Introduction
God has infinite wisdom being the Most Wise (al-hakeem) repeated 88 times in the Quran, and so does the Quran (36:2 and 44:4). He has told us in the Quran to study the Word (Quran) and follow the best thereof to be the guided ones being possessors of intelligence (39:18). He warns us not to guess or rush to know certain words or phrases placing after this expression to better understand the message as explained to avoid misinterpretation or confusion: “maa adraaka” (ما أَدرىٰكَ), which can be translated to “What has made you know?” in perfect tense or just simply converting it to imperfect tense “Do you know?” as question or wonder expression followd by those words or phrases are given further explanation to derive the appropriate message in the contexts. However, there are 13 occurrences of this expression in the Quran, which are studied reflecting to the statements followed by this expression.
Instances of maa adraaka
[69:1] The incontestable.
[69:2] What is the incontestable?
[69:3] And do you know (wa-maa adraaka) what al-haaqqah is?
[69:4] Had denied Thamud and Ad in the disaster.
[69:5] As for Thamud, they had been destroyed by the devastating (earthquake).
[69:6] And as for Ad, they had been destroyed by a wind of violent storm.
[69:7] He has imposed it upon them for seven nights and eight days in succession that you could see the people fallen therein as if they were decayed trunks of date-palms.
[69:8] Do you then see any remains of them?
[69:9] And had come to Pharaoh and whoever of his before, and the overturned cities with the sin.
[69:10] As they had disobeyed a messenger of their Lord; so, He seized them with a devastating seizure.
[69:11] Indeed, when we had overflowed the water, we carried you on the floating ark.
[69:12] That we might make it a reminder for you, and a listening ear would be a listener of it.
Note: The destruction of Thamud, Ad, the people of Pharaoh and the people of Noah in the past for denying their messengers was the incontstable, which is also a reminder for the people of the subsequent generations that they would be listeners having listening ears.
[69:13] Then when has been blown in the horn a single blow.
[69:14] And has been moved the earth and the mountains, then they have been crushed a single crushing.
[69:15] Then that day has occurred the occurrence.
[69:16] The heaven has split, so it is on that day a frail.
Note: Also the end of the world is the incontestable when all the people will be gathered before their Lord to rceive their compensation for what they had done, while God has given us a short description how the world will come to an end, and it will happen when the trumpet is blown.
[74:23] Then he has turned back and has been arrogant.
[74:24] Then he said, “This is not except it is imitated magic!
[74:25] This is not except a word of the human.”
[74:26] I will cast him into Saqar.
[74:27] And do you know (wa-maa adraaka) what saqar is?
[74:28] It does not let to stay nor does it let to leave.
[74:29] Obvious to the humans.
Note: An intellectual punishment of the individual who is destined to unveil the mathematical coding of the Quran referring to Saqar indicating his accomplishments and mistakes that will stay with him even when he will not be among us while we may also reflect to the fact that God did not hide any mistakes made by the prophet as well (80:1-3 and 22:52).
[77:12] That is what has been postponed for a Day?
[77:13] For a Day of the Decision.
[77:14] And do you know (wa-maa adraaka) what yawmu al-fasl is?
[77:38] This is a Day of the Decision when we have gathered you including the earlier people.
Note: A Day of the Decision is explained when we all will be gathered before our Lord.
[82:13] Indeed, the righteous will surely be in bliss.
[82:14] And indeed, the wicked will surely be in the Hellfire.
[82:15] They will burn in it on a Day of the Judgment.
82:16] And they will not be of the disappeared ones from it.
[82:17] And do you know (wa-maa adraaka) what yawmu al-deen is?
[82:18] Then, do you know (thumma maa adraaka) what yawmu al-deen is?
[82:19] The day when no soul will have any power for any other soul, and all decision (wa-al-armru) on that day belongs to God.
Note: It has not only been explained but has also been emphasized mentioning the expression twice that all decision on a Day of the Judgment belongs to God while believing in intercession by any intercessors is a myth.
[83:7] Nay, indeed, a record of the wicked is in Sijjeen.
