Qur'aanic Studies - Volume XXV
by
Mohammad Shafi
PREFACE
Below the Arabic text of every Verse of the Qur'aan, is its transliteration, followed by translation and Chapter Notes, if any, essentially based on the Qur'aan itself. Please remember that the Arabic text is divine and, therefore, sacrosanct, but the transliteration, translation and the Notes are human and, therefore, subject to correction. Please also remember that the human-made Notes cannot, and do not, explain the divine Verses. They seek to explain the human translation only and/or to relate the Verse to present circumstances or to divine explanations given in other Verses of the Qur'aan.
I have adopted the transliteration method employed by the Muslim Students' Association (MSA) of the University of Southern California. And, in this regard, I may usefully quote from their site:
"MSA-USC would like to thank muslimnet.net for making their transliteration of the Qur'an publicly available.
'We would like to emphasize that this [transliteration] text is not a substitute for the original Arabic Qur'an. It is only an attempt to help those who are trying to learn to read the Arabic text, since it is as close to the written text as possible.
It is important to practice pronouncing the letters as directed in the transliteration table, especially the underlined letters, before starting to read. It will be helpful if an Arabic speaker can help you.
This work is free for use to everyone as long as no changes that might distort it are done to it. We request from those who benefit from it to pray for us. We pray to Almighty Allah to help you learn to read the Holy Qur'an, and to do every good thing.'"
I present this humble work in the earnest hope that it will prompt my Readers to try and understand the divine Message in its original Arabic text. They should remember that no translation however meticulously done can ever equal the original Arabic text in its divine grandeur and pristine clarity.
One may wonder why this yet another addition to the existing plethora of Translations and Commentaries! The answer to this question lies in the beauty of the fact that the divine Message of the Qur'aan remains valid for all times and ages since its revelation until the Last Day. The Message therefore needs to be studied from time to time in the changing perspectives of the changing times. It would be absolutely wrong to confine this universal Message for mankind to the circumstances and situations of a particular period in the past. Unfortunately, however, most of the commentators so far have based their understanding of the Qur'aan in the strict perspective of the circumstances and situations prevailing at the time of its revelation way back in 7th century A.D. The Muslim mindset generally has thus got stagnated and therefore unable to cope with the changing situations of the changing times. This humble attempt of mine is to help Muslims generally to come out, Allah willing, of that crippling stagnation.
This Volume of my Qur'aanic Studies is on Yusuf Verses 53 to 111 and Ar-Rad Verses 1 to 18.
Mohammad Shafi
Mumbai, INDIA,
6th October, 2009
سورة يوسف
Chapter 12: Yusuf (Joseph)
In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
53. Wama obarri-o nafsee inna alnnafsa laammaratun bialssoo-i illa ma rahima rabbee inna rabbee ghafoorun raheemun
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53. The Chieftain’s wife7 continued, “And I do not claim to be innocent. The Self is indeed prone to evil, but for such as my Lord has had mercy on. Indeed! My Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.”
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7. Please see preceding Verses 51 and 52. ====================================================
54. Waqala almaliku i/toonee bihi astakhlishu linafsee falamma kallamahu qala innaka alyawma ladayna makeenun ameenun
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54. And the king said, “Bring him to me. I will make him my personal aide.” So when Joseph was brought to him, the king said, “You are indeed from today a trusted person in an honourable position with us.” ===================================
55. Qala ijAAalnee AAala khaza-ini al-ardi innee hafeethun AAaleemun
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55. Joseph said, “Place me in authority over the treasures of the land. I know how to keep them well preserved.” ===================================
56. Wakathalika makanna liyoosufa fee al-ardi yatabawwao minha haythu yashao nuseebu birahmatina man nashao wala nudeeAAu ajra almuhsineena
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56. And thus did We give Yusuf an honourable position in the land. He could settle therein in whatever way he liked. We bestow Our mercy on upon whom We please. And We do not let good people go unrewarded. ===================================
57. Walaajru al-akhirati khayrun lillatheena amanoo wakanoo yattaqoona
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57. And certainly the reward of the Hereafter is much better for those who believe and fear Allah. ===================================
58. Wajaa ikhwatu yoosufa fadakhaloo AAalayhi faAAarafahum wahum lahu munkiroona
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58. And Joseph's brothers came8 and went in to him, when he recognised them and they did not recognise him.
