Surah Ibrahim (Abraham) (14)- 52 M
1 Alif Lam Ra. A Book which We have revealed unto thee in order that thou mightest lead mankind out of the depths of darkness into light by the leave of their Lord to the Way of (Him) Exalted in Power Worthy of all Praise!
#1870 It is insisted on that every Prophet speaks not from himself but from Allah. His leading into the light is but by the grace and mercy of Allah, not by any power of his own, or by any merit of those who hear him. (14.1) 1871 In this and the next verse where the sentence is completed, three qualities of Allah are mentioned, viz., (1) His exalted position above all Creation; (2) His goodness, which entitles Him, and Him alone, to Praise- and (3) His Power in all heaven and earth. Thus He stands in no need of man's worship; His goodness is all for the good of man (and His creatures); and His control over His creatures is complete; so He can carry out His Will and Plan#
*** The term 'mankind' in this instance cannot possibly mean all of humanity for the simple reason that there were Christians and Jews who have already had their revelations and there were also Zoroastrians, Buddhists and others with their own salutary beliefs.
Since the People of the Book had already received their marching orders from the Almighty and were in no need of any other 'revelation' - especially one which is a faint copy of theirs - the only 'mankind' actually addressed here were the pagan Arabs precisely since the Quran was revealed only in the Arabic language***
2> Of Allah to Whom do belong all things in the heavens and on earth! But alas for the Unbelievers for a terrible Penalty (their Unfaith will bring them)!
3> Those who love the life of this world more than the Hereafter who hinder (men) from the Path of Allah and seek therein something crooked: they are astray by a long distance.
4> We sent an apostle except (to teach) in the language of his (own) people in order to make (things) clear to them. Now Allah leaves straying those whom He pleases and guides whom He pleases: and He is Exalted in power Full of Wisdom.
#1874 If the object of a Message is to make things clear, it must be delivered in the language current among the people to whom the Messenger is sent. Through them it can reach all mankind. There is even a wider meaning for "language". It is not merely a question of alphabets, letters, or words. Each age or people-or world in a psychological sense- casts its thoughts in a certain mould or form. Allah's Message-being universal-can be expressed in all moulds and forms, and is equally valid and necessary for all grades of humanity, and must therefore be explained to each according to his or her capacity or receptivity. In this respect the Qur-an is marvellous. It is for the simplest as well as the most advanced. (14.4)1875 'Whom He pleases'; the usual expression for Mashiyat, the universal Will and Plan, which is all-wise and on the highest plane of goodness and righteousness#
*** The verse above is clear in its implications: Since Arabic was not and is not a universal language, the Quran was sent in Arabic for the pagan Arabs only and no one else.
It was the followers of Muhammad who made it universal through their world wide conquests and subjugations of millions of peoples of different races, different faiths and beliefs and different cultures and civilizations.
The interpreter can conjure up any other explanation he wants to fit with his agenda. The historical facts speak clearly for themselves and point out that he is totally wrong ***
5> We sent Moses with Our Signs (and the command) "Bring out thy people from the depths of darkness into light and teach them to remember the Days of Allah." Verily in this there are Signs for such as are firmly patient and constant grateful and appreciative.
# 1876 "The Days of Allah": the days when Allah's mercy was specially shown to them. Every day and every hour and minute, Allah's grace flows to us abundantly, but there are special events in personal or national history which may be commemorated as Red-letter Days. Those to the Israelites were set out in great detail in ii. 30-61 and on other places. (14.5)1877 Sabbar is the intensive form, and includes all the ideas implied in Sabr (ii. 45 and n. 61, and ii. 153 n. 157) in an intensive degree. Shakur and Shakir have in them the idea of appreciation, recognition, gratitude as shown in deeds of goodness and righteousness. Both terms are applied to Allah as well as to men. A slight distinction in shades of meaning may be noted. Shakur implies that the appreciation is even for the smallest favours and response on the other side; it is a mental attitude independent of specific facts. Shakir implies bigger and more specific things#
*** This verse confirms the conclusion, that each prophet was 'sent' to enlighten - first and foremost - his own people, in their own language***
6> Remember! Moses said to his people: "Call to mind the favor of Allah to you when He delivered you from the people of Pharaoh: They set you hard tasks and punishments slaughtered your sons and let your womenfolk live: therein was a tremendous trial from your Lord."
