Carrion, Blood, Swine-flesh and that which has been immolated to the name of any other than God are forbidden

Carrion, Blood, Swine-flesh and that which has been immolated to the name of any other than God are forbidden

Surah ‘Al-Baqarah (The Cow) – Chapter – 2)

Stage – 1, Verses – 172 & 173 of 286, Section –21 of 40 (Part - 2)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful 

172.  O ye who believe! Eat of the good things which We have provided you, and render thanks to Allah if it is (indeed) He Whom ye worship.   173a. He hath forbidden you only carrion, and blood, and swine-flesh, and that which hath been immolated to (the name of) any other than Allah.

172.  Yaaa-‘ayyuhallaziina  ‘aa-manuu  kuluu min-  tayyibaati  maa  razaqNaakum  washkuruu  LIllaahi  in-kuntum  ‘iyyaahu  ta’- buduun. 173a.  ‘Innamaa  harrama  ‘alay-kumul-  may-tata  waddama  wa lahmal-khin-ziiri  wa  maaa ‘u-hilla  bihii  li-gayRIllaah.

Lesson

Allah Almighty has reminded again His blessings in this verse and commanded that He has created uncountable pure and fine things. The human being should not restrict himself from them and eat them without hesitation. It is the demand of the real worship of God Almighty that the human being should enjoy His blessings and favors. The mankind should gratitude to God Almighty and should not ascribe any partner with Him.

Then some forbidden things are being described here:

‘Al-may-tatu – (carrion, dead animal) that is to say; the animal which dies itself or killed, but not slaughtered according to the Divine Law. Like this, if any piece of meat has been cut from the body of a living animal; that also will be counted as impure. There are only two animals like, which are legal without slaughtering them i.e. Fish and Locust.

In addition to the carrion - blood, and swine-flesh, and those animals which have been immolated to the name of any other than God Almighty are included in the forbidden things.

 

Lahmal-khin-ziiri – (swine-flesh), it has been mentioned clearly in the Holy Qur’an that hog, pig, boar, swine-flesh and its bacon is forbidden. From the investigations, it has been proved that this is the most shameless and immodest animal and its flesh has many moral and physical bad effects. The nations which eat the swine-flesh are its living proof.   

 Maaa ‘u-hilla  bihii  li-gayRIllaah – (which has been immolated to (the name of) any other than God Almighty), namely the animal which is slaughtered or altered to the name of other than Allah Almighty. Literal meanings of ‘U-hilla is to elevate the voice and call aloud.

  

173b.  But he who is driven by necessity, neither craving nor transgressing, it is no sin for him. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

173b.  Fa-maniz-turra  gayra  baaginw-wa  laa  ‘aadin- falaaa  ‘isma  ‘alayh.  ‘InnAllaaha  Gafuurur-Rahiim.

Lesson

‘Az-turra – (who is driven by necessity), the word ‘iz-ta-raarun is its infinitive mood. Zaruu-rat has come out from its matter. Zaruu-rat means necessity. It signifies that if it has become compulsory for the human being and it will not be possible for him to remain alive; then under this compulsion form, he is allowed to eat unlawful/forbidden food at the very least quantity of which is permissible only, so that he may live. For instance; either food is not attainable and there is nothing except forbidden thing or due to poverty, lawful food cannot be obtained or the use of forbidden thing is necessary for any disease on the advice of a skillful doctor. In such conditions, the forbidden things are permitted to be used in as minimum quantity as it is necessary to save one’s life.

Gayra  baagin – ( not to disobey, not to crave, to execute the command), gayra  baagin  means that the individual, who eats the forbidden food, his intention or will should not be to crave or break the law. He wishes to save his life only because to save the life is also His (God Almighty) command.

 

Laa  ‘aadin – (not to transgress), that is to say; the individual should not be deviator, sinner of crossing the limitations of Divine. If he has to eat under compulsion form, he should not take much, he should eat only that quantity with which he may save his life. 

Gafuur – (Forgiving), that is to say; so much Forgiver and Merciful that sometimes He doesn’t punish on our sins, moreover, the sins are not considered as sins by Him (God Almighty, for example whenever we use the forbidden thing in any situation of compulsion; He doesn’t bind and does not punish us.

Allah Almighty has prescribed lawful in some cases to the forbidden things due to His excellent Mercy and kindness. But there is a condition for it that the human being has been compelled due to any reason as it would have become impossible for saving his life, and secondly; he should not use the forbidden item to get taste but only too less quantity that he may save his life only because saving the life is a incumbent.

