2-120
And the Jews will never be pleased with you nor the Christians till you follow their (dictated) religion. Say, “”Guidance of Allah is certainly the guidance,”” And if you follow their desires after the knowledge that has come to you, then you will have from Allah, neither a guardian nor a helper.
“Jews and Christians have altered their original books in accordance with their desires. If one follows the religion thus dictated by them just to please them, especially after having got the information of these alterations through the Quran (Chapter: 4 Verse 46), then he will neither have a guardian nor a helper from Allah (SWT). Now that the Quran, the final Divine guidance protected by Allah (SWT) Himself (Chapter: 15 Verse 9) has been revealed to prophet Muhammed (PBH) the last messenger of Allah, the guidance contained in it is ‘The right guidance’. Books other than the Quran do not contain the right guidance because they have been altered by human beings.”
2-121
Those to whom We have given the book read (study to implement)it, as it deserves to be read, those believe in it. And whoever does not believe in it, then those are the persons who are the losers. (R 14)
“While discussing verse No. 44 we had seen that the term ‘Tilawat-i-Quran’ conveys the sense of reading and studying the Quran with the intention of practically implementing it in our lives in such a manner as to reflect it through our deeds as prophet Muhammed (PBH) is reported to have done. Allah (SWT) is probably certifying that those to whom He gave the Quran i.e. Prophet Muhammed (PBH) and his companions (R.A), implemented it as it deserved to be implemented, therefore they were the real believers in the Quran. Those who do not believe in it in this manner that is, those who do not read, understand and implement the Quran in their lives as to reflecting it through their deeds, then they are the real losers.”
2-122
O children of Israel! remember My favour with which I favoured you and that I preferably favoured you (compared to others in) the worlds.
“These verses are similar to Verses Nos. 47 – 48 with slight changes.”
2-123
And guard yourselves against a day when no requital will be accepted from one person for another in anything nor will compensation be accepted from him nor will recommendation be of benefit to him nor will they be helped.
“These verses are similar to Verses Nos. 47 – 48 with slight changes.”
2-124
And when his Fosterer tried Ibrahim with (some) statements (commands), he fulfilled them. He (Allah) said,””I will make you a leader of mankind.”” He (Ibrahim) said, “”And from my offspring?”” He (Allah) replied, “”My agreement does not include the unjust.””
“Prophet Ibrahim (PBH) was made a leader of or model for mankind only after Allah (SWT) had tested him and he had successfully passed all the tests. When Ibrahim (PBH) was informed that he would be made the leader of or model for mankind, he inquired about his off – spring. Allah (SWT) replied that his agreement does not include those who would be unjust among his off-spring. This indicates that a person cannot be accepted as a Momin or Muslim just because of his birth in a Muslim family, he has to prove himself to be a Momin or Muslim as Ibrahim (PBH) did though his father was an idol worshipper.”
2-125
And when We made the house (Kaaba) a resort for human beings and a (place of) security (We ordered), “”And take from the place where Ibrahim stood, a place for (offering) worship (salat).”” And We made an agreement with Ibrahim and Ismael that they should clean My house for those who go around (it) and those who stay therein for devotion and those who bow down and prostrate.
“‘Masabatun’ means a resort, a place which is visited or a place where people gather repeatedly. Allah (SWT) states that He made the Kaaba such a place. History is a proof of this fact that since centuries there have been continuous streams of people visiting the Kaaba and there is hardly any time of the day or the night when it is free from visitors, still the place is full of peace. Allah (SWT) orders the visitors to offer salat near the place where Ibrahim (PBH) had stood to construct the walls of the Kaaba. The ‘Muqaam-i-Ibrahim’ or the place where Ibrahim (PBH) stood is near the present building of Kaaba, it is a stone with imprints of his feet, now enclosed in a glass case. Ibrahim and Ismael (PBT) were asked to clean Allah’s house i.e. Kaaba, probably by removing all unclean and unwanted things from its premises, so that visitors could go round Kaaba, stay there for a duration or offer Salat in a peaceful and clean atmosphere. The term ‘Baitii’ translated as ‘My house’meaning Allah’s house could give rise to a misunderstanding that Allah (SWT) is localized and confined to His house as we are. Contrary to this Allah (SWT) is Omni present i.e. He is present everywhere all the time (Chapter: 2 Verse 115). The word ‘Bait’ is normally translated as ‘a house,’ but an associated word ‘Yubaiyyituna’conveys the sense that ‘They spend the night in discussing secrets when others are not watching them’. (Chapter: 4 Verse 108) Therefore ‘Baitullah’ or the ‘House of Allah’ would convey the sense of a place where you secretly communicate with Allah (SWT) with no external disturbance, where no one else has access to what you are asking from Him, a place where you have privacy with Allah (SWT) as you have in your houses compared to roads and market places.”
