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Fussilat (41:37)
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِ ٱلَّيْلُ وَٱلنَّهَارُ وَٱلشَّمْسُ وَٱلْقَمَرُ ۚ لَا تَسْجُدُوا۟ لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَهُنَّ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ ٣٧
Among His signs are the day and the night, the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or the moon, but prostrate to Allah, Who created them ˹all˺, if you ˹truly˺ worship Him ˹alone˺.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
Among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate yourselves to the sun, or to the moon. And prostrate yourselves to Allah who has created them, if it is Him whom you worship.
— T. Usmani
And of His signs are the night and day and the sun and moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate to Allāh, who created them, if it should be Him that you worship.[1]
— Saheeh International
[1]i.e., Do not worship Allāh through His creations but worship Him directly and exclusively.
The night, the day, the sun, the moon, are only a few of His signs. Do not bow down in worship to the sun or the moon, but bow down to God who created them, if it is truly Him that you worship.
— M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
And from among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Prostrate yourselves not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate yourselves to Allâh Who created them, if you (really) worship Him.
— Al-Hilali & Khan
And1 of His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon.2 Do not prostrate yourselves before the sun, nor before the moon, but prostrate yourselves before Allah Who created them, if it is Him that you serve.3
— A. Maududi (Tafhim commentary)
[1]Now the discourse turns to the common people and they are made to understand the truth in a few sentences.
[2]That is, they are not the objects of divine power that you may start worshiping them, thinking that Allah is manifesting Himself in their form, but they are the signs of Allah by pondering over which you can understand the reality of the universe and its system, and can know that the doctrine of the Oneness of God which the Prophets are teaching is the actual reality. The mention of the night and day before the sun and moon has been made to give the warning that the hiding of the sun and appearing of the moon at night, and the hiding of the moon and appearing of the sun in the day clearly point to the fact that neither of them is God or object of divine power, but both are helpless and powerless objects, and are moving subject to the law of God.
[3]This is an answer to the philosophy that the intelligent among the polytheists generally used to propound to prove that polytheism was rational. They said that they did not bow to these objects but bowed to God through them. An answer to this has been given, so as to say: If you really are Allah’s worshipers, there is no need of these intermediaries: why don’t you bow down to Him directly?
And of His portents are the night and the day and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or the moon; but prostrate to Allah Who created them, if it is in truth Him Whom ye worship.
— M. Pickthall
Among His Signs are the Night and the Day, and the Sun and the Moon. Do not prostrate to the sun and the moon, but prostrate to Allah, Who created them, if it is Him ye wish to serve.
