Surat Al `Imran (11-20)

{كَدَأْبِ آَلِ فِرْعَوْنَ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ كَذَّبُوا بِآَيَاتِنَا فَأَخَذَهُمُ اللهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَاللهُ شَدِيدُ العِقَابِ} [آل عمران: 11]

11- This action of disbelief and denial is like the action of the people of the Pharaoh and those who were before them from the disbelieving nations who denied the prophets of Allah, fought them, mocked at, and rejected the legislations with which they came and left them behind their backs. Indeed, Allah is severe in punishment for those disbelievers and the like.

{قُلْ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا سَتُغْلَبُونَ وَتُحْشَرُونَ إِلَى جَهَنَّمَ وَبِئْسَ المِهَادُ} [آل عمران: 12]

12- O Prophet, say to the Jews and the idolaters: You shall be defeated and lose your battle against Muslims as it happened in the battle of Badr.

It was reported in a Hadith with good chain of transmission that the Messenger of Allah [peace be upon him] said to the Jews: "O Jews, embrace Islam before you are inflicted with which that Quraysh was inflicted." Nevertheless, they refused and defied the Messenger, therefore, Allah revealed this Ayah.

Allah has said the truth about the killing of Banu Qurayzhah Tribe, the evacuation of Banu Al Nadir Tribe, the opening of Khayber [forts of the Jews that were in Madinah], and imposing tribute to other people.

All of you shall be driven to Hell Fire; what a terrible abode prepared specially for them!

{قَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ آَيَةٌ فِي فِئَتَيْنِ التَقَتَا فِئَةٌ تُقَاتِلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ وَأُخْرَى كَافِرَةٌ يَرَوْنَهُمْ مِثْلَيْهِمْ رَأْيَ العَيْنِ وَاللهُ يُؤَيِّدُ بِنَصْرِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِأُولِي الأَبْصَارِ} [آل عمران: 13]

13- O disbelieving infidels and Jews who were beguiled by their number and equipments, you have seen how Allah made His Religion superior and supported His Religion in the battle of Badr. Two fighting groups encountered in the Battle; a Muslim group that fought under the banner of "No god but Allah," and a disbelieving group that fought for the sake of Taghut [False objects of worship].

Although the number of the infidels was triple the number of Muslims, they used to see them — by naked eye — of double number when they engaged with them in fighting; however, they saw them less than that number before the Battle. They saw Muslims less than their real number, although they were more than them so that Muslims may direct to their Lord for Help; indeed, victory comes only from Allah.

Ibn Mas`ud [may Allah be pleased with him] said: We looked at the polytheists and saw them more number than we were then we looked again and saw them exactly equal to us.

He said in another place: They were made few in our eyes to the extent that I said to a man who was next to me: They are seventy, whereas they were nearly a thousand.

When the Mujahideen directed to their Lord asking Him for help and support, and trusted in Him, horror and fear possessed the hearts of the idolaters, and Allah supported the Muslim group, thus they were granted victory.

That was a lesson for those who wanted to take a lesson for He is Able to grant Muslims victory again. So, believe in Him, and do not lose the world and the Hereafter.

{زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالبَنِينَ وَالقَنَاطِيرِ المُقَنْطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالفِضَّةِ وَالخَيْلِ المُسَوَّمَةِ وَالأَنْعَامِ وَالحَرْثِ ذَلِكَ مَتَاعُ الحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَاللهُ عِنْدَهُ حُسْنُ المَآَبِ} [آل عمران: 14]

14- Beautified for the people is the love of things they covet; women whom men cannot keep away from, whom they desire for lust, abode, intimacy, and children; Children of whom people boast.

- Plenty of money; gold and silver that could be accumulated for haughtiness, boasting, and dominance or it may be for spending in the ways of good and obedience.

- The branded beautiful horses which could be possessed for fighting, as a hobby, and for sport. Horses are desired in all conditions.

- Cattle such as camels, cows, and sheep, well-tilled land, gardens, fields which provide the people with provisions and food, and bring about plenty of money.

These desires are the pleasures of the present world’s life. They will be removed soon and the people shall be driven to a soon Reckoning.

The pleasure and the everlasting bliss at Allah, moreover, the satisfaction of Allah is better than all these graces.

{قُلْ أَؤُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِخَيْرٍ مِنْ ذَلِكُمْ لِلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَأَزْوَاجٌ مُطَهَّرَةٌ وَرِضْوَانٌ مِنَ اللهِ وَاللهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالعِبَادِ} [آل عمران: 15]

15- Did you then know what is better than these perishable desires, even if people desire and adhere to?

It is for the pious servants of Allah, who believed in Allah and had done the righteous deeds. Those people shall have beautiful and vast gardens at their Lord, underneath are rivers, streams, and freshwater running. Some of them are full of honey, milk, and different kinds of drinkables. Moreover, therein is what people did not see or hear along with a permanent and comfortable life where there is no harm or interruption to that bliss.

They shall have spouses purified from the harm that inflicts women in usual, beautiful houris who are dear to the hearts, in addition to the satisfaction of Allah that has no wrath thereafter.