2-126
And when Ibrahim said, “”My Fosterer! make this a city of security and provide its people with fruits, those who believe from among them in Allah and the period hereafter.”” He (Allah) replied, “”And whoever does not believe, I will provide for him (too), a little (enjoyment), then I will drive him towards the punishment of fire, and it is an evil destination.””
“Ibrahim (PBH) prayed to Allah (SWT) for making Makkah, the city were Kaaba is located, secure and peaceful and to provide only those people with fruits who believe in Allah (SWT) and the life after death. He probably excluded other people from his prayer because when he had earlier asked about his off-spring being made leaders or models, Allah (SWT) had excluded the unjust from His agreement (Chapter: 2 Verse 124). This exhibits the caution exercised by Ibrahim (PBH), he did not like displeasing Allah (SWT) in any way. But Allah (SWT) replied that He would provide a little even to the infidels then He would drive them towards the punishment of fire i.e. hell which is an evil place as a destination. The point that becomes quite obvious from this verse is, that as far as provision i.e. ‘Rizkh’ is concerned Allah (SWT) provides it to everyone, irrespective of his belief or religion, whether he is a believer in His existence or an atheist, but as far as selecting people for His work i.e. leading the community to follow Islam is concerned, He does not select the unjust (Chapter: 2 Verse 124).”
2-127
And when Ibrahim was raising the foundations of the house with Ismael (he prayed), “”Our Fosterer! accept from us, You are certainly the Hearing, the Knowing.
“Ibrahim and Ismael (PBT) were raising the foundations of the Kaaba obviously in compliance with the orders of Allah (SWT), still they were praying to Him for acceptance and acknowledgement of their work invoking His attributes of hearing and knowing. This clearly shows that the success of a work depends on its acceptance and acknowledgement as good by Allah (SWT), if He does not accept or acknowledge a work as good, then the whole effort becomes a waste.”
2-128
Our Fosterer! and make us submissive to You and from our descendants a community submissive to You and show us our ways (of devotion to You) and turn to us (mercifully), You are certainly the Accepter of repentance, the Merciful.
“Although Ibrahim and Ismael (PBT) were Muslims having submitted to Allah (SWT), yet they were praying to Him to make them and their descendents submissive to Him, submissive probably referring to their own future. This shows that we too should keep praying to Allah (SWT) to keep us and our descendents established on Islam. They further prayed to Allah (SWT) for showing them the right ways of devotion to Him and to turn to them mercifully invoking His Attributes of acceptance of repentance and mercy.”
2-129
Our Fosterer! and raise in them a messenger from among them who would read to them Your signs (that is practically demonstrate the Quran) and teach them the book (law) and wisdom (its interpretation) and purify them. You are certainly the Mighty, the Wise.”” (R 15)
“They further prayed for a messenger to be raised from their descendents i.e. Muhammed (PBH):-
1) who would read, himself follow the message of Allah (SWT) and thus reflect (Tilawat) the Quran to them by his faith and deed,
2) teach them the laws (Kitab) of Islam,
3) demonstrate the method of practically implementing the laws (Hikmat) and
4) purify and develop them into good Muslim (Tazkiyah). Their prayer was accepted after 4000 and odd years but with a slight change in the sequence of items prayed for. Purification and growth into good Muslim was given the second place instead of fourth (Chapter: 2 Verse 151), what we learn from this is sometimes Allah (SWT) delays the time of acceptance of prayers whereas sometimes the prayer is accepted immediately as in the case of Musa (PBH) asking for strengthening him with Haruun (PBH) (Chapter: 20 Verses: 25–36). Sometimes Allah (SWT) sanctions the items prayed for after effecting corrections. ‘Tazkiyah’ meaning purification and growth is associated with ‘Nafs’ i.e. the soul or conscious self (Chapter: 91 Verses: 7–10) which is the driving force for the body. Belief too is associated with Nafs (Chapter: 10 Verse 100). So it is the ‘Nafs’ the conscious inner self’that should first be purified from all evils like infidelity, hypocrisy, polytheism etc. so that pure belief in Allah (SWT) could be accommodated. This pure belief in Allah (SWT) would then become the correct driving force for ordering the body to act in accordance with the Quran and instructions of Prophet Muhammed (PBH). Early Makkan revelations too concentrated on belief and later Madinah revelations were about practical implementation of the religious laws.”
