Qur'anic Commentary (Sura 7)
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This is a commentary from the "Qur'an-aloner" perspective. It presents interpretations of all ayat relevant to the argument. I have altered the previous ones slightly and they can be found here
Sura 1 & 2
http//allpoetry.com/column/show/2364504mSura 3
http//allpoetry.com/column/show/2364515Sura 4
http//allpoetry.com/column/show/2364524Sura 5
http//allpoetry.com/column/show/2364530Sura 6
http//allpoetry.com/column/show/2364611Sura 7 (this one)
http//allpoetry.com/column/2364615Prayer according to the Qur'an alone
http//allpoetry.com/column/2364536Feel free to copy, paste and use as you wish.
?A Book revealed to you-- so let there be no straitness in your breast on account of it-- that you may warn thereby, and a reminder close to the believers. Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow guardians besides Him, how little do you mind.?
2-3
The Book (the Qur?an) is the only reminder for believers. We must follow the reminder that has been revealed, not else.
?Most certainly then We will question those to whom were sent, and most certainly We will also question the messengers.?
6
Those who receive the Message will be questioned since the Message is complete for our guidance (see 6157). Even Messengers will be questioned (they know nothing of their own fates (212). How then can we assume they are infallible?
?And as for him whose measure is light those are they who have made their souls suffer loss because they disbelieved in Our communications.?
9
Those who believe in the ayat will act rightly. Therefore the Qur?an is enough for our guidance.
?O children of Adam! We have indeed sent down to you clothing to cover your shame, and for beauty and clothing that guards , that is the best. This is of the communications of Allah that they may be mindful.?
26
The Qur?an details all things for our guidance.
?And when they commit an indecency they say We found our fathers doing this, and Allah has enjoined it on us. Say Surely Allah does not enjoin indecency; do you say against Allah what you do not know??
28
Do not make religious laws not in the Qur?an.
?Say My Lord has enjoined justice, and set upright your faces at every time of prayer and call on Him, being sincere to Him in obedience; as He brought you forth in the beginning, so shall you also return.?
29
The Qur?an provides specific details regarding salaat. If the traditional salaat is the only viable prayer, why then does not Allah (SWT) (who does not run out of words (18109)) detail it if this is truthful?
?A part has He guided aright and part, error is justly their due, surely they took the Shaitans for guardians beside Allah, and they think that they are followers of the right.?
30
Polytheists are unaware of their idolatry. This is because they followed other things besides the Qur?an. According to 12106, most "believers" are idol-worshippers.
?O children of Adam! attend to your embellishments at every time of prayer, and eat and drink and be not extravagant; surely He does not love the extravagant.?
31
More specific details of prayer.
?Say Who has prohibited the embellishment of Allah which He has brought forth for His servants and the good provisions? Say These are for the believers in the life of this world, purely on the resurrection day; thus do We make the communications clear for a people who know.?
32
The Qur?an is a clear discourse. We should not prohibit things without the authority of Allah (SWT) (through the Qur?an).
?Say My Lord has only prohibited indecencies, those of them that are apparent as well as those that are concealed, and sin and rebellion without justice, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down any authority, and that you say against Allah what you do not know.?
33
Hidden indecencies might include wrong attitudes or inappropriateness/extravagance (e.g. ?heavy-metal? music although this could be called ?open?). It is forbidden to uphold an external source as equal to the Qur?an (e.g. the ahadith).
?And for every nation there is a doom, so when their doom is come they shall not remain behind the least while, nor shall they go before. O children of Adam! if there come to you messengers from among you relating to you My communications, then whoever shall guard and act aright-- they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve.?
