arRahman arRaheem

...

 قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Say, "He (is) Allah, the One.

Allah, the Eternal, the Absolute.

Not He begets and not He is begotten.

And not is for Him equivalent any [one]."

[Al-Quran 112]

The Quran introduces Allah as arRahman arRaheem. One hundred and thirteen surahs begin with the statement: With the name of Allah, arRahman arRaheem (Arabic: بِسۡمِ اللهِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِيۡمِ). The only surah which doesn't begin with this invocation is the ninth surah, which is a declaration of war against the polytheists of Mecca after two decades of inviting them to faith. 

We have a list of ninety-nine names or attributes of Allah. The predominant names are arRahman and arRaheem. Including the Bismillah of only the first surah, the name arRahman is mentioned fifty-seven times, and arRaheem one hundred and sixteen times, in their nominal form. In other grammatical forms,  the root ر ح م occurs several times, as can be seen in the corpus.quran.com website: 

The triliteral root rā ḥā mīm (ر ح م) occurs 339 times in the Quran, in nine derived forms:

• 28 times as the form I verb raḥima (رَّحِمَ)
• 12 times as the noun arḥām (أَرْحَام)
• four times as the noun arḥam (أَرْحَم)
• once as the noun ruḥ'm (رُحْم)
• 57 times as the nominal raḥmān (رَّحْمَٰن)
• 114 times as the noun raḥmat (رَحْمَة)
• 116 times as the nominal raḥīm (رَّحِيم)
• once as the noun marḥamat (مَرْحَمَة)
• six times as the active participle rāḥimīn (رَّٰحِمِين)

The words arRahman and arRaheem mean Merciful. As some scholars describe it, 

•  arRahman means a huge amount of immediate mercy, like when you see someone in need and you feel overwhelmed with compassion, and do a lot for them 
• arRaheem means constantly merciful, in that His Mercy is not like our mercy which wears out after a while. Allah continues to be permanently merciful, and this aspect of His Mercy is exclusively for the believers who will succeed in the Hereafter. 

The Quran informs us that Allah has a Nafs. In fact, twice does Allah warn us against His Nafs. 

Our nafs is in pledge for what it earns. We are repeatedly invited to submit our will to Allah's Will, that is Islam (submission to Allah's Will), and that is the only Deen (law of recompense / religion) acceptable to Allah. We need to become Muslims. 

In Surah alAn'am, twice we find that Allah has decreed upon His Nafs mercy: 

قُل لِّمَن مَّا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ قُل لِّلَّهِ ۚ كَتَبَ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ ٱلرَّحْمَةَ ۚ لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۚ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ١٢

Say, "To whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth?" Say, "To Allāh." He has decreed upon Himself mercy. He will surely assemble you for the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt. Those who will lose themselves [that Day] do not believe.

— Saheeh International

Say, “To whom belongs all that is in the heavens and on the earth?” Say, “To Allah.” He has prescribed Mercy for Himself. He will surely gather you on the Day of Resurrection in which there is no doubt.Those who have brought loss to themselves are not going to believe.

— T. Usmani

پوچھو کہ کس کا ہے جو کچھ آسمانوں اور زمین میں ہے کہو سب کچھ اللہ کا ہے اس نے اپنے اوپر رحمت لکھ لی ہے وہ ضرور تم کو جمع کرے گا قیامت کے دن، اس میں کوئی شک نہیں  جن لوگوں نے اپنے آپ کو گھاٹے میں ڈالا، وہی ہیں جو اس پر ایمان نہیں لاتے

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

[Al-Quran 6:12]

That we are here, on Earth, living this life, with all the blessings, and guidance, and the lifetime of opportunities to accept the guidance and submit to Allah's Will, is due to Allah being arRahman. 

That the believers have the opportunity to repent from their ignorant ways, and be forgiven, and that they can then hope to find mercy, is Allah being arRaheem. 

So, in the same surah, we find: 

وَإِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ ٱلرَّحْمَةَ ۖ أَنَّهُۥ مَنْ عَمِلَ مِنكُمْ سُوٓءًۢا بِجَهَـٰلَةٍۢ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَنَّهُۥ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ ٥٤

And when those come to you who believe in Our verses, say, "Peace be upon you. Your Lord has decreed upon Himself mercy: that any of you who does wrong out of ignorance and then repents after that and corrects himself - indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful."

