AL BAYAN - Surah AL IMRAN - Part 12 - Verses 77 - 91 - Javed Ahmed Ghamidi

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

Surah Aal i Imran
Aayaat 77 to 91.

[Ghamidi] Gratitude is only for God,
the Lord of the World,

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

I seek refuge with God
from the accursed Devil.

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

Ladies and Gentlemen, We are resuming
the study of Surah Aal i Imran

from verse 77 in the Quran.

In the preceding verses, the Quran,
states that jews are mistaken

for holding that they have a special
place reserved for them by Allah,

due to which they consider
themselves superior to others.

And that the Jews are wrong in assuming
that God has kept them free

of any responsibility in relation to
the gentiles.

The Quran, addressing the Jews, clarified
that any rank given by Allah is only for

those who fulfill the covenant, and act
in accordance with the covenant

at any cost, which the Quran terms as
Taqwa (fear of God).

Those who will act like this will be pious
and devout, and God loves to be friends

with the pious people.

Those who disregard their promise
to Allah, violate all limits

and reach a point of fearlessness in this,
and

even then claim to be God fearing
and beloved to God,

they are just merely imagining things
and this has no merit.

This is clarified in the preceding
verses of the Quran.

The Quran states:
Innallazeena yashtaroona bi aahdilleahi

Indeed, those who trade Allah’s covenant
and their oaths for a fleeting gain.

In the earlier verse, light was thrown
on those who are

God fearing.

Now, the Quran says that those
who trade Allah’s covenant and

their oaths for fleeting gain.

What is intended by this covenant?

It's evident that it is with regard to the
covenant made with the jews in relation

to God’s Shariah (Islamic Law) and the
advent of the final Prophet (pbuh).

And with respect to the oaths; it is
mentioned in context to the oaths

with the Prophets by the jews

and in particular to have faith and help
and support the Prophet (pbuh).

These oaths will be mentioned
in verse 81.

We will learn about the nature of those
covenants when we read those verses.

Pointing towards those
verses, the Quran says:

Innal lazeena yashtaroona bi'ahdil laahi

Indeed, those who trade Allah’s covenant
and

wa aymaanihim thamanan qaleelan
and trade their oaths for a fleeting gain.

The Quran stated that they think of
themselves as being beloved to God,

They think that they will secure a good
place with God

while trading Allah’s covenant and
oaths for fleeting gains.

ulaaa'ika laa khalaaqa lahum fil Aakhirati

No matter how religiously they present
themselves, and think that they are

superior to others, they will have no
share in the Hereafter.

Only those who keep Allah’s covenant and
oaths, the ones who have honest affairs

and act in accordance with the laws
of religion receive His blessings.

As against them, these kinds of people
have no share in the Hereafter.

ulaaa'ika laa khalaaqa lahum fil Aakhirati

The misconception that the jews have
that they are the beloved people of God

and that they will be treated specially…

In fact, there is no doubt that jews are
a special group of people

as stated in the Quran.
Jews were chosen by God,

given a rank and responsibility.

Even after all this the Quran states
that the rank given

to the jews was based on merit, it
was given with an objective, and

has its own limitations; it is not like
the jews will forever enjoy the rank

and its privileges - while they do no
justice

to the responsibility delegated to them.

There is no possibility of it.
ulaaa'ika laa khalaaqa lahum fil Aakhirati

They are the ones who will have no share
in the Hereafter.

wa laa yukallimuhumul laahu
Allah will not deign speak to them

on the Day of resurrection.

They are the ones who are rejected
in the court of Allah…

In reality, this is the outcome of
Laanah (Driven out of Gods mercy).

In our terminology, Laanat is used as
an expletive.

It actually means to drive out
someone from Gods mercy.

wa laa yukallimuhumul laahu
Allah will not speak to them on the

Day of resurrection
wa laa yanzuru ilaihim Yawmal Qiyaamati

God will not look at them with kindness
on the Day of Resurrection.

Like you say, God will not even like to
see them or look at them with kindness.

wa laa yuzakkeehim
And God will not exonerate them of sins

wa lahum 'azabun 'aleem
and for them there is a painful torment.

As the Quran states that they will not
be exonerated of their sins.

What is the meaning of it?

It means that they have committed grave
offences of such a degree that

there is no scope for exoneration after
some mild form of punishment.

It is evident from the verse that when
the sins are so grave…

May Allah guide us towards good, so that
an individual may enter the paradise

while taking the first step only.

But from this verse we understand that
there can be certain transgressions ...

since we can only enter paradise
after being cleansed of all the sins

so if an individual cannot rectify his
offenses through good deeds,

Allah removes the remnants of any
wrongdoing by a punishment,

Quran mentioned that

they will not even reach this purity.

wa lahum 'azabun 'aleem
for them there is a painful torment.

