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.

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 beginning
the study of Surah Aal I Imran

from verse 77 in the Quran.

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

for any special place reserved for
them by Allah, due to which

they consider themselves superior
to others.

And that the jews are wrong in saying
that God has kept them free

of any responsibility as compared to
the Ishmaelites.

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

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

at any cost; the Quran interprets it 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
the promise to Allah or cross the limit

shamelessly claim to be God fearing
and pious people.

They are just living in their imaginations
and have no relevance.

This is what was stated in the preceding
verses of the Quran.

Innallazeena yashtaroona bi aahdilleahi

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

In the earlier verse, it was mentioned
that who are the pious

and God fearing people…

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

their oaths for a fleeting gain.

What is intended from this covenant?

It is evident that it is with regard to
covenant asked from jews in relation

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

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

by the jews to the Prophets and in specific
to help and support Prophet (pbuh).

These oaths will be explicitly stated
in verse 81,

we will learn about them when we
read, as to what oaths did they take.

Innallazeena yashtaroona bi aahdilleahi
va aymeanihim samanan kaaleelan

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

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

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

uleaika lea haalaakaa lahum feel eahıraati

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

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

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

and act in accordance with the law
of religion.

They are the ones who have a share
in the Hereafter.

uleaika lea haalaakaa lahum feel eahıraati

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

and that they will be specially treated…

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

as is 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 a purpose and

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

and its status - whereas do no good to
the responsibility delegated to them.

There is no possibility of it. uleaika lea
haalaakaa lahum feel eahıraati

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

va lea yukallimuhumulleahu Allah will
not 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
Laanath (Driven out of Gods mercy).

In our terminology Laanat is used as
an abusive term,

but it actually means to drive out
someone from Gods mercy.

Yukallimuhumulleahu Allah will not
speak to them on the

Day of resurrection va lea yanzuru
ilayhim yavmal kıyeamati and

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.

va lea yuzakkeehim And God will not
exonerate them of their sins

va lahum aazeabun 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 for which there is little scope

of punishment and reward.

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

May Allah guide us towards good, so that
every Muslim may enter the paradise

in the very first instance.

From this verse we understand that there
can be certain transgressions that

are beyond the scope of punishment
and reward.

If an individual can not rectify his
offenses through good deeds,

Allah removes the remnants of any
wrongdoing by a punishment,

because it is necessary to enter heaven
unpolluted. Quran mentioned that

they will not even ascertain this
chastity.

va lahum aazeabun aleem for them
there is a painful torment.

It is evident from this verse that,
how big a sin it is?

to break Allah’s Covenant, willingly
deny the truth and oaths with Allah.

This is the level of this wrongdoing in
respect of the Prophet (pbuh) and

it is no else an offense in any other
circumstances.

The Quran has explicitly detailed it out.

The Quran has made an analogy in the
last two verses and stated that,

in normal circumstances the jews
degraded themselves,

that is the reason here in case they
came to a point of Allah’s covenant

and their oaths for a fleeting gain.

Therefore, morality among people can
have Allah’s mercy and kindness,

if these people will have good intentions,
true faith in God,

try to be a devout Muslim and not deny
the truth by God,

but commited certains 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 into heaven.

This is what has been explained in
the Hadiths.

This is the real crux, but many-a-times
the narrators try to portray

this in a very different style, which
changes its real meaning.

This is what the Quran has explained.

The Quran states that Va inna minhum la
fareekaan yalvoona alsinatahum bil kiteabi

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

li taahsaboohu minal kiteabi va mea
huva minal kiteab(kiteabi)

you may think it is from the book, but it
is not from the book.

Just imagine to what extent people
can go.

If you try to connect it with the previous
verses,

you will understand that these words
carry extreme displeasure and

hate from Allah towards these people.

How Allah gave them a status and
treated them accordingly…

indeed they deserved this punishment.

As Allah explains, that neither he would
look down on them with kindness,

nor speak to them.

Infact Allah mentions that he will not
even purify them of their sins

so that they could enter heaven.

They will live in this torment forever.

