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In the name
of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful |
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SECTION: 1
O mankind! Have fear of your Rabb; the catastrophic quaking of
the Hour of Doom will be terrible indeed.[1] On that Day you
shall see that every nursing mother will forget her nursing-babe
and every pregnant female will miscarry, and you will see people
as if they are intoxicated, though they will not be drunk: such
will be the horror of Allah’s chastisement.[2] Yet there are
some among people, who in their ignorance, argue about Allah and
follow every rebellious devil,[3] though they are doomed to
seduce whoever takes them as their friends and lead him to the
punishment of burning fire.[4]
22:[1-4] |
A scene from the Hour of Doom |
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O mankind! If you doubt that there is life
after death remember that We first created you from dust, then
from a sperm, then from a leech- like mass, then from a morsel
of flesh, partly formed and partly unformed, so that We may
manifest to you Our power. We cause to remain in the womb
whom We wish for an appointed term, and then We bring you forth
as infants; then We nourish you so that you may reach
your age of full strength. There are some of you who die young
and some who live on to their abject old age when all that they
once knew they know no more. You sometimes see the land dry and
barren; but no sooner do We pour down rain upon it then it
begins to stir and swell, putting forth every kind of beautiful
growth in pairs.[5] This is because Allah is the Reality: it is
He Who gives life to the dead and it is He Who has power over
everything,[6] and this is a proof that the Hour of Doom
is sure to come - there is no doubt about it; and that Allah
will raise up those who are in the graves.[7]
22:[5-7] |
Life
cycle, life in this world and life in the Hereafter |
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Yet there are others among people who wrangle
about Allah, though they neither have knowledge nor guidance,
nor an enlightening Book,[8] twisting things around in order to
lead others astray from the Path of Allah - for such persons
there is disgrace in this life, and on the Day of Judgment we
shall make them taste the punishment of burning fire,[9] saying:
“This is what you prepared and sent forth with your own hands."
Rest assured that Allah is not unjust to His worshippers.[10]
22:[8-10] |
People invoke other deities besides Allah, without knowledge and
guidance |
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SECTION: 2
There are some people who worship Allah standing on the verge of
faith (half faith and half disbelief). When such a person
is blessed with good fortune he is content; but if he encounters
a trial he turns back headlong; thus losing both this world and
the Hereafter, which is a clear-cut loss.[11] Then instead of
Allah, he starts calling those deities who can neither harm nor
help him; now that is going too far off in deviation from the
Right Way.[12] He is calling upon those who are more likely
to harm than help; what an evil master and what an evil friend
he chooses for help![13] As for those who believe and do
good deeds, Allah will admit them to gardens beneath which the
rivers flow. Surely Allah does what He wants.[14]
22:[11-14] |
Behavior of those who are standing at the verge of faith
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If anyone thinks that Allah will not help
His Rasool in this world and in the Hereafter, let him
stretch out a rope to the sky if he can and cut a hole to peep
through and see for himself whether his device can avert that
which irritates him.[15] Thus have We revealed this The
Qur’an in clear verses; and verily Allah gives guidance to
whom He wants.[16] Surely as for those who are true believers (the
Muslims), the Jews, the Sabians, the Christians, the Magians
and the ones who commit shirk (polytheists) - Allah will
judge between them on the Day of Resurrection; for Allah is a
witness over everything.[17] Do you not see how all who dwell in
the heavens and the earth bow down in worship to Allah,
including the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the
trees, the animals, and a large number of people, even a large
number of those deserving the punishment. He who is humbled by
Allah has none who can raise him to honor; surely Allah does
what He pleases.[18]
22:[15-18] |
Allah
always helps His Rasools
All the dwellers of the heavens and the earth prostrate before
Allah
(As-Sajdah) |
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These are the two adversaries (the
