Ramadan 2013 Posts

Twenty Sixth Night of Ramaḍān

Sura al-Ahqaaf – The Sand Dunes (046)

In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy

15. We have commanded man to be good to his parents: his mother struggled to carry him and struggled to give birth to him– his bearing and weaning took a full thirty months. When he has grown to manhood and reached the age of forty he [may] say, ‘Lord, help me to be truly grateful for Your favours to me and to my parents; help me to do good work that pleases You; make my offspring good. I turn to You; I am one of those who devote themselves to You.’

16. We accept from such people the best of what they do and We overlook their bad deeds. They will be among the people of Paradise – the true promise that has been given to them.

17. But some say to their parents, ‘What? Are you really warning me that I shall be raised alive from my grave, when so many generations have already passed and gone before me?’ His parents implore God for help; they say, ‘Alas for you! Believe! God’s promise is true,’ but still he replies, ‘These are nothing but ancient fables.’

18. The verdict has been passed on such people, along with all the communities that went before them, jinn and human: they are lost.

19. Everyone will be ranked according to their deeds and God will repay them in full for what they have done: they will not be wronged.

Further on Allah, the Al-Mighty, says what can be interpreted to mean:

32. Those who fail to respond to God’s call cannot escape God’s power anywhere on earth, nor will they have any protector against Him: such people have clearly gone far astray.

33. Do the disbelievers not understand that God, who created the heavens and earth and did not tire in doing so, has the power to bring the dead back to life? Yes indeed! He has power over everything.

34. On the Day the disbelievers are brought before Hell [it will be said to them], ‘Is this not real?’ ‘Yes, by our Lord,’ they will reply and He will say, ‘Then taste the punishment for having denied the truth.’

35. Be steadfast [Muhammad], like those messengers of firm resolve. Do not seek to hasten the punishment for the disbelievers: on the Day they see what they had been warned about, it will seem to them that they lingered no more than a single hour of a single day [in this life]. This is a warning. Shall any be destroyed except the defiant?

Surah Muhammad (047)

In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy:

1. God will bring to nothing the deeds of those who disbelieve and bar others from the way of God,

2. But He will overlook the bad deeds of those who have faith, do good deeds, and believe in what has been sent down to Muhammad – the truth from their Lord – and He will put them into a good state.

3. This is because the disbelievers follow falsehood, while the believers follow the truth from their Lord. In this way God shows people their true type.

4. When you meet the disbelievers in battle, strike them in the neck, and once they are defeated, bind any captives firmly – later you can release them by grace or by ransom – until the toils of war have ended. That [is the way]. God could have defeated them Himself if He had willed, but His purpose is to test some of you by means of others. He will not let the deeds of those who are killed for His cause come to nothing;

5. He will guide them and put them into a good state;

6. He will admit them into the Garden He has already made known to them.

7. You who believe! If you help God, He will help you and make you stand firm.

8.As for the disbelievers, how wretched will be their state! God has brought their deeds to nothing.

9. It is because they hate what God has sent down that He has caused their deeds to go to waste.

10. Have they not travelled the earth and seen how those before them met their end? God destroyed them utterly: a similar fate awaits the disbelievers.

11. That is because God protects the believers while the disbelievers have no one to protect them:

12. God will admit those who believe and do good deeds to Gardens graced with flowing streams; the disbelievers may take their fill of pleasure in this world, and eat as cattle do, but the Fire will be their home.

13. We have destroyed many a town stronger than your own [Prophet] – the town which [chose to] expel you – and they had no one to help them.

Further on Allah, the Al-Mighty, says what can be interpreted to mean:

29. Do the corrupt at heart assume that God will not expose their malice?

30. We could even point them out to you [Prophet] if We wished, and then you could identify them by their marks, but you will know them anyway by the tone of their speech. God knows everything you [people] do.

31. We shall test you to see which of you strive your hardest and are steadfast; We shall test the sincerity of your assertions.

32. Those who disbelieve, bar others from God’s path, and oppose the Messenger when they have been shown guidance, do not harm God in any way. He will make their deeds go to waste –

33. Believers, obey God and the Messenger: do not let your deeds go to waste –

34. God will not forgive those who disbelieve, bar others from God’s path, and die as disbelievers.

35. So [believers] do not lose heart and cry out for peace. It is you who have the upper hand: God is with you. He will not begrudge you the reward for your [good] deeds:

36. The life of this world is only a game, a pastime, but if you believe and are mindful of God, He will recompense you. He does not ask you to give up [all] your possessions –

Surah al-Fath – Triumph (048)

In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy:

1. Truly We have opened up a path to clear triumph for you [Prophet],

2. So that God may forgive you your past and future sins, complete His grace upon you, guide you to a straight path,

3. And help you mightily.

4. It was He who made His tranquility descend into the hearts of the believers, to add faith to their faith––the forces of the heavens and earth belong to God; He is all knowing and all wise –

5. So as to admit believing men and women into Gardens graced with flowing streams, there to remain, absolving their bad deeds – a great triumph in God’s eyes –

6. And to torment the hypocritical and idolatrous men and women who harbour evil thoughts about God – it is they who will be encircled by evil! – who carry the burden of God’s anger, whom God has rejected and for whom He has prepared Hell, an evil destination!

