مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ   

Muhammad is not the father of any man among you,

      Allah (swt) addresses people at the time of Prophet Muhammad that Muhammad (pbuh) is not an ordinary man, or to be treated like an ordinary man.  Muhammad (pbuh) is a special man, a man selected specifically by Allah:

1. Muhammad (pbuh) was the chosen one,

2. Muhammad (pbuh) was with unique character of the highest integrity, and

3. Muhammad (pbuh) was the only man fit for the highest level of Prophethood.

4. Muhammad (pbuh) is to be held in reverence and highest esteem.

Ø   Of all the billions of people in the world, of whatever nationality and generation, Muhammad (pbuh) was the only one who was singled out by Allah (swt) to be His last Prophet.

Ø   But why did Allah want to remind people of Muhammad's lofty position in His eyes?  It is said that at that time there was a deeply ingrained custom in Arabia which Islam chose to abolish: it had to do with adoption.  It so happened that the Prophet's cousin was married to Muhammad's freed slave, Zaid Ibn Haritha (who was black), and many people viewed Zaid as an "adopted" son of the Prophet (pbuh).  That marriage ended in divorce, and Muhammad was ordered by Allah to marry the divorced woman.  This way:

§ Allah wanted to show that blacks and whites are equal in Allah's eyes, and only the ones who excel in piety are the better ones.

§ Allah wanted to show that adoption cannot and should not be practiced in Islam, and though Zaid was regarded as the "adopted son" of Muhammad by local people, this was not so in Allah's eyes.  That is why Allah ordered Muhammad (pbuh) to marry the divorced wife of Zaid.

Ø   Allah (swt) was reminding the people that Muhammad was the father of none of them not even Zaid Ibn Haritha, and that later on, the marriage of the Prophet to the divorced wife of Zaid was according to Divine Command.  Therefore, Muhammad (pbuh) was acting according to what Islam had enjoined.

 وَلَكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ  

but a Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets.

      Allah also reminds people that Muhammad (pbuh) is the Messenger selected by Allah Himself (Rasool), and that he was the seal or the last of the Messengers.

Ø   A man selected by Allah as His Messenger is not an ordinary man.  He is:

1. a man of the highest integri­ty, intellect, exceptional high culture, and ideals,

2. a man who is reflective and very thoughtful,

3. a man who is upright and correct,

4. a man of honesty and of highest morality, and

5. a man of purity and righteousness.

Ø   Muhammad (pbuh) was these and much more.  Allah (swt) chose Muhammad (pbuh) to deliver the Message of Islam and Muhammad (pbuh) delivered it whole, complete, and in its totality.  Islam is the final and completed Message from Allah to humanity, and will remain so in its entirety, until the last day on earth.

Ø   Muhammad (pbuh) was not an ordinary Prophet, he was distinguished as the Final Prophet, to seal and close Prophethood.  This means Prophet Muhammad had the most difficult task than any man on earth, the task of conveying and delivering Allah's Directives in their entirety.  This was the most arduous and difficult task, but Muhammad (pbuh) delivered it superbly.

Ø   Allah was saying to hold Muhammad (pbuh) in greater appreciation, to admire, love, and cherish him, and to follow his example.

Ø   Allah was reminding us we are fortunate to have a Prophet like Muhammad (pbuh) among us, to lead us, show us the way, guide us, and give us Allah's Message.

وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا  

Allah has the knowledge of all things.

      First, Allah says to treat Muhammad (pbuh) in a special manner, then He emphasizes that Muhammad (pbuh) is not only the Messenger but the Seal of the Prophets, then He says He has full knowledge of all things.

      Allah is the only One who fully knows the extent of the work of the Prophet (pbuh).  It was very befitting to see this Ayah here lest anyone has questions or hesita­tions about the decisions above.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيراً  

O' you who believe, remember Allah very often,

      Our life on earth is a test period for the eternal life.  To be good Muslim gives one the best opportunity to live a righteous life, which earns us blissful eternity in Paradise.  This is the ultimate.

Ø   Allah wants us to remember Him often since through remembering Allah we will hold to Islam better and it is for our good—we are more apt to apply its Directives.

Ø   Islam is a way of life, its teachings, Directives, and regulations touch on every aspect of life.  It gives us efficient, balanced, and equitable guidelines.  If we follow its instructions we attain Allah's satisfaction, we will have passed the test of life and earned Paradise.

وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلا   

And glorify Him morning and evening.

      To remember Allah (swt) often has an influence on our behavior and actions, a positive influence.

§ Celebrating His praise takes us a big step forward, since it gives us a feeling of being under the protection of Allah, the Compassionate and Merciful,

§ Celebrating His praise elevates us psychologically to be nearer to Him and feel more at peace with ourselves.

      But to celebrate His praise in early morning and in the evening means these are the times of calmness, away from the busy or mundane activity of the day, times of clear minds.  These are the best and most effective times to celebrate Allah's praise, to think of Him, and to glorify Him.

