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EXCERPTS FROM SURAH

AALI‑IMRAAN

Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the

alteration of night and day, are signs for

men of understanding.

Those who remember Allah, whether standing,

sitting, or reclining,

who reflect and contemplate on the creation of the heavens

and the earth, (and say in awe):

"Our Lord!  You have not created (all) this in vain!

Glory be to You!  Save us then from the torment of Fire.

Our Lord!  whom You cause to enter the Fire,

him You have disgraced; and for the wrongdoers

there shall be no helpers

Our Lord!  We have heard the voice of the Caller (Messenger) calling to faith:  'Believe in your Lord!'  So we believed.

Our Lord!  Forgive us then our sins, and efface from us

our evil deeds, and cause us to die along with the virtuous.

Our Lord!  Grant us what You had promised to us by Your

Messengers, and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection.

Verily, You do not break (Your) promise."

AYAH: 190-194

 إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلاَفِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لآيَاتٍ لأُوْلِي الألْبَابِ

Verily, in the creation of the heavens and earth and the alteration of night and day, are signs for men of understanding.

    The earth and universe are replete with signs and manifestations to ponder.  The study of life remains a challenge, like a wide open book inviting us to examine and learn.  In many ways, nature appeals to us and stimulates our minds to study it in detail, but the more we study it the more avenues open up to us, and the more there is to learn.  Therefore, the acquisition of knowledge is never ending, and the stimulation of mind is a perpetual process.

Ø Nature did not evolve by itself, and the universe did not arise by itself by sheer chance.  These things did not come from nothing, and the laws that govern them are not haphazard.  The scientific studies show a startling precision and a magnificent planning in making this orderly work of nature.

Ø Precision and planning went into everything from the smallest to the largest of creation.  They went into the constitution of the atom and the orderly formation of matter up to inter-relating situations and their consequences.  Thus, gravity, magnetism, energy, electricity and many other forces had unique characteristics laid out for them in detail, just as the case is with matter and elements.

Ø Yet, besides this precision and exquisite planning, consider, also, the equally important flexibility of these plans, and the way in which they were designed.  By so doing, the final balance is truly magnificent.

    By looking at creation one may ponder:  Who has done all this?  Was it the sheer chance or was it purposely planned ahead of time?

Ø To people of insight none of this could exist without a Creator to put it together.  The orderly works came about only through a detailed, exquisite, clever and unique intelligence along with an amazing marvelous planning, and such are the works of Allah (swt).

Ø Therefore, just as nature stands as an open book for us so does Allah tell us to open our minds and hearts to study it.  Because by doing so we will indirectly prove Him.

Ø The signs and manifestations of nature lead to Him and bear witness about Him; they are there to prove His role and to verify His invention.

الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىَ جُنُوبِهِمْ   

Those who remember Allah, whether standing, sitting, or reclining,

    This is a description of the people of insight who think about the marvels of nature and its creation.  They are the people who will relate nature's manifestations to their Creator, to Allah (swt).

Ø Their hearts and minds are open just as the book of nature is open.  Their reflections and thoughts are true just as the truth of nature around them, thus they intermingle with nature in a good and harmonious manner.

Ø Such people will appreciate Allah best, and will give Allah His due measure.  And through such reflections they will:

§ love Allah to their fullest, and at the same time

§ fear Allah's Power and Authority.

Thus the love of Allah and the fear of Allah will intermingle in their hearts.  When this happens, such people will do their best for Allah's sake and for His cause.

    Those of insight and intellect will reflect about Allah Almighty and have Him in their thoughts and remember Him in their actions and daily living.  And they will direct themselves toward Him for help and guidance, thus a beautiful and frequent communion will exist between themselves and Allah.  These are the true Mu'mins.

who reflect and contemplate on the creation of the heavens and the earth, (and say in awe): "Our Lord!  You have not created (all) this in vain!  Glory be to You!  Save us then from the torment of Fire.

