Araf 4-7

4- AND HOW MANY VILLAGES DID WE DESTROY, AND OUR PUNISHMENT ARRIVED TO THEM AT NIGHT OR WHILE RESTING IN THE AFTERNOON.

5- WHAT THEY SAID WHEN OUR PUNISHMENT ARRIVED TO THEM WAS: "WE WERE UNJUST TRANSGRESSORS".

6- WE WILL ASK THOSE WE SENT GUIDANCE TO AND WE WILL ASK THE MESSENGERS.

7- WE WILL NARRATE IT TO YOU WITH KNOWLEDGE, FOR WE WERE NOT ABSENT.

We read many stories in the Quran about people and nations Allah the Highest destroyed in the past.  They disobeyed and transgressed in various ways.The people of the prophet Lott; they practiced and approved of homosexuality on a wide scale. The people of Shoab who cheated in weight and measure, the army of pharaoh who chased Moses and the Children of Israel, Abrahah and his army when they marched to destroy the Kabba, and many others.

Allah's punishment reached those people at times when they felt safe and secure, such as when they were asleep at night or in the afternoon, for Allah the Highest is able to send his punishment at any time, and they can not stop it.  When it reaches people while they feel safe and secure; its impact is worse.

Allah the Highest does not punish people before sending them guidance, warning and advice as well as enough time, for Allah the Highest said: "AND WE WERE NOT TO PUNISH BEFORE SENDING A MESSENGER".  (S: 17 A: 15)

We usually know when we do wrong that what we are doing is wrong.  When Allah's punishment arrives to people who have been given many chances, it is usually severe and swift.  Allah the Highest described the picture saying: "AND HOW MANY VILLAGES DID WE DESTROY WHEN IT WAS TRANSGRESSION AND IT IS TOTALLY EMPTY, WITH A DISUSED WELL AND A GREAT PALACE".  (S: 22 A: 45)

Yet there is not time for the punishment to arrive, but when it does, it is very swift and severe indeed.  Allah the Highest said: "ARE THE PEOPLE OF VARIOUS PLACES SAFE THAT OUR PUNISHMENT WILL NOT ARRIVE TO THEM WHILE THEY WERE ASLEEP, OR ARE THE PEOPLE OF VARIOUS PLACES SAFE THAT OUR PUNISHMENT WILL NOT ARRIVE TO THEM MID MORNING WHILE THEY AMUSE THEMSELVES".  (S: 7 A: 97-98)

Allah the Highest gets the People to admit to their wrong doing before they are destroyed on Earth.  Allah's messenger prayer and peace upon him said: "No nation is destroyed before admitting to their own sins".

Allah the Highest said: "AND THEY DAY HE WILL CALL THEM AND SAYS: "WHAT DID YOU ANSWER THE MESSENGERS?"  (S: 28 A: 65)

And said: "THE DAY WHEN ALLAH WILL GATHER THE MESSENGERS AND SAY: "WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE TO YOU?"  THEY SAY: "WE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE, FOR ONLY YOU KNOW WHAT IS HIDDEN".(S: 5 A: 109)

Allah the Highest asks those he sent the messengers to as well as the messengers about their response.  Ordinary people however will be asked about those in their charge.  Allah's messenger prayer and peace upon him said: "You are all guardians and you will be asked about those in your charge.  The leader will be asked about his people and the man will be asked about his family, and the woman will be asked about her husband's household, and the slave will be asked about his master's money".  (M: Emarah & B: Ahkam)

Allah the Highest does not ask to gain information from us, but to make people admit to their wrong doings for Allah the Highest knows all there is and all that happens in the Heavens and in the Earth, He said: "AND HE (ALLAH) HAS THE KEYS TO ALL HIDDEN THINGS, ONLY HE KNOWS IT, AND KNOW WHAT IS IN THE LAND AND SEA, AND THERE IS NOT A TREE LEAVE DROPS HE DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT, OR A GRAIN IN THE DARKNESS OF THE EARTH, AND NEITHER A WET OR DRY THING, BUT IS IN A CLEAR DECISIVE BOOK". (S: 6 A: 59)

No one can give the wrong answer to the Almighty who knows the answer.

Araf 1-3

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH THE MOST MERCIFUL THE MOST COMPASSIONATE

1- ALEF, LAM, MEEM, SAAD.

2- A BOOK WE SENT DOWN TO YOU SO NOT LET THERE BE ANY DOUBT INSIDE YOU, TO WARN PEOPLE WITH AND A REMINDER FOR THE BELIEVERS.

3- FOLLOW WHAT HAVE BEEN SENT DOWN TO YOU FROM YOUR LORD, AND DO NOT FOLLOW OTHERS AND MAKE THEM YOUR CLOSE KIN, BUT LITTLE WILL THEY REMEMBER.

