Islamic Studies – ISL202 VU

Lecture# 19: Uloom-ul-Quran - III

Avoiding major sins

ِ ْ ِ‫س الَِِّت َحَّرَم اللَّهُ إََِّل ب‬ ِ ِ َّ
‫ك يَْل َق أَثَ ًاما‬
َ ‫اْلَ ِّق َوََل يَ ْزنُو َن َوَمن يَ ْف َع ْل ذَل‬ َ ‫ين ََل يَ ْدعُو َن َم َع اللَّه إِ ََلًا‬
َ ‫آخَر َوََل يَ ْقتُلُو َن النَّ ْف‬ َ ‫َوالذ‬
)۶۸:۲۵‫(الفرقان‬
Translation: And these are the people who do not worship any other god apart from Allah, nor
do they kill the soul whose killing without any lawful cause Allah has forbidden, nor do they
commit adultery. And whoever does this will receive the punishment due for the sin.
Explanation:
The true servants refrain from three great sins: Shirk, murder and adultery. As regards the
inclusion of refraining from shirk among the excellences of the true servants, one may ask why it
should be presented as virtue before the disbelievers who did not regard shirk as a vice.

Repentance (Tawbah)
‫ِّل اللَّهُ َسيِّئَاِتِِ ْم‬
ُ ‫ك يُبَد‬ ِ ‫ إََِّل من تَاب وآمن وع ِمل عم ًًل‬o ‫يضاعف لَه الْع َذاب ي وم الْ ِقيام ِة وََيْلُ ْد فِ ِيه مهانًا‬
َ ِ‫صاْلًا فَأ ُْولَئ‬
َ ََ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ َُ َ َ َ َ َْ ُ َ ُ ْ َ َ ُ
)۶۹،۷۰:۲۵‫يما (الفرقان‬ ِ ‫ات وَكا َن اللَّه َغ ُف‬ ٍ
ً ‫ورا َّرح‬ ً ُ َ َ‫َح َسن‬
Translation: His punishment will be doubled on the Day of Rising and, disgraced and
humiliated, he will live in it forever. But whoever repents and believes and does good deeds, so
these are the people whose evil deeds Allah will change into good ones. And Allah is Most
Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.
Explanation:
This can have two meanings: (1) His punishment will never come to an end, but it will continue
being inflicted relentlessly over and over again; and (2) the person who in addition to the sins of
disbelief, shirk and atheism, would have committed murders, adultery and other sins, will get
separate punishment for rebellion and for each other sin.
On the other hand, the good news for the people who repented and reformed themselves, that
they will have the benefit of the "general amnesty". This is the reward for those who repent of
their sins and will do good deeds in the future. Allah replaces their evil deeds with good deeds.
Avoid lies and evil
‫ور َوإِذَا َم روا بِ اللَّ ْ ِو َم روا كَِر ًام ا‬ ِ َّ ِ ‫وم ن تَ اب وع ِم ل‬
ِ َّ ِ ُ‫اْلا فَِنَّ ه ي ت‬
َ ‫ين ََل يَ ْد َه ُدو َن ال ز‬
َ ‫ َوال ذ‬o‫وب إ َِ الل ه َمتَابً ا‬
ُ َُ ً ‫ص‬ َ َ ََ َ ََ
)۷۱،۷۲:۲۵‫(الفرقان‬
Translation: And whoever repents and executes good, so he returns to Allah (the way) returning
is due. And these are the people who do not attend (both verbally and practically) the false and
untruthful matters, and when they pass by evil activities, they (observing caution) pass by like
dignified people.
Explanation:
It has two meanings: (1) When he has repented sincerely, he will start a new life of belief and
obedience to Allah and by His grace and help will start doing good deeds instead of evil deeds
that he used to do in his life of unbelief, and his evil deeds will be replaced by good deeds; and
(2) Not only will his evil deeds done in the past be written off, but it will also be recorded in his
conduct register that he was the servant who gave up rebellion against his Lord and adopted the
way of His obedience.