— Saheeh International

When those who believe in Our verses come to you, say to them, “Peace on you. Your Lord has prescribed for Himself mercy, so that if any one of you does an evil deed out of ignorance and thereafter repents and mends his ways, then (you will see that) He is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.

— T. Usmani

اور جب تمھارے پاس وہ لوگ آئیں جو ہماری آیات پر ایمان لائے ہیں تو ان سے کہو کہ تم پر سلامتی ہو تمھارے رب نے اپنے اوپر رحمت لکھ لی ہے بے شک تم میں سے جو کوئی نادانی سے برائی کر بیٹھے پھر اس کے بعد وہ توبہ کرے اور اصلاح کرلے تو اللہ بخشنے والا مہربان ہے

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

[Al-Quran 6:54]

Surah alAn'am presents the example of Allah repeatedly coming to our rescue in this world, His aspect of arRahman taking precedence: 

قُلْ مَن يُنَجِّيكُم مِّن ظُلُمَـٰتِ ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ تَدْعُونَهُۥ تَضَرُّعًۭا وَخُفْيَةًۭ لَّئِنْ أَنجَىٰنَا مِنْ هَـٰذِهِۦ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ ٦٣

Say, "Who rescues you from the darknesses of the land and sea [when] you call upon Him imploring [aloud] and privately, 'If He should save us from this [crisis], we will surely be among the thankful.'"

— Saheeh International

Say, “Who is the One who delivers you from the darkness of the land and the sea when you supplicate Him in humility and in low tones (promising): ‘If He delivers us from this, We shall truly become grateful?’”

— T. Usmani

کہو، کون تم کو نجات دیتا ہے خشکی اور سمندر کی تاریکیوں سے، تم اس کو پکارتے ہو عاجزی سے اور چپکے چپکے کہ اگر خدا نے ہم کو نجات دے دی اس مصیبت سے تو ہم اس کے شکر گزار بندوں میں سے بن جائیں گے

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يُنَجِّيكُم مِّنْهَا وَمِن كُلِّ كَرْبٍۢ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ ٦٤

Say, "It is Allāh who saves you from it and from every distress; then you [still] associate others with Him."

— Saheeh International

Say, “Allah delivers you from it and from every pain; Yet still, you associate partners with Him.”

— T. Usmani

کہو، خدا ہی تم کو نجات دیتا ہے اس سے اور ہر تکلیف سے، پھر بھی تم شرک کرنے لگتے ہو

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

قُلْ هُوَ ٱلْقَادِرُ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًۭا مِّن فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِن تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًۭا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ ۗ ٱنظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَفْقَهُونَ ٦٥

Say, "He is the [one] Able to send upon you affliction from above you or from beneath your feet or to confuse you [so you become] sects and make you taste the violence of one another." Look how We diversify the signs that they might understand.

— Saheeh International

Say, “He is fully capable that He should send a punishment from above you or from beneath your feet, or to put you in confusion through divisions, and make some of you taste troubles through some others.” See how We bring forth explaining verses from different angles, so that they may understand.

— T. Usmani

کہو، خدا قادر ہے اس پر کہ وہ تم پر کوئی عذاب بھیج دے تمھارے اوپر سے یا تمھارے پیروں کے نیچے سے یا تم کو گروہ گروہ کر کے ایک کو دوسرے کی طاقت کا مزہ چکھا دے دیکھو، ہم کس طرح دلائل مختلف پہلوؤں سے بیان کرتے ہیں تاکہ وہ سمجھیں

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

وَكَذَّبَ بِهِۦ قَوْمُكَ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ ۚ قُل لَّسْتُ عَلَيْكُم بِوَكِيلٍۢ ٦٦

But your people have denied it while it is the truth. Say, "I am not over you a manager [i.e., authority]."

— Saheeh International

Your people have rejected it (the Qur’ān) while it is the whole truth. Say, “I am not appointed as a taskmaster over you.

— T. Usmani

اور تمھاری قوم نے اس کو جھٹلادیا ہے حالاں کہ وہ حق ہے کہو، میں تمھارے اوپر داروغہ نہیں ہوں

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

لِّكُلِّ نَبَإٍۢ مُّسْتَقَرٌّۭ ۚ وَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ ٦٧

For every news [i.e., happening] is a finality; and you are going to know.

