"Believers say not (unto the Prophet): “Listen to us” but say “Look upon us”, and they are listeners"

"Believers say not (unto the Prophet): “Listen to us” but say “Look upon us”, and they are listeners"

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

Stage – 1, Verse –104 of 286, Section –13 of 40 (Part - 1)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

O ye who believe, say not (unto the Prophet): “Listen to us” but say “Look upon us”, and be ye listeners. And for disbelievers is a painful doom.

Yaaa-‘ayyu-hallaziina  ‘aa-manuu  laa taquuluu  raa-‘inaa  wa quulunzurnaa  was-ma-‘uu.  Wa lil-Kaafiriina ‘azaabun  ‘aliim.

Lesson

Raa-‘inaa – (Listen to us, show us favor)

 

‘Unzurnaa – (Look upon us), this word has the same meanings also, “Listen to us, show us favor”. The Children of Israel used to exist in the Conference of the Messenger of God Almighty Muhammad (glory, grace, peace and blessings be upon Him), and listen to the Advice and preaching. Whenever they could not hear any word and wished to ask again, then they used to say raa-‘ina.

Hearing the word raa-‘ina from them, some times the Muslims began to use this word too. God Almighty prevented them that they should not use this word. If they wish to say so, they should use the word “’unzurnaa”. In fact, the Children of Israel used to say this word raa-‘inaa due to ill-will and joke. They intentionally used to say as ra-‘iinaa, which means ‘our shepherd’ and in the Jewish language, the word raa-‘inaa is used for the words “fool, blockhead, most foolish, stupid and idiot” also.

Allah Almighty forbade the Muslims from using this word (raa-‘inaa) and commanded to replace it as ‘unzurnaa, which means “Look upon us”. The aspect of joke or censure is not found in this word. Along with the use of this word, it has been ordered also: “be ye listeners” (was-ma-‘uu), so that you would not have to ask again for repetition.

It is learnt from the command of ‘as-ma-‘uu too that the Sayings, Advice and preaching by the Prophet of God Almighty Muhammad (glory, grace, peace and blessings be upon Him) should be heard with full meditation. So the individuals, who consider that only the Holy Qur’an is sufficient for guidance of the human beings, they should learn from this decision of Holy Qur’an themselves and imagine that how much it has been pressed to listen and accept the Sayings, advice and preaching according to this verse and many other verses. It has been mentioned also in another verse that the decision of the Messenger of Allah (glory, grace, peace and blessings be upon Him) is the last and final decision for you in every matter. (Suratun-Nissa): O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and those of you who are in authority; then if ye have a dispute concerning any matter, refer it to Allah and the Messenger if ye are (in truth) believers in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and more seemly in the end”. (IV : 59)

 

At the end, God Almighty commands that those people, who has been prepared to deride the Messenger Muhammad (glory, grace, peace and blessings be upon Him) by calling Him with bad words and making fun of Him, are the disbelievers and for disbelievers is a painful doom.

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)