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Araf 178

 

178- THOSE ALLAH GUIDES, ARE THE RIGHTLY GUIDED, AS FOR THE MISGUIDED, INDEED THEY ARE THE LOSERS.

 

There has been misguidance on Earth ever since Satan vowed to mislead mankind.  Allah the Highest sent man down to Earth and promised to send him guidance always, which was done through Allah’s prophets, messengers and books.  Allah the Highest said: “WE SAID: “GET DOWN FROM IT ALL OF YOU.  WHEN YOU RECEIVE GUIDANCE FROM ME, THOSE WHO FOLLOW MY GUIDANCE, THERE WILL BE NO FEAR UPON THEM, NEITHER WILL THEY BE SADDENED”. (S: 2 A: 38)

We have our wishes, feelings, and desires, which are inside us, they may guide or misguide us.  Allah the Highest said: “AND THE SOUL AND HE WHO CREATED IT * AND INSPIRED IT, ITS WICKEDNESS, AND ITS PIETY * SUCCEEDS HE WHO PURIFIES IT * AND FAILED IS HE WHO MADE IT SINFUL”.  (S: 91 A: 7-10)

Allah the Highest also said: “THE LOVE OF PLEASURES HAS BEEN BEAUTIFIED FOR MANKIND; OF WOMEN, CHILDREN, HEAPS OF GOLD AND SILVER, THE BRANDED HORSES, CATTLE AND TILLED LAND.  THESE ARE THE PLEASURES OF THE LOWER LIFE, BUT WITH ALLAH IS THE EXCELLENT DESTINY”.  (S: 3 A: 14)

Allah the Highest did not leave us without guidance, He sent us, his prophets and messengers and His books.  Those who follow this guidance and do right, Allah the Highest guides them even more.  Allah the Highest said: “THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND DO GOOD DEEDS, THEIR LORD GUIDES THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR BELIEF”.  (S: 10 A: 9)

Also, Allah the Highest said: “BE RIGHTEOUS AND PROTECT YOURSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE, AND ALLAH TEACHES YOU, FOR ALLAH KNOWS ALL THINGS”.  (S: 2 A: 283)

And Allah the Highest also said: “AND THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE RIGHT GUIDANCE, HE (ALLAH) GIVES THEM MORE GUIDANCE AND GIVES THEM THEIR PIETY”.  (S: 47 A: 17)

Allah’s Guidance is there, and following this guidance is rewarded by being guided more.  Follow the guidance, and more insight and understanding comes. Seeing what others do not see, and understanding what others do not understand, understanding the reasons and aims of Allah’s words and commands. 

 

 

Araf 175-177

 

175- AND NARRATE TO THEM ABOUT HE WHO WAS GIVEN OUR AYAHS, BUT HE DISSOCIATED HIMSELF FROM THEM AND THEN THE DEVIL FOLLOWED HIM, AND HE BECAME OF THE SINFUL.

176- HAD WE DESIRED, WE WOULD HAVE RAISED HIM, HOWEVER, HE LOWERED HIMSELF TO THE GROUND AND FOLLOWED HIS OWN DESIRES, HE IS THEN LIKE A DOG, IT PANTS WHEN YOU CHASE HIM AND PANTS WHEN YOU LEAVE HIM,  SUCH IS THE PARABLE OF THOSE WHO REJECT OUR AYAHS, SO NARRATE THEIR STORIES SO THAT THEY MAY THINK AND CONSIDER.

177- SUCH A BAD EXAMPLE IS THE EXAMPLE OF THE PEOPLE WHO DENIED OUR AYAHS, AND WERE UNJUST TO THEMSELVES.

 

It is reported that these Ayahs were referring to a scholar from the Children of Israel.  He was sent to a king, and the king bribed him with money and property to follow his ways and be in his clan, which the scholar accepted.  In doing so, he dissociated himself from Allah’s Ayahs and commands, which he knew very well.

The scholars and the knowledgeable bear a greater responsibility that others, this is because of their knowledge, and therefore their sins are also greater than others’ sins.  Such scholars follow the ways of Satan, and consequently, Satan follows them.  It is as if he becomes one of the devils of humans, and therefore Satan follows his footsteps.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said to his companion Abu Zar: “Abu Zar, ask for Allah’s protection from the devils of humans and of Jinn”.  He said: “Allah’s messenger, are there devils among the humans?”  he said: “Yes”.  (T: Manaqeb; 17 & a: 5; 178,179,265)

He became one of Satan’s companions, each following the other.  This happened because the scholar decided to leave what is good and righteous for what is evil, in the full knowledge of what he was doing. 

Then Allah the Highest draws a parable, between such man and a dog, who pants regardless of the circumstances.

Comparing a human being to an animal should be demeaning to man (no offence to animals), this is because, Allah the Highest favoured mankind with many things, and raised his status above that of other creatures:

-         Allah the Highest created Adam with His Own Hands.  Allah the Highest said: “HE (ALLAH) SAID: “SATAN, WHAT STOPPED YOU PROSTRATING TO WHAT I CREATED WITH MY HANDS”.  (S:38 A:75)

-         Allah the Highest commanded the angels to prostrate to Adam “AND AS WE SAID TO THE ANGELS: “PROSTRATE TO ADAM”, THEY PROSTRATED EXCEPT IBLIS (SATAN WHO IS A GINN), HE REFUSED, WAS PROUD AND BECAME A DISBELIEVER”.   (S:2 A:34)