    People of insight will recognize Allah's Power in creating the universe, and out of love and fear of Allah, they will pray and give thanks.  They will realize that the miracle of creation was not the product of chance or accident.

    Instead, there was a purpose and a noble, majestic aim.  We were not created in vain and life is not a dead end, and when we die we will not have perished for good.  Rather, we were created to see how we will conduct our affairs in the service of Allah, and how we will manage in our struggle for His cause, and each person lives his earthly life as a testing period stretching over all his earthly years.

    Not only that but there will be the life-to-come in the Hereafter, the eternal one, along with an accountability by the strictest sense of justice, which Allah, alone, possesses.  There will be Paradise and Hell.

    Thus, it is clear to those who think that there is a very important purpose to our existence.  So they will pray saying "Glory be to You, O' Lord," since to Him all glory and majesty belong.

    And these people will continue in their Salat asking Allah to spare them from the doom of Hell fire.

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ مَن تُدْخِلِ النَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ  

Our Lord!  whom You cause to enter the Fire, him You have disgraced; and for the wrongdoers there shall be no helpers

    This Ayah is a continuation of the prayer of the people of insight, the true believers.  They ask the Almighty to spare them from the doom of Hell fire, and at the same they say the disgrace is quite great for those who nervously await to face Hell Fire.  It is a period for them filled with anxiety and a feeling of anguish, shame, and humiliation.

    This is what lies ahead for the disbelievers and or evil doers, and the evil doers will have none to uphold them.  The evil doers will have deserved their just punishment and their due penalty, they asked for it.

رَّبَّنَا إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِي لِلإِيمَانِ أَنْ آمِنُواْ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَآمَنَّا  

Our Lord!  We have heard the voice of the Caller (Messenger) calling to faith:  'Believe in your Lord!'  So we believed.

    The people of insight and faith (the true believers) continue in their prayer, saying they heard the invitation to the good faith, the faith in the Almighty, and they will work for Him.  Their hearts are receptive to the faith and submitting to it.

    They continue their prayer by saying:

رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الأبْرَارِ   

Our Lord!  Forgive us then our sins, and efface from us

our evil deeds, and cause us to die along with the virtuous.

    They ask for forgiveness, but why, one may ask, after all they were the good and believing people.  We discover that theirs are hearts of sensitivity, and they are people of humility and deep understanding of Islam.  So, the first thing they ask of Allah is to forgive them their sins and misdeeds.  They fully know that Allah (swt) is the Forgiver and the Compassionate, and their hopes in Him are ever so strong.

    Since the greatest attainment is to die as a righteous person, these people ask Allah to let them die as good Muslims, as righteous people, as people of piety.  By so doing, they will have attained the ultimate.

رَبَّنَا وَآتِنَا مَا وَعَدتَّنَا عَلَى رُسُلِكَ وَلاَ تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ  

Our Lord!  Grant us what You had promised to us by Your Messengers, and do not disgrace us on the Day of Resurrection.

    The prayer continues by asking Allah to fulfill His promise to all the Prophets, and put it into effect.

    The question is:  What promise was it?  The answer is that Allah has promised Paradise to those who earn it, and He has promised His forgiveness to those who deserve it, and Allah has promised His just reward for everyone.

    Allah (swt) is asked for the second time not to disgrace them on the Day of Judgment, and this indicates the extreme tenderness of these believers' hearts in the presence of the Almighty.

 إِنَّكَ لاَ تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ   

Verily, You do not break (Your) trust.

    Certainly when Allah promises He fulfills.  This prayer ends with the verification that the promise of Allah will be fulfilled.  These are people:

1. of good insight and understanding,

2. who appreciate the Heavenly cause,

3. and gear themselves toward it,

4. asking for forgiveness and

5. expiation of their sins.

    It is the story of man in his frailties, entering the life-long battle against evil desires and temptations, against misdeeds and sins.  It is the story of such people whereby the triumph in the life-long battle will depend upon the fight against Allah's enemies and the enemies of the Faith.