Meaning of HIJR in Ayat 89:5
-
Salam ‘Alaykum,
Dear all,
I want to ask about the meaning of HIJR in sura 89 Al Fajr verse 5
هَلْ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ قَسَمٌ لِّذِيْ حِجْرٍ
Most translation in tafseer books of the Hijr is Intelligence including the Qur’an Reformist Translation by Brothers Edip Yuksel and Layth.But my logic cannot understand well what is the meaning and purpose of Intelligence on that ayat.
So, I checked Arabic Dictionary, the main translation of Ha-Ja-Ra is Forbidden/Restriction and Stone/to petrify,
The meaning of Hijr as “intelligence” I think because it’s already stated by almost all classic tafseer books, for example in Lane Lexicon after explaining the main meaning of Ha-Ja-Ra then he said …. Understanding, intelligence, intellect, mind, or reason (S, A, Msb,K so in the Kur lxxxix. 4 (S, Bd thus called because it forbids that which it does not behoove one to do. (Bd.) One says, (see above ayat).
See, always refer to the ayat and I think the conclusion of the meaning of Hijr by “forbids that which it does not behoove one to do” still make me confuse.
And when I checked to Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic by Hans Wehr, I did not find the meaning of Hijr by “intelligence”.In my opinion the meaning of Hijr on that ayat is Stone or Rock, so the the meaning of ayat could be…
“In this is an oath for the one who occupy/habitant the Hijr (Stone/Rock)”
Who is the occupant of Hijr ? you can read on the following verses
896 Did you not see what your Lord did to Aad?
897 Iram, with the great columns
898 The one which was like no other in the land
899 And Thamud who carved the rocks in the valleyThis also mentioned in Sura Al-Hijr verse 1580-82 …
1580 The dwellers of the Hijr rejected the messengers.
1581 We gave them Our signs, but they turned away from them.
1582 They used to sculpt from the mountains dwellings that were secure/hidden. (Balad Amin)If my translation correct then I have conclusion that there is connection between this ayat (1582) with ayat (953),
951 By the fig and the olive
952 and The mount of Sinai.
953 and This secure/hidden land. (Balad Amin = Hijr)Back to Ayat 895, surah Al-Fajr (surah #89) and surah Al-Balad (surah #90) is very close connection in structure and content, let’s see Ayat 895 and 901-2,
901 I swear by this land
902 And you (Muhammad) locate at this land.
both are mentioned by qasam (oath/swear) of the land,
if my opinion is correct then Muhamad is stay in Al-Hijr,
where is Hijr ??? Hijr in English is Stone/Rock, Petra (Greek) in English also Stone/Rock.Please advice.
Thanks. -
901 starts with laa (negation) uqsimu, and if the verb means "I swear" then it should be translated as "I don't swear", but then it wouldn't have sense, that's why they translate it as "No! I swear", which has no sense too. Thus, meaning of this verb cannot be "I swear". Similarly, in 5675 was sad fe-laa (negation) uqsimu bi-mewaaqi'i-n-nujoom, which they translate as "So, NO! I swear by the position of the stars", but it's not possible, becase laa is negation of imperfect verb. I'm saying this in order to understand word qasem in 895, you're asking about.
In 902 it was said that "he" is Hille, meaning free without restrictions. Thus, uqsimu would be opposite of being free without restrictions and that would mean that "he" is not free at all or that he has some restrictions by "this beled". Words from q-s-m can mean "destiny". In 5675 Allah's telling us that He's not making our destiny by position of the stars, and that would be qasem as said in 5676. Thus, qasem in 895 is opposite of Hille, and it can be any type of destined limitations on us which prevents us to act freely or, at least, to choose freely.
Allah asks "Is in that some restriction (destined) for one who has some Hijr?" Word that (dhaalike) is what was previously said from the start of the surah. Thus Hijr is some prevention as in all other occurrences, and I see it can be intelligence only if one's intelligence prevent him from something (which is not the case here).
The answer to this question is "No", because we all are free to choose what we'd like to be. 'Ad, Themood, pharaoh and others done by their choice not by destiny from Allah, and what they done caused prevention (Hijr) from Allah. Allah's not doing Zulm to anybody.
-
Thanks @Aladin for your reply,
regarding ayat 901 I don't want to discuss much,
because if you read Mu'jam Qira'at book which discuss different reading of qur'an manuscript,
you can see that Laa Uqsimu in 901 or 751 or 5675 many mufassirun read by La-uqsimu لَاقْسِمُ so the meaning is not "No, I swear" or "I don't swear" but "Indeed, I swear" with Lam Ta'kid not Laa Nahyy.But I still need more explanation to convince me regarding the translation of Hijr in ayat 895 with Intelligence.
-
Mezulari, welcome to the forum, btw.
I see all of qiraa'et as made by Persians to try to make changes in the Qur'an. People can read the Qur'an backwards if they like, but it won't change its message Allah preserved for us. Maybe I wasn't clear, because I don't agree that Hijr means "intelligence". I see it as "prevention" and what is said is that this prevention is not destined, but it is caused by people's actions, as actions of 'Ad, Themood and pharaoh.
