61. What is the meaning of the phrase ‘Allah will come’.

We need to understand the verses of the Quran that talk about the attributes and actions of God in their direct meaning. Allah’s hand does not mean Allah’s power. The phrase Allah’s face denotes the same. 

“When your Lord with all his majesty and power comes along with the angels rank upon rank” should be taken as meaning the Al-Mighty comes to deliver judgment on the Day of Judgment.

Any verse at large should not be taken in their direct meaning when it is found detrimental or creates confusion to the basic ideology of Islam.

When Allah says he will serve as the hand of the pious, it cannot be taken in its direct sense, but should be taken as lending hand in helping them (the pious). 

The verses 2:210, 6:158,  13:41, 16:26,  24:39,  59:2 of the Quran cannot be interpreted in their direct meaning. 

 For example, the verses 2:210, 13:41, 16:26 of the Quran say  God will come to destroy the perpetrators of evil. Here we need to take as meaning Allah’s punishment will come and not Allah Himself. 

Because if Allah decides to destroy a group of people or a community He does not come down, and there is no need for it. The verses 36:28, 29 say that can be accomplished by Him with a single command. 

The explanation for the phrase “Allah will come with clouds” is Allah’s punishment will come through clouds. (i.e.) He will send clouds loaded with very heavy rains for a disaster. 

Similarly in the verse (13:41) He says “come We to reduce the land”. This should be understood as the change in land occurs as per His commandment.

‘We came from under their buildings and destroyed them’ He says while talking about earthquakes in verse 16:26 of the Quran. Similar is the verse (59:2) where he says He approached them in a way they could have never imagined. 

This need not be taken as He came below the buildings and shook them, rather it should be understood as he commanded them to fall.

Similar is the verse (24:39)of the Quran where it is said ‘those who go in search of a mirage will find Allah there’ should not be taken in the direct sense. 

Except these verses all the others need to be understood in their direct meanings. 

To know more about the attributes of Allah refer to explanation no 488. 

59. The concept of discrimination in humans destroyed by Islam.

During the pilgrimage of Haj, on the ninth day of the month of Dhul Hajj all the pilgrims congregate at ‘Arafat’ an open space camp, but the people of the Quraish clan who considered themselves superior to others camped at a place called as ‘Mujthalifa’,which is within the boundary of the holy place of worship (Haram), and ‘Arafat' is out of the limits of the ‘holy place of worship.’ 

The people belonging to the higher clan prevented those below from entering the precincts of ‘Mujthalifa’ during Haj. They considered ‘Arafat’ as a place allotted to hold lesser people.

Islam put an end to this practice of discrimination. Verse (2:199) commanded Prophet Muhammad and people belonging to superior clans to camp at ‘Arafat’ along with others.

Islam buried the concept of discrimination based on birth, by bringing people together at a place allotted for the marginalized.

We can also refer hadith books Bukhari (4520) and Muslim regarding this. 

This verse also proves Quran as word of God. 

To know more about how everyone is equal by birth equality, and brotherhood please refer explanation points 11, 32, 49, 141, 168, 182, 227, 290, 368, 508

58.Trading while on haj pilgrimage.

There was a belief in those days that people on a journey performing Haj should not be involved in trading. This verse (2:198) was revealed to make people understand that doing so is not wrong. 

(Hadith Book Bukhari:1770, 2050, 2098) 

Carrying of goods to Makkah by people on a journey to perform Haj to sell them there or, carrying some goods back from Makkah to their hometown to sell them here is not considered a crime, or neither does it displeases God. At the same time, it should not create hinderances to performing Haj rituals. 

57. The months for performing Haj.

Verse 2:197 says performance of Haj should be in the known months. 

We perform Haj in the month of Dhul Haj, but here the months are mentioned in plural.

In the Arabic language there is a word structure wherein a provision to denote only two things known as dualism, just as there are singular, plural etc. Anything more than three is considered plural in Arabic language and not just anything more than one. The months of Haj as mentioned here is either three or more than three.

How do we need to understand? Is it to be taken as three months or more? And how do we know which those months are is the question that needs to be responded to. 

There is no mention of the names of the months in the Quran. But let’s find how to derive those months from the phrase ‘the known months’ mentioned here. 

From the above-mentioned phrase, it can be understood when at the time of revelation of this verse Prophet Muhammad, and the people of the time were aware of the months of pilgrimage. So here we need to realize that God endorsed the months that were already known by the Prophet Muhammad and the people of his time. 