If you try to understand their status,

I even gave an example to help you
understand that when the

wives of the Prophet (pbuh) were chosen
for this status,

it was explicitly made clear that now
their reward and

punishment both are doubled,

i.e., when you are chosen for a position
and you decide to take up the charge,

then you must be ready to take up the
responsibilities that may arise.

The Quran says:

There are some among them…

Its is obvious that is related to
the interpretation that if they

want to save themselves from
responsibilities

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

There are two aspects of it.

One you alter the book and its meaning.

The other aspect is that, since majority
of the people are illiterate,

therefore, you distort the book with
mere tongues and

change the meaning of the verse
in its entirety,

i.e., you did not alter the words but
distorted the meaning with your tongue,

that is what has been mentioned here.

There are people who…

yalvoona alsinatahum bil kiteabi

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

li taahsaboohu minal kiteabi to make
you think this ˹distortion˺

is from the Book va mea huva minal
kiteab but it is not what the Book says.

va yakooloona hu va min indilleahi that
you may consider it to be

of the Book from God,

va mea huva min indilleah even though
it is not from God.

va yakooloona aalealleahil kaziba va
hum yaa’lamoon(yaa’lamoona

And they speak untruth about Allah
while they know.

The crime that has been mentioned here
has been perpetrated

by both jews and christians. In the
earlier chapter of Al-Bakara,

it was detailed out how jews and
christains alters 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
ruined 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 Arab,

build the house of God, his lineage was
floriesed in the soil and also

about the incident of Ismael’s
sacrifice, therefore,

anticipating the outcomes of how it
could relate to the advent of Prophet (pbuh),

jews manipulated the word Marwa.

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

so as to disassociate the relation of
Prophet Abraham with the house of God.

This is just an example that
I have quoted…

This is what has been explained here…

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

when they are unfair, they can go
down to any level.

People used to go to the
Prophet (pbuh)...

when the Quran repeatedly mentioned
about the foretelling,

people used to go to the Prophet (pbuh)
and

ask him about the foretelling mentioned
in the Quran.

This is how the Quran has captured the
scene of what their

religious leaders used to do.

This is what has been mentioned
in the Quran,

that they would distort the real facts
and alter the meaning of it,

to convey it as the book of God, but
it is not from the book.

They would give you and impression,
that it is from the book of God,

when it is not. The Quran stated:
Mea keana li basharin an

yu’tiyahulleahul kiteaba val hukma
van nubuvvata summa yakoola

lin neasi koonoo ıbeadan lee min
doonilleahi It is not appropriate

for someone who Allah has blessed
with the Scripture, wisdom,

and prophethood to say to people,

“Worship me instead of Allah.”

yu’tiyahulleahul kiteaba val hukma

It is not appropriate for someone who
Allah has blessed with his command,

wan nubuvvata and bestow him with
prophethood summa yakoola

lin neasi koonoo ıbeadan lee min
doonilleahi “Worship me instead of Allah.”

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

How is it possible that God send down
his book to the Christians,

and guided them as to decide in the
religious matter in accordance

with the book of God and even appointed
from them for the status of prophethood.

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

their own worship instead?
How is it possible?

God says, it cannot be. Christian cannot
say: koonoo ıbeadan lee min doonilleahi

Be servants to me apart from Allah,
No!

va leakin koonoo raabbeaniyyeena bi mea
kuntum tuaallimoonal kiteaba

but rather say “be Godly servants”.

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

to be raabbeani (Godly servants).

The word raabbeani means worshipper
of God (Godly servants).

Same is the meaning of Maulvi in
our society.

It is indeed a beautiful word, but a
wrong interpretation

leads us to this place.

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

reffered to as “Rabbanni”.

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

its roots are in the word “Maula”.

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

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

The Quran say: This is what the Prophet
would preach.

The Quran also mentions that the Prophet
would never mention as

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

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

bi mea kuntum tuaallimoonal kiteaba
but [instead, he would say],

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

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

va bimea kuntum tadrusoon

but he will surely say, “Be sincere
worshippers of Allah,

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

Va lea ya’murakum an tattahizool
maleaikata van nabiyyeena arbeabea

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

He would never ask you. he would never
ask you to take angels and

prophets as lords. a ya’murukum bil kufri
baa’da iz antum muslimoon

Would he ask you to disbelieve after
you have submitted?

