A scripture is a means to bring people from darkness to light
- [I swear by] Alif.Laam.Rah. A scripture We have sent down it to you so you bring out mankind from the darknesses into the light by permission of their Lord, to the path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy (14:1).
Note: By taking oath referring to a set of Quranic initials: Alif.Laam.Rah, God has confirmed that a scripture given to Muhammad is a means for him as well as for the believers to bring people out of the darkness into light to His path while we know that the Quranic initials have multiple roles. Thus, this set of Initials is found prefixed to 5 suras and their presence in the Arabic text in 5 suras and total count is a multiple of 19 => 9481 (19x499) as shown in the table below, which is a factual to support that the Quran is from God.
A warning of a terrible punishment for the disbelievers
- God is the One to Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth. And woe to the disbelievers from a severe punishment (14:2). Those who love the life of the world over the Hereafter, and hinder from the path of God, and seek it crooked, those are in a faraway straying (14:3). And We have not sent any messenger except with a language of his people so he clarifies for them. Then God lets go astray whomever He wills and guides whomever He wills, and He is the Almighty, the Wise (14:4).
Note: God has sent His messenger with the language of the people to which he has been sent that the messenger can make clear His revelations to them, but He will not fail to punish those who have disbelieved in His revelations, and have loved the life of the world over the Hereafter, and hindered from His path.
Moses sent with God’s revelations to make his people thankful
- And indeed, We have sent Moses with Our revelations, “Bring out your people from the darknesses into the light and remind them with the days of God.” Indeed, in that are signs for every patient, grateful one (14:5). And when Moses said to his people, “Remember the favor of God upon you when He had saved you from the people of Pharaoh, inflicting you with an evil punishment, slaughtering your sons, and letting live your women. And in that was a great test from your Lord.” (14:6). And when your Lord has proclaimed, “If you have been thankful, I will surely increase for you; and if you have disbelieved, indeed, My punishment will surely be severe.” (14:7). And Moses said, “If you disbelieve—you and whoever is in the earth altogether—then indeed, God is surely Rich, Praiseworthy.” (14:8).
Note: God sent Moses with His revelations to bring his people out of darkness into light while Moses reminded them God’s favor for saving them from the oppression of Pharaoh’s people to make them thankful to Him with a warning that those who were unthankful to Him will suffer a severe punishment.
News of the disbelieving people before Abraham
- Did not come to you news of those who were before of you—the people of Noah, and Aad, and Thamud, and those who were after of them? None knows them except God. There had come to them their messengers with clear proofs, then they turned back their hands into their mouths and said, “Indeed, we have disbelieved in what you have been sent with it, and indeed, we are surely in doubt about what you invite us to it, being distrustful.” (14:9). Their messengers said, “Is there any doubt in God, Creator of the heavens and the earth? He invites you so He forgives for you of your sins and delays you to an appointed time.” They said, “You are not except a human like of us; you wish to hinder us from what your forefathers had been worshiping. So come to us with a clear authority.” (14:10).
Note: The people of Noah, Ad and Thamud had denied their messengers when they came to them with the clear proofs being doubtful about what they had invited them to as well as saying to them that you are not but human beings like ourselves hindering us from what our forefathers had done and bring to us a clear authority.
Messengers are chosen to make them dwell in the land
- Their messengers said to them, “We are not except a human being like of you, but God bestows grace upon whomever He wills of His servants. And it has not been for us that we come to you with an authority except by permission of God. And upon God let the believers put trust.” (14:11). And those who had disbelieved said to their messengers, “Surely, we will drive you out from our land or surely, you shall return into our religion.” So their Lord inspired to them, “Surely, We will destroy the wrongdoers (14:12). And those who had disbelieved said to their messengers, “Surely, we will drive you out of our land, or surely, you must return in our religion.” So, their Lord inspired to them: “Surely, we will destroy the wrongdoers (14:13). And surely, we will make you dwell in the land after them. That is for whoever has feared My station and has feared My warning.” (14:15).
Note: There are no doubt that messengers are human beings but they are chosen by God and the believers should trust upon Him while He will make them to dwell in the land, even the disbelievers wished to drive them out of the land and He will make every stubborn tyrant disappointed.
Disbelievers’ deeds like ashes that wind blows in a day of storm
- From behind him is Hell, and he will be made to drink of water festering (14:16). He will sip it, but cannot make near to swallow it. And the death will come to him from every side, but he will not be dead, while from behind him there is a terrible punishment (14:17). An example of those who have disbelieved in their Lord: their deeds are like ashes the wind blows fiercely with it in a stormy day. They do not have power over anything of what they have earned. That, it is the faraway straying (14:18).