Allah is All-Seer of the actions of His Servants, their intentions, and their directions in this world and He is an Expert of their tendencies and dispositions. He gives each one according to what he did, exerted, and showed sincerely.

{الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا آَمَنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ} [آل عمران: 16]

16- The believing and pious servants of Allah are those who invoke their Lord saying: O Allah, we have believed in You, Your Scriptures and in Your Prophet, therefore, forgive our sins, pardon our mistakes for none can forgive them but You. There is no god but You, O Allah direct away the torment of Hell.

{الصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالقَانِتِينَ وَالمُنْفِقِينَ وَالمُسْتَغْفِرِينَ بِالأَسْحَارِ} [آل عمران: 17]

17- They are also the patient servants of Allah, who fulfill the Shar`y ordinances, obey Allah in what He commands them and avoid the prohibited matters. They submit to the rule of Allah and accept it because that is one of the hard matters.

They are also the honest ones who are not satisfied with any alternative to the truth. They cherish it and fight for its sake.

The reward of Allah shall be given to the following:

1- Those who are sincere in their devotion to their Lord.

2- Those who do not kneel down or prostrate to other than Him.

3- Those who spend and do not hoard what Allah has provided them and ask about the needy, the orphans, and the people of need to give them some of that which Allah has provided them.

4- Those who seek the forgiveness of Allah in the last portion of the night when people are asleep and resort to Allah for pardon and forgiveness.

The reward of all those people is better than that which was made beautified for the people of the worldly desires; it is the pleasure and satisfaction of Allah that is bigger than these desires. It is bigger than every desire, better than every pleasure and greater than any wish.

{شَهِدَ اللهُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَالمَلَائِكَةُ وَأُولُو العِلْمِ قَائِمًا بِالقِسْطِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ العَزِيزُ الحَكِيمُ} [آل عمران: 18]

18- Allah bears witness, and He is a Sufficient Witness, that He is the One and the Only God: the God of all creatures. All creatures are servants to Him and He does not need any of them. The angels also bear witness to His Oneness as well as those who are deep-rooted in knowledge also give this witness in submissiveness  and obedience.

It is also a testification that Allah manages the universe and people's lives with justice, so He does not oppress anyone; for there is no god but He, no Lord other than Him, no one is more just than He is. He is the Owner of pride and greatness, the Wise in everything that He does, legislates, and predestines.

{إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِنْدَ اللهِ الإِسْلَامُ وَمَا اخْتَلَفَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الكِتَابَ إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ العِلْمُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ وَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِآَيَاتِ اللهِ فَإِنَّ اللهَ سَرِيعُ الحِسَابِ} [آل عمران: 19]

19- The religion that is acceptable to Allah is Islam. It is the religion that was given to all messengers and it must be followed until the last Prophet, Muhammad [peace be upon him]. Therefore, there is no religion other than Islam shall be accepted from anyone after the mission of Muhammad [peace be upon him]. The meaning of the accepted religion at Allah is to surrender to His Religion, follow its rulings, and obey His Commands.

The People of the Scriptures did not differ and dispute but after knowledge had come down to them, the proofs were presented against them, and the path was straight ahead before them. That was done by sending the messengers and sending down the Scriptures. However, people abandoned the clear signs, the sound faith, and the precise Shari`ah, and followed disagreements and disputes out of aggression, oppression, envy, hatred, haughtiness, and stubbornness to the extent that some of them disagree with one another on purpose without knowing the truth.

Those who deny anything of the Ayahs of Allah, deny His Oneness, and abandon His True Religion, Allah shall reckon them for this denial and punish them for denying the Scriptures of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Swift in Reckoning and Severe in punishment, especially for those who disbelieved after knowing the truth.

{فَإِنْ حَاجُّوكَ فَقُلْ أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِيَ للهِ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِ وَقُلْ لِلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الكِتَابَ وَالأُمِّيِّينَ أَأَسْلَمْتُمْ فَإِنْ أَسْلَمُوا فَقَدِ اهْتَدَوْا وَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ البَلَاغُ وَاللهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالعِبَادِ} [آل عمران: 20]

20- If the idolaters and the People of the Scriptures argue with you about the pure monotheism of Islam, tell them: I have surrendered to my Lord, subjected to His Orders, followed His revelation, and devoted my worship for Him alone; there is no partner with Him. Those who follow me [the Messenger] and say as I say are Muslims.

When you call the People of the Scriptures and the idolaters to Islam, say to them: Have you submitted and admitted the Oneness of Allah, admitted His divinity for all the creatures, and resorted to His Book in judgment?

If they become Muslims and follow you, they are guided to the true religion. If they refused, became stubborn, and preferred polytheism and disbelief to Islam, you have delivered the message, showed the truth, and there is nothing you could do more than that you have done. You cannot drive the hearts of the people to Islam, but their reference and reckoning are at Allah, Who knows the matters of His Servants and Acquainted with those who deserve guidance and those who does not.