It is evident from this verse that
how great a sin it is to deny the truth,

to break Allah’s Covenant, break promises
after making them. How great a sin this is

This is a major wrongdoing in
relation to the Prophet (pbuh) and

it is also an offense in all other
circumstances.

The Quran has explicitly detailed it out.

The Quran has established a connection
in the last two verses and stated that

in normal circumstances the jews
have immensely degraded themselves,

that is the consequence for breaking

Allah’s covenant and hence, they have
fallen so low.

Therefore, the purification of man's
moral being will become a reason for

God's kind attention towards him
in the hereafter.

and if these people have good intentions,
they have true faith in God,

if they are trying to be pious Muslims and
do not willingly deny the truth by God,

but have committed certain other offences.

In that case, a glad tiding was received
that Allah would warn and punish them

but eventually wash them of their
transgressions.

And then they can enter heaven.

This is what has been explained in
the Hadiths.

When an event is narrated, many-a-times
the narrators try to exaggerate

the real facts.

However, what the Quran has described
is only this.

The Quran states: Wa inna minhum
lafaree qany yalwoona

alsinatahum bil Kitaabi

And there are some among them who

while reading the Book of God
twist their tongues

litahsaboohu minal Kitaab,
wa maa huwa minal Kitaabi

so that you may think that what
they are reading

is written in the Book whereas
it is not written in it.

Just imagine to what extent people
and communities can degrade.

If you try to connect it with the previous
verses,

you will understand that these words
carry extreme displeasure and

disgust from Allah for these people.

Allah gave them a status and
treated them accordingly…

Post that they were, indeed,
deserving of this punishment.

As Allah describes that neither would He
look at them with kindness,

nor address them,

nor will Allah
purify them of their sins

so that they could enter heaven.

They will live in this torment forever.

If you try to understand their unique
status;

I even gave an example to help you
get the point that when the

wives of the Prophet (pbuh) were chosen
for this office.

They were designated to an office
at a very unique juncture

and it was made clear to them
that now their reward and

punishment would both be
doubled.

In other words, when you are chosen for
this office and you decide to take charge

willingly then you must be ready to
shoulder the responsibilities.

The Quran says:

There are some among them…

It is obvious that it is similar to
the device that if they

want to escape from
responsibilities

of the covenants of God, then how do
they distort the Book?

There are two aspects of it.

One is that you alter the text.

Another way out is that since majority
of the people are illiterate,

therefore, you distort the book
by slightly twisting the text and

change the meaning of the verse
in its entirety.

In other words, you did not alter the text
but distorted the meaning with your tongue

that is what has been mentioned here.

There are people who while reading
the book of Allah

yalwoona alsinatahum bil Kitaabi

There are some among them who
distort the Book with their tongues

that is, they enunciate the text of
the book in such a manner

that you think that whatever they
are reading

litahsaboohu minal Kitaab
to make you think this ˹distortion˺

is from the Book,
'wa maa huwa minal Kitaabi'

even though it is not what the Book says.

wa yaqooloona huwa min 'indillaahi
that you may consider it to be

from the Book of God,

wa maa huwa min 'indillaahi
even though it is not from God.

In other words, they ascribe to God
whereas it is not from god but them

wa yaqooloona 'alal laahil kaziba
wa hum ya'lamoon

[in this manner] they deliberately
ascribe falsehood to God.

The crime that has been mentioned here
has been perpetrated

by both jews and christians.
In the earlier Surah of Al-Baqara,

it was detailed out how jews and
christains alters and twist the meaning

of the word 'marwa' with their
tongues.

The word “Marwa” was used when
Prophet Abraham (pbuh) was asked

to sacrifice Prophet Ismael, his son.

Apart from other alterations to this
incident of sacrifice,

not only did the jews add the name
of Prophet Isaac,

but also corrupted the pronunciation
of the word Marwa.

So, this is the type of alteration that
has been mentioned here in this verse,

​​that you alter the meaning of a word in
order to divert people's attention

to a different topic while concealing the
real meaning.

In order to conceal the fact that Prophet
Abraham (pbuh) came to Arabia,

built the house of God, his lineage had
flourished in this soil and also

the Ismael was the one who was to be
sacrificed, therefore,

this would ensure the connection with
the

advent of Prophet (pbuh), so the
Jews manipulated the word Marwa.

This is an example of how they concealed
the facts in history,

in order to disassociate the relation of
Prophet Abraham with Mecca.

