Salaam,

Use this link for word to word understanding.
http//corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp

Regards,

I hope it will be completed. Truth must come out, irrespective of how many takers are there.

My question what do you think happens to a believer/follower/submitter/Muslim who lives a quiet life as a maths teacher, believes a god, the Islamic god and creator, exists and is responsible for everything - yet does not pray, does not pay anything to anybody, does not fast and never travels to Mecca?

What happens on Judgment Day?

Answer to first question One who does not pray, will save his time for other acts.

Answer to second question The result on Judgment Day will depend on how much one acted to benefit society at large.

Did Allah decree this?
nope

That is what most Muslims believe. And especially those who equate "Salaat" with "Namaz". They believe that "Namaz" decreed during "Meraj".

Here is news for proponent of Qibla at Jerusalem.
http//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1082648.stm

Queen of Sheba's temple restored

The temple is thought to be 3,000 years old Archaeologists investigating the legendary kingdom of Sheba in the Yemeni province of Marib, have finished restoring an ancient temple which they believe could become one of the world's great tourist sites.

Six columns mark the entrance to the "Throne of Balqis", which is 15m (50ft) high and features a podium, a courtyard, a high wall and an irrigation canal.

According to scholars, the temple was built in the 10th Century BC at the time of Balqis, the Queen of Sheba, and access was restricted to the kingdom's elite.

Canadian, German and US archaeologists are now preparing to excavate another site 3km (1.8 miles) to the east, the Awam, or Moon temple, which should provide more insight on the Sheba civilisation.

Cultural centerpiece

"Marib was for centuries the political, economic and religious centre of the once-mighty kingdom of Sheba, referred to in the Torah, the Bible and the Koran," said Burkhard Vogt, head of the German team.

The temple dates from the tenth century BC "Arsh Balqis has been known to be a temple since 1988," he said, using the Arabic name for throne.

"When we started excavations in 1988, there was nothing apart from a 3m (10ft) hill with columns jutting out and some blocks of stone," said another German archaeologist.

German financed teams have been digging in the area since 1988, but the site has only been open to the public since November.

However, the area is considered a no-go zone for Western tourists because of the high risk of kidnapping by Yemeni bandits.

Ancient relic

The throne is the only vestige to be unearthed of a civilization founded in the 10th Century BC and which reached its peak between the eighth and first centuries BC.

Yemen can be a dangerous place for tourists According to Christian tradition Balqis was the wife of Solomon, theancient king renowned for his wisdom.

The temple was abandoned after 14 centuries when the kingdom's subjects started to convert to Judaism and Christianity. The destruction of the Marib Dam in 572AD sealed its demise.

Archaeologists estimate enough remains to be unearthed at the site to keep them occupied for another decade and need a further $12m dollars to finance their work.

However, they are confident their research could unlock the mystery surrounding the legendary Queen of Sheba and the site could potentially become the eighth wonder of the world.

Question If Kingdom of Sheba was in Marib, Yemen; then where should be Kingdom of Solomon and First Temple of Solomon?
And what Jerusalem has to do with Prophet Solomon?

Good Day...

The Arabic text says "Yarfa3u' l qawa3id min al bayti".

The word "yarfa3u" here means he REMOVED or LIFTED something FROM al bayt. There were certain things that were "qawa3id" (stagnating or fixed for a long time), and Abraham removed them.

This is similar to Allah telling Muhamad

{Did We not comfort your chest * And take from you your load * Which had put strain on your back?}...

Note the expression "take from you your load". It means Allah REMOVED the load that was straining Muhamad's back. The Arabic text says "narfa3u 3anka" (We "lifted it" or "removed it&quot.

Abraham REMOVED something.

You said The Arabic text says "narfa3u 3anka"

But, when I checked verse it says "waa3n 3anka"
http//corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp?chapter=94&verse=1

Will you please explain how you arrived to word "narfa3u" in place of "waa3n"?

Mystery cloud of ad 536

"Dry fogs appear in the atmosphere when large volcanic eruptions inject massive quantities of fine silicate ash and aerosol-forming sulphur gases into the troposphere and stratosphere. Although the ash gravitationally settles out within weeks, the aerosols spread around the globe and can remain suspended in the stratosphere for years. Because solar radiation is easily absorbed and backscattered by the volcanic particles, a haziness in the sky and a dimming of the Sun and Moon are produced. Very dense and widespread dry fogs occur, on the average, once every few centuries. The sizes and intensities of some of the largest of them before the modern scientific era have been estimated by several indirect methods. The densest and most persistent dry fog on record was observed in Europe and the Middle East during AD 536 and 537. Despite the earliness of the date, there is sufficient detailed information to estimate the optical depth and mass of this remarkable stratospheric dust cloud. The importance of this cloud resides in the fact that its mass and its climatic consequences appear to exceed those of any other volcanic cloud observed during the past three millenia. Although the volcano responsible remains a mystery, a tropical location (perhaps the volcano Rabaul on the island of New Britain, Papua, New Guinea) can be tentatively inferred."