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8. The narrative skips the gap of several years during which the granaries were filled under the wise counsel of Joseph with the produce of good years, and the drought had set in just as predicted in the king’s dream [Verse 12.43 as decodified by Joseph (Verses 12.47 to 12.49)]. It was to get grains from the State granaries that Joseph’s brothers had come there during the drought years. ====================================================
59. Walamma jahhazahum bijahazihim qala i/toonee bi-akhin lakum min abeekum ala tarawna annee oofee alkayla waana khayru almunzileena
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59. And when he furnished them their provision, Joseph said, “Bring to me the other brother you have from your father! Do you not see that I give you your full ration and offer you hospitality at its best?” ===================================
60. Fa-in lam ta/toonee bihi fala kayla lakum AAindee wala taqrabooni
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60. “But if you do not bring him to me, you shall have no ration from me, nor shall you come near me.” ===================================
61. Qaloo sanurawidu AAanhu abahu wa-inna lafaAAiloona
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61. They said, “We will plead for him with his father, and we will most certainly do that.” ===================================
62. Waqala lifityanihi ijAAaloo bidaAAatahum fee rihalihim laAAallahum yaAArifoonaha itha inqalaboo ila ahlihim laAAallahum yarjiAAoona
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62. And Joseph told his men, “Put back their payments secretly in their bags so that they come to know about it only when they go back to their family. It may induce them to come back here.” ===================================
63. Falamma rajaAAoo ila abeehim qaloo ya abana muniAAa minna alkaylu faarsil maAAana akhana naktal wa-inna lahu lahafithoona
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63. So when they returned to their father, they said, “O our father, our ration would be denied to us. Therefore send our brother with us. We may then get our ration, and we will most certainly take care of him.” ===================================
64. Qala hal amanukum AAalayhi illa kama amintukum AAala akheehi min qablu faAllahu khayrun hafithan wahuwa arhamu alrrahimeena
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64. He said, “Shall I entrust him to you except as I entrusted to you his brother before? But Allah is the best Protector, and He is the most Merciful.” ===================================
65. Walamma fatahoo mataAAahum wajadoo bidaAAatahum ruddat ilayhim qaloo ya abana ma nabghee hathihi bidaAAatuna ruddat ilayna wanameeru ahlana wanahfathu akhana wanazdadu kayla baAAeerin thalika kaylun yaseerun
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65. And when they opened their goods, they found returned to them what they had paid therefor! They said, “O our father, what more can we desire? Here is our capital returned to us! Now we can feed our family, take care of our brother, and have a surplus of a camel load of grains. This would make our problem of getting sufficient ration easy.” ====================================
66. Qala lan orsilahu maAAakum hatta tu/tooni mawthiqan mina Allahi lata/tunnanee bihi illa an yuhata bikum falamma atawhu mawthiqahum qala Allahu AAala ma naqoolu wakeelun
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66. He said, “I will not send him with you until you give me a pledge, in Allah's name, that you will most certainly bring him back to me unless in the circumstance that you are besieged. And when they gave him their pledge, he said, “Allah is Witness and Trustee to what we say.” ===================================
67. Waqala ya baniyya la tadkhuloo min babin wahidin waodkhuloo min abwabin mutafarriqatin wama oghnee AAankum mina Allahi min shay-in ini alhukmu illa lillahi AAalayhi tawakkaltu waAAalayhi falyatawakkali almutawakkiloona
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67. And he said, “O my sons! Do not enter by one gate and enter by different gates. And I can avail you nothing against Allah. The absolute authority is with none but Allah. On Him do I rely. And on Him then let those who are reliant, rely.”9
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9. The father’s advice to his numerous sons not to enter all together by one gate was just a human strategy to avoid undue attention. As he later explains, no human strategy can withstand Allah’s Will. There’s a lesson here for mankind that they may take all precautions against perceived troubles, but, ultimately, it is Allah they should rely on. ====================================================
68. Walamma dakhaloo min haythu amarahum aboohum ma kana yughnee AAanhum mina Allahi min shay-in illa hajatan fee nafsi yaAAqooba qadaha wa-innahu lathoo AAilmin lima AAallamnahu walakinna akthara alnnasi la yaAAlamoona
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68. And when they entered as their father had bidden them, it availed them nothing against Allah. It was an act deemed prudent by Jacob and he expressed it. And indeed he had the knowledge We taught him, but most people know not.10
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10. Jacob was a Prophet, and he knew certain things from Allah, which other people are not privy to. ====================================================
69. Walamma dakhaloo AAala yoosufa awa ilayhi akhahu qala innee ana akhooka fala tabta-is bima kanoo yaAAmaloona
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69. And when they went in to Joseph, he took his brother11 to stay with himself, and told him, “I am your brother, therefore grieve not at what they do.”