— Saheeh International

For every event there is a point (of time and place) to occur, and you will soon know (it).”

— T. Usmani

ہر خبر کے ليے ایک وقت مقرر ہے اور تم جلد ہی جان لو گے

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا۟ فِى حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِۦ ۚ وَإِمَّا يُنسِيَنَّكَ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ مَعَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ٦٨

And when you see those who engage in [offensive] discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversation. And if Satan should cause you to forget, then do not remain after the reminder with the wrongdoing people.

— Saheeh International

When you see those who indulge in (blaspheming) Our verses, turn away from them until they become occupied with some other discourse. If Satan should cause you to forget (this instruction), then do not sit with the unjust people after recollection.

— T. Usmani

اور جب تم ان لوگوں کو دیکھو جو ہماری آیتوں میں عیب نکالتے ہیں تو ان سے الگ ہوجاؤ، یہاں تک کہ وہ کسی اور بات میں لگ جائیں  اور اگر کبھی شیطان تم کو بھلادے تو یاد آنے کے بعد ایسے بے انصاف لوگوں کے پاس نہ بیٹھو

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

وَمَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ مِنْ حِسَابِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍۢ وَلَـٰكِن ذِكْرَىٰ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ ٦٩

And those who fear Allāh are not held accountable for them [i.e., the disbelievers] at all, but [only for] a reminder - that perhaps they will fear Him.

— Saheeh International

Those who fear Allah are not responsible for any (evil) act in the account of these (infidels), except for advising them, so that they may be careful.

— T. Usmani

اور جولوگ اللہ سے ڈرتے ہیں ، ان پر ان کے حساب میں سے کسی چیزکی ذمہ داری نہیں ، البتہ یاد دلانا ہے شاید کہ وہ بھی ڈریں

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

وَذَرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ دِينَهُمْ لَعِبًۭا وَلَهْوًۭا وَغَرَّتْهُمُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ وَذَكِّرْ بِهِۦٓ أَن تُبْسَلَ نَفْسٌۢ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ لَيْسَ لَهَا مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِىٌّۭ وَلَا شَفِيعٌۭ وَإِن تَعْدِلْ كُلَّ عَدْلٍۢ لَّا يُؤْخَذْ مِنْهَآ ۗ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُبْسِلُوا۟ بِمَا كَسَبُوا۟ ۖ لَهُمْ شَرَابٌۭ مِّنْ حَمِيمٍۢ وَعَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْفُرُونَ ٧٠

And leave those who take their religion as amusement and diversion and whom the worldly life has deluded. But remind with it [i.e., the Qur’ān], lest a soul be given up to destruction for what it earned; it will have other than Allāh no protector and no intercessor. And if it should offer every compensation, it would not be taken from it [i.e., that soul]. Those are the ones who are given to destruction for what they have earned. For them will be a drink of scalding water and a painful punishment because they used to disbelieve.

— Saheeh International

Avoid those who have taken their faith as fun and games. The worldly life has deceived them. Preach with it (the Qur’ān), lest one should be seized for what he did, in a way that he should have neither a helper besides Allah, nor an intercessor. Should he offer every (sort of) ransom, it will not be accepted from him. Those are the ones who are seized for what they themselves earned. For them there is a drink of boiling water, and a painful punishment, because they used to disbelieve.

— T. Usmani

ان لوگوں کو چھوڑو جنھوں نے اپنے دین کو کھیل تماشا بنا رکھا ہے اور جن کو دنیا کی زندگی نے دھوکے میں ڈال رکھا ہے اور قرآن کے ذریعہ نصیحت کرتے رہو تاکہ کوئی شخص اپنے کيے میں گرفتار نہ ہوجائے، اس حال میں کہ اللہ سے بچانے والا کوئی مدد گار اور سفارشی اس کے ليے نہ ہو اگر وہ دنیا بھر کا معاوضہ دے تب بھی وہ قبول نہ کیا جائے یہی لوگ ہیں جو اپنے کيے میں گرفتار ہوگئے ان کے ليے کھولتا ہواپانی پینے کے ليے ہوگا اور درد ناک سزا ہوگی اس ليے کہ وہ کفر کرتے تھے

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

[Al-Quran 6:63-70]

The Quran amply warns us, repeatedly, again and again informing us of Gardens beneath which waters flow, and Fires of great punishment. The Quran makes it very clear that the life of the Hereafter is immortal, and the residence in either is permanent. 

arRahman arRaheem is graciously offering us the Gardens as our eternal home, but he will not compel anyone to make that choice. We are free to choose. Only through His Mercy can we be saved. 

