(9) - A General Study of the Stories in Surah Al-Baqarah - (21/11/19)

بِسْم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Part 2

Calling Bani Israeel to embrace Islam

Verse 40 to 162

4th Subsection 

Verse 122 (or 124) to 134 

A Good Example of Submission to Allah from the Predecessors of the Muslims and Bani Israeel (Ibrahim عليه السلام)

Verses 122 and 123:

يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَنِّي فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ

“O Children of Israel! Remember My Favour which I bestowed upon you and that I preferred you to the 'Alamin (mankind and jinns) (of your time-period, in the past).”

وَاتَّقُوا يَوْمًا لَّا تَجْزِي نَفْسٌ عَن نَّفْسٍ شَيْئًا وَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا عَدْلٌ وَلَا تَنفَعُهَا شَفَاعَةٌ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ

“And fear the Day (of Judgement) when no person shall avail another, nor shall compensation be accepted from him, nor shall intercession be of use to him, nor shall they be helped.”

These verses were also mentioned in verse 40 and verses 47 and 48. The calls have a connection with either the previous or following context. 

The first call (Verse 40) was for them to keep the covenant. 

The second call (Verses 47 and 48) came in the context of reminding them of Allah’s special favors upon them. Allah is preparing them, they should receive His favours with gratitude and they should fear the Day of Judgement.

This is the third call. This time it is to tell them to remember His favour upon them when He made them the progeny of Ibrahim عليه السلام. He is the common father of the Muslims and the Jews. 

Allah reminds them of their relationship with Ibrahim عليه السلام. If another nation comes from the same progeny of Ibrahim عليه السلام, they are also preferred and honoured by Allah, so you should accept that. The greatest thing that prevented Bani Israeel from accepting the message of the Prophet ﷺ - although all the evidences were clear to them that he was a Prophet of Allah - was envy. They recognized that he was a Prophet like a father recognizes his son. 

Allah gave the believers of Bani Israeel a marked preference over all of mankind. When Allah brought another nation that was superior to them, as a test, the envy in their hearts prevented them from accepting his message.

This could happen to us. Ibn Taymiyah said, “لا يخلو جسدا من حسد” (No body is devoid of envy)

If a person always has a position in the community and Allah brings someone else whom people divert their attention to, envy comes. Only the Muttaqeen struggle against the envy in their heart and accept the preference. This is why Allah mentioned Taqwa in Verse 123. If you are superior and someone else comes that is preferred over you, you should struggle hard to overcome this envy and accept the truth by practicing Taqwa. If you fear Allah, you will get the good of this life and the Hereafter and you will remain being preferred with Allah. You will not lose your status with Allah. 

Seekers of knowledge may envy each other. Focus on yourself. Accept whatever Allah preferred you with. If you do that, you will keep your preference with Allah. If you behave like Bani Israeel, you will be a loser. 

Some interpreters said these verses are the closing verses of the previous context, and others said that it is the introduction for this context.

Allah now mentions the merits of Ibrahim عليه السلام:

Verse 124:

وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا ۖ قَالَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ

“And (remember) when the Lord of Ibrahim (Abraham) [i.e., Allah] tried him with (certain) Commands, which he fulfilled. He (Allah) said (to him), "Verily, I am going to make you a leader (Prophet) of mankind." [Ibrahim (Abraham)] said, "And of my offspring (to make leaders)." (Allah) said, "My Covenant (Prophethood, etc.) includes not Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers).”

ابتلى - Verb (فعل)

إبراهيم - Object (مفعول به)    

ربه - Doer (فاعل)

There are two types of كلمات:

1) كلمات شرعية 

2) كلمات قدرية

Allah tried Ibrahim عليه السلام with both these types. Allah commanded him to slaughter his son, to emigrate from his land. He tried him when his people threw him into the fire, when He made his father a disbeliever. Allah decreed that he would not have children except when he became old, and when he became old he was commanded to leave his son in a place far away from him. Allah commanded him to build the Ka’bah. 

How did Ibrahim عليه السلام respond to the command of Allah?

 “فأتمهن”

The فاء indicates that he immediately fulfilled them. He showed immediate submission and obedience to Allah.

Ibrahim عليه السلام is mentioned in 25 Surah’s in the Qur’an. In Surah Al-Baqarah alone, there are 3 stories about him. The first position is this verse. We should look for the كلمات that Allah commanded and tried him with in these Surah’s and how he fulfilled them. Allah says towards the end of the Qur’an, in Surah An-Najm [53:37]:

وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ الَّذِي وَفَّىٰ

“And of Ibrahim (Abraham) who fulfilled (or conveyed) all that (Allah ordered him to do or convey)”

In the beginning of the Qur’an and the end of the Qur’an, Allah says that Ibrahim عليه السلام fulfilled the command of Allah.