— A. Yusuf Ali
اللہ کی نشانیوں میں سے ہیں یہ رات اور دن اور سورج اور چاند۔ سورج اور چاند کو سجدہ نہ کرو بلکہ اس خدا کو سجدہ کرو جس نے انہیں پیدا کیا ہے۔ اگر فی الواقع تم اسی کی عبادت کرنے والے ہو
— Fe Zilal al-Qur'an
1 اللہ کی نشانیوں میں سے ہیں یہ رات اور دن اور سُورج اور چاند۔ 2 سُورج اور چاند کو سجدہ نہ کرو بلکہ اُس خدا کو سجدہ کرو جس نے انہیں پیدا کیا ہے اگر فی الواقع تم اُسی کی عبادت کرنے والے ہو۔ 3
— Tafheem e Qur'an - Syed Abu Ali Maududi
[1] یہ جواب ہے اس فلسفے کا جو شرک کو معقول ثابت کرنے کے لیے کچھ زیادہ ذہین قسم کے مشرکین عموماً بگھارا کرتے ہیں ۔ وہ کہتے ہیں کہ ہم ان چیزوں کو سجدہ نہیں کرتے بلکہ ان کے واسطے سے اللہ ہی کو سجدہ کرتے ہیں ۔ اس کا جواب یہ دیا گیا ہے کہ اگر تم واقعی اللہ ہی کے عبادت گزار ہو تو ان واسطوں کی کیا ضرورت ہے، براہ خود اسی کو سجدہ کیوں نہیں کرتے۔
[2] اب روٴئے سخن عوام الناس کی طرف مڑ رہا ہے اور چند فقرے ان کے حقیقت سمجھانے کے لیے ارشاد ہوئے ہیں ۔
[3] یعنی یہ اللہ کے مظاہر نہیں ہیں کہ تم یہ سمجھتے ہوئے ان کی عبادت کرنے لگو کہ اللہ ان کی شکل میں خود اپنے آپ کو ظاہر کر رہا ہے، بلکہ یہ اللہ کی نشانیاں ہیں جن پر غور کرنے سے تم کائنات کی او اس کے نظام کی حقیقت سمجھ سکتے ہو اور یہ جان سکتے ہو کہ انبیاء علیہم السلام جس توحید خداوندی کی تعلیم دے رہے ہیں وہی امر واقعی ہے۔ سورج اور چاند سے پہلے رات اور دن کا ذکر اس امر پر متنبہ کرنے کے لیے کیا گیا ہے کہ رات کو سورج کا چھپنا اور چاند کا نکل آنا، اور دن کو چاند کا چھپنا اور سورج کا نمودار ہو جانا صاف طور پر یہ دلالت کر رہا ہے کہ ان دونوں میں سے کوئی بھی خدا یا خدا کا مظہر نہیں ہے، بلکہ دونوں ہی مجبور و لاچار بندے ہیں جو خدا کے قانون میں بندھے ہوئے گردش کر رہے ہیں ۔
اور دن رات اور سورج چاند بھی (اسی کی) نشانیوں میں سے ہیں[1] ، تم سورج کو سجده نہ کرو نہ چاند کو[2] بلکہ سجده اس اللہ کے لیے کرو جس نے ان سب کو پیدا کیا ہے[3]، اگر تمہیں اس کی عبادت کرنی ہے تو.
— Maulana Muhammad Junagarhi
[1]یعنی رات کو تاریک بنانا تاکہ لوگ اس میں آرام کر سکیں، دن کو روشن بنانا تاکہ کسب معاش میں پریشانی نہ ہو، پھر یکے بعد دیگرے ایک دوسرے کا آنا جانا اور کبھی رات کا لمبا اور دن کاچھووٹا ہونا۔ اور کبھی اس کے برعکس دن کا لمبا اور رات کا چھوٹا ہونا۔ اسی طرح سورج اور چاندکا اپنے اپنے وقت پر طلوع و غروب ہونا اور اپنے اپنے مدار پراپنی منزلیں طے کرتے رہنا اور آپس میں باہمی تصادم سے محفوظ رہنا، یہ سب اس بات کی دلیلیں ہیں کہ ان کا یقیناً کوئی خالق اور مالک ہے۔ نیز وہ ایک اور صرف ایک ہے اورکائنات میں صرف اسی کا تصرف اور حکم چلتا ہے۔ اگر تدبیر و امرکا اختیار رکھنے والے، ایک سے زیادہ ہوتے تو یہ نظام کائنات ایسے مستحکم اور لگے بندھے طریقے سےکبھی نہیں چل سکتا تھا۔[2] اس لیے کہ یہ بھی تمہاری اللہ کی مخلوق ہیں، خدائی اختیارات سے بہرہ ور یا ان میں شریک نہیں ہیں۔[3] خَلَقَهُنَّ ، میں جمع مونث کی ضمیر اس لیے آئی ہے کہ یہ یا تو خَلَقَ هَذِهِ الأَرْبَعَةَ الْمَذْكُورَةَ کے مفہوم میں ہے، کیونکہ غیر عاقل کی جمع کا حکم مؤنث ہی کا ہے۔ یا اس کا مرجع شمس و قمرہی ہیں اور بعض ائمہ نحاۃ کے نزدیک تثنیہ بھی جمع ہے یا پھر مراد الآیات ہیں، (فتح القدیر)۔
اور رات اور دن اور سورج اور چاند اس کی نشانیوں میں سے ہیں۔ تم لوگ نہ تو سورج کو سجدہ کرو اور نہ چاند کو۔ بلکہ خدا ہی کو سجدہ کرو جس نے ان چیزوں کو پیدا کیا ہے اگر تم کو اس کی عبادت منظور ہے
— Fatah Muhammad Jalandhari
اور اسی کی نشانیوں میں سے ہیں رات دن سورج اور چاندتم سورج کو سجدہ مت کرو اور نہ چاند کو بلکہ اس اللہ کو سجدہ کرو جس نے ان سب کو پیدا کیا اگر تم واقعتا اسی کی بندگی کرتے ہو۔
— بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد)
اور اسکی قدرت کے نمونے ہیں رات اور دن اور سورج اور چاند [1] سجدہ نہ کرو سورج کو اور نہ چاند کو اور سجدہ کرو اللہ کو جس نے ان کو بنایا اگر تم اسی کو پوجتے ہو [2]