...

Also read:

... if you slip  

The Second Chance 

The State of Muslims in the twenty-first century 

Prayers - The Need for Allah's Help 

... and Join Me with The Reformed 

Accepting Responsibility 

The Folding of The Sky 

Shield and Armour 

The Return to Glory 

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...

Accepting Responsibility

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37:143

فَلَوْلَآ أَنَّهُۥ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلْمُسَبِّحِينَ ١٤٣

Prophet Jonah (Yunus عليه السلام) was caught in a storm, thrown overboard, and swallowed by a fish, as he was blameworthy. He was running away from a mission. He remained inside the fish for three days, and then he was granted relief. The reason for the relief was that he was doing 'tasbeeh' of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎  when caught in that situation. After being delivered on the shore, and health restored, he was sent on a mission to a hundred thousand or more. They believed and thus were saved from Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ 's punishment. 

The word 'tasbeeh' means declaring that Allah is free from any imperfection. In Prophet Jonah's situation, he thought that he should not be asked to preach to the sinful people, of which was perhaps the most sinful and largest city of its time, in the world. He didn't consider them worthy of being saved. Yet, Allah knew what was in their hearts. He knew that it was worth trying to save them. He commanded Jonah to go as His Messenger, and to inform them that they have only forty days before their punishment comes. They believed, repented, fasted, abstained, and made amends. Therefore, they were saved from the punishment.  

Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎  is perfect in His Justice. He does not punish people without just cause. He gives everyone enough opportunities and time to repent and do acts of reform. Also, Allah does not compel people to believe. Many nations have been punished and annihilated when they refused to believe the Messengers of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ , and failed to undertake the required acts of reform. 

Those who have been granted guidance by Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ , they have a duty to preach to others. They have to inform people about Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ and His perfect justice, endorsing the lawful, decent, recognised (maroof), and forbidding the unlawful, wicked, unrecognised (munkar), while remaining within their limits of authority. People in power and position can legislate accordingly and enforce it as well, ordinary citizens can advise but not compel the general public, yet those who have been placed under their care, be it children or employees, they should try to do what they can to help them save themselves. Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ knows who to grant guidance to, and who will willingly submit, yet we must do our part. 

There is a famous Hadith [1] attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that when a town was about to be destroyed, the punishment came upon its most religious person first as his face never displayed displeasure for Allah's sake. Another Hadith [2] is about punishment befalling people for not stopping the wrongdoer from doing wrong. (references below) 

Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ intends no injustice towards anyone. We must strive to establish Allah's Deen. Worship of Allah only, social justice, and peace are all linked together in one grand scheme. 

Various translators translate the word for the one who does tasbeeh variously: 

Had he not ˹constantly˺ glorified ˹Allah˺,[1]

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

[1] Before being swallowed and while inside the whale (see 21:87). The lesson is: good deeds are of great help during difficult times.

And had he not been of those who exalt Allāh,

— Saheeh International

Had he not been of those who proclaim Allah’s purity,

— T. Usmani

If he had not been one of those who glorified God,

— M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

Had he not been one of those who glorify Allah,1

— A. Maududi (Tafhim commentary)

[1]It has two meanings and both are implied: (1) That the Prophet Jonah (peace be upon him) was not of the people who are heedless of God, but was of those who glorify and adore Allah constantly and perpetually. (2) That when he went inside the fish, he turned to Allah alone and glorified Him. In Surah Al-Anbiya it has been said: He invoked Us from the depths of the darkness, saying: There is no god but You: Glory be to You: I am indeed blameworthy. (verse 87).

