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Al-Bayan, Discourses on the Qur'an
Javed Ahmad Ghamidi

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Surah Aal i Imran
Aayaat 100 to 104.

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Gratitude is only for God,
the Lord of the World,

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and may His peace and mercy
be on Muhammad, the trustworthy.

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I seek refuge with God
from the accursed Devil.

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In the Name of God, the Most Gracious,
the Ever Merciful.

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Ladies and Gentlemen, We are beginning

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the study of Surah Aal I Imran from 
verse 100 in the Quran.

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Earlier, the first section of the chapter
concluded on verse 99

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This chapter is based on two sections,
one introduction and one conclusion.

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This is the structure of its subject 
matter.

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There is an introduction.

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Then begins a section on the completion of
proof on the People of the Book

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and it reaches a conclusion on verse 99.

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Now begins the second section which 
would finally lead

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to the conclusion of the chapter.

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This verse onwards the address is 
directed towards the Muslims.

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The direction of the address has changed.

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In these verses of the Quran, this 
method is generally adopted.

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Either the address is 
directed towards the Muslims,

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as in Surah Nisa and then the 
People of the Book are discussed.

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After the introduction of the chapter,
the chapter will either begin

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by addressing the People of the Book
and then the Muslims.

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If you look here, the proof has been
completed upon the People of the Book.

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All proofs were given and as we 
say in the last lecture,

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at the end of that topic, the Quran 
provided answers to the

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three main objections raised by
the people of the book.

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After providing answers to their 
objections

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they were sternly reprimanded and
then they were also invited to Islam

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and they were asked to not reject 
the Quranic verses

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and not to stop people from Allah's
path

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and not to malign those things that
they have been made witness to

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because this is not the correct attitude.

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Now the address is directed 
towards the Muslims,

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Muslims are first warned of the 
deviant schemes of the People of the Book

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which they would employ to turn away 
the Muslims from the path of the truth

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But they should stay steadfast 
on the path of Allah.

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After this, the subject of purification 
and cleanliness of the Muslims will begin

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In other words, Muslims should 
reform themselves,

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they should fulfil their obligation 
towards islam,

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they should hold on to the rope 
of Allah steadfastly,

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they should follow the way of Allah
and the Prophet (pbuh) in difficult times.

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So, these things which are important 
for their purification, eduction

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the purification of their wisdom and
character will be discussed.

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So, this is the structure of this
chapter.

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Yaaa ayyuhal lazeena aamanoo 
in tutee'oo fareeqam

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minal lazeena ootul Kitaaba

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Believers! If you yield to a group from 
among these People of the Book,

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It is obvious that from all the things
that have been said,

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one of these includes telling the 
people of the book

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about things they have been 
doing wrong.

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On the other hand, since they are
religious people

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and they are at the forefront of religious
issues,

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people look up to them with respect to
these issues,

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in a way, they have the status 
of religious leaders,

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the common people of Arabia,
those from the tribes of Aws and Khajraj

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and people from other tribes think that
these people have the best understanding

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of issues relating to Prophethood for
they have a whole history of Prophets.

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We can make a mistake but

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these people cannot make any 
mistakes in this regard.

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So, these people would be influenced 
by them to an extent as well.

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That is why this issue was introduced by
stating that:

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Believers! If you yield to a group 
from among these People of the Book,

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By 'a group', Quran refers to those
people who are stubborn

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and these people usually include their
religious leaders,

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something which the Quran tells us.

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They are the leaders and hence trusted
by the common populace.

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It is mostly those people.

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By 'a group', Quran refers to those
people only.

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And By 'a group', Quran also refers to 
those people

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who are not part of this group.

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It Is not as thought every one from 
among the people of the Book

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has become an ingrate.

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A group from among them which also 
plays the leadership role

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indulges in such activities.

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If you yield to this group from 
among the People of the Book,

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then what will these people do?

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yaruddookum ba'da eemaanikum kaafireen

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Yaaa ayyuhal lazeena aamanoo in 
tutee'oo fareeqam

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minal lazeena ootul Kitaaba

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Believers! If you yield to a group from 
among these People of the Book,

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they will turn you back from belief to 
disbelief.

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Their real intention is that you 
yield to these people

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so that they will also lead the 
Muslims into disbelief like themselves.

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I have already mentioned that the people
of justice from among them,

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those people that the Quran will praise 
later on,

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the Quran always mentions them by setting 
them apart from these people.

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The Quran tells us that there are such 
people who talk of justice,

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and don't act stubbornly at all.

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Although it can be the case that

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their minds may still lack 
clarity,

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but they ask questions and they 
engage and then again

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there are people who have a
clarity in their thoughts

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but their still persists a dissonance
in their actions.