— Shaykh al-Hind Mahmud al-Hasan(with Tafsir E Usmani)
[1]سورج اور چاند وغیرہ کو پوجنے والے بھی زبان سے یہ ہی کہتے تھے کہ ہماری غرض ان چیزوں کی پرستش سے اللہ کی پرستش ہے۔ مگر اللہ نے بتلا دیا کہ یہ چیزیں پرستش کے لائق نہیں۔ عبادت کا مستحق صرف ایک خدا ہے۔ کسی غیر اللہ کی عبادت کرنا خدائے واحد سے بغاوت کرنے کا مرادف ہے۔
[2]زمین و آسمان میں دلائل توحید:دعوۃ الی اللہ کے ساتھ چند دلائل سماویہ و ارضیہ بیان فرماتے ہیں جن سے داعی الی اللہ کو اللہ تعالیٰ کی عظمت و وحدانیت اور بعث بعدالموت وغیرہ اہم مسائل کے سمجھانے میں مدد ملے۔ اس ضمن میں ادھر بھی اشارہ ہو گیا کہ ایک طرف خدا کے مخصوص بندے اپنے قول و عمل سے خدا کی طرف بلا رہے ہیں اور دوسری طرف چاند سورج اور آسمان و زمین کا عظیم الشان نظم و نسق سوچنے والوں کو اُسی خدائے واحد کی طرف آنے کی دعوت دے رہا ہے۔ وفی کل شیءٍ لَہٗ اٰیَۃٌ تُدل عَلٰی اَنَّہٗ واحِدُ انسان کو چاہئے کہ ان تکوینی نشانیوں میں الجھ کر نہ رہ جائے جیسے بہت سی قومیں رہ گئ ہیں، بلکہ لازم ہے کہ اس لامحدود قدرت والے مالک کے سامنے سر جھکائے جس کی یہ نشانیاں ہیں۔ اور جس کے حکم سے ان کی ساری نمود ہے اور ممکن ہے اس پر بھی تنبیہ ہو کہ جس طرح رات اور دن اور ان دونوں کی نشانیاں چاند اور سورج ایک دوسرے کے مقابل ہیں اور اللہ تعالیٰ ان میں ردوبدل کرتا رہتا ہے اسی طرح اس کو قدرت ہے کہ دعوت الی اللہ کی روشنی اور داعی کی عُلوّ ہمت اور خوش اخلاقی کی بدولت مخاطبین کی کایا پلٹ کر دے اور تاریک فضا کو ایک روشن ماحول میں بدل دے۔
Allah ki nishaniyon mein se hain yeh raat aur din aur Suraj aur Chand. Suraj ko aur Chand ko sajda na karo balke us khuda ko sajda karo jisne unhein paida kiya hai agar fil waqaii tum usi ki ibadat karne waley ho
— Abul Ala Maududi(Roman Urdu)
اوراس کی نشانیوں میں سے ہے رات اور دن اور سورج اور چاندتم سورج اور چاند کو سجدہ نہ کرو بلکہ اس اللہ کو سجدہ کرو جس نے ان سب کو پیدا کیا، اگر تم اسی کی عبادت کرنے والے ہو
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
[https://quran.com/fussilat/37]
There exist many belief systems in the world. Religious people generally worship some one (or more) as their god(s).
People believe in various timelines and rationales from the creation and existence of Earth and everything else. They debate trying to prove their beliefs rights.
The Quran gives insights into creation, and more importantly, its purpose. Surah Fussilat (Explained in Detail) quoted above, also gives a brief insight, questioning, in ayat 9, 'Say, “Do you really disbelieve in the One who has created the earth in two days, and ascribe to Him partners? That is the Lord of the worlds.' [translator: T. Usmani]. The next ayat tells about the next four days.
So, there is a disagreement between believers in The Bible and The Quran, and the disbelievers in the Abrahamic religions, whether it is based on their science or their beliefs.
The Earth, as we know it, and the skies, is a new creation, an invention of Allah, reformed after the previous corruption, and to give another chance. It is Allah's Mercy that He has created this temporal life, and that He promises Perfect Justice in the Hereafter. We have an upcoming meeting with Allah, a promise that must, and will be, kept.
The Day of Judgment is the Day to remember, worry, and prepare for.
The following are some excerpts from previous learnings, which help put the pieces together, and give some insights into the grand picture.
Excerpt from Allah is One & Only:
Surah al-Ikhlas (the Sincerity)
The title of this surah is al-Ikhlas meaning 'the Sincerity'.
