Allah Is My Guide

Qur’aanic Verse 11.7:

 

Transliteration:

 7. Wahuwa allathee khalaqa alssamawati waal-arda fee sittati ayyamin wakana AAarshuhu AAala alma-i liyabluwakum ayyukum ahsanu AAamalan wala-in qulta innakum mabAAoothoona min baAAdi almawti layaqoolanna allatheena kafaroo in hatha illa sihrun mubeenun

Translation:

 7. And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods of time - and His Throne was on ether¹ - that He might test you as to which of you are better in deeds.² And if you say, ‘You shall indeed be raised up after death’, those who suppress the Truth would certainly say, ‘This is nothing but mere delusion.’

Study Notes:

1. The Qur’aan informs us here that before the creation of the heavens and the earth, all spce was filled with a fluid-like thing, ether, which supports the propagation of electromagnetic waves. 

2. The Qur’aan also reveals here the purpose of creating the heavens and the earth: just to test mankind. And what is this test for? The test is simply whether man recognizes the existence of his Creator without actually seeing Him. For this purpose, unlike other living creatures on earth, man is endowed with freedom of action. He (man) is given more intelligence, besides being guided through the divine Book, Qur’aan, which is divinely guaranteed to be incorruptible. As the latter part of this very Verse indicates, Allah Almighty will resurrect mankind to reward those who pass His test, and to punish those who do not.

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Mohammad Shafi
Author of ‘Why Do I Believe In Islam‘

Qur’aanic Verse 10.87:

 

Transliteration:

 87 Waawhayna ila moosa waakheehi an tabawwaa liqawmikuma bimisra buyootan waijAAaloo buyootakum qiblatan waaqeemoo alssalata wabashshiri almumineena

Translation:

 87. And We told Moses and his brother, “Prepare some houses in Egypt as spiritual centres for your people and establish prayer. And give good tidings to the believers.”²⁶

Study Note:

26. This Verse is best understood in the context of Verses preceding and following it. One may not understand it fully, if it is read in isolation. And it has also to be read in the context of the historical situation the Children of Israel were in at that time. They had come to Egypt when Prophet Joseph had come to acquire a position of considerable authority with the then rulers of that country. As years passed, although the community increased in numbers, they lost their political clout after the passing away of Prophet Joseph. And at the time of Moses, they were reduced to the status of a persecuted minority – relentlessly persecuted by the ruling clan of the Pharaohs. Moses came to deliver the Children of Israel from the cruel clutches of the Pharaoh, but he wouldn’t let them go. So they had to remain a persecuted minority in Egypt for some more time. It was during this continued period of persecution that Moses asked them to have trust in Allah (Verse 84 above). They reiterated their trust in Him and prayed for their delivery from Pharaoh’s oppression (Verses 85 and 86). It was in this context that in this Verse 86, Allah Ta’ala asked them to earmark some houses as spiritual centres and establish prayers there. This, in fact, should serve as the divine mantra for any persecuted Muslim minority anywhere in the world today. If they just pray sincerely to Allah and have trust in Him, they are sure to be delivered from their ignominious position today, as the Children of Israel were from Pharaoh’s persecution. But, alas, the Muslims today exhibit their lack of trust in Allah by resorting to dubious other means, which only help make their position worse.

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The above is extracted from yet-to-be-published Qur’aanic Studies - Volume XXII It will be published, in due course, inshaAllah on the website INVITATION TO SALVATION, in continuation of Volumes I to XXI already published and freely available thereon.

Mohammad Shafi