Thinking and prayer for the family

‫ب لَنَا ِم ْن أ َْزَو ِاجنَا َوذُِّريَّاتِنَا قَُّرَة‬
ْ ‫ين يَ ُقولُو َن َربَّنَا َه‬
ِ َّ
َ ‫ َوالذ‬o ‫ص ًّما َوعُ ْميَانًا‬
ِ ِ ِ ِ
ُ ‫ين إِ َذا ذُ ِّك ُروا بآيَات َرِِّّب ْم ََلْ ََيروا َعلَْي َها‬
ِ َّ َّ
َ ‫ان الذ‬
)۷۳،۷۴:۲۵‫ُي إَِم ًاما (الفرقان‬ ِ ِ ٍ ُ ‫أ َْع‬
َ ‫اج َع ْلنَا ل ْل ُمتَّق‬
ْ ‫ُي َو‬
Translation: And these are the people who, when they are directed and guided by means of
Revelations of their Lord, do not fall at them deaf and blind (but reflect on them). And these are
the people who submit (before the presence of Allah): ‘O our Lord, grant us coolness of eyes in
our wives and our children, and make us leaders of the Godfearing people.
Explanation:
The true servants of Allah do not behave like the blind and the deaf towards the Revelations of
Allah, when they are recited to them for their admonition. They do not turn a deaf ear to their
teachings and Message and do not deliberately close their eyes to the Signs that they are asked to
observe, but are deeply moved by them. They follow and practice what they are enjoined and
retrain from what is forbidden.

The reward of servitude

‫ت ُم ْستَ َقًّرا َوُم َق ًاما‬ ِ ‫خالِ ِد‬o ‫أُولَئِك ُُيزو َن الْ رفَ َة ِِبا صب روا وي لَقَّو َن فِيها ََِتيَّةً وس ًَلما‬
ْ َ‫ين ف َيها َح ُسن‬
َ َ ً ََ َ ْ ُ َ ُ َ َ َ ُْ ْ َ ْ َ ْ
)۲۵:۷۶،۷۵‫(الفرقان‬
Translation: They will be rewarded with lofty palaces (in Paradise) as recompense for their
patience and steadfastness and will be welcomed therein with greetings and salutations of peace.
They will live therein forever. Those (lofty palaces in Paradise) are the most excellent lodgings
and (decent) abodes.
Explanation:
The word sabr (fortitude) has been used here in its most comprehensive sense. The true servants
courageously endured their persecution by the enemies of the Truth; they remained firm and
steadfast in their struggle to establish Allah's way in the land; they carried out their duties
enjoined by Allah sincerely and tearlessly without any concern for the worldly losses and
deprivation; and they withstood all temptations held out by Satan and all the lusts of the flesh.

The Purpose of Servitude

)۷۷:۲۵‫(الفرقان‬ ‫ف يَ ُكو ُن لَِز ًاما‬
َ ‫قُ ْل َما يَ ْعبَ ُؤاْ بِ ُك ْم َرِِّّب لَ ْوََل ُد َعا ُؤُك ْم فَ َق ْد َك َّذبْتُ ْم فَ َس ْو‬
Translation: Say: ‘My Lord cares little for you if you do not worship (Him). But you have
indeed rejected (Him). So now this (denial) will ever endure as a permanent torment (for you).’
Explanation:
This warning to the disbelievers has been given in order to contrast it with the great rewards that
have been promised to the true servants of Allah, as if to say, "If you do not invoke Allah for
help and protection, and do not worship Him, you will have no value and importance in His
sight, and He will not care at all for you because He does not stand in need of any help from you.
It is indeed for your own sake that He has given you the opportunity to invoke Him so that He
they turn in mercy towards you; otherwise, there is no difference between you and the rest of
creation."

Characteristics of Faithful
)۱:۲۳،‫ق ْد أَفْ لَ َح الْ ُم ْؤِمنُو َن (املومنون‬
Translation: Certainly, the believers have attained their goal.
"Believers", who have attained true success, are those who have accepted the Message of
Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him), and have acknowledged him as their guide and
followed the way of life taught by him.

Submission in prayer and avoidance of absurd talk

)۳- ۲ : ۲۳ ،‫ذين ُهم َع ِن اللَّ ِو ُمع ِرضو َن (املومنون‬َّ ِ ِِ ‫الَّذين هم يف‬
َ ‫ َوال‬o ‫صًلِتم خاشعو َن‬
َ ُ َ
Translation: Those who become most humble and submissive in their Prayers. And who
(always) keep away from absurd talk.
Explanation:
The noble characteristics of the Believers pointed out here, are the arguments to prove the above
assertion. In other words, it has been stated that people with such and such traits and qualities
only can attain true success in this world and in the Hereafter.

