Themes of the Koran

---

THE KORAN is the earliest and by far the finest work of Classical Arabic prose. For Muslims it is the infallible Word of God, a transcript of a tablet preserved in heaven, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel. Except in the opening verses and some few passages in which the Prophet or the Angel speaks in the first person, the speaker throughout is God.

The posthumous son of 'Abdullah bin 'Abd al-Muttalib, of the tribe of Quraysh, Muhammad was born in Mecca about the year A.D, 57O. His mother Aminah died when he was still a child, and he was brought up by his grandfather and then by his uncle Abu Talib. As a youth he travelled with the trading caravans from Mecca to Syria, and at the age of twenty-live married Khadljah, daughter of Khuwailid, a rich widow fifteen years his senior. Meanwhile he had acquired a reputation for honesty and wisdom, . . .

Long before Muhammad's call, Arabian paganism was showing signs of decay. At the Ka'bah the Meccans worshipped not only Allah, the supreme Semitic God, but also a number of female deities whom they regarded as the daughters of Allah. Among these were Al-Lat, AI-'Uzza, and Manat, who represented the Sun, Venus, and Fortune respectively. Impressed by Jewish and Christian monotheism, a number of theists, or spiritual fundamentalists, known as hanifs had already rejected idolatry for an ascetic religion of their own. . . It was his (Muhammad's) habit to retire to a cave in the mountains in order to give himself up to solitary prayer and meditation. According to Muslim tradition, one night in Ramadan about the year 610, as he was asleep or in atrance, the Angel Gabriel came to him and said: 'Recite!' He replied: 'What shall I recite?' The order was repeated three times, until the Angel himself said:

'Recite in the name of your Lord who created, created man from clots of blood.'

'Recite! Your Lord is the Most Bountiful One, who by the pen taught man what he did not know.' When he awoke, these words, we are told, seemed to be 'inscribed upon his heart'.

Muhammad, who disclaimed power to perform miracles, firmly believed that he was the messenger of God, sent forth to confirm previous scripttires. God had revealed His will to the Jews and the Christians through chosen apostles, but they disobeyed God's commandments and divided themselves into sects. The Koran accuses the Jews of corrupting the Scriptures and the Christians of worshipping Jesus as the son of God, although He had expressly commanded them to worship none but Him. Having thus gone astray, they must be brought back to the right path, to the true religion preached by Abraham. This was Islam absolute submission or resignation to the will of God.

The Koran preaches the oneness of God and emphasizes divine mercy and forgiveness. God is almighty and all-knowing, and though compassionate towards His creatures He is stern in retribution. He enjoins justice and fair dealing, kindness to orphans and widows and charity to the poor. The most important duties of the Muslim are faith in God and His apostle, prayer, almsgiving, fasting and (if possible) pilgrimage to the Sacred House at Mecca built by Abraham for the worship of the One God.

The Koranic revelations followed each other at, brief intervals and were at first committed to memory by professional remembrancers. During Muhammad's lifetime verses were written on palm-leaves, stones, and any material that came to hand. Their collection was completed during the caliphate of 'Umar, the second Caliph, and an authorized version was established during the caliphate of'Uthman, his successor (644-56). To this day this version is regarded by believers as the authoritative Word of God. But, owing to the fact that the kufic script in which the Koran was originally written contained no indication of vowels or diacritical points, variant readings are recognized by Muslims as of equal authority.

In preparing the contents of the Koran for book-form its editor or editors followed no chronological sequence. Its chapters were arranged generally in order of length, the longest coming first and the shortest last. Attempts have been made by Noldeke, Grimme, Rodwell, and Bell to arrange the chapters in chronological order, but scholars are agreed that a strictly chronological arrangement is impossible without dissecting some of the chapters into scattered verses, owing to the inclusion of revelations spoken in Medina in chapters begun several years earlier in Mecca.

. . .

It is acknowledged that the Koran is not only one of the most influential books of prophetic literature but also a literary masterpiece in its own right. In adhering to a rigidly literal rendering of Arabic idioms, previous translations have, in my opinion, practically failed to convey both the meaning and the rhetorical grandeur of the original. It ought to be borne in mind that the Koran contains many statements which, if not recognized as altogether obscure, lend themselves to more than one interpretation.

---

C. 570 Birth of Muhammad (his father having died a few months earlier)

576 Death of his mother Aminah

595 Marriage to Khadijah

c.610 Beginning of Call

615 Flight of his followers to Ethiopia

619 Death of Khadijah

620 Muhammad's reputed 'Night Journey' from Mecca to Jerusalem, and thence to the Seventh Heaven

622 The Hijra (Flight or Migration) of Muhammad and his followers to Medina, and beginning of the Muslim Era

624 Battle of Badr: the Quraysh defeated by the Muslims

625 Battle of Uhud: the Muslims defeated

626 The Jewish tribe of al-Nadir crushed and expelled

627 'The War of the Ditch' the Meccans' expedition against the Muslims in Medina. Attackers driven off

627 The Jewish tribe of Qurayzah raided by Muhammad

628 The Treaty of Hudaybiyya; truce with the Quraysh, who recognize Muhammad's right to proselytize without hindrance

629 The Jews of Khaybar put to the sword. Muhammad sends letters and messengers to the Kings of Persia, Yemen, and Ethiopia and the Emperor Reraclius, inviting them to accept Islam

630 Truce broken by the Quraysh. Mecca taken by Muhammad -- the entire population converted, and the Ka'bah established as the religious centre of Islam

631 'The Year of Embassies' -- Islim accepted by the Arabian tribes

632 Muhammad's Farewell Pilgrimage to Mecca

632, 8 June Death of Muhammad, three months after his return to Medina

---

This chapter is intended to set the background for the emergence of Shi'i Islam. It will consist mostly of a survey of the life of Muhammad and a brief outline of the early history of Islam as well as some of the fundamental elements of the teachings contained in the Qur'an. The outline presented in this introductory chapter is intended to be a presentation of what is held in common by both Shi'is and Sunnis. The specifically Shi'i aspects of the history and teachings will be presented in subsequent chapters.

