Fussilat (Expounded) (41)- 54
1 Ha Mim.
2> A revelation from (Allah) Most Gracious Most Merciful
3 A Book whereof the verses are explained in detail a Qur'an in Arabic for people who understand
*** The reader should be made aware that this verse is full of historical errors.
First, the Quran was not COMPILED as a book for as long as Muhammad was alive. It was compiled in book form AFTER the death of Muhammad.
Second, there is not a single verse in the Quran that is explained in detail. In fact, the Quranic stories are trunkated, altered and dimiunitive versions from the Bible and Hebrew Scripture.
Third, the Arabic of the Quran is in the dialect of the Quraiysh, Muhammad's tribe, which is not the same as the other numerous and different dialects that existed in Arabia in the days of Muhammad ***
4 Giving Good News and Admonition: yet most of them turn away and so they hear not
*** Most of the pagan Arabs - even though they were mostly illiterate and unlearned - refused to accept Muhammad's 'revelations' and in fact, accused him of copying them from others especially from the Jews.
In the end, Muhammad and his followers had to use FORCE, TERROR and the threat of DEATH to 'convert' them ***
5 They say: "Our hearts are under veils (concealed) from that to which thou dost invite us and in ours ears in a deafness and between us and thee is a screen: so do thou (what thou wilt); for us we shall do (what we will!)."
6> Say thou: "I am but a man like you: it is revealed to me by inspiration that your Allah is One Allah: so stand true to Him and ask for His forgiveness." And woe to those who join gods with Allah
*** This verse addresses the pagan Arabs who believed in a multiplicity of gods and especially galling for Muhammad, is that they, the pagans, associated three godesses with Allah: al lat, al Uzza & al Manat.
The reader must by now be aware, that Muhammad's dispute with the pagan Arabs was NOT because they did not know Allah - which of course they did, since Allah was the greatest of the Meccan gods - but because they ASSOCIATED other gods and goddesses with him ***
7> Those who practice not Regular Charity and who even deny the Hereafter.
*** Practicing charity and believing in the Hereafter, were concepts that belonged to the Jews and Christians but not among the pagan Arabs ***
8> For those who believe and work deeds of righteousness is a reward that will never fail.
9> Say: Is it that ye Deny Him Who created the earth in two Days? And do ye join equals with Him? He is the Lord of (all) the Worlds
#4470 This is a difficult passage, describing the primal creation of our physical earth and the physical heavens around us. If we count the two Days mentioned in this verse, the four Days mentioned in verse 10, and the two Days mentioned in verse 12, we get a total of eight Days, while in many passages the creation is stated to have taken place in six Days: see vii. 54, n. 1031; and xxxii. 4, n. 3632. The Commentators understand the "four Days" in verse 10 to include the two Days in verse 9, so that the total for the universe comes to six Days. This is reasonable, because the processes described in verses 9 and 10 form really one series. In the one case it is the creation of the formless matter of the earth; in the other case it is the gradual evolution of the form of the earth, its mountains and seas, and its animal and vegetable life, with the "nourishment in due proportion", proper to each. Cf. also xv. 19-20.#
*** In verses 9-12 the version of the creation story in the Quran is substantially and materially different from its original in the Bible; it is neither sequential nor descriptive. Yet once more, the Quranic version is without detail, substance or soul.
Genesis I: 1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And a wind from God moved upon the face of the waters.
3. And God said, Let there be light; and there was light.
4. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.
5. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
THe Heaven and the Earth were created in ONE DAY and NOT TWO.
The only explanation one can have regarding such incompatibility is, that the author of the Quran needed to give it originality and greater independence from the Bible.
It is otherwise impossible to believe, that Gabriel intentionally perverted the creation story as described in the Bible which was given by God to Moses on Mt Sinai.
The fact that the verse starts with "Say" implies that it is Allah who is addressing the listener and yet Allah is here CONTRADICTING his previous revelations to Moses in the Torah ***
10> He set on the (earth) Mountains standing firm high above it and bestowed blessings on the earth and measured therein all things to give them nourishment in due proportion in four Days in accordance with (the needs of) those who seek (sustenance).
#4471 Cf. xiii. 3 and xvi. 15, n. 2038. High above it: the highest mountains are 29,000 feet above sea-level, and the lowest depths of the bottom of the ocean are 31,600 feet below sea-level, so that the vertical difference between the highest and lowest points on the solid crust of the earth is about 11-1/2 miles. The highland areas are the main sources of the water-supply in all the regions of the earth, and vegetable and animal life depends on water-supply. 4472 See n. 4470 above. 4473 Sa-ilin may mean either (1) those who seek, or (2) those who ask or enquire. If the former meaning is adopted, the clause means that everything is apportioned to the needs and appetites of Allah's creatures. If the latter, it means that the needs of enquirers are sufficiently met by what is stated here.#
*** In great desperation, the interpreter uses modern knowledge to try to gloss over the fact that the Quran asserts a FOUR Days period within which Allah's process of creation that do not agree or correspond with the original story in the Torah.
