The Holy Quran Text. Translation & Commentary (the Example Commentary in Brief)(volume Three)

Who Are the Ahl Alzikr?

The Arabic, ``ZIKR'' which is usually translated to, mention remembering, memory, recital, or invocation of God, has a wide variety of meanings. It also means having a great deal of information in various fields of knowledge. Many of the commentators have understood, ``AHL-AL-ZIKR'' to be the elders and the learned. Some commentators have taken it to be the doctors of the Bible and the Gospel, or those who are well verses in the Scriptures. On this basis those who are well versed in Qura"n; they too are the, ``AHL-AL-ZIKR''; and the best and greatest among them are Mohammad himself, his daughter Fatima, Imam Ali his soul and self, and his two grand sons, Imam Hasan and Imam Husain (AS).

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أَفَأَمِنَ الَّذِينَ مَكَرُوا السَّيِّئَاتِ أَنْ يَخْسِفَ اللهُ بِهِمُ الاَْرْضَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ الْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ(( 45 ))

45- DO THOSE WHO PLOT EVILS FEEL SECURE THAT, ALLAH WILL NOT CAUSE THE EARTH TO TAKE THEM IN, OR THAT THE PUNISHMENT WILL NOT COME UPON THEM FROM WHERE THEY DO NOT EXPECT.

أَوْ يَأْخُذَهُمْ فِي تَقَلُّبِهِمْ فَمَا هُمْ بِمُعْجِزِينَ(( 46 ))

46- OR THAT HE WILL NOT SEIZE THEM IN THEIR GOING TO AND FRO (TO EARN MORE). THEN (IF IT BE SO) THEY CANNOT ESCAPE.

أَوْ يَأْخُذَهُمْ عَلَى تَخَوُّف فَإِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ(( 47 ))

47- OR MAY HE NOT SEIZE THEM ON GRADUAL WARNING? YOUR LORD IS INDEED KIND AND COMPASSIONATE.

THE COMMENTARY SINS VERSUS PUNISHMENTS (VERSE NO. 45 - 47)

Many a time, Qura"n mingles sentiments with reasons, to obtain the best of training effects and results. In the previous verses the prophethood and Resurrection was under logical discussion; and now through the above verses, the tyrants and arrogant oppressors are threatened, and warned of various punishments which may afflict them due to their various sins and guilts. To put out the light of truth; the wickeds plot evil against the godly in secret, while God is watching them from above or from near by.... even nearer than the jugular veins of their neck! He is able to seize them in any time and in various ways. They might be taken up and swallowed by the earth, like GHA"RUN in the life time of Moses:ِ

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``Do those who plot evil, feel secure that Allah will not cause the earth to take them in.'' Only a vibration of earthquake can split a mouth in the earth, so as to swallow man with his building and whole household! Or the sinners may be afflicted by other kinds of torment and chastisements, which they cannot expect or even dream it! Among these can we mention mysterious diseases, a sudden loss, an accident in journey or traffic, or only a slip and sliding, and then misery rides upon misfortune, and distress upon helplessness! God has also some slow acting and gradual punishments, which is accompanied by warning and admonishing to give a chance for return and repentance, but the good end is for those who avoid evil. When God seized not a sinner urgently he should beware of gradual warnings, because God's mill grinds slowly but sure!

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى مَا خَلَقَ اللهُ مِنْ شَيْء يَتَفَيَّؤُا ظِلاَلُهُ عَنْ الْيَمِينِ وَالشَّمَائِلِ سُجَّداً للهِِ وَهُمْ دَاخِرُونَ(( 48 ))

48- DO THEY NOT LOOK AT WHAT ALLAH HAS CREATED, OF MATERIAL; THEIR SHADOWS MOVE FROM THE RIGHT AND LEFT, PROSTRATING FOR ALLAH WHILE THEY ARE HUMBLE!

