Reducing Earth, Be True, Infidels
Issue 384 » June 23, 2006 - Jumada-al-Awwal 27, 1427
General
| Living the Quran |
Al-Rad
(The Thunder)
The textual term "taraf" has several connotations: sides, extremities, borders or outlying areas and there have been several interpretations of this verse. 1. Since the original word "taraf" is also used for "the best (of everything)", the meaning of the verse is that Allah is gradually taking away good men from among the unbelievers and transferring them to the rank of Muslims. 2. Muhammad Asad gives the word "taraf" a wider meaning, translating the latter half of the verse as, "We visit the earth [with Our punishment], gradually depriving it of all that is best thereon". Thus the verse may be taken to relate not merely to physical and social catastrophes but also to the loss of all ethical vaues, thinkers, scholars, and great leaders. 3. The popular opinion is that with the ever continuing conversion to Islam, the unbelievers have constantly been losing ground to Muslims. A rough calculation tells us that after his migration to Madinah, the Prophet was wrestling control of the lands that were formally ruled by the Pagans, at the rate of about 500 sq. km. a day. 4. Another plausible allusion could be the massive exploitation of the earth's natural resources at a maddening pace, despite the warnings issues by the scientists of the consequence resulting in loss of "its best part." Very soon the world is out to exhaust its valuable, non-replaceable resources to human greed. 5. Another interpretation is that the allusion is to the physical reduction in the land mass on this planet. The land surface of the earth has been decreasing due to rise in sea levels. One of the reasons is the infamous Green House effect. Another reason for the rise in sea levels is extraterrestrial materials falling in the sea in the form of meteorites. Erosion of land by the river waters is also causing the reduction of land mass. All the possible interpretations are close to the text, without the need to stretch the meaning, and reconcilable to each other. This is the meaning of the Prophetic statement that the Quran will never run dry of meaning. Source: |
| Understanding the Prophet's Life |
| Advice to be True Allah has created this whole universe on the basis of love, and has demanded of the people that they should build up their life on the foundation of truth, to make truth and straight dealing a practice of their life, and should give place to truth only in their talks and dealings. When this clear sense is lost sight of by people, and false stories, superstitions and absurd beliefs rule their self, ideas and thoughts, then hardness and harshness are generated in them they move away from the right path, and they totally give up those realities the adoption of which was necessary. For this reason the strong and firm pillar of a Muslim's character is straight dealing. It is his duty to be attached to truth in every matter and to see every problem and affair through the glasses of truth, To keep it before him in every decision is the clearest manifestation of his dealing and treatment. Similarly the construction of the society in Islam is made on this foundation that mere conjectures and superstitions should be opposed, baseless things and imaginary stories should be thrown out, doubts and misgivings should not be encouraged, because strong and firm realities only deserve to be manifested; they should have their imprint on the society and their help should be taken in strengthening various relations. Allah's Messenger has said: “Keep away from ill-thinking, because ill-thinking is the greatest falsehood.” (Bukhari) Another hadith says: “Leave alone doubtful things, follow those matters in which there is no doubts for truth is a means of satisfaction and falsehood is the cause of doubts and misgivings.” (Tirmizi) Source: |
| Blindspot! |
Kufr or Infidels If you look at the English dictionary meaning of infidel, you would find that it means someone who does not have a faith or does not believe in Allah. Does the Quran say that the Jews and Christians do not believe in Allah? No. In Surat Al-Ankabut (29:46), Allah says that the God of Christians, Jews, and Muslims is one and the same. The word infidel is an inaccurate translation of the word kafir in this case. The term kafir, referring to a person, or kufr, referring to an act, is used in the Quran in a variety of contextual meanings. It is not clear from the English terms non-believer or disbeliever what is the object of unbelief or disbelief, is it God, a particular prophet, or others? It is prefered to use the term non-Muslim, as it applies to various categories of kufr, whether it refers to knowingly rejecting the message of Islam (disbelief) or being a non-Muslim due to the lack of awareness of the authentic message of Islam (unbelief). Following are examples of the varied contextual uses of the term kufr in the Quran as follows:
Nonetheless, we cannot clearly assess this situation. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave Muslims very clear instructions after one incident when people assumed to know why someone had professed belief in Islam. He asked them whether they had opened up his heart, and if they knew whether what was in his heart was sincere or not. The bottom line is that we have to leave judging people's faith to Allah; only Allah knows the sincerity of a particular person's acceptance. Allah is All-Knowing, and He is the only Judge of all of us. Source: |