And had he not been one of those who glorify (Allah)

— M. Pickthall

Had it not been that he (repented and) glorified Allah,

— A. Yusuf Ali

Had he not been of them who glorify Allâh,

— Al-Hilali & Khan

۔ اب اگر وہ تسبیح کرنے والوں میں سے نہ ہوتا

— Fe Zilal al-Qur'an

اب اگر وہ تسبیح کرنے والوں میں سے نہ ہوتا 1

— Tafheem e Qur'an - Syed Abu Ali Maududi

[1] اس کے دو مطلب ہیں اور دونوں ہی مراد ہیں ۔ ایک  مطلب یہ ہے کہ حضرت یونس علیہ السلام پہلے ہی خدا سے غافل لوگوں میں سے نہ تھے ،  بلکہ ان لوگوں میں سے تھے جو دائماً اللہ کی تسبیح کرنے والے ہیں ۔ دوسرے یہ کہ جب  وہ مچھلی کے پیٹ میں پہنچے تو انہوں نے اللہ ہی کی طرف رجوع کیا اور اس کی تسبیح  کی۔ سورہ انبیا میں ارشاد ہوا ہے فَنَا دٰ ی فِی  الظُّلُمٰتِ اَن ْ لَّآ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ سُبْحَا نَکَ اِنِّی کُنْتُ مِنِ  الظَّا لِمِیْنَ ۔ پس  ان تاریکیوں میں اس نے پکارا ’’ نہیں ہے کوئی خدا مگر تو، پاک ہے تیری ذات ،بے شک  میں قصور وار ہوں ۔‘‘

پھر اگر وہ (خدا کی) پاکی بیان نہ کرتے

— Fatah Muhammad Jalandhari

تو اگر وہ تسبیح کرنے والوں میں سے نہ ہوتا۔

— بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد)

پھر اگر نہ ہوتی یہ بات کہ وہ یاد کرتا تھا پاک ذات کو

— Shaykh al-Hind Mahmud al-Hasan(with Tafsir E Usmani)

پس اگر یہ پاکی بیان کرنے والوں میں سے نہ ہوتے.

— Maulana Muhammad Junagarhi

Ab agar woh tasbeeh karne walon mein se na hota to

— Abul Ala Maududi(Roman Urdu)

پس اگر وہ تسبیح کرنے والوں میں سے نہ ہوتا

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

[Al-Quran 37:143]

Hadith References: 

[1] https://islam.stackexchange.com/questions/46850/what-nation-did-allah-order-to-destroy-where-a-believer-lived

[2] https://sunnah.com/urn/740600 

Related Posts: 

Acknowledging the Perfection of our Lord 

Anger, Anguish & The Repentance 

Maroof & Munkar 

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The Return to Glory

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قُلْ أَمَرَ رَبِّى بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍۢ وَٱدْعُوهُ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ ۚ كَمَا بَدَأَكُمْ تَعُودُونَ ٢٩

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “My Lord has commanded uprightness and dedication ˹to Him alone˺ in worship, calling upon Him with sincere devotion. Just as He first brought you into being, you will be brought to life again.”

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

Say, [O Muḥammad], "My Lord has ordered justice and that you direct yourselves [to the Qiblah] at every place [or time] of prostration, and invoke Him, sincere to Him in religion." Just as He originated you, you will return [to life] -

— Saheeh International

Say: My Lord enjoineth justice. And set your faces upright (toward Him) at every place of worship and call upon Him, making religion pure for Him (only). As He brought you into being, so return ye (unto Him).

— M. Pickthall

Say: "My Lord hath commanded justice; and that ye set your whole selves (to Him) at every time and place of prayer, and call upon Him, making your devotion sincere as in His sight: such as He created you in the beginning, so shall ye return."

— A. Yusuf Ali

[Al-Quran, 7:29]

بَدَأَكُمْ

The triliteral root bā dāl hamza (ب د أ) occurs 15 times in the Quran. The verbs formed with this root mean to originate or to begin, indicating the original creation, the excellent form, the prototype created by Allah. 

In Surah as-Sajdah, we read: 

ٱلَّذِىٓ أَحْسَنَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقَهُۥ ۖ وَبَدَأَ خَلْقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنِ مِن طِينٍۢ ٧

Who has perfected everything He created. And He originated the creation of humankind from clay.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

Who perfected everything which He created and began the creation of man from clay.

— Saheeh International

Who made all things good which He created, and He began the creation of man from clay;

— M. Pickthall

He Who has made everything which He has created most good: He began the creation of man with (nothing more than) clay,

— A. Yusuf Ali

[Al-Quran, 32:7]

The Quran informs us that Allah created everything, and He created everything good. The originals were perfectly created. It negates the concept of evolution. In fact, it informs us of the devolution of humans, and the devolution of the planet as a whole. 

