Abstract
Allah keeps His promises, and expects the same from us. The
Quran mentions the covenant and from whom it has been taken. It also details the
ratification of the covenant and the consequences of keeping or breaking
it.
Full Text
وَعْدَ اللَّهِ
لَا يُخْلِفُ اللَّهُ وَعْدَهُ
وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
(It is the) Promise (of)
Allah.
(Does)
not fail Allah (in) His promise,
but most (of) [the]
people (do) not know.
[Al-Quran 30:6]
A
promise must be kept. Allah keeps His promises, and expects the same from us. The
Quran mentions the covenant taken from Adam, from the prophets, and by the
prophets from the believers. It also details the covenant taken from the Bani
Israel and its ratification. Surah al-Mu`minun begins with an introduction of
what it means to be a Mu`min (Believer). The definition concludes as
follows:
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ
أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْوَارِثُونَ الَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
And those who [they] of
their trusts and their promise(s) (are) observers
And those who [they] over
their prayers they guard
Those
[they] (are) the inheritors Who will inherit the Paradise. They therein (will)
abide forever.
Surah al-Ma`arij reiterates the same:
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ
وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِشَهَادَاتِهِمْ قَائِمُونَ
وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِشَهَادَاتِهِمْ قَائِمُونَ
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ
أُولَٰئِكَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ مُّكْرَمُونَ
And those who [they] of
their trusts and their promise (are) observers,
And those who [they] in
their testimonies stand firm,
And those who, [they] on
their prayer keep a guard -
Those
(will be) in Gardens, honored.
الَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ اللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ مِيثَاقِهِ
وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ
Those who break (the) Covenant (of) Allah from after
its ratification,
and [they] cut what
has ordered Allah it to be joined
and [they] spread
corruption in the earth.
Those,
they (are) the losers.
[Al-Quran 2:27]
When
Pharaoh asked Moses about the ancients, he replied:
قَالَ عِلْمُهَا عِندَ رَبِّي فِي كِتَابٍ
لَّا يَضِلُّ رَبِّي وَلَا يَنسَى
He said, "Its
knowledge (is) with my Lord, in a Record.
Not errs my Lord and not
forgets."
[Al-Quran 20:52]
A
common objection about The Quran is that seems to be addressing the men. Believers generally assume that the male tense
is gender-neutral in that it is addressing both men and women. However, from
certain ayaats quoted below, it seems to me that the male descendants of Adam are
under a covenant, which is why The Quran is primarily addressing them. (Notice
the use of bani
(son/children) and rajul (man) and mar (man)
in the Arabic text)
Moreover,
the male circumcision, the mark of the covenant, that we find mentioned in The
Torah, ordered to Abraham for himself and all male members of his household and
posterity, which is still performed by Jews and Muslims, also further confirms
the foregoing notion of covenant from the male descendants of Adam.
It
is important to mention here that The Quran is very clear that all men and
women are responsible and accountable, as it is Al-Insaan who volunteered to
undertake the Trust:
إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا الْأَمَانَةَ عَلَى السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالْجِبَالِ فَأَبَيْنَ أَن يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأَشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا
وَحَمَلَهَا الْإِنسَانُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ ظَلُومًا جَهُولًا
لِّيُعَذِّبَ اللَّهُ الْمُنَافِقِينَ وَالْمُنَافِقَاتِ وَالْمُشْرِكِينَ وَالْمُشْرِكَاتِ
وَيَتُوبَ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ
وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
We offered the Trust to
the heavens, the earth and the mountains; but they refused to bear it and
feared it,
yet the human being took it on. He has always been
unjust and ignorant,
[This is in
order that] God punishes the hypocrites, men and women, as well as the
men and women who associate others with Him,
and
why God turns mercifully towards the believing men and women, for God is
the Ever-Forgiving, the Mercy Giver.
?? <I think the Trust is whatever we have been given by Allah, must be used/spent
for the general good, such as the giving of zakah, sadaqa, feeding of the poor,
freeing slaves and other acts of reform, based upon our faith in Allah and the
belief in the Day of Recompense (yaum-ud-Deen). Thus, a Believer willingly
spends, while a hypocrite withholds spending, and instead tries to hoard.