Take for example Ibn Umar (RA) when he said:

‘Shawwal, Dhul Khaidha, and ten days of Dhul Haj are the months for performing the Haj pilgrimage. 

Hadith Book: Haakim. 

Generally, when the pilgrimage of Haj is performed during the month of Dhul Haj how can one consider the months of Shawwal and Dhul Khaidha also as Haj months is the question that needs to be answered. 

In our explanation point No;56 we have explained there are three types of Haj pilgrimage that are performed. 

Out of the three, one known as Tamattu Haj starts in the month of Shawwal when people who undertake to perform it don the Ihram perform Umra and stay within the limits with Ihram and perform Haj at the appropriate time. In this case the months of performance of Haj is counted as three months. On this basis the months of Haj are calculated as multiple.

Please refer explanation point Nos;18, 36, 39, 50, 55, 56, 60, 67, 72, 105, 125, 127, 128, 132, 154, 164, 244, 255, 256, 258, 286, 318, 350, 358, 430.to know more about following the commandments of the Quran and the guidance of Prophet Muhammad

56.The three categories of Haj.

This verse 2:196 talks of a category of haj known as Hajj-at-Tamattu. What is Hajj-at-Tamattu, is there any other type etc.; such details cannot be found in this verse or any other in the Quran. But we can find the explanations for these in the hadiths. Therefore, to know the correct meaning of the verses of the Quran, we find the necessity for hadiths is what the message conveyed here. 

The details:

1. Having decided to perform the Haj alone and executing it. 

2. Performing Haj and Umrah at the same time doing the same Ihram. 

3. Breaking free of the Ihram after having finished the duty of Umrah first, staying in Makkah to perform the Haj at the appropriate time wearing the Ihram.

The third category mentioned above is known as Hajj-at-Tamattu. 

All acts done by the residents can also be carried out by those who perform this Hajj-at-Tamattu, between Umrah and Haj. Those who perform this type of Haj are required to make an animal sacrifice for having done the above acts and deeds, is conveyed in this message.

 Though Allah has mentioned Hajj-at-Tamattu in general in the Quran, Prophet Muhammad has elaborated on it.

To understand the holy Quran correctly, the need for Prophet Muhammad’s explanation is essential and can be understood here. 

To know more about the necessity for Prophet Muhammad’s guidance along with the commandments of the Quran, please refer explanation points 18, 36, 39, 50, 55, 56, 60, 67, 72, 105, 125, 127, 128, 132, 154, 164, 184, 244, 255, 256, 258, 286, 318, 350, 352, 358, 430

57. The months for

55.Which are the holy months?

These verses of the Quran (2:194, 2:217, 5:2, 5:97, 9:5, 9:36) talk about the months when fighting wars are forbidden.

Verse 9:36 says as per Allah’s arrangement the number of months is twelve. Four months of the twelve are considered as holy by the Quran. 

But those four months are not named in the Quran. Prophet Muhammad has clearly identified the four months.

Prophet Muhammad said: 

The time has come back to the days when the sky and earth were created. A year is of twelve months, out of which four are holy of those four months three are continuous, they are Dhul Khaida, Dul Haj, and Muharram, the other is Rajab which comes between the months of Jamadul Akir and Shaban.

Hadith Book Bukhari: 3197, 4406, 4662, 5550, 7447. 

This Hadith explains clearly the four holy months.

Generally, the Quran conveys only the basic laws, The explanations come from Prophet Muhammad says the Quran in verse 16:44, 16:64 hence are to be deemed as from Allah with seriousness.

We need to understand the explanations for these kinds of verses can be learnt only through Prophet Muhammad. This proves the necessity of his explanations along with the Quran.

The people who argue that the Quran alone is sufficient should show from the Quran the names of the four holy months. When they are unable to do so, it is proved that hadiths are also necessary along with the Quran.

To know more about the commandments of the Quran and the guidance of Prophet Muhammad, please refer explanations points 18, 36, 39, 50, 56, 57, 60, 67, 72, 105, 125, 127, 128, 132, 154, 164, 184, 244, 255, 256, 258, 286, 318, 350, 352, 358, 430

Please refer explanations point 53, 54, 76, 89, 197, 198, 199, 203, 359 for more details on war, terrorism and Jihad. 