The Quran informs us that Allah has blessings which He bestows upon to improve the condition, from good to better to best, for whom He wills, as the Kingdom of the Skies and Earth is in His Hands. He created death and life in order to test which of you is the better in deeds. Death is an absence of water welling up in cells of organisms, leading to their disintegration. Life is the thriving of organisms, with ample and appropriate amounts of water, being put to use for the benefit of the organism. 

Everything that can be used for benefit, can also be misused. 

Everyone whose condition can be improved, can also be worsened. 

It states that The Hour will be established to reward each nafs for what it earns. 

The Quran (2:35-36) informs us that when Adam disobeyed, and ate from the forbidden tree, they (he and his wife) slipped out of what they were in. The Quran (7:22-27) informs us that they lost their original clothing, put their nafs in darkness, tried to cover their wounds, and were banished from The Garden. The Bible informs us that Allah provided them garments of skin, and The Quran informs us that clothing was sent upon the Children of Adam to conceal their shame, and to beautify them. 

The Quran (20:117-119) informs that in The Garden, there was plenty for them to neither go naked, nor hungry, nor thirsty, nor suffer hot temperatures. 

The Garden was splendid, and so were Adam and his wife. 

The Quran informs us that Allah has created humans from a single nafs (soul) and that He created the first nafs' mate from her self. That our mates are from our nafs (soul) is also an ayat (sign). 

The Bible informs us that Adam's wife was created from his rib. The Quran informs us that we have been created from dust, and uses the same root for the word for ribs, and for the wives of the people in The Gardens in the Hereafter, promised to those who believe and do acts of reform. 

The Quran also warns us to not to corrupt the Earth after it has been reformed. It foretells climate change, and it foretells the release of criminals. It also foretells the darkness hypocrisy will bring. Rejection of foretold consequences will not change the future, rather there will come a day when the darkness of accumulated sins will envelop and blot out all Nur. The Quran explains that though Allah takes care of most things, but He does allow some of our corruptions to be manifested on land and sea to let us taste what our hands have sent forth. It also informs us of the rolling up and recreation of the Sky (7:104). It also informs us that the gates in the sky will not be opened for the criminals till a 'jml' can pass through the eye of a needle. This probably indicates the devolution of species.  

Q7:29 (quoted at the beginning of this post) informs us that as we were created originally, so will we be recreated.  

The Quran (17:60, 37:62-73, 44:43-48) also warns us about the Tree of Zaqqum which will be a trial in the Hereafter for those who put their nafs in darkness. The criminals will eat from it, suffer the consequences, and will remain imprisoned in Hell, forever, unable to die. Those who reject 'Our Signs', every time their skins are roasted through, it will be replaced with fresh skin, so they will keep tasting the punishment (Q4:56). 

The Quran informs us that those who believe and do acts of reform (personal and public) will be rewarded with inheritance of the Gardens in the Hereafter, which they will enter in their reformed state, as they were created originally. The life of the Hereafter is forever. 

The Quran also mentions the people who will await the decision about their fate for a very long time, fearing the fires of Hell, and hoping for the gardens of the Hereafter. Eventually, they will be granted relief. 

The Quran (11:106-108) informs us that the existence of the Hereafter is without death. It shall last as long as the skies and earth last, except as Allah wills, as He accomplishes whatever He plans to do.  

Each nafs must die in this world. Adam was attempting immortality and a kingdom that never decays (eternal health) when he disobeyed. He was attempting to make changes in his nafs. We cannot improve upon our nafs. Disobedience and sin only bring darkness and cause harm. Only Allah can make the nafs grow and provide it with Nur (a special kind of light). We need our nafs reinstalled in our body, and it being in a state of Nur for us to enter the Gardens of the Hereafter. 

A satisfied nafs, pleased with her Lord, and her Lord pleased with her (Q89:27-30).    

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تَعُودُونَ

The word تَعُودُونَ means repeat or return. 

For example, Eid is a festival that repeats annually:

5:114

قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبْنُ مَرْيَمَ ٱللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَآ أَنزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَآئِدَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًۭا لِّأَوَّلِنَا وَءَاخِرِنَا وَءَايَةًۭ مِّنكَ ۖ وَٱرْزُقْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ ١١٤

Jesus, son of Mary, prayed, “O Allah, our Lord! Send us from heaven a table spread with food as a feast for us—the first and last of us—and as a sign from You. Provide for us! You are indeed the Best Provider.”