#1878 Cf. ii. 49. The reference back to Israel and Moses serves a double purpose-as an appeal to the People of the Book, and as a reminder to the Quraish of the favour now conferred on them by the coming among them of a greater Prophet than Moses#
*** The interpreter's flights of fancy carry him through the stratosphere when he makes Muhammad superior to Moses.
The achievements of Moses in every category, be it that of leadership (over one and one half million slave people in the Exodus), in sagacity, in morality or in theology cannot be matched by Muhammad's achievements in the lifetime of each.
Muhammad after all, already had the ready made Mosaic Law to plagiarise while Moses had to do everything from scratch.
Most important and obvious of all is the fact that Moses received his revelations FIRST HAND, DIRECTLY from the Almighty while Muhammad's 'revelations' were given to him SECOND HAND through the angel Gabriel ***
7> And remember! your Lord caused to be declared (publicly): "If ye are grateful I will add more (favors) unto you; but if ye show ingratitude truly My punishment is terrible indeed."
8> And Moses said: "If ye show ingratitude ye and all on earth together--yet is Allah Free of all wants Worthy of all praise.
9> Has not the story reached you (O people!) of those who (went) before you? of the people of Noah and `Ad and Thamud? and of those who (came) after them? None knows them but Allah. To them came apostles with Clear (Signs); but they put their hands up to their mouths and said: "We do deny (the mission) on which ye have been sent and we are really in suspicious (disquieting) doubt as to that to which ye invite us."
10> Their apostles said: "Is there a doubt about Allah the Creator of the heavens and the earth? It is He Who invites you in order that He may forgive you your sins and give you respite for a term appointed!" They said: "Ah! ye are no more than human like ourselves! Ye wish to turn us away from the (gods) our fathers used to worship: then bring us some clear authority."
11> Their apostles said to them: "True we are human like yourselves but Allah doth grant His grace to such of His servants as He pleases. It is not for us to bring you an authority except as Allah permits. And on Allah let all men of faith put their trust.
12 "No reason have we why we should not put our trust on Allah. Indeed He has guided us to the Ways we (follow). We shall certainly bear with patience all the hurt you may cause us: for those who put their trust should put their trust on Allah."
13 And the Unbelievers said to their apostles: "Be sure we shall drive you out of our land or ye shall return to our religion." But their Lord inspired (this Message) to them: "Verily We shall cause the wrongdoers to perish!
14 "And verily We shall cause you to abide in the land and succeed them. This for such as fear the time when they shall stand before My tribunal such as fear the punishment denounced."
*** All the verses above are allegorical summaries of how previous prophets were allegedly received by unbelievers that Muhammad was trying his best to impress and terrify the Quraiysh with.
All of them were a cover and a means to show himself as a worthy prophet of the same line as those of the Hebrews in the Bible***
15 But they sought victory and decision (there and then) and frustration was the lot of every powerful obstinate transgressor.
16 In front of such a one is Hell and he is given for drink boiling fetid water.
17 In gulps will he sip it but never well he be near swallowing it down his throat: Death will come to him from every quarter yet will he not die: and in front of him will be a chastisement unrelenting.
18 The parable of those who reject their Lord is that their works are as ashes on which the wind blows furiously on a tempestuous day: No power have they over aught that they have earned: That is the straying far far (from the goal
19 Seest thou not that Allah created the Heavens and the earth in Truth? If He so will He can remove you and put (in your place) a new Creation?
20 Nor is that for Allah any great matter.
21 They will all be marshalled before Allah together: then will the weak say to those who were arrogant "For us we but followed you; can ye then avail us at all against the wrath of Allah?" They will reply "If we had received the guidance of Allah we should have given it to you: to us it makes no difference (now) whether we rage or bear (these torments) with patience: for ourselves there is no way of escape."
23> But those who believe and work righteousness will be admitted to Gardens beneath which rivers flow to dwell therein for aye with the leave of their Lord: their greeting therein will be: "Peace!"
24 Seest thou not how Allah sets forth a parable? a goodly Word like a goodly tree whose root is firmly fixed and its branches (reach) to the heavens
25 It brings forth its fruit at all times by the leave of its Lord. So Allah sets forth parables for men in order that they may receive admonition.
26 And the parable of an evil Word is that of an evil tree. It is torn up by the root from the surface of the earth: it has no stability.
27 Allah will establish in strength those who believe with the Word that stands firm in this world and in the Hereafter; but Allah will leave to stray [youthillou] those who do wrong: Allah doeth what He willeth.