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11. From the context of this and the preceding Verses, it is apparent that Joseph and the youngest brother brought to him now were born to one wife, while the other brothers were born to another wife of Jacob. ====================================================
70. Falamma jahhazahum bijahazihim jaAAala alssiqayata fee rahli akheehi thumma aththana mu-aththinun ayyatuha alAAeeru innakum lasariqoona
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70. So when he gave them their provisions, he placed a cup in his brother's bag. Then someone cried out, “O people of the caravan! You are most surely thieves.” ===================================
71. Qaloo waaqbaloo AAalayhim matha tafqidoona
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71. Joseph’s brothers in the caravan came forward and asked, “What is it that you find missing?” ===================================
72. Qaloo nafqidu suwaAAa almaliki waliman jaa bihi himlu baAAeerin waana bihi zaAAeemun
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72. Joseph’s men replied, “We find the king's cup missing, and he, who comes up with it, shall get a camel-load of extra grains.” And Joseph added, “I am guarantor of this.” ===================================
73. Qaloo taAllahi laqad AAalimtum ma ji/na linufsida fee al-ardi wama kunna sariqeena
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73. Joseph’s brothers said, “By Allah! You know for certain that we have not come to make mischief in the land, and we are not thieves.” ===================================
74. Qaloo fama jazaohu in kuntum kathibeena
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74. The men asked, “But what should be the punishment for this, if you happen to be lying?” ===================================
75. Qaloo jazaohu man wujida fee rahlihi fahuwa jazaohu kathalika najzee alththalimeena
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75. The brothers said, “The punishment for this is that the person in whose bag it is found shall himself suffer it. Thus do we punish the wrongdoers.” ===================================
76. Fabadaa bi-awAAiyatihim qabla wiAAa-i akheehi thumma istakhrajaha min wiAAa-i akheehi kathalika kidna liyoosufa ma kana liya/khutha akhahu fee deeni almaliki illa an yashaa Allahu narfaAAu darajatin man nashao wafawqa kulli thee AAilmin AAaleemun
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76. So he (Joseph) began the search with their (his step-brothers’) packs before searching the pack of his brother, and then he brought it (the king’s cup) out from his brother's pack. Thus did We plan a stratagem for the sake of Joseph. He could not legally take and keep his brother with him under the king's laws, unless Allah pleased.12 We raise the ranks of whomsoever We please. And over every person of knowledge, there is one more knowledgeable.13
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12. Apparently, Joseph acted against the laws of the country in which he himself was in an executive position. But Joseph was a Prophet; and, what he did was under the direct direction of the heighest Authority, Allah. So, Joseph’s act of manipulating his younger brother’s continued stay with him, against the laws of the country, should not be taken as a precedent for such acts by other human beings.
13. No human being, at any point of time, could ever claim that he was the most knowledgeable or had all the knowledge. There could always be someone with better knowledge on some or the other subject. It is Allah alone Who can possess all knowledge far above any of His created beings could or can ever possess. ====================================================
77. Qaloo in yasriq faqad saraqa akhun lahu min qablu faasarraha yoosufu fee nafsihi walam yubdiha lahum qala antum sharrun makanan waAllahu aAAlamu bima tasifoona
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77. They said, “If he has stolen, a brother of his did indeed steal before.” And Joseph kept his secret with himself and did not disclose it to them. He said, “You have been in a wicked state of mind and Allah knows the truth about the clarification you have given.” ===================================
78. Qaloo ya ayyuha alAAazeezu inna lahu aban shaykhan kabeeran fakhuth ahadana makanahu inna naraka mina almuhsineena
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78. They said, “Sir! He has a very old father; so, retain one of us in his place. We do indeed see you as a good man.” ===================================
79. Qala maAAatha Allahi an na/khutha illa man wajadna mataAAana AAindahu inna ithan lathalimoona
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79. He said, “Allah forbid that we seize a man other than him with whom we found our property. We would indeed then be doing a very wrong thing.” ===================================
80. Falamma istay-asoo minhu khalasoo najiyyan qala kabeeruhum alam taAAlamoo anna abakum qad akhatha AAalaykum mawthiqan mina Allahi wamin qablu ma farrattum fee yoosufa falan abraha al-arda hatta ya/thana lee abee aw yahkuma Allahu lee wahuwa khayru alhakimeena
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80. Then when they got despaired of him, they conferred among themselves. The eldest of them said, “Do you not know that your father took from you a pledge in Allah's name, and that you committed excesses in respect of Joseph, before? Therefore I will not leave this place until my father permits me or Allah otherwise decrees for me. And He is the best Ruler.” ===================================
81. IrjiAAoo ila abeekum faqooloo ya abana inna ibnaka saraqa wama shahidna illa bima AAalimna wama kunna lilghaybi hafitheena
