Importance of The Scripture and the Criterion

Importance of The Scripture and the Criterion

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

Stage – 1, Verse – 53 of 286, Section – 6 of 40 (Part - 1)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

And when We gave unto Moses the Scripture and the Criterion (of right and wrong) that ye might be led aright.

Wa ‘iz ‘aataynaa Muusal- Kitaaba  wal-Furqaana  la-‘al-lakum  tahtaduun.

Lesson

         

Al-Furqaan – the Orders, Commands or Mandates, which separate, disunite or dis-join. This word has been derived from the word faraqa which means “to divide or distinguish” the Holy Books (as distinguishing or separating the truth from falsehood). The Commentators of the Religion have different sayings about Furqaan:

·         Those Miracles which were bestowed to the Prophet Moses (peace be upon Him) from God, the Most High.

·         Such victory and overcoming which was gained by the children of Israel against the Army of Pharaoh.

·         The Jews understand also from this word, those verbal teachings which were revealed upon the Prophet Moses (peace be upon Him) besides Torah.

·         ‘Al-Furqaan is the name of Holy Qur’aan too as well as other Heavenly Books are called Furqaan also, because these Commands differentiate between the Right and the Wrong.

In this verse ‘al-Furqaan means the Orders and Commands by which the true and the false, the right and the wrong, and the goodness and the evil may be separated from one another and there may not remain any accommodation for doubt and suspicion. 

When the repentance of the Children of Israel was accepted, the Prophet Moses (peace be upon Him) went again to the Mount Sinai (Koh –i – Toor) and brought many
Commands from God Almighty which were written on the tablets. The Collection of those Orders is called Torah.

God Almighty is reminding the Children of Israel His Favors in this verse. He commands them, “You disobeyed Our Orders and began worshiping the Calf, but We forgave you with Our kindness. Then We revealed upon Prophet Moses (peace be upon Him) such Scripture, which contained complete Law of Divine and a Guide (Torah), so that you may pass your lives according to its instructions. By that Scripture, it was easy to distinguish between just and absurd, lawful and unlawful, good and bad.”

It is known from this lesson that the Holy Book revealed from Allah Almighty and the Measure (Miizaan) among the just and the absurd is a great blessing for the human being. The Guidance can be obtained from it only and only those individuals are successful, who act upon the Holy Word of God Almighty, and take guidance from the Balance of true and false. It is incumbent on us that we should correct our words and deeds in the light of Holy Qur’aan and Sayings of the last Prophet Muhammad (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him), grow the virtue of distinguishing among the true and the false into ourselves and don’t consider the good and the bad equal. We should keep distinction between lawful and unlawful before us every time. 

 

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