Islam Made Simple
Dr Osama Al-Azhari, Minister of Awqaf (Charitable Endowments)
To the esteemed readers in Egypt, Arab and Muslim nations: Welcome to a new journey with the Ever-Glorious Qur’an. In this blessed journey, we live amidst the lights of the Qur’an, drawing from it treasures, secrets, and meanings, as well as the guidance and wisdom that Allah has deposited therein. Let us set sail with the ninth part of the Ever-Glorious Qur’an to extract from it pearls, gems, treasures, secrets, and great values.
The first value we pause at is the greatness of the status of the land of Kinānah (the preserved land), Egypt, in the Wise Remembrance (i.e., the Ever-Glorious Qur’an), which is a value derived from the saying of Allah Almighty: “And as soon as Moses came to Our fixed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said, “Lord! Show me, that I may look at You!” Said He, “You will never see Me; but look at the mountain, so, in case it stays residing in its place, then you will eventually see Me.” Then as soon as his Lord manifested Himself to the mountain, He made it pounded (into dust), and Moses collapsed stunned. So, as soon as he recovered, he said, All Extolment be to You! I repent to You, and I am the first of the believers.”[Qur’an7: 143].
This verse refers to the land of Kinānah, Egypt, specifically to this precious spot in Sinai, and the verses of the Wise Remembrance point to it with wondrous implications. Let us enumerate them together: “And as soon as Moses came to Our fixed time.” Thus, this land is an appointed spot for divine meeting. “And his Lord spoke to him”: It is the land of divine speech and selection. “He said, “Lord! Show me, that I may look at You!”: It is the land of lofty ambition and great aspiration in drawing near to Allah. “Said He, ‘You will never see Me; but look at the mountain’”:It is the land of proof, analogical reasoning, comprehension, and instruction.“Then as soon as his Lord manifested Himself to the mountain”: Hence, it is the land of divine manifestation. “He made it pounded (into dust)”: It is the land of humility. “And Moses collapsed stunned”: Thus, it is the land of magnification and awe. “So, as soon as he recovered, he said, All Extolment be to You!”: It is the land of glorification and sanctification. “I repent to You, and I am the first of the believers”: It is the land of repentance and faith.
Among the wondrous implications is also the moment of the greatest manifestation, when Allah Almighty manifested Himself to our master Moses PBUH in a sacred and pure spot unmatched by any in the universe, namely the site of the Mountain of Manifestation in beloved Sinai. Allah Almighty says: “Then as soon as his Lord manifested Himself to the mountain, He made it pounded (into dust), and Moses collapsed stunned. So, as soon as he recovered, he said, All Extolment be to You! I repent to You, and I am the first of the believers.”[Qur’an7: 143]. The value we derive from this is the greatness of the status of the land of Kinanah, Egypt—and particularly Sinai, the pearl of the homeland’s crown.
The second value derived from this part is expansiveness toward people, drawn from the saying of Allah Almighty: “And prescribe for us in the life of this world a fair (reward), and in the Hereafter; surely we have Judaised (i.e., to be a Jew) to You.” Said He, “My torment, I afflict with it whomever I decide, and My mercy has embraced everything; so I will soon prescribe it to the ones who are pious and bring the Zakat, (i.e., pay the poor-dues) and the ones who (themselves) believe in Our signs.” [Qur’an7: 156].
The Ever-Glorious Qur’an repeatedly employs the word “encompasses” in several contexts: “Surely your God is only Allah; there is no god except He (alone); He has embraced everything (in) His Knowledge.” [Qur’an20: 98]. He also says: “Our Lord, You embrace everything in mercy and knowledge.” [Qur’an 40: 7]. He also says: “His Chair(i.e. Dominion or Sovereignty) embraces the heavens and the earth.” [Qur’an2:55].
These Quranic passages instill in humanity the character of expansiveness. Thus, human horizons must broaden, just as Allah’s mercy has expanded toward all things. Note His saying in Surah Al-Fātiḥah: “In The Name of Allah, The All-Merciful, The Ever-Merciful.” [Qur’an1:1], followed immediately by: “All Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.”[Qur’an1:2]. Thus, Allah Almighty is the Lord of all worlds, not the Lord of one group apart from another.
It is reported in the noble Sunnah: “You cannot encompass people with your wealth, but let them be encompassed by your cheerfulness of countenance and good character.”[Narrated by al-Bazzār in his “Musnad” (as in Kashf al-Asrār 1/466), al-Tabarani in “al-Mu῾jam al-Kabīr” (no. 9936), and Abu Ya῾la in his “Musnad,” and authenticated by Ibn Ḥibbān (al-Iḥsan: 476)].The noble Shar῾ (Islamic law) calls you to avoid narrow-mindedness, to refrain from dealing with people selfishly, and to not assume that your perspective governs everything around you.
To sum up, the values derived from this noble part can be summarised as follows:
Firstly: pride in the sacred land, Egypt.
Secondly: expansiveness towards people.
Thirdly: reliance on Allah;“Surely my Ever-Patronising Patron is Allah, Who has been sending down the Book and He patronises the righteous.”[Qur’an7: 196].
Fourthly: the fruits of piety;“O you who have believed, in case you are pious to Allah, He will set for you an all-distinctive Criterion, (i.e., He will make for you an all-distinctive Criterion between right and wrong).”[Qur’an8: 29].
Be with Allah and He will illuminate your insight and guide your hand to the truth.In conclusion, we ask Allah Almighty to grant us all success, and to make us among the people of piety and guidance.
Until we meet again in another part of the Ever-Glorious Qur’an, stay noble; stay safe.
