5. You want success?

أولئك على هدى من ربهم وأولئك هم المفلحون

 Those are upon [right] guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are the successful.[2:5]

• Why not say هؤلاء – these? Those, is used for objects that are far; shows their high level and rank.
  
• What did they do? Followed the previous ayats.
• Why mention from their lord? For honour and nobility, as Allah is mentioned next to them.
  
• Who is a Falaah? A farmer when he is about to reap the harvest; he reached their with a lot of exertion and toil. Implication: Success requires hard work.
• Why is a noun used? Verbs are temporary. Implication: They will always be successful.
  
• Why mention Al? Makes the group specific; a lot of people claim they are guided and are successful.

Ibn Kathir: Allah did not mention what they are successful in. Effect: Expansion of Meaning. They will attain success in everything (this world and the hereafter).

• This concludes the description of the first group of people. All praise is for Allah SWT!

4. Imaan Continued

وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ

And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith].[2:4]

• Previous description continued.
• What is sent to Prophet SAW? The Quran.
• Was sent before. This is past revelation.
• Why is future revelation not  mentioned? Proof against Qadiyaanies.
• What does Yaqeen mean? Used for unflinching belief in something and conviction about something (Imam Raghib). Yaqeen is stronger than Imaan.

Did you know:

• The previous ayah was addressing the Qureish of Makkah; a general invitation.
• This ayah is addressing the Jews of Madinah. Hence the scriptures are mentioned.
• The description began with imaan and ends with imaan, and finally concludes with the highest level — yaqeen.

3. Who are the Mutaqieen?

الذين يؤمنون بالغيب ويقيمون الصلاة ومما رزقناهم ينفقون

Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them,

• This is a style of the Quran: Allah mentions a group, and then in the subsequent ayah describes them.
• This word means those who. It creates exclusivity; only these are the Mutaqiin — those who have Taqwa (click here for definition).

What are their qualities?

• 1. Believe in the unseen. Ghaiib is that which is covered.
• 2. Establish Salaah; not a one time or a Friday occurrence; they are continuously doing it — Fard, Sunnah.. etc.
• Whatever — could be small or big.
• Why didn’t Allah specify what is provided? Everything we have is provided by Allah.
• Why is the past-tense used? Since He has given it, He can also take it.
• Want to keep what you have or gain more or gain something better?
  
• 3. Why is spending not specified? Implication: Spend from whatever you can (your time, wealth, health, knowledge, etc.).
  

Can you answer these?

• Why say ‘and’ but not ‘or’? We need to be doing all of these things in order to be successful.
• Why use the future-tense? Implies continuity; not a one-time occurence.
• What is the relationship? The most important action we need is imaan. The greatest manifestation of that is Salaah. Spending is a sign if Salaah is having an impact (Zamkhashari: The Quran consistently combines Salaah and Zaaakah.).
• This ayah moves from the smallest to the biggest. How?
• How does this ayah contain imaan and islam?

2- The greatest description of the Qur’an.

ذلك الكتاب لا ريبَ فيه هدى للمتقين

That is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah.

• This is the greatest ayah describing the Qur’an.
• Why didn’t Allah say this? That is used for objects that are far and high (e.g. stars). Effect: shows the grandeur, nobility, loftiness, and status of the Quran.
• Why didn’t Allah say a book?  The Quran contains the summaries of all the previous scriptures.
• What type of la-لا is this? لا النافية للجنس . The meaning rendered is an absolute negation; there is nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo….. way there is any doubt.
• Why not say شك ?  is ريب the smallest conceivable form of doubt. Allah even negated this!
  
• What type of guidance is it? التنوين يفيد لتعظيم. The tanween — the daaan sound — makes it colossal guidance. The ayaats of the Quran are our guide to reach Jannah, just as the stars.
  

1- Why the Broken Letters?

الم

• The meaning of these letters is only known to Allah. There are no authentic traditions going back to Prophet SAW, and all opinions are mere conjecture.
• However, these letters must have a particular function; the opposite would be contrary to perfection.

1. Can you produce a Qur’an? Baqilani RA said: Only half of the alphabet is used in these letters. Implication: If you do not believe it is a miracle, then produce something like it using the letters.
2. Where is the guidance? We ask Allah for guidance in Surah Fatiah. Before He gives us the guidance, He reminds us that we won’t be able to unlock every secret of the Quran.
3. How does an illiterate man know the letters? Mutawalii As-Sharii: Prophet SAW was illiterate as was most of the Arab society. The only people expected to know the letters are those who know how to write.
4. How is this a challenge to the Jews? They were the learned people. Hence, they need to explain how Prophet SAW knows the building blocks of the language.

7- Did Allah ever talk to you?

Can you answer these?

• What does صلاة-Salaah mean? Salaah comes from Sila, which means a connection. In Salaah we are suppose to be speaking with Allah, and hence having a connection.
• What does صلاة-Salaah have to do with burning? Sila also means to roast something. Salaah burns your sins (to purify gold, it is burnt).

Did you know this?

 Prophet SAW said, 

• “Allah SWT said: ‘I have divided prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.
• When the servant says: ‘Al-hamdu lillahi rabbi l-alamin’ (3), Allah SWT says: ‘My servant has praised Me.’
• And when he says: ‘Ar-rahmani r-rahim’ (4), Allah SWT says: ‘My servant has extolled Me,’
• And when he says: ‘Maliki yawmi d-din’ (5), Allah says: ‘My servant has glorified Me’ – and on one occasion He said: ‘My servant has submitted to My power.’
• And when he says: ‘Iyyaka na budu wa iyyaka nasta in’ (6), He says: ‘This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.’
• And when he says: ‘Ihdina s-sirata l- mustaqim, siratal ladhina an amta alayhim ghayril-maghdubi alayhim wa la d-dallin’ (7), He says: ‘This is for My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.’” [Muslim]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_QAj-Aj6MU

(Arabic followed by English)

6- Choose your path!

صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.

What is the connection?

• In the previous ayah we ask Allah to guide us to the upright path — the only path accepted by Allah and the only path that brings happiness.
• In this ayah Allah SWT informs us of two groups: Those who follow the path and those who forsake the path.

Do you know these?

• نعم is used for an easy life, filled with softness, relaxation and comfort.
• ضال is used for a lost item whose location is unknown. Implication: the individual is confused and unable to see the right path.
• ضال is the opposite of هدى-guidance (ayah 6 began with guidance, and ayah 7 ends with its opposite).
• Those who leave the path will always fall into two categories: Maghdoob and Daleen.
• Maghdoob are those whose intention is insincere; they know the truth, yet do not follow it.
• Daleen are those whose actions are flawed; they are based on ignorance.

Can you answer these?

• Why didn’t Allah say, “path of the believers”? To make us think and search for who they are (mentioned here).
• Why mention ‘you‘ favoured? For honour and to show their status, Allah has been mentioned next to them. By not mentioning His name next to Maghdoob and Daleen, it shows they have no honour and status.
• Why did Prophet SAW specify who the Maghdoob-Jews and the Daleen-Christian are? These two groups are the most clear when it comes to corruption of intention and action. Hence, He SAW gave us two blazing examples.

Did you know…

• Ibn Tammiya RA said: Whoever knows the truth and does not act upon it resembles the Jews, and whoever acts without knowledge resembles the Christians.
• Islam is a balance between these two extremes. A Muslim is always on the middle path.