The letters in the first Ayah are like the letters we find at the beginning of many Sorahs of the Quran, like Sorah Al-Baqarah.  What they mean is not understood.  They might however mean that the letters of the Arabic alphabetical have no meaning when haphazardly arranged.  Yet when Allah the almightily uses them, they become very eloquent and wise verses.

We should never thing of the Quran as a history book for every thing written in it applies to us, as well as to the Muslims in the times to come.

We should not have any doubt or question in our hearts that what Allah the Highest sent down in the Quran is the guidance to His straight path.  Allah the Highest said at the beginning of Sorah Al-Baqarah: "THIS BOOK, ABOUT WHICH THERE IS NO DOUBT, IS GUIDANCE FOR THE RIGHTEOUS THAT GUARD THEMSELVES FROM ALLAH'S DISPLEASURE" (S:2 A:2)

There are times when it is difficult for the Muslim to uphold Allah's teachings in the Quran and through Allah's messenger prayer and peace upon him.  We should remind ourselves them that the Quran is:

1-    Warning mankind that our deeds are recorded and counted.  That after death, there will be resurrection and judgment followed by the reward of Paradise or the Punishment of the Hell-Fire.  The Quran reminds and warns of these.  This reminder and warning are not mentioned once, but many times.

2-    The Commands and teachings of the Quran and through Allah's messenger prayer and peace upon him might come in conflict with what seems to be our interests in this life.  If this happens, the true believer has one option only which is to obey Allah the Highest and His messenger prayer and peace upon him.  This is then a test of our faith. Allah the Highest said: AND IF YOU OBEY THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, THEY WILL MISLEAD YOU AWAY FROM ALLAH'S PATH, FOR THEY FOLLOW NOTHING BUT THEIR GUESSING, AND THEY ARE LYING.  (S:6 A;116)

The majority of us obey some of the commands in the Quran some of the time, few will follow the majority of its teaching most of the time.  The majority of people do not believe.  Allah the Highest said: "AND THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WILL NOT BE BELIEVERS EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE KEEN FOR THEM TO BE".  (S:12 A:103)

We are often saddened that believing and following Allah and His messenger's commands is not the rule, but is the exception.  This is however how it has and will always be.

Anam 165 End of Sorah

165- HE (ALLAH) ALLAH IS WHO MADE YOU VICEROYS ON EARTH, AND RAISED SOME OF YOU DEGREES ABOVE OTHERS IN ORDER TO TEST YOU REGARDING WHICH HE HAS GIVEN YOU, YOUR LORD IS SWIFT IN RECKONING INDEED, AND HE IS MOST FORGIVING AND  MOST MERCIFUL.

Allah the Highest placed Adam and Eve on Earth and made them and their offspring His viceroys on earth.   The viceroy is the person who represents his Lord or Master and acts on his behalf.  The viceroy is meant to obey his lord and fulfill his will as well as serve him, and this is our mission as Allah's viceroys on Earth.

Allah the Highest has given mankind gifts of various kinds and levels.  Some of us has more mental strength and some has more mental ability, while others are artistic etc.

Whatever we have been given of wealth, power, ability, and authority are but gifts as well as tests for us in this life.  The test is in what we do with this gift.  Some give the gift its dues in using it to obey Allah and according to His will, while others do not.  Such gift and bounty may come between a person and his maker the bountiful.

Power can be used to uphold justice or to be unjust and wealth can be used to help others and to be charitable or to commit sin.  Allah's messenger prayer and peace upon him said: "Life is sweat and green, and Allah puts you in charge there to see what you are going to do; so protect yourselves from what is in this life, and protect your selves from women, for the first temptation Bano Israel had was women".  (Muslim: Zekr & Termezi;Fetan)

The wise believer should not just be pleased with what he has been given, but should carefully look and see what it is doing to him and what he is doing with it.   Then we should remember that every thing we say or do is recorded and the reckoning will be very swift, yet He is Most Forgiving and Most Merciful.  Allah's messenger prayer and peace upon him said: "Should the believer know the punishment, no one will have any hope in Paradise, and should the disbeliever know Allah's Mercy, no one will despair of going to Paradise.  Allah created Mercy into 100 parts, he gave one part to His creation to have mercy among them and kept 99 parts with him".  (Muslim & Termezi & Ahmed)

Anam 164

164- SAY: "WOULD I SEEK A LORD OTHER THAN ALLAH WHO IS THE LORD OF ALL THINGS, AND EVERY SOUL BEARS ONLY WHAT IT HAS EARNED, NO ONE BEARS THE SINS OF ANOTHER, AND THEN YOU WILL BE RETURNING TO YOUR LORD WHO WILL INFORM YOU CONCERNING WHAT YOU DIFFERED ABOUT.

