Journey of Muhammad to the farthest place of prostration
- Glory to the One who had taken by night His servant from the sacred place of prostration to the farthest place of prostration, which We had blessed surrounding of it that We show him among Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearer, the Seer (17:1).
Note: Not Muhammad as a person but his soul was taken to the ultimate point to inspire the Quran all at once into his soul by God Himself, which has been confirmed in (53:10) and also he saw the great signs of his Lord, which has been confirmed in (53:18).
Punishment of Children of Israel for their misbehavior
- And We had given Moses the scripture and made it a guidance for the children of israel, that you do not take any advocate other than Me (17:2). The descendants of whoever We had carried with Noah; indeed, he had been a grateful servant. (17:3). And We had decreed to the children of israel in the scripture, “That you will surely cause corruption twice in the earth, and that you will surely rise up to an extreme arrogance.” (17:4). So when there had come the promise of the first of the two, We had raised against you servants of Us having great might, so they entered inside the homes, and it had been a promise fulfilled (17:5). TThen We had given back to you the victory over them, and We had strengthened you with wealth and children, and We had made you more powerful (17:6).If you had done good, you had done good for your souls, and if you had done evil, so it is for them. Then when there had come the second promise, to sadden your faces, and to enter the place of prostration as that they had entered it the first time, and to destroy what they had raised up with a destroying (17:7). It may have been that your Lord will have mercy on you, but if you have returned, We have returned; and We have made Hell for the disbelievers a gathering place (17:8).
Quran guides the believers to that which is exact straight
- Indeed, this – the Quran guides to that which is exact straight, and gives good news to the believers those who do the righteous deeds, that for them there is a great reward (17:9). And that those who do not believe in the hereafter, We have prepared for them a painful retribution (17:10). And the human being calls for the evil at his call for the good, as the human being has been very hasty (17:11). And We have made the night and the day two signs. Then We have removed the sign of the night, and We have made the sign of the day brightened, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the years and the calculation. And everything, We have explained it in detail (17:12).
Record is tied to everyone’s neck
- And for every person, We have fastened to him his fate to his neck; and We will bring forth for him on the Day of Resurrection a record which he will find wide open (17:13). Read your record! It has sufficed for yourself today against yourself as a reckoner (17:14).
Destruction of a community when it deserves it
- Whoever has been guided, then he only guides for his soul; and whoever has gone astray, then he only goes astray against it. And a bearer of burden will not bear the burden of another, and We have not been punishers until We send a messenger (17:15). And when We have intended that We will destroy a town, We have commanded its affluent ones, so they have disobeyed therein, so the word has been justified against it; then We have destroyed it with a complete destruction (17:16). And how many of the generations have We destroyed after Noah? And it has sufficed of your Lord with the sins of His servants as Cognizant, Seer (17:17).
The life of world for the disbelievers while the Hereafter for the believers
- Whoever has been desire for the immediate, We have hastened for him in it whatever We will for whom We intend; thereafter, We have made for him Hell; he will burn in it as a disgraced, a rejected (17:18). And whoever has desired the Hereafter and has exerted for it its effort, while he is a believer, then those have made their effort to be the appreciated ones (17:19). Each We extend, to these and to these, from the gift of your Lord; and your Lord’s gift has not been restricted (17:20). See how We have preferred one of them over the other; and surely, the Hereafter is greater in ranks as well as greater in excellence (17:21).
God has warned us not to worship other than Him and to regard our parents
- Do not make with God another god, lest you may remain as a disgraced, an abandoned (17:22). And your Lord has decreed that you do not worship except Him alone, and with the parents to be good. Whether one of them or both of them reaches the old age with yourself, then do not say to them a word of disrespect nor do you repel them, while you shall speak to them an honorable word (17:23). And you shall lower for them a wing of the humility out of the mercy, and shall pray, “My Lord! Have mercy upon them as they have brought me up from infancy.”(17:24).” Your Lord is Knower of what is in your hearts. If you are righteous, then indeed, He has been Forgiving for those who often turn (17:25).
Giving to poors their due without being stingy or extravagant
- And you shall give his due to the near relative, and the needy, and the wayfarer; while you do not spend in squandering (17:26). Indeed, the squanderers have been brothers of the devils, and Satan has been ungrateful to his Lord (17:27). And if you turn away from them seeking mercy from your Lord which you desire, then say to them a gentle word (17:28). While you do not make your hand stingy by holding it to your neck, nor do you extend it so open that you become blameworthy, insolvent (17:29). Indeed, your Lord extends the provision for whomever He wills and He straitens [it]. Indeed, He has been Cognizant, Seer of His servants (17:30).
