010-4e The Cave 18:35 - Will my garden perish?

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

The meaning of Verse 35

He then entered his garden in a sinful manner saying,

"I do not think that my garden will ever perish forever"


====================================================
Imam Jalalain commented that :-

He brought his friend to see his garden. His friend was a pious man, while he was an unbeliever.

Harun Yahya wrote in his book "Signs of The End Times in Surat Al-Kahfi" that this man is ungrateful and clearly displayed his disrespect for ALLAH by asserting that no disaster would ever touch his garden.

In short he claimed to be equal to GOD, because, only GOD knows best wether disaster will fall on a person or on a thing or it will not, as mention in the following verses from The Quran;

"That is so you will know ALLAH knows what is in the heavens and in the Earth. And ALLAH has knowledge of all things"
[Chapter 3 Al-Ma'idah : 7]

"The keys of the Unseen are in HIS posession. No one knows them but HIM. HE knows everything in the land and sea. No leaf fall without HIS knowing it. There is no seed in the darkness of the ground, and nothing moist or dry, which is not in a Clear Book." [Chapter Al-An'am : 59]

My wealth is more than yours

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of The Quran,

Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi Verses 32 to 34

The meaning of Verse 32
And give them a parable of two men. WE made for one of them two gardens of vineyards and surrounded them withdate palms and in between the two gardens WE have made a field of grain.


====================================================
Imam Jalalain commented that:-
1) The one with 2 gardens is an unbeliever of

The Truth.
2) The field of grain provide him regular staple food.

The meaning of Verse 33
The two gardens produced fruits

and were not discrimated even a little bit.

And WE made rivers flow in between the two gardens.

The meaning of Verse 34
And he had plenty of fruits. So he said to his friend when they were talking together;

"My wealth is more than yours

and

my followers are stronger."

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+

Insya ALLAH we will continue with the next verses

009-7 The Cave 18:31 Gold Bracelets, silk & brocade

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

The meaning of Verse 31

For them are the Paradise of Aden, with rivers flowing underneath them.

In that paradise they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and will wear fine green silk and brocade.

They will be seated in a relaxed and leaning position on a raised platform.

Those are the best rewards and the most pleasant resting place.

====================================================

Imam Jalalain commented that :-

1) They will live in the Paradise of Aden, which

Muhammad Asad later commented are gardens of perpetual

bliss, that is endless perfect joy

2) The grammar may indicate that the bracelets are

only some of the many other ornaments.

3) It is mentioned in The Quran

Chapter 55

Ar-Rahman

Verse 54 ;

"In the inner side are from brocade"

[which I supposed explained the reason why in this

verse 31 is mentioned both 'fine silk and brocade' in one sentence].

4) The raised platforms are like the platforms in traditional Malay weddings, where the brides and bridegrooms will be seated and treated like kings and queens. There will also be many kinds of decorations, clothings and curtains.

009-6 The Cave 18:30 GOD determines everything

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

The meaning of Verse 30

"Certainly, for those who believe The Truth

and do good deeds,

WE will not hold back their rewards."


====================================================

Imam Jalalain commented in detailed grammatical arguments

to derive the inner meaning that GOD will certainly give rewards

to those who believe The Truth according to their good deeds.

Harun Yahya wrote that

ALLAH encompasses everything that humanity does.

ALLAH gives reward for those deeds that comply with the Quran's morality.

That is, we must do amal soleh according tothe guidance of the Quran.
Then ALLAH will reward us with Paradise (Jannah).

In other chapters of the Quran ALLAH says;

"Everything in the heavens and earth

belongs to ALLAH,

HE can repay those who do evil for what they did,

and repay those who do good with the very best"

[Surah An-Najm verse 31]

"Yes. the friends of ALLAH

will feel no fear and will know no sorrow.

Those who believe and guard against evil,

there is good news for them in this world

and the Hereafter.

There is no change the words of ALLAH.