So far, the Quran's version of the Creation has added up to SIX days without the end being in sight***
11> Moreover He Comprehended in His design the sky and it had been (as) smoke: He said to it and to the earth: "Come ye together willingly or unwillingly." They said: "We do come (together) in willing obedience."
#4475 From lxxix. 30 it would appear as if the earth was spread out after the sky was made. In the present passage the creation of the earth and the evolution of life on our globe are mentioned first; and the making of the sky into the seven firmaments is mentioned last. The two statements are not inconsistent. It is stated here that when the sky was made into seven firmaments, it had existed previously as smoke, or vapour, or steam. The idea I derive from a collation of the relevant Quranic passages is that Allah first created primeval matter, which was as yet without order, shape, or symmetry. This state is called Chaos as opposed to Cosmos in Greek Cosmogony. The next stage would be the condensation of this primeval matter, into gases, liquids, or solids: on this subject no precise information is given to us: it belongs to the realm of Physics. About the earth we are told of four stages or Days, and about the heavens, of two stages or Days. For Days see n. 4477 below. If these stages proceeded or proceed together in time, it is obvious that each stage as we know it on earth is half as long as each stage in the heavens. But these are questions of Physics, Astronomy, or Geology. 4476 I take this to mean that Allah's design in creation was not to keep heaven and earth separate, but together, as we indeed are, being part of the solar system, and travellers through space, crossing the path of several comets. And all matter created by Allah willingly obeys the laws laid down for it#
*** It must be pointed out that in the verse above, Allah is not following the rules of Arabic grammar since the last "willing" (Ttabi'een) is given in the masculine plural instead of the feminine plural (Ttabi'aat).
This type of grammatical error is repeated in numerous instances in the Quran making it difficult to accept the Muhammadan dogma, that every single letter and word in the Quran is divine.
Moreover, unlike the Quran's Allah, no where in the whole Bible, does God communicate with inanimate objects and discusses His designs with them ***
12> So He completed them as seven firmaments in two Days and He assigned to each heaven its duty and command. And We adorned the lower heaven with lights and (provided it) with guard. Such is the Decree of (Him) the Exalted in Might Full of knowledge.
#4477 For "Days", which may include thousands of years, see vii. 54, and n. 1031. They refer to stages in the evolution of physical nature. In the Biblical cosmogony, (Gen. i, and ii. 1-7), which reflects old Babylonian cosmogony, the scheme is apparently to be taken literally as to days and is as follows. The first day Allah created light; the second, the firmament; the third, the earth and vegetation; the fourth, the stars and plants; the fifth, fish and fowl from the sea; and the sixth, cattle, creeping things, beasts on land, and man; on the seventh day He ended His work and rested. Our scheme is wholly different. (1) Allah did not rest, and never rests. "His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them"; (2) Allah's work has not ended; His activity still goes on: xxxii. 5; vii, 54; (3) man in our scheme does not come in with land animals; his advent is much later; (4) our stages are not sharply divided from each other, as in the above scheme, where the stars and planets having been created on the fourth day, it is not intelligible how the first three days were counted, nor how vegetation grew on the third day. Our stages for earth and heaven are not in sequence of time for the heavens and the earth. Our six stages are broadly speaking, (1) the throwing off of our planet from cosmic matter; (2) its cooling and condensing; (3) and (4) the growth of vegetable and animal life; (5) and (6) the parallel growth of the starry realm and our solar system. 4478 Cf. xv. 17, and n. 1951; also xxxvii. 6-9. The transition from the third person ("He completed," etc.) to the first person ("We adorned," etc.) may be noted. The act of creation is an impersonal act: the act of adornment and guarding is a personal favour to Allah's creatures.#
*** The Creation story in the Torah does not mention the creation of
SEVEN HEAVENS. This is a Post Biblical rabbinic tradition and has absolutely nothing to do with God's creation of the World.
Muhammad relied enormousley more on Jewish traditions than the actual contents of the Torah.
Furthermore, the Quranic version of the Creation story is INCOMPATIBLE
with the Biblical version and even to the other pertinent verses of the Quran such as 7:54; 10:3; 11:7; 50:38 that Allah created everything in SIX days,
verses 41: 9-12 make it EIGHT DAYS.
Muhammad, his Quran and its interpreters, have COMPLETELY misunderstood the Torah term of 'REST'.