-         Allah the Highest Appointed Adam and his descendants, viceroys on Earth.  “AND AS YOUR LORD SAID TO THE ANGELS: “I AM PLACING A VICEROY ON EARTH”.   (S:2 A:30)

-         Allah the Highest made mankind in charge of the Earth and let him use everything on Earth and in the Heavens, and He did not do this to any other being.  Allah the Highest said: “DO YOU NOT SEE THAT ALLAH DEDICATED WHAT IS IN THE HEAVENS AND WHAT IS IN THE EARTH FOR YOU”.  (S:31 A:20)

-         Allah the Highest,, stated clearly that He honoured mankind and favoured them to many of His other creation.  Allah the Highest said: “AND WE HAVE HONOURED THE CHILDREN OF ADAM, AND WE CARRIED THEM ON LAND AND SEA, AND PROVIDED THEM WILL ALL GOOD THINGS, AND WE FAVOURED THEM GREATLY TO MANY OF OUR CREATIONS”.  (S:17 A:70)

-         Allah the Highest chose the prophets and messengers, peace upon them all, from among mankind, not from other creatures.

Man is different from animals also, in that man can choose what to do, and what not to do, while animals are driven and directed by their instincts for eating, drinking, procreation, defending their lives, etc. 

The Analogy of such people, who rejected Allah’s Ayahs and the dog, is demeaning to such people.  Not because the dogs are nasty creatures, for they are of Allah’s creation.  It is demeaning to man, who did not use many of the advantages and qualities Allah the Highest has given him and favoured him to animals with, such people are then no better than the animals.

 

 

 

 

 

Araf 172-174

 

172- AND YOUR LORD TOOK THE OFFSPRING OF THE CHILDREN OF ADAM FROM THEIR BACKS, AND MADE THEM BEAR WITNESS UPON THEMSELVES SAYING: “AM I NOT YOUR LORD?”  THEY SAID: “YES INDEED, AND WE BEAR WITNESS”.  SO THAT ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION YOU MAY NOT SAY: “WE WERE UNAWARE OF THIS”. 

173- OR SAY: “OUR PARENTS WERE IDLE WORSHIPPERS BEFOREHAND, AND WE WERE THE OFFSPRING WHO FOLLOWED THEM, WILL YOU DESTROY US BECAUSE OF WHAT THE WRONG DOERS DID”.

174- THIS IS HOW WE MAKE OUR AYAHS DETAILED, SO THAT THEY MAY RETURN (TO ALLAH).

 

Allah the Highest created all human beings in a pure form, ready to believe and worship him, creating this faith in us since we were but microscopic cells in our father’s bodies.  From this basic pure form, our parents and societies change us.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “Every child is born good and pure, and then his parents make him Jewish, Christian or Fire-worshipper”.  (Muslim)

Allah the Highest made us testify to Him being our Lord at such early stage of our existence, but how did this happen, and how did such communication take place, we do not know. 

We invent new means of communication by sound, picture and other means every day.  We also discover ways in which animals, birds, fish, whales, insects and even cells communication with each other.  We should not deny the fact that Allah the Highest communicated with us when we were cells and we responded at that stage of our being.

Whenever a person seeks to know their Lord sincerely, they will find the grains of the truth deep inside them, for it has been planted there long before they became full human beings.

The second issue is for a person to disclaim responsibility for their disbelief or for idle worshipping, because his/her parents were such and brought him up this way.  On Judgement before Allah the Highest, everyone will be responsible for their own deeds, and not one will be able to blame his sins on others.  This does not relieve those who misguided others from the responsibility of misguiding them.

Allah the Highest said: “AND NO ONE WILL CARRY THE SIN OF ANOTHER”.  (S: 17 A: 15)

And said: “AND IF A HEAVILY LADEN PERSON (WITH SINS) CALLS OTHERS TO CARRY SOME OF HIS LOAD, NONE OF IT WILL TAKEN TO BE CARRIED FOR HIM, EVEN IF HE WAS A CLOSE KIN”.   (S: 35 A: 18)

This is because those we follow in sin will deny any responsibility for us or our sins.  Allah the Highest said: “THEN THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED SHALL DISSOCIATE THEMSELVES FROM THOSE WHO FOLLOWED THEM, AS THEY WILL SEE THE PUNISHMENT, AND THEY WILL BE CUT OFF FROM ALL”.  (S: 2 A: 166)

Therefore, following on the footsteps of our forefathers in doing sin, is no excuse or defence for us on the Day of Judgment.

As for those following their believing and righteous forefather’s footsteps, Allah the Highest lets them, the offspring, join their righteous fathers in Paradise.  Allah the Highest said: “AS FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND THEIR OFFSPRING FOLLOWING THEM WITH BELIEF, WE LET THEIR OFFSPRING JOIN THEM”.  (S: 52 A: 21)

 

Araf 171

 

171- AND WE RAISED THE MOUNTAIN ABOVE THEM LIKE A CANOPY, (SAYING): “TAKE WHAT WE HAVE GIVEN YOU SINCERELY, AND REMEMBER WHAT IS THEREIN SO THAT YOU MAY BE PIOUS AND GUARD YOURSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE”. 

 

The Children of Israel did not wish to accept the Torah and the commands it contained.  It is not a case of nominally accepting the book, but to be committed to what it contains, in letter and in spirit.  Allah the Highest did not send His books down for ceremonies, but they are for us to live by.  Allah’s Books are not for ceremonies or for being used as ornaments, but are for being followed and obeyed.  This is what it is meant to take the book sincerely. 

