Qur'an 20090926

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

42. So his fruits were encompassed, and he remained twisting and turning his hands over what he had spent on his property, which had tumbled to pieces to its very foundations. And he could only say, "Woe is me! Would I had never ascribed partners to my Lord and Cherisher!"

43. Nor had he numbers to help him against Allah, nor was he able to deliver himself.

44. There, the protection comes from Allah, the True One. God is the Best to reward, and the Best to give success.

45. Set forth to them the similitude of the life of this world. It is like the rain which We send down from the skies: the earth's vegetation absorbs it, but it soon becomes dry stubble, which the winds do scatter. It is Allah who prevails over all things.

46. Wealth and sons are allurements of the life of this world. But the things that endure, good deeds, are best in the sight of your Lord as rewards, and best as hopes.

The Cave 18:42-46
----------------------------------------------------------

Qur'an 20090925

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

Have you ever known someone who was so content with his material possessions, that he thought it would last forever?

Once upon a time, there were 2 farmers. For one of them, God provided 2 gardens of grapevines surrounded by date palms, and between the vineyards were cornfields. Each of those gardens was consistent in produce, and never before failed to give harvest, and within the gardens God caused a spring to flow.

Thus was the produce that this man had. He said to his companion in the course of a mutual argument, "I have more wealth than you, and more honor, power, and followers." He went into his garden in a state of elation, looked around, and said, "I don't think this will ever perish. Nor do I think that my time will ever run out. Even if I do meet God, I'm sure I will get something better."

His companion argued with him, "Do you deny God who made you out of dust, then out of sperm, then shaped you into a man? For me, God is Allah, my Lord, and I don't create equals with God. When you stepped into your garden, why didn't you say, 'The Will of Allah! There is no power except with Allah!' If you see me as inferior to you in wealth and followers, it may be that my Lord will give me something better than your garden, and that God will send thunderbolts onto your garden, and turn it into slippery sand! Or the water will sink underground, so that you will never find it!"

6:148 Those who give partners will say, "If Allah had wished, we should not have given partners to God, nor would our fathers, nor would we have had any taboos." So did their ancestors argue falsely, until they tasted of Our wrath. Say, "Have you any knowledge? If so, produce it before us. You follow nothing but conjecture, you do nothing but lie."

Have you any knowledge? If so, produce it before us. You follow nothing but conjecture, you do nothing but lie.

Qur'an 20090924

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

27. And recite what has been revealed to you of the Book from your Lord. None can change God's Words, and none will you find as a refuge other than God.

28. And keep your soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking God's Face, and let not your eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this life, nor obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the rememberance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds.

29. Say, "The Truth is from your Lord." Let him who will, believe, and let him who will, reject: for the wrongdoers We have prepared a fire, like the walls and roof of a tent, will hem them in. If they implore relief, they will be granted water like melted brass that will scald their faces. How dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on!

The Cave 18:27-29
----------------------------------------------------------

The Truth is from your Lord.

Qur'an 20090923

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

21. Thus did We make their case known to people, that they might know the promise of Allah is true, and that there can be no doubt about the Hour of Judgment. Behold, they dispute among themselves as to their affair. Said, "Construct a building over them." Their Lord knows best about them. Those who prevailed over their affair said, "Let us surely build a place of worship over them."

22. Saying they were three, the dog being the fourth among them. Saying they were five, the dog being the sixth, doubtfully guessing at the unknown. Saying they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say, "My Lord knows best their number: it is but few that know them." Enter not therefore into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear. Nor consult any of them about the Sleepers.

23. Nor say of anything, "I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow,"

24. Without adding, "So please, Allah!" And call your Lord to mind when you forget, and say, "I hope that my Lord will guide me ever closer than this to the right road."

25. So they stayed in their cave three hundred years, and add nine.

26. Say, "Allah knows best how long they stayed. With God is the secrets of the heavens and the earth, how clearly God sees, how finely God hears! They have no protector other than God. Nor does God share God's Command with any person whatsoever."

The Cave 18:21-26
----------------------------------------------------------

My Lord knows best their number: it is but few that know them.

Allah knows best how long they stayed. With God is the secrets of the heavens and the earth, how clearly God sees, how finely God hears! They have no protector other than God. Nor does God share God's Command with any person whatsoever.

Qur'an 20090918

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

106. A Qur'an which We have divided, in order that you might recite it to humans in intervals: We have revealed it in stages.

107. Say, "Whether you believe in it or not, it is true that those who were given knowledge beforehand, when it is recited to them, fall down on their faces in humble prostration."

108. And they say, "Glory to our Lord! Truly has the promise of our Lord has been fulfilled!"

109. They fall down on their faces in tears, and it increases their humility.

110. Say, "Call upon Allah, or call upon the Compassionate One. By whatever name you call upon God, for to God belong the Most Beautiful Names. Neither speak your prayer aloud, nor speak it in a low tone, but seek a middle course between."

111. Say, "Praise be to Allah, who begets no son, and has no partner in dominion, nor any to protect God from humiliation. Yea, magnify God, for God's Greatness and Glory!"