believers and disbelievers) who dispute with each other
about their Rabb: as for the disbelievers, garments of Fire will
be cut out for them, boiling water will be poured over their
heads,[19] which will not only melt their skins but also the
inner parts of their bellies,[20] and there will be maces of
iron to lash them.[21] Whenever, in their anguish, they try to
escape therefrom, they will be forced back therein, and will be
told: “Taste the punishment of conflagration!”[22]
22:[19-22] |
The
disbelievers will have garments of fire, boiling water, lashes
with maces of iron |
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SECTION: 3
As for those who have faith and do good deeds, Allah will
certainly admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow. They
shall be decked with pearls and bracelets of gold, and their
garments will be of silk.[23] This is because during their
life on earth, they were guided to accept the pure words of
Allah and they were shown the Way of the
All-Praiseworthy.[24] As for those who are unbelievers and debar
others from the Way of Allah and from the Masjid-al-Harăm, to
which We have assigned all mankind with equal rights whether
they are natives or foreigners, and whoever intends to deviate
from righteousness to wrongdoing in its vicinity, We will make
him taste a painful punishment.[25]
22:[23-25] |
Allah has given equal rights to all believers at Masjid-al-Harăm,
whether they are natives or foreigners |
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SECTION: 4
Remember! We identified the site of the Sacred House to Ibrăhďm
(Abraham), saying, “Worship none besides Me,
sanctify My House for those worshippers who make Tawăf (walking
counterclockwise around it as a part of the Hajj rituals),
and stand in prayer, bow, and prostrate themselves,[26] and make
a proclamation of Hajj (Pilgrimage) to mankind: they will
come to you on foot and on lean camels from every distant
quarter,[27] so that they may witness the benefits which are
made available here for them, and pronounce the name of Allah
over the cattle which We have provided as food for them, on the
appointed days, then eat meat themselves and feed the indigent
and needy.[28] Then they should accomplish their needful acts
of shaving or cutting their hair and taking a bath, fulfill
their vows and go for Tawăf-e-Ziyărah to the Ancient
House.[29] This was the object for which the Ka’bah was built,
and whoever honors the sacred rites of Allah, it is good for him
in the sight of his Rabb. The meat of cattle is lawful to you,
except what has already been mentioned to you; therefore, shun
the abomination of idols and shun all false statements.[30]
22:[26-30] |
Allah
identified the site of the Sacred House to Ibrăhďm, and
commanded him to build the Ka'bah, then call mankind to come for
Hajj (Pilgrimage) |
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Dedicate yourselves to Allah and do not
commit shirk with Him: for anyone who commits shirk, it is as
though he had fallen from the sky; then his body is either
snatched away by birds or carried away by the wind to some
far-off place,[31] so it is, and he who respects the Symbols of
Allah, surely shows the piety of his heart.[32] You may benefit
(by using their milk) from the cattle dedicated for
sacrifice, until the time of their slaughter, then
their place of sacrifice is near the Ancient House.[33]
22:[31-33] |
Committing shirk is like falling from the sky, then body is
snatched away by birds |
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SECTION: 5
For every nation We prescribed a way of sacrifice so that they
may pronounce the name of Allah over the cattle which He has
given them for food, but the object is one and the same: to
remember that your God is one God; so submit yourselves to
Him as a Muslim, and O Prophet, give good news to the
humble,[34] whose hearts tremble at the mention of Allah; who
endure adversity with patience, who establish Salah and spend in
charity out of what we have given them.[35] We have included the
sacrificial camels among the Symbols of Allah, for there is much
good for you in them. Therefore, pronounce the name of Allah
over them while standing, and when they fall down on their sides
after slaughter, when their movement completely stops,
then eat of their meat, feed the contented (poor who do not
ask) and the beggars (poor who ask). Thus We have
subjected these animals to you so that you may be grateful.[36]
It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah; it
is your piety that reaches Him. Thus, He has subjected these
animals to you so that you may glorify Allah for giving you
guidance, and O Prophet, give good news to those who do
good to others.[37] Surely Allah wards off evil from those who