The Children of Israel did not accept the Torah and promise to follow its guidance sincerely, until Allah the Highest raised the mountain above them to drop it if they did not.  Only then they reluctantly accepted.  They were about to be collectively punished and very severely so.

This is a reminder for the Muslims, that the Quran is not a Book to be just used for reciting beautifully, put with ornaments, or in sitting rooms, or placed in cars.  Its teachings, commands and spirit, should be observed. 

Some believers do not observe Allah’s commands unless Allah the Highest treats them harshly.  Those, who Allah the Highest sees goodness in their hearts, Allah may treat harshly, with trials and afflictions, to keep them on the right path.  They are forced into the Paradise.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “Allah is amazed by those taken to Paradise in chains”.  (B:Jehad;144 & D:Jehad;114 & A:2;302,406)

The believer should observe Allah’s commands and be close to Him in good and in bad times.

Araf 170

 

170- AS FOR THOSE WHO UPHOLD THE BOOK, STEADFAST IN SALAH, THE RECOMPENSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAFELY WITH US.

 

On the other hand, there are those who uphold Allah’s Book, meaning upholding its principles and commands, which are meant to regulate our lives for the best.

The Salah is the backbone of the Islam and of any religion.  Salah is the regular contact and meeting between a believer and his God, in which the believers express belief and communicate with their Creator.  We should pray the Salah when we are well or sick, when young or old, when we have water to wash and when we do not, when we are at home or travelling, even when at war. 

Our recompense with Allah the Highest is our investment for the Hereafter.  It is a very long term investment.  We often worry about our investments in this life and go for the most secure investment for our future.  Allah the Highest is telling us here, that our recompense with him is safe and guaranteed.  We usually have a guarantee on things for few years, but Allah’s guarantee is for eternity.

 Compared this to the lack of safety in our investments in this life, whether they are in the form or property, or cash which can be devalued, or anything else.  There is not a safe investment on Earth, but our investment with Allah the Highest is safe and guaranteed for eternity.

Also, nothing is lost or missed out with Allah the Highest, and then it is increased and multiplied.  Allah the Highest said: “ALLAH IS NOT UNJUST BY AS MUCH AS AN ATOM, AND WHEN A GOOD DEED IS DONE, IT WILL BE MULTIPLIED, AND WILL GIVE FROM HIS BOUNTY A GREAT REWARD”.  (S:4 A:40)

Allah’s reward is both, physical and spiritual, in it there is comfort and contentment in the heart as well as physical pleasures.  It is generated and maintained by the Almighty, therefore other elements of creation in the universe can not affect it or touch it. 

 

Araf 169

 

169- THEY WERE SUCCEEDED BY PEOPLE WHO INHERITED THE BOOK; THEY TAKE THE PLEASURES OF THIS LOWER LIFE AND SAY: “WE WILL BE FORGIVEN”.  BUT IF THERE ARE OTHER SUCH PLEASURES, THEY TAKE THEM.  HAVE THEY NOT TAKEN THE COVENANT OF THE BOOK THAT THEY SHOULD NOT SAY ABOUT ALLAH ANYTHING BUT THE TRUTH, AND THEY HAVE STUDIED WHAT IS THEREIN (IN THE BOOK), BUT THE LATER HOME IS A BETTER PLACE FOR THE PIOUS WHO GUARD THEMSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE, WHY DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND.

 

To inherit is to have belongings passed down to you from your ancestors.  The Children of Israel inherited their holy book, the Torah and it was passed down to them, one generation after another.   They should have given their inheritance its dues; looking after it, observing its rules, teaching it properly to their offspring, in practice as well as in the book. 

After the death of Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, one day, his companion Abu Hurirah called out to the people in the town: “Allah’s messenger’s estate is being shared out in the Mosque”.  People went to the mosque to find no money or property being distributed, but only people praying, reading the Quran, or studying aspects of religion.  When they asked his about the estate being distributed, he said that this is what Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon, him left behind.

All the pleasures we have on Earth are Halal, with few exceptions, and these exceptions Allah the Highest has forbidden clearly in the Holy Scriptures, starting with the Torah and ending with the Quran.   Some of us are attracted by the pleasures Allah the Highest has forbidden, and they are few, instead of the ones allowed, and they are many.  Some do that expecting forgiveness, which in fact makes their sins worse, for they clearly know that they are doing wrong.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said about those: “Those who think good of Allah would worship Him well”.  And worship is one of our deeds.  (A: 2; 304)

For a believer to do wrong knowingly, is much worse that those who do wrong out of ignorance.

The pious and righteous people, refrain from displeasing Allah the Highest, even if this means that they miss out on some pleasures in this life, while the wicked prefer the immediate and quick pleasures of this lower life.  Allah the Highest said about them: “BUT YOU PREFER THE LOWER LIFE * WHILE THEREAFTER IS BETTER AND EVERLASTING”.   (S: 87 A: 16-17)

The feeling of certainty about the Hereafter is what drives the believers to do the right thing, and refrain from doing wrong.  It is what makes them happy to wait for the pleasures of the Hereafter, rather than take the forbidden pleasures in this life.

 

 

Of the Miracles of Allah’s Messenger Prayer and Peace upon him

Understanding Animals

 

Imam Muslim, Ahmed and Abu Dawood narrated:

One day, Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him went into one of the fruit gardens of one of the Ansar (supporters).   There was a camel there, which went to him making noises, with tears from his eyes.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him put stroked his head and wiped his tears, which settled him down.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Who is the owner of this Camel?” A man from the Ansar came and said: “It is min Allah’s messenger”.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “You should fear Allah concerning this animal Allah made you in possession of, he complained to me that you make it hungry and tire it out”. 