A lord is different from god.  A lord is in charge of things, and takes care of his charge.  Therefore, there can be a lord of the home, place, country etc.  The Lord however is the Lord of all creation in the heavens and in the Earth, those we know and those we do not know.  Allah the Highest created them, and is in charge of them all the time, as is eloquently narrated in Sorah Al-Baqarah "ALLAH, THERE IS NO GOD OTHER THAN HIM, THE LIVING AND THE SUSTAINER.  NEITHER SLUMBER NOR SLEEP OVERTAKES HIM.  TO HIM BELONGS ALL THERE IS IN THE HEAVENS AND IN THE EARTH.  WHO IS HE WHO MAY INTERCEDE TO HIM EXCEPT WITH HIS PERMISSION?  HE KNOWS WHAT IS BEFORE THEM AND WHAT IS BEHIND THEM, BUT THEY KNOW NONE OF HIS KNOWLEDGE EXCEPT WHAT HE WILLS.  HIS CHAIR EMBRACES THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH AND HE NEVER TIRES OF KEEPING THEM, AND HE IS THE HIGHEST THE GREATEST". (S: 2 A: 255)

Allah the Highest being in charge of all things, is the One we should seek for help, as we should say in our Salah at least 17 times daily "ONLY YOU WE WORSHIP AND ONLY YOU WE SEEK FOR HELP". (S: 1 A: 5)

The lords seek the Help of The Lord, for He is the Lord of the lords. 

Allah the Highest informs of two important principles concerning judgment: 

1-   Every soul bears only what it has earned of good or bad deeds. 

2-   No one will bear the bad deeds of others; it will not pass from father to son etc.  Allah the Highest said: "AND IF A HEAVILY LADEN SOUL IS CALLS FOR ITS BURDEN TO BE CARRIED FOR IT, NON OF IT WILL BE CARRIED, NOT EVEN BY A CLOSE KIN".  (S:35 A:18)

For bearing the consequences of the wrong some one else committed is unjust, and Allah the Highest is not unjust.  Yet Allah the Highest might reward us for a good deed someone else does, for this is generous, and Allah the Highest is the Most Generous.

On the Day of Resurrection at Judgment, each of us will see and read the book of his/her deeds, minor and major, good and bad, not missing any thing.  Some will like what they read while others will be terrified.  "AND THE BOOK IS PUT DOWN, AND YOU WILL SEE THE SINFUL FEARFUL OF WHAT IS THEREIN, AND SAY: 'HOW TERRIBLE FOR US, THIS BOOK DOES NOT LEAVE ANYTHING; MINOR OR MAJOR WITHOUT ACCOUNTING FOR, AND THEY FOUND WHAT THEY DID THERE, FOR YOUR LORD IS NOT UNJUST TO ANYONE".  (S: 18 A: 49)   

Anam 161-163

161- SAY: MY LORD HAS GUIDED ME TO A THE STRAIGHT PATH, AN UPRIGHT RELIGION, THE RELIGION OF IBRAHIM WHO WAS PURE IN FAITH AND WAS NOT OF THE IDLE WORSHIPPERS.

162- SAY: MY SALAH, RITES, LIFE AND DEATH ARE FOR ALLAH THE LORD OF ALL BEINGS.

163- HE HAS NO PARTNERS, THIS IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN COMMANDED TO DO, AND I AM IN THE FOREFRONT OF THE MUSLIMS.

The straight path to Allah the Highest is the religion sent us.  This religion includes in Allah the Highest, the Day of Resurrection, books, and messengers, and fate, and living the way Allah the Highest wants for us, which is detailed in Allah's Book and the example and teachings of His messenger prayer and peace upon him.

Allah the Highest describes His religion, Islam as "AND UPRIGHT RELIGION".  The Arabic word means oversees and takes care of.  Certainly Islam takes care of every aspect of our life. 

Ibrahim peace upon him was the father of the prophets, and who called us Muslims.  This is the religion of Moses and Jesus peace upon them and reached its perfect and final form in the Message of Mohamed prayer and peace upon him.  Allah the Highest said:"TODAY I COMPLETED YOUR RELIGION FOR YOU AND PERFECTED MY BOUNTY UPON YOU AND AM SATISFIED WITH ISLAM AS YOUR RELIGION". (S: 5 A: 3)

Our life, worship, and death should be for and according to the way Allah the Highest decided for us.  We should not consider any person or thing or idea to be equal to and more worthy of following than Allah, our Lord and God.  We should be sincere in faith and obedient in actions. 

All articles of faith and belief are in certain degrees and grades, faith may be strong or weak; our worship and our trust in God might be strong or weak.  The believers should not be satisfied with the back seats, or with being low down on matters of faith, but try to be of the front runners and the foremost, they get the special prize of being closer to Allah the Highest as Ibrahim peace upon him was.  Allah the Highest said: "AND THE FOREMOST THE FOREMOST * THEY ARE THE ONES DRAWN NEAR (TO GOD) * IN THE GARDENS OF DELIGHT * A GROUP OF THE EARLY ONES * AND FEW OF THE LATER ONES".  (S: 56 A: 10-14)

We ask Allah to be among them.