وَللهِِ يَسْجُدُ(1) مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الاَْرْضِ مِنْ دَابَّة وَالْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَهُمْ لاَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ(( 49 ))

49- AND BEFORE ALLAH PROSTRATE THEMSELVES ALL THE MOVING CREATURES, AND THE ANGELS, AND THEY SHOW NO PRIDE.

يَخَافُونَ رَبَّهُمْ مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ(( 50 )) 50- THEY FEAR THEIR LORD (WHO IS) ABOVE THEM, AND DO WHAT THEY ARE ORDERED.

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THE COMMENTARY ALL PROSTRATE THEMSELVES BEFORE GOD; EVEN THE SHADOWS! (VERSE NO. 48 - 50)

The argument returns once again to Monotheism of worship; that no one worths to be worshipped except Allah the only one true God. The verses here imply that all the living and non-living creatures prostrate themselves before God; even their shadows, which move from the right and left, are showing their submission to Him humbly! Physically, prostration is to recline with face on the ground, in adoration and worship. It is in fact the sign and symbol of showing one's submission. In the above verse, (NO.48) the immediate reference is to material things which are inanimate, and in the next verse, (NO.49) the act of prostration is applied to living creatures, such as men, animals, and angels, in other passages too, the Glorious Qura"n claims that, whatever exist in the heavens and earth, celebrate the praise of God and prostrate themselves before him in submission and are humble, and they do what they are ordered to do!

Although the shadow is physically nothing but the absence of light; it has many uses and benefits for man, and other moving creatures in the earth. Shadow will adjust and regulate the amount of light and sunshine, and control the effects of the sun's various and mysterious radiations, for the benefit of the living creatures down here. It provides for their rest and repose. Permanent shining of the sun will cause the flowers and plants and even the moving creatures to fade, and lose their freshness or brilliance. Those who have to work or to live in the deserts, for them, shadow is indeed a Mercy of God; and among the most useful means of living. After all; the shadow, dim and dark, weak or intense, serves to help vision and seeing things better and with more detail and resolution.

By a mystical metaphor anything that exists in this material world, it is a shadow of its true reality in the heavens! In the last verse (NO.50) we read:ِ ``They fear Lord who is above them and they do what they are ordered.''

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Allah's hand of power is above all the hands. The learned, and men of knowledge and wisdom, as well as all the angels, are aware of this superiority in power; therefore, they are all watchful not to do something unjust, to encounter with God's justice and due punishment; and this is where we may say all of them fear their Lord.

وَقَالَ اللهُ لاَ تَتَّخِذُوا إِلاَهَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَإِيَّاىَ فَارْهَبُونِ(( 51 ))

51- AND ALLAH HAS SAID:ِ ``TAKE YOU NOT TWO GODS. VERILY HE IS ONLY ONE GOD. THEN BEWARE OF ME.''

وَلَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالاَْرْضِ وَلَهُ الدِّينُ وَاصِباً أَفَغَيْرَ اللهِ تَتَّقُونَ(( 52 ))

52- AND TO HIM BELONGS WHATEVER IS IN THE HEAVENS AND EARTH; AND TO HIM BELONGS THE PERMANENT AND PURE RELIGION. DO YOU THEN CARE FOR ANY OTHER THAN ALLAH?

وَمَا بِكُمْ مِّنْ نِّعْمَة فَمِنَ اللهِ ثُمَّ إِذَا مَسَّكُمْ الضُّرُّ فَإِلَيْهِ تَجْأَرُونَ(( 53 ))

53- AND ANY BOUNTY (GOOD THINGS) WHICH IS WITH YOU, IT IS FROM ALLAH. THEN WHEN A LOSS TOUCHES YOU, TO HIM YOU GROAN (FOR HELP)

ثُمَّ إِذَا كَشَفَ الضُّرَّ عَنْكُمْ إِذَا فَرِيقٌ مِّنْكُمْ بِرَبِّهِمْ يُشْرِكُونَ(( 54 ))

54- THEN WHEN HE REMOVED THE LOSS FROM YOU, A GROUP OF YOU JOIN PARTNERS TO THEIR LORD!