The emergence of Muhammad and the religion of Islam must be seen against the background of the Arabian Peninsula in the seventh century AD. Whether nomads or settled in towns, the people of Arabia were divided into tribes and the individual's loyalty was first and foremost to the tribe or the clan within the tribe to which he belonged. Honour, marriage, social status and friendship were all determined by one's tribe and one's position in the tribe. These tribes were frequently at war with one another and feuds could go on for generations with tribal honour demanding that blood revenge or blood money should be obtained for each death caused by the conflict. Bearing arms and fighting for one's tribe were the greatest marks of honour for men. If one did not belong to a powerful tribe, then it was necessary to obtain the protection of a powerful tribe, otherwise one's life was at risk. Sometimes one tribe would ally itself with another against its enemies.

The majority of the inhabitants of the peninsula were engaged in pastoral or agricultural pursuits, either as nomads or settled in one of a small number of towns. The other important economic factor was the presence of a trade route along the western side of the peninsula linking India with Syria and Byzantium.

Most of the tribes had a primitive form of worship and prayed to deities in the form of idols made of stone and wood. Both Christianity and Judaism had, however, made some inroads in the peninsula and a number of jewish tribes existed.

Among the Arab tribes there were certain places that were regarded as shrines and each had a sanctuary around it. Within the sanctuary, usually at a particular time of the year, the tribes would gather and put aside their feuding for a time while they celebrated a festival related to that shrine. These festivals were important occasions for trade, cultural activities such as poetry reading and for the settlement of disputes and feuds. The custodians of these shrines thus became prominent persons and were frequently used to settle blood feuds by acting as arbitrators.

One such shrine in Arabia was the Ka'ba in Mecca. The Ka'ba became the repository for the idols of many of the tribes and a yearly festival was held at 'Ukaz nearby. Muhammad himself came from the family of the custodians of the Ka'ba. His ancestor, Qusayy, was said to have seized the Ka'ba from its previous custodians and established his tribe, Quraysh, as the most important tribal group in Mecca and his family as the most important family among Quraysh. In his family was vested the custodianship of the Ka'ba together with the responsibility for providing with food and water the pilgrims who came to the shrines.

The sons and grandsons of Qusayy extended and increased the influence of their family and of Mecca. They instituted two great trade Journeys, one in the winter to the Yemen in the south to trade with thc ships coming from India on the Monsoon winds and one in the summer to the north to trade in Syria with the Byzannnes. In order to do this, they had to establish a number of treaties and alliances with other tribes through whose territory they needed to pass. This process greatly increased the importance of Mecca as the focal point of the trade route.

By the time of Muhammad's birth, Mecca was a very important centre and the power of the Quraysh tribe paramount. Muhammad's own family line, although retaining some of its ancestral privileges, had, however, lost much of its power and influence to other clans within Quraysh such as the Umayya and Makhzum families.

Muhammad was born in AD 570 in Mecca. His father died a few months before Muhammad was born and his mother died when he was six. He was placed under the care of his grandfather and two years later, when this grandfather died, Muhammad entered the household of his uncle Abu Talib, the father of 'Ali and the head of the Banu Hashim family. Thus 'Ali was not only a cousin but also virtually a foster-brother of Muhammad (although there was a considerable age difference between the two).

As Muhammad grew up, he became known for his honesty and reflective nature. He assisted his uncle in his trading ventures, but the family was not a rich one and its fortunes were in decline. Later a rich widow, Khadija, engaged Muhammad to manage her trading concerns.

When he was twenty-five, Muhammad married Khadija, who was fifteen years his senior, and while she lived he took no other wives. They had eight children, but only four daughters grew to adulthood. Also in Muhammad's household lived his cousin, 'Ali, and his adopted son, a freed slave named Zayd.

It was when Muhammad was aged forty (i.e. in AD 610) that the first revelation came to him. Muhammad himself has related that, one day while he was meditating on Mount Hira, near Mecca, as was his custom, the Angel Gabriel appeared to him and instructed him three times to read. Then the Sura of al-'Alaq was revealed: 'Recite in the name of thy Lord who created; created man of congealed blood . . . '

Muhammad fled in terror at this revelation, but his wife Khadija comforted him and became the first believer. His cousin 'Ali who was only nine or ten years old at the time became the second to believe and Zayd, the other member of his household, was next. The first from outside Muhammad's household to believe was Abu Bakr. A number of others also gathered around Muhammad at this time although the details of how these earliest of his followers became believers are not for the most part, available.

Then after about four years came the moment when Muhammad made a public announcement of his mission. Once at a gatheriug of his own clan of the Hashim family and once at a general meeting of Meccans on Mount Safa, Muhammad proclamed his mission and called all the people to abandon idolatry and to worship the one true God. This public announcement aroused the fiercest opposition from the Meccan notables, for any abandonmeut of idol-worship threatened the position of the Ka'ba as the foremost centre of idol-worship in Arabia which in turn meant the destruction of Mecca as a commercial centre. Muhammad's followers at this stage were mostly young men of no influence in the community. Some were members of powerful clans but could exert no influence because of their youth. Others were slaves. All of the Meccan nobility combined against the new Prophet and only the protection of Abu Talib (who stood by his nephew on account of kinship and not because he was a believer) saved Muhammad from death while several of his followers endured the cruellest tortures aud many faced abuse and insults.

