Muslims as a Middle Nation
Surah ‘Al-Baqarah (The Cow) – Chapter – 2)
Stage – 1, Verse –143a of 286, Section –17 of 40
(Part - 2)
BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
And thus We have
appointed you a middle nation, that ye may be witnesses against mankind, and
that the Messenger may be a witness against you.
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Wa kazaalika ja-‘alNaa-kum ‘Ummatanw- Wasatal-li-takuunuu
shuha-daaa-‘a ‘alan-naasi wa yakuunar-Rasuulu ‘alaykum Shahiidaa.
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Lesson
Wasatan –
(Moderate; temperate) it means that Muslim nation is on right straight path. It
has no crookedness, abundance or deficiency. Teaching of Islam is self-control
in behavior. Followers of Islam are the temperate. They are appointed on
acceptance of the middle path leaving all kinds of increases and decreases.
Shahiidun – (Witness) this word is
origin of the words Shaahid and Shahaadah. Shaahid means witness and Shahaadah means Evidence. Technically
this word is used for the killed, martyred in the path of God Almighty. In this
verse its meaning may also be taken as ‘Watching’.
Excellence and
superiority of Muslim nation has been declared in this verse. God Almighty
commands: O Muslims! As your Qiblah
is the most excellent than other Qiblahs,
like this We have bestowed you merit over all other nations, and your Messenger
(glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) has been selected most superior
over all other Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon Them).
It has come in the
Sayings of the Messenger of Allah (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon
Him) that on the Judgment Day, when all previous nations will be asked about
their acts, at that time the Muslim nation will verify the claim of previous
Prophets (peace be upon Them) in the light of the teachings of Holy Qur’an and witness that these all
Prophets (peace be upon Them) came unto their nations and conveyed them the
Message of Allah Almighty. But these people did not agree to their Prophets and
Messengers (peace be upon Them).
The Muslim nation has
been prepared in the both capacities of model; individually and collectively
for the entire world. Every nation of the world should rise and turn to the
situation of this standard. Auspicious Personality of the Blessed Messenger (glory,
grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) has capacity of being an example and
model roll for the Muslims. This lesson results from this verse also that we
should establish ourselves as model roll for other nations of the world. We
should escape ourselves from moral lowness in all respects and choose never the
path which lessens our recognized position. To get this object we must keep the
pattern of God’s last Messenger (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) in view before us always. Being a middle nation we should escape ourselves from all
kinds of abundance and decrease so that we may be able to keep the honor of the
title of “A Middle Nation”.
And We appointed the
qiblah which ye formerly observed only that We might know him who followeth
the Messenger, from him who turneth on his heels.
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Wa maa ja-‘alnal-Qiblatal-latii kunta ‘alayhaaa ‘illaa
li-na’-lama many-yattabi-‘ur-Rasuula mim-many-yanqalibu ‘alaa ‘aqibayh.
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Lesson
Li-na’-lama – (that We might know) the word ‘ilm (knowledge) is used here only for distinction, identification
and recognition.
It was the blessed habit
of the Messenger of God Almighty (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon
Him) that in which matter there was no instruction from God Almighty, in that
matter He (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) used to choose the
manner of former Prophets (peace be upon Them), for instance; the prayer had
become duty to offer, but there was no clear command available regarding Qiblah.
Messenger of Allah Almighty used to offer prayers turning towards
the Temple of Jerusalem, which was the Qiblah of
the Children of Israel. It is known clearly from the words of this verse
also ‘Wa maa ja-‘alNaa’ that in the beginning to face unto the
former Qiblah was with the sanction of God Almighty. When He (glory,
grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) migrated from Makkah to Madina,
even then, the Temple of Jerusalem (Bayt ul Muqaddas)
remained Qibla too. But after a period of nearly sixteen months God
Almighty commanded to change the Qiblah and Ka’-bah (The Square Building at Makkah) was appointed as Qiblah of the Muslims.
God Almighty commands in
this verse: The purpose to keep the Qiblah to Bayt ul
Muqaddas (the Temple of Jerusalem) was temporarily for
a short time so that the Obedient and the Violent may be separated”.
The Idolaters of Makkah were
not convinced for reverence of the Qiblah as
the Temple of Jerusalem. So it was a clear sign of embracing
Islam in Makkah that every individual has to offer his prayers
turning towards the Temple of Jerusalem. Near to the Jews and
the Christians of Madinah, the Temple of Makkah had
no honor. So in Madinah it became the sign of embracing Islam
that the prayer should be offered facing towards the BaytUllaah (Ka’-ba),
the Temple at Mecca. Here upon, it became easy to make a
distinction among the Muslims and the Non-Muslims.
If
the Temple of Makkah were Qiblah (BaytUllaah) instead of
the Temple of Jerusalem (Bayt ul Muqaddas) during
the life in Makkah then probably, the people of Makkah might
consider it as a kind of flattery and they might embrace Islam due to their own
country’s Qiblah instead of taking this religion as the Order
of God Almighty. Thus Islam is pure from all these objects. Teaching of the
religion is not for favor of any particular nation or race. Islam has come for
the entire world and its teachings are for the entire nations forever.
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