The Night Journey 17:106-111
----------------------------------------------------------

Whether you believe in it or not, it is true that those who were given knowledge beforehand, when it is recited to them, fall down on their faces in humble prostration.

Call upon Allah, or call upon the Compassionate One. By whatever name you call upon God, for to God belong the Most Beautiful Names. Neither speak your prayer aloud, nor speak it in a low tone, but seek a middle course between.

Praise be to Allah, who begets no son, and has no partner in dominion, nor any to protect God from humiliation. Yea, magnify God, for God's Greatness and Glory!

Qur'an 20090917

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

99. See they not that Allah, who created the heavens and the earth, has power to create the likes of them? Only God has decreed a term appointed, of which there is no doubt. But the unjust refuse except with ingratitude.

100. Say, "If you had control of the Treasures of the Mercy of my Lord, behold! You would keep them back for fear of spending them, for humans are selfish!"

The Night Journey 99-100
----------------------------------------------------------

If you had control of the Treasures of the Mercy of my Lord, behold! You would keep them back for fear of spending them, for humans are selfish!

Qur'an 20090916

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

90. They say, "We shall not believe in you until you cause a spring to gush forth for us from the earth,"

91. "Or you have a garden of date trees and vines, and cause rivers to gush forth in their midst, carrying abundant water,"

92. "Or you cause the sky to fall in pieces, as you say, against us, or you bring Allah and the angels face to face,"

93. "Or you have a house adorned with gold, or you mount a ladder right into the skies. No, we shall not even believe in your mounting until you send down to us a book that we can read." Say, "Glory to my Lord! Am I aught but a man, a messenger?"

94. What kept humans back from belief when Guidance came to them was nothing but this: they said, "Has Allah sent a man to be messenger?"

95. Say, "If there were settled on earth angels walking about in peace and quiet, God would certainly sent them down from the heavens an angel for a messenger."

96. Say, "Enough is Allah for a witness between me and you, for God is Well-acquainted with God's servants, and God Sees!"

The Night Journey 17:90-96
----------------------------------------------------------

Glory to my Lord! Am I aught but a man, a messenger?

If there were settled on earth angels walking about in peace and quiet, God would certainly sent them down from the heavens an angel for a messenger.

Enough is Allah for a witness between me and you, for God is Well-acquainted with God's servants, and God Sees!

Qur'an 20090915

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

85. They ask you concerning the Spirit. Say, "The Spirit by command of my Lord. Of knowledge, it is only a little that is communicated to you."

86. If it were Our Will, We could take away that which We have sent to you by inspiration. Then would you find none to plead your affair in that matter as against Us.

87. Except for Mercy from your Lord, for God's Bounty is indeed to you great.

88. Say, "If the whole of humans and jinns were to gather together to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help and support."

The Night Journey 17:85-88
----------------------------------------------------------

The Spirit by command of my Lord. Of knowledge, it is only a little that is communicated to you.

If the whole of humans and jinns were to gather together to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help and support.

Qur'an 20090914

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

80. Say, "O my Lord! Let my entry be by the Gate of Truth and Honor, and likewise my exit by the Gate of Truth and Honor, and grant me from Your Presence an authority to aid."

81. And say, "Truth has arrived and falsehood perished, for falsehood is bound to perish."

82. We send down in the Qur'an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe. To the unjust it causes nothing but loss after loss.

83. Yet when We bestow Our favors on man, he turns away and becomes remote on his side, and when evil seizes him, he gives himself up to despair!

84. Say, "Everyone acts according to his own disposition, but your Lord knows best who it is that is best guided on the Way."

The Night Journey 17:80-84
----------------------------------------------------------

O my Lord! Let my entry be by the Gate of Truth and Honor, and likewise my exit by the Gate of Truth and Honor, and grant me from Your Presence an authority to aid.

Truth has arrived and falsehood perished, for falsehood is bound to perish.

Everyone acts according to his own disposition, but your Lord knows best who it is that is best guided on the Way.

Qur'an 20090910

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

56. Say, "Call on those, besides God, whom you fancy. They have neither the power to remove your troubles from you, nor to change them."

57. Those whom they call upon do desire means of access to their Lord, even those who are nearest. They hope for God's Mercy, and fear God's Wrath, for the Wrath of your Lord is something to take heed of.

The Night Journey 17:56-57
----------------------------------------------------------

Call on those, besides God, whom you fancy. They have neither the power to remove your troubles from you, nor to change them.

Qur'an 20090909

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

49. They say, "What? When we are reduced to bones and dust, should we really be raised up, a new creation?"

50. Say, "Be you stones, or iron!"

51. Or created matter which, in your minds, is hardest. Then will they say, "Who will cause us to return?" Say, "God who created you first!" Then will they wag their heads towards you and say, "When will that be?" Say, "Maybe it will be quite soon!"

The Night Journey 17:49-51
----------------------------------------------------------

Qur'an 20090908

In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.

41. We have explained variously in this Qur'an, in order that they may receive admonition, but it only increases their flight.

42. Say, "If there had been gods with God as they say, behold! They would certainly have sought out a way to the Lord of the Throne!"

The Night Journey 17:41-42
----------------------------------------------------------

If there had been gods with God as they say, behold! They would certainly have sought out a way to the Lord of the Throne!