At this earliest stage, Muhammad appears to have taught a very simple religious doctrine: that there is only One God who has sent Muhammad as His messenger to mankind; that idol-worship is prohibited as are various other practices such as the burying alive of baby daughters: and that man must purify his thoughts and actions in preparation for the Day of judgement.

So harsh did the persecution become that in 615 Muhammad ordered a group of his followers to migrate to Ethiopia and seek there the protection of its Christian king. The Quraysh leaders even sent emissaries to Ethiopia to try to persuade the king to return the refugees but the king refused.

The following year, a deputation of leading members of Quraysh from the Umayya and Makhzum families called on Abu Talib asking him to restrain his nephew or alternatively to withdraw his protection but Abu Talib refused. The Quraysh imposed a boycott on the members of the Hashim and the related Muttalib families who supported Muhammad, although the majority of them were not Muslims. The boycott lasted three years but eventually it collapsed, mainly because it was not achieving its purpose and Muhammad was continuing to preach his message.

Although the boycott ended in 619, two events in that year caused Muhammad great sorrow and plunged him into great danger. The first was the death of Khadija who had been his main support and the second was the death of Abu Talib, his uncle and protector. Leadership in the house of Hashim now passed to Abu Lahab who was another uncle of Muhammad but his inveterate enemy. Abu Lahab soon found a pretext for withdrawing clan protection from Muhammad and this placed the latter in great peril for he could now be killed with impunity (withdrawal of clan protection meant that blood revenge or blood money would not be exacted) and such a person could not expect to survive long. It was now a priority for Muhammad to find a protector.

He travelled to the nearby town of Ta'if to seek the protection of the leading clan there but he was ridiculed and rejected. Finally Muhammad was forced to accept the protection of the chief of the Banu Nawfal and suffered the humiliation of returning to Mecca under the protection of a tribe that was not his own and a chief who was an idolator.

It was just at this time when matters seemed at their bleakest for the Prophet that an event occurred that was to be the key to his eventual triumph. In 620, at the yearly pilgrimage season, Muhammad met some six or seven men from the tribe of Khazraj of the town of Yathrib and converted them to his teachings. The following year, five of them returned and together with another seven received instruction from Muhammad at secret meetings at a pass called 'Aqaba near Mecca. They pledged that they would refrain from idolatry, murder of their offspring, adultery, theft and calumny and would obey the Prophet. Their pledge did not, however, include a promise to take up arms on behalf of the Prophet. When it was time for them to return to Yathrib, Muhammad sent one of his Meccan disciples with them.

In Yathrib Muhammad's message achieved some measure of success so that the following year, AD 622, 72 men and 3 women came to Mecca to pledge their allegiance to Muhammad. Since these represented prominent members of both Aws and Khazraj, the two major rival tribes of Yathrib, and they now promised to protect Muhammad with arms if necessary, Muhammad decided to move to Yathrib. First of all he instructed his followers to leave for Yathrib until the time came when only Muhammad, 'Ali, Zayd and Abu Bakr were left in Mecca. The Meccan leaders were alarmed at the departure of the Muslims, both frightened at the thought of what Muhammad might do next and dismayed at the disregard shown by the Muslims for the ties of kinship. Some forty of the Meccan notables gathered in the council chamber of the town and decided that Muhammad must be killed. That night, however, Muhammad slipped away from the town with Abu Bakr and hid in a nearby cave.

'Ali slept that night in the Prophet's bed in order to fool the assassins who were keeping watch. In the morning, the attackers were furious when they discovered that their prey had evaded them and, for a time, 'Ali's life was in danger. Despite a thorough search for him and the placing of a reward upon his head, Muhammad slipped through the net of the Meccans and reached Yathrib, which was henceforward called Madinat an-Nabi, the City of the Prophet, or just Medina for short. This move of the Prophet from Mecca to Medina signalled the turnabout in his fortunes. That year, AD 622, the year of the Hijra (Hegira) or Emigration, is the starting point of the Islamic calendar.

When Muhammad first arrived in Medina, his followers were still a minority among the inhabitants but Muhammad himself had been invited there as an arbitrator between the feudiug tribes of Aws and Khazraj and therefore his personal prestige was high. His role in the first few years of his presence in Medina was mainly a political one. He was a builder of bridges between the rival factions in the town. In the first year, he set up a confederation of all the groups who lived in Medina. This alliance involved a commitment to fight together against outside enemies, not to make a separate peace with the enemy and not to give refuge to anyone who had committed a crime or an act of aggression or had stirred up dissension. The treaty of alliance made the city of Medina a sanctuary and Muhammad the arbitrator in any disagreements. The Jewish tribes of Medina were included in the alliance with full rights.

In order to strengthen ties between his own followers, Muhammad caused each of those who had come with him from Mecca, the Muhajirun. (the emigrants), to adopt one of his followers in Medina, the Ansar (the helpers), as blood-brothers.

The next few years saw Muhammad engaged in two conflicts, an external conflict with the Meccans and an internal conflict with his opponents within Medina. Inside Medina, there was a faction who in Muslim histories are called the Munafiqun (the dissemblers) who had entered the Medinan confederation but only reluctantly and were now working to destroy it and to bring Muhammad's power and influence to an end. Their leader was 'Abdu'llah ibn Ubayy who had had great influence in Medina prior to Muhammad's arrival. The Jews of Medina, who had at first welcomed the arrival of a prophet who taught monotheism, later began to resent the growth of his power and also the trading losses that they were incurring due to Meccan enmity. They were reluctant when asked to contribute to the public purse and urged others not to do so either for they saw no obligation on their part to participate in Muhammad's conflict with the Meccans. It has been suggested that due to the increasing hostility of the Jews, some sixteen months after his arrival in Medina, Muhammad changed the direction in which prayer was to be said from Jerusalem to the Ka'ba in Mecca.