هُوَ الَّذِي يُصَلِّي عَلَيْكُمْ وَملاَئِكَتُهُ  

He it is who sends His blessings on you,

and His angels also,

      See the great degree of Allah's compassion and love for us!  Of all the millions of planets and stars in the universe, the earth looks like a tiny speck somewhere, on which there are humans counting in the billions.  One may ask, how significant are we to have any attention, let alone special attention by Allah Himself and His angels!  But out of His love Allah (swt) and His angels send their blessings upon us, how nice!  They care about us, they want our welfare and well being.

      And in return, isn't to celebrate Allah's praise the least we can do?

 لِيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّور  

that He may bring you forth from darkness (of ignorance)

unto light (of Islam)

      Allah loves us and wants to see us enlightened by His Directives, Islam, to be instructed in detail, and educated in it.  Islam is the shining light that disperses the darkness around.  Islam is the most valuable treasure we have, it is Allah's gift to humanity, and applying Islam is what Allah wishes us to do.  Allah's mercy likes to snatch us from the poverty of darkness to the rich illumination of Islam.

      Allah (swt), in His infinite compassion, does not want us to be in poor conditions.  He wants to extend His help and assistance, He wants us to be out of the darkness of ignorance, out of a life that degenerates into evil.  He wants us to be enlightened, to be Islamicly enlightened.

 وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًا  

For Allah is Gracious to the believers.

Allah's mercy is vast, He empha­sizes it even more for:

1. those who believe and have faith in Him,

2. who want to serve Him,

3. who follow His Directives outlined in the Holy Quran.

      Congratulations believers, happy you are and happy you will be.  You are the enriched with the Heavenly Grace.

تَحِيَّتُهُمْ يَوْمَ يَلْقَوْنَهُ سَلامٌ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَرِيمًا  

Their greeting on the Day they shall meet Him will be: "Peace"

And He has generous recompense ready for them.

      On the Day of Judgment the believers will be saluted with a special spirit, Peace.  And they will salute Him in all humility with the word Peace.  At last the Day of Judgment has come; the reward awaited for is at hand, the Glory of glories will reward them.  Peace is a vast word, it is peaceful spirit from Allah welcoming them, and has been waiting to welcome them.

§ It signifies the end of the believers' trials and tribulations, the end of their hard work and struggle.

§ It signifies good feeling, leisure, feeling at ease, harmony, and happiness.

§ It is a double edged happiness, a happiness that had long been awaited for.

      But Allah had also promised that He has prepared for the believers a generous reward.  His generosity is great; it is Paradise.

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا   

O' Prophet (Muhammad), verily We have sent you as a witness and

bearer of glad tidings, and to warn;

      Allah (swt) addresses His beloved Muhammad (pbuh) that he was chosen to do the most complex lifetime task, in a special order, and in a specific manner.

      Muhammad (pbuh) was to be:

1.  The Witness:  to be the onlooker, to correct if necessary the many beliefs of the people.  The world was and still is full of different beliefs, some are close to the Truth, but others quite false.  This means Muhammad (pbuh) was to change the many beliefs to the focus, to Islam.

2.  The Giver of Glad Tidings:  Muhammad (pbuh) was to give the glad tidings to the believers that theirs is Paradise.  Muhammad (pbuh) was to cheer the believers that their harvest will be rich beyond the wildest imagination.

3.  The One who Warns:  Muhammad (pbuh) was also to warn the disbelievers in the Message of Islam about their ominous end, since theirs will be Hell-Fire.

Muhammad (pbuh) was to do that often, and repeatedly, so the people acknowledge his efforts and if they are to blame anyone on the day of Judgment they are to blame themselves.    Muhammad (pbuh) was to convince and educate people in Islam, and bring to their attention what lay ahead, be it Paradise or Hell-Fire.

وَدَاعِيًا إِلَى اللَّهِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَسِرَاجًا مُّنِيرًا   

And as one who invites to Allah by His command,

and as a lamp resplendent.

This Ayah is a continuation of the previous one.

4.  The one to invite unto Allah:  Muhammad (pbuh) was to invite unto Allah often and whenever possible, but only through Allah's permission.

5.  The one to bring the bright light:  Muhammad (pbuh) was to bring forth the light of Islamic knowledge to the people.  Islam is the lamp resplendent that disburses the darkness of ignorance, since a life with no Islam is a life lost in darkness and a person cannot see his way in the darkness.

      Thus, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the means to bring forth the Islamic enlightenment to illuminate the peoples' minds for all generations, all tongues, for every corner in the world and to every kind of man or woman.

 َبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِأَنَّ لَهُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ فَضْلاً كَبِيرًا   

Give glad tidings to the believers that

there shall be for them a great grace from Allah.

      Allah again addresses Himself to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), to give the glad tidings to those who believe in Allah's abundance and bounty, that Allah will reward them in Paradise, and His limitless favors are awaiting them.