لِيَكْفُرُوا بِمَا آتَيْنَاهُمْ فَتَمَتَّعُوا فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ(( 55 ))

55- SO LET THEM SHOW INGRATITUDE FOR WHAT WE HAVE GIVEN THEM, AND ENJOY THEMSELVES (FOR A WHILE), AND SOON SHALL THEY COME TO KNOW.

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THE COMMENTARY GOD IS ONE, AND HIS RELIGION IS ALSO ONE (VERSE NO. 52 - 55)

Here again polytheism, and in particular DUALISM, has been rejected:ِ

``Allah has said:ِ Do not take two Gods. Verily He is only one God.'' The pagan Arabs had various idols, and yet they believed in Allah as the supreme being and Creator of all. They even worshipped pairs of idols, and took them for male and female, like the two idols that they had settled on top of the two famous hills in Mecca which were named after the two idols as, SAFA" and MARVEH. Some of the commentators have understood this verse to have refered to the Dualism doctrine. Some of the ancient Persians held the doctrine that the universe is under the dominion of two opposing principles; a good and an evil, manifested in the light and darkness. This doctrine is contrasted with monism. Trinity, and pluralism. The Arabs of the Pagan Era did believe in Allah as their supreme God, but they also had the intermediary gods, such as their various idols, in order to conduct all their affairs; and even to intercede with Allah on their behalf.

The great commentator TABARSI, has a fine touch on the above that:ِ ``Your Lord has ordered you not to worship two deities, and yet you have created so many gods for yourself. Your caprice is an idol, and your vain desires another. Your worldly aims and object have also turned to be your gods; and even you prostrate yourself before another man, as poor and week as yourself!''

*****

ALLAH

(When Islam was revealed, a more precise and clearer definition of Allah was given, that:ِ Allah is the Creator of the whole universe. He is the only one true God. The God of; ABRAHAM, MOSES, JESUS and MOHAMMAD. He is the unconditioned Lord of all things. He is Merciful to all His creatures

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and to mankind. He guides aright those who submit to Him, and punishes them for their sins. Allah is not to be compared to any of His creatures. No image or imagination may be made of Him. Allah has told men what He expects of them, through his prophets, as His SPOKESMEN. Allah demands above all, the recognition of His own ONENESS. The greatest sin and oppression is the worship of any other being, real or imaginary alongside Him. The old Persian Duality, and the new Christian Trinity, as well as the other pluralities are all rejected, for being inconsistent with Allah's absolute unity. God is far greater than the Man can think of, and at the same time He is nearer to Man than the jugular vein of his neck. Every one can approach God directly in personal prayer, and especially in reciting the Holy Qura"n which is the very speech of God.

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE)

The next verse (NO.52) implies that; not only Allah is the owner of the heavens and the earth and whatever is in them, that, to Him belongs the ``VA"SIB'' religion which is pure and permanent. The Arabic VA"SIB, has various shades of meaning, such as, PERMANENT, i.e. continuing or enduring in the same state without marked changed; and, ``PURE'', i.e. absolute, and free from what vitiates, weakens, or pollutes. Free from moral defilement or guilt. Hazrat Imam Sadiq (AS) has understood VA"SIB to mean VA"JIB, or necessary, essential, and incumbent. The ending of the verse alludes to the fact that, no one worths being feared of, except Allah:ِ ``Do you then care for any other than Allah?'' Fear of anyone other than God is considered as some sort of polytheism in Islam. Evil has no power over man of God. The only logical fear is that of the wrath of Allah, due to our sins. God is absolute goodness and pure truth, and nothing can come out of goodness but good. He is the only power that can be relied on to relieve our distress.

وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِمَا لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ نَصِيباً مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ تَاللهِ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنْتُمْ تَفْتَرُونَ (( 56 ))

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56- AND THEY ASSIGN A SHARE OF WHAT WE HAVE GIVEN THEM FOR SUSTENCE TO THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW. (i. e THEIR IDOLS) BY ALLAH! YOU WILL BE QUESTIONED OF WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN FORGING.

وَيَجْعَلُونَ للهِِ الْبَنَاتِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَلَهُمْ مَا يَشْتَهُونَ(( 57 ))

57- AND THEY ASSIGN DAUGHTERS TO ALLAH! GLORY TO HIM! AND FOR THEMSELVES (THEY ASSIGN) WHAT THEY LIKE!

وَإِذَا بُشِّرَ أَحَدُهُمْ بِالاُْنثَى ظَلَّ وَجْهُهُ مُسْوَدّاً وَهُوَ كَظِيمٌ(( 58 ))

58- AND WHEN ONE OF THEM IS INFORMED OF (HAVING) A FEMALE CHILD, HIS FACE IS TURNED DARK BLACK, AND HE IS CHOKED (WITH ANGER)!

يَتَوَارَى مِنْ الْقَوْمِ مِنْ سُوءِ مَا بُشِّرَ بِهِ أَيُمْسِكُهُ عَلَى هُون أَمْ يَدُسُّهُ فِي التُّرَابِ أَلاَ سَاءَ مَا يَحْكُمُونَ(( 59 ))

59- HE ESCAPES FROM PEOPLE, BECAUSE OF THE EVIL OF THE BAD NEWS GIVEN HIM! (HE ASKS HIMSELF); SHOULD I RETAIN HER WITH (SUFFERANCE OF) CONTEMPT, OR HIDE HER (BURY HER ALIVE)IN THE SOUL!? BEHOLD! HOW BAD DO THEY JUDGE!

لِلَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالاْخِرَةِ مَثَلُ السَّوْءِ وَللهِِ الْمَثَلُ الاَْعْلَى وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ (( 60 ))

60- FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE NOT IN THE HEREAFTER, THERE IS THE EVIL LIKENESS, AND THE MOST SUBLIME LIKENESS (OF ATTRIBUTES) BELONGS TO ALLAH, AND HE IS ALL-MIGHTY, ALL-WISE.

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THE COMMENTARY WHERE FEMALE BIRTH WAS A SIGN OF SHAME (VERSE NO. 56 - 60)

Now the argument reflects upon some evil innovations, and shameful forgeries of the Pagan Arabs:ِ ``And they assign a share of what We have given them for their sustenance to those idols who do not know anything!'' The Pagan Arabs dedicated a share of what Allah had produced for their sustenance, in tilth and in cattle, for their idols who were lifeless carved stones, and had no knowledge at all, even to know what was offered to them! Neither could they be harmful, nor useful to their foolish worshippers! Their second evil innovation was that, they assigned daughters to Allah, who is far clear of material body and physical attributes. They themself hated having daughters, and believed that having a daughter would humilate them in their society; and to this effect they committed female infanticide. Inspite of such motives, they took the angels to be the DAUGHTERS OF GOD!

The pagan Arab's third evil custom was; when one of them was informed of having a female child, he would be so angry that his face darkened and turned black! He sometimes escaped people for knowing his daughter to be a sign of shame. He did not know how to decide on the matter for having only two options; either to bury the poor girl alive, or to retain her as a thing of sufferance and contempt!

WHY DID THE PAGAN ARAB COMMIT FEMALE INFANTICIDE?