are true believers: for certainly Allah does not love anyone who
is treacherous, ungrateful.[38]
22:[34-38] |
It is not the meat or the blood of the sacrificed animals that
reaches Allah, it is your piety that reaches Him |
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SECTION: 6
Permission to fight back is hereby granted to the
believers against whom war is waged and because they are
oppressed (before this revelation, Muslims were not allowed
to fight even for self defense); certainly Allah has power
to grant them victory[39] - those who have been unjustly
expelled from their homes only because they said, “Our Lord is
Allah." Had not Allah repelled some people by the might of
others, the monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in
which Allah’s praise is daily celebrated, would have been
utterly demolished. Allah will certainly help those who help His
cause; most surely Allah is Mighty, Powerful.[40] These are the
people who, if We establish them in the land, will establish
Salah and pay Zakah, enjoin justice and forbid evil; the final
decision of all affairs is in the hands of Allah.[41]
22:[39-41] |
Permission is granted to the believers to fight in self defense,
and for the cause of Allah |
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If they deny you O Muhammad, remember
that before them the people of Nüh (Noah), ‘Ad and Thamüd;[42]
the people of Ibrăhďm (Abraham) and Lüt (Lot);[43]
as well as the residents of Madyan had denied their Prophets,
likewise Musa (Moses) was also denied. Initially, I gave
respite to all those unbelievers and then I seized them: see how
terrible was My disapproval![44] How many townships, teaming
with wrong doings, have We utterly destroyed! Today they lie
with their roofs fallen in, their wells abandoned, and their
lofty castles deserted.[45]
22:[42-45] |
O
Muhammad, you are not the only one being denied, all Prophets
were denied before you |
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Have they not traveled through the land? Have
they no hearts to learn wisdom, or ears to hear the Truth?
Certainly it is not their eyes which are blind, but it is the
hearts in their breasts which are blind.[46] These people ask
you to hasten the threatened punishment. Well, Allah will never
go back on His promise. In fact a day of your Rabb (time
period in which Allah's decision is executed) is equal to a
thousand years of your calculation.[47] There have been many
townships teeming with wrong doings, to whom at first I gave
respite and at the end I smote them. Towards Me is the
destination of all.[48]
22:[46-48] |
A day
of your Rabb is equal to one thousand years of your calculation
|
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SECTION: 7
O Muhammad, tell them: “O mankind! I am merely a plain
Warner to you;[49] Those who accept the true faith and do good
deeds shall be forgiven and provided honorable sustenance;[50]
but those who strive against Our revelations, shall be the
inmates of flaming fire."[51]
22:[49-51] |
Acceptors of Truth shall be forgiven, while others punished
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Never have We sent a Rasool or a prophet
before you, O Muhammad, with whose wishes Shaităn did not
tamper; but Allah abrogates the interjections of Shaităn and
confirms His own revelations, for Allah is All-Knowing,
All-Wise.[52] He makes Shaităn’s interjections a temptation for
those whose hearts suffer from the disease of hypocrisy
and whose hearts are hardened - that’s why the wrongdoers are in
such an extreme dissension[53] - so that those who are endowed
with knowledge may realize that this (Qur’an) is the
Truth from your Rabb and thus believe in it and humble their
hearts towards Him, and surely Allah will guide the believers to
the Straight Way.[54] As for the unbelievers, they will never
cease to doubt the revelation, until the Hour of Doom
overtakes them suddenly or there comes on them the punishment of
the Day of Disaster.[55] On that Day the Kingdom will be that of
Allah’s; He will judge between them; so those who have embraced
the true faith and done good deeds shall enter the gardens of
delight;[56] but the unbelievers who have denied Our revelations
shall receive a disgraceful punishment.[57]
22:[52-57] |
Shaităn tampered with the wishes of all Rasools, but Allah
abrogated such interjection
On the Day of Judgement, Allah Himself shall be the Judge for
all
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SECTION: 8
As for those who migrated for the sake of Allah and afterwards
were killed or died, Allah will make a generous provision for
them; certainly Allah is the One Who is the best Provider.[58]
