Araf 204

204- AND WHEN THE QURAN IS BEING RECITED, LISTEN TO IT, AND LISTEN CAREFULLY, SO THAT YOU MAY BE TREATED MERCIFULLY.

It is because of the Insight, Guidance and Mercy in the Quran, that Allah the Highest is commanding us to listen to it whenever recited, and listen carefully with thought and contemplation, for through this we may gain Allah’s Mercy.

The Quran is not a book like any other book, for it is Allah’s very word.  Therefore, it is required that for one, to touch, or recite the Quran, they be Pure, that is not to be in a state of Ganaba, which is impurity from sexual intercourse, and also from menses in women, also to have Wadoo (the washing for pray), if one is to read it for worship, but this is not necessary for studying purposes.

Listening and listening carefully should be for the following reasons: 

• Understand its meaning and gain insight and guidance.
• Out of respect for the Words of Allah.  We should not keep it running like background music in homes and in shops, while we are carrying on with our daily activities, conversations, trading, arguments etc, without giving much attention to the Ayahs recited.  This should not be done with the Quran.
• Listening to the Quran to earn reward from Allah the Highest, should be according to the rules of Allah, that is to listen to it and to listen carefully.
• The Quran is the Word of Allah the Highest; therefore, listening to it is Zekr (Remembrance of Allah).  Indeed, Allah the Highest called it Zekr.  Allah the Highest said: “WE HAVE SENT DOWN THE ZEKR AND WE WILL PRESERVE IT”.  (S:15 A:9)
• For comforting our hearts, for Allah the Highest said: “THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND THEIR HEARTS ARE COMFORTED BY THE ZEKR OF ALLAH (REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH), FOR BY THE REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH WILL THE HEARTS BE COMFORTED INDEED”.  (S:13 A:28)
• Remembrance of Allah the Highest by His Words draws us close to Him.  Allah the Highest said in Hadith Qudsi: “I am as my slave thinks of me, and I am with him whenever he remembers Me.  When he remembers Me to himself, I remember him to Myself, and when he remembers Me to a group, I will remember him to a better group”.  

The Quran is full of blessings, and we should try to gain as much of the blessings of the Quran as possible in our lives.

الأعراف ٢٠٤

الأعراف ٢٠٤

٢٠٤- وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنْصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ 

القرآن الكريم فيه رحمة للمؤمنين , رحمة في الهدى الى الصراط المستقيم ورحمة في القرب الى الله عز وجل ورحمة في االهداية الى الحق.  قال الله عز وجل  ”وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا“  (الاسراء ٨٢)

فالرحمة تكون من دخول القرآن الكريم لقلب المؤمن وأستيعابه والتأثر به والعمل به , وهذا لا يكون إلا بتفهم القرآن الكريم والستماع له إذا قرئ والأنصات اليه جيدا حتى نفهمه ونتدبر معانيه ورسالته , لذلك جاء أمر الله عز وجل الينا بالأستماع للقرآن الكريم والأنصات اليه.

Araf 203

203- AND IF YOU DO NOT BRING THEM AN AYAH, THEY WOULD SAY: “HE SHOULD MAKE IT UP”, SAY: “BUT I FOLLOW WHAT IS BEING REVEALED TO ME BY MY LORD”, THESE ARE INSIGHTS FROM YOUR LORD, GUIDANCE AND MERCY FOR THE BELIEVING PEOPLE.

Allah the Highest is our only source of Ayahs; the Ayahs of the Quran, Miracles and any other signs.  The prophets and messengers do not make them, but they are revealed to them if it is an Ayah of a holy book, or it is performed through them it is a miracle.  

The disbelievers asked Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, for different Ayahs and Miracles; if they did not see any, they expected him to show them such Ayahs or Miracles, which they had demanded, to prove his prophecy.

This is because they did not understand the basic function of a prophet or a messenger; that is an agent of Allah the Highest, who does not have powers of his own.  The prophets and messengers are but human beings, who Allah the Highest chose to deliver a Message to people and to do a job for Him.

There is a great deal for the believers in the Quran However:

1. Insights into Allah’s Faith, Aims, and Will for us, and what is required from  human beings.  This insight is part of the Wisdom which Allah the Highest gives to whom He wills, and which is a very great amount of bounty.  Allah the Highest said: “ALLAH GRANTS WISDOM TO WHOM HE WILLS.  INDEED, HE WHO IS GRANTED THE WISDOM, HE HAS BEEN GIVEN A GREAT DEAL OF GOODNESS, BUT ONLY THOSE OF SOUND MINDS KNOW IT”.  (S:2 A:269)
2. Guidance for those who seek guidance.  Whenever a Muslim seeks guidance in his life and for his Hereafter, he will find it in Allah’s Word, the Quran.