The war with the Meccans began as a series of skirmishes and raids upon their caravans. The first real battle was at Badr in AD 623. The Meccans came out in force to protect a caravan of theirs led by Abu Sufyan of the Umayya family. Although the caravan reached Mecca safely, the Meccans pressed forward aggressively. At Badr, the forces of the Prophet defeated them decisively and many of the leading men of Mecca were killed on that day.

In AD 62S, after further raids and hostilities, a Meccan army marched on Medina. Muhammad's forces advanced to Mount Uhud where they awaited the Meccans. A measure of the strength of the Munafiqun in Medina may be made from the fact that, at this critical juncture, 'Abdu'llah ibn Ubayy deserted the Medinan army and almost one-third of the army went with him back to Medina. At first the Battle of Uhud went well for the Medinans and the Meccans were on the point of defeat when a portion of the Medinan army broke ranks in search of booty and this exposed their flank. The flow of the battle was reversed and the Medinans were forced to retreat although the victors themselves had been so badly mauled that they were unable to press home their advantage and withdrew.

Muhammad's prestige was now at a low ebb; the Munafiqun were jubilant and openly encouraged the Jews to revolt. One tribe of jews had already provoked Muhammad into expelling it from Medina prior to the Battle of Uhud and now another tribe were encouraged to resist the order to leave and barricaded themselves into their quarter of the town, Eventually, the Munafiqun having failed to come to their aid, this Jewish tribe was forced to capitulate and also left Medina. The Muhajirun were given their houses.

In AD 627 there occurred the final effort of the Meccans to break the growing power of Muhammad. Allying themselves to the jewish tribes that had been expelled from Medina and to several other tribes, an army of 10,000 was put into the field. Muhammad could only muster 3,000 men and because of the activities of the Munafiqun, he could not even be sure of all of these. On the advice of Salman, a Persian convert, however, Muhammad caused a trench to be dug around the town. This novel form of defence discomfited the attackers and after an inconclusive siege they withdrew. During the siege, the last major tribe of Jews left in Medina broke ranks and began negotiations with the Meccans, exposing one of the flanks of the town.

After the siege was over, Muhammad turned his attention to this treacherous tribe. They eventually agreed to surrender themselves and Muhammad set as judge over them the chief of one of the clans of the Aws tribe. They were expecting to receive leniency from that quarter because in former days they had been allies of Aws. But the stern chief of the Aws decreed the death of all male members of the tribe. Their women and children were sold into slavery.

Over the next few years, a series of raids and skirmishes increased Muhammad's prestige among the nomadic tribes of the area. Then in AH 6 (AD 628) Muhammad decided to set out for Mecca on pilgrimage. He departed from Medina during one of the months set aside for pilgrimages and each of his companions was armed only with a sword. At Hudaybiyya the path of the pilgrims was blocked by the Meccans who were wary of allowiug Muhammad into their town although there was the traditional month of truce and pilgrimage. Eventually, after negotiations, a ten-year truce was agreed under which Muhammad would leave the area but would return the following year and perform the pilgrimage.

Later in the same year, Muhammad launched an attack on a large settlement of jews at Khaybar who had been active in opposing him and were even trying to set up an alliance to attack Medina. The fortified settlements at this oasis were taken one after another. During that year a number of other expeditions consolidated Muhammad's position.

In February 629, seven years after the emigration, Muhammad returned to Mecca in fulfilmeut of the previous year's treaty. Most of the Meccans left town, but a few such as his uncle, al-'Abbas, who until this time had been sitting on the fence neither supporting nor opposing his nephew, now extended to him a warm welcome.

An expedition sent by Muhammad to the far north faced disaster when it came across a vastly superior Byzailtine army. It was saved from total annihilation by the skilful leadership of Khalid ibn Walid who in later years was to lead the Muslim armies to important victories.

In late 629, the truce agreed at Hudaybiyya was broken through attack by some of the allies of the Meccans upon some of the allies of Medinans in Mecca. The Meccans came to the assistance of their allies and so Muhammad decided to raise an army and put an end to the Meccan threat. It was in early 630 that Muhammad arrived before Mecca with a large army. The Meccans had been unable to raise a significant force. The chief of the Umayya family came to proffer Muhammad his allegiance and the rest of the Meccans soon submitted, although a handful did fight to the bitter end. Muhammad thus entered Mecca in triumph only eight years after fleeing it in danger of his life. His first act was to enter the Ka'ba with 'Ali and destroy the idols therein . Shortly afterwards, at Hunayn, Muhammad defeated two tribes who had united against him.

The following year, the ninth year of the Hegira, is known as the 'Year of Delegations' for it was in that year that deputations came from all over Arabia tendenng their submission to Muhammad. From Yemen in the south and Bahrain in the east they came. It must have been especially pleasing to Muhammad to see the submission of the town of Ta'if that had rejected him so contemptuously years before. To each of these places Muhammad sent one of his close disciples to teach them Islam. Even the Christian tribes of the north came to acknowledge Muhammad's suzerainty and to pay the poll-tax which Islam decreed for non-Muslim subjects.

That year Muhammad decided not to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca but entrusted to 'Ali the task of warning those who were still polytheists that they would no longer be allowed access to the Ka'ba. The following year Muhammad performed what came to be known as the 'Farewell Pilgrimage' to Mecca. This pilgrimage became the model for all subsequent pilgrimages to Mecca.