In the situation of compulsion, not eating these things is a sin also because saving the life is first duty. Like these situations, it is equal to suicide and it is clear that the act of suicide is forbidden.

We should refrain from the forbidden things totally and whenever, it becomes necessary for us to use them; then we should keep the intention good and use at the very least quantity.    

 

 Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)

Use of sense in Belief

Use of sense in Belief

Surah ‘Al-Baqarah (The Cow) – Chapter – 2)

Stage – 1, Verses – 170 & 171 of 286, Section –21 of 40 (Part - 2)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful 

And when it is said unto them: Follow that which Allah hath revealed, they say: We follow that wherein we found our fathers. What! Even though their fathers were wholly unintelligent and had no guidance?

Wa  ‘izaa  qiila  lahumut-tabi-‘uu  maaa  ‘anzalAllaahu  qaaluu  bal  nattabi-‘u  maaa  ‘al-faynaa  ‘alayhi  ‘aabaaa-‘anaa.  ‘A-wa-law  kaana  ‘aabaaa-‘uhum  laa  ya’-qiluuna  shay-‘anw-wa  laa yahta-duun.

Lesson

It has been described in this verse about a habit of the illusion pro/whimsical, that is to say; whenever, they are commanded to worship God Almighty, follow His orders and rules in every field of life, earn and spend the wealth and property according to His instructions, act upon the Divine law of the religion in the affairs, business, money dealings, buying and selling, marriage/wedding festivities, divorce, in such cases they reply: We shall respect only the customs of our elders, forefathers and traditions of our dynasty. We shall go on that path upon which we have seen our elders, ancestors and superiors”. As though; these people have faith in the customs of their elders giving up the Commands and instructions of God Almighty, they give priority to their customs and traditions and give importance and force more than the Divine law of God Almighty.     

Allah Almighty commands that these people follow indiscriminate their elders, while it is possible that their forefathers had not any intelligence and wisdom. They would be going astray in the depravity. They would have totally fallen back from the straight path. So following blind their likewise forefathers; these people will fall surly in the destruction and ruin.

Our Wise Doctor and famous Poet of the East Muhammad Iqbal has mentioned the concept in the exaggerated view as under:

‘Aa-iini naw si darnaa,  tarzi kuhun pe arhna

Manzil yahi kathan hai qawmon ki zindgi men

(To fear the new constitution, to stay at the old form

It is the difficult stage in the existence of the nations)     

The likeness of those who disbelieve (in relation to the Messenger) is as the likeness of one who calleth unto that which heareth naught except a shout and cry. Deaf, dumb, blind, therefore they have no sense.

Wa  masalullaziina  kafaruu  kamasalillazi yan-‘iqu  bimaa laa  yasma-‘u  ‘illaa  du-‘aaa-‘anw-wa  nidaaa-‘aa.  Summum-  buk-mun  ‘umyun-  fa-hum  laa  ya’- qiluun.

Lesson

In this verse, likeness of the disbelievers is being discussed that they are like the animals which are called by their shepherd. The animal hears his voice surely but does not understand anything, whether the shepherd would be singing the sweet songs or abusing them. The animal does not understand except considering it as cry and scream. In this verse, the ‘Caller’ indicates towards the Messenger of God Almighty (May glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) and the Infidels have been illustrated by a simile of animals. Surely, these people hear the invitation of the Messenger of God Almighty (May glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) but they do not think and care about it that what is hidden in this sound for them and what they have to do answering this voice.

The people, who do not embrace the invitation of the truth; are like deaf that the voice of Just enters into their ears but does not affect on their hearts. They show a listened talk as un-listened. They are dumb as they listen and understand the Right but do not announce it with their tongues. If their hearts agreed to it even then they do not embrace and don’t convey the message of justice up to the other people. They are blind as they do not look the straight path. In spite of having eyes they are unable to see something. If the use of these powers is not for the justice and these are not used in the right path; then existence of these things is equal to non existence. Because, which Life (God Almighty) has bestowed the powers to the human being, if these do not work according to His Instructions properly, do not show the mankind the Path of Real Master Almighty and do not tell the method to meet Him then there is no advantage of their existence.