God has commanded us to avoid gross sins and evil behavior
- And do not kill your children in fear of poverty; We provide for them and you. Indeed, the killing of them has been a great sin (17:31). And do not come near adultery. Indeed, it has been an immorality and has been an evil path (17:32). And do not kill the life, which God has forbidden, except in the course of justice. And whoever has been killed wrongfully, then certainly, We have given authority for his heir, so let him not exceed in the killing. Indeed, he has been a helped one (17:33). And do not touch a wealth of the orphan except for that which is best, until he reaches his maturity. And fulfill the pledge; indeed, the pledge has been an accountable thing (17:34). And fulfill the measure when you have measured, and weigh with the straight balance. That is good and best in the end (17:35). And do not follow that which has not been for you any knowledge of it. Indeed, the hearing, and the vision, and the understanding – each of those has been a questioned one about it (17:36). And do not walk in the earth in arrogance. Indeed, you will never penetrate the earth, nor will you reach the mountains in height (17:37). All of that, has been the evil of it, in the sight of your Lord, a hateful thing (17:38). That is of what your Lord has revealed to you of the wisdom. And do not make with God another god, then you are cast into Hell, a blameworthy one, an abandoned one (17:39). Has then chosen you your Lord for sons, and He has taken daughters from the angels? Indeed, you are saying a grievous word (17:40)!
Quran has been revealed for worshiping God without associating partners with Him
- And We have certainly explained in this – the Quran that they take heed, but it does not increase them except in aversion! (17:41)! Say: “If there had been gods with Him as they say, then surely, they would have sought a way towards the Owner of the Throne.” (17:42). Glory is His, and He has exalted Himself high above what they say, a great exaltation (17:43). The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them glorify Him, and there is not a thing except that it glorifies Him with His praise, but you do not comprehend their glorification. Indeed, He has been Forbearing, Forgiving.” (17:44).
Those who had disregarded the Quran have gone astray
- And when you have read the Quran, We have placed an invisible barrier between yourself and those who do not believe in the Hereafter (17:45). And We have placed coverings over their hearts lest they understand it, while there is deafness in their ears. And when you have mentioned your Lord in the Quran alone, they have turned on their backs in aversion (17:46). We are Knower of what they listen to it, when they listen to you, and when they are in private conversation, when the wrongdoers say: “You do not follow but a bewitched man.”(17:47)!” See how they have set forth the examples for yourself, so they have gone astray; so they cannot find a way (17:48).
Those who have gone astray are not certain about the resurrection
- And they have said: “Is it when we have been bones and particles, will we surely be resurrected as a new creation?”(17:49)?” Say: “Be stones or iron (17:50), Or a creation of what is great in your chests.” Then they will say: “Who will bring us back?” Say: “The One who has created you the first time.” Then they will shake their heads to yourself and say: “When is it?” Say: “It could be that it will be near.”(17:51). A Day He will call you and you will respond with His praise, and you will think you had not stayed except for a little while. (17:52).
Warning for avoiding misguidance of Satan and his allies
- And say to My servants that they say that which is best. Indeed, Satan triggers hostility between themselves. Indeed, Satan has been a manifest enemy for mankind (17:53). Your Lord is Knower of you; if He wills, He will have mercy on you, or if He wills, He will punish you; and We have not sent you as a guardian over them (17:54). And your Lord is Knower of whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And We have certainly preferred each of the prophets over the other, and We have given Psalms to David (17:55). Say: “Call those whom you have claimed other than Him, so they possess no power for the removal of misfortune from you, nor transferring (17:56). TThose whom they call, they seek the means to their Lord—whomever of them is nearest—and they hope for His mercy and fear His punishment. Indeed, your Lord’s punishment has been feared (17:57)!
Note: God has commanded us not to make any distinction between any of His prophets (2:136, 3:84) and messengers (2:285, 4:152), while there is mention of preferrence of the prophets over others being it as references of certain prophets in certain contexts to better understand the message.
No town has been destroyed or punished without being written in the scripture
- And there is not a town before the Day of Resurrection except We are destroyers of it or punishers of it with a severe punishment. That has been in the scripture written (17:58).
Note: The message in the verse 17:15 has direct connection with the message in the verse 17:58 to ensure that God has not destroyed or punished any nation without sending a messenger to it as well as not being written in the scripture.
No visible sign (miracle) with messenger from the time of Muhammad
- And it has not prevented Us that We send the signs except that the previous people had denied it. And We had given Thamud the she-camel as a visible sign, while they had wronged her. And We do not send the signs except for a warning (17:59).
Note: No visible sign or miracle given to prophet Muhammad except his message given to him to be his sign as reflected in 29:51.