Paying Zakat
ِ ِ‫والَّذين هم لِ َّلزكاة‬
)۴ : ۲۳ ،‫فاعلو َن (املومنون‬ ُ َ َ
Translation: And who (always) pay Zakat (the Alms-due [and keep purifying their wealth and
souls]).
Explanation:
The word Zakat literally means purification and development-to help something grow tip
smoothly and develop without obstruction. As an Islamic term, it implies both the portion of
wealth taken out for the purpose of purifying the rest of wealth and the act of purification itself.

Modesty
ِ ِ ِ ِ
َ ‫لى أَزواج ِهم أَو ما َملَ َكت أَميانُ ُهم فَِن َُّهم َغ ُري َم‬
)۶‫۔‬۵ : ۲۳ ،‫لومُي (املومنون‬ ٰ ‫ إِاَل َع‬o ‫ذين ُهم ل ُفروج ِهم حافظو َن‬َّ
َ ‫َوال‬
Translation: And who guard their private parts (all the time). Except from their wives or those
slave-girls who are the possessions of their hands. (If they go to them according to the Islamic
injunctions,) there is surely no blame on them.
Explanation:
They are modest in every sense of the word. They are free from sex abuse and sex perversion.
They are so modest that they even conceal those parts of their bodies which the Law forbids to
expose before others. This is a parenthesis which is meant to remove the common
misunderstanding that sex desire is an evil thing in itself and satisfying it even in lawful ways is
not desirable, particularly for the righteous and godly people.

Not to cross the limitations set by Allah Almighty

ِ
َ ِ‫ك فَأُوٰلئ‬
)۷ : ۲۳ ،‫ك ُه ُم العادون (املومنون‬ َ ‫فَ َم ِن ابتَ ٰى َوراءَ ٰذل‬
Translation: But whoever desires someone beyond these (lawful women), it is they who are
transgressors (and disobedient).

Protection of trust, promise and prayer

)۹-۸ : ۲۳ ،‫صلَواِتِِم ُُيافِظو َن (املومنون‬
َ ‫لى‬
ٰ ‫ذين ُهم َع‬َّ ِِ ِِ ِ
َ ‫ َوال‬o ‫ذين ُهم ِلَماناِتم َو َعهدهم راعُو َن‬
َّ
َ ‫َوال‬
Translation: And those who are watchful of their trusts and their pledges. And who protector
their
prayers (with persistence).
Explanation:
The Believers fulfill the terms of the trusts which are placed in their charge. In this connection it
should be noted that the Arabic word “amanat” is very comprehensive and includes all those
trusts which are placed in their charge by Allah or society or individuals. Likewise, ahd includes
all those compacts, pledges, and promises which are made between Allah and man, and man and
man. The Holy Prophet himself used to impress the importance of the fulfillment of pledges in
his addresses: "The one, who does not fulfil the terms of his trust, has no Faith, and the one, who
does not keep promises and pledges has no Islam.

Inheritors of Paradise
)۱۱- ۱‫ ۔‬: ۲۳ ،‫س ُه ْم فِ َيها َخالِ ُدو َن (املومنون‬ ِ ِ ‫اُولَئِك هم الْوا ِرثُو َن۔ الَّ ِذ‬
َ ‫ين يَرثُو َن الْف ْرَد ْو‬
َ َ ُُ َ ْ
Translation: It is they who will be the inheritors (of Paradise). They will (also) inherit the most
superior Gardens of Paradise (where all the bounties, comforts and pleasures of nearness to Allah
will abound). They will live there forever.
Explanation:
Firdaus (Paradise) is a common word found in almost all human languages in very nearly similar
forms. It means a vast garden adjoining the dwelling of a person and enclosed by defense walls
and containing all kinds of fruit trees, especially vines: In some languages, the word has the
sense of containing pet birds and animals, too. Firdaus was in common use in pre-Islamic Arabic
literature. This gives the idea that Firdaus is a vast place containing a great number of gardens,
vineyards, etc.