He will admit them to a place with which they shall be well
pleased; for Allah is All-Knowing, Most Lenient.[59] Thus shall
it be! He that retaliates equal to the infliction he received
and then is wronged again, will most certainly be helped by
Allah; surely Allah is the One Who is All-Forbearing, Most
Forgiving.[60] That is because it is Allah Who causes the night
to pass into the day, and the day into the night, Allah is
indeed All-Hearing, Most Observing.[61] That is because Allah is
the One Who is Real; and all those deities besides Him, whom
they invoke, are false; indeed it is Allah Who is the Supreme,
the Great.[62] Do you not see that Allah sends down water from
the sky so the land becomes green? Surely Allah is the
Benignant, Aware.[63] To Him belongs all that is in the heavens
and the earth; surely Allah is the One Who is the
Self-sufficient, the Praiseworthy.[64]
22:[58-64] |
Those who migrated for the sake of Allah shall be generously
rewarded. Allah is the only One Who is Real, all other deities
are false |
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SECTION: 9
Do you not see that Allah has subdued to you all that is in the
earth and the ships that sail through the sea by His command? He
is withholding the sky in a way that it cannot fall down on the
earth without His permission; surely Allah is very kind and
merciful to mankind.[65] He is the One Who has given you life,
will cause you to die and then will bring you back to life again
- yet man is indeed very ungrateful.[66] To every nation We have
prescribed the rites of worship which they observe, therefore,
let them not dispute with you concerning this matter - keep
calling them to the Way of your Rabb; for most surely you are
rightly guided.[67]
22:[65-67] |
Allah is the One Who has given you life, causes you to die and
will bring you back to life for passing on His Judgement
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If they argue with you, say: “Allah knows
best all that you do."[68] Allah will judge between you on the
Day of Resurrection concerning the matters in which you
differ.[69] Do you not know that Allah is aware of all that is
in heaven and the earth? Certainly all of this is recorded in a
Book and it is very easy for Allah to do so.[70] Yet they
worship besides Allah those deities for which He has revealed no
sanction, nor they themselves have any knowledge about them;
certainly the wrongdoers shall have no helper.[71] When Our
revelations are recited to them with all their clarity, you can
notice a denial on the faces of the unbelievers. They can barely
restrain themselves from assaulting those who recite Our
revelations. Say to them: “Should I tell you something which is
far worse than that? It is the fire of hell, which Allah
has promised to those who reject the truth; what an evil abode
it will be!”[72]
22:[68-72] |
Allah
will judge between you concerning those matters in which you
differ |
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SECTION: 10
O mankind! Here is an example for your understanding, so listen
to it carefully. Those deities whom you call besides Allah,
cannot create a single fly, even if they all combined their
forces, rather, if a fly snatches away anything from them they
cannot even get it back; how feebleminded are the suppliants and
how powerless are those whom they supplicate![73] They do not
render to Allah the homage due to Him; in fact, Allah is the One
Who is All-Powerful, All-Mighty.[74]
22:[73-74] |
Gods besides Allah have no power to create even a creature like
a fly |
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Allah chooses His messengers from among the
angels and from among the human beings, for surely Allah is
All-Hearing, All-Seeing.[75] He knows what is before them and
what is behind them, and to Allah shall all matters return
for decision.[76] O believers! Bow down, prostrate
yourselves, worship your Rabb and do good deeds so that you may
attain salvation.[77] Strive in the Way of Allah as you ought to
strive with sincerity and discipline; He has chosen you
and has not laid upon you any hardship in the observance of your
faith - the faith of your father Ibrăhďm (Abraham). He
named you Muslims before in prior scriptures and in this
(The Qur’an), so that His Rasool may testify against you
and you yourselves may testify against the rest of mankind.
Therefore, establish Salah, pay Zakah and hold fast to Allah,
Who is your Protector - so what an excellent Protector and what
a splendid Supporter![78]
22:[75-78] |
Allah named the believers Muslims in the prior scriptures and
also in this (The Qur'an) |
Major Issues, Divine
Law and Guidance:
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* A scene from the Hour of Doom.