This is just an example that
I have given…

This is what has been indicated here.

It is explained that even in the case
of the Prophet (pbuh),

when they are unfair, they can stoop
to such a level.

People would have been visiting
the Prophet (pbuh),

when the Quran repeatedly
mentioned about the foretelling,

people would have been visiting
the Prophet (pbuh),

asking him about the predictions
mentioned in their texts.

This is how the Quran has sketched the
picture of what their

religious leaders used to do.

The Quran mentions how

they would distort the real facts, twist
their tongues so that you may think that

what they are reading is written in the
Book whereas it is not written in it.

They would give you an impression, that
what they are reading is written

in the Book whereas it is not written
in it. The Quran stated:

Maa kaana libasharin ai yu'tiyahul
laahul Kitaaba

walhukma wan Nubuwwata summa
yaqoola linnaasi koonoo

'ibaadal lee min doonil laahi

The Quran says that: Not only do they
speak a lie against Prophet (pbuh),

they don't even think that it is
not appropriate

for someone that Allah will bless
him with His book, so as

to decide according to that.

yu’tiyahullahul kitaaba wal hukm

decide according to it,

'wan nubuvvata' and bestow him with
prophethood, 'summa yaqoola'

linnasi koonoo ibaadan lee min doonillahi
“Worship me instead of Allah.”

How is it possible? Since, Christians are
addressed in this verse.

How is it possible that God sent down
His book to the Messiah,

and guided them to decide in
religious matter in accordance

with the book of God and even appointed
from him for the status of Prophethood.

And instead of inviting people to worship
God, how could Jesus propagate

his own worship instead?
How is it possible?

God says, it cannot be that he says that
koonoo 'ibaadal lee min doonil laahi

Be servants to me apart from Allah,
No!

He would rather say:

wa laakin koonoo rabbaaniyyeena bimaa
kuntum tu'allimoonal Kitaaba

but rather He would say
“be servants of God”.

Why would he (Jesus) ask you to
be his servant,

rather he would ask you to be
servants of God.

The word rabbani means worshiper
of God (servant of God).

Same is the meaning of Maulvi in
our society.

It is indeed a beautiful word.
The one of (who worships) the Lord.

but a wrong usage of this word
has led us to this point.

Infact, we learn from the Quran that the
religious scholars of christians were

reffered to as “Rabbaani”.

Like we use the term “Mualvi” for our
religious leaders,

its roots are in the word “Maula”.

Similarly, Rabbani is rooted in
the word “Rab”.

So, this word was used in context of
worshipper of God, servants of God.

The Quran says: This is what the Prophet
(pbuh) would preach.

The Quran also mentions that the
Prophet (pbuh) would never want a

a specific number of people to
become Maulvi (religious scholar) or

Rabbani (worshipper of God). He would
invite everyone to worship God.

but [instead, he would say],
bimaa kuntum tu'allimoonal Kitaaba

"Be pious scholars of the Lord because
of what you have taught

of the Scripture and because of what
you have studied."

wa bimaa kuntum tadrusoon

God has given you this great honour,

because you reach, teach the Book and
you preach from it.”

Walaa yaamurakum an tattakhizul malaaikata
wan Nabiyyeena arbaabaa

And he would never ask you to take angels
and prophets as lords.

Nor will he ask you to make the angels
and the prophets as your gods

He will never ask you to make the angels
and the prophets as your god

a yaamurukum bilkufri ba'da iz
antum muslimoon

Would he ask you to disbelieve after
you have submitted?

The Quran, while invoking the good
sense of jews, christians and

even Quraish of Mecca were
reprimanded that

that those superstitions that
you have made a part of your creed,

how could you associate those things
with the Prophets of Allah?

You should never do that.

The Prophet would never ask his followers
to disbelieve after they

learn about the truth. And if you ever
come across something like this,

it would not be legitimate to accept
that it is from God himself.

After coming across something of this
sort, you should be well aware that

this is nothing but the alteration of the
meaning and verses

by people who are leading people
astray.

No Prophet can invite you to this
sort of religion.

Look at how a standard has been
explicated in the Quran that

the one who has the book of God, the
one who has been blessed with

the abilities to better comprehend and
decide on religious matters in

accordance with the book of God.

The one who would be stationed at the
position of prophethood,

what would he say to the people?

He would always guide people towards

Tawhid (oneness of God).

He would guide you towards Tawhid
and nothing more.

He would never ask people to submit
and worship to him instead of God.

He would never exaggerate about his status

The one having the knowledge of the
book would never exaggerate

and boast about the angels
and Prophets.

He would only invite you to
tawheed, the Oneness of God.