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81. “Go back to your father.” They went back and said, “O our father! Your son did indeed commit theft, and we do not bear witness except to what we have known. And we could not keep watch over the unseen.” ===================================
82. Wais-ali alqaryata allatee kunna feeha waalAAeera allatee aqbalna feeha wa-inna lasadiqoona
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82. “And make enquiries at the place in which we had been to and with the caravan with which we had proceeded. And what we say is most certainly true.” =============================================
83. Qala bal sawwalat lakum anfusukum amran fasabrun jameelun AAasa Allahu an ya/tiyanee bihim jameeAAan innahu huwa alAAaleemu alhakeemu
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83. He (Jacob) said, “Nay, you have made up a convenient story for yourselves! So it is better for me to be patient. Maybe, Allah will bring them all together to me. He is indeed Knowledgeable, Wise.” =============================================
84. Watawalla AAanhum waqala ya asafa AAala yoosufa waibyaddat AAaynahu mina alhuzni fahuwa katheemun
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84. And, turning away from them, he silently cried, “Alas for Joseph!” And his eyes turned white with grief, and he did control his emotions. ==================================
85. Qaloo taAllahi taftao tathkuru yoosufa hatta takoona haradan aw takoona mina alhalikeena
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85. They (Joseph’s brothers) said to him, “By Allah! You will cease not remembering Joseph until you get severely ill or get perished.” ===================================
86. Qala innama ashkoo baththee wahuznee ila Allahi waaAAlamu mina Allahi ma la taAAlamoona
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86. He said, “I complain of my distress and grief only to Allah. And I know from Allah what you do not know.” ===================================
87. Ya baniyya ithhaboo fatahassasoo min yoosufa waakheehi wala tay-asoo min rawhi Allahi innahu la yay-asu min rawhi Allahi illa alqawmu alkafiroona
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87. O my sons! Go and make enquiries about Joseph and his brother, and despair not of getting relief from Allah. Indeed, none but the people who suppress the Truth despair of getting relief from Allah. ===================================
88. Falamma dakhaloo AAalayhi qaloo ya ayyuha alAAazeezu massana waahlana alddurru waji/na bibidaAAatin muzjatin faawfi lana alkayla watasaddaq AAalayna inna Allaha yajzee almutasaddiqeena
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88. So when the brothers came back to Joseph, they said, “Sir! Distress has afflicted us and our family and we have brought but little capital. Give us the full ration and be charitable to us. Allah does indeed reward those that are charitable.” ===================================
89. Qala hal AAalimtum ma faAAaltum biyoosufa waakheehi ith antum jahiloona
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89. He said, “Do you know how you treated Joseph and his brother in your ignorance?” =============================================
90. Qaloo a-innaka laanta yoosufa qala ana yoosufu wahatha akhee qad manna Allahu AAalayna innahu man yattaqi wayasbir fa-inna Allaha la yudeeAAu ajra almuhsineena
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90. They said, “Are you indeed Joseph?” He said, “I am Yusuf and this is my brother. Allah has certainly been gracious to us. Indeed, such is the reward for him who fears Allah and exercises patience. And, indeed, Allah does not let the reward, of those who do good, go waste.” =============================================
91. Qaloo taAllahi laqad atharaka Allahu AAalayna wa-in kunna lakhati-eena
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91. They said,”By Allah! HE has certainly chosen you over us, and we were indeed the sinners.” =============================================
92. Qala la tathreeba AAalaykumu alyawma yaghfiru Allahu lakum wahuwa arhamu alrrahimeena
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92. He said, “No reproof against you this day. Allah may forgive you, and He is the most Merciful.” ===================================
93. Ithhaboo biqameesee hatha faalqoohu AAala wajhi abee ya/ti baseeran wa/toonee bi-ahlikum ajmaAAeena
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93. “Take this shirt of mine and put it on my father's face. He will be able to see. And then come back to me with your entire family.” ===================================
94. Walamma fasalati alAAeeru qala aboohum innee laajidu reeha yoosufa lawla an tufannidooni
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94. And when the caravan had set out, their father said, “I do indeed get the smell of Joseph, unless you consider me to be delirious.” ===================================
95. Qaloo taAllahi innaka lafee dalalika alqadeemi
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95. Those who were there with him said, “By Allah, you are indeed in your old error.”14
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14. It may well be remembered that at that stage Joseph’s brothers had not yet returned to their father; they were still on their way back. It was the other people with him then saying this to him. They thought that the old man had become senile in his remembrance of the long lost Joseph. ====================================================
96. Falamma an jaa albasheeru alqahu AAala wajhihi fairtadda baseeran qala alam aqul lakum innee aAAlamu mina Allahi ma la taAAlamoona