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In other words, he pauses regularly
wondering

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if his decision was right of not.

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Even those people that have such 
ambiguities are different.

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But these people are the ones who are
in such a place

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because of their stubbornness that if you 
listen to them,

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then you should know their objective.

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It is that they will also lead you into
disbelief

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just as they disbelieve out of
their sheer stubbornness.

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And you think that since they are 
believers

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and hence they cannot lead you into
disbelief...

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It is obvious that if religious leaders 
and believers are like that

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then people feel that the leaders
have no reason to lead them away.

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The Quran stated that their religion 
is merely ritualistic

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and they are the primary enemies of 
religion.

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They not only themselves are 
its disbelievers they will also

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lead the Muslims into disbelief if the 
Muslims are led away by them.

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The Quran stated that their actions 
would lead to such consequences.

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Wa kaifa takfuroona wa antum 
tutlaa 'alaikum Aayaatul laahi

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O Muslims [Be forewarned of this].
In other words, [Be forewarned of them]

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Be forewarned of what you have been told.

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[just reflect] how can you disbelieve 
when God’s verses are being recited to you

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It is understandable that they want 
to lead you away

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but how can you disbelieve 
when God’s Book has been revealed to you

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and His own Messenger is among you,
when God’s verses are being recited to you

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when the truth is being manifested 
before you

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Wa kaifa takfuroona wa antum tutlaa 
'alaikum Aayaatul laahi

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when God’s verses are being 
recited to you

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wa feekum Rasooluh;
and His own Messenger is among you.

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If in spite of this they disregard 
the truth

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then there is no bigger 
deprivation and misfortune than that.

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They will now have no excuse to present 
before the Almighty

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which in other words would mean 
that they have slipped in broad daylight.

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The result would be that even though
everything was visible even then

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they surrendered themselves to the dark.

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wa feekum Rasooluh; wa mai ya'tasim

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billaahi faqad hudiya ilaa Siraatim 
Mustaqeem

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[So hold fast to God]

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To hold fast to God” means that

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in good and bad circumstances 
a person adheres to the truth

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and does not swerve in any way from 
the directives of God

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and the teachings of His Book.

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[So hold fast to God] and [remember that] 
he who holds fast to God

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[then know that] he shall be guided 
to the straight path.

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So, he who holds fast to God 
shall never be misguided

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If you hold fast to your own ego 
then you will face the same misfourtune

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that these people have faced.

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Yaaa ayyuhal lazeena aamanut 
taqul laaha haqqa tuqaatihee

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Believers! Fear God as you rightly should

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This is an explanation of what holding 
fast to God actually means:

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When it was instructed to
hold fast to God

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and when it was said that

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he shall be guided 
to the straight path

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who holds fast to God and
shall never be misguided.

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So, what does holding fast to 
God actually mean?

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The Quran makes clear its meaning in the
next verse:

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to fear God the way a person rightly 
should.

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The word 'fear' that is usually used...

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Here, the Quran uses the word 
righteousness

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In other words, they should be vary of
the limitations.

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They should be wakeful with respect 
to Allah.

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So, generally people feel that it is a 
way of intimidation.

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Fear is both rational as well as
delusional.

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The fear of ghosts, for example, is a fear
that stems from delusions

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You come across such a situation when
you, for instance,

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visit some house.

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It is a fear that stems from delusions.

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Fear is also rational.

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It is a rational fear when you know
that the bridge in front of you

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is broken and there are chances that
you will fall off the bridge.

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To be cautious about it...

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In other words, a child is quite
courageous.

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He can catch hold of a snake.

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But why?

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Because, rationally speaking, he does 
not understand the concept of a snakebite.

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By 'fear of God', it does not mean that
you are frightened by a ghost.

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It entails that you should be conscious of
the fact that one day

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you will stand before Allah.

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He is your almighty.
You have to face him.

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If you go before him as a dishonest,
fraudulent person,

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if you are guided by stubborness
and envy

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do you know the consequence of such 
an action?

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Every reasonable person should 
be apprehensive of it.

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Our discourses are based on the 
same principle in this world as well.

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This is what the Quran is 
trying to explain.

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So, this is being stated.

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The word 'righteousness' that has 
been used,

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it is obvious that the Quran has said:

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aamanut taqul laaha haqqa tuqaatihee

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Believers! Fear God as you rightly should.

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But Fearing God is required to the extent 
that a person is capable of.

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The Qur’ān itself has explained this in
Surah Tagaful.

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Fataqul la masta ttaatu

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You should fear god as much as you 
are capable of.

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In other words, such an attitude
is not detrimental for the individual.

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It he is fearful and apprehensive, 
if he is conscious of the transgressions

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and if he bound by the limits set 
by God,

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he will do it to the extent that 
a person is capable of.