Shortly after his return to Medina, in the summer of 632, Muhammad fell ill, and after a few weeks of ill-health he died.

As we have already noted, during the Meccan phase of his ministry, Muhammad taught a very simple religious ethic centred on the need to put aside idol-worship and turn to the one true God. Later in Medina these teachings were expanded. Three fundamental tenets remained at the core of the religion:

1. Belief in one God and rejection of all idols;
2. Belief in Muhammad as the messenger of God;
3. Belief in the Day of judgement.

But to these were added a number of obligatory ritual observances:

1. Obligatory Prayer, five times a day;
2. Fasting for the month of Ramadan;
3. Paying of alms;
4. Pilgrimage to the Ka'ba;
5. Jihad, or Holy War against idolators.

To these were added a number of laws regulating social transactions such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, etc. as well as a moral and ethical code enjoining chastity, honesty, tolerance, forgiveness, etc. These in brief were the teachings enshrined in the Qur'an and promulgated by Muhammad. They were to become the foundations of the Islamic community.

The major social achievement of Muhammad's ministry was the welding together of a hundred or more disparate and feuding tribes into one nation, a union that overrode the ties of kinship and the enmity of blood feuds. So united was this people that the might of neither Byzantium not Persia could stand before it. So powerful was the impetus given to this nation by Islam that within one generation it had conquered territory stretching from Tunisia to the borders of India and within a few generations this backward and primitive people became the centre of civilisation in the Western world and remained thus for almost four hundred years.

As to Muhammad's personal life, he led a simple existence. Although by the end of his life he was a powerful and rich ruler, he contented himself with plain clothing, simple food and austere surroundings. His judgement was renowned both in dealing with his adversaries and in settling disputes between individuals and clans. In his political dealings he never used force where negotiations would suffice nor did he initiate aggression but only moved against those who had already demonstrated their hostile intentions.

He was a gentle man, to whom the sight of human suffering caused sorrow and pain and he would grieve if ever his followers went beyond what was immediately necessary in the process of fighting and killing. The few executions that were carried out on his orders were of men who had continually striven to undermine his position over a long period of time despite many warnings or who had professed Islam and then betrayed their fellow believers. To other enemies he was often magnanimous in victory to such an extent that his own followers sometimes complained that he treated his enemies better than he treated his followers.

The fact that Muhammad took more than a dozen wives has at times occasioned critical comment in the West. But a number of facts should be realised in connection with this. Muhammad at first took only one wife Khadija, and he was happy with her and took no other wife until she died after twenty-five years of marriage. Muhammad himself was fifty year of age by this time. It should not be imagined that Muhammad's late marriages were out of sexual desires. They were contracted mostly for political or humanitarian reasons. These later wives were either widows of followers of his who had been killed in battle and had been left without a protector, or they belonged to important families or clans whom it was necessary to honour in order to strengthen alliances. Many were of advanced years and only one had not been married previously -- 'A'isha the daughter of his close companion Abu Bakr, whom the Prophet wished to honour. Indeed, that his later marriages were not due to a voluptuous nature is indicated by the fact that although his first wife, Khadija, bore a total of eight children, only one more child was born to Muhammad after Khadija's death.

After the death of the Prophet, an ad hoc assembly of Muslims chose Ahu Bakr to be the leader of the Islamic community, the Khalifa (Caliph). Abu Bakr's Caliphate only lasted two years (AD 632-4) during which the most important event was the suppression of a revolt of many Arab tribes who had apostasised from Islam immediately upon the Prophet's death.

Abu Bakr appointed as his successor 'Umar. During 'Umar's Calphate (AD 634-44) the Muslim armies achieved the most remarkable victories against both the Persian and Byzantine Empires. The succession to 'Umar was decided by a council of six appointed by the Caliph. This council made 'Uthman of the Umayya family Caliph. 'Uthman ruled for twelve years (AD 644-56) but became very unpopular towards the end of his life. He was assassinated in 656 and 'Ali was acclaimed Caliph. But Mu'awiya of the Umayya family rose in revolt. 'Ali's assassination in 661 paved the way for Mu'awiya to become Caliph.

Mu'awiya moved the capital of the Islamic Empire to Damascus and instituted the Umayyad dynasty. This dynasty held sway until AH 132/AD 750 with a total of fourteen rulers. They are generally considered by many Muslim historians to have been corrupt, irreligious and treacherous. Only 'Umar II (AD 717-20) 15 generally regarded in a favourable light.

The revolt of Abu Muslim in Khurasan overturned the Umayyad dynasty and put into power the 'Abbasid Caliphs, who were descended from the Prophet's uncle al-'Abbas (Spain remained in the hands of the Umayyads, however). The 'Abbasids made Kufa in Iraq their capital, but later in 763 they began the construction of a new capital, Baghdad. The 'Abbasids wielded real power for about 150 years but thereafter came increasingly under the control of their Turkish mercenaries and then under the power of a succession of dynasties that controlled Baghdad, the seat of the Caliphate.

The Islamic lands were split up with different dynasties controlling the various parts. For a brief period, one ruler might control a large part of the Islamic lands but only with the rise of the Ottoman Empire and the conquests of Selim the Grim in the early 16th century did most of the Islamic lands (excluding Iran, India and Central Asia) come under a lengthy period of stable unified rule. The Ottoman Empire was broken up at the end of the First World War and the Ottoman Caliphate terminated in 1924.

---

"Unlike the Bible which was written by a great number of people, the Qur'an was the work of one man. It stands unchallenged as the most influential Book of one individual person. This is even more remarkable from a man who could neither read nor write. It is the first work of prose literature of Arabia and ranks uncontested as the best.