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96. And when the bearer of good news (Joseph’s brother with Joseph’s shirt) did arrive, he put the shirt on the face of Jacob, who then got back his sight. Jacob said, “Did I not tell you that I know from Allah what you know not?” ===================================
97. Qaloo ya abana istaghfir lana thunoobana inna kunna khati-eena
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97. They said, “O our father! Pray for forgiveness of our sins. We indeed did wrong.” ===================================
98. Qala sawfa astaghfiru lakum rabbee innahu huwa alghafooru alrraheemu
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98. The father said, “I will pray to my Lord to forgive you. He is indeed Forgiving, Merciful. ===================================
99. Falamma dakhaloo AAala yoosufa awa ilayhi abawayhi waqala odkhuloo misra in shaa Allahu amineena
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99. When they then came to Yusuf, he got his parents to stay with him and said, “Welcome to Egypt. You will, Allah willing, be safe here.” ===================================
100. WarafaAAa abawayhi AAala alAAarshi wakharroo lahu sujjadan waqala ya abati hatha ta/weelu ru/yaya min qablu qad jaAAalaha rabbee haqqan waqad ahsana bee ith akhrajanee mina alssijni wajaa bikum mina albadwi min baAAdi an nazagha alshshaytanu baynee wabayna ikhwatee inna rabbee lateefun lima yashao innahu huwa alAAaleemu alhakeemu
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100. And Joseph raised his parents upon the throne; and they fell down in prostration before him.15 And he said, “O my father! This is the interpretation of the dream I had seen before.16 My Lord has indeed made it come true. And He was indeed kind to me when He brought me out from the prison and brought you from the desert after the Satan had fomented discord between me and my brothers. My Lord is indeed benevolent to whom He pleases. He is indeed Knowledgeable, Wise.”
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15. Apparently, Joseph arranged for a sort of ceremony to welcome his parents and brothers to Egypt, and in that ceremony he gave his parents the highest honour – a ceremonial throne to sit on. There the parents and the brothers fell down in prostration before Joseph in recognition of the high position he had acquired, by Allah’s grace, despite the brothers treating him very cruelly in his childhood. As regards prostration per se, refer study notes 2.27 and 2.28.
16. Refer Verse 12.4. ====================================================
101. Rabbi qad ataytanee mina almulki waAAallamtanee min ta/weeli al-ahadeethi fatira alssamawati waal-ardi anta waliyyee fee alddunya waal-akhirati tawaffanee musliman waalhiqnee bialssaliheena
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101. “My Lord! You have given me some political power and taught me some knowledge on interpretation of events. Originator of the heavens and the earth! You are my wali17 in this world and the Hereafter. Make me die as one who willingly submits to You and make me join the ranks of the righteous people.”
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17. Refer study note 2.154 for the comprehensive Qur’aanic meaning of this term. ====================================================
102. Thalika min anba-i alghaybi nooheehi ilayka wama kunta ladayhim ith ajmaAAoo amrahum wahum yamkuroona
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102. This is from annals of the unseen past which We reveal to you. And you were not with them18 when they got together to act, and they conspired.
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18. Brothers of Joseph. ====================================================
103. Wama aktharu alnnasi walaw harasta bimu/mineena
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103. And most men will not believe, though you desire eagerly that they believe. ===================================
104. Wama tas-aluhum AAalayhi min ajrin in huwa illa thikrun lilAAalameena
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------104. And you ask them not for any reward for this19. It is none other than what all human beings need constant reference to for rightful decisions and actions in their respective worlds20.
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19. The Qur’aan.
20. Refer study note 1.5. ====================================================
105. Wakaayyin min ayatin fee alssamawati waal-ardi yamurroona AAalayha wahum AAanha muAAridoona
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105. And how many a sign, in the heavens and the earth, do they pass by? And yet they turn aside from it!21
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21. The very tips of our fingers and every thing, little or big, around us in this world and in the unimaginably vast universe over us provide irrefutable signs of the existence of an Unseen, but All powerful, Being, Who can do and undo anything. And there are signs that provide proof that the Qur’aan is a Message of Guidance from that Being to the entire mankind. It is a pity that most of mankind remains blind to these signs galore. ====================================================
106. Wama yu/minu aktharuhum biAllahi illa wahum mushrikoona
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106. And most of them do not believe in Allah without worshipping others besides Him. ===================================
107. Afaaminoo an ta/tiyahum ghashiyatun min AAathabi Allahi aw ta/tiyahumu alssaAAatu baghtatan wahum la yashAAuroona
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107. Do they then feel secure that some punishment from Allah will not envelope them or that the Hour22 may not come to them suddenly and unknowingly?
