We follow the religion of Abraham, the Upright

We follow the religion of Abraham, the Upright

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

Stage – 1, Verses – 134 & 135 of 286, Section – 16 of 40 ( Part - 1)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Those are a people who have passed away. Theirs is that which they earned, and yours is that which ye earn. And ye will not be asked of what they used to do

Tilka ‘ummatun- qad khalat. Lahaa maa kasabat wa lakum- maa kasabtum. Wa laa tus-‘aluuna ‘ammaa kaanuu ya’-maloon.

Lesson

Tilka ‘ummatun – (Those are a people, a religious sect), it indicates towards the Ancestors of the Children of Israel, of whom they used to get names and used to claim as their followers, although this claim of theirs was wrong. These astray and unlucky people had no relation with those great respectable Prophets (peace be upon Them) except their names.

The Children of Israel were much proud that they were from the race of Prophets (peace be upon Them). So they had made this false faith themselves that there is no need of personal good acts. It is sufficient for freedom from the Hell being from the Children of the Prophets (peace be upon Them). They thought that God Almighty transfers the good acts of father towards his children with His blessing. Due to this wrong faith, they had become careless entirely from doing the good acts, and had involved in all kinds of errors, evil doings and disobedience.

The Holy Qur’an cut the root of their false belief and commanded about the law of God Almighty that every individual and group will get; what he has earned himself. Neither the good act of someone reaches the other nor will anyone be answerable for evildoing of others. Relationship of the Ancestors will neither be useful without one’s personal attempt and nor freedom can be obtained. There is a great lesson for them; who have been fallen into the trap of this misunderstanding: Although, we have not done good acts, even then the good acts of our Ancestors will be useful for us, and our this world and Hereafter will be arranged. Holy Qur’an explains that you cannot reap advantage from good acts of your Ancestors. You should take care yourself and follow Them. Their lives are roll model of good acts for you. By following them, you will be able to do good.

Out of us, if anybody will be involved in this misunderstanding that greatness of good birth or relation with any pious person may be sufficient for him then he should throw out this thought from his heart. Only one’s personal deeds will be useful before Allah Almighty. The entire human beings will be responsible for their own duties and responsibilities. 

  

And they say: Be Jews or Christians, then ye will be rightly guided. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Nay, but (we follow) the religion of Abraham, the upright, and he was not of the idolaters.

Wa qaaluu kuunuu Huu-dan ‘aw Nasaaraa tahtaduu. Qul bal Millata ‘Ibraa-hiima Haniifaa. Wa maa kaana minal-mushrikiin.

Lesson

Millata ‘Ibraa-hiima – (the religion of Abraham), it aims those particular rules and regulations, which were issued by Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him) and a society was assembled upon these principles.

Haniifaa - (the upright), during the period of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him), the people used to worship different things and deemed that their all businesses run through them. Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him) invited them towards the worship of one God setting free from all others and adopted one God Himself too giving up all others. So He (peace be upon Him) was given the title of “the Upright”.

 

The Holy Qur’an refuted all liar beliefs of the Idolaters and the people of the Scripture, proved their arguments as false and invited them to accept the Truth with bright and clear proofs. The children of Israel and the Christians must have accepted the true and simple teachings of the Holy Qur’an but instead, they chose the path of opposition and violence, and on the contrary, they used to invite the Muslims towards the Jewish religion and the Christianity. They used to say the Muslims: Embrace our religion; you will get success in this world and the Hereafter. God Almighty commanded His Messenger (glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) that He should reply them from the side of the entire Muslim nation against their invitation: O the People of the Scripture! You have made uncountable changes in your Scriptures and Divine Laws of your religions and our religion has been established only on that ancient Unity of God’s religion, which was of the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him). We are standing on that particular religion and we have not made any change in it.

 Another thing, “With which face do you relate your religion towards the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him) while He (peace be upon Him) did go never near the polytheism? He had pure belief in the Oneness of God Almighty, whereas your religion has been filled with the filth of pluralities. How may you be the claimers of a true religion and freedom?

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)