It did not and does not mean, that the Almighty God became TIRED after His Creation. It only means, and logically so, that He stopped the PROCESS OF CREATION because He had achieved all His goals in SIX Divine Days.
The inconsistencies within and without the Quran are enormous in numbers, unacceptable and incomprehensible if it were truly divine ***
13 But if they turn away say thou: "I have warned you of a stunning Punishment (as of thunder and lightning) like that which (overtook) the `Ad and the Thamud!"
*** The next verses of this sura, are a repeat - with small varations - upon a theme that permeates most of the chapters of the Quran.
They represent a repetetive, boring, simplistic and uninspiring mantra of an unbelieving people who are sent a messenger by Allah; who warns them of their errors; their persistent disbelief; their ridicule of and attempt to kill the messenger; their final destruction by
Allah***
14> Behold the apostles came to them from before them and behind them (preaching): "Serve none but Allah." They said "If our Lord had so pleased He would certainly have sent down angels (to preach): now we reject your mission (altogether)."
15 Now the `Ad behaved arrogantly through the land against (all) truth and reason and said: "Who is superior to us in strength?" What! did they not see that Allah Who created them was superior to them in strength? But they continued to reject Our Signs!
16> So We sent against them a furious Wind through days of disaster that We might give them a taste of a Penalty of humiliation in this Life; but the Penalty of the Hereafter will be more humiliating still: and they will find no help.
17 As to the Thamud We gave them guidance but they preferred blindness (of heart) to Guidance; so the stunning Punishment of humiliation seized them because of what they had earned.
18> But We delivered those who believed and practiced righteousness.
19> On the Day that the enemies of Allah will be gathered together to the Fire they will be marched in ranks.
20> At length when they reach the (Fire) their hearing their sight and their skins will bear witness against them as to (all) their deeds.
21> They will say to their skins: "Why bear ye witness against us?" They will say: "Allah hath given us speech (He) Who giveth speech to everything: He created you for the first time and unto Him were ye to return.
22 "Ye did not seek to hide yourselves lest your hearing your sight and your skins should bear witness against you! But ye did think that Allah knew not many of the things that ye used to do!
23 "But this thought of yours which ye did entertain concerning your Lord hath brought you to destruction and (now) have ye become of those utterly lost!"
24 If then they have patience the Fire will be a Home for them! And if they beg to be received into favor into favor will they not (then) be received.
25 And We have destined for them intimate companions (of like nature) Who made alluring to them what was before them and behind them; and the sentence among the previous generations of Jinns and men who have passed away is proved against them; for they are utterly lost.
26 The Unbelievers say: "Listen not to this Qur'an but talk at random in the midst of its (reading) that ye may gain the upper hand!"
27 But We will certainly give the Unbelievers a taste of a severe Penalty and We will requite them for the worst of their deeds.
28> Such is the requital of the enemies of Allah the Fire: therein will be for them the Eternal Home: a (fit) requital for that they were wont to reject Our Signs.
29 And the Unbelievers will say: "Our Lord! show us those among Jinns and men who misled us: we shall crush them beneath our feet so that they become the vilest (before all)."
30> In the case of those who say "Our Lord is Allah" and further stand straight and steadfast the angels descend on them (from time to time): "Fear ye not!" (they suggest) "nor grieve! but receive the Glad Tidings of the Garden (of Bliss) the which ye were promised!
31> "We are your protectors in this life and in the Hereafter: therein shall ye have all that your souls shall desire; therein shall ye have all that ye ask for!
32> "A hospitable gift from One Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful!"
33> Who is better in speech than one who calls (men) to Allah works righteousness and says "I am of those who bow in Islam"?
34> Nor can Goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate!
*** This verse is of course sublime both in words and meaning, because the greatest achievement is to turn an enemy into a friend.
Unfortunately, this excellent precept was - as usual in the Quran- contradicted and abrogated by Allah with invariably many more militant and aggressive ones, such as
47: " 35 Be not weary and faint-hearted crying for peace. When ye should be Uppermost: for Allah is with you and will never put you in loss for your (good) deeds" ***
35> And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint none but persons of the greatest good fortune.
36> And if (at any time) an incitement to discord is made to thee by the Evil One seek refuge in Allah. He is the One Who hears and knows all things.
37> Among His Signs are the Night and the Day and the sun and moon. Adore not the Sun and the Moon but adore Allah Who created them if it is Him ye wish to serve.
38 But if they (Unbelievers) are arrogant (no matter): for in the presence of thy Lord are those who celebrate His praises by night and by day. And they never flag (nor feel themselves above it).
39> And among His Signs is this: thou seest the earth barren and desolate; but when We send down rain to it it is stirred to life and yields increase. Truly He Who gives life to the (dead) earth can surely give life to (men) who are dead. For He has power over all things.
