Day Twenty fifth (A Journey with Quran)

Surah Al Imran. Ayats 71-80

71. Ye People of the Book! Why do ye clothe Truth with falsehood, and conceal the Truth, while ye have knowledge?

72. A section of the People of the Book say: “Believe in the morning what is revealed to the believers, but reject it at the end of the day; perchance they may (themselves) Turn back;

73. “And believe no one unless he follows your religion.” Say: “True guidance is the Guidance of Allah. (Fear ye) Lest a revelation be sent to someone (else) Like unto that which was sent unto you? or that those (Receiving such revelation) should engage you in argument before your Lord?” Say: “All bounties are in the hand of Allah. He granteth them to whom He pleaseth: And Allah careth for all, and He knoweth all things.”

74. For His Mercy He specially chooseth whom He pleaseth; for Allah is the Lord of bounties unbounded.

75. Among the People of the Book are some who, if entrusted with a hoard of gold, will (readily) pay it back; others, who, if entrusted with a single silver coin, will not repay it unless thou constantly stoodest demanding, because, they say, “there is no call on us (to keep faith) with these ignorant (Pagans).” but they tell a lie against Allah, and (well) they know it.

76. Nay.- Those that keep their plighted faith and act aright,-verily Allah loves those who act aright.

77. As for those who sell the faith they owe to Allah and their own plighted word for a small price, they shall have no portion in the Hereafter: Nor will Allah (Deign to) speak to them or look at them on the Day of Judgment, nor will He cleans them (of sin): They shall have a grievous penalty.

78. There is among them a section who distort the Book with their tongues: (As they read) you would think it is a part of the Book, but it is no part of the Book; and they say, “That is from Allah,” but it is not from Allah. It is they who tell a lie against Allah, and (well) they know it!

79. It is not (possible) that a man, to whom is given the Book, and Wisdom, and the prophetic office, should say to people: “Be ye my worshippers rather than Allah.s”: on the contrary (He would say) “Be ye worshippers of Him Who is truly the Cherisher of all: For ye have taught the Book and ye have studied it earnestly.”

80. Nor would he instruct you to take angels and prophets for Lords and patrons. What! would he bid you to unbelief after ye have bowed your will (To Allah in Islam)?

Translation: Abdullah Yusuf

Day Twenty third (A Journey with Quran)

Quran is the Islamic sacred book. It is the the word of God addressed to the last Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him), brought to him by the archangel Gabriel, and written down in Arabic. It consists of 114 chapters of varying lengths, and are called Surahs. The first Surah is part of our daily prayers.

The Quran calls out to all the human beings on earth. It touches all aspects of our human life.

Quran means the Criterion. It means to differentiate between right, and wrong.

Our twenty third day journey with Quran continues: the third Surah Al Imran. Ayats (verses) 51-60. In the previous Ayat forty nine Jesus tells the people to obey Allah.

51“It is Allah who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a way that is straight.”

52When Jesus found unbelief on their part he said: “Who will be my helpers to (the work of) Allah?” Said the Disciples: “We are Allah’s helpers we believe in Allah and do thou bear witness that we are Muslims.

53“Our Lord! we believe in what thou hast revealed and we follow the Apostle; then write us down among those who bear witness.”

54And (then unbelievers) plotted and planned and Allah too planned and the best of planners is Allah.

55Behold! Allah said: “O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee (of the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject Faith to the Day of Resurrection; then shall ye all return unto Me and I will judge between you of the matters wherein ye dispute.

56“As to those who reject faith I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter nor will they have anyone to help.

57“As to those who believe and work righteousness Allah will pay them (in full) their reward; but Allah loveth not those who do wrong.

58“This is what We rehearse unto thee of the Signs and the Message of Wisdom.”

59This similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam: He created him from dust then said to him: “Be” and he was.

60The truth (comes) from Allah alone; so be not of those who doubt.

Translation: Abdullah Yusuf

Day Twentieth (A Journey with Quran)

Surah Al-Imran. Ayats 21-30

21As to those who deny the Signs of Allah and in defiance of right slay the Prophets and slay those who teach just dealing with mankind announce to them a grievous penalty.

22They are those whose works will bear no fruit in this world and in the Hereafter nor will they have anyone to help.

23Hast thou not turned thy vision to those who have been given a portion of the Book? They are invited to the Book of Allah to settle their dispute but a party of them turn back and decline (the arbitration).

24This because they say: “The fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days”; for their forgeries deceive them as to their own religion.

25But how (will they fare) when We gather them together against a day about which there is no doubt and each soul will be paid out just what it has earned without (favor or injustice)?

26Say: “O Allah! Lord of Power (and Rule) thou givest Power to whom Thou pleasest and Thou strippest off power from whom Thou pleasest thou enduest with honor whom thou pleasest and thou bringest low whom Thou pleasest; in Thy hand is all Good. Verily over all things thou hast power.

27“Thou causest the Night to gain on the Day and Thou causest the Day to gain on the Night; Thou bringest the Living out of the Dead and thou bringest the Dead out of the Living; and Thou givest sustenance to whom Thou pleasest without measure.”

28Let not the believers take for friends or helpers unbelievers rather than believers; if any do that in nothing will there be help from Allah; except by way of precaution that ye may guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you (to remember) Himself for the final goal is to Allah.

29Say: “Whether ye hide what is in your hearts or reveal it Allah knows it all. He knows what is in the heavens and what is on earth. And Allah has power over all things.

30“On the day when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done and all the evil it has done it will wish there were a great distance between it and its evil. But Allah cautions you (to remember) Himself. And Allah is full of kindness to those that serve Him.

Translation: Abdullah Yusuf

Forgiveness

I always pray for my dear ones and those whom I like. Sometimes I stop remembering those people in my prayers who hurt me with their words or deeds. I know I shouldn’t do it. I feel guilty all the time. Somehow my heart does not forgive easily. I do try to tell myself that God forgives so many of our mistakes. God loves those who FORGIVES.

I should BETTER myself but somehow forgiveness doesn’t come easily to me. It sounds terrible, doesn’t it? 😞

Anyway I hope I get over this trait of mine some day. Amen.

My Favorite Prayer

ربنا فغفرلنا ذنوبنا و كفر عنا سياتنا و توفنا مع الأبرار

ربنا و آتنا ما وعدتنا علا رسلك و تخذنا يوم القيامته

انك لا تخلف الميعاد

Translation

Our Lord, forgive us our sins, and wipe out our evil deeds and make us die with the truly pious

Our Lord, fulfill what you promised us through Your Messengers, and disgrace us not on the Day

of Resurrection; indeed You never go back on Your promise

Quran, chapter 3 Al Imran, verses (ayats) 193-194.