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him understood the camels talk and complaint, as Allah the Highest made him understand it. 

Making people understand other creatures like animals and birds even insects, is one of the bounties Allah the Highest bestows on His prophets and messengers, as happened with Solomon peace upon him who understood birds also understood the ante.  It is also one of the signs of prophecy.

This miracle was one of the bounties upon Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him.

Allah’s prayer and peace be upon Mohamed and upon his family and companions.

 

Dr. Ahmed Saafan

Araf 168

 

168- AND WE CUT THEM DOWN INTO NATIONS ON EARTH, SOME OF THEM ARE RIGHTEOUS, AND SOME ARE LESS THAN THAT, AND WE TESTED THEM WITH WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT IS EVIL SO THAT THEY MAY RETURN (TO ALLAH)

 

The meaning of being cut down to nations might refer to:

-         That they have descended from the twelve tribes, which came down from the twelve Children of Jacob.

-         That wherever they live, they do not mix or integrated fully with the population.  They live together, in certain areas, before this they used to live in separate streets called Ghettos.  They were always a nation within a nation, and cut off from the rest of the nation.

Allah the Highest gave them a place to live, but to get it, they had to fight the disbelievers who lived there, but they refused.   As Allah the Highest told us in the Quran, they said: “THEY SAID: O MOSES, THERE ARE VERY MIGHTY PEOPLE IN THERE, AND WE WILL NOT ENTER IT UNTIL THEY LEAVE IT, SO WHEN THEY LEAVE IT WE WILL ENTER”.  (S: 5 A: 22)

And they also said: “THEY SAID: O MOSES, WE WILL NEVER ENTER AS LONG AS THEY ARE THEREIN, SO GO AND YOUR LORD TO FIGHT, WE ARE SITTING HERE”.  (S: 5 A: 24)

It is Allah’s policy, with us and with all people and nations, that they should be tried and tested.  This trial could be with good or with bad things.  Each tests a person in a different way.  Allah the Highest said: “AND WE AFFLICT YOU WITH EVIL THINGS AND GOOD THINGS, A TEST AND TRIAL, AND TO US YOU WILL RETURN”.  (S: 21 A: 35)

Good things, make the believers thankful and grateful to Allah the Highest and evil things, like shortage of food, water, or suffering disease, or at the hands of an enemy, make the believers plead to Allah the Highest for help and support.  Either situation should bring the true believer back to Allah the Highest.  Neither good nor bad things seem to have worked on the Children of Israel, bring them close to Allah the Highest.

Araf 167

 

167- AND YOUR LORD DECREED THAT HE WILL SEND DOWN UPON THEM THOSE WHO WILL MAKE THEM SUFFER TERRIBLE PUNISHMENT, UP TO THE DAY OF RESURRECTION,  FOR YOUR LORD IS VERY SWIFT IN PUNISHMENT AND HE IS MOST FORGIVING AND MOST MERCIFUL.

 

This is a promise, not a warning.  It has and will always be fulfilled.

Allah the Highest promises the Children of Israel two kinds of punishments:

1-    An Earthly one in which Allah the Highest will make them suffer on the hands of other people, and this is to continue to the Day of Resurrection.

2-    The Punishment which awaits them in the Hereafter.

Allah the Highest may punish people in this life, to safe them being punished in the Hereafter, or Allah the Highest may forgive them, being the Most Merciful, the Most Forgiving.  This tells us that the Children of Israel will always continue to cause mischief and do evil on Earth, which we see to have happened through history and is still happening, in Israel and throughout the Earth. 

In the meantime, punishing people in this life can be a manifestation of Allah’s anger. 

Sometimes people ask as to why does Allah the Highest let evil be and continue on Earth.  However, evil has important function:

-         Evil around us, allows us to choose between good and evil.  Otherwise, the choice of man will not be required.

-         Seeing evil and what it does, makes people appreciate what is good.

-         Evil inspires and encourage people to resist it and to do what is good and righteous.  Without darkness, light can never be appreciated.

 

On another level, this Ayah tells us that we should always expect the Children of Israel to be causes of Mischief and Evil.  Trusting them is foolish, and relying on their honour and good will is foolhardy.

 

ARAF 163-166

 

163- AND ASK THEM ABOUT THE TOWN ON THE SEA, AS THEY TRANSGRESSED ON THE SABBATH, AS THEIR FISH CAME TO THEM MANIFESTLY ON THEIR SABBATH, AND ON OTHER DAYS, THEY DID NOT COME. THIS IS HOW WE TRY THEM AND PUNISH THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR WICKED DOINGS. 

164- AND AS A GROUP OF THEM SAID: “WHY DO YOU ADVICE PEOPLE ALLAH WILL PERISH, OR PUNISH A SEVERE PUNISHMENT?”  THEY SAID: “AN EXCUSE BEFORE YOUR LORD, AND SO THAT THEY MIGHT BECOME PIOUS”. 

165- BUT WHEN THEY FORGOT WHAT THEY WERE REMINDED OF, WE RESCUED THOSE WHO FORBID EVIL, AND IN THE MEANTIME WE TOOK THE TRANSGRESSORS WITH TERRIBLE PUNISHMENT, BECAUSE OF THEIR WICKED DEEDS.

166- FOR, WHEN THEY ACTED ARROGANTLY CONCERNING WHAT THEY WERE FORBIDDEN TO DO, WE SAID TO THEM: “BECOME APES IN HUMILIATION”.

