‘Innii jaa-ilun fil-‘arzi KHALIIFAH – Command of Allah

‘Innii jaa-ilun fil-‘arzi KHALIIFAH – Command of Allah

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

Stage – 1, Verse – 30a of 286, Section – 4 of 40 (Part - 1)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

And when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a Viceroy in the earth,

Wa  ‘iz  qaala  Rabbuka lil-Malaaa-‘ikati – “Innii jaa-ilun fil-‘arzi  KHALIIF-AH”

Lesson

           

Malaaa-‘ikati (Angels) this word is plural of Malak and has come out from the word “’Alook”. ‘Alook means to deliver the message.

So it aims that Malaaa-‘ikah (best Angels – peace be upon Them) deliver the Messages of God towards Prophets and Messengers (Peace be upon Them). The Angels are Light and Spiritual Beings. They are chaste and pure from errors and never disobey the Commands of Allah.   

KHALIIF-AH – (Viceroy, Caliph). KhaliifatUllaah is the person, who establishes Government run by Divine Law of the religion on the earth. It manifests that which powers and abilities will be given to the human being by Allah, will be quite right for establishing the Caliphate of God.

Lord of the worlds is He, Who created the earth, the skies and other entire universe. All things of the earth like vegetation, minerals, beasts and animals, mountains, rivers, canals, springs etc come in this category on one side of this universe and on the other side, the skies including other things created in these seven heavens. Allah Almighty knows best about the philosophy of creating all these things of the earth and the heavens.

Why Adam (peace be upon Him) was created? What was the need to make this body of mud (human being)? What is its purpose of life? The answer to these questions has been given in this verse and succeeding verses.

When Allah Almighty completed the work of creation of the earth, skies and all things among them like the moon, the sun, the stars, rivers, mountains etc. and they began to do their work, then God Almighty addressed the Angels (Peace be upon Them): Now the time has come to know that for whom, these things have been created, he should also come in front. That is to say; I want to create my Viceroy on the earth, who will possess all these things (under his control) and will complete the desire of God in the world. He will pay God’s right of Deputy-ship being Vicegerent. He will issue and bring in force the Commands of Allah Almighty.”

God Almighty is The Creator and Owner of this world. He owns all good attributes. Neither we can count His attributes and nor His works. He has put in the leaven of human being some qualities little by little from His attributes, so that he may demonstrate His attributes after coming in the world, elevate His name and prove with his word and deed that he is really Viceroy and Deputy of God Almighty. 

If God is Merciful then the human being should be kind too, not only upon his kinsfolk but also over the entire living creatures. It has come in the Sayings of Allah’s Messenger (Peace and Blessings be upon Him): If you slaughter any animal, have mercy upon it, the slaughtering knife should be sharp-edged, so that the animals’ great artery may cut off immediately and it does not feel much pain later on.

One of the attributes of God is Justice and Equity. It is the duty of human being that he should do justice and equity, equally with all. In this matter, neither he should favor his near relatives and nor the stranger be ignored. Entire people should be dealt with equally.

One name of God is For-Bearer also (Mild). The mankind disobeys Him and he commits countless errors but God delays, takes it with softness, overlooks it and gives time to the evildoer, so that he may renounce and change his attitude. It is our duty also that we should produce in ourselves the attribute of mildness. We should treat the people with soft behavior and give them chance if they have wronged, so that they may correct themselves.

In short, the human being should try to raise all those attributes and manners within himself, which are Disposition of God and treat the people as God treats His servants.

If we do not produce God’s attributes in ourselves then we do not deserve to be the Caliph and Vicegerent of God Almighty, and we can never achieve this higher rank any way, which He has liked for us. 

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)