Note: Those who have been disbelievers of messengers and arrogant will be in Hell wherein they will suffer a terrible punishment. They will have putrid water but they cannot swallow it. Death will come to them from every direction but they cannot die. All such painful suffering they deserve for earning nothing as their deeds were like ashes that the wind blows in a storming day. Thus, any work that we do we must do it for God according to His Word to be rewarded by Him.
There is no place to escape for the arrogant and their followers
- An example of those who have disbelieved in their Lord: their deeds are like ashes the wind blows fiercely with it in a stormy day. They do not have power over anything of what they have earned. That, it is the faraway straying (14:19). And that is not upon God of a big deal (14:20). And they had come out to God all together, then the weak said to those who had been arrogant, “Indeed, we had been followers to you. So, can you be preventers of us from a punishment of God from anything?” They said, “If God had guided us, we would have guided you. It is same for us whether we have been impatient or we have been patient, there is no place of escape for us.” (14:21).
Note: It is the truth that God has created the earth and the heavens, and we all have returned to Him including the arrogant and their followers. The arrogant have realized that they have not been guided and when their followers asked them for help, then the arrogant said to them it is same for us whether we are patient or impatient we do not have any place to escape from God.
God’s promise had been truth while Satan’s promise had been lie
- And Satan said when the matter has been decided, ‘Indeed, God has promised you a promise of the truth, and I had promised you then I failed you. And it has not been for me that I had any power over you except that I had invited you, then you responded to me. So, you do not blame me, and you shall blame yourselves. Neither I am of a helper to you, nor can you be of a helper to me. Indeed, I had disbelieved in what you had associated me before. Indeed, the wrongdoers, for them there is a painful punishment (14:22). And has been admitted those who have believed and have done the righteous deeds into gardens flowing the rivers of their beneath, dwellers therein by permission of their Lord; their greeting therein is: “Peace.” (14:23).
Note: When the judgment is declared, the Satan has acknowledged that whatever God has promised is the truth and whatever he has promised is a lie and those who have put trust upon his promise are wrongdoers as they have associated him with God. Thus, those who had trust upon God’s promise and have done the righteous deeds are admitted into gardens being greeted while those who had trust upon Satan’s promise and have followed him will have a painful punishment.
God has set examples with good and bad to stay with His words
- Do you not see how God has sent forth an example of a good word as like a good tree – its root is firm, and its branch is in the sky? (14:24). It gives its fruit every season by permission of its Lord. And God cites the examples for the people that they take heed (14:25). And an example of a bad word is like a bad tree uprooted from the surface of the earth, not for it there is any firmness (14:26). God makes firm those who have believed with the firm word in the life of the world and in the Hereafter. And God lets go astray the wrongdoers, and God does what He wills (14:27).
Note: God has set examples with good and bad. Those who can reflect these, He will strengthen them with the firm word in the life of the world and in the Hereafter, while He sends astray the wrongdoers.
Destination is Hell for the disbelievers of God’s favor
- Do you not see of those who have changed God’s favor by disbelief, and they have led their people to an abode of the destruction? (14:28). Hell, they will burn in it, and it has been miserable the resting place (14:29). And they have made equals to God that they mislead from His path. Say, “Enjoy, then indeed, your destination is to the Fire.” (14:30). Say to My servants those who have believed they establish the salat prayer and spend from what We have provided them in secret and public before, that a day comes there is no trade in it, nor is there any friendship (14:31).
Note: Those who have disbelieved in God’s favor and have made equals to Him to mislead from His path, their destination is Hell, a miserable resting place while those have believed should establish Salat prayer and spend from what they have been provided reflecting that there is no trade or friendship.
God’s favor is countless
- God is the One who has created the heavens and the earth, and has sent down water from the sky, then has produced from it of the fruits as provision for you, and He has committed for you the ships that they sail in the sea by His command and has committed for you the rivers (14:32). And He has committed for you the sun and the moon, both pursuing their courses, and has committed for you the night and the day (14:33). And He has given you of all what you have asked Him, and if you count God’s flavor, you cannot count them. Indeed, the human being is surely, unjust, ungrateful (14:34).