That is the great victory"

[Surah Yunus verse 62-64]

===will be continued in nest email InsyaALLAH===

009-5 The Cave 18:29 - Boiling water will scald the faces

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

The meaning of Verse 29

Say, "The Truth is from your Lord. Who wants to believe, let them believe. And who wants to reject, let them reject."

We have prepare for those who reject The Truth, fire, which will surround them from all sides like a wall.

And when they beg for drinking water, they will be given drinking water hot like molten lead, or boiling oil, which will scald their faces.

How dreadful is the drink! How miserable is that resting place (Hell).

====================================================

Imam Jalalain commented that :-

1) the sentence,

"And who wants to reject, let them reject." is a warning from God. It is not an option.

2) the word 'resting place' in this verse has a negatif meaning. It is an opposite to Verse 31 later in this same Chapter 18, which means;

"And Paradise is the most pleasant resting place"

It must be understood in this way, as it is not appropiate to say that Hell is a 'resting place'.


=====to be continued if GOD's will========

007-1e The Cave 18 : 27 - Read, Learn & Convey

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi (The Cave)

Literal Translation of verse 27.
And read to them what has been revealed to you, that is, the Book of your Lord. No one can change HIS Words. And you will not find a place for refuge other than HIM.


The Commentaries

The 2 imam Jalalain interpreted this verse as written above and he interpreted refuge as aplace for protection.


Muhammad Asad interpreted this verse as
"to convey to the world whatever has been revealed to you".

He said that the statement
'nothing can change God's Words',

according to Razi and Abu Muslim al-Isfahani, this sentence means that, there is no such thing as "Doctrine of Abrogation" which is better known in Arabic as the term "Nasich wal Mansuch". [1]


[1] There does not exist a single Tradition or narration of any kind, that Prophet Muhammad ever declared a verse of the Quran have been "abrogated" or have been replaced by another verse. This doctrine was formulated by some commentators who were unable to reconcile one verse with another. This "Doctrine of Abrogation" has no basis in historical fact, and must be rejected.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali, briefly interpreted this verseas to recite and teach the revelation of the Quran.None can change God's commands, Decrees and Orders.And you cannot find as protection other than HIM.

Prof Mahmud Yunus interpreted the meaning of this verse as "Read! O Muhammad whatever that has been revealed to you, that is your God's Book. None canchange HIS words and you will never find any protection other than HIM.

006-5e Historical events on miraculous sleep for 300 years

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

This is a continuation on the historical events related to the revelation of this Chapter 18.

Ibnu Mardawaih brought forward another hadis from Ibnu Abbas who narrated that when verse 25 of Chapter 18 was revealed which means;

"And they stayed in their cave three hundred."

the companions of the Prophet asked,

"O Messenger of ALLAH, is it 300 years or months?"

So ALLAH revealed the continuation of the verse as follows,

"years and add nine".

Ibnu Jarir brought forward another hadis via the chain of Adh Dhahak. And this same hadis was also brought forward by Ibnu Mardawaihfrom the chain of Ibnu Abbas who narrated that The Prophet uttered a vow. Then, only 40 nights later ALLAH sent down HIS revelation;

"And never say of anything,

'Certainly, I shall do that tomorrow.'
except, 'if God wills it'.

And remember your Lord.

When you forget, then say,
'May my Lord shows me nearer

to this Truth.'"

[Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi Verse 23-24]

My Note:

We have discussed this subject of 309 years in the previous posting

on the meaning of verse 23 & 24.

Please refer my previous older post.

Thank you for reading my post.

Please write to me your comments.

006-4e1 Continuation of the Historical events on The Cave

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

So the 2 delegates returned to the unbelievers Quraisy people and said,"We return to you with matters between you and Muhammad."

Then the Quraisy went to meet Prophet Muhammad and asked him the 3 questions.

Prophet Muhammad replied,

"I will tell you the answer tomorrow." without saying, if GOD wills.

Then they went away and Prophet Muhammad was silent for 15 days waiting for revelation from GOD for the answers, but, the angel Gabriel did not come down with the revelation and answer from GOD. There were commotions among the Meccan people.