 

In this incident in the History of the Children of Israel, which was discussed in detail in Sorah Al-Baqarah, Allah the Highest, tried some of them who were living in a town by the sea.  Some scholars say that it was Eilat.  Its people lived by fishing, but they were wicked and evil doers.  They pretended, to adhere to some aspects of their Faith, including the Sabbath, the day when they are not supposed to do any work.

Because of their wickedness, Allah the Highest, sent them a test and trial they were bound to fail.  This is a manifestation of Allah’s anger with them.  Their test was that they could not find fish in the sea during the week days, while on the Sabbath, there were plenty of fish in the sea, and they could see the fish manifestly. 

The Children of Israel in that town were divided into 3 groups according to what they did:

1-    Those who went on fishing on the Sabbath.

2-    Those who did not fish on the Sabbath, but did not advise the others against fishing on that day.

3-    Those who did not fish on the Sabbath and advised those who did, strongly against fishing on that day.

Although the second group did not break the Jewish law, they did not fulfil their duty of telling others about the wrong they are doing.  Advising people to do what is right and not to do what is wrong, is one of the most important principles of Islam, even before the prophecy of Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him.

The third group fulfilled their role as believers.  They did not do wrong themselves, and in the meantime, they also fulfilled another function, which is to advise and forbid the wrong doing and advice against it, when they see it, or know about it.

Allah the Highest described their disobedience as being due to:

1-    Forgetting what they were reminded of.  This kind of forgetting is what we call ignoring.

2-    Acting arrogantly concerning what they were forbidden.   When people act arrogantly, they think that they cannot do wrong and if they do, they are above reproach.

The Children of Israel were guilty of both wrong deeds.  As for the punishment, it matched the sin.  They had a terrible punishment, and they were also humiliated by being turned into apes. 

We should be aware, that our punishments from Allah the Highest, are often of a similar kind to our sins, and our rewards, are also of a similar kind to our good deeds.

Araf 160-162

 

160- AND WE DIVIDED THEM INTO TWELVE NATIONS FROM TWELVE GRANDSONS, AND WHEN THE PEOPLE OF MOSES ASKED HIM FOR WATER, WE REVEALED TO HIM, THAT HE WAS TO STRIKE THE ROCK WITH HIS STICK, THEN TWELVE SPRINGS BURST OUT OF THEM, NOW EACH GROUP KNOW WHERE TO DRINK FROM.  AND WE SHADED THEM WITH CLOUD AND SENT THEM DOWN AL-MANA AND THE QUAILS, EAT OUT OF THE GOOD THINGS WE PROVIDED FOR YOU, THEN, THEY WERE NOT UNJUST TO US, BUT WERE UNJUST TO THEM SELVES. 

161- AND WE SAID TO THEM INHABIT THIS VILLAGE, AND EAT FROM THEREIN ANYWHERE YOU DESIRE, AND VOICE YOUR PLEADINGS TO ALLAH, AND ENTER THROUGH THE DOOR PROSTRATING, WE WILL THEN FORGIVE YOU YOUR SINS, AND GIVE THE RIGHTEOUS AND CHARITABLE EVEN MORE.

162- THE TRANSGRESSORS OF THEM CHANGED THE WORDS THEY WERE TOLD FOR OTHER WORDS, THEN WE SENT THEM PUNISHMENT FROM HEAVEN BECAUSE OF THEIR TRANSGRESSION. 

The twelve grandsons are the 12 sons of Jacob, peace upon him.  They are Joseph and his eleven brothers (the details are in Sorah Yosef) the descendants of each of them became a tribe and a large group by the time of Moses, peace upon him.  They were obviously prone to disputes, therefore Allah the Highest commanded Moses, peace upon him, to strike the rock with his stick, and 12 springs burst out from the rock, a spring for each tribe.  Further commentary will be found in the commentary of Ayah 60 of Sorah Al-Baqarah.

Commentary on Ayah 161 will be found in the commentary on Ayahs 58-59 of Sorah Al-Baqarah.

 

 

United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict

Statement by Richard Goldstone on behalf of the Members of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict before the Human Rights Council

Human Rights Council 12th Session – 29 September 2009

 

(Justice Goldstone is a SouthAfrican Jewish and Zionist judge who supports the state of Israel)

Check against delivery

Mr. President,

(Madame High Commissioner)

members of the Council,

ladies and gentlemen

My colleagues and I are here today to present to the Council the final report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict.

Since the release of the advance version of the report two weeks ago, we have witnessed many attestations of support, but also a barrage of criticism towards our findings as well as public attacks against the Members of the Mission.

We will not address these attacks as we believe that the answers to those who have criticised us are in the findings of the report.

I have, however, to strongly reject one major accusation levelled against the Mission; the one that portrays our efforts as being politically motivated.

Let me repeat before this Council what I have already stated on many occasions:

We accepted this Mission because we believe deeply in the rule of law, humanitarian law, human rights, and the principle that in armed conflict civilians should to the greatest extent possible be protected from harm.

We accepted with the conviction that pursuing justice is essential and that no state or armed group should be above the law. Failing to pursue justice for serious violations during any conflict will have a deeply corrosive effect on international justice.

We accepted out of a deep concern for the hundreds of civilians who needlessly died and those who suffered injury and dislocation of their lives.

We accepted because we believe that the perpetrators of serious violations must be held to account.

We do not claim to be immune from error. After the release of the report we have received a number of comments from people who are sincerely interested in the truth.

We have considered them and where relevant redressed inaccuracies in the final version of the report which is today before you.

We regret that the response to date of the Government of Israel avoids dealing with the substance of the report.