Islam requires sincerity in Deen.
Allah's Deen means Allah's Laws.
Laws are decreed by a King.
Allah is the King of the skies and earth, and everyone and everything in it, and of all the humans.
To Allah is due full compliance and obedience.
So, who is Allah?
Excerpt from Creation:
Three ayaat of the Qur’an [6:91, 22:74, 39:67] state that the unbelievers have made no just estimate of Allah as is due to Him: Allah [i] has indeed sent down the scriptures, [ii] is strong and able to carry out His Will, and [iii] on the Day of Resurrection, the whole of the earth will be in His grip, and the heavens will be rolled up in His right hand.
Note: The word السَّمَاءُ (plural: السَّمَاوَاتِ) can be translated as sky or heaven
Creation according to Quran
Reading together and summarising the various ayaat pertaining to creation in the Quran, it appears to me that there are two phases of creation: the primary phase of six days (or periods) where the Earth and Heaven were created; then the secondary phase when the governance began: the already created Earth and Heaven were commanded to come together, and then the Earth and Seven Heavens were separated, with their physical laws. The following sequence emerges:
Primary Phase: Allah created the Heavens and the Earth in six days: the Earth was created in two days and made to grow meaningfully in four days. Meanwhile, the Heaven was like smoke. Then He rose to the Heaven. Then, He established Himself over the throne (started governing it).
Secondary Phase: the Heaven and Earth were ordered to come together as one. Then, the Heaven was raised and divided/layered into seven Heavens, and each assigned its laws. The Earth was expanded and made habitable.
...
Most religions have their own creation narratives, some similar, some quite different. The Bible describes creation in six days. In Hindu cosmogony, the universe is endlessly created, destroyed and recreated in a continuous cycle. Buddhist cosmology does not speak of origin but informs of thirty-one planes of existence. ... Are they compatible in some broad sense?
Excerpt from Herebefore & Therebefore:
There was a HEREBEFORE.
There is a purpose and a history behind the creation of the Earth and Skies, that also in just six days.
It is to generate evidence of how a person leads their life when granted freewill and when they cannot see Allah. Will they keep piety, or will they become indifferent, or will they actively seek to work against Allah and His Laws.
Excerpt from in the beginning:
the Arabic translation of Genesis 1& my translations and notes:
DRAFT Study in progress
فِي الْبَدْءِ خَلَقَ اللهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ
1. for the very first time, created Allah the skies and earth,
notes: the word الْبَدْءِ means something new, an invention, so the skies and earth were a new type of creation, the example of which did not exist prior to it.
The Quran informs us that Allah is the badīʿ (بَدِيع) of the Skies and Earth, as in, He invented the skies and earth. The invention of skies and earth is purposeful. Surah al-Anbiya states that these have not been created for amusement (Q21:16, 17). Also, this invention is for a limited time (Q11:107,108).
The Quran uses the term خَلَقَ to mention the creation of something from some material.
وَإِذْ كَانَتِ الأَرْضُ مُشَوَّشَةً وَمُقْفِرَةً وَتَكْتَنِفُ الظُّلْمَةُ وَجْهَ الْمِيَاهِ، وَإِذْ كَانَ رُوحُ اللهِ يُرَفْرِفُ عَلَى سَطْحِ الْمِيَاهِ
2. and when the earth was مُشَوَّشَةً and مُقْفِرَةً, and تَكْتَنِفُ darkness on face of the water, and Ruh of Allah was يُرَفْرِفُ upon the surface of the water,
notes: The Quran, Surah al-Isra informs that the Ruh is from the Amr of Allah, and that we have been given very little knowledge of it. The Quran also informs us that when Allah created Adam, He blew His Ruh into Adam. Surah as-Sajdah also informs of Allah blowing His Ruh into the human.
the Ruh of Allah was يُرَفْرِفُ the surface of the water; Q55:76 uses the word رَفْرَفٍ to describe the throne / cushions upon which the people of the two gardens will be seated. The Quran informs us that Allah's throne has been upon the water (Q11:7 ... وَّكَانَ عَرۡشُهٗ عَلَى الۡمَآءِ ...).
The Quran informs us that all living things have been made from water.
Throne indicates King, and kingdom includes living things.
what is the difference between الْمِيَاهِ and الۡمَآءِ ?
there was darkness (الظُّلْمَةُ) upon (تَكْتَنِفُ?) the face of the waters; darkness (الظُّلْمَةُ) is generally also translated as evil or the consequence of sin upon the soul. Google translates تَكْتَنِفُ as 'it surrounds'. So, the 'face' of the water (الْمِيَاهِ) was surrounded by darkness. End times is described in Hadith sources as a time of great darkness, and devoid of any believer. The Quran mentions the heating of the seas, and the seas set on fire. The Quran mentions the climate changes when life as we know it is about to end.
