Death in Quran (1) Death = Creature

The Quran is the first book on the face of the earth, which says that Death is but a creature. However, why has Allah created death?

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Interestingly, the verses 67:1-2 which say Death is created begin with “Blessed is Allah”

Blessed is Allah the exalted and transcendent above the attributes of created beings.

What do we mean when we bless the name of Allah?

We mean that we recognize and proclaim His beneficence to us.

In Allah’s hand and at His disposal, is

• All Sovereignty,
• All grace
• All Authority and
• All Power to bestow might and abasement, and
• All Power over the stores of all things

Allah has power over all things.

He is too holy to have children or partners

He is Able to do all that He wills

Allah is Lord of both visible and invisible worlds.

Allah Created Death and Life.

One of the results of Allah’s complete dominion of the universe and absolute power over all things is that He created death and life.

Herein, the Quran puts Death before Life,

Death is therefore not merely a negative state.

Death, then, is

• The state before life began, which may be nonexistence or existence in some other form:
• The state in which Life as we know it ceases, but existence does not cease
• The state of Barrier or Partition, after our visible Death and before Judgment; after that will be the new Life, which we conceive of under the term Eternity.

Why has Allah created death?

Allah created death and life that He may

• Try you between life and death,
• Test you in this life,

To see which of you is

• Best in conduct,
• Most obedient to Him
• More sincere in works

Thus, man should always be on the alert, considering every thought and every action.

When a person’s heart is alert, aware that this life is a test, and tries to keep on the right track, he is reassured of God’s forgiveness and grace. This gives man all the rest and comfort he needs.

Allah is

• the Mighty in retribution against those who disbelieve in Him
• The Mighty in His vengeance against those who disobey Him,
• The Forgiving to those who repent to Him;
• He forgives those who repent and believe in Him.

He is the Mighty in retribution against those who disbelieve in Him, (Forgiving) He forgives those who repent and believe in Him,

Creation, therefore, is not in mere game, or without a purpose with reference to man. The state before our present life, or the state after, we can scarcely understand. But our present Life is clearly given to enable us to strive by good deeds to reach a nobler state.

Allah is so Exalted in Might that He can perfectly carry out His Will and Purpose, and that Purpose is Love, Mercy, and Goodness to His creatures.

The truth Islam establishes in people’s hearts does not depict God as chasing humans to afflict or punish them.

Allah wants them to be aware of the purpose behind their existence and of their true nature. Allah wants them to rise to the level worthy of His honor when He blew of His own spirit into them, elevating them above many of His other creations.

When the believers have absorbed this truth and hold to it, they will find that His grace, mercy and forgiveness are always available to them.

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The verses 67:1-2 in different translations:

QARIB:

1-Blessed be he in whose hand is the kingdom, he is powerful over all things,

2-Who created death and life that he might examine which of you is best in deeds, and he is the almighty, the forgiving,

SHAKIR:

1-Blessed is he in whose hand is the kingdom, and he has power over all things,

2-Who created death and life that he may try you– which of you is best in deeds; and he is the mighty, the forgiving,

PICKTHAL:

1-Blessed is he in whose hand is the sovereignty, and, he is able to do all things.

2-Who hath created life and death that he may try you which of you is best in conduct; and he is the mighty, the forgiving,

YUSUFALI:

1-Blessed be he in whose hands is dominion; and he over all things hath power;-

2-He who created death and life, that he may try which of you is best in deed: and he is the exalted in might, oft-forgiving;-

Allah does not love (5) any swaggering braggart, strutting in his steps

The Teaching of Luqman, the wise man

Luqman’s Wisdom and the Bright Behavior

The great lesson of Luqman to his son

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In the previous articles, we have seen that Allah does not love

(1) the disbelievers,

2) the arrogant,

3) those who reject faith and

4) the proud and the boastful; and there is an essential association between the disbelief and the arrogance.  

In this article, Luqman, the wise man, is giving great advices to his son then he said that Allah does not like any swaggering braggart, strutting in his step, boasting in front of people.  Luqman’s wisdom should be given to the students in schools.

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The meanings of verse 31:16-18 of the Noble Quran:

Verses 31:16-18 are a great lesson of Luqman to his son.

 

In verse 31:16, Luqman said:

 ‘O my dear son! Even if it, namely, the evil trait, should be the weight of a grain of mustard -seed,

And even if it be in a rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth,

In other words, in the most concealed place therein,

Allah will bring it forth to the one it is destined wherever he might be, and He will call that person to account for it.