3. Mercy: The Quran is a Mercy for the believers and for all mankind.  For it shows us the Way to Allah, His Forgiveness, Mercy and Paradise.  It shows us how to save ourselves from Allah’s Displeasure and the Hell-Fire.

This is why Allah the Highest gives us the command in the next Ayah.

الأعراف ٢٠٣

الأعراف ٢٠٣

٢٠٣- وَإِذَا لَمْ تَأْتِهِمْ بِآيَةٍ قَالُوا لَوْلَا اجْتَبَيْتَهَا ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَتَّبِعُ مَا يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ مِنْ رَبِّي ۚ هَٰذَا بَصَائِرُ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ 

كثير من الناس يعتقدون أن الأيات والمعجزات تأتي من الأنبياء والرسل , بينما هي تأتي من الله عز وجل ويظهرها على أيدي أنبياءه ورسله وأولياءه ليظهر تأييد الله ونصره لهم.  فالمعجزات والكرامات ليست من العباد أيا كانوا بل من الله عز وجل يظهرها على يد عبادة.

طلب الكفار من رسول الله عز وجل أن يثبت لهم نبوته بآية أي معجزه , فأخبرهم أنه ليس بيده شيء سوى أتباع ما يوحى اليه من ربه , إن أراد الله عز وجل أن يجرى آية على رسوله عز وجل فعل , وليس للرسول أن يفعل المعجزات والخوارق , لأنها بيد الله وحده.

إن ما يوحى الله عز وجل به لرسوله محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم هو بصائر للناس ليعرفوا ربهم الله , وليهديهم الصراط المستقيم وليرحم المؤمنين المتقين.

Araf 200-202

Araf 200-202

200-AND WHENEVER A DISTRACTION FROM THE DEVIL COMES TO YOU, SEEK THE PROTECTION OF ALLAH FOR HE HEARS AND KNOWS ALL

201-THOSE WHO ARE PIOUS, WHENEVER THEY ARE TOUCHED BY THE DEVIL, THEY REMEMBER AND, THEN THEY SEE

202-AND THEIR DEVIL’S BROTHERS LET THEM CARRY ON IN THEIR MISGUIDANCE, AND THEN THEY DO NOT STOP DOING WHAT THEY DO

There is a devil or devils working on us all the time, they do not leave us alone and do not give up.  This is what Satan said he would do when he was put out of the Garden.   “HE (ALLAH) SAID: “GET DOWN FROM THERE, YOU ARE NOT TO BE ARROGANT THEREIN, GET OUT, YOU WILL BE AMONG THE HUMILIATED * HE (IBLIS) SAID: “LET ME BE REPRIEVED UNTIL THE DAY THEY ARE TO BE RESURRECTED” * HE (ALLAH) SAID: “YOU ARE AMONG THE REPRIEVED” * HE (IBLIS) SAID: “BECAUSE YOU TEMPTED ME, I WILL SIT DOWN FOR THEM ON YOUR STRAIGHT PATH” *  “THEN I WILL GET AT THEM FROM BEFORE THEM, FROM BEHIND THEM, FROM THEIR RIGHT AND FROM THEIR LEFT, AND YOU WILL NOT FIND MOST OF THEM TO BE THANKFUL” *  HE (ALLAH) SAID: “GET OUT OF IT, DESPISED AND REJECTED, AS FOR THOSE OF THEM WHO FOLLOW YOU, I WILL FILL THE HELL FIRE UP WITH ALL OF YOU”.   (S: 7 A: 13-18)

Satan is a Jinn, and the Jinn procreate and multiply, and so he also has followers of the Jinn.   They work on us all the time.  Therefore, each one of us has to struggle with the temptations and ideas they tempt us with.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “There is not one of you, who does not have a companion of the Jinn and a companion of the Angels.  The Muslims said to him: “And you too?”  He said: “Even me, yet Allah helped me, for he (his jinn) became a Muslim, and he tells me to do good things only”.  (Ahmed)

These companions, of the Jinn, do not like to miss an opportunity for directing us to do wrong.  It comes in the form of a thought or a temptation, we should therefore ask Allah the Highest, when this happens, and it happens often, for protection from the devil.  A good time for the devil often is during our arguments and disputes, therefore, Allah the Highest said: “TELL MY SLAVES TO SAY WHAT IS GOOD AND RIGHTEOUS FOR SATAN COMES BETWEEN THEM, FOR SATAN IS A CLEAR ENEMY TO MANKIND”.  (S:17 A:53)

Whenever we have bad thoughts and/or moods, we should seek Allah’s protection from Satan.  “AND WHENEVER A DISTRACTION FROM THE DEVIL COMES TO YOU, SEEK THE PROTECTION OF ALLAH FOR HE HEARS AND KNOWS ALL” 

Allah the Highest also gave us two Sorahs to seek protection with, they are the last two Sorahs we find in the Quran, “Al-Moawazatin” and they are:

“SAY: ‘I SEEK THE PROTECTION OF THE LORD OF THE MORNING * FROM THE EVIL OF THE THINGS HE CREATED * ........”