For example; an individual has any eatable but he does not bring it in use; then it will be said that he has nothing to eat. Or any person has much money but he doesn’t spend it, moreover he keeps it holding and counting up then only it will be said that this wealth is equal to nothing. The same condition is of the Infidels that they have ears, tongues and eyes but do not use these things as these are required to be used.    

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)

Eat of that which is lawful and wholesome in the earth

Eat of that which is lawful and wholesome in the earth

Surah ‘Al-Baqarah (The Cow) – Chapter – 2)

Stage – 1, Verses – 168 & 169 of 286, Section –21 of 40 (Part - 2)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful 

O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and wholesome in the earth, and follow not the footsteps of the devil. Lo! He is an open enemy for you.

Yaaa-‘ayyuhan-naasu  kuluu  mimmaa  fil-‘arzi  Halaalan-  tay-yibaa.  Wa  laa  tattabi-‘uu  khutuwaatish-Shay-taan.  ‘In-nahuu  lakum  ‘aduw-wum-mu-biin.

Lesson

In this verse, God Almighty addressed the entire human beings and declared the difference between lawful and unlawful, and determined compulsory two conditions for the eatables and drinkable things:

·  It should be lawful 

·   It should be pure and clean

Halaalun – the thing, which is not forbidden by Allah Almighty from eating or drinking; and which has not been disliked or not fixed as unlawful, for example: water, vegetables, meat, pulses etc. are called lawful in accordance with the Divine law.  

Tay-yiban – (pure, clean, fine, nice), those things, which are lawful including pure and clean from filth and nastiness are Tay-yiban.

Applying two conditions by Islam in the food (lawful and pure) have produced a very great excellence. Due to these principles, every that thing, which is not pure and clean, is dangerous or harmful for human body and soul, or that has not gotten lawfully, for eating, drinking or use of it is forbidden.

The Messenger of Allah Almighty (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) took too much care for the pure, clean and lawful that those things, smell of which affects usually ill upon the health, declared odious and their use, before coming to the mosque, has been prohibited by Him (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him), so that, it might not affect bad on the nature of the devout associates.

The Arabs had declared some things unlawful at their own; for instance; the animals were left free in the name of idols and likewise; some other kinds of food. And they began to use some forbidden things also like milk of a suckling’s mother. Islam forbade from it. Accordingly, there is a Saying of the Prophet (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him), “The person whose food is unlawful, clothes are unlawful and meal is also unlawful, how his prayer might be accepted?”

Allah Almighty commanded that the people, who don’t care about lawful, pure and clean, they follow the Devil and the Devil is the worst enemy of the human being. He will never be the well-wisher of the mankind.

He enjoineth upon you only the evil and the foul, and that ye should tell concerning Allah that which ye know not.

‘Innamaa  ya’-murukum-  bis-suuu-‘i  wal-fah-shaaa-‘i  wa  ‘an- taquuluu ‘alAllaahi  maa  laa  ta’-lamuun.

Lesson

As-suuu-‘u – evil/bad thing (intellectually and legally)

‘Al-fah-shaaa-‘u – (foul, shamelessness and disliked due to morality and respect, the words fahash (indecent, frivolous) and faahishah (shameless, unchaste) have also been derived from it.

Two characteristics of Satan (the Devil) have been described in this verse:

 

1.   He teaches evil and fouls always to the human being. The mankind should never hope for advantage/benefit from the Devil because it is his nature that he is stained entirely in the evil, filth, foul, depravity and impurity/pollution, and he wishes to keep stained the human beings too. He excites every time for any kind of wickedness, quarrel, sedition, mischief and bustle, and stands in the way of goodness. The entire those wishes and works, which are fatal for human brotherhood and humanity itself, all are entered in the evil and foul. To create a mischief in the safety and peace of the society, to sow dissension among mutual brotherhood and fraternity, to extirpate the union and cooperation, not to fulfill the rights of the servants, it means that the entire works, due to which, tumult spreads, belong to mischievous and devilish.

2.   The Devil induces the human beings to tell the people false, self-invented by themselves talks and show that these are from the commands of God Almighty, while Allah Almighty has never commanded for those things, but the followers of the Devil do all that, for reaping casual advantages of frail things, worldly temptation and greediness of the wealth.

 

This disease had become common in the scholars of the Children of Israel. For deceiving the public, they used to tell the useful for them; self-invented talks and used to say that it was from God Almighty. Resultant the foundation of their religion became hollow and they failed for future.

We should learn from this verse that we should neither take part in the evil deeds and foul, and nor tell the public false and self-invented matters because these both works belong to Satan.        