40> Those who pervert the Truth in Our Signs are not hidden from Us. Which is better? He that is cast into the Fire or he that comes safe through on the Day of Judgement? Do what ye will: Verily He seeth (clearly) all that ye do.
41 Those who reject the Message when it comes to them (are not hidden from Us); and indeed it is a Book of exalted power.
42 No falsehood can approach it from before or behind it: it is sent down by One Full of Wisdom Worthy of all Praise.
43> Nothing is said to thee that was not said to the apostles before thee: That thy Lord has at His command (all) Forgiveness as well as a most Grievous Penalty.
#4515 The gist of Allah's Message, now, before, and for ever, is the same: Mercy to the erring and repentant; just punishment to those who wilfully rebel against Allah#
*** This is confirmation that there is nothing new in the Quran; everything in it had already been revealed before to the Israelites/Jews ***
44 Had We sent this as a Qur'an (in a language) other than Arabic they would have said: "Why are not its verses explained in detail? What! (a Book) not in Arabic and (a Messenger) an Arab?" Say: "It is a guide and a healing to those who believe; and for those who believe not there is a deafness in their ears and it is blindness in their (eyes); they are (as it were) being called from a place far distant!"
#4516 Cf. xvi. 103-105; xii. 2; etc. It was most natural and reasonable that the Messenger being Arab, the Message should be in his own tongue, that he might explain it in every detail, with the greatest power and eloquence. Even though it was to be for the whole world, its initial exposition was thus to be in Arabic. But if people had no faith and were spiritually deaf or blind, it would not matter in what language it came. 4517 Cf. xli. 5, and vi. 25. They pretended that it was too deep for them, when they meant that they were superior to it! The fact was that by putting themselves in an artificially false position, they rendered themselves impervious to the Message. The voice of Revelation or the voice of conscience sounded to them as if it came from a far-off place! They themselves made themselves strangers to it.#
*** This verse, yet again, confirms beyond a reasonable doubt, that the primary purpose of the Quran was to have a scripture for Muhammad's pagan Arabs, similar to the scriptures of the Jews and the Christians ***
45> We certainly gave Moses the Book aforetime: but dispute arose therein. Had it not been for a word that went forth before from thy Lord (their differences) would have been settled between them: but they remained in suspicious disquieting doubt thereon.
#4518 Callousness and self-sufficiency in religion are often illustrated by sects like the Pharisees and Sadducees among the Jews. Where there are honest differences of opinion, they can, in Allah's Plan, lead to greater enquiry and emulation. Where the differences are fractious, there is often even then time left for repentance. In any case the Word or Decree of God is for the best good of all, and should not disturb Faith. Cf. x. 19. A good life, of faith and truth, is in our own interests, and the opposite against our own interests. Allah is never unjust.#
*** The followers of Muhammad, the alleged Believing Muslims, immediately after his death, ended up in massacring each other and creating sects and schisms that were more numerous and were not and are not different, from those of the People of the Book whom the Quran denigrates.
His followers later on, did not shrink from desecrating the holiest shrines in Arabia, both Mecca and Madina, that even the continually villified pagan Arabs did not dare
to do***
46> Whoever works righteousness benefits his own soul; whoever works evil it is against his own soul: nor is thy Lord ever unjust (in the least) to His servants.
47> To Him is referred the Knowledge of the Hour (of Judgment: He knows all): no date-fruit comes out of its sheath nor does a female conceive (within her womb) nor bring forth (young) but by His Knowledge. The Day that (Allah) will propound to them the (question) "Where are the partners (ye attributed) to Me?" They will say "We do assure thee not one of us can bear witness!"
48 The (deities) they used to invoke aforetime will leave them in the lurch and they will perceive that they have no way of escape.
49 Man does not weary of asking for good (things) but if ill touches him he gives up all hope (and) is lost in despair.
50> When We give him a taste of some mercy from Ourselves after some adversity has touched him he is sure to say "This is due to my (merit): I think not that the Hour (of Judgment) will (ever) be established; but if I am brought back to my Lord I have (much) good (stored) in His sight!" But We will show the Unbelievers the truth of all that they did and We shall give them the taste of a severe Penalty.
51> When We bestow favors on man he turns away and gets himself remote on his side (instead of coming to Us); and when Evil seizes him (he comes) full of prolonged prayer!
52 Say: "See ye if the (Revelation) is (really) from Allah and yet do ye reject it? Who is more astray than one who is in schism far (from any purpose)?"
53 Soon will We show them Our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth) and in their own souls until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that thy Lord doth witness all things?
54> Ah indeed! are they in doubt concerning the Meeting with their Lord? Ah indeed! it is He that doth encompass all things!