So, was there life on Earth once before? Did everyone die, and the Earth drown? Have we been given a second chance?
Google translates مُشَوَّشَةً to confused, and مُقْفِرَةً to desolate. Confusion is a result of lawlessness and disorder, while Desolation pertains to land not growing anything resulting in famine, and slavery, as in Genesis 47:19. Desolation is a term we come across in the Book of Daniel, and the consequent terrible events described in the Book of Revelation pertaining to end times. The Quran mentions twice that the Earth has been reformed (Q7:56, Q7:85 (... and do not corrupt the earth after it has been reformed ...)). Ancient civilisations were destroyed when they refused to believe and give up corruption. Many individuals and nations have already been destroyed. Now, we await a worldwide tribulation.
Surah al-Anbiya, after stating that the earth and skies have not been created for amusement (Q21:16, 17), also states that we hurl the truth against falsehood, so it strikes its brain, destroying it, ... (Q21:18).
From narrations about Ancient Egypt in the scriptures, we know that there have been climate changes, bringing about drought and famine, and people ending up in poverty and slavery. We also expect end times to be similar, with the Deceiver being given power and control, and people having to choose between the True God and the Deceiver. The period of great tribulation, when the saints will be given in his hands for a time, times, and half a time (Book of Daniel 7:25).
Eventually, the pious will inherit the Earth (Daniel 7:27, Q21:105)
...
Excerpt from The Purpose of Ibaadat:
There is a promised Fire that we are being warned about, a Fire that only those who are protected by Allah عزوجل will be protected from. That Day, there will be no other protection except Allah عزوجل 's Protection. So, the imperative to worship our Rabb (Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) alone, who is our Creator and the Creator of those before us:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
Excerpt from The Release of The Criminals:
وَلَا تُفۡسِدُوۡا فِى الۡاَرۡضِ بَعۡدَ اِصۡلَاحِهَا وَادۡعُوۡهُ خَوۡفًا وَّطَمَعًا ؕ اِنَّ رَحۡمَتَ اللّٰهِ قَرِيۡبٌ مِّنَ الۡمُحۡسِنِيۡنَ ٥٦
Do not spread corruption in the land after it has been set in order. And call upon Him with hope and fear. Indeed, Allah’s mercy is always close to the good-doers.
[Al-Quran 7:56, Translation: Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran]
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...
So, these criminals are so-called believers, whose speech is pleasing to the ears, but their actions are those which cause corruption.
The wisdom behind releasing Gog and Magog (يَأْجُوجُ وَمَأْجُوجُ) may be to generate the evidence that whenever the criminals are given a chance, they revert to their criminal behaviour, corrupting the Earth. The Earth was amended before (Q7:56), the Gog Magog were contained behind a metallic barrier (Q18:92-99). When they break that barrier, they will again corrupt the Earth (Q21:95-96). The land will be corrupted.
For the criminals, the doors in the sky will not be opened, and they will not be able to pass through it, at least until the camel cannot pass through the eye of the needle. What does that mean? A very distant future? The devolution of species? Until the skies and earth last? ...
Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى gives everyone a chance to repent and reform. Yet, in His Knowledge and Wisdom, He knows that the criminals will not choose to repent and reform. Every time they are given some power and authority, they cause corruption. Gog and Magog are the most extreme example. When they are released, they will make the Earth hellish. When all matters are brought to an end, the Believers will be able to ascend through the gates in the sky to Gardens of Perfection, which they will inherit, to maintain and enjoy it, always and forever.
The criminals will remain in the Hell on Earth.
Excerpt from The Problem of Evil:
So, the problem of evil has apparently existed long before Adam came on the scene. There is a purpose why the Earth and the Skies were created, why this world exists, and why the Khalifat was appointed for Adam and his progeny, and why evil flourishes when the progeny of Adam do not believe and act upon their role to contain evil.
This world is temporary. All that is happening is happening to establish the evidence for and against each individual. We choose, with our free will, whether we want to submit to Allah's guidance and our role in the grand scheme of things, or we choose to be misled by the Deceiver. The choice is ours. Our eternity depends upon it.
May Allah protect us from being misled, from going astray, from surrendering our eternal success for temporal benefits.