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God doesn't ask you shoulder 
more responsibility

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than you are capable of shouldering.

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But he will fear god by accepting 
the truth of fearing god.

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In other words, he will fear god
with the consciousness that

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he is dealing with God himself.

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Firstly, the obligations a person owes to 
God

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are ones which he owes to no other person.

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Secondly, the limits and bounds set 
by God

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and the punishments for violating them

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have been prescribed for the worldly 
and next-worldly benefit of people;

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God does not stand to gain from obeying 
these limits; it is they who stand to gain

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Even when we apply the system of
recompense and Punishment

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we do it for the reformation of the
community and the people,

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we do it for their benefits.

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In other words, the system of
recompense and Punishment

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and the judicial system does not 
stand to benefit from it.

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It is meant for human beings
only.

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And if they transgress the set limits 
then everyone feels

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that they should be criticised.

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So, the judicial system of
recompense and Punishment

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that has been legislated by Allah

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is meant for the benefit of human beings
only.

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Thirdly, God is watching over 
everything; so much so,

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He even knows what is in the 
hearts of people.

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Fourthly, no one can save a person 
from God’s punishment

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and the Almighty can punish a person 
both in this world

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and in the Hereafter and this 
punishment can be eternal.

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So, these the things which when an
individual takes into consideration

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while fearing god, it is only then that
he fears god as he rightly should.

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Unless a person keeps an eye on all these 
aspects of fearing God,

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he cannot grasp the real meaning of 
fearing God.

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??

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it is the fear of god, his virtue 
that is stated here.

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itaqul laaha haqqa tuqaatihee

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Believers! Fear God as 
you rightly should.

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wa laa tamootunna illaa wa 
antum muslimoon

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and when you leave this world 
leave it as followers of Islam whatsoever

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In other words, when the time comes
to leave this world

230
00:13:19,067 --> 00:13:23,067
then you should be a follower
of Islam until that time.

231
00:13:23,067 --> 00:13:25,307
Wa'tasimoo bi Hablil laahi jamee'anw

232
00:13:25,307 --> 00:13:29,177
and together cling to the rope of God.

233
00:13:29,177 --> 00:13:32,857
wa laa tafarraqoo
and let nothing divide you

234
00:13:32,857 --> 00:13:36,857
These are the things that have
been stated.

235
00:13:36,857 --> 00:13:40,037
and we should take note of each
of the aforementioned aspects.

236
00:13:40,037 --> 00:13:42,827
wa laa tamootunna illaa wa 
antum muslimoon

237
00:13:42,827 --> 00:13:46,827
It means that the instruction to fear
Allah

238
00:13:46,827 --> 00:13:49,700
or when you are instructed to be
obedient towards Allah,

239
00:13:49,700 --> 00:13:51,980
it is a commitment for a lifetime.

240
00:13:51,980 --> 00:13:54,050
There is no scope for to leave it.

241
00:13:54,050 --> 00:13:56,260
Once you have become mature,

242
00:13:56,260 --> 00:14:00,986
once god consciousness has become a
part of your thought process,

243
00:14:00,986 --> 00:14:04,986
once it has become part of your intellect,

244
00:14:04,986 --> 00:14:10,223
then this struggle will go on until your
last breath.

245
00:14:10,795 --> 00:14:12,825
Therefore, you should be mindful.

246
00:14:12,825 --> 00:14:15,724
If you leave this struggle before your
death,

247
00:14:15,724 --> 00:14:17,364
then your hardwork will go to waste.

248
00:14:17,364 --> 00:14:21,364
So, when the Quran stated that:
wa laa tamootunna illaa wa antum muslimoon

249
00:14:21,364 --> 00:14:24,844
it entails that this matter is not meant 
for a day or two,

250
00:14:24,844 --> 00:14:27,944
instead the duration that Allah has
decided for this test,

251
00:14:27,944 --> 00:14:33,154
the entire duration must be spent in
piety, by fearing Allah.

252
00:14:33,314 --> 00:14:37,644
It also makes clear that it is an
uneven path,

253
00:14:37,644 --> 00:14:41,644
we will face ups and downs,
we will face difficulties,

254
00:14:41,644 --> 00:14:45,644
we will face discord, we will face
satan who will ambush us at night

255
00:14:45,644 --> 00:14:48,414
and come across many hitches 
and obstacles from enemies.

256
00:14:48,414 --> 00:14:53,734
At times, greed will try to lure people 
and, at others,

257
00:14:53,734 --> 00:14:57,174
fear will try to intimidate them.

258
00:14:57,174 --> 00:15:01,174
Those who passed through all these 
phases while protecting their faith

259
00:15:01,174 --> 00:15:05,174
and reached their destination that 
Allah has ordained for the believers.