34-35
The Qur?an never mentions rejecting the ahadith (i.e. the ?sunna? of Muhammad (SAW)), only the consequences of accepting them (i.e. the ?sunna? of Muhammad (SAW)). These consequences are presented in 36-41
?And those who reject Our communications and turn away from them haughtily-- these are the inmates of the fire they shall abide in it. Who is then more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah or rejects His communications? those, their portion of the Book shall reach them, until when Our messengers come to them causing them to die, they shall say Where is that which you used to call upon besides Allah? They would say They are gone away from us; and they shall bear witness against themselves that they were unbelievers He will say Enter into fire among the nations that have passed away before you from among jinn and men; whenever a nation shall enter, it shall curse its sister, until when they have all come up with one another into it; the last of them shall say with regard to the foremost of them Our Lord! these led us astray therefore give them a double chastisement of the fire. He will say Every one shall have double but you do not know. And the foremost of them will say to the last of them So you have no preference over us; therefore taste the chastisement for what you earned. Surely those who reject Our communications and turn away from them haughtily, the doors of heaven shall not be opened for them, nor shall they enter the garden until the camel pass through the eye of the needle; and thus do We reward the guilty. They shall have a bed of hell-fire and from above them coverings ; and thus do We reward the unjust.?
Irresponsible hadith-acceptance is also described in 316
?And of men is he who takes instead frivolous ahadith to lead astray from Allah's path without knowledge, and to take it for a mockery; these shall have an abasing chastisement.?
?And We will remove whatever of ill-feeling is in their breasts; the rivers shall flow beneath them and they shall say All praise is due to Allah Who guided us to this, and we would not have found the way had it not been that Allah had guided us; certainly the messengers of our Lord brought the truth; and it shall be cried out to them that this is the garden of which you are made heirs for what you did.?
43
Only Allah (SWT) guides people. He does this by sending Messengers with the truth.
?Who hinder from Allah's way and seek to make it crooked, and they are disbelievers in the hereafter.?
45
Who hinders from Allah?s (SWT) Way but those who go against the sunna of Allah (SWT) given via the Qur?an?
?And certainly We have brought them a Book which We have made clear with knowledge, a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe. Do they wait for aught but its final sequel? On the day when its final sequel comes about, those who neglected it before will say Indeed the messengers of our Lord brought the truth; are there for us then any intercessors so that they should intercede on our behalf? Or could we be sent back so that we should do other than those which we did? Indeed they have lost their souls and that which they forged has gone away from them.?
52-53
The Qur?an is both clear and detailed. It is a guidance and a mercy for mankind, and it is the truth. There will (inshaAllah) be no intercession on the Day of Judgement.
?And as for the good land, its vegetation springs forth by the permission of its Lord, and that which is inferior comes forth but scantily; thus do We repeat the communications for a people who give thanks.?
58
Allah (SWT) repeats the ayat so that we can comprehend (we should not look at ayat in isolation).
?I deliver to you the messages of my Lord, and I offer you good advice and I know from Allah what you do not know. What! do you wonder that a reminder has come to you from your Lord through a man from among you, that he might warn you and that you might guard and so that mercy may be shown to you??
62-63
Messengers deliver Allah?s (SWT) Messages. The good advice is the reminder and an example is in 769 as well as 773-79 and 785-93. Those who reject the communications do not act rightly.
?The chief of those who behaved proudly among his people said to those who were considered weak, to those who believed from among them Do you know that Salih is sent by his Lord? They said Surely we are believers in what he has been sent with.?
75
Messengers are sent with the Book and all of the advice, wisdom and prophecy which comes with it (see 4070 though ?the Book? there may refer to ?the Book? of 8522). See also 787.
?And the answer of his people was no other than that they said Turn them out of your town, surely they are a people who seek to purify .?
82
People will be purified by following the Message.
?These towns-- We relate to you some of their stories, and certainly their messengers came to them with clear arguments, but they would not believe in what they rejected at first; thus does Allah set a seal over the hearts of the unbelievers.?
101
The Messages contain clear arguments and each is all that we need for guidance (6157).
? worthy of not saying anything about Allah except the truth I have come to you indeed with clear proof from your Lord, therefore send with me the children of Israel.?
105
The Message is the truth (2119) and a clear proof.
?He said Cast. So when they cast, they deceived the people's eyes and frightened them, and they produced a mighty enchantment. And We revealed to Musa, saying Cast your rod; then lo! it devoured the lies they told. So the truth was established, and what they did became null.?
116-118
The truth is established by the signs with which Messengers are sent (see also 7132-133).