Interestingly, both spending and hypocrisy share the same root word in Arabic. >??
Related Post: The
Right Religion (Deen)
Some Key Concepts
The following
words convey key concepts that we need to notice in the Arabic text, as
sometimes the translations do not seem to convey them exactly:
Ahd Covenant
Mithaq Ratification
of the Covenant
Nakatha Breaking
of the Covenant
Covenant of Adam
وَلَقَدْ عَهِدْنَا إِلَىٰ آدَمَ مِن قَبْلُ فَنَسِيَ وَلَمْ نَجِدْ لَهُ عَزْمًا
[Al-Quran 20:115]
Related Post: Adam’s
Attempt to Improve upon Allah’s Creation
Messengers/Prophets are Men
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِي إِلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَىٰ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَدَارُ الْآخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
And not We sent
before you, but men We revealed to them from
(among) (the) people (of) the townships. So have not they traveled in the earth
and seen how was (the) end (of) those who (were) before them? And surely the
home (of) the Hereafter (is) best for those who fear Allah. Then will not you
use reason?
[Al-Quran 12:109]
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالزُّبُرِ وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالزُّبُرِ وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
And not We sent
before you except men, We revealed
to them, so ask (the) people (of) the Reminder if you (do) not know. With the clear proofs and the Books. And We sent down to you the Remembrance, that you may make clear to the mankind, what has been sent down to them and that they may reflect.
All Prophets Male Descendants
إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَىٰ آدَمَ وَنُوحًا وَآلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ
ذُرِّيَّةً بَعْضُهَا مِن بَعْضٍ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
Indeed, Allah chose Adam and
Nuh, and (the) family (of) Ibrahim and (the) family (of) Imran over the worlds.
Descendents, some of them from
others. And Allah (is) All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
Interestingly, the next few ayaat relate the
story of the wife of Imran dedicating the child in her womb for Allah’s
service, but when Maryam (Mary) is born, she wonders as it’s a female child and
not male. However, Allah, the Creator, knew what he had created and graciously
accepted Maryam, chose her from among all the women in the worlds (Q3:42), and made Jesus the son of Maryam, and
thus Jesus was from the lineage of Imran, as discussed in Virgin Birth.
In this context, noteworthy is the fact that Q33:4-5 advises us to call people by
the names of their fathers, stating that its more just in the sight of Allah.
Jesus is the only person mentioned in The Quran by his mother’s name,
clarifying that he had no father.
Muhammad Last Prophet
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا
Not is Muhammad (the)
father (of) anyone of your men but (he is
the) Messenger (of) Allah and Seal (of) the Prophets. And Allah is of every
thing All-Knower.
[Al-Quran 33:40]
Covenant from the Prophets
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ مِيثَاقَهُمْ وَمِنكَ وَمِن نُّوحٍ وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ وَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُم مِّيثَاقًا غَلِيظًا
لِّيَسْأَلَ الصَّادِقِينَ عَن صِدْقِهِمْ وَأَعَدَّ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا
And when We took from the
Prophets their Covenant and from you and from Nuh and Ibrahim and Musa and Isa,
son (of) Maryam. And We took from them a covenant
strong
That He may ask the truthful about their truth. And He has prepared
for the disbelievers a punishment painful.
Covenant from Abraham & Ishmael
وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ
Remember We made the House a
place of assembly for men and a place of safety; and take ye the station of
Abraham as a place of prayer; and We
covenanted with Abraham and Isma'il, that they should sanctify My House for
those who compass it round, or use it as a retreat, or bow, or prostrate
themselves (therein in prayer).
[Al-Quran 2:125]
The Torah, Genesis
17, mentions the circumcision order to Abraham and for all male members of
his household and posterity, as a mark of the covenant. This symbol of the
covenant is still performed by Jews and Muslims.
Covenant from Bani Israel
يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِي أُوفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ وَإِيَّايَ فَارْهَبُونِ
O Children (of) Israel!
