Allah the Almighty revealed: And (remember) when your Lord
said to the angels: "Verily, I am going to place (mankind) generations
after generations on earth." They said: 'Will You place therein those who
will make mischief therein and shed blood, - while we glorify You with praises
and thanks (Exalted be You above all that they associate with You as partners)
and sanctify You." He (Allah) said: "I know that which you do not
know." Surah 2: 30
Teaching Adam
And He taught Adam all the names (of everything), then He
showed them to the angels and said: "Tell Me the names of these if you are
truthful." They (angels) said: "Glory be to You, we have no knowledge
except what You have taught us. Verily, it is You, the All-Knower, the
All-Wise."
He said: "0 Adam! Inform them of their names," and
when he had informed them of their names, He said: "Did I not tell you
that I know the Ghaib (unseen) in the heavens and the earth, and I know what
you reveal and what you have been concealing?"
And (remember) when We said to the angels: "Prostrate
yourselves before Adam." And they prostrated except Iblis, he refused and
was proud and was one of the disbelievers (disobedient to Allah)." Surah
2: 31-34
The Fall from Paradise
And We said: "0 Adam! Dwell you and your wife in the
Paradise and eat both of you freely with pleasure and delight of things therein
as wherever you will, but come not near this tree or you both will be of the
Zalimeen (wrong-doers)."
Then the Satan made them slip therefrom (the Paradise), and
got them out from that in which they were. We said: "Get you down, all,
with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be a dwelling place for you and
an enjoyment for a time." Surah 2: 35-36
Allah's Mercy on Adam
Then Adam received from his Lord Words. And his Lord
pardoned him (accepted his repentance). Verily, He is the One Who forgives
(accepts repentance), the Most Merciful.
We said: "Get down all of you from this place (the
Paradise), then whenever there comes to you Guidance from Me, and whoever
follows My Guidance, there shall be no fear on them, nor shall they grieve. But
those who disbelieve and belie Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons,
signs, revelations, etc.) such are the dwellers of the Fire, they shall abide
therein forever." Surah 2: 38-39
He was Noah Ibn Lamik, Ibn Mitoshilkh, Ibn
Enoch, Ibn Yard, Ibn Mahlabeel, Ibn Qinan, Ibn Anoush, Ibn Seth, Ibn Adam the
Father of Mankind (PBUH).
For many generations Noah's people had been
worshipping statues that they called gods. They believed that these gods would
bring them good, protect them from evil and provide all their needs. They gave
their idols names such as Waddan, Suwa'an, Yaghutha, Ya'auga, and Nasran,
(These idols represented, respectively, manly power; mutability, beauty; brute
strength, swiftness, sharp sight, insight) according to the power they thought
these gods possessed,
Allah is His Mercy sent His messenger Noah to
guide his people. Noah was an excellent speaker and a very patient man. He
pointed out to his people the mysteries of life and the wonders of the
universe. He pointed out how the night is regularly followed by the day and
that the balance between these opposites were designed by Allah the Almighty
for our good. The night gives coolness and rest while the day gives warmth and
awakens activity. The sun encourages growth, keeping all plants and animals
alive, while the moon and stars assist in the reckoning of time, direction and
seasons. He pointed out that the ownership of the heavens and the earth belongs
only to the Divine Creator.
Therefore, he explained to this people, there
cannot have been more than one deity. He clarified to them how the devil had
deceived them for so long and that the time had come for this deceit to stop.
Noah spoke to them of Allah's glorification of man, how He had created him and
provided him with sustenance and the blessings of a mind. He told them that
idol worshipping was a suffocating injustice to the mind. He warned them not to
worship anyone but Allah and described the terrible punishment Allah would mete
out if they continued in their evil ways.
The people listened to him in silence. His
words were a shock to their stagnating minds as it is a shock to a person who
is asleep under a wall which is about to fall and who is vigorously awakened.
This person may be alarmed and may even become angry although the aim was to
save him.
Noah's people were divided into two groups
after his warning. His words touched the hearts of the weak, the poor, and the
miserable and soothed their wounds with its mercy. As for the rich, the strong,
the mighty and the rulers they looked upon the warning with cold distrust. They
believed they would be better off if things stayed as they were. Therefore they
started their war of words against Noah.
Hud (PBUH) condemned idol worship and
admonished his people. "My people, what is the benefit of these stones
that you carve with your own hands and worship? In reality it is an insult to
the intellect. There is only One Deity worthy of worship and that is Allah.