The Quran, while addressing the common
sense of jews, christians and

even quraish of mecca, rather everyone
made aware of the fact that the Prophets

only call to Iman which commands
worshiping Allah Alone without partners.

And if you ever come across something
like this,

never accept it to be from a legitimate
source.

After going through something like this,
you must be well aware that

this is nothing but the alteration of the
meaning and verses

by people who went astray.

No Prophet can invite you to this
sort of religion.

Look how there is an assay-balance
explained in the Quran.

The one who hasthe 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 that invite
them to the right path

of Tawhid (oneness of God). Only Tawhid,
nothing more than that.

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

He would never boast about himself.

The one having the knowledge of the
book would never exaggerate

and boast about the angels
and Prophets.

He would only invite you to say one thing
and that 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 word then ask you to
make partners with God.

It does not possible that the Prophet
would first invite you

to the religion of God that is Islam and
then asked you to worship him instead.

It is not possible that first the Prophet
(pbuh) would invite you to

the oneness of God and then ask you
to worship him.

This was the equilibrium that was put
forth to the jews,

if you read Torah, Bible even today,
you will find them supporting

the oneness of God in entirety.

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?

Then how do you believe in it? if Jesus
himself 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 Torah,

revealed by Prophet Moses (pbuh)
preachers the same facts

about the Oneness of God, how is it
possible than

when the religious scholars try to
explain the preaching

of the book of God, how can they ask people
to worship the Prophet (pbuh) instead of God?

This is what has been stressed over
here.

Is it possible that first the Prophet
(pbuh) would work hard all his life

to invite people to the religion Islam and
then ask them to submit to him

and worship him instead?

It is not possible, When you analyze two
aspects of it, one what the Prophet (pbuh)

taught us and second what is being done
after the Prophet (pbuh),

you will gain a deeper understanding
of it.

This is what is being explained
over here.

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 onesness of God.

Even today this invitation towards the
right path is clearly stated

in the book of God. Then did the Prophet
(pbuh) proclaim that he has

attained Godly powers, or there are
some attributes of God

that are manifested in him?

Did the Prophet (pbuh) ever announce
that he has received the divine powers?

When did the Prophet (pbuh) ever say
something like this that you are saying

to people after He is gone?

This is what has been mentioned
in the Quran.

You will better comprehend this when
you will compare the

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

How is it possible? When the 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 his own divinity.

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

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

as 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) attaining the virtue of divinity.

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

to unbelief after they became Muslim.

This is what has been mentioned in this
term a ya’murukum bil kufri baa’da

iz antum muslimoon Would he ask you
to disbelieve after you have submitted?

The Messenger of Allah can never do
something like this.

The Prophet (pbuh) only invites people
to Tawhiid and preaches about

the oneness of God till the end.

Va iz ahaazaalleahu meeseakaan nabiyyeena

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

from them regarding the prophets.

Va iz ahaazaalleahu meeseakaan
nabiyyeena

When Allah took the Covenant from
them regarding the prophets.

What was the Covenant? lamea eataytukum
min kiteabin va hikmatin.

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

and the Wisdom. summa ceaakum
rasoolun

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 book,
and in that case

if there is any misunderstanding.

Here it is introduced in a way, that 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 a lot of places
that the religion is composed

of only two things, one Shariyat (Islamic
Laws) and Hikmmat (wisdom).

What does wisdom mean?

Wisdom is to do with faith and morality.

In philosophical terminology you interpret
it as metaphysics and ethics.

In reality the religion is 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 Shariyat and the Wisdom

and then you were asked to take
an oath.

summa jeaakum rasoolun,

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

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

with you (Shariyat, Wisdom that
Allah had given to you

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

confirming that then what would
you do?

la tu’minunna bihee you must definitely
believe in him va la taansurunnahu

and you must definitely help him.