Remember My Favor which I bestowed upon you and fulfill, My Covenant I will
fulfill your covenant and Me Alone fear [Me].
[Al-Quran 2:40]
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ
لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ
وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُ
فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَاءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَاشْتَرَوْا بِهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ
And when Allah took a Covenant (from) those who were
given the Book,
"You certainly make it clear to the mankind
and
(do) not conceal it.
Then they threw it behind their backs and they
exchanged [with] it (for) a little price. And wretched (is) what they purchase.
[Al-Quran 3:187]
Ratification of the Covenant with the Bani Israel
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ الطُّورَ خُذُوا مَا آتَيْنَاكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَاذْكُرُوا مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
Children of Israel, recall when We made a covenant
with you, raised Mount Tur (Sinai)
above you and told you to receive earnestly what We had given to you and bear
it in mind so that you would protect yourselves against evil.
[Al-Quran 2:63, Translation: Muhammad
Sarwar]
فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ وَرِثُوا الْكِتَابَ يَأْخُذُونَ عَرَضَ هَٰذَا الْأَدْنَىٰ وَيَقُولُونَ سَيُغْفَرُ لَنَا وَإِن يَأْتِهِمْ عَرَضٌ مِّثْلُهُ يَأْخُذُوهُ أَلَمْ يُؤْخَذْ عَلَيْهِم مِّيثَاقُ الْكِتَابِ أَن لَّا يَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْحَقَّ وَدَرَسُوا مَا فِيهِ وَالدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ وَالَّذِينَ يُمَسِّكُونَ بِالْكِتَابِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُصْلِحِينَ
وَإِذْ نَتَقْنَا الْجَبَلَ فَوْقَهُمْ كَأَنَّهُ ظُلَّةٌ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُ وَاقِعٌ بِهِمْ خُذُوا مَا آتَيْنَاكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَاذْكُرُوا مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
Then succeeded [after] them successors (who) inherited the Book taking goods (of) this the
lower (life) and they say, "It will be forgiven for us." And if comes
to them goods similar to it they will take it. Was not taken on them Covenant (of) the Book that not they will say about Allah except
the truth while they studied what (is) in it? And the home (of) the Hereafter
(is) better for those who fear Allah. So will not you use intellect? And those who hold fast to the Book, and
establish the prayer, indeed, We (will) not [We] let go waste (the) reward
(of) the reformers.
And when We raised the
mountain above them as if it was a canopy and they thought that it (would) fall
upon them, (We said), "Take what We have given you with strength
and remember what (is) in it so that you may fear Allah."
Screenshot
of the list of usage as the noun mīthāq (مِّيثَٰق) from http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=wvq
وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ إِذْ قَالُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ بَشَرٍ مِّن شَيْءٍ قُلْ مَنْ أَنزَلَ الْكِتَابَ الَّذِي جَاءَ بِهِ مُوسَىٰ نُورًا وَهُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ تَجْعَلُونَهُ قَرَاطِيسَ تُبْدُونَهَا وَتُخْفُونَ كَثِيرًا وَعُلِّمْتُم مَّا لَمْ تَعْلَمُوا أَنتُمْ وَلَا آبَاؤُكُمْ قُلِ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ ذَرْهُمْ فِي خَوْضِهِمْ يَلْعَبُونَ
And (did) not they appraise Allah (with) His true
appraisal, when they said, "Allah did not reveal on a human being [of]
anything."
Say, "Who revealed the
Book which brought [it] Musa (as) a light and guidance for the
people? You make it (into) parchments, you disclose (some of) it and
you conceal much (of it). And you were taught what not you knew and not
your forefathers." Say, "Allah (revealed it)."
Then leave them in their
discourse - playing.
[Al-Quran 6:91]
The Torah is a guidance for all anNaas, not just the bani
Israel. They are under a ratified covenant to make it known to all people.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَآمِنُوا بِرَسُولِهِ يُؤْتِكُمْ كِفْلَيْنِ مِن رَّحْمَتِهِ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ نُورًا تَمْشُونَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
لِّئَلَّا يَعْلَمَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ أَلَّا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ مِّن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَأَنَّ الْفَضْلَ بِيَدِ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ
O you who believe! Fear
Allah and believe in His Messenger; He will give you double portion of His
Mercy and He will make for you a light, you will walk with it, and He will
forgive you. And Allah (is) Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
So that may know (the)
People (of) the Book that not they have power over anything from (the) Bounty
(of) Allah, and that the Bounty (is) in Allah's Hand; He gives it whom He
wills. And Allah (is) the Possessor of Bounty the Great.