Worship of Him and Him alone, is compulsory on you."
"He created you, He provides for you and
He is the One Who will cause you to die. He gave you wonderful physiques and
blessed you in many ways. So believe in Him and do not be blind to His favors,
or the same fate that destroyed Noah's people will overtake you."
With such reasoning Hud hoped to instill faith
in them, but they refused to accept his message. His people asked him: "Do
you desire to be our master with your call? What payment do you want?"
Hud tried to make them understand that he would
receive his payment (reward) from Allah; he did not demand anything from them
except that they let the light of truth touch their minds and hearts.
Abraham was born into that atmosphere, into a typical family
of that ancient time. The head of the family was not even an ordinary idolater,
but was one who totally rejected Allah and who used to make the idols with his
own hands. Some traditions claimed that Abraham's father died before his birth
and he was raised by an uncle whom Abraham called father. Other traditions said
that his father was alive and was named Azer.
Into that family Abraham was born, destined to stand against
his own family, against the entire system of his community. In brief, he stood
against all kinds of polytheism.
He was endowed with spiritual understanding from an early
age. Allah enlightened his heart and mind gave him wisdom from childhood. Allah
the Almighty stated: Indeed We bestowed aforetime on Abraham his (portion of)
guidance, and We were Well Acquainted with him( as to his Belief in the Oneness
of Allah etc). [Ch 21:51]
During his early childhood Abraham realized that his father
made strange statues. One day, he asked him about what it was he made. His
father replied that he made statues of gods. Abraham was astonished and he
spontaneously rejected the idea. Being a child he played with such statues
sitting on their backs as people sit on the backs of donkeys and mules.
Therefore Abraham, addressed his people who worshipped
celestial bodies as Almighty Allah revealed: Thus did We show Abraham the
kingdom of the heavens and the earth that he be one of those who have Faith and
certainty. When the night covered him over with darkness he saw a star. He
said: "This is my lord." But when it set, he said: "I like not
that those who set." When he saw the moon rising up he said: "This is
my lord." but when it set he said: "Unless my Lord guides me, I shall
surely be among the erring people." When he saw the sun rising up he said:
"This is my lord, This is greater." But when it set, he said: "O
my people! I am indeed free from all that you join as partners in worship with
Allah. Verily, I have turned my face towards Him Who has created the heavens
and the earth Hanifan (Islamic Monotheism, i.e. worshipping none but Allah
Alone) and I am not of the Al Mushrikeen (those who worship others besides
Allah)."
Joseph lived all his life confronting schemes made by the
people closest to him. His brothers plotted to kill him, but they amended it to
exiling him. This happened to him while he was a boy. He was sold into the
slave market in Egypt, where he was bought for a nominal sum. Then he fell
victim to the attempted seduction by a great man's wife who, when her wish was
foiled, sent him to prison, where he remained for some time. In spite of all of
this, he at length approached close to the Egyptian throne and became the
king's chief minister. He then began his call to Allah from the position of the
ruling authority.
The story begins with a dream and ends with its
interpretation. As the sun appeared over the horizon, bathing the earth in its
morning glory, Joseph (pbuh), son of the Prophet Jacob (pbuh) awoke from his sleep,
delighted by a pleasant dream he had had. Filled with excitement he ran to his
father and related it.
His father's face lit up. He foresaw that Joseph would be
one through whom the prophecy of his grandfather, Prophet Abraham (pbuh), would
be fulfilled, in that his offspring would keep the light of Abraham's house
alive and spread Allah's message to mankind.
Joseph heeded his father's warning. He did not tell his
brothers what he had seen. It is well known that they hatred him so much that
it was difficult for him to feel secure telling them what was in his heart and
in his dreams.
Joseph was eighteen years old, very handsome and robust,
with a gentle temperament. He was respectful, kind and considerate. His brother
Benjamin was equally pleasant. Both were from one mother, Rachel. Because of
their refined qualities, the father loved the two more than his other children,
and would not let them out of his sight. To protect them, he kept them busy
with work in the house garden.
Moses's mother was pregnant with Aaron (pbuh) in a year that
boys were spared; thus she gave birth to the child publicly and safely. During
a year in which boys were to be slain, she gave birth to Moses (pbuh); thus his
birth caused her much terror. She was afraid he would be slain, so she nursed
him secretly.