2-130
And who forsakes the religion (dictated by) Ibrahim except he who fools himself? And surely, We selected him in this world, and in the hereafter he will certainly be among the righteous.
“One who does something wrong but presumes that he is doing the right thing, fools himself, in this sense not following the religion dictated by Ibrahim (PBH) i.e. Islam, is fooling oneself. Ibrahim (PBH) was selected by Allah (SWT) as a Prophet and His friend in this world and due to his right belief and good deeds he would be among the righteous in the hereafter. His merit was that when he was asked to submit, he submitted to Allah (SWT), the Fosterer of the worlds by obeying all His orders and he enjoined the same on his sons and grandson Yaqoob, (Israel) (PBT) that Islam is the religion selected for them by Allah (SWT) and they should die only as Muslims. No one knows the time of one’s death, therefore one should spend every moment of one’s life as a Muslim anticipating death any moment, so that he could meet death as a Muslim.”
2-133
Or were you present (as a witness) when death came to Yaqub, when he said to his sons, “”What will you serve after me?”” They replied, “”We will serve your God, and the God of your fathers: Ibrahim and Ismael and Ishaq, One God, and we are those who submit to Him (as Muslims).””
“Yaqoob (PBH) or Israel the grandson of Ibrahim (PBH) had made his sons i.e. the Bani Israel to commit to him before his death that they would serve only one God, the God of their forefathers Ibrahim, Ismael and Ishaq (PBT) and that they would be Muslims. These Prophets were the forefathers of the Bani Israel addressed in the Quran, when they had served only one God and were Muslims then why was it that the Bani Israel who lived during the period of Prophet Muhammed (PBH) did not accept Islam. For those Prophets, would be the reward for what they earned and for the later generation what they earned and they will not be questioned about the deeds of their forefathers, they will be questioned only about their own deeds. ”
2-135
And they say, “”Be Jews or Christians, you will receive guidance.”” Say, “”No! (we will follow the) religion (dictated by) Ibrahim the upright and he was not of the polytheists.””
“On the invitation of the Jews and Christians to join their religion for guidance Muslims are directed to reply that they would follow the religion dictated by Ibrahim (PBH) because Ibrahim (PBH) was an upright man and not a polytheist like them. They are ordered to further declare that they believe not only in the Quran but all the Divine messages sent to other Prophets without making any distinction between them and that they have submitted to Allah (SWT) as Muslims. If the Jews and Christians also agree to believe in the manner in which Muslims believe then they would be considered as those who have received guidance contrary to this if they turn away from Islam, then they are opponents of Muslims and Allah (SWT) is sufficient to help the Muslim against them.”
2-138
Colour of Allah, and who is better than Allah in colouring And we are His servants (worshippers).
“Christians baptize their children by sprinkling on them so called holy or red coloured water which marks the entry of the child into Christianity. By observing this formality of performing the ceremony of baptism they believe that they have transformed the child into a Christian. Allah (SWT) is asking the Owners of the book as to who could be better than Him in transforming or characterizing human beings by giving them His colour. What are the signs exhibited by human beings who received His colour. The answer appears to be given in last four words of the verse under discussion, the translation of which is ‘And we are His servants (or worshippers)’. Those who receive His colour are His servants. These servants of Allah (SWT) exhibit their internal belief and faith in Allah (SWT) through their external righteous deeds (Chapter: 42 Verses: 22–23). A person who thus receives the colour of Allah (SWT) is completely transformed both internally and externally and this transformation makes him to believe and act in accordance with the instructions given in the Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammed (PBH), which is quite different from the ceremonial baptism practiced by the Christians.”