" Reading the Qur'an is done much more than reading from any other book including the Bible since it is used in public worship, in schools, in individual worship, private study and reading. Because of this fact alone it is a sufficient claim on our attention. It is the most widely-read Book in existence.

"The Qur'an and its Revealer are the foundation of Islam. It is the sacred Book of hundreds of millions of people who regard it as the Word of God spoken through the mouth of His Prophet. It affords many insights into the spiritual development of a most backward people and the creation of religious personalities (i.e. saints, scholars, poets, etc.).

from The Disconnected Letters of the Qur'an and the
Significance of the Number Nineteen   by Robert T. Cameron

* * *

The process of revelation is the revealing of an unmatched book from God. At one time it was Abraham, at another Moses, at another Jesus and yet later Muhammad. These were the manifestations of God for there time. The claim of this Manifestation of God is that no man can reproduce a book like the Koran. Its Word is the creative force of the Worlds.

2:21 If you doubt what We have revealed to Our servant, produce one chapter comparable to it. Call upon your idols to assist you, if what you say be true.

* * *

All that is worthwhile is mentioned in the Word of God. The seeds of man's enlightenment are these words. The fruits of man's life are the good qualities he develops through the contemplation of the books from God.

Our attachments to this world blinds us from approaching Him. He has given us teachings and disciplines, prayers, meditations and laws to come closer to the Kingdom.

2:42 Fortify yourselves with patience and with prayer.

This may indeed be an exacting discipline, but not to the devout, who know that they will meet their Lord and that to Him they will return.

* * *

As it is today, God has always given guidance to mankind. A prophet of God was sent to His people and they are rightly guided.

2:146 Thus have We sent forth to you an apostle of your own who will recite to you Our revelations and purify you of sin, who will instruct you in the Book and in wisdom and teach you that of which you had no knowledge.

Remember Me, then, and I will remember you. Give thanks to Me and never deny Me.

Believers, fortify yourselves with patience and with prayer. God is with those that are patient.

Do not say that those slain in the cause of God are dead.

They are alive, but you are not aware of them.

2:150 We shall test your steadfastness with fear and famine, with loss of property and life and crops.

Give good news to those who endure with fortitude; who in adversity say: 'We belong to God, and to Him we shall return.'

On such men will be God's blessing and mercy; such men are rightly guided.

* * *

This world is for our enjoyment but we should not let it tempt us away from the remembrance of God. When we get drawn in to the pleasures and distractions of this world, we forget God and break His laws which are for our own protection and growth.

2:168 You people! Eat of what is lawful and wholesome on the earth and do not walk in Satan's footsteps, for he is your inveterate foe.

He enjoins on you evil and lewdness, and bids you assert about God what you know not.

* * *

There are some basic responsibilities that men must carry out in this life. They must never forget that God would again send a Messenger and a Book. God will never leave us alone.

2:172 Righteousness does not consist in whether you face towards the East or the West. The righteous man is he who believes in God and the Last Day, in the angels and the Book and the prophets; who, though he loves it dearly, gives away his wealth to kinsfolk, to orphans, to the destitute, to the traveller in need and to beggars, and for the redemption of captives; who attends to his prayers and renders the alms levy; who is true to his promises and steadfast in trial and adversity and in times of war. Such are the true believers; such are the God-fearing.

2:175 It is decreed that when death approaches, those of you that leave property shall bequeath it equitably to parents and kindred.

* * *

In Muhammad's time the believers are told to stand firm and defend themselves and the Cause of God. Many of Muslim neighbours found them a disturbance to their traditional way of life.

2:186 Fight for the sake of God those that fight against you, but do not attack them first. God does not love aggressors.

* * *

One of the gifts that God has given us is the privilege to give a part of our wealth   back to God.

2:191 Give generously for the cause of God and do not with your own hands cast yourselves into destruction. Be charitable; God loves the charitable.

* * *

Only after great disruption in the early Muslim community was Muhammad pressed to make statements about gambling and alcohol.

2:216 They ask you about drinking and gambling. Say: 'There is great harm in both, although they have some benefit for men; but their harm is far greater than their benefit.'

5:92 Believers, wine and games of chance, idols and divining arrows, are abominations devised by Satan. Avoid them, so that you may prosper. Satan seeks to stir up enmity and hatred among you by means of wine and gambling, and to keep you from the remembrance of God and from your prayers.

Will you not abstain from them?

* * *

The Manifestation of God makes social laws for the proper governing of His people. He will not leave them without guidance as this statement about divorce will show.

2:228 Divorced women must wait, keeping themselves from men, three menstrual courses. It is unlawful for them, if they believe in God and the Last Day, to hide what God has created in their wombs: in which case their husbands would do well to take them back, should they desire reconciliation.

2:230 If a man divorces his wife, he cannot remarry her until she has wedded another man and been divorced by him; in which case it shall be no offence for either of them to return to the other, if they think that they can keep within the bounds set by God.

Such are the bounds of God. He makes them plain to men of knowledge. When you have renounced your wives and they have reached the end of their waiting period, either retain them in honour or let them go with kindness. But you shall not retain them in order to harm them or to wrong them.

Whoever does this wrongs his own soul.

Do not trifle with God's revelations. Remember the favour God has bestowed upon you, and the Book and the wisdom He has revealed for your instruction. Fear God and know that God has knowledge of all things.

If a man has renounced his wife and she has reached the end of her waiting period, do not prevent her from remarrying her husband if they have come to an honourable agreement. This is enjoined on every one of you who believes in God and the Last Day; it is more honourable for you and more chaste. God knows, but you know not.