Prophet was shown the test for the mankind
- And when We said to you: ‘Indeed, your Lord has encompassed the people.’ And We have not made the vision, which We have showed you, except as a test for the people—and the tree, the accursed in the Quran. And We threaten them, while it does not increase them except in a great transgression (17:60).
Note: Here is a reference to that the prophet was shown the tree associated with the test for the mankind at the event when God Himself inspired the entire Quran into his soul has been taken to the farthest place of prostration (17:1) and has been shown him great signs of his Lord (53:18).
Satan’s promise is nothing but a deception
- And when We said to the angels: “Prostrate to Adam,” then they had prostrated except for Iblis. He said: “Shall I prostrate to whom You have created from clay?” (17:61). He said: “Have You seen this whom You have honored over me? If You have given me a respite until the Day of Resurrection, I will surely seize his progeny except for a few.” (17:62). He said: “Go, then whoever has followed you from them, then indeed, Hell is your recompense—an ample recompense.” (17:63). And incite whomever you have been able from them with your voice, and assault on them with your cavalry and your infantry, and partner with them in the wealth and the children, and promise them.” And Satan does not promise them except a deception (17:64). Indeed, My servants, there has not been for you any authority over them. And your Lord has sufficed as a Guardian.”
(17:65).
Fearing God is our means of success
- Your Lord is the One who drives the ship for you in the sea that you may seek of His bounty. Indeed, He has been Merciful to you. (17:66). And when the hardship has touched you in the sea, there has gone away whom you call except Him alone. Then when He has delivered you to the land, you have turned away. And the human has been ungrateful (17:67). Have you then felt secure that He will cause to swallow a side of the land with you, or that He will send a violent storm against you? Then you will not find a guardian for you (17:68). Or have you felt secure that He will send you back into it another time, so He will send against you a violent wind, so He will drown you because you have disbelieved? Then you will not find a vindicator for you therein against Us for it.(17:69).
Final Judgment based on our records
- And certainly, We have honored the children of Adam and We have carried them in the land and the sea, and We have provided them of the good things, and We have preferred them a preference over many of those whom We have created (17:70). A Day We will call every people with their record. Then, whoever has been given his record in his right hand, then those will read their record, and they will not be wronged a fiber (17:71). And whoever has been blind in this, then he is blind in the Hereafter and furthest astray from the path (17:72).
A warning for the prophet not to fabricate anything about God
- And indeed, they had almost been tempting you away from that which We have revealed to you, so that you would fabricate about Us other than it — and then they had surely taken you as a friend! (17:73). And if it were not that We had strengthened you—certainly, you had almost been leaning toward them a little (17:74). Then We would surely have made you taste double of life and double of death. Then you will not find for you any helper against Us (17:75).
There is no change of God’s system
- And indeed, they had almost been scaring you from the land that they would drive you out from it—and then they will not stay after you except a little (17:76). The system of whomever certainly — We had sent of Our messengers before yourself, and you will not find any change in Our system(17:77).
Note: Here is a hint that we do not make distinction between any of God’s messengers.
Duties and opportunities for the prophet to raise his status with God
- Establish the salat prayer at the descending of the sun towards the darkness of night, and recite the Quran at dawn – Indeed, the recitation of the Quran at dawn has been witnessed (17:78). And a portion of the night—then meditate with it as an extra for you; it may have been that your Lord will raise you to a praised position (17:79). And say: “My Lord, admit me an admittance of truth, and cause me to depart a departure of truth, and grant for me from Your end a powerful support.” (17:80). And say: “The truth has come and the falsehood has perished. Indeed, the falsehood has been bound to perish.” (17:81).
Note: Here is a commanment for the prophet to establish the Afternoon prayer being the sun at the horizon towards its setting, while there is also interpretation of it to be the Noon salat prayer, or the Sunset salat prayer, or the Noon, the Asr, the Sunset and the Night salat prayer by different translators/interpretors; and read the Quran at the dawn as well as to medidate with it a portion of the night to raise his status with God, while he shall declare that the falsehood has perished.
Quran is healing and mercy for the believers
- And We send down from the Quran that which is a healing and mercy for the believers, and it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss (17:82). And when We have bestowed favor upon the human, he has turned away and has become far away on his side. And when the evil has touched him, he has been in despair! (17:83). Say: “Everyone works in accordance with his manner, so your Lord has been the Knower of whoever—he is best guided to a path.” (17:84).”
Quran given to Muhammad has been a great blessing on him
- And they ask you about the Spirit. Say: “The Spirit is from the command of my Lord, and you have not been given of the knowledge except a little.” (17:85).” And if We had willed, We will surely take away that which We have revealed to you. Then you will not find a guardian for you against Us for it.” (17:86). Except a mercy from your Lord. Indeed, His bounty upon you has been great (17:87).