Allah says in the Quran, if you come
across anything that is contrary

to the oneness of God, then that is not
from God, but fabrication of the message.

It is not possible that after inviting you
to Islam and the oneness of God,

the Prophet would then ask you to
make partners with God.

It is not possible that the Prophet
would first proclaim the oneness of God

and then ask you to worship him
instead.

This was the standard that was put
before the jews

and it was natural to put forth this
standard before the jews.

Even today, if you read the Torah,
you will find that the Torah

or the Gospel is wholly about the oneness
of God.

You can better comprehend this
statement which is explained

here in context, only when you will
understand that since,

you have the books of your Prophets
with you.

Do you ever see that the Prophet is
inviting people to worship him?

Or give the status of God to someone else?

Then how do you assume that if
Jesus in the Gospel

propagated the Oneness of God,

stressed on Iman and good deeds,
and make this as a foundation

of invitation towards the right path.

Even after thousands of years
after Moses's Torah,

it preaches the same Tawhid

about the Oneness of God. How is it
possible then that

when the religious scholars try to
understand the text,

they ascribe these things to the prophets.

This is what has been stressed over
here.

Is it possible that first a Prophet
would work hard all his life

to invite people to the religion of Islam
and then whisper into someone's ear

to submit to Him and worship Him instead?

It is not possible.

You will understand the full force
of this argument when you understand

what sort of juxtaposition is being
carried out.

The juxtaposition is between what
the Prophet has left behind and

what is being done by his followers.

This is what is being discussed here in
the verse of the Quran.

This is what is being stated in the Quran:

a ya’murukum bil kufri baa’da iz antum
muslimoon,

the Prophet (pbuh) invited people towards
the religion of Islam,

towards the obedience of God.

Even today this invitation towards the
right path is clearly stated in God's book

Post this, did Jesus reveal to St. Paul

that He had attained some Godly authority,
or there are some attributes of God

that are manifested in him?

Or that he has received some portion of
divinity?

When did Jesus ever say something like
this to people,

that you are attribution towards him?

This is what has been mentioned
in the Quran.

You will better comprehend this force
when you will compare the

meaning of the word muslimoon with
ya’murukum bil kufri.

How is it possible? When a Prophet (pbuh)
himself proclaimed

about the oneness of God and stood
by it throughout His life.

How is it possible that He might have
said something of this sort,

that you claim the Prophet (pbuh) has
mentioned about himself?

How is it possible that the Prophet (pbuh)
first presented himself

as the hunble servant of God and preached
about Iman and Tawhiid,

in accordance with the verses of
the Quran.

And then in no time we came to
know different stories of a completely

different perspective about the Prophet
(pbuh).

While inviting people to Islam, was the
Prophet (pbuh) teaching people

unbelief as well?

This is what has been mentioned in this
phrase

a ya’murukum bil kufri baa’da
iz antum muslimoon

Would he invite you to disbelieve after
you have submitted?

The Messengers of Allah can never do
something like this.

The Prophets (pbut) only invite people
to Tawhiid and preach about

the oneness of God till the end.

Wa iz akhazal laahu meesaaqan Nabiyyeena

[O Prophet! Remind them of the time]
When Allah took the Covenant

from them regarding the Prophets.

Wa iz akhazal laahu meesaaqan Nabiyyeena

Remind them, when Allah took the Covenant
from them regarding the Prophets.

What was the Covenant? lamaaa aataitukum
min Kitaabinw wa Hikmatin

Allah says in the Quran that: I have
given you the Shariyat (Islamic Laws)

and the Wisdom.
summa jaaa'akum Rasoolum

then a Rasul (Messenger) comes to you ...

Allah took the Covenant from them
regarding the Prophets,

and reminded them of who they are,
giving them the Book and the Wisdom.

In other words, after explaining all the
content, Allah mentions that

he has given them his religion,
i.e., Islam.

There was a possibility of deviating
from the right path only when

there would have been no clear
guidance from God.

As the Quran says: It is possible that
someone might not have

received God’s guidance or the clear book,
and in that case

if there is any misunderstanding.

Here it's prefaced in this way.
Remind them, when Allah

took the Covenant from you regarding the
Prophets, and raised you as a Umma.

Do you remember what you were bestowed
upon from God?

He gave you the light of his religion…

The Quran has mentioned it in a lot of
places that the religion is composed

of only two things, one Shariat (Islamic
Laws) and second, Hikmat (wisdom).

What does wisdom mean?

Wisdom is to do with issues of faith
and morality.

In philosophical terminology you can
express it as metaphysics and ethics.