* Human life cycle: life in this world and life in the
Hereafter.
* Behavior of those individuals who were standing at the verge
of faith is identified.
* The fact that Allah always helps His Rasools.
* Divine law granting equal rights to all believers in
Masjid-al-Harăm, whether they are natives or foreigners.
* The fact that Allah Himself identified the site and asked
Prophet Ibrăhďm (pbuh) to build the Ka’bah and call mankind to
come for Hajj (Pilgrimage).
* Someone who commits Shirk is like someone who falls from the
sky and his body is snatched away by birds.
* The fact that it is not the blood or the flesh of a sacrificed
animal which reaches Allah but the piety of the individual who
is offering the sacrifice.
* The first Commandment of Allah granting permission to the
believers to defend themselves and fight against the unbelievers
and mushrikďn.
* On the Day of Judgement, Allah Himself will be the Judge for
all.
* Allah’s promise to those who migrate for His sake that He will
reward them generously.
* The fact that Allah called the believers Muslims in the prior
scriptures and also in The Qur’an.
It appears that after the migration, when
the month of Zul-Hijjah arrived, it brought to the immigrants
the memories of their homes in Makkah, and naturally they must
have thought about the Ka’bah and the Hajj congregation. These
memories grieved them to think that the mushrikďn Qureysh had
debarred them from visiting the Sacred Mosque. Therefore, they
might have been praying for and expecting Divine permission to
wage war against those tyrants who had expelled them from their
homes and prevented them from visiting the House of Allah. This
Sürah specifies the purpose for which the Ka’bah was built and
clearly states that Hajj (pilgrimage) was enjoined for the
worship of the One God (Allah). But it is an irony that it had
been dedicated to the rituals of shirk, the worship of 360 idols
and the real worshippers of One God (Allah) had been debarred
from visiting it. Through this Sürah, Allah also granted the
Muslims permission to wage war against the tyrant mushrikďn in
order to oust them and establish the righteous way of life.
According to Ibn Abbăs, Mujăhid, Urwah bin Zubair, Zaid bin
Aslam, Muqatil bin Hayyan, Qatadah and other great commentators,
v. 39 is the first verse that granted the Muslims permission to
wage war.
This Sürah has also addressed the mushrikďn of Makkah, the
wavering Muslims, and the true believers as follows:
The mushrikďn are warned in a forceful manner in these words:
“You have persisted in your ignorance and trusted your deities
instead of Allah, though they possess no power to protect you.”
They are also admonished time and again for their creed of shirk
through providing sound arguments in favor of Tawhďd (Oneness of
God) and the Hereafter.
The wavering Muslims, who had embraced Islam but were not
prepared to endure any hardship in its way, have been admonished
in these words: “What is this faith of yours? You are ready to
believe in Allah and become His servants provided you are given
peace and prosperity, but if you meet with afflictions and
hardships in His Way, you discard Allah and cease to remain His
servants. You should bear in mind that this wavering attitude of
yours cannot avert those misfortunes and losses which Allah has
ordained for you."
The true believers are told that the mushrikďn of Makkah have no
right to debar them from visiting the Ka’bah. They have no right
to prevent anyone from performing Hajj because the Ka‘bah is not
their private property. This objection acted as an effective
political weapon against the Qureysh because it posed this
question: "Are the Qureysh mere attendants of the Ka’bah or its
owners?" This question implied that if the Qureysh succeeded in
debarring the Muslims from Hajj without any protest from others,
they would feel encouraged in the future to debar others who
happened to have strained relations with the Qureysh. In order
to emphasize this point, the history of the Ka‘bah’s
construction is cited to show that it was built by the Prophet
Ibrăhďm (pbuh) by the command of Allah and he had invited all of
mankind to perform Hajj. That is why people coming from outside
Makkah had enjoyed equal rights with the local people from the
very beginning. It is also made clear that the House had not
been built for the rituals of shirk but for the worship of One
Allah. Thus it was sheer tyranny that the worship of Allah was
being forbidden there while the worship of idols enjoyed full
license.
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