How did Allah recompense him?

“قال إني جاعلك للناس إماما”

Allah made him a leader in the Religion

As soon as Ibrahim عليه السلام received the good news of leadership in the Religion, he asked Allah the same for his offspring. This is the characteristic of good parents - whenever they attain any good, they wish it for their children. We are from the offspring of Ibrahim عليه السلام and we should fulfill his wish.

“قال لا ينال عهدي الظالمين”

Allah replied that the leadership will not be given to the wrongdoers. 

Allah said “عهدي”. We heard this before in the context of Bani Israeel. Allah gave them a covenant which they did not fulfill, and Ibrahim عليه السلام fulfilled the covenant.

Allah described Bani Israeel as ظالمون. He mentioned that and its derivatives many times in their context. When a person commits a sin he has fallen into ظلم. 

Lessons

1) There is no relationship between lineage and leadership in the Religion. 

Only the Muttaqeen deserve to be leaders. If you see the people of falsehood becoming high in the Religion, it is a test and temporary. Allah will eventually disclose his affair.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

إِنَّمَا أَخَافُ عَلَى أُمَّتِي الْأَئِمَّةَ الْمُضِلِّينَ

“I only fear for my nation the misguiding Imams”

[At-Tirmithi]

Just because a person is an Imam it does not mean he is an Imam in the Religion. The real leader with Allah in the Religion is the one who Allah granted Imamate.

2) Allah described those who do not keep the covenant as ظالمين

3) Whoever follows the example of Ibrahim عليه السلام, Ibrahim عليه السلام will have a share of the reward without diminishing his reward. Allah did not send any Messenger after Ibrahim عليه السلام except that He ordered him to follow Ibrahim عليه السلام (as mentioned in Surah an-Nisa 4:

The best in the Religion is the one who submits his face to Allah and follows the religion of Ibrahim.

This is all the appreciation of Allah (شكر الله) for Ibrahim عليه السلام. 

4) You should wish to attain the position Ibrahim عليه السلام wished for his offspring - to be a leader calling to good; to be guided and to guide others. Wish that for you and your children. Do not let your concerns revolve around worldly exaltedness and do not be a parent who magnifies the Dunya in the heart of his children. 

Allah said in Surah Al-Furqan [25:74]:

وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

“And those who say: "Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders for the Muttaqun”

In the beginning you heard how Allah elevated Adam عليه السلام and now you are hearing about how Allah elevated Ibrahim, and we are of their offspring.

Allah does not need us, He can support His Religion without us, but it is an honour for us to have a role in supporting the Religion. 

5) What are the characteristics of the Leader?

Great Faith, Abundant righteous deeds, Good conduct, Complete love for Allah, Complete fear of Allah, Turning to Allah in all situations (الإنابة), etc.

Allah said about Bani Israeel in Surah as-Sajdah [32:24]:

وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا لَمَّا صَبَرُوا ۖ وَكَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يُوقِنُونَ

“And We made from among them (Children of Israel), leaders, giving guidance under Our Command, when they were patient and used to believe with certainty in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.).”

They showed patience and worked hard on their faith until it reached the degree of certainty. 

There are 3 types of patience: Patience upon obedience to Allah, patience in preventing yourself from committing sins, patience upon the decrees of Allah. Allah tried Ibrahim عليه السلام and he showed patience.

People vary in degrees with regards to these characteristics. 

Is it praiseworthy to covet for leadership?

You may say that it is something we should covet for, but Allah knows your truthfulness - if you’re coveting for the position for the sake of fame. You should invoke Allah to perfect your faith for you, to refine your manners, to perfect your patience, forbearance, etc. and you should perpetually take the means to do so. Do not fight people for leadership, work on yourself and Allah will make you an Imam. Allah is the One who makes people Imams - “إني جاعلك للناس إماما” (This is an attribute of Allah). Allah said “لا ينال عهدي الظالمين” so check if you have sins.

You may attain it while you are alive and you may get it after your death. Imam Bukhari at his time was not an Imam, but during his entire life he worked hard and compiled the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, and towards the end of the life he was tested. People abandoned him and did not listen to him. When he died, only 10 people prayed the funeral prayer for him. Someone who looks at this situation may say this is nothing, but after his death, Allah elevated his fame. And all over the world people call him Imam Bukhari رحمه الله. 

Ibrahim عليه السلام asked Allah to make his remembrance continue after his death, and Allah accepted his supplication. All the nations and Religions love Ibrahim عليه السلام. 

6) الابتلاء سنة الله

Trials are the way of Allah. He afflicts and tries His servants. 

Why?