Mr. President

As you all know, the Mission was established in April of this year with the mandate to investigate “all violations of International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law that might have been committed at any time in the context of the military operations that were conducted in Gaza from 27 December 2008 – 18 January 2009, whether before during or after”.

Ambassador Uhomoibhi and I announced the establishment of the team at a press conference in April and he brought the mandate of the Mission before this Council in June.

The mandate of the mission was to look at all parties: Israel; the Palestinian Authority; Hamas, which governs Gaza; and armed Palestinian groups.

Soon after its establishment the Mission was faced with one of its major challenges: the decision of the Government of Israel not to cooperate with it and its implicit refusal to give us access to Gaza, the West Bank and to southern Israel.

We decided not to allow this lack of cooperation to prevent the Mission from discharging its mandate.

The Mission is grateful to the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt for having facilitated its entry into Gaza through the Rafah crossing.

The Mission also wishes to express its gratitude to many, without whose assistance its task would have been impossible to fulfil.

It would be difficult to name all of them here. We attempt to do so in the acknowledgement section of the report.

We wish, however, to pay our respect to the many civil society organisations, in Gaza, in the West Bank, in Israel and elsewhere, which – often under difficult and challenging circumstances – continue to play a crucial role in upholding the universal principles of human rights.

We would respectfully suggest that this Council should recognize and support these organizations.

The first field visit by the Mission Members was conducted in the Gaza Strip from 1-5 June 2009, during which we held meetings, conducted interviews with victims and witnesses and visited the sites of incidents.

The Members of the Mission were in Gaza again from 26 June to 1 July, during which time we continued our investigations and held the Mission’s first round of public hearings. Mission staff maintained a presence in Gaza until early July.

Members of the Mission also travelled to Amman, Jordan, from 1 to 4 July to interview witnesses and meet with people and organizations from Israel and the West Bank.

As part of its investigation process, the Mission held a second set of public hearings. In the two rounds of public hearings, 38 witnesses, victims and experts gave testimony.

The aim of holding the hearings publicly was to give a voice to those who had direct experiences and expertise that related to the mandate of the Mission.

The Mission reviewed reports produced by various organizations and institutions as well as submissions on matters of fact and law relevant to its inquiry.

The Mission consulted with a wide range of interlocutors. They included victims and witnesses, Palestinian, Israeli and international NGOs, United Nations and other international organizations, community organizations, human rights defenders, medical and other professionals, legal and military experts, authorities and other sources of reliable information relevant to the Mission’s mandate. These interlocutors were both within and outside Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.

The Mission conducted 188 individual interviews, reviewed over 10 000 pages of documentation and viewed some 1200 photographs, including satellite imagery and video-tapes.

The Mission was supported by an outstanding Secretariat provided by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). We are grateful to the High Commissioner for providing this support, without which the Mission could not have carried out its mandate.

In making findings of fact, we relied primarily on our own evaluation of the people who spoke to us and from what we saw with our own eyes.

We relied on reports from others where they corroborated the views we had formed.

The exception to that approach was in respect of some facts relating to the West Bank and to Israel in light of the refusal by the Israeli Government to allow us into Israel or to visit the West Bank.

On 15 September the Mission released an advance version of its report.

Mr. President

Members of the Council

Our report is before this Council for its consideration. Allow us, however, to focus the Council’s attention on a number of points.

Let me immediately say that the report reflects the unanimous views of all four of its members.

For practical reasons, the Mission decided for the most part to restrict its fact finding to the period from 16 June 2008 to 31 July 2009. The 16th June 2008 was the date on which a cease fire between Israel and Hamas came into effect.

The Report contains an analysis of 36 specific incidents in Gaza as well as a number on the West Bank and in Israel.

In Chapter XI of the Report, for example we detail a number of specific incidents in which Israeli forces launched direct attacks against civilians with lethal consequences. These were, with only one exception, where the facts establish that there was no military objective or advantage that could justify the attacks.

You will find details of the other 35 incidents in the Report. Some of them relate to the use by the Israel Defense Forces of human shields in violation of an earlier ruling by the Israel Supreme Court outlawing such conduct.

The Mission investigated in some detail the effects on the civilian population in Southern Israel of the sustained rocket and mortar attacks from Palestinian armed groups in Gaza. We detail the suffering of victims and the highly prejudicial effects of these acts on the towns and cities that fall within the range of the rockets and mortars.

The Mission decided that in order to understand the effect of the Israeli military operations on the infrastructure and economy of Gaza, and especially its food supplies, it was necessary to have regard to the effects of the blockade that Israel has imposed on the Gaza Strip for some years and has been tightened since Hamas became the controlling authority of Gaza.

The Mission found that the attack on the only remaining flour producing factory, the destruction of a large part of the Gaza egg production, the bulldozing of huge tracts of agricultural land, and the bombing of some two hundred industrial facilities, could not on any basis be justified on military grounds. Those attacks had nothing whatever to do with the firing of rockets and mortars at Israel.

The Mission looked closely and sets out in the Report statements made by Israeli political and military leaders in which they stated in clear terms that they would hit at the “Hamas infrastructure”.

If “infrastructure” were to be understood in that way and become a justifiable military objective, it would completely subvert the whole purpose of IHL built up over the last 100 years and more. It would make civilians and civilian buildings justifiable targets.

These attacks amounted to reprisals and collective punishment and constitute war crimes.

The Government of Israel has a duty to protect its citizens. That in no way justifies a policy of collective punishment of a people under effective occupation, destroying their means to live a dignified life and the trauma caused by the kind of military intervention the Israeli Government called Operation Cast Lead. This contributes to a situation where young people grow up in a culture of hatred and violence, with little hope for change in the future.