Meaning the part of religion to do with
both metaphysics and ethics,

and serve as the foundation for developing
laws. And those laws are known as Shariyat

The Quran states that: you were given
both the Shariat and the Wisdom

and then an oath was taken from you.

summa jaaa'akum Rasoolum

if a Rasul (Messenger) comes to you
musaaddikun lima maaakum

a Rasul (Messenger) comes to you
confirming that which is

with you (Shariat, Wisdom) that
Allah had given to you

(and the predictions about the coming
of a Prophet) and comes to you

confirming all that,
then what would you do?

latu'minunna bihee,
you must definitely believe in him

wa latansurunnahu
and you must definitely help him.

Therefore, this was the covenant that
Allah took from the Israelites.

Though the word rasul used here is
general,

when 'a Rasul' (Messenger) comes, it is
amply clear that it is pointing towards

the Prophet (pbuh).

In fact, they were part of this covenant
even in the times of other prophets

that used to come to them.

But this was a special covenant in
relation to the Prophet (pbuh),

as is mentioned in their books that he
would not bring about

a new religion altogether, but confirm
the religion that is already known to you.

It is your tragedy that you denied
something that was already present

and the Prophet (pbuh) was only
confirming the religion

that was already with you.

You took up the heavy responsibility
of that Covenant,

but when the time finally arrived,

you denied having made any such
covenant and did not confirm.

It is this crime,

as Jesus says: the brides wait for their
bridegroom throughout the night

and at dawn, they
fell asleep.

You are responsible for the situation
you find yourselves in.

So Allah says, [remind them] that We took
the Covenant from them,

and the covenant was that whenever
any of God’s Prophets would come

musaddiqul limaa ma'akum
a Rasul (Messenger) would come to you

confirming about what is already with
you that Allah had

given to you and the predictions about
the coming of a Prophet in Torah

and Bible and comes to you confirming
that you must definitely believe in him,

you must definitely help him.

qaala a'aqrartum wa akhaztum alaa zaalikum
isree

Allah asks: “Do you accept (this Oath)
and vow to fulfill this responsibility”?

To understand this verse
we should consult Bible and Torah.

Whenever these covenants were
taken from them,

every time they were asked to confirm,
'you will transfer this knowledge

to you next generation and spread the
word among people.'

Prophet Moses (pbuh) used to take this
oath with due diligence.

Allah asked: 'qaaloo', and what did your
ancestors answer to that?

aqrarnaa
(They) said: “We proclaim”.

qaala fashhadoo
Then bear witness

va ana maaakum minash sheahideen
(Allah) said:

“Then bear witness and I am of the bearers
of witness with you”.

Faman tawallaa ba'da zaalika fa ulaaa'ika
humul faasiqoon

Whoever therefore turns back after this
(denies the Messenger that will

come after the Prophets), they are the
Fâsiqûn (those who are not

in the Way of Allah or
have gone out of it, transgressors).

Allah reminds them that this is how they
were asked to

to follow the Prophet (pbuh) and help
him for the cause of religion.

This covenant was taken in relation to
all the Prophets of God,

but here in case the Quran is pointing
towards Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

I reiterate what I mentioned earlier that
these words Fa man tavalla baa’da zaalika

that even after this, if someone turns
back after this (denies the Messenger

that will come after the Prophets) then
there is no doubt that they

are the Fasiqun (those who breakers of
covenants with God, or disobedient).

The meaning of Faasiq in the Quranic
terminology is disobedient.

Even after making it clear and taking the
Covenant from them regarding the Prophets,

even then you are hell bent towards
this attitude...

If you read Bible you will come to know
that the Israelite leaders are assembled

in a place and different groups of them
come to join them,

they are all assembled in a place of
worship before the Ark,

Prophet Moses explains the oath well
and only after that took the covenant.

Then instructed them to bear witness and
then carry it on the shoulders, and warned

them the worldly and otherworldly
consequences if they turn their back on it.

About the commands and
prohibitions from God,

about the Shariah and the Prophets of God,
thus are covenants taken.

What a lesson it is for the
Israelites that Allah

through this reference reminds them how
he took oath from them and

still you are denying that covenant.

Afaghaira deenil laahi yabghoona

Allah says in the Quran: Prophets used to
come in the same way;

the way in which they have had covenants
with Allah.

These prophets came in this manner

Prophets came to fulfill the demands of
those covenants that you promised to Allah

Allah says: since they came with the same
message and religion,

then are they (Israelites) looking for a
new religion altogether?

Are they denying the religion of Allah?
Now, after explaining the oneness of God,

the same religion, truth, book and wisdom.

You shouldn't have had a speck
of doubt about its proof.