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)

People will call on Doomsday: for pity’s sake! God help me

People will call on Doomsday: for pity’s sake! God help me

Surah ‘Al-Baqarah (The Cow) – Chapter – 2)

Stage – 1, Verses – 165b to 167 of 286, Section –20 of 40 (Part - 2)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful 

Oh, that those who do evil had but known, (on the Day) when they behold the doom, that power belongeth wholly to Allah, and that Allah is Severe in punishment!

Wa  law  yarallaziina  zalamuuu  ‘iz  yarawnal-‘azaaba,  ‘annal-Quwwata  LIllaahi  jamii-‘anw-wa-‘annAllaaha  Shadiidul-‘azaab.

Lesson

In the earlier verses, after discussion about Oneness of God, Creator of the Universe and dignity of the Believers, Allah Almighty told about His Power and Strength, and commanded that the Infidels and Idolaters ascribe partnership with God Almighty to the different things due to their foolishness, ignorance and un-foresightedness. They consider as these things will accede to their wishes, support them at the times of difficulties, give rewards or prizes to them as compensation of their worship and believe that these are masters of the powers.

Allah Almighty asserts in this verse, “Would that! The deniers of the Truth and the Idolaters would have seen the Doom which We shall descend upon them on the Doomsday. After seeing the doom, they will say at once that all kinds of powers and strength, Greatness, Divinity and Magnificence, power of choice and influence are only for Allah Almighty, nobody can speak or boast before Him. Without Him, none can help or support any other and everything is humble before Him.

On that Day, neither the wealth/property of anyone will be useful for him, and nor his relatives and friends will help him. Every individual will try to run away from his intimate brothers, sisters, mother, father, wife, children, friends and relatives; so that he would not have to suffer their doom upon himself. On the Day of Resurrection, the Idolaters will forget their false worshiped and liar partners, and they will call “for pity’s sake! God help me”.

During the worldly life, various types of difficulties and tests descend on the human beings. Using the sense, every person should deem that this all is from God Almighty and he should fall prostrate before Allah Almighty learning from these calamities.

In the Sayings of the Messenger (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) this humility, indigence and helplessness has been told as penitence and begging mercy, and supplication as worship. The Messenger of God Almighty (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) commanded, “‘Ad-Duaaw- mukh-khul  ‘ibaadah” (Supplication is the Brain of Worship). 

166.  (On the Day) when those who were followed disown those who followed (them), and they behold the doom, and all their aims collapse with them. 167.  And those who were but followers will say: If a return were possible for us, we would disown them even as they have disowned us. Thus will Allah show them their own deeds as anguish for them. And they will not emerge from the Fire.

166.  ‘Iz tabarra-‘allazii-nattu-bi-‘uu  minallaziinat-taba-‘uu  wa  ra-‘a-wul-azaaba  wa  taqat-ta-‘at  bihimul-‘asbaab. 167.  Wa  qaalal-laziinat-taba-‘uu  law  ‘anna  lanaa  karratan-  fa-natabarra-‘a  minhum  kamaa  tabarra-‘uu  minnaa.  Kazaalika  yuriihimUllaahu  ‘a’-maalahum  hasaraatin  ‘alayhim.   Wa  maa    hum-  bi-khaarijiina  minan-Naar.

Lesson

Allah Almighty has described a horrible and dreadful scene of the Doomsday. Would that; the evildoer Idolaters might think, take it a warning and shun from the evildoing.

On that day; the liar religious or spiritual guides; who have compelled the common stupid people to follow them, will leave them who followed them and due to following them; they had left the straight path. This time will be very frightful and dangerous for those stupid follower obedient disciples, which their spiritual guides would have kept themselves aloof from them, the means would have been cut, and the doom would be visible in front.

The stupid followers will say, “would that we may go once again back to the (previous) world and adopt displeasure behavior likewise these wicked religious and spiritual guides disowned us but then, it will not be possible. Their evil acts will be in front of them in the form of an afflicted record and there will be no way to get rid of the Hell Fire.  

‘Allazii-nattu-bi-‘uu – (who were followed) ‘It-tibaa’ is its infinitive mood which means to follow. It signifies towards the religious and spiritual guides who are followed. 

‘Al-laziinat-taba-‘uu – (who followed), that is to say; the followers, obedient and disciples of their liar religious and spiritual guides.

  

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)