Finally, the teaching of hate and dehumanization by each side against the other contributes to the destabilization of the whole region.

Mr. President

Members of the Council

Let me come to some of the recommendations.

The Mission debated long and hard on whether this was a case, like Darfur, where the Security Council should consider referring the situation both in Israel and Gaza to the International Criminal Court.

The Mission is highly critical of the pusillanimous efforts by Israel to investigate alleged violations of international law and the complete failure by the Gaza authorities to do so in respect of the armed groups. That notwithstanding the Mission came to the conclusion that both Israel and the Gaza Authorities have the ability to conduct open and transparent investigations and launch appropriate prosecutions if they decide to do so.

We therefore recommended that the Security Council should require Israel to report to it within six months, on the investigations and prosecutions it is carrying out with regard to the violations referred to in this Report and any others that may come to its attention.

The Mission recommends further that the Security Council should set up a body of independent experts to report to it on the progress of the Israeli investigations and prosecutions. The committee of experts should similarly report on investigations and prosecutions undertaken by the relevant authorities in Gaza with regard to crimes committed by the Palestinian armed groups.

In both cases, if within the six month period there are no good faith investigations conforming to international standards, the Security Council should refer the situation or situations to the ICC Prosecutor.

The Mission was concerned at the use made by the Israeli army of certain munitions and especially white phosphorous, flechettes and certain heavy metals such as tungsten. Their use is not presently banned by international law.

The Mission has recommended that the General Assembly should promote an urgent discussion on the future legality of the use of these munitions.

As appears from the Report the manner in which those munitions were used in Gaza caused unacceptable and unnecessary human suffering as well as environmental damage – not only in Gaza but probably also in southern Israel. The situations arising from the latter should be monitored by the United Nations.

Since the issue of the advance copy of the Report it has been rejected in vehement terms by the Government of Israel. The call for transparent investigations has been rejected. The Government of Israel wishes to restrict its investigations to secret inquiries by the Military investigating itself. That would clearly not satisfy the legitimate expectations of the many victims of the Israeli military operations.

A word about accountability. It has been my experience in many regions of the world, including my own country, South Africa, that peace and reconciliation depend, to a great extent, upon public acknowledgement of what victims suffer. That applies no less in the Middle East. It is a pre-requisite to the beginning of the healing and meaningful peace process.

The truth and accountability are also essential to prevent ascribing collective guilt to a people. Many people in Gaza deplore the firing of thousands of rockets at civilians in Southern Israel and the terror that it has caused to innocent children, women and men. And many in Israel, Jews and Palestinians, deplore the actions by the Israel Defense Force that caused unjustifiable civilian deaths and injuries on a very large scale. They do not approve of the damage to the food and commercial infrastructure of Gaza that will take many years to repair.

Support for many of the recommendations contained in the Report has come from Gaza, the West Bank and Israel.

People of the region should not be demonized. Rather their common humanity should be emphasized.

It is for this reason that the Mission came to the conclusion that it is accountability above all that is called for in the aftermath of the regrettable violence that has caused so much misery for so many.

The Mission calls upon the HRC to accept the Report and adopt its recommendations.

Mr. President

Now is the time for action.

A culture of impunity in the region has existed for too long.

The lack of accountability for war crimes and possible crimes against humanity has reached a crisis point; the ongoing lack of justice is undermining any hope for a successful peace process and reinforcing an environment that fosters violence. Time and again, experience has taught us that overlooking justice only leads to increased conflict and violence.

In conclusion, may I say that the Mission hopes that the substance of this report will be used to strengthen initiatives for peace in the region. The mission is convinced that the international community must confront the realities highlighted in this report and that by doing so find a meaningful basis for the pursuit of peace and security for all the people of the region. Only in that way will the human dignity and security of these people be realised.

By appointing this Fact Finding Mission, the Human Rights Council raised expectations for action and for justice: we call on the Council and on the international community as a whole to take up our recommendations so those expectations will not have been raised in vain.

Thank you.

Geneva, 29 September 2009

Araf 159

 

159- AND OF THE PEOPLE OF MOSES ARE THOSE WHO GUIDE WITH THE TRUTH AND WITH THE TRUTH THEY UPHOLD JUSTICE.

 

People can be guided to the right way or the wrong way.  This applies to all aspects of our life, work and leisure.  Just by asking for the road, one can be directed the right way or the wrong way.  Some of us know which way they have been directed from the beginning, while others will only know when it is too late.

Even in the darkest moments of the history of the Children of Israel, there were some who adhered to their faith and who worshipped Allah the Highest only.  They were the group who did not go along with the crowd, making and worshipping the golden calf, but they upheld their faith and their principles.

There will always be people in every nation who remain on the right path when the others go astray.  We find them throughout the history of various religions and nations, and they are essential for keeping the foundations and principles of the religion going.  They are needed to revive the religion after periods of weakness.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Allah sends to this nation at the end of every hundred years a person to revive its religion”.  (D: Malahem; 1)

Allah the Highest does not leave His people without a righteous person to remind them and guide them to their Faith and the Right Path.

 

 

Araf 158

 

158- SAY: “O MANKIND, I AM ALLAH’S MESSENGER TO ALL OF YOU, HE WHO HAS THE KINGDOM OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH, THERE IS NO GOD OTHER THAN HIM, HE GIVES LIFE AND HE GIVES DEATH.  BELIEVE IN ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER, THE ILLITERATE PROPHET WHO BELIEVES IN ALLAH AND HIS WORDS, AND FOLLOW HIM, SO THAT YOU MIGHT BE RIGHTLY GUIDED.