-
Mezulari, welcome to the forum, btw.
handshake Please be apologized for skipping myself to not Introduce self first,
actually I already joined to free-minds forum long long time ago, but I missed my account due to my computer broken.I see all of qiraa'et as made by Persians to try to make changes in the Qur'an.
I think since Prophet died, there are already found different qira'at reading such that during Utsman bin Affan all others mushhaf burned and destroyed.
Maybe I wasn't clear, because I don't agree that Hijr means "intelligence". I see it as "prevention" and what is said is that this prevention is not destined, but it is caused by people's actions, as actions of 'Ad, Themood and pharaoh.
Yes, I catch your message that you did not translate Hijr as 'intelligence',
but I still not convince about the true meaning of Hijr on that ayat,Hijr is connected with word dzi ذِيْ حِجْرٍ , it is similar with ayat 2185 and 3848 about someone who mentioned by Dzal Kifli وَاِسْمٰعِيْلَ وَاِدْرِيْسَ وَذَا الْكِفْلِۗ كُلٌّ مِّنَ الصّٰبِرِيْنَ
Some are of the opinion that Dzu al-Kifl could be Ezekiel, but some said Dzu al-Kifl has also been identified with Gautama Buddha.
The meaning of Dzu al-Kifl is still debated, but, according to one view, it can mean "the man from Kapil (Kapilavastu, the city where the Buddha spent thirty years of his life).
I prefer with the last opinion, then similar with that Dzu Hijr mean people from Hijr (stone, rock, petra). -
Kephal Κέφαλος was used in Greek for heroic figures as name. There were a few of them. One of them was son of Hermes who had a sort of affair with Eos (Dawn) in Syria. His son Tython was a prince of Troy. Kephal in Greek means "head". Also, some Greek "gods" had a title "kephal". I think that Greek mythology was about real events, but they made myths of stories over the time. Maybe Dhul-Kifl could be found in their mythology, but I have no clue who he could be. In 2185 Idrees was mentioned before him, and I think Idrees is Darius the Great of Persia, who was also in Egypt and Greece.
I see that Qur'an talks only about events (and people living) in Middle East and Egypt.
Petra is mentioned as er-Raqeem in surah Kehf. Jordanians removed inscription Raqeem at the entrance of Petra some 50 years ago.
-
Kephal in Greek means "head".
I always refer to Bible if found Qur'an mention person name.
For Dzul Kifli, I think nowhere on the Bible.
Kephale which mentioned on Greek version of Bible is greek word for Head as you mention, but no refer to any special person.Btw, I am from Indonesia, in Bahasa the english word of Head is also Kepala, it is from Hindu Sanskrit because before Islam Indonesia religion is Hindu.
And it is interesting argument to be discussed that the Greek Mythology and Monotheist Religion was come from Hindu.
I will show some findings from "The Bible in India" book by Louis Jacolliot that many Greek Mythology similar with HinduHercules. — In Sanscrit, Hara-kala hero of battles— an epithet commonly given to Siva, God of battles and of Hindoo poetry.
Theseus. — In Sanscrit, Tha-saha, the associate, companion of Siva.
AEacus. — A Judge in Hell, in Greek mythology; in Sanscrit, Aha-ka a severe judge, adjective of qualification, ordinarily attached to the name of Yama — the Hindoo Judge of Hell.
Ariadne. — The unhappy princess abandoned by Theseus, and who had committed the fault of giving herself up to the enemy of her family. ln Sanscrit, Ari-ana— seduced by an enemy.
RhaDamanthus. — Another Judgein Hell, in mythology; in Sanscrit,Radha-manta — who chastises crime.
Andromeda. — Sacrificed to Neptune, and succored by Perseus. In Sanscrit, Andha-ra-medha — sacrificed to the passion of the Water God.
Persius. — In Sanscrit, Para-saha— timely succor,
Centaur - Mythologic, half man, half horse. In Sanscrit, Ken-tiira -Man-horse.and many more you can find in the book.
Also Abraham and Sarah (his wife) similar with Brahma and Saras-vati (Brahma wife).
I see that Qur'an talks only about events (and people living) in Middle East and Egypt.
Agree, but to be more specific Ayat Makkiyyah (Makkah revelation) talk about Egypt (Mishr), Syria/Lebanon, and Petra/Nabataean Kingdom
Hijaz (recently Makkah) and Yaman never mention. Btw, I still find facts about Sheeba which mention in Makkah Revelation, probably it is not in Yaman, but if actually in Yaman maybe because it is related with Solomon (Jerusalem).Petra is mentioned as er-Raqeem in surah Kehf. Jordanians removed inscription Raqeem at the entrance of Petra some 50 years ago.
I have already had few books about Petra, this year plan to go there but God give me Liposarcoma cancer, so I postpone until my health back.