* * *

Muhammad revealed the Words that God revealed to him. As he speaks it is actually God who is speaking. Through him, God gave wise laws to a primitive Arabian society. Some laws were spiritual, the universal laws that never change, other laws were social which change from one Manifestation to the next.

2:239 Attend regularly to your prayers, including the middle prayer, and stand up with all devotion before God.

2:240 When you are exposed to danger pray on foot or while riding; and when you are restored to safety remember God, as He has taught you what you did not know.

You shall bequeath your widows a year's maintenance without causing them to leave their homes; but if they leave of their own accord, no blame shall be attached to you for any course they may deem reasonable to pursue.

* * *

God explains to Muhammad that some prophets were given a stronger message and some became more renowned than others. But man has always turned against the New Message and clung to old forms. God says that He could have made man turn toward Him but chose to give him a free choice.

2:253 Such are God's revelations. We recite them to you in all truth, for you are one of Our apostles. Of these apostles We have exalted some above others. To some God spoke directly; others He raised to a lofty status. We gave Jesus son of Mary indisputable signs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit.

Had God pleased, those who succeeded them would not have fought against one another after the veritable signs had been given them. But they disagreed among themselves; some had faith and others had none. Yet had God pleased they would not have fought against one another. God does what He will.

* * *

Again it is important that man gives of his wealth and his time for the Cause of God and to the poor. The Lord promises a reward to the faithful. Just these simple statements below were the cause of great philanthropic acts in a time when Europe was in the Dark Ages.

2:263 Those that give their wealth for the cause of God can be compared to a grain of corn which brings forth seven ears, each bearing a hundred grains. God gives abundance to whom He will; God is munificent and all-knowing.

2:265 A kind word with forgiveness is better than charity followed by insult. God is self-sufficient and gracious.

2:275 Whatever alms you give shall rebound to your own advantage, provided that you give them for the love of God. And whatever alms you give shall be repaid to you in full: you shall not be wronged.

* * *

We can see in many parts of the world where the charging of interest on loans has placed an unfair burden on the poor. Those that have wealth, use their riches to exploit those in desperate need by charging unbearable interest.

2:276 Those that live on usury shall rise up before God like men whom Satan has demented by his touch; for they claim that trading is no different from usury. But God has permitted trading and made usury unlawful.

He that has received an admonition from his Lord and mended his ways may keep his previous gains; God will be his judge. Those that turn back shall be the inmates of the Fire, wherein they shall abide for ever.

God has laid His curse on usury and blessed almsgiving with increase. God bears no love for the impious and the sinful.

* * *

2:282 Believers, when you contract a debt for a fixed period, put it in writing. Let a scribe write it down for you with fairness; no scribe should refuse to write as God has taught him. Therefore let him write; and let the debtor dictate, fearing God his Lord and not diminishing the sum he owes.

If the debtor be an ignorant or feeble-minded person, or one who cannot dictate, let his guardian dictate for him in fairness. Call in two male witnesses from among you, but if two men cannot be found, then one man and two women whom you judge fit to act as witnesses; so that if either of them make an error, the other will remind her.

Witnesses must not refuse if called upon to give evidence.

So do not fail to put your debts in writing, be they small or large, together with the date of payment. This is more just in the sight of God; it ensures accuracy in testifying and is the best way to remove all doubt.

* * *

From the Words of God there are clear statements that need no interpretation and there are parables and analogies which only God knows the meaning of. In the Koran it is clear that God has set a trap for those who wish fame and power. These persons will try to insist on their own interpretation, but God has made it clear that man falls into error, he attempts interpretation to raise his own fame and to mislead others.

3:5 It is He who has revealed to you the Book. Some of its verses are precise in meaning they are the foundation of the Book -- and others ambiguous. Those whose hearts are infected with disbelief observe the ambiguous part, so as to create dissension by seeking to explain it. But no one knows its meaning except God.

* * *

Since the first revelations of the Koran, Muhammad has taught the High station of Jesus Christ. His statements show the proper respect and reaffirm the teachings of the Christ. Through God's revelation, He gives us more of the history of Jesus, His suffering and tells us of our failure in recognizing His proper station. God speaks of Jesus' innate knowledge, which is one of the signs of the Manifestation.

3:37 And remember the angels' words to Mary. They said: 'God has chosen you. He has made you pure and exalted you above womankind.

Mary, be obedient to your Lord; bow down and worship with the worshippers.'

3:40 The angels said to Mary: 'God bids you rejoice in a Word from Him. His name is the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary. He shall be noble in this world and in the world to come, and shall be one of those who are favoured. He shall preach to men in his cradle and in the prime of manhood, and shall lead a righteous life.'

'Lord,' she said, 'how can I bear a child when no man has touched me?'

He replied: 'Even thus. God creates whom He will. When He decrees a thing He need only say: "Be," and it is. He will instruct him in the Scriptures and in wisdom, in the Torah and in the Gospel, and send him forth as an apostle to the Israelites. He will say: "I bring you a sign from your Lord. From clay I will make for you the likeness of a bird. I shall breathe into it and, by God's leave, it shall become a living bird.

43:63 When Jesus came with Clear Signs, he said: "Now have I come to you with Wisdom, and in order to make clear to you some of the points on which ye dispute: therefore fear God and obey me.

"For God; He is my Lord and your Lord: so worship ye Him: this is a Straight Way."

5:46 And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the Law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear God.

* * *

The Manifestation of God is concerned with man's soul and the spiritual maturity of mankind. For Him this world is but a plaything. When He speaks of life and death, God is not referring to this mortal world of dust.

4:155 They denied the truth and uttered a monstrous falsehood against Mary. They declared: 'We have put to death the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the apostle of God.' They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but they thought they did.