 

Allah the Highest is telling us that Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, is sent to mankind in general, not to any group or nation in particularly.  Allah the Highest also said: “AND WE SENT YOU TO ALL PEOPLE TO GIVE THEM GOOD NEWS AND TO WARN THEM”.  (S: 34 A: 28) 

Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, also said: “Every prophet was sent to his people in particular, while I was sent to mankind in general”.  

No one should say that Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, was sent to the Arabs 1400 years ago, but that he was sent to all people at all times.  This message is from Allah the Highest, who does not change and does not alter.  This message, is about,  belief in God and the principles we should live by.

Allah the Highest, then tells us, who’s messenger, Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, is.  He is a messenger of Allah the Highest, who is the One and Only God, the Creator and the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth. Who gives everything life, (which no one else can,) and who causes His creations to die.

Allah the Highest described His messenger, Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, as illiterate, meaning unable to read or write.  It is therefore impossible that he, could have written the Quran, or read the Torah and Engeel and then written the Quran from the knowledge which he gained from them.

Allah the Highest described him as, the seal and last of the prophets, meaning that there will be no prophets after him, saying: “AND MOHAMED IS NOT THE FATHER OF ANY OF YOUR MEN, BUT HE IS ALLAH’S MESSENGER AND THE LAST AND SEAL OF THE PROPHETS”.  (S: 33 A: 40)

Therefore, his message is the last and the complete message, which Allah the Highest promised to preserve.  “TODAY I COMPLETED YOUR RELIGION FOR YOU AND PERFECTED MY BOUNTY UPON YOU AND AM SATISFIED WITH ISLAM AS YOUR RELIGION”.  (S: 5 A: 3)

Believing in Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, and following the guidance that came with him, is the right guidance, the only right guidance.

Araf 157

 

157- THOSE WHO FOLLOW THE MESSENGER, THE ILLITERATE PROPHET THEY FIND WRITTEN ABOUT IN THE TORAH AND ENGEEL, COMMANDING THEM TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND FORBIDDING THEM DOING WHAT IS WRONG, PERMITTING THEM GOOD AND PURE THINGS AND FORBIDDING THEM EVIL THINGS, PUTS THEIR BURDEN AND THE CHAINS THEY HAD ON OFF THEM; THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM, RESPECTED AND SUPPORTED HIM, AND FOLLOWED THE LIGHT WE SENT WITH HIM, THEY ARE THE SUCCESSFUL ONES.

 

In this Allah tells us that Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, has been mentioned and described in both the Torah and Engeel.

Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, walked past a Jewish man in Medina.  The man was reading the Torah to comfort a son of his who was very ill and dying.  Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “By Him who sent the Torah down, do you find my description and where I come from in your book?”  The Jewish man shook his head, meaning no.  Yet his sick son said:  “Yes, by Him who sent the Torah down, we find your description and where you come from in our book, and I testify that there is no god other than Allah and that you are Allah’s messenger”.   Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, told his companions: “Look after your brother instead of the Jewish man”.  He died and they washed him, wrapped him in a shroud and preyed upon him”.  (Ahmed)

The Jews in Medina used to tell the Arabs there - they were at that time Idle Worshippers - about their expecting the rise of a prophet at that that time.  They told them that they would follow him when he came, and fight the disbelievers and Idle Worshippers.  When Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, went to the Medina and they (the Jews), found that he was a descendant of Ismael not of Isaac, a few of them believed, but the majority rejected him.

All prophets and messengers were sent with the same message from Allah the Highest.    They command to do what is right and forbad the sinful deeds.  We should note that Allah the Highest did not forbid things, but certain deeds or actions or at certain specified times.  We are forbidden to drink Alcohol, but we may use it in medicine or industry.  We are not allowed to eat a dead animal, but we are allowed to use its skin.  We are allowed sexual intercourse within the bounds of marriage, but outside marriage is sinful.  Morphine and Heroin are used medically to relief pain, but their abuse is sinful etc.

We should note however, that the Jews were forbidden certain foods as a punishment, Allah the igheHighHighest said: “IT IS BECAUSE OF THE WICKEDNESS OF THE JEWS, WE HAVE FORBIDDEN THEM SOME OF THE GOOD THINGS THEY WERE PERMITTED, ALSO BECAUSE OF OBSTRUCTING THE PATH OF MANY PEOPLE TO ALLAH * AND BECAUSE THEY TAKE USURY WHICH THEY WERE FORBIDDEN, AND BECAUSE OF TAKING PEOPLE’S MONEY THROUGH FALSEHOOD, AND WE HAVE PREPARED A PAINFUL PUNISHMENT FOR THE DISBELIEVERS OF THEM”.  (S:4 A:160-161)

Four things required of the believers in their relationship with Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, in order to succeed before Allah the Highest:

1-    To believe in him as Allah’s last prophet and messenger.  This has to come before any other condition.

2-    To show respect to Him.  This respect should still be shown.  Allah the Highest spoke in detail about this in Sorah Al-Ahzab.

3-    Support him.  During his life, this was supporting him to deliver his message.  This support should continue, not only against some non-Muslims who might mock him, but more seriously against those who live among the Muslims and pray with them, yet they reduce his example down to, a particular dress, a beard or any other exterior sign, only.

4-    To follow the Light sent down to him.  This light, is the Islam, the Quran and the Wisdom in his teachings.

 

Those who do these things are those who succeed in this life, to enter the Paradise.