(Stothers, R.B.; "Mystery Cloud of AD 536," Nature, 307344, 1984.)
http//www.science-frontiers.com/sf033/sf033p19.htm

http//www.nature.com/nature/journal/v307/n5949/abs/307344a0.html

Great News!!!!!!

As per my understanding 1759 is self explanatory. Please take a look at its other part same words has been used. And when the words are same with same pattern then of-course there cannot be a different meaning.

So, which meaning is correct?

Allah SWT did not refrained from sending the signs, despite the men of former generations treated them as false.

OR

Allah SWT did refrained from sending the signs, because the men of former generations treated them as false.

I appreciate your response.

Is it possible to face Ka?bah from North American soil?

To answer this question, first we need to understand criteria adopted to determine the Qibla.

One of the criteria to determine Qibla is to follow direction of shortest possible distance from the location of the Mosque to the Ka?bah at Makkah. (A Great Circle Theory, http//moonsighting.com/qibla.html).

Generally non-stop flights, originating from North Aameria and destined to Middle East, travels North-East direction for shortest possible distance by using The Great Circle Theory. So, Qibla is fixed in North-East direction for Mosques in North American region.

This criterion seems flawed. Because the flight originating from North America travels in North-East direction only up to North Pole region and after that it travels South-East direction to reach Middle East. In short, Flight first travels North-East and then South-East. But, how can prayer direction take such a turn? And if it does not, then it will leave Ka?bah way off.

A second criterion is to "think that there is a very high minaret over Ka?bah, so high that it reaches the sky. Everyone would agree that if we can see that minaret, facing to that is the direction of Qibla. Now, Allah (SWT) has provided that imaginary minaret in the form of the Sun being at the top of that minaret. It has been observed for centuries that there are two days in a year (May 28 and on July 16) when Sun comes exactly overhead Ka?bah at the local noon time." (http//moonsighting.com/qibla.html).

This criterion also seems flawed. Because when the Sun forms the minaret by reaching at the top of Ka?bah on particular date and time; still it is not visible from the half the surface of the Earth. So, it is not possible to face Ka?bah from the region where this minaret (Sun) is not visible.

Let us consider practical demonstration of problem.

Pick the Globe and erect one vertical stick (this stick represents column) at Makkah. Now pick second stick (this stick represents eye sight travelling along straight line) and place on the surface, anywhere in the North American region. You will find that there is no possibility for second stick to either intersect or to point towards the first stick erected at Makkah. And this is true for hemisphere of the earth opposite to Makkah.

In other words, it is not possible to face Ka?bah from the half of the surface of the Earth. That raises another question. Why would Allah SWT decree something which is not possible to comply from the half of the surface of the Earth? Or are we missing something here?

Verse 1759

Transliteration Wa ma manaAAana an nursila bialayati illa an kaththaba biha alawwaloona, ?

Yusuf Ali And We refrain from sending the signs, only because the men of former generations treated them as false.

This translation implies that God initially sent Signs / miracles to convert people and had an intention to send more signs but He disappointed to learn that His signs did not work as expected. So, He stopped sending them.

Now see translation below

Reformist Group The rejection of previous people did not stop Us from sending the signs.

Endnote (Page 206) Traditional translations render the meaning of "Ma" as a relative pronoun rather than a negative particle, "What stopped us from sending?."
Source https//www.irshadmanji.com/PDFS/ReformistTranslation.pdf

Now look at word to word translation
http//corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp?chapter=17&verse=59

(17591)
wa m
And not
CONJ ? prefixed conjunction wa (and)
NEG ? negative particle

Here ?Ma? is negative particle (NOT).

It seems that Yusuf Ali has considered it Relative Pronoun (WHAT).

So, if we take ?ma? as negative particle, it seems that Allah SWT did not refrained from sending the signs, despite the men of former generations treated them as false and

If we take ?ma? as Relative Pronoun, it seems that Allah SWT did refrained from sending the signs, because the men of former generations treated them as false.

Will some Native Arabic Scholar throw some light here?

Shouldn?t we be mindful of language in front Allah SWT?

Muslims widely recite Sura ? Ikhlas in prayer, dua or at many other occasions. This and many other sura starts with word ?Qul? translated as ?Say?.

While reading grammar book ?The Essential Arabic A learner?s Practical Guide? by Rafi?el ? Imad Faynan (Professor of Arabic at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi), I came across conjugation of word ?Qala? and grammar rules of imperative verb.

According to conjugation of word ?Qala?, word ?Qul? (Say) is a 2nd person masculine singular imperative verb (fi?lul-amri).

On page 53 of book, author writes

?Imperative verb? is called ? fi?lul-amri ?.

It is a verb through which we order or request someone to do something.

For example Go (Order) or Please go (Request).
In other words One (Speaker) orders / requests someone (listener) to do something(to go).

Now, let me apply this rule to Sura ? Ikhkas to demonstrate the problem, if we recite it ?as it is?.

