Death in Quran (4) story of man’s existence

In one short verse, the Noble Quran analyses the whole story of man’s existence on this earth. It begins, by the will of Allah, with a state of death and ends with death, after which Allah will restore life again, and the ultimate return thereafter shall be to Him from whom life originated.

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How do you, disbelieve in Allah, in which state are you veiled from Him, when…

When you were dead, and He gave life to you

Why do you not see the proof of the Creator in His creation?

Then He will give you death after your term of life is completed and your lifespan ends,

Then He shall give life to you again, at the Resurrection, and then unto Him you will be returned! Whereupon He shall requite you according to your deeds

How can ye reject the faith in Allah?

The mysteries of life and death are in Allah’s hands.

When you die on this earth that is not the end.  You were of Him, and you must return to Him.  

Look around you and realize your own dignity; it is from Him.  

Giving Life after Death

The verse 2:28 addresses all humankind, denouncing their disbelief in Allah who gives life and takes it away,

“How can you reject Allah who has given you life after you were dead? He will cause you to die again then He will bring you back to life. To Him you shall return.

Denial or rejection of Allah after seeing all these manifest signs is certainly despicable and utterly unjustifiable. The Quran here faces humankind directly with facts they cannot deny or question. It refers to their life and the phases of human existence.

Allah brought man out of a state of death and gave him life. This transformation is a fact that cannot be ignored or denied, and can only be explained by acknowledging the creative power of Allah.

Life is not an illusion, but how has it come about?

Who has initiated this unique phenomenon we call life, which distinguishes the living from the dead in this world?

Life represents an extraordinary dimension that is the complete antithesis of death, but where does it originate?

Humankind has to face this question and answer it in a way that will satisfy man’s curiosity and put his heart and mind at rest. It is simply not enough to dismiss it or attribute life to anything other than a creative power that is itself very different from creation.

The immediate answer to this question is that life comes from Allah. Let those who dispute this come up with another answer.

The verse questions man’s denial of, and disbelief in, Allah “who has given you life after you were dead”.

How impertinent of man to reject Allah, the origin and the cause of life. It affirms that Allah “will cause you to die again”, a fact that is beyond dispute and of which we are constantly reminded.

It adds that “Allah will bring you back to life’’, which has been, and still is today, a matter for endless argument and debate. Yet, if people would only reflect on how man came to be in the first instance, there would be no reason for bewilderment or rejection of life after death.

“And to Him you shall return.” As it was from Him you have come, to Him you shall return, in total fulfilment of His will and purpose.

Thus, in one short verse, the whole book of life is opened and. closed. The whole story of man’s existence on this earth is reviewed. It begins, by the will of Allah, with a state of death and ends with death, after which Allah will restore life again, and the ultimate return thereafter shall be to Him from whom life originated. In this brief picture, we can visualize Allah’s awesome power and appreciate its deep impact on our hearts and minds.

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The verses 2:28 in different translations:

QARIB:

How can you disbelieve Allah? Did he not give you life when you were dead, and he will cause you to die and then restore you to life? Then you will return to him.

SHAKIR:

How do you deny Allah and you were dead and he gave you life? Again, he will cause you to die and again bring you to life, then you shall be brought back to him

PICKTHAL:

How disbelieve ye in Allah when ye were dead and he gave life to you! Then he will give you death, then life again, and then unto him ye will return.

YUSUFALI:

How can ye reject the faith in Allah?- seeing that ye were without life, and he gave you life; then will he cause you to die, and will again bring you to life; and again to him will ye return.

Atheists in Quran (27) Noah’s values vs. their values

Noah presents his message clearly, free of all falsehood. He makes a gentle and friendly description of the truth. In Noah’s presentation, there were no flattery, no attempt to win any favor with anyone at the expense of the message. The Atheists stiffened their attitude became determined not to accept any proof of Noah’s case; they said: Noah! You have argued with us, and argued to excess. Bring upon us that with which you have been threatening us, if you are a truthful man.

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In the previous articles, the Atheists who were the council notables and the respected elders of Noah’s people claim that Noah is just looking for wealth and they said:

• We will never ever sit with Noah and listen to him unless he drives away those who are the most abject, lowly, and weak and the riffraff among us.
• Why have such lowly men followed Noah before us?