The Quran is also a guidance for all people!
Covenant from the Believers
وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَمِيثَاقَهُ الَّذِي وَاثَقَكُم بِهِ إِذْ قُلْتُمْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا قَوَّامِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَاءَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَآنُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُوا اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
And remember (the) Favor (of) Allah upon you and His
covenant which He bound you with [it] when you said, "We heard and we
obeyed;" and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah (is) All-Knower of what (is in) the
breasts.
O you who believe! Be
steadfast for Allah (as) witnesses in justice, and let not prevent you hatred
(of) a people [upon] that not you do justice. Be just it (is) nearer to [the]
piety. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah (is) All-Aware of what you do.
Allah has promised those who
believe and do the righteous deeds - for them (is) forgiveness and a reward
great.
The
Quran condemns corruption, and declares oppression to be worse than war. Surah at-Taubah, begins with the annulment of treaty and notice of war, four months in
advance, from God and His Messenger, after two decades of
invitation to faith, to the people of Makkah, who had wronged and driven
out the Muslims only because of their faith. Towards the end of the surah, we read:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ اشْتَرَىٰ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُم بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنجِيلِ وَالْقُرْآنِ وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ فَاسْتَبْشِرُوا بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِي بَايَعْتُم بِهِ وَذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
Indeed, Allah
(has) purchased from the believers their lives and their wealth, because for
them (is) Paradise. They fight in (the) way (of) Allah, they slay and they are slain. A promise upon Him true, in the Taurat and
the Injeel and the Quran. And who (is) more faithful to his promise than Allah?
So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted [with it]. And that it
(is) the success the great.
[Al-Quran 9:111]
Surah
al-Hadeed mentions iron in which there is both might and good, which has been
sent to see who helps God and His messengers. Before the mention of iron, the
text emphasizes the importance of spending, and reminds of the covenant:
وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولُ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ
وَقَدْ أَخَذَ مِيثَاقَكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
And what (is) for you
(that) not you believe in Allah while the Messenger calls you that you believe
in your Lord,
and indeed, He
has taken your covenant if you are believers.
[Al-Quran 57:8]
Note: The covenant is with
Allah, and the
pledge is taken by the Prophet:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ اللَّهَ يَدُ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ
فَمَن نَّكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنكُثُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِمَا عَاهَدَ عَلَيْهُ اللَّهَ فَسَيُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you only they
pledge allegiance (to) Allah. (The) Hand (of) Allah (is) over their hands.
Then whoever breaks (his
oath) then only he breaks against himself, and whoever fulfils what he has covenanted with Allah, soon He will
give him a reward great.
[Al-Quran 48:10]
A
different pledge has been taken from the women:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِذَا جَاءَكَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتُ يُبَايِعْنَكَ عَلَىٰ أَن لَّا يُشْرِكْنَ بِاللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَسْرِقْنَ وَلَا يَزْنِينَ وَلَا يَقْتُلْنَ أَوْلَادَهُنَّ وَلَا يَأْتِينَ بِبُهْتَانٍ يَفْتَرِينَهُ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِنَّ وَأَرْجُلِهِنَّ وَلَا يَعْصِينَكَ فِي مَعْرُوفٍ فَبَايِعْهُنَّ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُنَّ اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
O Prophet! When come to you
the believing women pledging to you [on] that not they will associate with
Allah anything, and not they will steal, and not they will commit adultery, and
not they will kill their children, and not they bring slander, they invent it
between their hands and their feet, and not they will disobey you in (the)
right, then accept their pledge and ask forgiveness for them (from) Allah.