Now, you are denying this religion, so are
you looking for

a different religion than Islam?

wa lahooo aslama man fis samaawaati
wal ardi

even though everything in the heavens
and the earth are obedient to Him,

taw'anw wa karhanw
willingly or unwillingly.

They are bound by his commands, are
obedient and

are bowed down before God.

wa ilaihi yurja'oon and to Him shall they
be returned.

Not only does God have authority over
all of the heavens and the earth,

the whole of this universe has submitted
to God.

There is no scope of escaping in the
world or hereafter.

Every particle in this universe has bowed
down before God.

Quran states that: you have to turn
towards God even in the hereafter.

There is no other way.

Qul aamannaa billaahi

The Quran Says: “The deed is done.
Tell them. We have believed in Allah."

and in the oneness of God.
wa maaa unzila 'alainaa

We believe in what has been sent
down to us.

This is an occasion in the Quran which
expresses absolution.

This is how the Quran clarified the issue,
this is how they were reminded

of the oath they took regarding
the Prophets.

Now, the Prophet (pbuh) was commandent
to announce that 'We believe in God

and that thing which was sent down to us'.

Now, look at how the line of Abraham
is connected with this.

wa maaa unzila 'alaaa Ibraaheema

We believe in what has been sent
down to Abraham,

wa Ismaa'eela

and what has been sent
down to Ishmael,

wa Ishaaqa wa Ya'qooba wal Asbaati
and what has been

sent down to Isaac, Jacob and the
sons of Jacob,

wa maaa ootiya Moosaa wa 'Eesaa
and we believe in what was given to

Moses and Jesus, and what was bestowed
upon them. We accept that too.

wan Nabiyyoona mir Rabbihim

and whatever was sent down to the
Prophets from their Lord,

We believe in that. What is our maxim?

laa nufarriqu baina ahadim minhum

We do not discriminate between
any of the Prophets.

We are not the sort of people who would
believe in some and not in others.

We do not employ this method based
on our prejudices.

We do not deny any of God’s instruction,
neither do we refute it in any way.

We believe in everything sent down
to us without any exception.

laa nufarriqu baina ahadim minhum,
wa nahnu lahoo muslimoon

we make no distinction between any
of them, and we are obedient to Him only.

The Quran says: Wa mai yabtaghi ghairal
Islaami deenan

This is Islam, this is the religion
of Islam.

You must understand that Islam is not a
religion of one era,

but all Prophets invited us to the same
religion of Islam.

Islam is the religion of all the Prophets
including Abraham, Ismael,

Isaac, Moses, Jesus, Jacob and the
sons of Jacob.

All the Propehts brought this religion
of Islam to the people.

And we are the believers of this Islam.

And anyone who wishes to accept
any other religion apart from Islam.

Wa mai yabtaghi ghairal Islaami deenan
falany yuqbala minhu,

And whoever seeks a religion other
than Islam (Submission to Allah),

it shall not be accepted from Him, only
the religion of Islam is accepted

in the court of Allah, Islam is the
religion of all the Prophets

and there is no partiality in it.

There are proper standards of Truth

and this religion is based on those.

If someone wants to abandon this
religion and bring about a new religion

based on his own prejudices, desires and
innovations, then there is no scope

of its acceptance in the court of Allah.

wa huwa fil Aakhirati minal khaasireen

Allah made it clear that Islam is not a
religion that was introduced

by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Try to understand the lineage of Islam,

it is the religion of all the Prophets.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) only
came for the Revival of Islam.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) came for
confirmation of Islam.

He came for its rejuvenation.

He rectified the innovations that had
creeped into Islam.

He has presented the religion of Islam.

God’s religion has always been Islam.

God never revealed any form of Judaism,
Christianity or Muhammadism,

Islam is the only religion revealed by Allah.

The religion from God was always Islam.

Islam is the religion of Allah. Anyone who
denies Islam and adopts any other religion

he must know that God will not accept his
religion, and in the Hereafter

he shall be of the losers.

Kaifa yahdillaahu qawman kafaroo
ba'da eemaanihim

in the world to come he will
surely be among the losers.

The Quran reprimands muslims
for seeking guidance from those

who disbelieved after professing
faith in Allah. This is of the essence!

Compare this with the previous verse where
people disbelieved after their believed.

Do the Prophets of God preach people to
disbelieve once they have already

accepted the truth?
After explicating their attitude,

the Quran says (about them): when you
developed prejudices about the religion

when you started creating dissension
in the religion,

When you became partial with regard to
the different Prophets of God ...

In reality this is disbelief after you
had already accepted the truth.

How shall Allah guide
a person who disbelieved

after professing faith in Allah.
Muslims wanted them to embrace islam.