Ahkam
‫قُ ْل تَ َعالَ ْواْ أَتْ ُل َما َحَّرَم َرب ُك ْم َعلَْي ُك ْم أََلَّ تُ ْد ِرُكواْ بِِه َشْيئًا َوبِالْ َوالِ َديْ ِن إِ ْح َسانًا َوَلَ تَ ْقتُلُواْ أ َْوَلَ َد ُكم ِّم ْن ْإمًلَ ٍق ََّّْن ُن نَ ْرُزقُ ُك ْم‬
َّ ‫اْلَ ِّق َذلِ ُك ْم َو‬
‫صا ُك ْم بِِه لَ َعلَّ ُك ْم‬ ْ ِ‫س الَِِّت َحَّرَم اللاهُ إَِلَّ ب‬ ِ
َ ‫ش َما ظَ َهَر مْن َها َوَما بَطَ َن َوَلَ تَ ْقتُلُواْ النَّ ْف‬
ِ
ُ َّ‫َوإِي‬
َ ‫اه ْم َوَلَ تَ ْقَربُواْ الْ َف َواح‬
)۱۵۱:۶،‫تَ ْع ِقلُو َن (اَلنعام‬
Translation: Say: ‘Come, I will recite to you those things which your Lord has forbidden to
you: Do not set up anything as a partner with Him; be morally excellent with parents; and do not
kill your children owing to poverty. We alone give you sustenance and (will provide for) them as
well. And do not draw near to shameful deeds (whether) open or hidden. And do not kill the soul
whose (killing) Allah has forbidden, except when it is rightfully due (according to law in self-
defense against disruption and whilst combating terrorism). It is these (injunctions) He has
enjoined upon you so that you may apply reason.
Explanation:
That is, "The limits set by your Lord are not those which you have imposed on yourselves, but
they are the following which Allah has set for the regulation of human life and which have
always been the fundamental basis of all Divine Laws."
That is, haram are not those whom you have declared without any evidence, merely on the basis
of your false illusions and erroneous suspicions. Rather, forbidden are those things which your
Lord has forbidden, for He is your Creator and your Lord. He has knowledge of all things, so He
has the right to make whatever He wills lawful and whatever He wants to make something haram
(illegal). So, I will tell you the details of what your Lord has emphasized.
ِ ِ ِ ِ ِ َ ‫وَلَ تَ ْقربواْ م‬
ُ ِّ‫َشدَُُّ َوأ َْوفُواْ الْ َكْي َل َوالْم َيزا َن بِالْق ْسِ َلَ نُ َكل‬
‫ف نَ ْف ًسا إَِلَّ ُو ْس َع َها‬ ْ ‫ال الْيَتي ِم إَِلَّ بِالَِِّت ه َي أ‬
ُ ‫َح َس ُن َح ََّت يَْب لُ ََ أ‬ َ َُ َ
)۱۵۲: ‫صا ُكم بِِه لَ َعلَّ ُك ْم تَ َذ َّك ُرو َن (اَلنعام‬ ِ ِ ِ
َّ ‫اعدلُواْ َولَ ْو َكا َن ذَا قُ ْرََب َوبِ َع ْهد اللا ِه أ َْوفُواْ ذَل ُك ْم َو‬
ْ َ‫َوإِذَا قُ ْلتُ ْم ف‬
Translation: And do not go near the property of the orphan but in the most likable manner until
he reaches the age of maturity.’ And always give full measure and weight with justice. We do
not burden any soul beyond its ability to bear it. And when you say (something pertaining to
somebody), do justice even though he is (your) near relative. And always fulfil the promise of
Allah. These are (the matters) which He has strictly ordained for you in order that you may
accept direction and guidance.
Explanation:
"The best way" will be the one which is based on selflessness, good intentions and the welfare of
the concerned orphan, and which is not objectionable in the sight of God or man.
"You shall use full measure and a just balance,'' is a fundamental principle of the Divine Law:
Allah has added, "We charge one....one can bear," to assure people that whoever tries his very
best to be just and right in measuring, weighing and carrying out other trade transactions, will be
absolved from his responsibility and will not be taken to account, if in spite of his best efforts,
there happens to be an unintentional error.