May Allah bless us.
رَبَّنَآ اٰتِنَا فِى الدُّنۡيَا حَسَنَةً وَّفِى الۡاٰخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَّ قِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ ٢٠١
Excerpt from The Day of Judgement and The Fear of Accountability:
Allah عزوجل has created people, in this world, to have mercy on them. For that purpose, they have been granted life and guidance, and the opportunity to act upon it, and reform themselves. Yet, there is no compulsion. Everyone has a free will. Allah عزوجل knows who will choose guidance, and who won't.
Many people say that since Allah عزوجل is arRahman arRaheem, and that He is Ghafoor-ur-Raheem, that they believe in a Good God, then there is nothing to fear.
Indeed, Allah عزوجل is Good, the exceedingly good, yet He عزوجل has made clear that His Justice is extremely just.
Were the Prophets and Messengers of Allah عزوجل as relaxed about the Day of Judgement as many people are nowadays?
Excerpt from Hereafter & Thereafter:
The is a HEREAFTER.
Heaven and Hell are repeatedly mentioned as the permanent destinations in the Hereafter.
Heaven and Hell are described in some detail.
Excerpt from NOW:
We live in the present moment, in the NOW.
The present life is a temporary phase.
It is an illusion.
The life of this world is but a delusion.
What we have in this life is not truly ours.
It is but a series of questions that we are attempting to solve during the exam of life.
Eventually, we must die, and then we will surely be raised up again, a promise without fail.
Then, the result of how we did in the exam will be declared.
Those who are declared successful will be happy.
Those who did not make it, will be sad.
What will be our Orientation: Right or Left?
Our Record in Our Neck is being preserved in the NOW.
The evidence will be presented, and every soul will agree with its result.
May we be of those who live the NOW such that we are happy in the Hereafter.
Excerpt from Devolution of Species:
We believe that Allah will reform the people destined to enter the Gardens of Eternity, recreating them in an excellent form, and granting them perfect health and immortality. These will be from:
- Q56:11-26 describes the hereafter of the third category, who are the foremost (السّٰبِقُوۡنَۚ)
- Q56:27-40 describes the (اَصۡحٰبُ الۡيَمِيۡنِؕ ٢٧), which is also translated as companions of the right
Then what about the third category who are destined to taste from the Tree of Zaqqum on the Day of Recompense:
From The Quran, we learn that the jews who violated the Sabbath restrictions were devolved into apes (Q2:65-66, Q7:164-166).
From The Quran, we also learn of a devolution into apes and swine (Q5:60).
Devolution into lower creatures is a concept found in ancient mythologies as well. However, in their philosophies, the belief is associated with reincarnation of the soul, in a different body, in this world. They seem to believe in an endless cycle of re-births and re-deaths, with immediate consequences (karma) in the next life, but not in a permanent hereafter. Their ultimate aim is to liberate the soul from the body.
The Arabic word for the soul is 'nafs'. The Quran mentions it 295 times. It is the main subject of The Quran. It is clearly stated that it is the 'nafs' that is granted death.
The Quran makes it very clear that death, after this life, is a separation from this world, till the Day of Resurrection. On the Day of Compensation (Deen), the successful will get their nafs reinstalled into their reformed bodies, for a blissful ever after in the The Gardens of Eternity.
The worst loss on the Day of Resurrection is a body's loss of its nafs, and the consequent forever after burning in the eternal The Fires of Hell.
Surah Qaf clearly states that whatever the earth consumes (the body) is in a well-preserved record, and our dust will be re-created. It also makes it clear that the 'nafs' whispers to the 'insaan', establishing the nafs' independence from the body, and potential separation.
Surah al-Bayyinah clearly states:
The Clear Proof (98:6-7)
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ فِى نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمْ شَرُّ ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ ٦
Indeed, those who disbelieve from the People of the Book and the polytheists will be in the Fire of Hell, to stay there forever. They are the worst of ˹all˺ beings.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
...
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ ٧
Indeed, those who believe and do good—they are the best of ˹all˺ beings.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
Related Links & Posts
Allah is One & Only
Iman & Amanat
in the beginning
Creation
Length of a Day: variable or fixed?
The Creation & Emergence of Species
Humans: Extinct & Extant
The Release of The Criminals
The Problem of Evil
Establishing Rights & Reality
The Day of Judgement and The Fear of Accountability
The Purpose of Ibaadat
Devolution of Species
Herebefore & Therebefore
Hereafter & Thereafter
NOW