The disbelievers insist on going to astray
- Say: “If the human and the jinn had gathered to bring the like of this – the Quran, they will not bring the like of it, even if they had been a helper of one another.”(17:88).” And certainly, We have explained for the people in this – the Quran of every example, but most of the people have refused except for disbelief! (17:89). And they have said: “We will never believe for you until you cause a spring to gush forth for us from the earth.” (17:90). Or there is for you a garden of date-palms and grapes, and you cause a gushing to gush forth the rivers within it (17:91). Or you cause to fall pieces of the sky as you have claimed upon Us, or you bring God and the angels face-to-face.” (17:92). Or there is for you a luxurious house, or you ascend into the sky. And we will not believe to your ascension until you bring down to Us a scripture we read it.” Say: “Glory to my Lord, have I been except a human messenger?” (17:93). And what has prevented the people to believe when there has come to them the guidance, except that they have said: “Has God sent a human messenger (17:94)?” Say: “If there had been angels walking secure on the earth, surely We would have sent down to them an angel messenger from the heaven.” (17:95).” Say: “God has sufficed as a Witness between myself and between yourselves. Indeed, He has been Cognizant, Seer of His servants.” (17:96). And whomever God guides, then he is the guided one and whomever He lets go astray, you will not find for them any protectors other than Him. And We will gather them on the Day of Resurrection on their faces blind, and dumb, and deaf. Their abode is Hell, every time it has subsided, We have increased for them a blazing fire (17:97). That is their recompense because they had disbelieved in Our revelations, and they have said: “Is it when we had been bones and particles, will we be resurrected as a new creation?” (17:98). Do they not see that God, the One who has created the heavens and the earth is able to create like themselves? And He has made for them a term, there is no doubt in it, but the wrongdoers have refused except for disbelief (17:99). Say: “If you possess the treasuries of the mercy of my Lord, then you had surely withheld for fear of spending. And the human has been stingy!”(17:100).
Moses was given nine miracles to save the Children of Israel
- And certainly, We had given Moses nine clear signs. So ask the Children of Israel when he had come to them, then Pharaoh said to him: “Indeed, I surely think you, O Moses, are bewitched.” (17:101)!” He said: “Certainly, you had known that none had sent these down except the Lord of the heavens and the earth as visual proofs; and indeed, I surely think you, O Pharaoh, are doomed to destruction!” (17:102). So he wanted to drive them out of the land, whereupon We had drowned him and all those who were with him (17:103). And We had said to the Children of Israel after him: “Dwell in the land, then when the promise of the Hereafter had come, We had brought you forward as a mixed crowd.” (17:104).
What has the Quran except the truth
- And with the truth We have sent it down, and with the truth it has descended; and We have not sent you except a bearer of good news and a warner (17:105). And a Quran We have divided, that you may recite it to the people over a period of time; and We have sent it down, a gradual sending down (17:106). Say: “Believe in it or do not believe. Indeed, those who have been given knowledge before itself, when it is recited to them, they fall upon their faces as prostrators.” (17:107). And they say: “Glory to our Lord! Indeed, the promise of our Lord has surely been fulfilled.” (17:108). And they fall upon their faces weeping, and it has increased them in humility (17:109).
Moderate tone in the Salat prayers while all praise and glory to God
- Say: “Call upon God or call upon the Gracious. Whichever you call, then to Him belong the most beautiful names. And do not be loud in your salat prayers, nor be silent in them, and seek a way between that.” (17:110).” And say: “All praise has been to God, the One who has not taken a son, nor has there been for Him any partner in the sovereignty, nor has there been for Him any protector out of weakness; and glorify Him with an absolute glorification.” (17:111).
Conclusion
Surah Bani Israel (The Children of Israel) consists of 111 verses and most of the verses are short. Even there is opportunity for those who have limited knowledge in Arabic may interpret the message in each verse of the surah. However, the message in each Arabic verse has been translated to English reflecting to the Arabic text as well as basic Arabic grammar making sincere effort to avoid any traces of personality cult as well.
Review indicates that there are many crucial commands and information that we can reflect to find right way to observe our God given religious duties. In the surah there is a warning for the disbelievers and the people of Israel about the severe punishment, and also for the prophet through whom we received the Quran so that we can avoid those who are doing business with the religion leaving us in the darkness. God has given us the Quran as the straight path, bearer of good news and warner having the truth to worship Him without associating partners with Him to see our success with Him upon our return to Him. While those who have disregarded the Quran have gone astray and they are not certain about the resurrection.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (8/16/2019).