This was a part of their rotten arguments

They said such nasty statements to testify their unbelieving thoughts

The Atheists’ pride and arrogance are limitless.

In this article, the Atheists continue their stubborn arguments with Noah.

The meanings of the verses 11:31-33

The Atheists demanded that they would never believe Noah unless:

• Noah tells them that he possess the treasure houses of Allah
• Noah tells them that he has the keys to Allah’s stores of provision
• Noah tells them that he has knowledge of the Unseen
• Noah tells the lowly men who followed him that Allah will not give them any good

However, you know what Noah (they said), we cannot believe in human being, tell your Lord to send us an Angel or to convert you to an Angel

Noah remains unaffected by the false accusations, insolence and blind rejection with which his people have received his message.

He applies his own values and maintains his own standards. He does not make false claims or accusations as they have done. Nor does he try to give himself any false image or impart anything alien to his message.

However, Allah inspired Noah the answers for their rotten arguments.

Peacefully, Noah introduces himself and his message. His presentation is simple, devoid of any ornament and decoration, free of all false standards and values.

Noah reminds them of the true values, looking with contempt on all superficial ones. He renounces all superficiality and states his message as it is, pure and simple, with no false claims. He, who wants it, let him take it, as it is as pure as Allah made it.

Noah said:

I do not say to you that God’s treasures are with me.

I do not claim that I am rich or that I can make any of you rich. “Or that

I know what lies beyond the reach of human perception.

I do not make any claim of any super-human status or

I do not allege that my relationship with Allah exceeds the fact that I am a messenger conveying Allah’s message.

Nor do I say: I am an angel.

I do not claim to have a position, which you think to be higher than that of man, so that I may gain favor or high position from you.

I cannot say to those whom you scorn that Allah will never grant them any good, so that I satisfy your pride or accommodate your standards and values.

Allah knows best what is in their hearts (those whom you scorn).

I have to go by what I see.

To me, they appear deserving of honor and hope that Allah will grant them of His bounty.

If I made such false claims, saying to them that Allah will never grant them any good, I would be unjust

• I would be unjust to the very truth I have come to convey.
• I would also be unjust to myself, exposed to Allah’s wrath,
• I would be unjust to other people to whom I gave a status other than that given them by Allah.

Thus, Noah presents his message clearly, free of all falsehood. He faces them with the clarity and strength of the truth. Meanwhile, he makes a gentle and friendly description of the truth so that they may look it in the face and decide upon their line of action.

In Noah’s presentation, there were no pretense, no flattery, no attempt to win any favor with anyone at the expense of the message and its simple nature.

In this, Noah sets an example for all advocates of the Allah’s message in all generations and provides them with a lesson in how to confront the people of authority with the truth, without any attempt to compromise, or flatter, but with the sort of friendliness, which is not associated with submission.

At this point, it was clear to the notables that they had no chance of winning the argument. They stiffened their attitude, became determined not to accept any proof of Noah’s case, logical and natural as it certainly was.

Then they finally rallied themselves in order to deliver a challenge to Noah. They said:

Noah! You have argued with us, and argued to excess. Bring upon us that with which you have been threatening us, if you are a man of truth.

This is nothing short of deceit, an attempt to cover up their weakness by putting on a display of strength. It is a challenge made in order to mask their dread of the truth’s strength.

Noah, however, remains unaffected by their outright rejection and challenge. He maintains the noble attitude befitting a great prophet. He continues to explain to them the truth and the facts, which they have ignored

He restates the fact that he is only a messenger whose task is to deliver a message. Their punishment is left to Allah who has absolute control over their destiny.

Allah alone decides, at His own discretion, whether it is appropriate to punish them here and now or to delay their punishment until a later date. Allah’s will must happen, as it is and Noah has no power over it.

As a messenger, he has to continue to explain the truth to his people until the last moment. Their rejection and challenge must not deter him from fulfilling his task.

Hence, he says to them:

Only Allah can bring it upon you, if He so wills. You cannot be immune. Nor will my counsel benefit you, much as I desire to give you good counsel, if it is Allah’s will to let you remain in error. He is your Lord and to Him you shall return.