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

Said Jesus, the son of Mary, "O Allāh, our Lord, send down to us a table [spread with food] from the heaven to be for us a festival for the first of us and the last of us and a sign from You. And provide for us, and You are the best of providers."

— Saheeh International

Jesus, son of Mary, said: O Allah, Lord of us! Send down for us a table spread with food from heaven, that it may be a feast for us, for the first of us and for the last of us, and a sign from Thee. Give us sustenance, for Thou art the Best of Sustainers.

— M. Pickthall

Said Jesus the son of Mary: "O Allah our Lord! Send us from heaven a table set (with viands), that there may be for us - for the first and the last of us - a solemn festival and a sign from thee; and provide for our sustenance, for thou art the best Sustainer (of our needs)."

— A. Yusuf Ali

[Al-Quran 5:114] 

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The struggle between Haqq and Baatil will culminate in the success of those who choose Haqq, who will consequently inherit the grand role that Adam and his progeny were created for. In truth will they serve their True Lord, Allah, The Omnipotent King of All the Worlds: 

Related Blogs:

https://signsandscience.blogspot.com 

https://expeditionthink.blogspot.com  

Last updated on: February 22, 2025

The Conditional Pardon

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Screenshot from quran.com

Screenshot from corpus.quran.com

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Adam received 'kalimatin' from his Lord (Q2:37) when he prayed for cover and mercy. 

Abraham was tried with 'kalimatin' which he completed (Q2:124) before being appointed Imam. 

There is no changing Allah's 'kalimat' (Q6:34) His Help definitely comes eventually for His Messengers. 

Allah's 'kalimati' was completed in truth and justice (Q6:115) He sent the clear guidance and laws to judge whereby, even though the disbelieving shayateen (both humans and jinns) are averse to it and strive against it.   

Screenshot from quran.com

All humans are being invited to believe in the foretold Messenger of Allah, ..., the ummi Prophet who believes in Allah and His 'kalimati' (Q7:158), and follow him, so that you may be guided.  

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According to Bible (Genesis 3), after Adam's disobedience and its consequent disrobing, they were sentenced to certain difficult trials in the life of this world. The following is an excerpt from Adam's Fall in Genesis 3 in the light of The Quran: 

Genesis 3 14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent: 'Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou from among all cattle, and from among all beasts of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.

upon thy belly... 

In Surah al-Mulk, we read: 

أَفَمَن يَمْشِي مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ أَهْدَىٰ أَمَّن يَمْشِي سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ

Is he who goeth groping on his face more rightly guided, or he who walketh upright on a straight road
[Al-Quran 67:22, Translation: Pickthal]

... dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.

Quoting https://creation.com/snakes-do-eat-dust 

There is an organ in the roof of a snake’s mouth called ‘Jacobson’s organ’. This helps the snake to smell in addition to its nose. Its darting, forked tongue samples bits of dust by picking them up on the points of the fork, which it then presents to its matching pair of sensory organs inside its mouth. Once it has ‘smelt’ them in this way, the tongue must be cleaned so the process can be repeated immediately.

Therefore serpents really do lick dust and eat it.

Genesis 3 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; they shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise their heel.' {S}

Genesis 3 16 Unto the woman He said: 'I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy travail; in pain thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.' {S}

Genesis 3 17 And unto Adam He said: 'Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying: Thou shalt not eat of it; cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.

Genesis 3 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. 

Genesis 3 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.' 

Excerpt from The Beginning of Agriculture: 

The Bible informs us that agriculture was the punishment meted out to Adam for his disobedience. 

Biblical scholars date Adam to have existed anywhere between 4,000 -10,000 years ago. 

Agriculture is generally dated to have started around 7,000 - 9,000 years ago. 

There seems to be an overlap, if the above assumed dates are correct. However, there are many differences of opinions. The common theme is that:

• humans existed before Adam (Genesis 1, Quran 15:26), 
• Adam was created later (Genesis 2, Quran 15:28),
• agriculture came into existence later 

The Bible and The Quran inform us that initially Adam had been placed in a comfortable Garden where all his needs were provided for. The cultivated Garden pre-existed Adam. 