# 1903 His Will and Plan may be above comprehension, but will prevail over all things. It is not like the will of man, who may plan good things but is not necessarily able to carry them out#
*** The above verse has been deliberately mistranslated to mean otherwise.
"Allah sends/misleads [youthillou] wrongdoers astray" and NOT "leave them to stray".
The first represents PRE-DESTINATION while the second represents FREE WILL ***
28> Hast thou not turned thy vision to those who have changed the favor of Allah into blasphemy and caused their people to descend to the House of Perdition?
29> Into Hell? They will burn therein an evil place to stay in!
30 And they set up (idols) as equal to Allah to mislead (men) from the Path! Say: "Enjoy (your brief power)! But verily ye are making straightway for Hell!"
31> Speak to My servants who have believed that they may establish regular prayers and spend (in charity) out of the Sustenance We have given them secretly and openly before the coming of a Day in which there will be neither mutual bargaining nor befriending.
32> It is Allah Who hath created the heavens and the earth and sendeth down rain from the skies and with it bringeth out fruits wherewith to feed you; it is He Who hath made the ships subject to you that they may sail through the sea by His command; and the rivers (also) hath He made subject to you.
33> And He hath made subject to you the sun and the moon both diligently pursuing their courses: and the Night and the Day hath He (also) made subject to you.
34 And He giveth you of all that ye ask for. But if ye count the favors of Allah never will ye be able to number them: verily man is given up to injustice and ingratitude.
35> Remember Abraham said: "O my Lord! make this city one of peace and security: and preserve me and my sons from worshipping idols.
#1912 This Prayer of Abraham, the True in Faith, the progenitor of the Semitic peoples and the Prototype of their Religion, is introduced in this place, to illustrate the points referred to in the preceding section, xiv. 31-34, viz., how the new Revelation through the Ka'ba bears out the universal Revelation of Prayer and Charity, Love of Allah and man, Recognition of Allah's handiwork in nature, and Insistence on man's turning away from false worship and ingratitude to Allah. Notice the four divisions into which it falls: (1) verses 35-36 are spoken by Abraham as on his own behalf ("O my Lord!"); (2) verses 37-38 are spoken on behalf of his progeny ("O our Lord!") but with special reference to the elder branch, the children of Isma'il; (3) verses 39-40 are again a personal appeal, but both branches of his family, viz., the sons of Isma'il and Isaac, are expressly mentioned; (4) verse 41 is a Prayer for himself, his parents, and all Believers, typifying that in the universality of Islam all nations are to be blessed. Jerusalem, for the Mosaic Law and the Gospel of Jesus, was the centre and symbol for the Jewish race, though of course all Allah's Truth is universal; Makkah, the centre of the Arab race, was to throw off its tribal character and become universal, in spite of the Makkans themselves. 1913 Cf. ii. 125-129. Abraham (with Isma'il) built the Ka'ba, and Abraham asks a blessing on his handiwork and forgiveness for such lapses into idolatry as both branches of his family might fall into.#
*** No where, according to the Bible, is there any reference that Abraham ever went to Arabia and especially not to Mecca.
No where in the Bible, is there any mention of Abraham and Ishmael putting up the foundations of any temple. All these falsifications were invented during and after the Quranic 'revelations'.
There is not a single mention of Abraham, Ishmael, or any of the Biblical characters, in the whole oral tradition of the pagan Arabs.
No where in any records of history is there any mention of Mecca as an important city before the Quranic 'revelations'.
It is up to the reader to evaluate the facts, which are available to all, in books and on the internet ***
36> "O my Lord! they have indeed led astray many among mankind: he then who follows my (ways) is of me and he that disobeys me but thou art indeed Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.
37> "O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without cultivation by thy Sacred House; in order O our Lord that they may establish regular prayer: so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them and feed them with Fruits: so that they may give thanks.
#1914 The Makkan valley is enclosed by hills on all sides, unlike Madinah, which has level cultivated plains. But just because of its natural isolation, it is fitted to be a centre for Prayer and Praise. 1915 Cf. ii. 126, and n. 128. (The "Fruits" are there explained). The righteous, though they have to have sustenance, both in a literal and figurative sense, require also the love and sympathy of their fellow-men.#
*** Verses 35-37 contradict the assertions made by the Quran and Muhammadans that the Ka'ba was originally built by Abraham and Ishmael (2:125-6) since it clearly shows that Abraham was already aware that Mecca had a holy sanctuary "Thy Sacred House" even before the Ka'ba was erected.
They also show that Abraham's prayer was made AFTER the birth of his two sons Ishmael and Isaac and NOT when Ishmael was a 'babe' only.