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

Though ordinary words are used in this
covenant viz; when

a Rasul (Messenger) comes, it is amply
clear that it is pointing out 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 oath in relation
to the Prophet (pbuh),

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

a new religion all together, but confirm
the relation that is already in practice.

It is your own problem that you denied
something that was already present

and the Prophet (pbuh) was only
confirming about the religion

that was already with you.

You took up the heavy responsibility
of that Covenant,

but when you had to confirm.

You denied having any such oath and
did not confirm.

It is a crime.

As Jesus says: the bridegrooms wait
for their brides throughout the night

and when the time is near, they
do not wait.

This responsibility was shouldered
by you.

Allah says, [remind them] Allah took
the Covenant about the Prophets,

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

come musaaddikun limea maaakum
a Rasul (Messenger) would come to you

confirming about what is already with
you (Shariyat, Wisdom 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 must definitely believe in him,

you must definitely help him.

Kala a aakraartum va ahaaztum aalea
zealikum ısree Allah said:

“Do you agree and accept (My Oath)”? 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 planning.

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

Aakraarnea (They) said: “We agree”.

keala fashhadoo Then bear witness va ana
maaakum minash sheahideen (Allah) said:

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

Fa man tavallea baa’da zealika fa uleaika
humul feasikoon 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 of this is how, they
were asked to asked

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

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

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

I reiterate what i mentioned earlier, these
words Fa man tavallea baa’da zealika

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 are not in
the Way of Allah or transgressors).

The meaning of Fasiqun 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 Israelites leaders are assembled

in a place and different group of people
join them,

they are all assembled in a place of
worship, Prophet Moses (pbuh)

first explained the oath well and only
after that took their consent.

He Instructed them to bear witness and
know the consequences of this life

and the hereafter if any one of them
turns their back to the covenant.

Covenant about the rewards and
punishments from Allah,

about Shariah and Prophets are taken in
the same way.

What a state of remorse it is for the
Israelites that Allah reminds them

how he took oath from them and still
you are denying that covenant.

A fa gaayra deenilleahi yabgoona.

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

the way in which they have covenants
with Allah.

The Prophet (pbuh) came in the same
way as well.

Prophets came to fulfill those covenants
that you promised to Allah.

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

then are they looking for some new
religion altogether?

Are they denying it? Now the oneness
of God,

the same truth, book and wisdom.

You shouldn't have had a speck
of doubt in it.

Now are you denying it and looking for
a different religion than Islam?

va lahoo aslama man fees sameaveati
val aardı

and to Him submit whoever is in the
heavens and in the earth,

taav’aan va karhan willingly
and unwillingly,

they are bound by his commands, are
obedient and

are bowed down before God.

va ilayhi yurcaoon and to Him shall they
be returned.

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

whole of this universe has submitted
to God.

There is no scope of his escape in the
world or hereafter,

everything in this universe has submitted
before God.

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

There is no other way.

Kul eamannea billeahi

The Quran Says: “We believe in Allah,
we believe in God

and in the oneness of God. va mea
unzila aalaynea

We believe in what has been sent
down to us.

This is the stage of splendour in the
Quran, that how beautifully they

were recalled of the oath they took
regarding the Prophets.

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

and anything that was sent down to us.

Now, look how the ancestry of Abraham
is joined in the context.

va mea unzila aalea ibreaheema

We believe in what has been sent
down to us,

and what was sent down to Abraham,

wa Ishmael, and what has been sent
down to Ishmael,

va isheakaa va yaa’kooba val asbeatı
and what has been

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

va mea ootiya moosea va eesea and
we believe in what was given to

Moses and Jesus. van nabiyyoona
min raabbihim and

whatever was sent down ro the
Prophets from their Lord,

We believe in that. What do we say?

lea nufarriku bayna ahaadin minhum,

We do not make any distinction between
any of them, and to Him (Allah).

It is not of us that we believe in some
and not others. We do not employ

this method based on our suspicion.

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 coercion.

lea nufarriku bayna ahaadin minhum,
va naahnu lahu muslimoon

we make no distinction between any
of them, and to Him we ˹fully˺ submit.”