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So, here we are, living out our lives in the 'kalimat' of our Lord. Men must work, women must endure the pains of childbirth, the snake must taste dust, ... Allah promised guidance, and sent many prophets and messengers with clear guidance and laws. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the the final Messenger  of Allah. The Quran is Allah's final message to mankind before the promised reckoning. We must heed to it before the Hour comes upon us. 

We are living in the Grace of Allah's acceptance of our 'duas'. We must make the best of the opportunity given to us, embrace the trials of this life, and place our hope in Allah's Promise of a beautiful return to the Gardens of Eternal Bliss. 

[Al-Quran, Surah alFurqan, ayaat 70-77, Reciter: Abdur Rahman as-Sudais]

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Fasting & The Rights of Others

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2:188

وَلَا تَأْكُلُوٓا۟ أَمْوَٰلَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَتُدْلُوا۟ بِهَآ إِلَى ٱلْحُكَّامِ لِتَأْكُلُوا۟ فَرِيقًۭا مِّنْ أَمْوَٰلِ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ١٨٨

Do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly, nor deliberately bribe authorities in order to devour a portion of others’ property, knowing that it is a sin.

— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran

And do not consume one another's wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful].

— Saheeh International

And eat not up your property among yourselves in vanity, nor seek by it to gain the hearing of the judges that ye may knowingly devour a portion of the property of others wrongfully.

— M. Pickthall

[Al-Quran 2:188]

Q2:188 is the last ayat of the twenty-third ruku of Surah al-Baqarah. This ruku contains the directives about Fasting. 

Fasting is abstaining from the permissible. So, it is interesting to note that the commands to fast are followed by the command to not to unjustly consume others' wealth. 

When Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ commanded Jonah (Yunus عليه السلام) to go to Nineveh, and deliver His Message, he didn't want to go. Yet, when he became convinced of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ 's Perfection, His Justice, he went to Ninevah to deliver the Message. It was probably the largest and most prosperous city, of its time, in the world. The Bible informs us that their wickedness was the reason for its impeding punishment. 

When Jonah (Yunus عليه السلام) delivered the Message that they had only forty days,  they immediately took to fasting, stopped eating and drinking, turning to God in repentance, gave up their evil ways, and thus the punishment was averted from them. 

In The Quran, we read about Jonah (Yunus عليه السلام). His story is narrated in greater detail in The Bible. 

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The ruku preceding contains ayaat about punishment for murder, the obligation of making a will on a dying person who is pious, and the sin of altering the will of that person. 

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In the ruku about fasting, we find a special permission to mate during the nights of the fasts. The wording is curious:

 ...  عَلِمَ اللّٰهُ اَنَّکُمۡ كُنۡتُمۡ تَخۡتَانُوۡنَ اَنۡفُسَکُمۡ فَتَابَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَعَفَا عَنۡكُمۡۚ ...

... Allah knows that you were deceiving yourselves nafs. So He has accepted your repentance and pardoned you. ...

[Al-Quran 2:187]

The triliteral root khā wāw nūn (خ و ن) is variously translated as deceive, betrayal, treachery, and so on. It is basically understood as to betray trust. So, even not taking care of one's own nafs is not okay. Even though the nafs is supposed to be controlled, and not obeyed when it commands sin, yet it also has rights that a pious believer must be mindful of. 

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Deen-e-Haqq

Islam is Deen-e-Haqq. Everyone and everything has certain rights that are obligated. The triliteral root ḥā qāf qāf (ح ق ق) occurs 287 times in the Quran, in seven derived forms. Usurping the rights of anyone is not permissible. We are accountable for everything. We must ensure that we do not cheat others or unlawfully consume other's wealth or property. Moreover, the poor have rights in the wealth of the rich. We must share from what we have been given. 

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Related Posts

Fasting 

Anger, Anguish & The Repentance (excerpt):

The Bible informs us:

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

6 When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh:

“By the decree of the king and his nobles:

Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”

10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

[The Bible, Jonah Chapter 3] 

The Punishment of Disgrace 
The Quran informs us that when Jonah returned to the mission assigned to him:

فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ آمَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَا إِيمَانُهَا إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّا آمَنُوا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ الْخِزْيِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ

So why not was any town that believed, and benefited it its faith, except the people (of) Yunus? When they believed, We removed from them (the) punishment (of) the disgrace in the life of the world and We granted them enjoyment for a time.

[Al-Quran 10:98]

Last updated on: January 26, 2025