Baqarah 109-110
109- MANY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK WISH TO TURN YOU BACK TO BE DISBELIEVERS AFTER YOU HAVE BELIEVED, OUT OF THEIR ENVY. FORGIVE AND PARDON UNTIL ALLAH BRINGS HIS COMMANDS FORTH, FOR ALLAH IS MOST ABLE TO DO ALL THINGS.
110- AND BE STEADFAST IN SALAH, GIVE ZAKAH, FOR WHATEVER GOOD YOU SEND BEFORE YOUR SOULS YOU WILL FIND WITH ALLAH, FOR ALLAH SEES ALL THAT YOU DO.
There are Two Perspectives to these Ayahs; Historic and Contemporary one’s:
Historical Perspective:
When Islam spread in Medina among the Arab tribes there, the Jews hated to see them becoming Muslims. In fact they tried hard to turn them back to Idolatry, Why? Because they expected and hoped that the expected messenger would be one of them, not from the Arabs, the descendants of Ismael, peace upon him.
Allah the Highest commanded the Muslims to forgive and Pardon them. The struggle of the Jews against Islam was a verbal struggle only. Yet, Allah the Highest promised the believers that He protects His Faith until it is complete. “THEY DESIRE TO EXTINGUISH ALLAH’S FAITH WITH THEIR MOUTHS, BUT ALLAH WILL COMPLETE AND PERFECT HIS LIGHT, EVEN THOUGH THE DISBELIEVERS HATE IT” (S: 9 A: 32)
The Muslims heard a great deal of hurt, insults and mocking, just as we do now “YOU WILL HEAR FROM THOSE WHO WERE GIVEN THE BOOK BEFORE YOU AND FROM THE IDOLATERS A GREAT DEAL OF HURT”. (S: 3 A: 186)
Prescribed for the Muslims are the ways of dealing with such plotting, it is by strengthening their faith. This is by Salah and Zakah. This worship leads them to Certainty. Allah the Highest reassures the Muslims that whatever good they do, they will find with Allah on Judgment Day, having increased by many multiples.
It was not for 2 years after the Muslims migration to Medina that Allah the Highest allowed them to fight the disbelievers.
The Contemporary Perspective:
The Muslims throughout the world face a great deal of opposition and challenge to their Faith, by the disbelievers or the people of the book. We are often mocked, put down, portrayed as terrorists, backward, uncivilized etc. and often ignored as a group of people, when the people’s welfare is discussed internationally.
Allah the Highest promised us support, as long as we stand firmly for our faith, and obey His Commands. This applies as much if not more, to the Muslims living in the western world.
While we are entitled to protect ourselves by whatever means available, yet we are commanded to forgive and pardon, also to make sure our Faith is firm and strong first. We should attend to our Salah, Give Zakah, and Fast Ramadan; go to Hajj, and do all that is good and righteous in our day to day living.
For these; we will be rewarded most generously by Allah the Highest. Also this will strengthen the Muslim society and make us stand out as the people who truly follow God’s Way, the Only Way to Paradise.
Baqarah 111-112
111- AND THEY SAID: “NO ONE WILL ENTER THE PARADISE EXCEPT THE JEWS AND CHRISTIANS”, SUCH ARE THEIR HOPES. SAY: “SHOW US YOUR PROOF IF YOU ARE TRUTHFUL”.
112- CERTAINLY; WHOEVER SUBMIT THEMSELVES TO ALLAH AND DOES GOOD DEEDS, HIS REWARD IS WITH HIS LORD, AND THERE IS NO FEAR UPON THEM, NEITHER WILL THEY BE SADDENED.
The Jews and Christians claim that they have a very great privilege with Allah the Highest; only they will enter the Paradise. Each group claims that with them, the message from Allah the Highest came to an end. Allah the Highest answers their claims:
First: He challenges them to produces a proof if they are truthful. Saying “IF YOU ARE TRUTHFUL” this implies that they are lying.
Second: Allah the Highest states very briefly the conditions for entry to the Paradise:
- The person should submit themselves to God, which is the basis and meaning of Islam, Submission. This submission, to Allah the Highest, has to involve believing in Him with no partners, this includes not having a son. This is the basis of True Faith.
- To do good deeds. This involves worshipping Allah the Highest obeying him as if you see him. The word used is Mohsen which Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, told us what it means when he was asked about the meaning of Ihsan, he said: “To worship Allah as if you see him, for if he you do not see him, he sees you”. (B:Eman;36 & M:Eman;1 & D:Sonah;16 & T:Eman;4 )
Belief comes before good deeds, for good deeds like charity, kindness etc without belief in Allah the Highest is rewarded in this life, not in the Hereafter. It stands to reason, than any one who does not believe that there is a God and there is Judgment and reward or punishment, should not expect a reward from the God he did not believe in, in the Paradise he did not believe in? Allah the Highest said about those: “THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE, THEIR DEEDS ARE LIKE A MIRAGE IN A DRY DESERT, A THIRSTY PERSON WILL THINK IT TO BE WATER, UNTIL HE REACHES IT AND FINDS IT NOTHING, AND FINDS ALLAH THERE TO PAY HIM HIS DUES IN FULL, FOR ALLAH IS SWIFT IN RECKONING”.
(S: 24 A: 39)
Good deeds, starting with the worship of Allah the Highest, are the real proof of having good faith.
Those who fulfill these conditions will be rewarded by their Lord. Allah the Highest also describes their state of mind then, and it is a happy one which has no fear. Allah the Highest also said about them on the Day of Judgment “SOME FACES WILL BE BEAMING * LAUGHING AND REJOICING”. (S: 80 A: 38-39)
This is beautiful description of the state of such believers who do good deeds when they meet their Lord.
We ask Allah the Highest to let us be amongst them. Amen
B: Bukhari M: Muslim Mal: Malek A: Ahmed D: Abu Dawood
Da: Daremy Ma: Ibn Magah N: Nesae T: Termezi
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