Meanwhile, Prophet Muhammad was in a sad and difficult situation because the revelation has stopped coming to him with the answers.

Then, the angel Gabriel came with the revelation of this Chapter 18 of the Quran.

In these verses are the answers to the 3 questions regarding the history of the 7 youths who went for seclusion in the Cave and the man who conquered the Far West and Far East.

However, the verse for the answer about the spirit was categorised as a verse in

Chapter 17 - Al Isra' Verse 85.

"They asked you about the spirit. Tell them that the spirit come from my Lord and you will not understand its nature as you have been granted very little knowledge."

*Note
[Both Muhammad Asad and Abdullah Yusuf Ali were of the opinion that, by the spirit, it was meant to be the nature of the revelations that were brought down by angel Gabriel, and not meant to be the soul, as it was generally understood, by other commentators.]

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

{page 2 of the above continuation}

Ibnu Murdawaih brought forward a hadis from Ibnu Abbas, a companion of Prophet Muhammad, who narrated, that, one day there was a meeting of the unbelieving Quraisy people.

Among them were Atabah ibnu Rabi'ah, Syaibah ibnu Rabi'ah, Abu Jahal ibnu Hisyam, An Nadhr ibnu Harits, Umayyah ibnu Khalaf, Al Ashi ibnu Wa'il, Al Aswad ibnu Abdul Muthalib and Abu Buhturi.

Seeing that, Prophet Muhammad was very heavily saddened by their rejection of his call. Thus GOD reveal to him the following verseof the Quran,

"So perhaps you will destroy and kill yourself, in grief, after they turn away from you and do not believe in the explanation of the Quran, because you are sad, as you really wanted them to believe."

[CHAPTER 18 - AL-KAHFI Verse 6]

GOD is giving us some kind of counselling on how to live in this world. All that GOD wants from us is to convet the message, but we do not have to ensure that people will listen and follow our mission.

Accepting the message of GOD is purely with the will of GOD himself. HE will choose who among mankind will believe and follow.

Of course GOD can change what HE has decided on. HE has HIS wishes. HE can make us go to Heaven, if we really work very hard for it, even after HE has decided that we go to Hell.

HE is the MOST POWERFUL GOD. HE does what HE likes. You and I cannot question HIM.

Our duty is live this life a good way. The rest is all in the hands of GOD.

Do not be depressed of what happen in this world.

Do not be angry with what other people do, but be mindful about what we do.

006-3e Historical events of The Cave

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

We pause for a while to focus on the historical events relating to the revelation of the Sleepers of the Cave. In short the unbelievers of Mecca did not believe that Prophet Muhammad is a prophet. This chapter in the Quran revealed to them and to us that Prophet Muhammad is a prophet to lead mankind to the real success in this world and the Hereafter.

Allow me to call you to reflect on the purpose why we live in this world. This life on Earth is temporary, just as what was told to us by Prophets Abraham, Eshmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. We will return to the Kingdom of GOD, in the Hereafter, when this world and the universe come to an End.

Somehow, some people in history changed the evidences and created differences between the religion brought by the prophets mentioned above.

Let us be united again as one mankind because the END of the Worlds is very near around the corner. Let us be saved and returned to The Almighty God, Lord of the Worlds with HIS acceptance.

Yeah....I agree with you. Who is GOD?

I have no answer for you. You have to find HIM on your own. It starts with your sincere eagerness and dedtermination to find HIM in your pure hearts.

Lets now look back into the Commentary in Tafsir Jalalain.

Asbabun Nuzul [1] on Chapter 18 The Cave.

In the name of The God Most Compassionate Most Merciful

Ibnu Jarir brought forward a hadis [2] via the narration of Ibnu Ishaq who received it from a Syekh in Egypt, who received it from Ikrimah, and Ikrimahreceived it from a companion of the Prophet, Ibnu Abbas, who narrated that, once the unbelieving Quraisy peoplesent An Nadhr ibnul Harits and Uqbah ibnu Abu Muithas delegation to the Jewish Rabbis in Madinah.