[83:8] And do you know (wa-maa adraaka) what sijjeenun is?
[83:9] A written record (kitaabun marquumun).
[83:10] Woe on that day to the deniers.
[83:11] Those who deny in a Day of the Judgment (bi-yawmi al-deen).
[83:18] Nay, indeed, a record of the righteous will surely be in `Illiyyeen.
[83:19] And do you know (wa-maa adraaka) what `illiyyuuna is?
[83:20] A written record (kitaabun marquumun).
[83:21] It is witnessed by those who brought near.
Note: The deniers will be judged based on their record termed as “Sijjin” and those who brought them closer to God will also be judged based on their record termed “Illiyun” while “Sijjin” indicates the bad record and “`Illiyun” indicates the good record. It is also noteworthy that two recorders (angels) on our right and left are recording everything (50:17) while the disbelievers will receive their records in left hands and the believers will receive their record in right hands, and the Arabic text, kitaabun marquumun translated to numerically structured book is an incorrect interpretation and translation.
[86:1] By the heaven and Al-Taariq (86:1).
[86:2] And do you know (wa-maa adraaka) what al-taariq is?
[86:3] The bright star.
Note: al-taariq is spelled out to be the bright star used in the previous statement of God’s oath so that we reflect His creation as a sign to strengthen our belief in Him.
[90:10] And have we not shown him the two paths?
[90:11] Then he has not strived for the steep path.
[90:12] And do you know (wa-maa adraaka) what al-`aqabah is?
[90:13] The freeing of slaves.
[90:14] Or feeding in a day of hunger.
[90:15] An orphan of near relation.
[90:16] Or a poor when is in need.
Note: The literal meaning of al-`aqabah is the steep path is clearly detailed out with a bundle of duties for those who believe and exhort one another to be steadfast.
[97:1] Indeed, we have revealed it (Quran) in a Night of the Power.
[97:2] And do you know (wa-maa adraaka) what laylat al-qadr is?
[97:3] A Night of the Power is better than a thousand months.
[97:4] The angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) descend therein by their Lord’s permission with every command.
[97:5] Peace it is until the advent of the dawn.
Note: The process of completion of revealing the entire Quran is described to pay our proper attention to use it as our guidance while any extra ritual including annual observance around the night of the historical event is a misconception.
[101:1] The Shocker.
[101:2] What is the Shocker.
[101:3] And do you know (wa-maa adraaka) what al-qari`atu is?
[101:4] The day when the people come out like swarms of butterflies.
[101:5] And the mountains will be like fluffy wool.
Note: al-qari`ah literally means the shocker dealing with events may be unbelieving to many of us.
[101:8] And as for whoever has been light in his weights.
[101:9] Then his abode is pit.
[101:10] And do you know (wa-maa adraaka) what hiyah is?
[101:11] A blazing Fire.
Note: hiyah literally means “it” referring to a blazing fire, which states the allegorical punishment to be used for the wicked.
[104:2] Who has gathered wealth and has counted it.
[104:3] He thinks that his wealth has made him immortal.
[104:4] Nay! Surely, he will be thrown into th Crusher (al-hutamati.
[104:5] And do you know (wa-maa adraaka) what al-hutamah is?
[104:6] A kindled Fire of God.
[104:7] Which reaches over the hearts.
Note: The literal meaning of al-hutamah indicates a severe torment in the Fire kindled by God, which penetrate to the hearts stating the allegorical punishment to be used for the wicked.
Mathematical confirmation
There are 13 occurrences of the expression, maa adraaka in 13 verses across 10 suras in the Quran, which are followed up by an explanation with 28 verses. Hence, the total number of verses that deal with the expression is 41. If the relevant sura and verse numbers are added, the sum is a multiple of 19 => 1387 (19x73) [see details in the table below]:
Note: This mathematical confirmation is an explicit proof of the verses linked to each expression of maa adraaka including explanation from the follow up verses. The occurrences of maa adraaka are highlighted orange in the table while the follow up verses are colorless and the follow up verses that are logically linked are highlighted green.