In their state of perpetual war, sons were a source of power to them. On the other hand their daughters made them the subject of humiliating raids. Many a time it happened that in a war their young ladies were taken as captives by the enemy, and when the war was over; she was not returned, or she preferred to stay with the enemy and serve him some how, in the form of a concubine or else. This was due to having an oppressive husband or master, who could not consider a woman as a human being! It was such reasons that made the heart-rending female infanticide customary among the Pagan Arabs,

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who lived before Mohammad. (AS) This burying bussiness of daughters, left a black spot of disgrace on the record of Mankind, till the advent of Mohammad, who worked hard and even fought against that evil custom. The Messenger of God could convince those wild people that, both man and women are of the same kind and have the same human rights. Historians tell us of many heart-breaking instances of this evil custom. an incident of which follows:ِ In the, AL-QURA"N YOVA"KIBODDAHRِV 2ِP 214 It has been narrated that, a man came to our prophet and converted. A few days later he came again to the prophet, and asked:ِ ``If I have done a heinous sin will Allah forgive me for my Islam and repentance?'' In answer to him the prophet said:ِ ``Allah is All-forgiving Merciful.'' The man said:ِ ``O, Messenger of God! But my sin is a very great one! The prophet told him:ِ ``God's Forgiveness is far greater than your sin, whatever it might be.'' The new Muslim explained the sin he had committed thus:ِ

``O, Messenger of God! I was on a far distant journey that my wife, whom I knew was pregnant, gave birth to a female child. She knew how much I hated having a daughters. She therefore had concealed her, telling me that the baby died!'' Four years later when I returned home, once I saw a beautiful girl in my house who seemed to be very intimate with my wife. I asked my wife whose daughter was she? The wife said, that the girl was our neighbour's! But I saw her very aften in our house, and very friendly with my wife! When my spouse found that I was very serious to know her, she confessed that she was our own daughter who was born during my absence in that long journey.''

The man continued saying to the prophet:ِ ``That very night I could not sleep at all for the inconvenience of having a daughter. Now I had a difficult choice to decide on, either to keep the poor girl as a thing of sufferance and contempt that would bring disgrace to the family, or to get rid of her by burying her alive! At last I took my decision and it was to bury her alive! So next morning, before the sun rise, I went to her bed and waked her up, and asked her to come with me to our palm-grove. There I began to dig a grave for her, and when she saw me perspired and tired of digging, she helped me removing the earth. When the grave was dug, I cast my daughter in it, and held her with my left hand not to move, and

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with my right hand I heapt the soil upon her! She was struggling continuously, and weeping and saying to me; Father! What are you doing!? So did I, until she was entirely silent.'' The prophet was shedding tears all the time that his holiness was listening to the sad story of the new convert; and finally drying his eyes, he said to the famale infanticider:ِ ``If God's Mercy had not taken precedence of His wrath, His punishment would have seized you so far!''

Another instance of female infanticide, was that of GHAIS-IBN-ASIM, a chief of the tribe of BANITAMIM, who confessed to the prophet, saying:ِ ``In the past our fathers practiced female infanticide. I too, got twelve daughters and buried them all alive, and one after another! My wife then gave birth to my thirteemth child secretly. This too was a girl and therefore my wife had given her to her own family to retain and look after. After a few years I was informed of her existence. I kidnapped her and buried her alive, while she was entreating me to have mercy on her!'' The prophet who was shedding hot tears in hearig that; said to GHAIS:ِ ``He who shows no mercy to others, will receive no mercy! O, GHAIS! You have a very bad day to meet in future.''

GHAIS, said; ``O, Messenger of God! What is to be done now, to reduce the evil consequences of my heinous sins?'' The prophet said:ِ ``You better buy thirteen slaves and set them free.''

With the advent of our prophet Mohammad (AS), Islam strictly prohibited female infanticide, and declared it to be religiously unlawful as a most heinous sin. In the Islamic Era no more report has been received or recorded of such evil deeds. In the last verse of the above group, (NO.60) the argument reflects again on having faith in Allah and His just judgement, which is a remedy to all these mental diseases of Man:ِ ``.... And the most sublime likeness of attributes belong to Allah who is All-mighty, All-wise.'' That is to say:ِ ``We should not use any parable of ourself, when we speak of Allah, because He is above any comparison, and the highest and noblest attributes belong to Him.''