One (Allah SWT) orders someone (Prophet SAW) to do something (to say - i.e. recite or convey to his followers - ?He is Allah, the One. Allah is Absolutely Independent. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is absolutely none like Him.?)

This is perfect construction with reference to Quran. But problem arises when we recite ?AS IT IS? in prayer, dua or at any other occasions.

Now, imagine when we recite Sura- Ikhlas ?as it is? what will be scenario considering the listener in this case is Allah SWT.

One (who recites the Sura Ikhlas) requests someone (who listens - Allah SWT) to do something (to say ?He is Allah, the One. Allah is Absolutely Independent. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is absolutely none like Him.?)

In other words, we order / request Allah SWT to SAY that ?Allah SWT (another one?)? is He who is One and so on.

Isn?t this scenario problematic?

Will someone, expert in Arabic, throw some light here?

---

I emailed this question to few scholars. The relevant part of only one response email, I received , is as under

?You are absolutely correct, that the current utterance of the 2nd person masculine singular imp. verb (fi-lul'amri) ?Qul? (Say) is possibly inappropriate in the context of a personal prayer. However, please note that it can be argued that an 'imam' in a congregational prayer is reciting not only a personal prayer, but also in the capacity as a leader (to the congregation). In the latter case, it may be considered appropriate to recite the ?Qul? in such a way to the congregation?.

The argument that Imam is addressing congregation is untenable because of following reasons

1. Generally, Imam is acting on behalf of congregation in the capacity of leader. So it may be inappropriate not only for his personal prayer, but for the congregation too.

2. Sura Fateha recitation before recitation of Sura Ikhlas

When we recite sura fateha, in verse 15, we are specifically addressing Allah SWT in 2nd Person by saying word ?Iyyaka?

1 5 Iyyaka naAAbudu wa iyyaka nastaAAeenu
Yusuf Ali 5 Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.
Mohsin Khan 5 You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).

So, we cannot say that when we recite sura fateha 2nd person is Allah SWT and immediately after that when we recite sura Ikhlas suddenly 2nd person is congregation.

3. When reciting Sura Kafiroona, who is 2nd person? Look at the wordings of sura Kafiroona.

Transliteration 1 Qul ya ayyuha alkafiroona
Yusuf Ali 1 Say O ye that reject Faith!
Mohsin Khan 1 Say (O Muhammad to these Mushrikun and Kafirun) "O Al-Kafirun (disbelievers in Allah, in His Oneness, in His Angels, in His Books, in His Messengers, in the Day of Resurrection, and in Al-Qadar)!

Transliteration 2 La aAAbudu ma taAAbudoona
Yusuf Ali 2 I worship not that which ye worship,
Mohsin Khan 2 "I worship not that which you worship,

Transliteration 3 Wala antum AAabidoona ma aAAbudu
Yusuf Ali 3 Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
Mohsin Khan 3 "Nor will you worship that which I worship.

Transliteration 4 Wala ana AAabidun ma AAabadtum
Yusuf Ali 4 And I will not worship that which ye have been wont to worship,
Mohsin Khan 4 "And I shall not worship that which you are worshiping.

Transliteration 5 Wala antum AAabidoona ma aAAbudu
Yusuf Ali 5 Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
Mohsin Khan 5 "Nor will you worship that which I worship.

Transliteration 6 Lakum deenukum waliya deeni
Yusuf Ali 6 To you be your Way, and to me mine.
Mohsin Khan 6 "To you be your religion, and to me my religion (Islamic Monotheism)."

It is clear that Allah SWT advising Prophet SAW to challenge non-believers? by reciting this verse. Means, 2nd person in this sura are non believers. So, if we accept the argument that Imam (1st person) is addressing congregation (2nd person) by word ?Qul?, then essentially Imam is challenging people standing behind him as a non-believers.

And if we take 2nd person Allah SWT, then is it not a grave mistake on our part to recite these words?

4. Take another sura Al Kauther and analyze it grammatically

Transliteration 1 Inna aAAtaynaka alkawthara
Yusuf Ali 1 To thee have We granted the Fount (of Abundance).
Mohsin Khan 1 Verily, We have granted you (O Muhammad &#1605 Al-Kauthar
(a river in Paradise).

Who is 1st person (Subject) and 2nd person (Object) when we recite this sura "AS IT IS" in prayer?

Obviously, when Imam recites it, he is 1st person and Allah SWT is 2nd person.

Look at grammatical analysis of word "aaynka"
V ? 1st person plural (form IV) perfect verb
PRON ? subject pronoun
PRON ? 2nd person masculine singular object pronoun
Source http//corpus.quran.com/wordmorphology.jsp?location=(10812)

Isn?t this scenario problematic?

I simply don?t understand why scholars are not paying attention?

Once I understood this, I am not only afraid to recite these suras in namaz and dua, but afraid to join the congregation where Imam recites these verses without giving thought to what he is saying.

Will someone expert in Arabic shed some light here?