If He will to punish you, none can by no means escape His chastisement.

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The verses 11:31-33 in different translations:

QARIB:

31- I do not say to you that i possess the treasuries of Allah, and i do not know the unseen. I do not say I am an angel, nor do I say to those whom you despise, Allah will not give them any good. Allah knows best what is in their hearts. indeed, if this were so then I would be amongst the harmdoers. ‘

32- They said: ‘o Noah, you have disputed, and disputed too much, with us. bring (down) upon us that which you promised us, if what you say is true! ‘

33- He replied: ‘Allah will bring it (down) upon you if he will; you will never frustrate him.

SHAKIR:

31- And I do not say to you that i have the treasures of Allah and I do not know the unseen, nor do I say that i am an angel, nor do I say about those whom your eyes hold in mean estimation (that) Allah will never grant them (any) good– Allah knows best what is in their souls– for then most surely I should be of the unjust

32- They said: o nuh! indeed you have disputed with us and lengthened dispute with us, therefore bring to us what you threaten us with, if you are of the truthful ones

33- He said: Allah only will bring it to you if he please, and you will not escape:

PICKTHAL:

31- I say not unto you: “I have the treasures of Allah” nor “I have knowledge of the unseen,” nor say I: “lo! I am an angel!” nor say I unto those whom your eyes scorn that Allah will not give them good – Allah knoweth best what is in their hearts – lo! Then indeed, I should be of the wrong-doers.

32- They said: o Noah! thou hast disputed with us and multiplied disputation with us; now bring upon us that wherewith thou threatenest us, if thou art of the truthful.

33- He said: only Allah will bring it upon you if he will, and ye can by no means escape.

YUSUFALI:

31- “I tell you not that with me are the treasures of Allah, nor do I know what is hidden, nor claim I to be an angel. Nor yet do I say, of those whom your eyes do despise that Allah will not grant them (all) that is good: Allah knoweth best what is in their souls: I should, if I did, indeed be a wrong-doer.”

32- They said: “o Noah! thou hast disputed with us, and (much) hast thou prolonged the dispute with us: now bring upon us what thou threatenest us with, if thou speakest the truth!?”

33- He said: “truly, Allah will bring it on you if he wills,- and then, ye will not be able to frustrate it!

Angels in Islam (30) you might have seen them-B

You might have seen the Angels one day but you did not realize that they were Angels!

Read this real story of the Angel and the Leper, the Bald Man and the Blind Man; this story or the alikemight has happened to many people!

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A Real Story:

There were three very poor men, a leper, a blind man and a bald-headed man; they kept asking Allah all the time to heal them and to give them good property.

Then, what happened?

The Prophet Muhammad said:

Allah willed to test three men who were a leper, a blind man and a bald-headed man.

So, he sent them an Angel who came to the leper and said, “What thing do you like most?”

He replied, “Good color and good skin, for the people have a strong aversion to me.”

The Angel touched him and his illness was cured, and he was given a good color and beautiful skin.

The Angel asked him, “What kind of property do you like best?”

He replied, “Camels, so he (i.e. the leper) was given a pregnant she-camel, and

The Angel said to him: “May Allah bless you in it.”

The Angel then went to the bald-headed man and said, “What thing do you like most?”

He said, “I like good hair and wish to be cured of this disease, for the people feel repulsion for me.”

The Angel touched him and his illness was cured, and he was given good hair.

The Angel asked him: “What kind of property do you like best?”

He replied, “Cows.” The Angel gave him a pregnant cow and said: “May Allah bless you in it.”

 

The Angel went to the blind man and asked, ‘What thing do you like best?’

He said, “I like that Allah may restore my eye-sight to me so that I may see the people.”

The Angel touched his eyes and Allah gave him back his eye-sight.

The Angel asked him, “What kind of property do you like best?”

He replied, “Sheep.”

The Angel gave him a pregnant sheep and said: “May Allah bless you in it.”

Afterwards, all the three pregnant animals gave birth to young ones, and multiplied and brought forth so much that one of the three men had a herd of camels filling a valley, and one had a herd of cows filling a valley, and one had a flock of sheep filling a valley.