Allah the Almighty revealed: These are Verses of the
manifest Book (that makes clear truth from falsehood, good from evil, etc.). We
recite to you some of the news of Moses and Pharaoh in truth, for a people who
believe (those who believe in this Quran, and in the Oneness of Allah).
Verily,
Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and made its people sects, weakening
(oppressing) a group (children of Israel) among them, killing their sons, and
letting their females live. Verily, he was of the Mufsideen (those who commit
great sins and crimes, oppressors, tyrants, etc.).
And we wished to do a favor to those who were weak (and
oppressed) in the land, and to make them rulers and to make them the
inheritors, and to establish them in the land, and We let Pharaoh and Haman and
their hosts receive from them that which they feared. And We inspired the
mother of Moses, saying: "Suckle him (Moses), but when you fear for him,
then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily! We shall bring
him back to you, and shall make him one of (Our) Messengers." [Ch 28: 2-7
Quran].
No sooner had the divine revelation finished that she obeyed
the sacred and merciful call. She was commanded to make a basket for Moses. She
nursed him, put him into the basket, then went to the shore of the Nile and
threw it into the water. Her mother's heart, the most merciful one in the
world, grieved as she threw her son into the Nile. However, she was aware that
Allah was much more merciful to Moses than to her, that He loved him more than
her. Allah was his Lord and the Lord of the Nile.
Hardly had the basket touched the water of the Nile than
Allah issued His command to the waves to be calm and gentle while carrying the
child would one day be a prophet. She instructed her daughter to follow the
course of the basket and to report back to her. As the daughter followed the
floating basket along the riverbank, she found herself right in the palace
grounds and saw what was unfolding before her eyes.
The queen summoned a few wet nurses to suckle the baby
Moses, but he would not take any of their breasts. The queen was distressed and
sent for more wet nurses. Moses's sister was also worried, as her baby brother
was without milk for a long time. Seeing the queen's anxiety, she blurted that
she knew just the mother who would suckle the child affectionately. They asked
her why she was following the floating basket. She said she did so out of
curiosity. Her excuse sounded reasonable, so they believed her. They ordered
her to rush and fetch the woman she was talking about. Her mother also was
waiting with a heavy heart, worried about the fate of her baby. Just then her
daughter rushed in with the good news. Her heart lifted and she lost no time in
reaching the palace.
Mary Receives News of Jesus - Qur'anic
Allah the Exalted revealed: And mention in the
Book (the Qur'an, 0 Muhammad the story of) Mary, when she withdrew in seclusion
from her family to a place facing east. She placed a screen (to screen herself)
from them; then We sent to her Our Ruh (angel Gabriel), and he appeared before
her in the form of a man in all respects.
She said: "Verily! I seek refuge with the
Most Beneficent (Allah) from you, if you do fear Allah."
(The angel) said: "I am only a Messenger
from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son."
She said: "How can Ihave a son, when no
man has touched me, nor am I unchaste?" He said: 'So (it will be), your
Lord said: That is easy for Me (Allah): and (We wish) to appoint him as a sign
to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allah), and it is a matter (already) decreed.
(by Allah)." Surah 19: 16-21
The Birth of Jesus - Qur'anic
So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him
to a far place (ie., Bethlehem valley, about four to six miles from Jerusalem).
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said:
"Would that I had died before this, and had been forgotten and out of
sight!"
Then (the babe "Jesus" or Gabriel)
cried unto her from below her, saying: "Grieve not! Your Lord has provided
a water stream under you; and shake the trunk of palm tree to wards you, it
will let fall fresh ripe dates upon you. So eat and drink and be glad, and if
you see any human being, say. 'Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most
Beneficent (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human being this day. Surah
22-26
Mary and Jesus Return to the City - Qur'anic
Then she brought him (the baby) to her people,
carrying him. They said: "0 Mary! Indeed you have brought a thing Fariyya
(an unheard mighty thing). 0 sister (i.e. the like) of Aaron (not the brother
of Moses, but he was another pious man at the time of Mary)! Your father was
not a man who used to commit adultery, nor was your mother an unchaste
woman."
Then she pointed to him. They said: "How
can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"
He (Jesus) said: "Verily! I am a slave of
Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet; And He has made me
blessed wheresoever I be, and has enjoined on me prayer, and Zakat, as long as
Ilive, and dutiful to my mother, and made me not arrogant, unblest. And Salam
(peace) be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall
be raised alive!" Surah 19: 27-33
Allah's Message About Jesus - Qur'anic
Such is Jesus, son of Mary. (It is) a statement
of truth, about which they doubt (or dispute). It befits not (the Majesty of)
Allah that He should beget a son (this refers to the slander of Christians
against Allah, by saying that Jesus is the son of Allah). Glorified (and
Exalted be He above all that they associate with Him). When He decrees a thing.