Indeed, Allah (is) Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
[Al-Quran 60:12]
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Men who keep their
Covenant
مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ
فَمِنْهُم مَّن قَضَىٰ نَحْبَهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَنتَظِرُ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا تَبْدِيلًا
Among the believers (are) men (who) have been true (to) what they promised Allah
[on it].
And among them (is
he) who has fulfilled his vow and among them (is he) who awaits. And not they
alter (by) any alteration –
[Al-Quran 33:23]
Men who maintain
the Mosques
فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ فِيهَا بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ
رِجَالٌ لَّا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ يَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَالْأَبْصَارُ
لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا وَيَزِيدَهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ وَاللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
In houses (which)
Allah ordered that they be raised and be mentioned in them His name. Glorify
[to] Him in them in the mornings and (in) the evenings.
Men - not distracts them trade and not sale from (the) remembrance of
Allah and (from) establishing the prayer and giving zakah. They fear a Day will
turn about therein the hearts and the eyes.
That Allah may reward
them (with the) best (of) what they did, and increase them from His Bounty. And
Allah provides whom He wills without measure.
وَالَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مَسْجِدًا ضِرَارًا وَكُفْرًا وَتَفْرِيقًا بَيْنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَإِرْصَادًا لِّمَنْ حَارَبَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَيَحْلِفُنَّ إِنْ أَرَدْنَا إِلَّا الْحُسْنَىٰ وَاللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ
لَا تَقُمْ فِيهِ أَبَدًا لَّمَسْجِدٌ أُسِّسَ عَلَى التَّقْوَىٰ مِنْ أَوَّلِ يَوْمٍ أَحَقُّ أَن تَقُومَ فِيهِ فِيهِ رِجَالٌ يُحِبُّونَ أَن يَتَطَهَّرُوا وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُطَّهِّرِينَ
And those who take a
masjid (for causing) harm and (for) disbelief, and (for) division among the
believers, and (as) a station for whoever warred (against) Allah and His
Messenger before. And surely they will swear, "Not we wish except the
good." But Allah bears witness indeed, they (are) surely liars.
(Do) not stand in it
ever. A masjid founded on the righteousness from (the) first day (is) more
worthy that you stand in it. Within it (are) men
who love to purify themselves, and Allah loves the ones who purify themselves.
Allah will Question about The Covenant
وَلَقَدْ كَانُوا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ مِن قَبْلُ
لَا يُوَلُّونَ الْأَدْبَارَ
وَكَانَ عَهْدُ اللَّهِ مَسْئُولًا
And certainly
they had promised Allah before,
not
they would turn their backs.
And is (the)
promise (to) Allah to be questioned.
[Al-Quran 33:15]
أَلَمْ أَعْهَدْ إِلَيْكُمْ
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ
أَن لَّا تَعْبُدُوا الشَّيْطَانَ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
وَأَنِ اعْبُدُونِي هَٰذَا صِرَاطٌ مُّسْتَقِيمٌ
Did not I
enjoin upon you
O Children of
Adam!
That (do) not worship the
Shaitaan, indeed, he (is) for you an enemy clear,
And that you worship Me? This
(is) a Path Straight.
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Bani Adam witness over their NAFS
The
Quran mentions an event, prior to our birth, when all bani Adam witnessed their
NAFS and testified that Allah is their Rab:
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِن بَنِي آدَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ قَالُوا بَلَىٰ شَهِدْنَا أَن تَقُولُوا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَٰذَا غَافِلِينَ
أَوْ تَقُولُوا إِنَّمَا أَشْرَكَ آبَاؤُنَا مِن قَبْلُ وَكُنَّا ذُرِّيَّةً مِّن بَعْدِهِمْ أَفَتُهْلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
أَوْ تَقُولُوا إِنَّمَا أَشْرَكَ آبَاؤُنَا مِن قَبْلُ وَكُنَّا ذُرِّيَّةً مِّن بَعْدِهِمْ أَفَتُهْلِكُنَا بِمَا فَعَلَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
And when your Lord took from (the) Children (of) Adam - from their loins -
their descendants and made them witness over their NAFS, "Am I not your
Lord?" They said, "Yes we have testified."