260
00:15:05,174 --> 00:15:06,504
And what is the nature of that 
destination?

261
00:15:06,504 --> 00:15:10,504
??

262
00:15:10,504 --> 00:15:12,994
??

263
00:15:12,994 --> 00:15:16,994
?

264
00:15:16,994 --> 00:15:20,994
?

265
00:15:20,994 --> 00:15:24,994
?

266
00:15:24,994 --> 00:15:28,994
?

267
00:15:28,994 --> 00:15:32,994
?

268
00:15:32,994 --> 00:15:35,794
?

269
00:15:35,794 --> 00:15:38,824
cling to the rope of God steadfastly, 
mentioned the Quran and

270
00:15:38,824 --> 00:15:40,724
then elaborated it at length.

271
00:15:40,724 --> 00:15:42,324
What is the rope of Allah?

272
00:15:42,324 --> 00:15:47,224
It is the Quran. This refers to the Qur’ān
because this is the rope which is

273
00:15:47,224 --> 00:15:51,224
stretched from the heavens to the earth 
between God and His servants

274
00:15:51,224 --> 00:15:55,224
It is this rope which is the means to 
reach God

275
00:15:55,224 --> 00:15:57,434
and it is also our covenant with Him.

276
00:15:57,434 --> 00:16:01,434
Consequently, holding firmly 
the rope of God means nothing but

277
00:16:01,434 --> 00:16:05,434
to firmly grasp the Book of God and 
in no situation leave it.

278
00:16:05,577 --> 00:16:09,577
Holding steadfast is qualified by the word
la tafariqu

279
00:16:09,577 --> 00:16:11,217
and then the Quran has used the words
verse

280
00:16:11,217 --> 00:16:13,197
the Quran has instructed us against
any sort of dissension.

281
00:16:13,197 --> 00:16:14,257
What does it mean?

282
00:16:14,257 --> 00:16:18,257
This means that this requirement is from 
Muslims in their collective and

283
00:16:18,257 --> 00:16:23,750
individual capacity to cling firmly to 
the rope of Allah.

284
00:16:24,157 --> 00:16:26,717
They should not become divided 
by forsaking it.

285
00:16:26,717 --> 00:16:28,767
While being united they should 
adhere to the Qur’ān,

286
00:16:28,767 --> 00:16:30,647
read it and reflect on its verses.

287
00:16:30,647 --> 00:16:34,647
They should gather counsel from it, 
turn to it in all their affairs

288
00:16:34,647 --> 00:16:38,647
considering it to be a 
barometer of justice

289
00:16:38,647 --> 00:16:44,587
and before its verdicts give no 
importance to any other thing whatsoever.

290
00:16:44,587 --> 00:16:48,587
This is what verse would signify.

291
00:16:48,799 --> 00:16:52,329
You should firmly grasp this rope 
of Allah as the Quran said:

292
00:16:52,329 --> 00:16:54,759
Wa'tasimoo bi Hablil laahi jamee'anw

293
00:16:54,759 --> 00:16:58,759
Take it that as it was said earlier that
you should hold on to Allah firmly,

294
00:16:58,759 --> 00:17:02,759
and a person holds on to Allah by fearing 
him and by fully obeying God

295
00:17:02,759 --> 00:17:04,439
and once you have the fear of God,

296
00:17:04,439 --> 00:17:06,489
then you are inclined towards 
the book of Allah

297
00:17:06,489 --> 00:17:09,569
so that I do not transgress
the limits set by Allah.

298
00:17:09,569 --> 00:17:13,569
?

299
00:17:13,569 --> 00:17:17,569
?

300
00:17:17,569 --> 00:17:21,569
?

301
00:17:21,569 --> 00:17:24,919
?

302
00:17:24,919 --> 00:17:26,629
?

303
00:17:26,629 --> 00:17:28,769
wazkuroo ni'matal laahi alaikum

304
00:17:28,769 --> 00:17:30,089
And the Quran said:

305
00:17:30,089 --> 00:17:33,279
and remember the favour 
God has bestowed upon you:

306
00:17:33,279 --> 00:17:34,269
What favours?

307
00:17:34,269 --> 00:17:35,629
iz kuntum a'daaa'an

308
00:17:35,629 --> 00:17:39,629
Here, the companions are the addressee,
that when you were enemies of one another

309
00:17:39,629 --> 00:17:43,629
fa allafa baina quloobikum
so He united your hearts

310
00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:46,962
fa asbah tum bini'matiheee ikhwaananw

311
00:17:46,962 --> 00:17:52,788
and with His grace you became brothers.