Then the Angel, disguised in the shape and appearance of a leper, went to the leper and said, “I am a poor man, who has lost all means of livelihood while on a journey. So none will satisfy my need except Allah and then you. In the Name of Him who has given you such nice color and beautiful skin, and so much property, I ask you to give me a camel so that I may reach my destination.”

The man replied, “I have many obligations (so I cannot give you).”

The Angel said, “I think I know you; were you not a leper to whom the people had a strong aversion? Weren’t you a poor man, and then Allah gave you all this property?”

He replied, “This is all wrong, I got this property through inheritance from my fore-fathers.”

The Angel said, “If you are telling a lie, then let Allah make you as you were before.”

Then the Angel, disguised in the shape and appearance of a bald man, went to the bald man and said to him the same as he told the first one, and he too answered the same as the first one did.

The Angel said, “If you are telling a lie, then let Allah make you as you were before.”

The Angel, disguised in the shape of a blind man, went to the blind man and said, “I am a poor man and a traveler, whose means of livelihood have been exhausted while on a journey. I have nobody to help me except Allah, and after Him, you yourself.

I ask you in the Name of Allah who has given you back your eye-sight to give me a sheep, so that with its help, I may complete my journey.”

The man said, “No doubt, I was blind and Allah gave me back my eye-sight; I was poor and Allah made me rich; so take anything you wish from my property. By Allah, I will not stop you for taking anything (you need) of my property which you may take for Allah’s sake.”

The Angel replied, “Keep your property with you.

You guys (i.e., the three men) have been tested and Allah is pleased with you and is angry with your two companions.”

It fruitful then to read this Allah’s Law (the verse 17:7)

QARIB:

‘If you do good, it shall be for your own souls; but if you do evil it is likewise.

SHAKIR:

If you do good, you will do good for your own souls, and if you do evil, it shall be for them.

PICKTHAL:

If ye do good, ye do good for your own souls, and if ye do evil, it is for them (in like manner).

YUSUFALI:

If ye did well, ye did well for yourselves; if ye did evil, (ye did it) against yourselves.

Angels in Islam (15) the Arabs worshiped female Angel gods

– The Angels are honored Allah’ servants who have no sex, they do not marry; they are not like us.

– Shall man have whatever he wishes for like worshipping the Angels?

– Shall man have the right to say that the Angels are Allah’s daughters and gives them feminine names although such man dishonors the girls?

– However, the Angels’ intercession in the Afterlife cannot avail in any way except after Allah gives them the permission for it.

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Throughout the history, man was confused about the nature of the Angels.

The scholars and the philosophers have four different belief concerning the nature of Angels and who they are:

1. The first party believes that they are the sons of God
2. The second party believes that they are the daughters of God
3. The third party believes that they are God
4. The fourth party believes that they are partners of God

The Quran denies and disproves all of the above belief.

In the article Angels in Islam (10) the Quran denies the Bible’s claim that the Angels are the sons of God who married the daughters of the People!(Genesis 6:2)

In the article Angels in Islam (11) the Quran says that neither Jesus nor the Angels who are close and favored, to Allah, would never disdain, scorn or reject haughtily, to be a slave of Allah.

In the article Angels in Islam (13) the Quran condemns the pre-Islamic belief of the daughters are to be for Allah, while the sons are to be for Arabs.

In the article Angels in Islam (14) the Quran declares that Satan was the source of the belief that the Angels are the daughters of Allah

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The Arabs before Islam believed that Allah is the Supreme Allah and the gate to Him is his daughters, the Angels. They had to worship His daughters to satisfy him; they gave the Angels feminine names as:

• al-Lat,
• al-Uzza,
• Manat, the third

According to the previous article, such belief and names are but Satanic invented stuffs.

The verses 53:19-31 say:

– Have you considered al-Lat and al-Uzza, and Manat, the third?

– Do these idols have the power over anything, such that you worship them besides Allah Who has the power over all that has been mentioned?’

– And because of their assertion also that the angels were Allah’s daughters, despite their aversion to daughters (they used to favor sons and dishonor girls) the Quran continues:

Are you to have males, and Allah females?