The Quraisy requested the 2 delegates to ask the Rabbis,"Ask them about Muhammad and the news that he brought, because they were the first community to be given the Holy Sciptures. They had the knowledge about the prophets which we do not have."

When the 2 delegates reached Madinah they immediately asked the Rabbis about Muhammad's claim as a prophet and some of what he said.

The Rabbis advised the 2 delegates,
"Ask Muhammad about 3 things. If he can answer them, then he is a true prophet. If he cannot answer them, then he is a fake. Ask him about the youths of the past who went for seclusion from their people, ask him about a man who conquered the Far West and Far East, and ask him about the spirit, What is spirit?"



- - - - will be continued with God's will- - - - - - - - -

Footnote:

[1] Asbabun Nuzul can be understood as the historicalincidents or events that occured before or after a certain verses of the Quran was revealed. Literally, it means "reasons for coming down".

[2] hadis = saying of Prophet Muhammad

THE CONSTELLATIONS

The Quran Chapter 85
THE CONSTELLATIONS

In the name of ALLAH,
the Beneficient, the Merciful


By the heaven with its constellations
By the promised day
By the witness and that which is witnessed
Slain be the men of the Pit


The fire abounding in fuel
When they sat around it
Watching what they did to the believers


They took vengeance on them for no reason
except that because they believed in ALLAH
The Almighty, the Praised One
The Sovereign of the heavens and the earth
Who witnesses everything


Those who persecute the believers
men and women and do not repent
Shall suffer the chatisement of hell,
the chatisement of burning



But those who believe and do righteous deeds
Shall have gardens with flowing rivers
That is the great success


Stern indeed is your Lord’s vengeance
HE is surely the ONE who originates
HIS creation and re-creates them


HE is All-forgiving, Compassionate,
Lord of the Throne, the Glorious,
Performer of what HE wills

Have you heard the story of the warriors
Of Pharoah and Thamud


Yet the disbelievers persists in their denials
But ALLAH surround them all


This is indeed a glorious Quran
Insribed on a well-guarded tablet.

006-1e The Cave 18:25 - They slept in the cave for 300 years ! ! !

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

Literal Translation of verse 25.

And they stayed in their cave three hundred years andadd nine.

Commentary by Jalalain.
And they stayed in their cave 300 years.The calculation of 300 years was based on the countingsystem during the period of the Men of the Cave, which was based on the solar calendar. And when interpreted to the lunar calendar used by the Arabs, an addition of 9 yearsis necessary.

Commentary by Muhammad Asad.
And some people assert that they remained in their cavefor three hundred years, and some have added nine to that numbers.

Muhmmad Asad wrote in his footnote that Abdullah Ibnu Mas'ud, Qatadah, Tabari, Zamakhshari and Ibnu Kathir had their views noted in their marginal explanatory remarks oftheir commentary of the Quran, that this verse has connection with verse 22.

Commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.

So they stayed in their cave 300 hundred years, and some add 9 more.

[My understanding is that, 300 years in solar calendar would amount to 309 in lunar calendar. As this history was carried forward from the Christian sources, the narrationwas calculated based on Gregorian solar calendar, which when interpretated with Islamic lunar calendar is 309 years.]

======================================================

005-7e The Cave 18 : 21 Signs of Doomsday

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

Literal Translation of verse 21.

That is how we show them, so that they know that the promise of God is true, and that there is no doubt about the coming of The Hour. When they were contradicting about their affair, some people said,

"Let us built on their cave a building. Their Lord knows best about them."

The people who were dominating their affair said,

"We will built on it a place of worship."

Commentary by Jalalain.

The awakening of the people of the cave, is a sign of the truth of the Day of Resurrection and also as a sign to all people, that ALLAH, The Most Powerful, can put them to death for a long time in their sleep and their body were still intact without food and drink. Thus ALLAH is Very Powerful to bring the dead back to life.

The people of the town had conflicting opinion about building a memorial structure at the location of the cave. The non-religious people preferred a building to cover them up, while the dominating religious faction unanimously agreed to build a house of worship at the entrance of the cave.