Quran says: But how can Allah guide them?

wa shahidooo annar Rasoola haqqunw

And they have borne witness that
the Messenger is true,

'wa shahidoo', they know it and their
hearts bear witness that

this Prophet (pbuh), is a true Prophet,

Even after believing in him, yet they
are lying.

wa jaaa'ahumul baiyinaat and they have
clear evidences about the Prophet (pbuh).

Quran says: wallaahu laa yahdil
qawmaz zaalimeen

and Allah does not make the unjust people
attain Guidance (Hidayah).

Allah has a special law according to which
a person is blessed with

His blessing and Guidance.
It is not the way of God,

that people would deliberately disbelieve
after they have professed faith in Allah,

they would indulge
in partiality,

they would not be willing to hear the
truth from God and it is not possible that

Allah would guide them when they
are already inventing new religion

on their own whims and wishes.

The law of God regarding guidance is that
the person should be

a true seeker of truth; someone who
would want to understand the reality,

one who is open to facts and buries
his prejudices.

One who is elevated from his desires
to learn about reality.

Then of course, God blesses with
his guidance.

Quran states: O Muslim! Do you wish
guidance for them?

How shall Allah guide
a people who disbelieved

after professing faith and their
hearts had borne witness that the

Messenger is true messenger of Allah and
the clear evidence had come to them;

and Allah does not make the unjust
people attain Guidance.

Unjust means being unjust towards
their own selves.

The Quran used the word 'unjust' in both
the senses. Here, it is used in this sense

that when they rejected the truth ...
One kind of injustice is

doing wrong to someone else
and second, being unjust to oneself.

Being unjust to yourself means even after
believing in the truth,

yet you disbelieve in it.

The Quran states; Ulaaa'ika jazaaa'uhum
anna 'alaihim la'natal

laahi walmalaaa'ikati wannaasi ajma'een

Their punishment is that the curse of
God and [his] angels

and all mankind is on them;

By all of mankind, it means that on
the day of resurrection everyone

including the good and bad would
curse on them.

Curse by good believers is obvious,
but why would the bad too curse on them?

They would say that due to them we
are in this torment.

The bad would also curse on them.

All of mankind would curse on them.

It further clarifies that the extent of
curse is actually associated

with the Day of judgement.

Quran says: everyone would curse
on them.

Khaalideena feehaa, and they will abide
in it forever,

here it is evident that 'it' here refers
to Hell,

which is the consequence of the “Curse”.
It is deliberately not expressed in words

because the pronoun returns to it,

implying that it is a consequence of the
curse.

Khaalideena feehaa laa yukhaffafu
'anhumul 'azaabu

the torment will not be lightened on them
wa laa hum yunzaroon

what you should also understand from the
above verse is that this extreme torment

would not be lightened from them.

They would be in this forever.

These verses are for whom?

Those who have deliberately stood
in rebellion against the truth even

when they recognized it.

You can find it at multiple places, only
those who disbelieve after believing

are addressed in this manner

Committing a sin, falling into a mistake,
misunderstanding, negligence,

are altogether a different topic.

There are separate laws to deal with
these things.

But when a community or a group comes
to the stage of disbelieving

after they had recognized it, then they are
punished for their wrong doing,

So Allah says, the curse of God and [his]
angels and all mankind is on them;

they shall abide in it forever.

Neither shall their punishment be reduced
nor shall they be given respite.

wa laa hum yunzaroon
Illal lazeena taaboo mim ba'di zaalika

However, there is still time.

People who repent would save
themselves from this torment,

'wa aslahoo' and rectify their mistakes,
they would be safe from this torment.

They still have the opportunity,

the Quran says: since the Prophet
is present among them,

they must repent and save themselves
from this torment

fa innal laaha Ghafoorur Raheem

surely Allah is Oft-Forgiving,

He compassion is eternal, He is the One
who keeps people under the shade of Mercy.

Innal lazeena kafaroo ba'da eemaanihim

Surely, those who disbelieve after
their believing,

summaz daadoo kufraa
then increase in disbelief,

and now when they see their death
is near and lament

for their wrongdoing.
lan tuqbala tawbatuhum

their repentance will never be accepted

wa ulaaa'ika humud daaalloon

and these are they who have deviated
from the right path

Innal lazeena kafaroo wa maatoo
wa hum kuffaarun

Surely, those who disbelieve and
die while they are disbelievers,

Quran states that; in order to save
themselves from this torment,

even if they bring the earth full of
gold as ransom...