The Quran alleges that Abraham was directly involved in both the Ka'ba and Mecca. Since Abraham was a Hebrew, then his sons Ishmael and Isaac were also Hebrews - this follows that their children too were and are Hebrews since in the tradition of the Semitic peoples, the blood line goes through the male.
The Ishmaelite Arabs are, consequently, of Hebrew stock; it then follows that what is sacred for the Arabs in Hebron is and should be sacred to the Israelites/Jews in Mecca and the
Madina ***
38> "O our Lord! truly Thou dost know what we conceal and what we reveal: for nothing whatever is hidden from Allah whether on earth or in heaven.
#1916 In Abraham's prophetic mind was the secret and open enmity or contempt which the Children of Israel were to have for the Children of Isma'il (Arabs). He prays to Allah that they may be united in Islam, as indeed they were, except a small remnant.#
*** As usual, the interpreter puts a most preposterous explanation to the verse above, which includes the inciteful allegation, that the Jews harbour ill will towards the Arabs.
The only contempt that can be heaped is upon him who willfully distorts the truth and creates enmity and hatred between peoples; the ultimate hypocrite, this interpreter of the Quran.
He very easily and conveniently overlooks the fact that the Jews lived among the Arabs with such intimacy and harmony that many of Arabian tribes CONVERTED to the faith of the Jews without coercion or threat. The only enmity occured AFTER the Arabs were converted to the Muhammadan version of Islam ***
39> "Praise be to Allah who hath granted unto me in old age Ismail and Isaac: for truly my Lord is He the Hearer of Prayer!
#1917 Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born (Gen. xxi. 5); and as Isma'il was 13 years old when Abraham was 99. (Gen. xvii. 24-25), Isma'il was also a son of his father's old age, having been born when Abraham was 86 years old. The younger son's progeny developed the Faith of Israel and that of Christ; the elder son's progeny perfected the more universal Faith of Islam, the Faith of Abraham the True.#
*** If this were true, then how was it that the Arabs, the alleged descendants of Ishmael and Abraham so quickly lapsed into heathenism and paganism which lasted for over 2500 years while the Jews, whom the Quran and its interpreters vilify, kept their faith in the One and Only God for all these centuries against the might of all the empires which subjugated them?
Also, since all Israelites /Jews were and are Muslimoon, and are the followers of the Torah, why then are they not included under the same umbrella of Islam that the Quran and its interpreters keep speaking of? **
40> "O my Lord! make me one who establishes regular Prayer and also (raise such) among my offspring O our Lord! and accept Thou my Prayer.
41> "O our Lord! cover (us) with Thy Forgiveness me my parents and (all) Believers on the Day that the Reckoning will be established!"
*** In Abraham's time, there was no concept of the End of Days or the Resurrection. These concepts were arrived at much later in Rabbinic thought. Abraham did not - according to the
Bible - and could not have uttered the verse above***
42 Think not that Allah doth not heed the deeds of those who do wrong. He but giveth them respite against a Day when the eyes will fixedly stare in horror
43 They are running forward with necks outstretched their heads uplifted their gaze returning not towards them and their hearts a (gaping) void.
44> So warn mankind of the Day when the Wrath will reach them: then will the wrongdoers say: "Our Lord! respite us (if only) for a short term: we will answer Thy Call and follow the apostles!" "What! were ye not wont to swear aforetime that ye should suffer no decline?
45 "And ye dwelt in the dwellings of men who wronged their own souls: ye were clearly shown how We dealt with them; and We put forth many parables in your behalf!"
46 Mighty indeed were the plots which they made but their plots were (well) within the sight of Allah even though they were such as to shake the hills!
47> Never think that Allah would fail His apostles in His promise: for Allah is Exalted in power the Lord of Retribution.
*** If Allah never fails to keep his promises to his prophets, then how s it possible for the Quran and Muhammadans to assert the opposite? Some where, some one is deceiving and lying ***
48> One day the Earth will be changed to a different Earth and so will be the Heavens and (men) will be marshalled forth before Allah the One the Irresistible;
*** These are, as usual, Rabbinical ideas and not Muhammad's ***
49> And thou wilt see the Sinners that day bound together in fetters
50> Their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered with Fire;
51> That Allah may requite each soul according to its deserts; and verily Allah is Swift in calling account.
52> Here is a Message for mankind: let them take warning therefrom and let them know that He is (no other than) One Allah: let men of understanding take heed.