Conclusion
13 occurrences of the expression, maa adraaka found in 13 verses of the Quran along with 28 verses as followed up explanations are reviewed. The followed up explanations are about: (1) al-haaqqah is a day of inevitable, (2) saqar is an intellectual retribution of the individual destined to unveil the mathematical coding of the Quran, (3) yawmu al-fasl is a Day of the Decision upon gathering before God, (4) yawmu al-deen is a Day of the Judgment- all decision belongs to God, (5) sijjin is a written record of the wicked while (6) `illiyun is a written record of the righteous, (7) al-taariq is bright star to reflect on the creation of God, (8) al-`aqabah is the steep path with a bundle of duties, (9) laylat al-qadr is a Night of the Power of revealing the entire Quran, (10) al-qari`ah is the shocker that seems to be unbelievable (11) hiyah is blazing fire and (12) al-hutamah is a severe punishment.
The world will come to an end is inevitable. The occurrences and warnings of the day are explained for us so that we can prepare ourselves for the day to avoid any miserable consequences as we would not be able to hide anything from our Lord when we meet Him. The day is a Day of the Decision upon gathering before God while the day is a Day of the Judgment and all decision on that day belongs to God. Hence, there is no intercession by any intercessors on that day and believing in intercession is a myth. But it is a tragedy that about 4 billion people who claim themselves Christians and Muslims believe in intercession on that day. The Christians believe that Jesus will save them while the Muslims believe that Muhammad will save them through the power of intercession with God as both of them are very close to Him. It is also noteworthy that the mention of the expression twice and the follow up explanation to be all decision on a Day of the Judgment belongs to God eliminates occurring of any such event.
The judgment will take place based on an individual written record. The deniers of a Day of the Judgment will be judged based on their record received in their left hands (69:25) as the bad record to be “sijjin” and those who brought them closer to God will also be judged based on their record received in their right hands (69:19, 84:7) as the good record to be “`illiyun” as we know that two recorders (angels) on our right and left are recording everything (50:17). Now we may reflect to the fact that to mean sijjin and `illiyoon being numerically structured books to consider a connection to the mathematical coding of Quran would be a misinterpretation instead of to mean a written record.
There is a prophecy in the Quran that a messenger will come to confirm the delivery of all the scripture (3:81 and 33:7), and what we know now that he is destined to unveil the mathematical coding of the Quran (74:30-37). Saqar is spelled out to be an intellectual punishment with respect to his accomplishments and mistakes that will stay with him even when he will not be among people while it does not mean Hell translated by many translators. We may also reflect to the fact that God did not hide any mistakes made by the prophet as well (80:1-3 and 22:52).
laylat al-qadr refers to a special night of revealing the entire Quran indicating the significance of the night to be better than a thousand months. The process is described to pay our proper attention to use the Quran as our guidance while any extra ritual including annual observance around the night of the historical event is a misconception. However, we are confused about the event to be a recurrent one for long because of the use of the present tense in the followed up explanation especially the misinterpretation of the statement in the verse (97:4). The completion of the process before the dawn indicates that the event took place between the night and the dawn prayer is a significant historical event to reflect to prepare ourselves for the Hereafter with what has been revealed in the night clarifying wisdom of all matter.
al-taariq is the bright star to reflect on the creation of God as a sign to strengthen our belief in Him while al-`aqabah is the steep path is detailed out with a bundle of duties for those who have believed and have exhorted one another to be steadfast. hiyah means “it” but refers to a blazing fire, which states the allegorical punishment of the wicked while al-hutamah is a severe torment in the Fire kindled by God, which penetrate to the hearts states the allegorical punishment of the wicked as well.
This study with an explicit proof may help us to be certain instilling belief in our hearts about the day of inevitable, a Day of the Decision and a Day of the Judgment while the judgment will take place based on our record brought with us. There are also opportunities to avoid misinterpretation of Saqar to be Hell instead of intellectual punishment and of laylat al-qadr to be an recurrent event instead of a significant historical event and to follow the Quran as our guidance, mercy and healing to see our success and eternal happiness.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (3/2/2018).