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22. The Last Day. ====================================================
108. Qul hathihi sabeelee adAAoo ila Allahi AAala baseeratin ana wamani ittabaAAanee wasubhana Allahi wama ana mina almushrikeena
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108. Say, “This is my path: I call to Allah. I and my followers are on right guidance. And glory be to Allah, I am not one of those who worship others besides Allah.” ===================================
109. Wama arsalna min qablika illa rijalan noohee ilayhim min ahli alqura afalam yaseeroo fee al-ardi fayanthuroo kayfa kana AAaqibatu allatheena min qablihim waladaru al-akhirati khayrun lillatheena ittaqaw afala taAAqiloona
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109. And We did not send before you any but men from among the same communities to whom We sent revelations. Have they not then travelled on land and seen for themselves what end those before them met with? And the abode of the Hereafter is certainly better for those who fear Allah. Do you not understand this? ===================================
110. Hatta itha istay-asa alrrusulu wathannoo annahum qad kuthiboo jaahum nasruna fanujjiya man nashao wala yuraddu ba/suna AAani alqawmi almujrimeena
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110. The Messengers continued propagating the divine Message to the people until the Messengers despaired and reckoned that the people would not believe them. Then did Our help come to them and every person, whom We pleased, was saved. And Our punishment was not dispensed with for the sinners. ===================================
111. Laqad kana fee qasasihim AAibratun li-olee al-albabi ma kana hadeethan yuftara walakin tasdeeqa allathee bayna yadayhi watafseela kulli shay-in wahudan warahmatan liqawmin yu/minoona
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111. In their annals there is certainly a lesson for men of understanding.23 This is not a fabricated hadeeth24, but a confirmation of what has preceded it and a detailed explanation of all things and a guide and a mercy to people who believe.
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23. The Qur’aanic narrative in relation to Joseph ends at this point. What follows in the remaining portion of this Verse - as the context therein itself clearly indicates - refers to the Qur’aanic Message as a whole.
24. Hadeeth literally means a saying. And in that meaning of the term, the Verse reiterates that nothing mentioned in the Qur’aan is fabricated. But in the context of the later (after the death of the Prophet) development of ahaadeeth (collection of sayings attributed to the Prophet and his companions) as a parallel source of Islam along with the Qur’aan, there is a divine forecast here that some of such ahaadeeth could be fabricated. There is also a confirmation here that the Qur’aan itself contains all the necessary details, nipping the contention in the bud that the Qur’aan, by itself, is incomplete and therefore needs ahaadeeth as a complementary source of Islam. ====================================================
سورة الرعد
Chapter 13: Ar-Rad (The Thunder)
In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
1. Alif-lam-meem-ra tilka ayatu alkitabi waallathee onzila ilayka min rabbika alhaqqu walakinna akthara alnnasi la yu/minoona
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1. Alif Lam Meem Ra. These are the verses of the Book. And that which is revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, but most people do not believe. ===================================
2. Allahu allathee rafaAAa alssamawati bighayri AAamadin tarawnaha thumma istawa AAala alAAarshi wasakhkhara alshshamsa waalqamara kullun yajree li-ajalin musamman yudabbiru al-amra yufassilu al-ayati laAAallakum biliqa-i rabbikum tooqinoona
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2. Allah is the One Who raised the heavens without any visible support. He then established Himself on the Throne1. And He made the sun and the moon subservient. Each pursues its course till an appointed time. He is the Commander and the Governor. He explains the Verses/signs in details so that you may be certain of meeting your Lord.
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1. Refer study note 55 under Verse 9.129. ====================================================
3. Wahuwa allathee madda al-arda wajaAAala feeha rawasiya waanharan wamin kulli alththamarati jaAAala feeha zawjayni ithnayni yughshee allayla alnnahara inna fee thalika laayatin liqawmin yatafakkaroona
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3. And He is the One Who has stretched the earth to make mountains and rivers therein. And He has placed therein all kinds of fruits in pairs.2 He makes the night cover the day. Indeed there are signs in this for people who reflect.