56.The three categories of

54. War should not be waged to convert people.

The verses (2:193, 8:39) of the Quran say “Fight until there is no rebellion (against monotheism) and the way of worship is only for Allah. In these verses the word ‘Dheen’ is translated as a ‘way of life’. 

This translation implies forcible conversions but verses 54, 55, 76, 89, 197, 198, 199, 203, 359 say no one should be forced to convert from one religion to another.

When this is the case, the translation as ‘fight until the conversion is done’ cannot be taken into consideration.

Moreover, during the rule of Prophet Muhammad Jews and Christians lived as Jews and Christians. They were not forcibly converted. Taking this also into consideration we can come to understand the translation wrong. If we look at the latter part of these two verses, we will come to know the translation in that context is wrong.

When they excuse themselves from war there should not be any transgression (leave them alone).

We can conclude that the word ‘Dheen’ in this verse does not mean religion. 

The Arabic word ‘Dheen’ has more than one meaning as religion, wages, gift, judgement, power etc. 

In the two verses the apt translation of the Arabic word ‘Dheen’ is power. The meaning of the phrase is ‘In a war one should keep fighting until power reaches his hand’. This is a simple motto for all countries of the world. 

Please refer explanation points 53, 55, 76, 89, 197, 198, 199, 203, 359 to know more about war, terrorism, Jihad. Please refer explanation points 

53.Does Islam order the killing of people belonging to other faiths?

These verses of the Quran (2:190-193, 2:216, 2:244, 3:121, 3:195, 4:74,75, 4:84, 4:89, 4:91, 8:39, 8:60, 8:65, 9:5, 9:12-14, 9:29, 9:36, 9:41, 9:73, 9:123, 22:39, 47:4, 66:9) order Muslims to fight wars.

Why should a spiritual book order people to take part in wars? Then Islam was spread with a sword is the criticism of people against this faith. 

Why was this order given? If we come to understand the kind of situation in which this order was issued, will prove the notion that Islam was spread under the shadow of the sword wrong. 

When Prophet Muhammad started spreading the message monotheism he was subjected to innumerable sufferings and tribulations by his own people. And people who accepted him were also tortured and many were killed. 

Finally, when his people plotted to kill him and his companions, they escaped to Madina leaving behind all their belongings at the mercy of his enemies in Makkah. 

When Prophet Muhammad reached Madina they were welcomed by the people, and he established a government there. 

And after this due to invasions by forces from Makkah and attacks on Muslims there, and killing of some, God made waging war mandatory. 

Prophet Muhammad was not only the spiritual head he was the ruler of the country. He is being the head of country, was incumbent upon him to protect the people from external aggression Having driven Muslims out of their native place and not letting them live peacefully in a place they migrated to, the Muslims had the right and duty to encounter the enemies. Prophet Muhammad fought the enemies on this basis. 

The commandments such as kill them, attack them with swords etc. were meant to be implemented during a war. In wars these kinds of acts take place.

The commandments in the Quran issued to armed warriors at the time of war is twisted to portray as orders to kill people of other faiths and is being made a propaganda motive against Muslims and Islam.

The kind of accusation against Muslims and Islam is a blatant lie can be understood from the following verses: 

a) Verses 2:190, 9:13 say to fight those with intent of bullying. 

b) Verses 2:191, 22:40 say to fight those who banish people from their birth places. 

c) Verse 2:192 says not to fight those excusing themselves from war.

d) Verses 4:75, 22:39-40 say to fight against people committing injustices against weak men, women, and children. 

e) Verse 8:61 says not to fight people preferring peace.

f) Verses 2:256, 9:6, 109:6 say not to fight a war with the intention of spreading a faith or religion.

Islam says a Muslim government should fight a war only for a just cause.

Without understanding why and under what kind of situations these verses were revealed, some individuals and organizations take these verses as evidence to serve their ends and to justify their violent activities. There is absolutely no connection between the violence they perpetrate and the above cited verses of the Quran. 

Individuals or groups committing violence in the name of Jihad is wrong.

You cannot find fault with people who were driven out of their homes in fighting and regaining their rights. Prophet Muhammad waged a war on Makkah on this basis. 

Verses 2:190, 9:12,13 of the Quran command a war should not be initiated as a first option.

To know more about war, terrorism, Jihad please refer explanation points 54, 55, 76, 89, 197, 198, 199, 203, 359.