Know that God is Severe in Punishment

Lesson # 658 From Holy Qur’aan

Know that God is Severe in Punishment

‘Al-Maaa-‘idah (the Table Spread) – Chapter – 5)–Stage - 2

Verses – 98, 99 & 100 of 120, Section – 13 of 16 (Part - 7)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of Allaah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

98.  Know that Allaah is Severe in punishment, and that Allaah (also) is Forgiving, Merciful. 99.  The duty of the Messenger is only to convey (the Message). And Allaah knoweth what ye proclaim and what ye hide. 100.  Say: The evil and the good are not alike even though the plenty of the evil attract thee. So be mindful of your duty to Allaah, O men of understanding, that ye may succeed.

98.  ‘I’-lamuuu  ‘annAllaaha  Shadiidul-‘iqaabi  wa  ‘annAllaaha  Gafuur-Rahiim. 99.  Maa  ‘alar-Rasuuli  ‘illal  balaag.  WAllaahu  ya’-lamu  maa  tubduuna  wa  maa  tak-tumuun. 100.  Qul-laa  yas-ta-wil-khabiisu  wat-tayyibu  wa  law  ‘a’-jabaka  kas-ratul-khabiis.  FattaqUllaaha  yaaa-‘ulil-‘al-baabi  la-‘allakum  tufli-huun.

The most important social principal of Islam is

“Bidding the GOOD & FORBIDDING THE EVIL”

‘Amr  bil  Ma’-ruuf  wa  nahii  ‘anil  munkar

Lesson

Those matters are kept on different places in the Holy Qur’aan like these verses, which Allaah Almighty desires to teach the humankind. From the beginning of this Chapter (Surah), some commands regarding some works to be done and some are forbidden as ‘Amr bil Ma’-ruuf wa Nahii ‘anil Munkar  (Bidding the Good and Forbidding the Evil) are being explained. It can be understood clearly by thinking into them deeply that Which the Way of our life is suitable?

Today it is commanded: Know that Allaah Almighty is Severe in punishment, and He also is Forgiving and Merciful. Then the same verse has been repeated that the duty of the Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) is only to convey the Message properly. Every matter of everyone is with Allaah Almighty in future. He knows the open and hidden deeds of every person.  We can understand clearly, if we deem that “The human being should understand well efficiently before starting one’s works that the Creator of entire works, the world and one’s own, is One, only Allaah (God), Who is Mighty and Master of all creatures, and the entire are His servants and slaves. Neither can any person give anything to anyone, and nor can anybody snatch but Allaah. Without His order, neither can anyone harm someone, nor favor without His Will. So neither there is any need to be frightened from any person, nor want of flatter/worship to any creature. He will punish severely to the evildoers and is Forgiving for them, who request Him humbly and bow in front of Him hopelessly. The evils and sins are those acts and deeds, which have been forbidden by Him in Holy Qur’aan, revealed on His Last Messenger, Muhammad (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him). And the good works are those, which have been enjoined by Him to be done. Therefore, there is no purpose of our life other than that we should obey His commands, do that what His Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) says, and refrain from that, from which He (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) forbids us. That entire is useless which we do without or against His command.

In the previous section, the Muslims were prohibited that they should not fix the lawful and pure things as unlawful for themselves, and it was told that they should give up those some things, which are impure and the evil. It was signified that the evil things are those, due to which Satan gets opportunity to cause to fight and raise disturbance mutually between the human beings. On the contrary, Allaah Almighty has kept very big advantages in the good, pure and lawful things. The aim to cause to understand from it was that certainly those deeds and things are harmful for the human beings, which are forbidden by Allaah Almighty. And certainly those deeds and things are useful and advantageous for the mankind, either in the world or on the Day of Resurrection, which are commanded by Him to be done. Therefore, the Muslims should stop those acts immediately, about which Allaah Almighty has forbidden and do those acts immediately, about which He has enjoined to do, because it is impossible that Allaah Almighty bids to do a deed and there is no usefulness in that command.

The verse under discussion today, makes the same subject known clearly that science of human being is not sufficient to know the good and the evil of the things/acts. So they should be told that pure things and impure things will never be alike in grades. If the pure thing is even less in quantity, even then that is better than the impure in plenty. Although, the evil becomes public in each direction and the people are taken in that the thing, which has become prevalent, would be good. If the evil has spread everywhere and the people do it in plenty, then it does not mean that it would be good. Goodness and badness of anything depends on the command of Allaah Almighty.

 At the end of the last verse it has been described that the men of understanding should be mindful of their duty to Allaah Almighty. Hope of their liberation is in it only. Another hint has come out in this verse also that the decision should not depend on the majority of votes or opinions, but it should be according to the commands of Allaah Almighty and His Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him).  

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)