َّ ‫يما فَاتَّبِعُوُُ َوَلَ تَتَّبِعُواْ السبُ َل فَتَ َفَّر َق بِ ُك ْم َعن َسبِيلِ ِه َذلِ ُك ْم َو‬
‫صا ُكم بِِه لَ َعلَّ ُك ْم تَتَّ ُقو َن‬ ِ ِ ِ َّ ‫َوأ‬
ً ‫َن َه َذا صَراطي ُم ْستَق‬
)۱۵۳:۶،‫(اَلنعام‬
Translation: And that this (Islamic law) is My straight path. So, follow it and do not follow
(other)
paths, because they (the other paths) will move you away from Allah’s path. This is what He has
enjoined you strictly so that you may become Godfearing.
Explanation:
"You should follow this way because this is the Right Way." This "Natural Covenant" demands
that man should follow the Way shown by Allah, because any deviation from it into the paths of
rebellion or independence or in the worship of another than Allah will be the first violation
against that Covenant, and will mislead one into other violations one after the other. Besides, no
man can fulfill the obligations of this most delicate, vast and intricate Covenant unless one
accepts Divine Guidance and follows it in every aspect of life. "...... you should not follow other
ways" because they will turn you away from His Right Way which is the only Way which leads
to His nearness, pleasure and approval.

Thinking of Day of Judgment

)۱۸:۵۹،‫ت لِ َ ٍد َواتَّ ُقوا اللَّهَ إِ َّن اللَّ َه َخبِ ٌري ِِبَا تَ ْع َملُو َن (اْلدر‬
ْ ‫َّم‬ َّ
ٌ ‫ين َآمنُوا اتَّ ُقوا اللهَ َولْتَنظُْر نَ ْف‬
َ ‫س َّما قَد‬
ِ َّ
َ ‫يَا أَي َها الذ‬
Translation: O believers! Keep fearing Allah. And everyone should be vigilant to what he has
sent forward for tomorrow (the Day of Reckoning). And always fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Well
Aware of what you do.
Explanation:
This whole worldly life is "today", whose "tomorrow" is the Day of Resurrection, which is going
to follow it. Adopting this style Allah has, in a wise manner, made man understand the truth that
just as that person is highly foolish, who gambles away his all for the enjoyment of today and
does not realize whether tomorrow he would be left with anything to eat and a place of shelter or
not, so is that person also only working for his own doom, who is too absorbed in making; his
world to pay heed to the Hereafter, whereas the Hereafter is to follow this world just as today is
to be followed by tomorrow, and there he would find nothing if he has sent nothing ahead for the
morrow.
ِ ‫ك هم الْ َف‬
)۱۹:۵۹،‫اس ُقو َن (اْلدر‬ ِ َّ ِ َّ
ُ ُ َ ‫اه ْم أَن ُف َس ُه ْم أ ُْولَئ‬
ُ ‫َنس‬
َ ‫ين نَ ُسوا اللهَ فَأ‬
َ ‫َوََل تَ ُكونُوا َكالذ‬
Translation: And be not like those who forgot Allah. So, Allah made them forget their own
souls (that they could send forward some good for their own souls). It is they who are defiant.
Explanation:
Forgetfulness of God inevitably leads to forgetfulness of one's own self. When man forgets that
he is slave to the Almighty, he will inevitably form a wrong view of his position in the world,
and his whole life will go wrong because of this basic error. Likewise, when he forgets that he is
slave to nobody except Allah, he does not serve the one whose slave actually he is not. This also
is a grave and all-pervading misunderstanding, which corrupts his whole life. Man's real position
in the world is that of a slave; he is not free and self-sufficient; and he is slave of only One God,
and is no one else's slave beside Him.

)۲۰:۵۹،‫اْلَن َِّة ُه ُم الْ َفائُِزو َن (اْلدر‬

ْ ‫اب‬ُ ‫َص َح‬
ِ ْ ‫ََل يستَ ِوي أَصحاب النَّا ِر وأَصحاب‬
ْ ‫اْلَنَّة أ‬ ُ َْ َ ُ َْ َْ
Translation: The inmates of Hell and the people of Paradise cannot be equal. It is the people of
Paradise who are successful and victorious.
Explanation:
The rebels and the disobedient ones, and the obedient and dutiful ones are not equal. Success will
come to those who think of the Hereafter and attain “Jannah” by doing good deeds. These two
categories of people are never the same with regards to the judgement of Allah, the Exalted, on
the Day of Resurrection. Therefore, Allah asserts that He will honor the righteous and humiliate
the sinners. The righteous are those who will earn safety and deliverance from the torment of
Allah the Exalted and Most Honored.