312
00:17:52,788 --> 00:17:54,748
And remember, the Quran said:

313
00:17:54,748 --> 00:17:58,748
wa kuntum 'alaa shafaa 
hufratim minan Naari

314
00:17:59,149 --> 00:18:03,149
and [remember] when you stood 
at the very brink of an abyss of fire;

315
00:18:03,149 --> 00:18:07,149
fa anqazakum minhaa;
then He saved you from it

316
00:18:08,697 --> 00:18:13,927
The companions, who were party to
the Prophet (pbuh) are told

317
00:18:13,927 --> 00:18:18,267
about the grace that Allah has bestowed
upon them.

318
00:18:19,203 --> 00:18:23,203
Anyone who is aware of the history 
of Pre-islamic Arabia knows that

319
00:18:23,505 --> 00:18:27,505
Before the revelation of this Book, 
every tribe was an enemy of the other

320
00:18:28,256 --> 00:18:31,836
and they would be engaged in 
fighting and warfare.

321
00:18:31,836 --> 00:18:33,256
The stories of their warfare

322
00:18:33,256 --> 00:18:35,726
are spread across their literature
and poetry.

323
00:18:36,250 --> 00:18:40,250
Their was no unifying thread 
between them on basis of religion also.

324
00:18:40,733 --> 00:18:43,451
They were, each one of the them, 
the progeny of Abraham,

325
00:18:43,451 --> 00:18:44,446
but only in name.

326
00:18:44,446 --> 00:18:46,438
Each tribe had its own deities.

327
00:18:47,071 --> 00:18:50,111
Their interests clashed with one 
another

328
00:18:50,111 --> 00:18:52,511
in the fields of politics and 
economics as well.

329
00:18:52,511 --> 00:18:54,061
With the introduction of the Quran,

330
00:18:54,061 --> 00:18:58,061
it knitted them together and 
weaved them into a locket of pearls

331
00:18:58,061 --> 00:19:04,141
and foes became friends and well-wishers.

332
00:19:04,391 --> 00:19:09,451
Here, they are reminded 
of the blessings bestow upon the arrival

333
00:19:09,451 --> 00:19:12,507
of the Prophet (pbuh) and the Quran.

334
00:19:12,507 --> 00:19:13,747
They were told that:

335
00:19:13,747 --> 00:19:18,547
they stood at the very 
brink of an abyss of fire;

336
00:19:18,547 --> 00:19:22,547
Warfare, hatred for each other, disbelief
and internal grudges

337
00:19:22,547 --> 00:19:26,547
which were founded on disbelief,
and colliding with each others profits

338
00:19:26,547 --> 00:19:30,547
had dragged you to a place 
where you stood at the very

339
00:19:30,547 --> 00:19:32,997
brink of that abyss of fire.

340
00:19:33,684 --> 00:19:36,194
And the nature of that fire is such 
that

341
00:19:36,194 --> 00:19:40,194
it is quite extraordinary for nations
in this world as well as in the next world

342
00:19:40,194 --> 00:19:42,784
where it won't spare anyone indulging in
idolatry,

343
00:19:42,784 --> 00:19:46,734
injustice and transgressions against 
others.

344
00:19:47,114 --> 00:19:48,754
So, the Quran said:

345
00:19:48,754 --> 00:19:52,754
then the Prophet (pbuh) and the Quran
saved you from it.

346
00:19:52,894 --> 00:19:56,524
kazaalika yubaiyinul laahu lakum 
aayaatihee

347
00:19:56,524 --> 00:19:58,964
Thus God explains to you 
His revelations

348
00:19:59,636 --> 00:20:02,856
la'allakum tahtadoon
so that you may be guided.

349
00:20:02,856 --> 00:20:05,936
Through these verses we come to know
that

350
00:20:05,936 --> 00:20:09,936
one really important blessing from 
among God's blessings

351
00:20:09,936 --> 00:20:12,366
bestowed upon a nation or a group is
that

352
00:20:12,366 --> 00:20:17,246
a bond of love comes into 
being between them

353
00:20:17,246 --> 00:20:19,896
The truth is that it doesn't happen
easily.

354
00:20:19,896 --> 00:20:22,696
Hence, look at the words that the
Quran uses:

355
00:20:22,696 --> 00:20:26,696
iz kuntum a'daaa'an fa allafa 
baina quloobikum

356
00:20:27,098 --> 00:20:31,930
Allah put love between you people
when you were foes.

357
00:20:32,559 --> 00:20:34,939
This is a great blessing by Allah.

358
00:20:35,162 --> 00:20:42,312
Otherwise, minor issues result in
the disintegration of nations.

359
00:20:43,344 --> 00:20:47,344
The ego of human beings is such 
and it breeds suspicions so easily

360
00:20:47,344 --> 00:20:51,344
and they are so prone to profits

361
00:20:51,344 --> 00:20:55,344
that it is even difficult for 4 
people to walk together.