That, then, would indeed be an unfair division! Unjust division!

– These, the mentioned deities, are nothing but invented names which you and your fathers have named idols that you worship.

Allah has not revealed any warrant, any proof or evidence, for the worship of them.

– They follow nothing but conjecture, in their worship of them, and that which ignoble souls desire, of that which Satan adorned for them, that they may intercede for them before Allah, exalted be He, even though guidance has already come to them from their Lord, by the tongue of the Prophet Muhammad, with definitive proof; yet they do not desist from their ways.

– Or shall man, that is, shall every human being among them, have whatever he wishes for? Such as [their wish] that the idols intercede for them. No! It is not so.

– Yet to Allah belong the Afterlife and the former life, and so nothing comes to pass in them except what He, exalted, wills.

– And how many an angel, there is in the heavens, and how honored they are in Allah’s sight but, whose intercession cannot avail in any way except after Allah gives permission, to them for this intercession, for whomever He wills, of His servants, and, with whom, He is satisfied.

– Truly those who do not believe in the Afterlife give the angels the names of females, for they say: ‘They are Allah’s daughters’

– But they do not have any knowledge thereof, of this claim. They follow, in this respect, nothing but conjecture, which they have conjured up, and indeed conjecture can never substitute for the truth.

– So shun him who turns away from Our Remembrance that is, from the Quran, and desires nothing but the life of this world

Turn your face, O Muhammad from him who turns away from our remembrance, from our divine Oneness and Scripture and desires but that which is in the life of the world ignoring the Afterlife.

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The verses 53:19-31 (YUSUFALI translation):

19-20) have ye seen allat and al’uzza, and another, the third (goddess), manat?

21-22) What! For you the male sex, and for him (Allah), the female? Behold, such would be indeed a division most unfair!

23) These are nothing but names which ye have devised,- ye and your fathers,- for which Allah has sent down no authority (whatever). They follow nothing but conjecture and what their own souls desire!- even though there has already come to them guidance from their lord!

24-25) Nay, shall man have (just) anything he hankers after? But it is to Allah that the end and the beginning (of all things) belong

26) How many-so-ever be the angels in the heavens, their intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom he pleases and that he is acceptable to him.

27-28) those who believe not in the hereafter, name the angels with female names. But they have no knowledge therein. They follow nothing but conjecture; and conjecture avails nothing against truth.

29-30) therefore shun those who turn away from our message and desire nothing but the life of this world. That is as far as knowledge will reach them. Verily thy lord knoweth best those who stray from his path, and he knoweth best those who receive guidance.

31) Yea, to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth: so that he rewards those who do evil, according to their deeds, and he rewards those who do good, with what is best.

Angels in Islam (2) of what they are created?

Angels are an important part of the world of the “Unseen” which we cannot see.

Jinn are also part of the world of the “Unseen” which we cannot see.

It is said that it is not possible for humans to see the jinn unless they appear in a different form, such as in the form of humans and animals.

The angels cannot be seen in their original form by most people unless they appear in human form. 

In order to disclose the facts about the Angels:

§  Allah has told us about them in many places in the Quran.

§  The Prophet Muhammad (1) has told us about them in many Hadith (2)

If you know the facts about the angels, you will realize the greatness of the Almighty Creator and the greatness of Islam which has told us so much about them.

The Angels and Jinn are two important creatures in the world of the “Unseen”

Of what the Angels are created?
The Angels are created from light.

It is narrated that Aishah (3) reported: “The Messenger of Allah (1) said: ‘The angels are created from light, just as the jinn are created from smokeless fire and mankind is created from what you have been told about.”
So, we have three important creatures:

1. The unseen Angels and they are created of light.

2. The unseen Jinn and they are created of smokeless fire

3. Human beings and they are created of the dust and clay of the Earth.

 

Both, Jinn and Man have the free will to do what is good and what is bad.

The Angels have also will but their will goes only in one direction that is to obey and to satisfy their Almighty Creator.
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(1) When a Muslim mentions the last Prophet Muhammad, it is recommended to say: peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

(2) Hadith is the saying of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

(3) Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) is the wife of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.