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وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللهُ النَّاسَ بِظُلْمِهِمْ مَّا تَرَكَ عَلَيْهَا مِنْ دَابَّة وَلَكِنْ يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَى أَجَل مُسَمّىً فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ لاَ يَسْتَأْخِرُونَ سَاعَةً وَلاَ يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ(( 61 ))

61- IF ALLAH WOULD SEIZE PEOPLE FOR THEIR OPPRESSION, NO MOVING CREATURE WOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT ON IT. BUT HE RESPITES THEM UP TO AN APPOINTED TERM. THEN WHEN THEIR TERM CAME THEY CANNOT DELAY IT (EVEN FOR) AN HOUR, NOR PUT IT FORWARD.

وَيَجْعَلُونَ للهِِ مَا يَكْرَهُونَ وَتَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُهُمْ الْكَذِبَ أَنَّ لَهُمُ الْحُسْنَى لاَ جَرَمَ أَنَّ لَهُمْ النَّارَ وَأَنَّهُمْ مُفْرَطُونَ(( 62 ))

62- AND THEY ASSIGN TO ALLAH WHAT THEY DISLIKE IT, (FOR THEMSELVES) AND THEIR TONGUES DESCRIBE FALSELY THAT FOR THEM IS THE GOOD (END). NECESSARILY FOR THEM SHALL BE THE FIRE, AND THEY ARE THE PIONEERS (WHO ENTER THE HELL)

تَاللهِ لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَى أُمَم مِّنْ قَبْلِكَ فَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَعْمَالَهُمْ فَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُمُ الْيَوْمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ(( 63 ))

63- BY ALLAH WE SENT (OUR MESSENGERS) TO THE NATIONS BEFORE YOU, BUT SATAN ADORNED FOR THEM THEIR DEEDS, (i.e. MADE THEIR EVIL DEED FAIR-SEEMING TO THEM) SO HE IS THEIR GUARDIAN TO-DAY, AND FOR THEM IS A PAINFUL PUNISHMENT.

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وَمَا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ إِلاَّ لِتُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ الَّذِي اخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ وَهُدىً وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْم يُؤْمِنُونَ(( 64 ))

64- AND WE DID NOT SEND THE BOOK TO YOU, EXCEPT THAT YOU MAY MAKE CLEAR TO THEM THAT IN WHICH THEY DIFFER; AND (ALSO AS) A GUIDANCE AND MERCY FOR A PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE.

THE COMMENTARY IF IT WAS ORDERED TO ARREST DRUNKARDS....!? (VERSE NO. 61 - 64)

After studying the sad story of the female infanticide, a reader may ask:ِ ``Why does God not punish such people for their dreadful crime soon after, so as to quench the flames of such heinous sins?'' The first verse of the above group, (NO.61) is to answer this:ِ ``If Allah would seize people for their oppression, no moving creature would be left upon the earth unpunished!'' The above topic is a Persian proverb that; ``If it was ordered the drunkards to be arrested, all had to go to jail!'' So also if God had to punish soon after a sin was committed, He had to turn the earth into an excruciating house. Then Man had to perish for his sin, and the animals that are created to serve Man, would have to perish too, by losing their master and support:

Of course this verse does not imply that every one who lives in the earth is opprossor, and that there are not any good and guiltless people. But we should know that, when a fire is lit, it burns both, damp and dry wood. On this motive we have also the verse; S 8:25 in Qura"n saying:ِ ``Fear you of the trials, which affect not in particular only those of you who have oppressed....''

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Such a warning is against internal discords and social guilts the bad results of which may affect and afflict both innocent and guilty. However Allah does not hasten to punish His guilty servants. If He were to punish instantly for every evil deed, or any failing, no moving creature could escape the punishment, because we are almost all drunkards! God, due to His Infinite Mercy, gives enough time and respite for amendment, and finding out the way to development and evolution. But the sinners should not think that God's respite is a sign of His consent, and they are allowed to do whatever they like. On the other hand we should reflect on this fact that, the good or bad consequence of each deed is mingled and accompanied with that deed; and that, there is a reaction for every action. Our deeds will eventually return back to us, as the echo of our sounds do. Therefore no good can spring out of evil.