Out of Allah’s wisdom, He does not leave people at their claims. He tries them in order to show who is truthful and who is lying. The liar does not stay firm at times of afflictions while the truthful stay firm. In every situation, the truthful person thinks and asks Allah what his duty is in this situation. He has an earnest desire to do what pleases Allah in each situation. If it is a situation which requires patience, he shows patience. If it is a situation which requires pardoning, he pardons. If it is a situation which requires gratitude, he shows gratitude. If it is a situation which requires forbearance, he shows forbearance. In this way he keeps his covenant with Allah and passes the test.

Verse 125:

وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى ۖ وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَن طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ

“And (remember) when We made the House (the Ka'bah at Makkah) a place of resort for mankind and a place of safety. And take you (people) the Maqam (place) of Ibrahim (Abraham) [or the stone on which Ibrahim (Abraham) stood while he was building the Ka'bah] as a place of prayer (for some of your prayers, e.g. two Rak'at after the Tawaf of the Ka'bah at Makkah), and We commanded Ibrahim (Abraham) and Isma'il (Ishmael) that they should purify My House (the Ka'bah at Makkah) for those who are circumambulating it, or staying (I'tikaf), or bowing or prostrating themselves (there, in prayer).”

Allah mentions the merits of the House:

1) Allah made it a place of resort.

2) He made it a place of security. This is legal security - Allah ordained laws which protect it. At the time of the Arabs a man would see the killer of his father and he would not harm him. 

3) Allah made it a place of prayer 

As is mentioned in the Sunnah, when Ibraheem عليه السلام and his son were building the House of Allah, they built it wall by wall as if they were doing Tawaf around the Ka’bah. Allah commanded him to build the House on the foundations which was either there from before at the time of Adam عليه السلام or built by Ibrahim عليه السلام. When he was building the wall he stood on a stone to build the upper part of the wall. Ismaeel عليه السلام was handing him the stones. Then he kept the Maqam at the gate of the Ka’bah. According to Islamic practice, we do Tawaf and pray behind the Maqam.

In the era of Umar, he took the Maqam and moved it away from the wall of the Ka’bah with the approval of all the companions. Although it was a stone, Allah willed the traces of his feet to remain until the Day of Judgement to preserve his remembrance. 

What did Allah command Ibrahim and Ismaeel عليهما السلام with?

Allah commanded them to purify the Ka’bah for those who pray and worship there. He did not specify what they should purify it from which means that it entails purification from all types of رجز (impurity/filth) - both sensible and insensible. It should be purified from Shirk, Disbelief, all types of sins and it should be purified from the tangible impurities. 

Therefore whoever goes there should purify himself and not practice Shirk, Kufr, and sins there. And they should clean the place from physical impurities. This is a must. It is a covenant from Allah with Ibrahim عليه السلام to keep the Haram clean from all types of impurities. 

Verse 126:

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا بَلَدًا آمِنًا وَارْزُقْ أَهْلَهُ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ مَنْ آمَنَ مِنْهُم بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۖ قَالَ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَأُمَتِّعُهُ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ أَضْطَرُّهُ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ النَّارِ ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ

“And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said, "My Lord, make this city (Makkah) a place of security and provide its people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day." He (Allah) answered: "As for him who disbelieves, I shall leave him in contentment for a while, then I shall compel him to the torment of the Fire, and worst indeed is that destination!"

When Ibrahim عليه السلام knew that Allah loved the Ka’bah, he invoked for its people.

This security is أمن الشرعي and if a tyrant wants to destroy the Ka’bah Allah will destroy him, as He did with the People of the Elephant. No one is allowed to carry a weapon and no killing is allowed. Even the trees should not be cut. 

Ibrahim عليه السلام invoked only for the believers because when he asked for the Imamate in the Religion Allah said that it was not for everyone. Allah replied that His sustenance will also be for the non-believers, but the sustenance for the disbelievers will be temporarily in this Dunya, and in the end they will have the punishment of the Hellfire. 

It is as if this verse indicates the testimony of Allah for the Prophethood of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and Allah is addressing this speech to Bani Israeel. Ibraheem عليه السلام built the Ka’bah and is the father of Bani Israeel and the Muslims and he prayed from the people of Makkah. The Prophet ﷺ is from Makkah. This is an indirect address to Bani Israeel: Ibrahim invoked for those who believe from the People of Makkah. Allah points to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Verse 127:

وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

“And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) and (his son) Isma'il (Ishmael) were raising the foundations of the House (the Ka'bah at Makkah), (saying), "Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower."

The word “يرفع” is in present tense, in order for you to keep this scene alive in your eyes and for you to see it as if it is happening now.

When they were building the walls they kept invoking Allah. Whenever we do any good deed, we should follow in suit.