Innal lazeena kafaroo wa maatoo
wa hum kuffaarun

falany yuqbala min ahadihim mil'ul ardi
zahabanw wa lawiftadaa bih;

even if they bring the the earth full of
gold as ransom

it shall not be accepted from them

ulaaa 'ika lahum 'azaabun aleemunw
they shall have a painful torment

wa maa lahum min naasireen

for them there shall be no helpers.

Therefore, it was made clear by the
Quran, that there is no way that

they can be released of this painful
torment.

There can be nothing to give and take
on the Day of judgement,

here in context “earthfull of gold ”
means that there is no scope

of bargain or give and take on
the Day of judgement.

And they expect that their elders
and religious leaders will

intercede on their behalf,

It is mentioned in the verse that,
there will be no one for intercession

on the Day of judgement.

This is the last stage, wherein God
clarified the principle of salvation.

Forgiveness is only for those who
repent on their wrong doing,

for those who try to understand the truth,
for those

who fall astray and ask
God for forgiveness.

Forgiveness is not for those who kept
disbelieving, those who denied

the truth and took this
denial to the last degree.

And only after seeing that
the torment is near,

they asked for repentance to
save themselves.

This is not how the law of God works.

And nothing can be of service to people
on the Day of judgement.

Even the wealth of this world would be
of no use in the Day of judgement,

those who are in this misunderstanding,
should come out of it.

wa maa lahum min naasireen
for them there shall be no helpers.

Listen to the simple translation to
these verses.

[On the other hand], those who sell
the covenant of God

and their own oaths for a trivial price
shall have no share in the world to come.

and Allah will not speak to them and
He will not look at them with compassion

on the Day of Resurrection.

And will not exonerate them instead for
them there is a painful torment.

And most surely there is a party of them
(people of the Book) who distort the Book

with their tongues that you may consider
it to be of the Book even though it is not

from the Book and they say that it is
from Allah even though

it is not from Allah; and they speak
a lie against Allah knowingly.

They forge lies against God's prophets too

It is not befitting for any human being
that Allah should give him His Book

and the ability to decide and carry out
the responsibilities of prophethood

according to it, then he should say to
people

“Serve me instead of God.” No, in fact,
[he will only say: “People!]

Be devoted servants of God

because you study and teach the
Book of God.”

Nor will he ask you to make the angels
and the prophets as your god.

Will he urge you to commit disbelief once
you have become Muslims?

When Allah took the Covenant of the
Prophets, (He said):

"I have given you the Book and the
Wisdom, then a Rasul (Messenger)

comes to you confirming that which is
with you (Books Allah had given you),

you must necessarily profess faith in him
and you must definitely help him”.

After this, Allah asks: “Do you agree to
this and acknowledge the responsibility

of My covenant on it?”

They say, “We agree”. Then Allah said:
“Then bear witness and

I also bear witness with you.”

Whoever therefore turns back after
this (denies the Messenger

that will come after the Prophets),
they are the insolent.

[These prophets have come in this manner]

So, do these people now seek a
religion other than God’s?

even though all things in the heavens and
the earth are obedient to Him,

willingly or unwillingly and to Him
shall they be returned

Tell them: We have believed in God and
what is revealed to us and to

Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and
to their progeny

and which was given by their Lord to
Moses and Jesus and all other prophets.

We do not make any distinction between
any of them. They are all God's Prophets,

and to Him (Allah) we have surrendered”.

[This precisely is Islam]

and He who would like to choose
a religion other than Islam,

it shall never be accepted from him
whatsoever and in the world to come

he will be from among the losers.

[You want them to be guided?]
How can God guide those who

lapse into disbelief after embracing faith
even though they bear witness

to the veracity of this messenger

and there has also come to them clear
signs [to bear witness to their veracity].

In reality, God does not guide such
wrongdoers

It is these whose punishment is that the
curse of God and His angels and

all mankind is on them

they shall abide in it forever

Neither shall their punishment be reduced
nor shall they be given respite.

However, [those among them] who after
this repent and mend their ways,

they will remain protected from it
because God is Forgiving, Ever-Merciful

On the contrary, those who disbelieved
after believing and continued

to grow in disbelief
[until their death drew near]

their repentance shall never be accepted
and, in reality,

and these are they who are have deviated
from the path.

Similarly, those who disbelieved and died
in this state of disbelief

no ransom which anyone of them may give
[to save himself from punishment]

shall be accepted from him even if it is
so much gold as would fill the entire earth

It is these for whom there is a painful
punishment,

and they shall find none to help
them there.

I say this saying of mine, and I
seek forgiveness from Allah

for me and for you and for all Muslims.

Translation by Faizan Rashid.
Substantially Revised by Danish Hamid.