Exposition of Quran Surah Baqarah Ayah 11 to 20 with Quranic Text by Ghulam Ahmed Parwez,

 

2|11|وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ

2|12|أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْمُفْسِدُونَ وَلَٰكِن لَّا يَشْعُرُونَ

2|13|وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ آمِنُوا كَمَا آمَنَ النَّاسُ قَالُوا أَنُؤْمِنُ كَمَا آمَنَ السُّفَهَاءُ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ

2|14|وَإِذَا لَقُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قَالُوا آمَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا إِلَىٰ شَيَاطِينِهِمْ قَالُوا إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ

2|15|اللَّهُ يَسْتَهْزِئُ بِهِمْ وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ

2|16|أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرَوُا الضَّلَالَةَ بِالْهُدَىٰ فَمَا رَبِحَت تِّجَارَتُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا مُهْتَدِينَ

2|17|مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي اسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّا أَضَاءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُ ذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَر

2|18|صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ

2|19|أَوْ كَصَيِّبٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَاتٌ وَرَعْدٌ وَبَرْقٌ يَجْعَلُونَ أَصَابِعَهُمْ فِي آذَانِهِم مِّنَ

2|20|يَكَادُ الْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ أَبْصَارَهُمْ ۖ كُلَّمَا أَضَاءَ لَهُم مَّشَوْا فِيهِ وَإِذَا أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَ

 

 11          When they are asked not to spread Fas’ad (disorder) in society, they retort audaciously: “We do not spread fas’ad (disorder); rather we are the Musliheen i.e. those who promote order.” Beware! they, indeed, are the mufsideen who spread disorder.

 12          It is amazing that these people fail to realise how the discrepancy between their word and deed exposes their true self. 

13          When it is said to them that they should also adopt and follow the Divine Code as the Momineen have done, they reply: “They are simpletons who do not understand what is in their interest, and who forego present opportunities and benefits in the false hope of constructing an ideal society. Should we too become simpletons like them?” Beware! it is these Mun’afiqeen who do not know what is in their interest and who are, indeed, simpletons, since they do not even understand that to forego permanent advantages for temporary gains is not a good trading. 

14-15     Such is the duplicity of the Mun’afiqeen that when they are with the followers of the Divine Code, they aver that they too believe in the same truths, but when they meet their ring-leaders in privacy, they say: “We are, in fact, with you. It is only for the sake of appearance that we meet them. In reality, we mock them by pretending to be on their side.” If they could only see that, in accordance with Allah’s Law of Mukaf’at, they mocked none but themselves ! Intoxicated with power, the Mun’afiqeen let themselves loose in the whirlpool of perfidy. 

16          These people fancy that they are very clever since their deceitful ways bring them temporal returns; and feel smug about their profitable trading. But, in fact, no one is more mistaken than they are, because they have exchanged the wrong path for the right one. Such trading cannot eventually prosper because the wrong path can never lead to the ultimate destination prescribed for humanity. 

17-18     These pursuers of temporary and easy gains may be compared to one who, in the dark night of the jungle, lights a fire to find the way and the fire brightens the surroundings momentarily, but when it goes out, he finds himself in total darkness. In other words, the glitter of quickly-acquired gains initially dazzles the eyes like the fire in the wilderness. However, the brightness is followed by a darkness which renders one incapable of seeing, hearing or understanding (8/22). There is, then, no way left whereby such a person can return to the right path. 

19-20              Hypocrisy may lead to some gains, but these gains are always mixed with losses, as a cloud which brings life-giving rain is also accompanied by darkness, thunder and lightning. The Mun’afiqeen desire to profit from the rainfall but to be secure from the havoc caused by thunder and lightning, they stuff their fingers in their ears believing that they will not perish if they can shut out the terrifying noises of the storm. They are unable to perceive that they cannot protect themselves from lightning by simply shutting their ears, as Allah’s Law of Mukaf’at encompasses all those who deny the truth (7/183, 29/54, 79/36, 82/16).

Exposition of Quran Surah Baqarah Ayah 01 to 10 with Quranic Text by Ghulam Ahmed Parwez

2|1|بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ الم

2|2|ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

2|3|الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ

2|4|وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ

2|5|أُولَٰئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

2|6|إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنذِرْهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

2|7|خَتَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَعَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِمْ ۖ وَعَلَىٰ أَبْصَارِهِمْ غِشَاوَةٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِ

2|8|وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ

2|9|يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّا أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ

2|10|فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللَّهُ مَرَضًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ

 1-3         Allah, the Wise and the Knowing has said: “The guidance you long for (1/5), is preserved in this Book (15/9) wherein there is no uncertainty, ambiguity or psychological perplexity. This Book shows to the Muttaqeen the path leading to the ultimate destination prescribed for humanity. The Muttaqeen are those who wish to avoid pitfalls of the wrong path, who believe in the unseen (which becomes comprehensible through reflection on the Quran), and are confident that the right path will lead to the destination even though the former may be obscured initially.”