Truly God is Subtle and Subtile, in bringing it forth, Aware, of its location.

 

In verse 31:17, Luqman said:

O my dear son!

Establish worship

Perform the prescribed prayer

Enjoin decency

Enjoin kindness through the profession of Allah’s divine Oneness and beneficence

Forbid indecency

Forbid iniquity, idolatry and foul words and deeds

Persevere whatever may befall you throughout

And be patient through whatever may befall you, as a result of such enjoining and forbidding.

Truly that i.e. enjoining good and forbidding evil, which is mentioned, is true constancy.  In other words, that is one of those necessary things regarding which one must have firm resolve.

It is also said that this refers to steadfastness (is of the steadfast heart of things) of the best and most resolute of things.

 

In verse 31:18, Luqman said:

Do not turn your cheek disdainfully from people

Do not turn your cheek in scorn towards folk

Do not turn your face away from people out of pride and haughtiness towards them,

Do not turn your face away in disdain,

Do not walk upon the earth exultantly, in other words, with haughtiness.

Do not walk with pertness the land, displaying hubris and pretentiousness

Truly Allah does not like any swaggering braggart, strutting in his step, [boasting] in front of people.

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Verse 31:16-18 in different translations

QARIB:

16) (Luqman said 🙂 ‘My son, if it should be but the weight of one grain of mustard seed, and though it be on a rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth, Allah shall bring it. Surely, Allah is the subtle, aware.

17) my son, establish the prayer, order with honor but forbid dishonor, and bear patiently with whatever may fall upon you, indeed that is true constancy.

18) Do not turn your cheek in scorn away from people, nor walk proudly on the earth; Allah does not love the proud and the boastful.

 

SHAKIR:

16) O my son! surely if it is the very weight of the grain of a mustard-seed, even though it is in (the heart of) rock, or (high above) in the heaven or (deep down) in the earth, Allah will bring it (to light); surely Allah is knower of subtleties, aware;

17) O my son! Keep up prayer and enjoin the good and forbid the evil, and bear patiently that which befalls you; surely these acts require courage;

18) And do not turn your face away from people in contempt, nor go about in the land exulting overmuch; surely Allah does not love any self-conceited boaster;

 

PICKTHAL:

16) O my dear son! Lo! Though it be but the weight of a grain of mustard-seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Lo! Allah is Subtile, aware.

17) o my dear son! Establish worship and enjoin kindness and forbid iniquity, and persevere whatever may befall thee. Lo! That is of the steadfast heart of things.

18) Turn not thy cheek in scorn toward folk, nor walk with pertness in the land. lo! Allah loveth not each braggart boaster.

 

YUSUFALI:

16) “O my son!” (Said Luqman), “if there be (but) the weight of a mustard-seed and it were (hidden) in a rock, or (anywhere) in the heavens or on earth, Allah will bring it forth: for Allah understands the finest mysteries, (and) is well-acquainted (with them)

17) “O my son! Establish regular prayer, enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong: and bear with patient constancy whatever betide thee; for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs.

18) “And swell not thy cheek (for pride) at men, nor walk in insolence through the earth; for Allah loveth not any arrogant boaster.

This is Allah (18) Allah Classifies the Muslims into three types

What is the final residence of the Believers?

What the Believers will say when they enter the Paradise?

What the Believers will wear in the Paradise?

Is there gold and or silk in the Paradise?

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Many people do not know Allah. This series is an attempt to help them in order to know and acknowledge their Creator.

Verses 35:32-35 of the Noble Quran talks about:

1) Allah Classifies the Muslim’s community into three types,

2) What is the final Dwelling of the Believers?

3) What the Believers will say when they enter the Paradise?

4) What the Believers will wear in the Paradise? And

5) Is there Gold and or Silk in the Paradise?

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The meaning of verse 35:32:

Then Allah gave the Book, the Quran, to those of Our servants whom Allah chose, namely, the Muslim’s community.

Yet some of them are those who wrong themselves, by failing to act fully in accordance with it, and

Some of them are moderate, acting in accordance with it most of the time, and

Some are those who take the lead in performing good works, so that in addition to Allah’s acquiring knowledge, He disseminates it and shows others the way [to proper conduct as well as acting in accordance [with the Quran], by the leave of Allah, by His will. That, bequest to them of the Book, is the greatest favor!

In other words, the verse means:

Then, after we sent Gabriel with the Quran to Muhammad Allah gave the Scripture as inheritance, He gave the honor of memorizing, writing and reciting the Quran (unto those whom Allah has elected of His bondmen, by means of faith, i.e. the community of Muhammad.

