prophet and messenger arrives, they have to follow and obey. Allah the Highest said: “WHOEVER SEEKS A RELIGION OTHER THAN ISLAM, IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FROM HIM, AND IN THE HEREAFTER, HE WILL BE OF THE LOSERS”. (S: 3 A: 85)

44- HOW WOULD YOU COMMAND OTHERS TO BE RIGHTEOUS WHILE FORGET YOUR-

133

134

SELVES WHILE YOU READ THE BOOK? HAVE YOU NO UNDERSTANDING.

This is hypocrisy.

Allah the Highest is warning us all about hypocrisy. The Jews are a good example of hypocrisy, but the warning is for us. It is a great hypocrisy to tell every one to be righteous, while not being righteous yourself. This is the worst kind of hypocrisy. Not only to pretend to be good and do otherwise, but also to preach righteousness, but to do otherwise.

The responsibility of the preachers is greater than that of the ordinary person, and their sin is much worse. Why?
The preacher is looked upon as an example, not just in what they say, but also and more important, is what they do. The scholars are of a higher status before Allah the Highest, than others, as is said in the Quran: “ARE THEY EQUAL (MEANING THEY ARE NOT) THOSE WHO KNOW AND THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW, BUT ONLY THOSE OF SOUND MINDS WILL TAKE HEED”. (S: 39 A: 9)

It is therefore also that their sin is greater. Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “On the night I was taken for Israa, I passed by people whose lips were clipped with clippers of fire. I said (to Gabriel peace upon him): Who are they? He said: They are the preachers of your nation who command people to be righteous while forgetting themselves while they read the book, have they no understanding?” (A: 3; 120)

Not doing what one preaches conveys to people a bad message; that it is alright to say something and do something else. That it is OK to speak well and do evil. For this to be done by people, who are looked up to and listened to, is particularly bad, for it will mislead many.

This is really the worst kind of hypocrisy.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Baqarah 55-57

Baqarah 55-56 55- AND AS YOU SAID: “O MOSES, WE WILL NOT BELIEVE IN YOU UNTIL WE SEE ALLAH MANIFESTLY”, THEN YOU WERE STRUCK WITH LIGHTENING WHILE YOU WERE LOOKING. 56- THEN WE REVIVED YOU AFTER YOUR DEATH, SO THAT YOU MAY BE THANKFUL. Once again, the Children of Israel doubting and disbelieving, and once again they were shown the clear signs, then forgiven. It has been reported that it was the seventy men Moses took with him on an appointment with Allah who said that they would not believe unless they see Allah manifestly. They were the selected few who were chosen to represent the children of Is- rael. They put a condition on believing, to see Al- lah the Highest manifestly. This condition was very bad sin for many reasons: -   It was bad after all the manifest miracles they had seen, to need more proved by Allah and Moses as His messenger. -   They asked to see Allah the Highest, a thing no human being was allowed. -   Moses, peace upon him, did not see Allah manifestl...
Read more

Baqarah 47-48

Baqarah 47-48 47-O CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, REMEMBER THE BOUNTIES I BESTOWED UPON YOU AND THAT I FAVOURED YOU OVER ALL OTHERS 48-AND GUARD YOURSELVES FROM A DAY WHEN NO SOUL SHALL AVAIL ANOTHER, NEITHER WILL INTERCESSION BE ACCEPT- ED FROM THEM, NOR SHALL RANSOM BE TAKEN FROM THEM, NOR WILL THEY BE HELPED Allah the Highest, bestowed many bounties, very special ones, upon the Children of Israel, and they are reminded of them. In fact, these boun- ties are mentioned in the next Ayahs and throughout the Quran. Moses, peace be upon him, reminded them too, saying  “AS HE AP- POINTED RPOPHETS FROM AMONGST YOU, MADE YOU KINGS, AND GAVE YOU WHAT HE DID NOT GIVE OTHERS” . (S: 5 A: 20) Allah the Highest, saved the Children of Israel from Pharaoh, split the Red Sea for them to cross then drowned Pharaoh’s army. Allah the Highest provided them food and water in Sinai, 1 41 1 42 shaded them with clouds, supported them against their enemies, forgave them when they worshiped the Golden Calf, and doing...
Read more

Baqarah 213

Baqarah 213 213- MANKIND WAS ONE NATION, AND THEN ALLAH SENT THE PROPHETS WITH GLADE TIDINGS AND WARNINGS, AND SENT THEM THE BOOK WITH THE TRUTH TO RULE OUT IN PEOPLE’S DISPUTES.  ONLY THOSE WHO WERE GIVEN THE BOOK DISPUTED ABOUT IT, AFTER CLEAR SIGNS CAME TO THEM, IN INJUSTICE TO EACH OTHER.  ALLAH GUIDES THE BELIEVERS TO THE TRUTH CONCERNING THEIR DISPUTES, BY HIS PERMISSION, FOR ALLAH GUIDES THOSE HE DESIRES TO THE STRAIGHT PATH. Mankind originated from Adam peace upon him, who was a prophet of Allah.  When Allah the Highest sent him and Eve down from the Garden, Allah promised to send them those who guide them: “ WE SAID: GET DOWN FROM IT ALL OF YOU.  WHEN YOU RECEIVE GUIDANCE FROM ME, THOSE WHO FOLLOW MY GUIDANCE, THERE WILL BE NO FEAR UPON THEM, NEITHER WILL THEY BE SADDENED” (S: 2 A: 38) Allah the Highest fulfilled His promise of sending prophets and messengers to people to:  Deliver Allah’s guidance to people. Give people good news about the great rewa...
Read more