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2. Every fruit-bearing tree/plant has male stamens and female pistils in the flowers that it produces before the fruits appear. Most flowers have both the reproductive organs within themselves. Bees and insects play their parts in transferring the pollen grains from the stamens to the pistils which then get pollinated to form fruits. ====================================================
4. Wafee al-ardi qitaAAun mutajawiratun wajannatun min aAAnabin wazarAAun wanakheelun sinwanun waghayru sinwanin yusqa bima-in wahidin wanufaddilu baAAdaha AAala baAAdin fee alokuli inna fee thalika laayatin liqawmin yaAAqiloona
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4. And on the earth there are tracts side by side with gardens of grapes and corn and palm trees - having one common root and others having distinct roots3 - all irrigated with same water. And yet We make some of them excel others in flavour. There are signs indeed in this for people who understand.
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3. Bamboo trees grow in clusters with common root and date-palm trees have distinct roots. ====================================================
5. Wa-in taAAjab faAAajabun qawluhum a-itha kunna turaban a-inna lafee khalqin jadeedin ola-ika allatheena kafaroo birabbihim waola-ika al-aghlalu fee aAAnaqihim waola-ika as-habu alnnari hum feeha khalidoona
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5. And if you would consider anything as strange, then strange it is that they say, “When we turn to dust, shall we even then be there in a new creation?” These are they, who suppress the Truth in regard to their Lord. And they shall have chains round their necks, and they shall the inmates of the fire. In it they shall ever be. ===================================
6. WayastaAAjiloonaka bialssayyi-ati qabla alhasanati waqad khalat min qablihimu almathulatu wa-inna rabbaka lathoo maghfiratin lilnnasi AAala thulmihim wa-inna rabbaka lashadeedu alAAiqabi
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6. And they ask you to hasten what is not good rather than what is good, and there certainly have been examples of those before them4. And indeed your Lord is full of forgiveness for people, notwithstanding their wrongdoings. And indeed your Lord is severe in punishment.
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4. I.e., examples of earlier peoples like Aad, Thamood, Lot’s people etc. who had been punished in this world itself for their intransigence. ====================================================
7. Wayaqoolu allatheena kafaroo lawla onzila AAalayhi ayatun min rabbihi innama anta munthirun walikulli qawmin hadin
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7. And those who suppress the Truth say, “Why has not a sign been sent down upon him from his Lord?” You are only a warner and, for every people, a guide.5
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5. The divine guidance, in the form of the Qur’aan, that the last Prophet (peace be on him) brought, was not meant only for the Arabs, but for the entire mankind till the Last Day. The earlier peoples that lived before the Prophet’s time, had their own individual Prophets, who had been given the capacity of performing miraculous acts to convince those pre-historic peoples that they really had come with Messages from Allah Almighty. The Last Prophet with the last divine Message had come at the threshold of the modern age with its proliferation of knowledge and the means to preserve and communicate that knowledge universally. There was therefore no need for those miracles. It was Allah’s Will that the peoples of this age should believe in Him, under the guidance of His last Message, with the help of the vast knowledge that they now possess. ====================================================
8. Allahu yaAAlamu ma tahmilu kullu ontha wama tagheedu al-arhamu wama tazdadu wakullu shay-in AAindahu bimiqdarin
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8. Allah knows what any female conceives, and what makes the wombs shrink and what makes them swell. And everything with Him is measured.6
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6. The science of embryology has opened for us the secrets of the womb. A study of this science should give us enough evidence of an Unseen Hand intricately and intelligently fashioning a tiny speck into a fully grown foetus ready to come out in the open world. When the knowledge of such miracles of creation is made available to modern man, he stands in no need of the miracles brought by Prophets in the pre-historic ages. Refer preceding study note 5 in this context. ====================================================
9. AAalimu alghaybi waalshshahadati alkabeeru almutaAAali
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9. Allah has the knowledge of the unseen and the seen. HE is the One Who is Great, the One Who is High/Exalted. ===================================
10. Sawaon minkum man asarra alqawla waman jahara bihi waman huwa mustakhfin biallayli wasaribun bialnnahari
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10. The one among you who speaks secretively, the one who speaks openly, the one who hides by night and the one who moves about freely by day – they are all the same for Allah; nothing can escape His notice. ===================================
11. Lahu muAAaqqibatun min bayni yadayhi wamin khalfihi yahfathoonahu min amri Allahi inna Allaha la yughayyiru ma biqawmin hatta yughayyiroo ma bi-anfusihim wa-itha arada Allahu biqawmin soo-an fala maradda lahu wama lahum min doonihi min walin
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11. For every human being there are angels who take turns, in front of him/her and behind, to guard him/her by Allah's commandment. Allah does indeed not change the condition of a people until they themselves change it.7 And when Allah wills adversity on a people, there is no averting it. And besides Him they have no ruling authority to defend and take care of them.