Note: God is our Creator and He has provided us countless favor that we can reflect to be thankful to Him but it is unfortunate that most of us are unjust and ungrateful to Him.
Payers of Abraham that we can reflect to succeed in the Hereafter
- And when Abraham said, “My Lord, make this, the city secure, and keep me away and my children that we worship the idols.” (14:35). My Lord, indeed they have led astray many from mankind. So, whoever has followed me, then indeed, he is from of me, and whoever has disobeyed me, then indeed, You are Forgiving, Merciful (14:36). Our Lord, indeed me, I have settled part of my offspring in a valley not suitable for cultivation near Your House, the Sacred House. Our Lord, that they establish the salat prayer. So make hearts of the people to incline towards them, and provide them with the fruits that they appreciate (14:37). Our Lord, indeed You know what we conceal and what we declare, and nothing can hide from God of anything in the earth, nor in the heaven (14:38). All praise to God, the One who has granted to me upon the old age Ismail and Isaac; indeed, my Lord is surely Hearer of the prayer (14:39). My Lord, make me an establisher of the salat prayer, and of my offspring. Our Lord, and accept my prayer (14:40). Our Lord, forgive for me and for my parents, and for the believers on a day the reckoning will take place.” (14:41).
Note: Many of us look for what they should ask God to be successful in the life of the world and in the Hereafter. Abraham’s prayers may be a model for us. In addition to prayers of Abraham in 2:126 –129, here are his prayers that we can reflect to understand what we and our children should pray for to be grateful to God and to be sincere in our practices giving priority to our Salat prayer that we can be saved on a day of the reckoning. In his prayers there is also indication that all religious practices were given to him, which are detailed out in 16:120-124 that we do not have any doubt about it.
The wrongdoers will ask God for another chance
- And do not think that God is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only respites them till a day the eyes will stare in it (14:42). Racing ahead raising up their heads, not turning towards them their gaze, and their hearts are empty (14:43). And warn the people of a day the punishment will come to them, then those who had done wrong will say, ‘Our Lord, give us a respite for a short term, we will respond to Your call and will follow the messengers.’ Did you not do that you had sworn before, there is not for you any end? (14:44).
Note: God has given us a respite until a day our eyes will stare and there is no respite on a day we will be gathered to Him when the punishment will come to the wrongdoers.
The wrongdoers cannot succeed against the messengers
- And you have dwelt in dwellings of those who have wronged themselves, and it has made clear for you how We have dealt with them and We have set forth for you the examples (14:45). And indeed, they have schemed their scheme, while with God is their scheme, even if their scheme was that the mountains would move from it (14:46). So, do not think that God is failing to keep His promise to His messengers. Indeed, God is Almighty, Possessor of retribution (14:47).
Note: God knows those who schemed against His messengers, even if their scheme is like a replacement of mountain as He will keep His promise of saving His messengers from the wrongdoers, who will not escape His retribution.
The guilty will be punished on a day they come to God
- A day the earth will be replaced with other than the earth and the heavens, and they will come out to God, the One, the Supreme (14:48). And you will see the guilty on that day bound together in the shackles (14:49). Their garments are of tar and the Fire will cover their faces (14:50). That God will recompense each soul for whatever it has earned. Indeed, God is swift in the reckoning (14:51).
Note: A day the earth and the heavens will be replaced with new earth and heavens, and God will reward each soul whatever it has earned. The guilty will be punished binding them together in the chains while they will wear garments of tar and the Fire will cover their faces.
God is indeed One god
- This is a message for the people, and that they be warned with it, and that they know that He is only One god, and that take heed possessors of the understanding (14:52).
Note: This (Quran) is a message and a reminder for the people of understanding that God is One god (Deity) what we need to establish in our hearts, which many of us have failed to do to avoid a painful punishment on a day He will replace the earth and the heavens with the new earth and the heavens.
In brief, by taking oath God has confirmed the scripture given to Muhammad being a means for the believers to bring people out of the darkness into the light, a day will come when the earth and the heavens will be replaced with new earth and heavens to compensate every soul what it has earned, and there is a hint to derive milestones in humanity: Adam to Noah, Noah to Abraham, Abraham to Moses, Moses to Muhammad as we know Mary is mentioned belonging to a family of Imran, and Muhammad to the end of the world being a best community with a complete scripture if we can reflect, while it highlights Prophet Abraham’s foundational prayers for security, spiritual preservation, the establishment of prayer, and provision for his offspring around the Sacred House.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (1/22/2021).