7. The forces of heaven and earth belong to God; He is almighty and all wise.

8. We have sent you [Prophet] to bring good news and to give warning,

9. So that you [people] may believe in God and His Messenger, support Him, honour Him, and praise Him morning and evening.

10. Those who pledge loyalty to you [Prophet] are actually pledging loyalty to God Himself– God’s hand is placed on theirs – and anyone who breaks his pledge does so to his own detriment: God will give a great reward to the one who fulfils his pledge to Him.

Further on Allah, the Al-Mighty, says what can be interpreted to mean:

27. God has truly fulfilled His Messenger’s vision: ‘God willing, you will most certainly enter the Sacred Mosque in safety, shaven headed or with cropped hair, without fear!’– God knew what you did not – and He has granted you a speedy triumph.

28. It was He who sent His Messenger, with guidance and the religion of Truth, for him to show that it is above all [false] religion. God suffices as a witness:

29. Muhammad is the Messenger of God. Those who follow him are harsh towards the disbelievers and compassionate towards each other. You see them kneeling and prostrating, seeking God’s bounty and His good pleasure: on their faces they bear the marks of their prostrations. This is how they are pictured in the Torah and the Gospel: like a seed that puts forth its shoot, becomes strong, grows thick, and rises on its stem to the delight of its sowers. So God infuriates the disbelievers through them; God promises forgiveness and a great reward to those who believe and do righteous deeds.

Surah al-Hujurat – The Private Rooms (049)

In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy:

6. Believers, if a troublemaker brings you news, check it first, in case you wrong others unwittingly and later regret what you have done,

7. And be aware that it is God’s Messenger who is among you: in many matters you would certainly suffer if he were to follow your wishes. God has endeared faith to you and made it beautiful to your hearts; He has made disbelief, mischief, and disobedience hateful to you. It is people like this who are rightly guided,

8. Through God’s favour and blessing: God is all knowing and all wise.

9. If two groups of the believers fight, you [believers] should try to reconcile them; if one of them is [clearly] oppressing the other, fight the oppressors until they submit to God’s command, then make a just and even-handed reconciliation between the two of them: God loves those who are even-handed.

10. The believers are brothers, so make peace between your two brothers and be mindful of God, so that you may be given mercy.

11. Believers, no one group of men should jeer at another, who may after all be better than them; no one group of women should jeer at another, who may after all be better than them; do not speak ill of one another; do not use offensive nicknames for one another. How bad it is to be called a mischief-maker after accepting faith! Those who do not repent of this behaviour are evildoers.

12. Believers, avoid making too many assumptions – some assumptions are sinful – and do not spy on one another or speak ill of people behind their backs: would any of you like to eat the flesh of your dead brother? No, you would hate it. So be mindful of God: God is ever relenting, most merciful.

13. People, We created you all from a single man and a single woman, and made you into races and tribes so that you should recognize one another. In God’s eyes, the most honoured of you are the ones most mindful of Him: God is all knowing, all aware. 

Surah QAF (050)

In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy:

19. The trance of death will bring the Truth with it: ‘This is what you tried to escape.’

20. The Trumpet will be sounded: ‘This is the Day [you were] warned of.’

21. Each person will arrive attended by an [angel] to drive him on and another to bear witness:

22. ‘You paid no attention to this [Day]; but today We have removed your veil and your sight is sharp.’

23. The person’s attendant will say, ‘Here is what I have prepared’–

24. ‘Hurl every obstinate disbeliever into Hell,

25. Everyone who hindered good, was aggressive, caused others to doubt,

26. And set up other gods alongside God. Hurl him into severe punishment!’–

27. And his [evil]c companion will say, ‘Lord, I did not make him transgress; he had already gone far astray himself.’

28. God will say, ‘Do not argue in My presence. I sent you a warning,

29. And My word cannot be changed: I am not unjust to any creature.’

30. We shall say to Hell on that day, ‘Are you full?’ and it will reply, ‘Are there no more?’

31. But Paradise will be brought close to the righteous and will no longer be distant:

32. ‘This is what you were promised – this is for everyone who turned often to God and kept Him in mind,

33. Who held the Most Gracious in awe, though He is unseen, who comes before Him with a heart turned to Him in devotion –

34. So enter it in peace. This is the Day of everlasting Life.’

35. They will have all that they wish for there, and We have more for them.