But of them are some who wrong themselves through committing enormities, and these will not be saved unless there is intercession in their favor, or unless they are forgiven or when Allah’s promise is fulfilled

and of them are some who are lukewarm, some of them did good works and evil works in equal measure; these will be slightly taken to task and then be saved,

and of them are some who outstrip (others) through good deeds in the life of this world and among those brought near to the Garden of Eden in the Hereafter, by Allah’s given success and beneficence.

That selection and outstripping is the great favor, the greatest grace that Allah can bestow upon them!

The meaning of verse 35:33:

Allah then showed their abode, saying: Gardens of Eden! the chamber of the Beneficent is their dwelling, with the Gardens surrounding it. They enter them wearing armlets of gold and pearl; this is the attire of women while the attire of men will be made of gold (and their raiment therein) in Paradise (is silk).

The meaning of verse 35:34:

And they will say, ‘Praise be to Allah Who has removed, all, grief from us. Truly our Lord is Forgiving, of sins, Appreciative, of obedience,

In other words, they say, the inhabitants of Paradise say, in Paradise: (Praise be to Allah) thanks and gratitude belong to Allah (who hath put grief) the grief of death, evanescence and the terrors of the Day of Judgment;

It is also said that this means: the grief of the risks involved in the life of this world (away from us. Lo! Our Lord is Forgiving) He forgives great sins, (Bountiful) He is grateful for even the slightest of good works,

The meaning of verse 35:35:

Who out of His favor has made us to dwell in the Abode of [everlasting] Stay, wherein no toil shall touch us, nor shall we be touched by any fatigue’, lack of strength caused by exhaustion, [and this is] because [religious] obligations no longer apply therein (the second of these [‘fatigue’], which is consequent upon the first [‘toil’], is mentioned in order to make explicit the non-existence [of any toil in Paradise]).

In short, the verse says: Who, of His grace, out of His great favor, (has installed us in the mansion of eternity) in Paradise, (where toil touches us not nor can weariness affect us) in Paradise.

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Verses 35:32-35 in different English translations:

QARIB:

32) Then, we gave the book as an inheritance to those of our worshipers whom we chose. among them, is he who was harmful to himself, and some who minimize, and some who, by the permission of Allah, race in charity, this is the greatest virtue.

33) They shall enter the gardens of eden, where they shall be adorned with bracelets of gold and with pearls, and there, their robes shall be of silk.

34) They shall say: ‘praise belongs to Allah who has removed all sorrow from us. indeed, our lord is the forgiver, the thanker.

35) Through his bounty he has made us to live in the abode of everlasting life, where neither weariness nor fatigue shall touch us. ‘

SHAKIR:

32) Then we gave the book for an inheritance to those whom we chose from among our servants; but of them is he who makes his soul to suffer a loss, and of them is he who takes a middle course, and of them is he who is foremost in deeds of goodness by Allah’s permission; this is the great excellence

33) Gardens of perpetuity, they shall enter therein; they shad be made to wear therein bracelets of gold and pearls, and their dress therein shall be silk

34) And they shall say: (all) praise is due to Allah, who has made grief to depart from us; most surely our lord is forgiving, multiplier of rewards,

35) Who has made us alight in a house abiding for ever out of . his grace; toil shall not touch us therein, nor shall fatigue therein afflict us

PICKTHAL:

32) Then we gave the scripture as inheritance unto those whom we elected of our bondmen. but of them are some who wrong themselves and of them are some who are lukewarm, and of them are some who outstrip (others) through good deeds, by Allah’s leave. that is the great favour!

33) Gardens of eden! they enter them wearing armlets of gold and pearl and their raiment therein is silk.

34) And they say: praise be to Allah who hath put grief away from us. lo! our lord is forgiving, bountiful,

35) Who, of his grace, hath installed us in the mansion of eternity, where toil toucheth us not nor can weariness affect us.

YUSUFALI:

32) Then we have given the book for inheritance to such of our servants as we have chosen: but there are among them some who wrong their own souls; some who follow a middle course; and some who are, by Allah’s leave, foremost in good deeds; that is the highest grace.

33) Gardens of eternity will they enter: therein will they be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls; and their garments there will be of silk.

34) And they will say: “praise be to Allah, who has removed from us (all) sorrow: for our lord is indeed oft-forgiving ready to appreciate (service):

35) “Who has, out of his bounty, settled us in a home that will last: no toil nor sense of weariness shall touch us therein.”