325. The Quran about the speed of the wind.

In this verse (34:12) of the Quran we find it saying Prophet Sulaiman was granted the power to subjugate the winds, and not stopping with this, Allah also points out the average speed of the wind in this verse. 

The breeze that blows on a person takes two months to go around the world at 25 kms/hr to return to the same person. 

This should not be misunderstood as the wind goes around the earth with uniform speed. Allah says in this verse (when Prophet Sulaiman was granted the power to command the winds) it would take two months for a particular wind to complete a trip around the earth. 

Though this message is said to be directed towards Prophet Sulaiman’s significance on him being granted the powers to control the winds, it can be seen to talk, taking into consideration of the average speed of the wind, the circumference of the earth, the speed at which the earth rotates, like a scientist. 

This verse also bears testimony to the fact, Quran is the word of God Almighty.

324. What is meant by the word ‘Salawat’?

Some translators have understood this verse (33:56) of the Quran wrongly. They have translated this as “ Since Allah and the angels send blessings on the prophet, you the believers send your blessings” 

The word “salawat” in the verse has a dual meaning: 

1) Blessing others . 

2) Seeking blessings 

In this verse the word ‘Salawaat’ is referred to in connection with Allah, angels, and men. We cannot attribute it to mean the same in all the three contexts.

If it is taken to mean as “sending blessings” then, it would mean Allah is sending his blessings, angels are sending their blessings, hence you also send your blessings on Prophet Muhammad. This understanding would lead to a dangerous message being conveyed. Because the angels and men are not capable of blessing.

And if it is taken to mean as “seeking blessings” would stand to be applicable only in the case of men, and the angels. And not in the case of Allah, because it would mean as Allah seeking blessings from another Allah for Prophet Muhammad, and seeks to demolish the very edifice of Islam. Hence Muslims should avoid using words such as “Allah says salawat.”

To arrive at a correct meaning of the word “salawat” it should be taken to mean blessing

Hence on these fundamentals this should be translated as “Allah blesses Prophet Muhammad, the angels seek blessings for him, and you also seek the blessings of Allah for him.

Verse (33:43) of the Quran stands testimony, it should be translated as above. 

When verse 33:56 is translated by these people as “Allah says salawat on Prophet Muhammad” the same word ‘salawat’ should be applied to verse 33:43. 

But the word blessings is used, meaning ‘Allah sends His blessings”. 

Since their conscience tells them not to use the word “salawat”, they are making use of the correct word.

Verse 33:56 of the Quran also needs to be translated on the same basis.

323. Paths in space to traverse.

 Verse (51:7) of the Quran, speak of paths available in space for humans to traverse. At a time when man believed paths were available only on land for him to travel, the Quran talked of the availability of paths in space some 1400 years ago proving itself to be the word of God.

 Please refer to explanation points 172, 304 to know more on what the Quran says about space flight.

322. Wives of Prophet Muhammad are not to re-marry on his death.

Verses (33:6, 33:53) of the Quran say, the wives of Prophet Muhammad should not be remarried to any one on his death.

Generally, Islam supports remarriage on death and divorce and encourages the same. Some question the restrictions placed on the wives of Prophet Muhammad, while allowing other women to remarry.

The wives of Prophet Muhammad are not to be same as other women. Allah says in the Quran (verse 33:28) the Prophet’s wives are subjected to additional restrictions, and tells the prophet to tell them that if they are unwilling to comply, they are free to leave him.

To this they willingly submitted to the restrictions imposed. 

And continued as his wives, knowing very well they must remain as widows and do not have chances of remarriage on his death.

321. What does the word Shira mean?

Arabs those days worshipped a star named Shira, at a certain constellation. This verse (53:49) of the Quran was revealed to send home the message to them, that Allah is the God even to that star.

320. Male offspring of Prophet Muhammad.

Verse (33:40) of the Quran says Prophet Muhammad was not a father to any male offspring. Based on this verse some refuse to believe that a male offspring was born to him and died later. 

But this verse does not convey the message no offspring was born to him, it deems that any male descendant who was not fathered by him cannot be his son.

This purports to mean ‘he is not the father to any male amongst you’.

This verse refutes the comrades calling Zaid as Prophet Muhammad’s son, and does not covey the message that prophet did not have a son at all.

319. The status of the wife of an adopted son in Islam.

The person (Zaid) referred to in these verses is the former foster son of Prophet Muhammad. The comrades of Prophet Muhammad stopped calling Zaid as they used to as his son, on revelation of the verse “Those fostered by you cannot be your own sons” was revealed.

(We have explained this in our explanation point no;317)

Prophet Muhammad got Zaid married to Zainab the daughter of his sister. When the marriage did not work out, prophet got her divorced from Zaid. She was later re-married to Prophet Muhammad. The verse 33:37 of the Quran states this marriage was fixed by Allah. 

There are two reasons attributed to this development:

1) People those days believed that an adopted son had all the rights similar to that of biological one. 

2) And also to tell the world, the foster son when divorces his wife, and she getting remarried to the foster parent, cannot be considered as marrying a daughter-in-law.

The enemies of Islam keep spreading a canard, that Prophet Muhammad deliberately got Zainab divorced from Zaid since he had developed a liking towards her. 

Had the prophet developed a liking for Zainab as claimed by these shaitans, nothing stops him from marrying her in her youthful days. Because he was her guardian, and got her married to Zaid as her custodian.

Hence this marriage took place as willed by the Almighty. It is entirely wrong to accuse Prophet Muhammad, based on his physical needs when he did not marry her in her youthful days instead got married to her after she led a life with Zaid for many years.

Please refer to explanation point 378, to know more about Prophet Muhammad’s polygamy. 

318. Role model in Prophet Muhammad.

In verse (33:21) of the Quran, Allah says Prophet Muhammad is a good role model for humans.

This verse teaches us an important Islamic principle. 

Some, with misguided ideology declare, they would follow the teachings of only the Quran, and not accept the guidance of Prophet Muhammad. They argue the task of the prophet stops with reaching the Quran to the people, and thus justify their stand.

This verse (33:21) of the Quran rebuts their claim, by saying the responsibility of Prophet Muhammad does not end with reaching the Quran to the masses, but continues beyond that.

Uswadh (role model) means following one’s words, and actions, in every step of life. The word uswadh (role model) is used not in the sense of reading and following the instructions from the book (Quran) alone. 

When a postman delivers mail, we receive it, read the contents, and follow the instructions from the mail. This does not mean we have taken the postman as our role model. Any suggestions on these lines by anybody would make the person’s intellect doubtful.

There is no difference between such people and those who refuse to accept hadiths.

Because these people believe the responsibility of Prophet Muhammad ends with bringing the Quran to the people.

Here they refute the Quran itself, by saying the prophet was not sent as a role model. 

There is a stern warning in this verse, for those who refute the role model of Prophet Muhammad as refusing Allah, and the hereafter.

This verse clearly says Prophet Muhammad will shine as a role model.

When does the revelation in the Quran declaring Prophet Muhammad as a role model become a reality. It becomes a reality only when the guidance by Prophet Muhammad is put into action. It is possible only when the hadiths of Prophet Muhammad are accepted and implemented. Because we can get the guidance to a proper life only from the hadiths.

This also reinforces the notion that Prophet Muhammad’s explanations are a dire necessity to understand the Quran in the right perspective.

To know more about following the guidance of Prophet Muhammad in addition to implementing the commandments of Allah please refer to explanation points, 18, 36, 39, 50, 55, 56, 57, 60, 67, 72, 105, 125, 127, 128, 132, 154, 164, 184, 244, 255, 256, 258, 286, 350, 352, 358, 430.