Lest you say (on the) Day (of) the Resurrection, "Indeed, we were about this unaware." Or you say, "Only our forefathers associated partners (with Allah) before (us) and we are descendants after them. So will You destroy us for what did the falsifiers?"
And thus We explain the ayaat so that they may return.
Lest you say (on the) Day (of) the Resurrection, "Indeed, we were about this unaware." Or you say, "Only our forefathers associated partners (with Allah) before (us) and we are descendants after them. So will You destroy us for what did the falsifiers?"
And thus We explain the ayaat so that they may return.
Consequence of breaking the Covenant
وَالطُّورِ
By the Mount,
By the Mount,
[Al-Quran 52:1]
Surah at-Tur begins with a series of oaths, and then goes on
to state:
إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ لَوَاقِعٌ مَّا لَهُ مِن دَافِعٍ
Indeed, (the) punishment (of) your Lord (will) surely occur. Not for it any preventer.
Indeed, (the) punishment (of) your Lord (will) surely occur. Not for it any preventer.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا أُولَٰئِكَ لَا خَلَاقَ لَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَلَا يَنظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Indeed, those who exchange (the) Covenant (of) Allah and their oaths (for) a price little, those - no share for them in the Hereafter and not will Allah speak to them, and not look at them (on the) Day (of) the Resurrection and not purify them, and for them (is) a punishment painful.
Indeed, those who exchange (the) Covenant (of) Allah and their oaths (for) a price little, those - no share for them in the Hereafter and not will Allah speak to them, and not look at them (on the) Day (of) the Resurrection and not purify them, and for them (is) a punishment painful.
[Al-Quran 3:77]
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَأَخْبَتُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
Indeed, those who believe and do good deeds and humble themselves before their Lord, those (are the) companions (of) Paradise, they in it (will) abide forever.
Indeed, those who believe and do good deeds and humble themselves before their Lord, those (are the) companions (of) Paradise, they in it (will) abide forever.
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So We sent on them
the flood and the locusts and the lice and the frogs and the blood (as) signs
manifest, but they showed arrogance and they were a criminal people.
And when fell
on them the punishment, they said, "O Musa! Invoke for us your Lord by
what He has promised to you. If you remove from us the punishment surely, we
will believe [for] you and surely, we will send with you (the) Children (of)
Israel."
But
when We removed from them the punishment till a (fixed) term (which) they were
to reach [it], then, they broke (the word).
So We took
retribution from them and We drowned them in the sea because they denied Our
Signs, and they were to them heedless.
Men on Heights (Ashaab-ul-Aaraaf)
Another
passage which further convinces me of the covenant having been taken from men
is the mention of the ‘men on heights’ awaiting a decision about their fate.
A
few ayaat earlier, Q7:40, it
is mentioned that the arrogant falsifiers will not be able to enter heaven till
the camel passes through the eye of the needle, probably a very distant time in
the future.
Then
the men on heights are mentioned, (Q7:46), who would be hopeful of
ascending into the Gardens of Heaven, while also looking at the people in the
Fire of Hell, praying that they be spared of that dreadful fate. Eventually,
they will be granted entry into the Gardens of Eternity through the Mercy of
Allah (Q7:49).
And between them
(will be) a partition, and on the heights (will be) men
recognizing all by their marks. And they will call out (to the) companions (of)
Paradise that "Peace (be) upon you." Not they have entered it but
they hope.
And when are turned
their eyes towards (the) companions (of) the Fire, they (will) say, "Our
Lord! (Do) not place us with the people - the wrongdoers."
And (will) call out
(the) companions (of) the heights (to) men whom they recognize by their marks
saying, "Not (has) availed [to] you your gathering and what you were
arrogant (about)."
Are these the ones
whom you had sworn that Allah (will) not grant them Mercy? "Enter
Paradise. (There will be) no fear upon you and not you will grieve."
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----------------------------------------
References & Links:
The Quran
-(for 50+ English translations of the Arabic text):
-(for concordance, root words and grammar):
Male Circumcision (for Abrahamic and Jewish covenant):
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Last updated on March 22, 2023