?And We made the people who were deemed weak to mhent the eastern lands and the western ones which We had blessed; and the good word of your Lord was fulfilled in the children of Israel because they bore up patiently; and We utterly destroyed what Firon and his people had wrought and what they built.?
137
The Israelites inherited the Holy Land which He had blessed (171).
?He said O Musa! surely I have chosen you above the people with My messages and with My words, therefore take hold of what I give to you and be of the grateful ones. And We ordained for him in the tablets admonition of every kind and clear explanation of all things; so take hold of them with firmness and enjoin your people to take hold of what is best thereof; I will show you the abode of the transgressors. I will turn away from My communications those who are unjustly proud in the earth; and if they see every sign they will not believe in It; and if they see the way of rectitude they do not take it for a way, and if they see the way of error they take it for a way; this is because they rejected Our communications and were heedless of them. And those who reject Our communications and the meeting of the hereafter, their deeds are null. Shall they be rewarded except for what they have done??
144-147
We should take hold of that with which the Messengers are sent (i.e. the clear Message explaining all things for guidance). Those who reject this will behave incorrectly.
?And when Musa's anger calmed down he took up the tablets, and in the writing thereof was guidance and mercy for those who fear for the sake of their Lord.?
154
The Message contains guidance and mercy for believers. It is all that we need (6157).
?Those who follow the Messenger-Prophet, the Ummi, whom they find written down with them in the Taurat and the Injeel enjoins them good and forbids them evil, and makes lawful to them the good things and makes unlawful to them impure things, and removes from them their burden and the shackles which were upon them; so those who believe in him and honor him and help him, and follow the light which has been sent down with him, these it is that are the successful.?
157
See notes for 2172-173 and 349-50. Allah (SWT) declares what is right and wrong (allowed and forbidden). Messengers enjoin it on their peoples by delivering and following the Message (also see (notes for) 257-61). We are ordered to follow the Message alone. It is a light and therefore the guidance.
?Say O people! surely I am the Messenger of Allah to you all, of Him Whose is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth there is no god but He; He brings to life and causes to die therefore believe in Allah and His messenger, the Ummi Prophet who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him so that you may walk in the right way. And of Musa's people was a party who guided with the truth, and thereby did they do justice.?
158-59
We must follow the Messenger because he believes in the Message. Islam was a ?new? religion, and therefore the people were told to follow him (how else could they learn about it?). See also notes for 2124, 331-32 and 544-50. Furthermore, it states in 7159 that there were others who guided <i>with the truth</i>. If people believe in Allah (SWT), they must also believe He has sent a Messenger.
?And We divided them into twelve tribes, as nations; and We revealed to Musa when his people asked him for water Strike the rock with your staff, so out flowed from it twelve springs; each tribe knew its drinking place; and We made the clouds to give shade over them and We sent to them manna and quails Eat of the good things We have given you. And they did not do Us any harm, but they did injustice to their own souls. And when it was said to them Reside in this town and eat from it wherever you wish, and say, Put down from us our heavy burdens and enter the gate making obeisance, We will forgive you your wrongs We will give more to those who do good .?
160-161
See notes for 2172-173 and 349-50. Allah (SWT) declares what is right and wrong (allowed and forbidden). Messengers enjoin it on their peoples by delivering and following the Message (also see (notes for) 257-61). We are ordered to follow the Message alone. It is a light and therefore the guidance.
?But those who were unjust among them changed it for a saying other than that which had been spoken to them; so We sent upon them a pestilence from heaven because they were unjust.?
162
Do not replace Allah?s (SWT) words with other words.
?So when they neglected what they had been reminded of, We delivered those who forbade evil and We overtook those who were unjust with an evil chastisement because they transgressed. Therefore when they revoltingly persisted in what they had been forbidden, We said to them Be apes, despised and hated.?
165-166
The Message is a reminder, a guide and mercy for those who believe (12111).
?Then there came after them an evil posterity who inherited the Book, taking only the frail good of this low life and saying It will be forgiven us. And if the like good came to them, they would take it . Was not a promise taken from them in the Book that they would not speak anything about Allah but the truth, and they have read what is in it; and the abode of the hereafter is better for those who guard . Do you not then understand? And those who hold fast by the Book and keep up prayer, surely We do not waste the reward of the right doers. And when We shook the mountain over them as if it were a covering overhead, and they thought that it was going to fall down upon them Take hold of what We have given you with firmness, and be mindful of what is in it, so that you may guard .?