And:

“SAY: ‘I SEEK THE PROTECTION OF THE LORD OF MANKIND * THE KING OF MANKIND * THE GOD OF MANKIND * FROM THE EVIL OF THE SNEAKING WHISPERER * WHO WHISPERS INTO PEOPLE’S CHESTS * THOSE OF THE JINN AND THOSE OF MANKIND”.  

The Pious and righteous are subjected to the probings, and temptations by the devil, as much or more than others.  They are not immune to being tempted, and though they might do wrong, or go some way in doing wrong, yet sooner or later they remember Allah and His Commands and realize what is happening and their eyes are opened  “THOSE WHO ARE PIOUS, WHENEVER THEY ARE TOUCHED BY THE DEVIL, THEY REMEMBER AND, THEN THEY SEE “  

In the mean time, the devils and their human allies and agents, want the temptations to continue and for sins to be committed and repeatedly “AND THEIR DEVIL’S BROTHERS LET THEM CARRY ON IN THEIR MISGUIDANCE, AND THEN THEY DO NOT STOP IN DOING WHAT THEY DO”

We should always remember that the Devils are not always Jinn and unseen, for there are Devils of mankind, as Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, told us in many of the Hadiths. Indeed, Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, used to ask for Allah’s protection from the Devils of mankind and the Devils of Jinn.

The human devils can talk to one openly about committing a sin, make it sound ok, even facilitate it, invite you, pay for you, take you there etc.  These are things the Devils of the Jinn cannot do.  The Devils of the Humans might be more dangerous than those of the Jinn.

  

الأعراف ٢٠٠- ٢٠٢

الأعراف ٢٠٠- ٢٠٢

٢٠٠- وَإِمَّا يَنْزَغَنَّكَ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ نَزْغٌ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

٢٠١-  إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا إِذَا مَسَّهُمْ طَائِفٌ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ تَذَكَّرُوا فَإِذَا هُمْ مُبْصِرُونَ 

٢٠٢-  وَإِخْوَانُهُمْ يَمُدُّونَهُمْ فِي الْغَيِّ ثُمَّ لَا يُقْصِرُونَ 

الشيطان لا يترك الأنسان لحظه , فقد وعد بهذا قائلا : ”قَالَ فَبِمَا أَغْوَيْتَنِي لَأَقْعُدَنَّ لَهُمْ صِرَاطَكَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿16﴾ ثُمَّ لَآتِيَنَّهُمْ مِنْ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ وَعَنْ أَيْمَانِهِمْ وَعَنْ شَمَائِلِهِمْ ۖ وَلَا تَجِدُ أَكْثَرَهُمْ شَاكِرِينَ" (الأعراف ١٦-١٧)

فالشيطان لا يترك فرصه حتى يوسوس لبنى آدم ويحاول أن ينزعه عن الصراط المستقيم نزعا بأي من الفتن والمغريات , فالشيطان يدخل من أي باب ويستخدم أي فتنة , أما النفس البشرية فتكون لها ميول خاصة ونوازع خاصة بها , قال الله عز وجل : ”وَنَفْسٍ وَمَا سَوَّاهَا ﴿7﴾ فَأَلْهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقْوَاهَا". (الشمس ٧-٨)

على المؤمن وقتها أن يستعذ بالله عز وجل من وسوسة الشيطان , فيطلب من الله سبحانه وتعالى الحماية من أن تؤثر فيه وسوسة الشيطان وأن يستدرها الشيطان , سواء كان هذا الشيطان من شياطين الأنس أو الجن.  عندها يعطى الله عز وجل لعبدة المؤمن البصيره , فيعلم أنها من وسوسة الشيطان ويتذكر مقامة بين يدي ربه للحساب في الآخرة , فيخاف ويرتدع  ” وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ ﴿40﴾ فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ”  (النازعات ٤٠-٤١)

أخوان الأنسان وأخوان الشياطين من الأنس والجن , يساعدون الأنسان على الغي والضلاله ويسهلونها له ويجملونها , وأقل ما يقولونه هو أن كثير من الناس يفعلون هذا الأثم , ومثل هذا القول.