362
00:20:56,170 --> 00:21:00,170
At every step we are anxious that
they might fall in a ditch.

363
00:21:00,834 --> 00:21:04,834
And internal conflicts, the sort that
we see amongst Muslims...

364
00:21:05,001 --> 00:21:07,041
People are slaves to profits.

365
00:21:07,041 --> 00:21:11,041
If two people work together, then we 
do not expect them

366
00:21:11,041 --> 00:21:15,551
to live their lives together and 
put faith in each other.

367
00:21:16,238 --> 00:21:20,238
Mistrust is in the family and outside,
it is in the society,

368
00:21:20,238 --> 00:21:23,318
in the cultural and the political world.

369
00:21:23,630 --> 00:21:26,220
In other words, they have engulfed the
entire community.

370
00:21:26,220 --> 00:21:29,226
If you look at the environment in 
your social milieu,

371
00:21:29,226 --> 00:21:33,549
you will find out that moral
degradation is exemplified

372
00:21:33,549 --> 00:21:36,109
in communal discordance.

373
00:21:36,703 --> 00:21:40,703
The entire community will become
discordant and perturbed

374
00:21:40,703 --> 00:21:42,963
because from a moral point of view,

375
00:21:42,963 --> 00:21:45,673
people are not able to trust each other.

376
00:21:45,673 --> 00:21:50,833
This environment of mistrust creates a
crisis of trust.

377
00:21:50,833 --> 00:21:53,283
And then it is very difficult to come out 
of it.

378
00:21:53,283 --> 00:21:57,063
Hence, Allah has especially brought it to
the attention of the Companions that:

379
00:21:57,063 --> 00:22:03,223
my greatest blessing towards you was to 
turn your enmity into love

380
00:22:03,223 --> 00:22:07,223
You became brothers because of my
blessings.

381
00:22:07,223 --> 00:22:11,223
And the situation of your nation was such
that

382
00:22:11,223 --> 00:22:15,223
it would have resulted in a pit of fire
in this world as well as the next

383
00:22:15,223 --> 00:22:17,503
and Allah pulled you out of it.

384
00:22:17,503 --> 00:22:20,683
Then the Quran stated that:
this is the manner in which

385
00:22:20,683 --> 00:22:22,393
Allah explains his verses.

386
00:22:22,393 --> 00:22:24,913
And this is how Allah explains to
you that

387
00:22:24,913 --> 00:22:28,913
a slight mistake in this matter 
can result in grave trials.

388
00:22:28,913 --> 00:22:32,913
if they want to sustain love 
and unity among them

389
00:22:32,913 --> 00:22:36,363
In other words, Allah has united you
and if you want to sustain it

390
00:22:36,363 --> 00:22:39,753
they must hold fast to this Book 
otherwise

391
00:22:39,753 --> 00:22:44,773
they will revert to the age 
of ignorance they used to be in.

392
00:22:44,773 --> 00:22:48,773
It was undeniable that they were 
standing at the brink of an abyss of fire

393
00:22:48,773 --> 00:22:51,643
If you read their history, it becomes
absolutely clear.

394
00:22:51,643 --> 00:22:55,643
the Almighty caught them 
by their hands and saved them from it.

395
00:22:55,643 --> 00:22:58,023
So now if they forsake this Book,

396
00:22:58,023 --> 00:23:01,293
there is a strong chance that they 
will fall in this abyss

397
00:23:01,293 --> 00:23:03,183
and then will not be able to 
save themselves from its flames.

398
00:23:03,183 --> 00:23:08,123
This directive that was applicable to the 
muslim collectivity at that point of time

399
00:23:08,123 --> 00:23:12,123
it is applicable in the same manner even
today.

400
00:23:12,123 --> 00:23:16,123
The discord and disagreement, 
the ugliness

401
00:23:16,123 --> 00:23:20,123
which has become part of our 
culture, politics, economics,

402
00:23:20,123 --> 00:23:21,993
one of the major reasons behind that
is that

403
00:23:21,993 --> 00:23:23,980
Muslims have abandoned the book
of Allah.

404
00:23:23,980 --> 00:23:28,360
The instructions and guidance that
was there in the Quran,

405
00:23:28,360 --> 00:23:33,370
the manner in which our moral being
was made the real objective of our lives,

406
00:23:34,041 --> 00:23:38,741
this is the most foundational and
axial point of the Quran

407
00:23:38,741 --> 00:23:42,741
that you have to purify your
moral being,

408
00:23:42,741 --> 00:23:47,971
you have to be of service to others,
your wealth is not your own,

409
00:23:47,971 --> 00:23:50,261
others have a right to it as well.