He only says to it, "Be!" - and it is.
(Jesus said): 'And verily Allah is my Lord and
your Lord. So worship Him (Alone). That is the Straight Path. (Allah Religion
of Islamic Monotheism which He did ordain for all of His Prophets)."
Then the sects differed (i.e., the Christians
about Jesus), so woe unto the disbelievers (those who gave false witness saying
that Jesus is the son of Allah) from the meeting of a great Day (i.e., the Day
of Resurrection, when they will be thrown in the blazing Fire).
How clearly will they (polytheists and
disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) see and hear, the Day when they will
appear before Us! But the Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers) today are in
plain error. And warn them (0 Muhammad) of the Day of grief and regrets, when
the case has been decided, while (now) they are in a state of carelessness, and
they believe not. Surah 19: 34-39
Muhammad was born in Mecca (Makkah), Arabia, on
Monday, 12 Rabi' Al-Awal (2 August A.D. 570). His mother, Aminah, was the
daughter of Wahb Ibn 'Abdu Manaf of the Zahrah family. His father, Abdullah,
was the son of Abdul Muttalib. His genealogy has been traced to the noble house
of Ishmael, the son of Prophet Abraham in about the fortieth descent.
Muhammad's father died before his birth.
Renowned compilers of authentic traditions of
Islam agree on the following account of the first revelations received by the
Prophet.
Muhammad would seclude himself in the cave of
Mount Hira and worship three days and nights. He would, whenever he wished, return
to his family at Mecca and then go back again, taking with him the necessities
of life. Thus he continued to return to Khadijah from time to time until one
day the revelation came down to him and the Angel Gabriel (Jibreel) appeared to
him and said: "Read!" But as Muhammad was illiterate, having never
received any instruction in reading or writing, he said to the angel: "I
am not a reader." The angel took hold of him and squeezed him as much as
he could bear, and then said again: "Read!" The Prophet said: "I
am not a reader." The Angel again seized the Prophet and squeezed him and
said: "Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists),
has created man from something that clings. Read! And your Lord is the Most
Generous, Who has taught (the writing) by the pen, has taught man that which he
knew not. Surah 96: 1-5
The Prophet continued preaching to the Arabs in
a most gentle and reasonable manner. He called the people, so accustomed to
iniquity and wrong-doings, to abandon their abominations. In burning words
which excited the hearts of his hearers, he warned them of the punishment which
Allah had inflicted upon the ancient tribes of 'Ad and Thamud who had obstinately
disobeyed the teachings of Allah's messengers to them. He adjured them by the
wonderful sights of nature, by the noonday brightness, by the night when it
spreads its veil, by the day when it appears in glory to listen to his warning
before a similar destruction befell them. He spoke to them of the Day of
Reckoning, when their deeds in this world will be weighed before the Eternal
Judge, when the children who had been buried alive will be asked for what crime
they were put to death.
After this, the Prophet never appeared at
public prayers. A few hours after he returned from the mosque, the Prophet died
while laying his head on the bosom of Aisha. As soon as the Prophet's death was
announced, a crowd of people gathered at the door of the house of Aisha,
exclaiming: "How can our messenger be dead?" Umar said: "No, he
is not dead; he will be restored to us, and those are traitors to the cause of
Islam who say he is dead. If they say so let them be cut in pieces."
But Abu Bakr entered the house at this moment,
and after he had touched the body of the Prophet with a demonstration of
profound affection, he appeared at the door and addressed the crowd with the
following speech: "0 Muslims, if any of you has been worshipping Muhammad,
then let me tell you that Muhammad is dead. But if you really do worship Allah
then know that Allah is living and will never die. Do you forget the verse in
the Qur'an: Muhammad is no more than a Messenger, and indeed (many) Messengers
have passed a way before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back
on your heels (as disbelievers)? And he who turns back on his heels, not the
least harm will he do to Allah, and Allah will give reward to those who are
grateful." Surah 3: 144 Upon hearing this speech of Abu Bakr, Umar
acknowledged his error, and the crowd was satisfied and dispersed.
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