169-171
We will understand the Message if we read it. It is the truth and thus we must hold fast and firmly to it and not forget what is actually inside it.
?And when your Lord brought forth from the children of Adam, from their backs, their descendants, and made them bear witness against their own souls Am I not your Lord? They said Yes! we bear witness. Lest you should say on the day of resurrection Surely we were heedless of this. Or you should say Only our fathers associated others before, and we were an offspring after them Wilt Thou then destroy us for what the vain doers did? And thus do We make clear the communications, and that haply they might return. And recite to them the narrative of him to whom We give Our communications, but he withdraws himself from them, so the Shaitan overtakes him, so he is of those who go astray. And if We had pleased, We would certainly have exalted him thereby; but he clung to the earth and followed his low desire, so his parable is as the parable of the dog; if you attack him he lolls out his tongue; and if you leave him alone he lolls out his tongue; this is the parable of the people who reject Our communications; therefore relate the narrative that they may reflect. Evil is the likeness of the people who reject Our communications and are unjust to their own souls. Whomsoever Allah guides, he is the one who follows the right way; and
whomsoever He causes to err, these are the losers.?172-178
The Message is sufficient grounding for proof and guidance. We should not heedlessly follow our traditions since the Qur?an is clear and not to be ignored. Only Allah (SWT) can guide us (through the Qur?an) (6153).
?And of those whom We have created are a people who guide with the truth and thereby they do justice. And those who reject Our communications, We draw them near by degrees from whence they know not.?
181-182
Those who guide and are followed judge by the truth (the Qur?an (291, 2119, 2144, 2146-147)). Those who reject the ayat are on the wrong path.
?Do they not reflect that their companion has not unsoundness in mind; he is only a plain warner.?
184
The Messenger is only a warner. Similar to 531-4, the Qur?an tells us that Muhammad (SAW) is not possessed. It is nonsense to suggest that everything which Muhammad (SAW) said (i.e. also that not in the Qur?an) is Revelation. For example, Allah (SWT) firmly criticizes Muhammad?s (SWT) words to Zayd (3337). The ?it? in 534 is the same as the ?it? in 971 (referring to the Qur?an).
?Do they not consider the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and whatever things Allah has created, and that may be their doom shall have drawn nigh; what hadith would they then believe in after this??
185
Which hadith do you believe besides the Qur?an? See also 456 and 7750.
?They ask you about the hour, when will be its taking place? Say The
knowledge of it is only with my Lord; none but He shall manifest it at its time; it will be momentous in the heavens and the earth; it will not come on you but of a sudden. They ask you as if you were solicitous about it. Say Its knowledge is only with Allah, but most people do not know. Say I do not control any benefit or harm for my own soul except as Allah please; and had I known the unseen I would have had much of good and no evil would have touched me; I am nothing but a warner and the giver of good news to a people who believe.?187-188
Muhammad (SAW) has no knowledge of the unseen (or else he could prepare for the future). He has no power to guide, only Allah (SWT).
?Surely my guardian is Allah, Who revealed the Book, and He befriends the good.?
196
Allah (SWT) has revealed the Book for guidance (to the right path (6157)).
?And when you bring them not a revelation they say Why do you not forge it? Say I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord; these are clear proofs from your Lord and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe.?
203
Muhammad (SAW) only followed what was revealed to him. What was revealed to him he revealed to others as a part of the Qur?an. The Qur?an is that which contains clear proofs and a guidance and mercy for those who believe. There was no external Revelation necessary for our guidance.
?And when the Quran is recited, then listen to it and remain silent, that mercy may be shown to you.?
204
This ayah places 203 into context, proving that the Qur?an contains all of the Revelation which comprises the Message.
?Surely those who are with your Lord are not too proud to serve Him, and they declare His glory and prostrate in humility before Him.?
206
Conquer your pride and follow the Qur?an alone.
Khuda Hafiz