410
00:23:50,261 --> 00:23:54,261
You have to spend in the way of your lord
and it is obvious that when

411
00:23:54,261 --> 00:23:56,764
someone is willing to spend their wealth

412
00:23:56,764 --> 00:24:00,044
then how is it possible that he commits
injustice and transgressions

413
00:24:00,044 --> 00:24:01,764
and how is it possible for him
to steal from others.

414
00:24:01,764 --> 00:24:05,764
This is something which purifies human
beings from a moral point of view.

415
00:24:05,764 --> 00:24:07,914
This was the real message of the Quran.

416
00:24:07,914 --> 00:24:09,744
Even today if you read the Quran,

417
00:24:09,744 --> 00:24:12,634
you will find that the Quran does not
consist of things like

418
00:24:12,634 --> 00:24:14,034
which are very common in our
culture such as:

419
00:24:14,034 --> 00:24:16,134
stories and ?

420
00:24:16,134 --> 00:24:20,134
He invites human beings to the simple
message that

421
00:24:20,134 --> 00:24:24,134
they should try to verify the true 
essence of virtue.

422
00:24:24,134 --> 00:24:25,714
That is the real faith in god.

423
00:24:25,714 --> 00:24:28,128
It is a feeling of being present 
before him.

424
00:24:28,128 --> 00:24:32,128
You should live with the sentiment
that you will be accountable to god.

425
00:24:32,128 --> 00:24:35,152
and the basis for this accountability
is the purification of your moral being.

426
00:24:35,152 --> 00:24:37,062
Moral being should be as pure as possible.

427
00:24:37,062 --> 00:24:39,542
The Quran calls it verse
amale saaleh

428
00:24:39,542 --> 00:24:42,012
You should act in such a way that

429
00:24:42,012 --> 00:24:49,172
it guides you, your culture, your 
environment to the straight path,

430
00:24:49,172 --> 00:24:56,162
When things become part of a jargon
then people stop focusing on its meaning.

431
00:24:56,162 --> 00:24:58,282
It is a very beautiful interpretation.

432
00:24:58,282 --> 00:25:01,312
In other words, there are certain
actions which when commited

433
00:25:01,312 --> 00:25:05,312
result in internal friction within 
yourself.

434
00:25:05,312 --> 00:25:09,312
These actions stem discord at your home,
in your community,

435
00:25:09,882 --> 00:25:16,224
And then there is a sort of action which
leads to goodness and success everywhere.

436
00:25:16,224 --> 00:25:18,074
What is that action.

437
00:25:18,074 --> 00:25:22,074
It is obvious that it is the same action
where an individual has a cognition

438
00:25:22,074 --> 00:25:24,384
of his moral being and confirms it.

439
00:25:24,384 --> 00:25:27,764
He should recognise himself and 
the essence of his dignity.

440
00:25:27,764 --> 00:25:33,234
I am a moral being and I will take
moral purification to that level

441
00:25:33,234 --> 00:25:38,034
where it is supposed to be and
then I will achieve eminence.

442
00:25:38,034 --> 00:25:42,034
If I fail to do that then there is no
difference between myself and an animal.

443
00:25:42,034 --> 00:25:43,514
So, this is the teaching of the Quran.

444
00:25:43,514 --> 00:25:46,244
If you hold steadfast to the 
directives of the Qur’ān

445
00:25:46,244 --> 00:25:49,084
and if you make it the center and
axis of all things

446
00:25:49,084 --> 00:25:51,444
which I always translate as the
following:

447
00:25:51,444 --> 00:25:55,444
The main reason for the decline of
the Muslim community is that

448
00:25:55,444 --> 00:25:59,444
it neither made Quran the center and
axis of its knowledge

449
00:25:59,444 --> 00:26:02,014
nor did it make the Quran the center and
axis of its actions.

450
00:26:02,014 --> 00:26:05,254
In terms of knowledge, if you visit
the religious schools,

451
00:26:05,254 --> 00:26:09,254
if you look at religious edition, 
philosophy or debates in jurisprudence

452
00:26:09,254 --> 00:26:13,254
making Quran the axis of your religion
and then trying to comprehend the Quran

453
00:26:13,254 --> 00:26:16,656
as the Quran wants us to do has escaped
our knowledge.

454
00:26:16,656 --> 00:26:20,656
Due to this reason we are left with
the stories of fazeil, fables

455
00:26:20,656 --> 00:26:26,966
the debates on ? and those things
that have no relevance to our lives

456
00:26:26,966 --> 00:26:30,966
The most important reality of our life
is that which the Quran states as

457
00:26:30,966 --> 00:26:33,946
the act of leading one's life with the
sentiment of accountability before god

458
00:26:33,946 --> 00:26:35,986
One day I will have to stand in the
court of my lord

459
00:26:35,986 --> 00:26:37,636
and I cannot take any chances.