In the next verse we read:ِ

``By Allah We sent our Messengers to the nations before you, but Satan adorned for them their deeds....'' God has sent thousands of apostles of various classes and grades, to cover all ages and all people, to teach the truth and to show man the straight path of God, which leads to salvation and prosperity. But Satanic temptations have always worked against prophethood and prevented a group of people and caused differences and even enmity among the jarring sects. Many people have preferred their own ways, or that of their forefathers. Thre are also other people who know that they are going the wrong way, but to protect some social privileges they have obtained, they arrogantly assert themselves and insist upon their assertion. For example they may say:ِ

``Jesus Christ or Moses, has said this and that, or they have done so and such; and thus they create differences; and here is Qura"n as a Criterion for the distinction of wrong and right:ِ ``And We did not send the Book to you except that you may make clear to them that in which they differ, and also as a guidance and

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Mercy for a people who believe.'' Therefore, an object of the Holy Qura"n sent down to our prophet is to guide the people to the true one God, the faith in whom can lead to the unity of mankind, and guide them to the right conduct.

وَاللهُ أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الاَْرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لاَيَةً لِقَوْم يَسْمَعُونَ(( 65 ))

65- AND ALLAH SENT DOWN FROM THE SKY WATER, THEN BY IT HE GAVE LIFE TO THE EARTH AFTER ITS DEATH. VERILY IN THIS THERE IS A SIGN FOR A PEOPLE WHO HEAR.

وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ فِي الاَْنْعَامِ لَعِبْرَةً نُّسْقِيكُمْ مِّمَّا فِي بُطُونِهِ مِنْ بَيْنِ فَرْث وَدَم لَبَناً خَالِصاً سَائِغاً لِلشَّارِبِينَ(( 66 ))

66- AND VERILY THERE IS A (TEACHING) LESSON FOR YOU IN THE CATTLE; WE GIVE YOU TO DRINK OF WHAT IS IN THEIR STOMACH. (WE TAKE OUT) FROM BETWEEN DIGESTED FOOD AND BLOOD PURE MILK WHOLE-SOME TO DRINK.

وَمِنْ ثَمَرَاتِ النَّخِيلِ وَالاَْعْنَابِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِنْهُ سَكَراً وَرِزْقاً حَسَناً إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لاَيَةً لِّقَوْم يَعْقِلُونَ(( 67 ))

67- AND OF THE FRUIT OF THE DATE-PALMS AND GRAPES, YOU GET INTOXICANTS, AND ALSO GOOD SUSTENANCE. VERILY IN THAT IS A SIGN FOR A PEOPLE WHO USE THEIR WISDOM.

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THE COMMENTARY WATERS, FRUITS, AND CATTLE (VERSE NO. 65 - 67)

The natural life and death of the earth, and the role of the rain in this phenomenon, has been reflected through many verses in the Qura"n:ِ ``Allah sent down from the sky water, then by it gave life to the earth after its death.'' Water is the main source of life that comes down from the sky through the shower of rain. When the earth is dry to extremity, and it is almost dead or say; full asleep; then a shower of rain which the Persians call it the,``GOD'S MERCY'' is sent down from the sky that infuses a new blood into the veins of the earth, and LO! It is covered with green velvet, painted with wonderfully beautiful flowers and fruits!

And so is the case with our spiritual life, in which our sins nearly kill our self and soul; but the shower of God's Mercy in the form of Divine Revelation comes down to infuse new life and spirit to us. In the next verse, (NO.66) our attention is drown to the cattle, and how much benefits do we get out of our domestic animals:ِ ``And there is a teaching lesson for you in the cattle; We give you to drink of what is in their stomach. We take out for you from between their digested food and blood, pure milk, which is whole-some to drink.''