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7. For centuries after the revelation of the Qur’aan, Muslims enjoyed dominance over others, both politically and culturally. They then, by and large, adhered to Qur’aanic teachings. But, now, the Muslims are down and out among the modern nations of the world. Allah did not change their condition; they changed it themselves. They stopped adhering to Qur’aanic teachings.
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12. Huwa allathee yureekumu albarqa khawfan watamaAAan wayunshi-o alssahaba alththiqala
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12. He it is Who shows you the lightning that causes both fear and hope. And He it is Who brings up the heavy cloud.8
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8. The modern world, despite all its technological advances, is still heavily dependent on this divine mercy of rainfall for its sustenance. And yet, mankind, by and large, is thanklessly indifferent to the Provider of this vital need. ====================================================
13. Wayusabbihu alrraAAdu bihamdihi waalmala-ikatu min kheefatihi wayursilu alssawaAAiqa fayuseebu biha man yashao wahum yujadiloona fee Allahi wahuwa shadeedu almihali
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13. And the thunder proclaims His glory with His praise, and the angels stand in awe of Him. And He sends the thunderbolts and hits with them whom He wills. And they quarrel among themselves about Allah, whereas He is extremely powerful. ===================================
14. Lahu daAAwatu alhaqqi waallatheena yadAAoona min doonihi la yastajeeboona lahum bishay-in illa kabasiti kaffayhi ila alma-i liyablugha fahu wama huwa bibalighihi wama duAAao alkafireena illa fee dalalin
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14. To Him is the true prayer! And those whom they pray to besides Allah give them no response on anything. It is just like one stretching his two hands out for water to reach his mouth, but it reaches not. And the prayer of those who suppress the Truth is nothing but an illusion. ===================================
15. Walillahi yasjudu man fee alssamawati waal-ardi tawAAan wakarhan wathilaluhum bialghuduwwi waal-asali
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15. And to Allah does prostrate everything in the heavens and the earth, willingly and unwillingly, as their shadows do morning and evening.9
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9. All things in the entire universe, in other words, are subservient to Allah. ====================================================
16. Qul man rabbu alssamawati waal-ardi quli Allahu qul afaittakhathtum min doonihi awliyaa la yamlikoona li-anfusihim nafAAan wala darran qul hal yastawee al-aAAma waalbaseeru am hal tastawee alththulumatu waalnnooru am jaAAaloo lillahi shurakaa khalaqoo kakhalqihi fatashabaha alkhalqu AAalayhim quli Allahu khaliqu kulli shay-in wahuwa alwahidu alqahharu
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16. Ask, “Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?” Say, “Allah.” Ask, “Do you take then, besides Him, awliya10 who have no control over any profit and loss to themselves?” Ask, “Are the blind and those able to see alike? Or can the darknesses and the light be equal? Or have they set up gods besides Allah, who have made creation like He has, and, as a result, the creation creates confusion for them?” Say, “Allah is the Creator of all things. And He is the One and Only, the Almighty!”
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10. Refer study note 2.154. =====================================================
17. Anzala mina alssama-i maan fasalat awdiyatun biqadariha faihtamala alssaylu zabadan rabiyan wamimma yooqidoona AAalayhi fee alnnari ibtighaa hilyatin aw mataAAin zabadun mithluhu kathalika yadribu Allahu alhaqqa waalbatila faamma alzzabadu fayathhabu jufaan waamma ma yanfaAAu alnnasa fayamkuthu fee al-ardi kathalika yadribu Allahu al-amthala
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17. He sends down water from the sky. And valleys flow with water as per their given measure. And the stream bears the swelling froth. And from what they melt in the fire for making ornaments or apparatus arises similar froth. Thus does Allah compare truth and untruth. Then, as for the froth, it just passes away as a worthless thing. And as for that which profits the people, it remains on the earth. Thus does Allah explains things giving examples.11
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11. Islam, as depicted in the Qur’aan, is the real thing that benefits mankind. All other ways of life, devised and/or manipulated by human hands, is like worthless froth. They are bound, sooner or later, to perish on the surface of this earth, and Islam to prevail. ====================================================
 18. Lillatheena istajaboo lirabbihimu alhusna waallatheena lam yastajeeboo lahu law anna lahum ma fee al-ardi jameeAAan wamithlahu maAAahu laiftadaw bihi ola-ika lahum soo-o alhisabi wama/wahum jahannamu wabi/sa almihadu
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18. The good is for those who respond to their Lord. And as for those who do not respond to Him, had they all that is in the earth and the like thereof with it, they would certainly offer it for a ransom. An evil reckoning shall await them and their abode shall be Hell – the worst place to rest in.
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Mohammad Shafi
Mumbai, India,
6th October, 2009
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QSV-XXV