460
00:26:37,636 --> 00:26:40,136
I cannot deceive anyone, I cannot 
do adulteration,

461
00:26:40,136 --> 00:26:43,726
I cannot be dishonest, I cannot
be unjust towards others.

462
00:26:43,726 --> 00:26:47,216
You will feel this sentiment only when


463
00:26:47,216 --> 00:26:49,676
you will lead your life with the 
consciousness that

464
00:26:49,676 --> 00:26:51,436
you are accountable to your lord.

465
00:26:51,436 --> 00:26:54,906
And then there is the issue of making 
aspects of religion such as:

466
00:26:54,906 --> 00:26:58,906
rituals, the organisation of the society, 
and reminder of things that are symbolic,

467
00:26:58,906 --> 00:27:03,704
aspects that are, in fact, supplementary,
but replace the real essence of religion.

468
00:27:03,704 --> 00:27:06,464
The is the aspect that the Quran is 
explaining here.

469
00:27:06,464 --> 00:27:10,464
Even today, if Quran becomes 
a central and axial part of our lives

470
00:27:10,464 --> 00:27:12,214
then what will the consequences?

471
00:27:12,214 --> 00:27:16,214
It will result you acquiring such a 
scale in religious matters

472
00:27:16,214 --> 00:27:20,214
that you will be able to examine 
everything.

473
00:27:20,975 --> 00:27:24,975
If you overcome your grudges then
you will be able to decide

474
00:27:24,975 --> 00:27:28,975
between good and bad in a jiffy.
You will find a way out of

475
00:27:28,975 --> 00:27:32,975
those metaphysical debates that 
people found very interesting

476
00:27:32,975 --> 00:27:36,975
in our tradition and such exceptional
people surrendered themselves

477
00:27:36,975 --> 00:27:39,295
to these debates.
Then your entire focus...

478
00:27:39,295 --> 00:27:43,295
It is obvious that when it becomes
clear what God is,

479
00:27:43,295 --> 00:27:47,295
what his love entails, his attributes 
and the correct method

480
00:27:47,295 --> 00:27:50,015
to be accountable in the court of Allah.
When these issues become clear

481
00:27:50,015 --> 00:27:52,826
then you abandon the debates of philosophy
and Kalam

482
00:27:52,826 --> 00:27:55,396
and stand on the correct path, then only
your entire focus will be on

483
00:27:55,396 --> 00:27:58,126
natural sciences and development
of your own life.

484
00:27:58,126 --> 00:28:02,126
It will result in you focusing on 
scientific disciplines

485
00:28:02,126 --> 00:28:06,126
and you will abandon superstitions.
Quran germinates both these things

486
00:28:06,126 --> 00:28:11,216
within you when you focus on the
Quran. Here it is stated that:

487
00:28:11,216 --> 00:28:15,216
hold steadfast to the rope of Allah,
if you hold firmly the rope of Allah,

488
00:28:15,216 --> 00:28:17,506
then it will have certain consequences
and those consequences are the following:

489
00:28:17,506 --> 00:28:21,506
kazaalika yubaiyinul laahu lakum 
aayaatihee la'allakum tahtadoon

490
00:28:22,444 --> 00:28:27,994
Thus God explains to you His 
revelations so that you may be guided.

491
00:28:27,994 --> 00:28:30,124
that you may be on the right path.

492
00:28:30,124 --> 00:28:34,124
Waltakum minkum ummatuny yad'oona 
ilal khairi wa ya'muroona

493
00:28:34,124 --> 00:28:38,124
bil ma'roofi wa yanhawna 'anil munkar;

494
00:28:38,124 --> 00:28:42,867
Now muslims have become a community.
A system has been established by them.

495
00:28:42,867 --> 00:28:46,867
They have established their government 
in Medina,

496
00:28:46,867 --> 00:28:48,877
even though it is of a tribal nature.

497
00:28:48,877 --> 00:28:51,277
The community has become organized.

498
00:28:51,277 --> 00:28:55,277
There is a stage when people profess
faith individually,

499
00:28:56,326 --> 00:29:00,326
they don't even own a piece of land,
they are spread throughout the world.

500
00:29:00,458 --> 00:29:03,108
So, an organisation is not possible
in such a scenario.

501
00:29:03,108 --> 00:29:07,108
But when a society comes into being,
when Muslims become a group

502
00:29:07,108 --> 00:29:10,858
then the Quran tells them that
they are in a position to do so.

503
00:29:11,084 --> 00:29:15,084
First, the Quran gave an introduction.
Fear Allah, Obey Him,

504
00:29:15,084 --> 00:29:17,218
hold on to the rope of Allah steadfastly,

505
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Quran becomes
a central and axial part of our lives