               In order to achieve this objective, they establish the Niz’am-us-Sal’at in which all human beings follow the Laws of Allah, and after retaining that much which is necessary to meet their basic needs (2/219), they keep the remaining material resources open for the needy ones for their nourishment. 

4            The Muttaqeen believe in all the truths revealed to you (O Nabi!) and those revealed to the Anbia who came before you. (The latter are, however, no longer in their original or unadulterated form). Believing in these truths (which are now all in the Quran) implies believing in the fact, which is corroborated by historical evidence, that whenever Allah’s Plan has been followed, the same beneficial results have been achieved, namely, a blissful life free of anxiety. They, therefore, believe that now, again, adherence to the Laws of Allah will bring about the same good results and their striving in the present will make the future bright, and that this process of evolution will continue even beyond death (57/12, 66/8). 

5            The Muttaqeen are blessed ones who lead their lives according to the Laws of Rabubiyyat and whose efforts eventually bear fruit (23/1-11, 31/2-5). They wish to follow the right path, warding off dangers inherent in taking the wrong path. 

6            As opposed to Muttaqeen, there are K’afireen who see the right path clearly, yet do not adopt it, being impelled by their obstinacy, jealousy, vanity, and vested interests (2/89-90, 109, 27/14, 35/42-43, 47/32). They do not follow this path themselves, and also prevent others from following it (6/26, 41/26, 43/32). Whether or not the K’afireen are warned about the disastrous consequences of following the wrong path, it is the same for them. They will never adopt the right path (36/70). 

7            As a result of their outlook and actions, the K’afireen lose their capacity for observation and comprehension. They, thus, deprive themselves of the real joys of life, falling headlong into the inferno of devastation. Indeed how pathetic is their end! 

8            While the Muttaqeen and K’afireen accept or reject the truth openly, the Mun’afiqeen pay lip service to the truth of the Divine Code, the Law of Mukaf’at and life Hereafter, without believing in it.

 9            They adopt two faced tactics towards Allah’s System and delude themselves into thinking that they are deceiving the Momineen who establish it. But if they were to reflect, they would realise that, in fact, they deceive only themselves.

 10              Leading such a life results in a diseased mind and Allah’s Law is that He furthers such a mind. This situation compels them to persistent lying and what a torturous life they have to live in.

Exposition of Quran Surah Fatiha complete with Quranic Text by Ghulam Ahmed Parwez

1|2|الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

1|3|الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

1|4|مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

1|5|إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

1|6|اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ

1|7|صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

1-2  Reflecting upon the harmonious working of the universe, it becomes manifest that everything in it is continuously receiving means of nurture, unearned, and is, thereby, enabled to actualise its potentialities. This amazing system of Rabubiyyat begets involuntary appreciation from all discerning persons who cry out: “O Our Sustainer! You have created nothing in this universe without purpose, or for ill use” (3/189-90). These persons with knowledge and conviction are truly engaged in the Hamd of Allah (35/27-28, 9/112).   3   For the fulfillment of Allah’s Plan, it is necessary to render ineffective, oppressive forces which hinder development of His creation. This would result in the ushering in of a system in which no one would be subservient to another. In this system, all matters will be decided in accordance with the Divine Laws (82/18-19, 17/111, 43/84), and it is this system which must eventually and inevitably supersede all man-made systems (9/33).  4  Such a system will be introduced by those who will declare (and also prove in practice) “We do not accept or acknowledge any authority but that of Allah, nor do we seek alliance with any system which disregards the Divine Laws.”  5-7  When these Momineen begin life’s journey, their aspirations and yearnings rise to their lips as the prayer  “O Allah! make that path clearly apparent to us which would lead us, without fear and danger, to our destination. Blessed nations of the past following this path achieved prosperity, happiness and eminence amongst their contemporaries (through the harnessing of the forces of nature and their utilisation in accordance with the Divine Laws) (31/20, 2/47).    As long as these nations followed the path ordained by You, they were successful and happy. But when they changed their course they lost Your blessings (8/53), suffering disgrace and ignominy (2/61, 7/152). All their efforts and actions were rendered in vain, and, since the true path had become obscured from them, they became entangled in speculations. Sometimes, they blindly followed the antiquated ways of their ancestors (37/69-71), and, sometimes, they were misled by their baser desires (45/23). Dismayed by their goal-less journey, they deceived themselves by saying: ‘It was not Allah’s will to show us the right path’ (6/149).   O Allah! we beseech You to enable us to follow the path prescribed by You so that our end is not like those who lost their way and thus destroyed themselves. We are aware that no one can show the right path to a people who turn away from Your Guidance (61/5). At the same time, we also know that the right path is discovered only by those who strive to find it (29/69). Therefore, grant us the strength for that search.”