Muhammad Taqiuddin Al-Hilali

commented that it was, most probably, the non-religious faction of the people who won the case and build a house of worship over them.

Commentary by Muhammad Asad.

And in this way We have drawn people's attention to their story, so that they know that God's promise of resurrection is true, and there is no doubt about the coming of the Last Hour.

Some people suggest to build a memorial building. Finally, the prevailed opinion agreed to built a house of worship in their memory.

Note that Muhammad Asad did not mentioned wether they were religous or non-religious factions.

Harun Yahya

mentioned in his book "Signs of the End Times in Surat Al-Kahfi",

that, this verse contains clear signs of the End Times and The Hour.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!to be continued!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

005-4e The Cave - Chapter 18 : Verse 18

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

Literal Translation of verse 18.
And you would have thought that they were awake, but they were asleep. We tossed them around to the right and to the left, while their dog stretched it's legs in front of the cave. And if you would have seen them, surely, you would have turn around and ran away with fear.

Imam Jalalain wrote that, if you would have seen them, you would think they were not asleep because their eyes were opened. God tossed them around so that their flesh was not worn out by the earth, while their dog strecthed it's front legs forward outside the mouth of the cave. When the youth tossed around, their dog also did the same. The dog was also sleeping although it's eyes were opened. Allah protected them by instilling fear to anyone who wanted to enter their cave, such that they were in a peacefully seclusion.

Dr Taqiuddin Al-Hilali & Dr Muhammad Muhsin Khan commented similar as the literal meaning above but added that the dog stretched its 2 forelegs at the entrance of the cave as a guard of the gate. Had you looked at them you would turn back and would have been filled with awe.

Muhammad Asad wrote that God turned them over repeatedly to the right and left and their dog lay on the threshold with its paws outstretched. An accidental onlooker would felt the mystic, awe-inspiring aura that surrounded the Men of the Cave, and would become concious that he stood before God's elect. This was the opinion of Iman Tabari, Razi, Ibnu Katsir and Baydawi.

+++++++++++++++++++++to be continued++++++++++++++++++++

005-3e The Cave 18 : 17 The sun did not shine on them

Translation, Commentary & Explanation of Chapter 18 Al-Kahfi.

Literal Translation of verse 17.
And you will see that when the sun rise, it will be slanting to the right of their cave, and when the sun set, it will be slanting to the left, while they were in a spacious place in the cave. This is a sign of God. Whomsoever, God give guidance will be guided, and whom Heled astray, you will never find a guide to show them the way.

Commentary by Jalalain.
The sun ray did not touched them during sunrise and sunset. While they were in a spacious cave where there were free flow of fresh cooling breeze. This is a proof of the Greatness of God.

Commentary by Dr Taqiuddin & Dr Muhammad Muhsin Khan.
During sunrise the sun was declining to the right from the cave, and during sunset it was declining to the left. While they lay in the midst of the cave. That is one of the signs of Allah. He whom Allah guides, is rightly guided. He whom He sends astray, for him you will find no guiding friend to lead him to the right path.

Commentary by Muhammad Asad.
The rising sun incline away from their cave on the right, and the setting sun, turn aside from them on the left, while they lived on in that spacious chamber.
The cave opened to the north, so the that heat of the sun never disturbed them. I believe this is an echo of the many Quranic allusions to the hapiness of the righteous in paradise, i.e. in everlasting shades.

Commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.
The latitude of Ephesus was 38 degree North and well above the sun's northern declination. As the mouth of the cave was facing North, it would never have the heat of the sun within it, as the sunny side would be the south. If the youths lay on their backs with their faces looking to the north entrance of the cave, the sun would rise on their right and set on their left, leaving them cool and comfort. Such are among the signs of Allah.

The youths were rightly guided. As they had faith and trust in God, they found safety and refuge in the cave. They wereprotected from the persecution and violence of the Emperor.

Note: As you would have noticed, I am not translating the commentaries word for word, but more like a summary.

========With the will of God this will be continued=========