Those that disagreed about him were in doubt concerning him; they knew nothing about him that was not sheer conjecture; they did not slay him for certain. God lifted him up to Him; God is mighty and wise. There is none among the People of the Book but will believe in him before his death; and on the Day of Resurrection he will bear witness against them.

4:161 We have revealed Our will to you as We revealed it to Noah and to the prophets who came after him; as We revealed it to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the tribes; to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, Solomon and David, to whom We gave the Psalms. Of some apostles We have already told you, but there are others of whom We have not yet spoken (God spoke directly to Moses): apostles who brought good news to mankind and admonished them, so that they might have no plea against God after their coming. God is mighty and wise.

* * *

In order to understand the passage below we have to understand that God is speaking through Muhammad.

5:109 'Jesus son of Mary, remember the favour I bestowed on you and on your mother: how I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit, so that you preached to men in your cradle and in the prime of manhood;

5:110 How I instructed you in the Book and in wisdom, in the Torah and in the Gospel; how by My leave you fashioned from clay the likeness of a bird and breathed into it so that, by My leave, it became a living bird; how, by My leave, you healed the blind man and the leper, and by My leave restored the dead to life; how I protected you from the Israelites when you had come to them with clear signs: when those of them who disbelieved declared:

"This is but plain sorcery"; how, when I enjoined the disciples to believe in Me and in My apostle, they replied: "We believe; bear witness that we submit."'

'Jesus son of Mary,' said the disciples, 'can your Lord send down to us from heaven a table spread with food?'

He replied: 'Have fear of God, if you are true believers.' 'We wish to eat of it,' they said, 'so that we may reassure our hearts and know that what you said to us is true, and that we may be witnesses of it.'

'Lord,' said Jesus son of Mary, 'send down to us from heaven a table spread with food, that it may mark a feast for the first of us and the last of us: a sign from You. Give us our sustenance; You are the best provider.'

God replied: 'I am sending one to you. But whoever of you disbelieves hereafter shall be punished as no man will ever be punished.'

Then God will say: 'Jesus son of Mary, did you ever say to mankind: "Worship me and my mother as gods besides God?"'

'Glory be to You,' he will answer, 'I could never have claimed what I have no right to. If I had ever said so, You would have surely known it. You know what is in my mind, but I know not what is in Yours. You alone know what is hidden. I told them only what You bade me. I said: "Serve God, my Lord and your Lord."

I watched over them while living in their midst, and ever since You took me to Yourself, You have been watching them. You are the witness of all things. If You punish them, they surely are Your servants; and if You forgive them, surely You are mighty and wise.

God will say: 'This is the day when their truthfulness will benefit the truthful. They shall for ever dwell in gardens watered by running streams. God is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. That is the supreme triumph.'

5:120 God has sovereignty over the heavens and the earth and all that they contain. He has power over all things.

* * *

When Islam is revealed it follows in the pattern of previous revelations spoken by other Manifestations and prophets. When Muhammad reveals the Koran, He is revealing the same spiritual teachings from God that were revealed down through ancient times, through Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Moses and Jesus.

If men reject the words of the Koran, then they are rejecting the message of Christ, of Moses and all the Messengers through history. The message is always the same but it is brought to a new land, a new culture in a new language.

3:78 Say: 'We believe in God and what is revealed to us; in that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael, to Isaac and Jacob and the tribes; and in that which their Lord gave Moses and Jesus and the prophets. We discriminate against none of them. To Him we have surrendered ourselves.'

He that chooses a religion other than Islam, it will not be accepted from him and in the world to come he will surely be among the losers.

Mohammad feared the faith of his followers would be weakened by making friend with non-Muslims.

3:114 Believers, do not make friends with any but your own people. They will spare no pains to corrupt you. They desire nothing but your ruin. Their hatred is evident from what they utter with their mouths, but greater is the hatred which their breasts conceal.

* * *

Faith is a very simple phenomena. It is strengthened when believers encourage and compete with each other to do good deeds.

But confession is a personal act between a soul and its God.

3:127 Obey God and the Apostle that you may find mercy.

Vie with each other to earn the forgiveness of your Lord and a Paradise as vast as heaven and earth, prepared for the righteous: those who give alms alike in prosperity and in adversity; who curb their anger and forgive their fellow men (God loves the charitable); who, if they commit evil or wrong their souls, remember God and seek forgiveness for their sins (for who but God can forgive sin?) and do not knowingly persist in their misdeeds.

* * *

3:139 No one dies unless God wills. The term of every life is fixed. He that desires the reward of this world shall have it; and he that desires the reward of the life to come shall have it also. We will surely recompense the thankful.

* * *

In many situation the Messenger, Muhammad, was faced with disobedient followers. In the following passage, God gives him guidance on what to do.

3:153 It was thanks to God's mercy that you dealt so leniently with them. Had you been cruel or hard-hearted, they would have surely deserted you. Therefore pardon them and implore God to forgive them. Take counsel with them in the conduct of affairs; and when you are resolved, put your trust in God. God loves those that are trustful.

If God helps you, none can overcome you. If He abandons you, who then can help you? Therefore in God let the faithful put their trust.

* * *

God, through Muhammad, tells His followers to be just to orphans and wives.

4:2 Give orphans the property which belongs to them. Do not exchange their valuables for worthless things or cheat them of their possessions; for this would surely be a grievous sin.

If you fear that you cannot treat orphans with fairness, then you may marry other women who seem good to you: two, three, or four of them. But if you fear that you cannot maintain equality among them, marry one only or any slave-girls you may own. This will make it easier for you to avoid injustice.

Give women their dowry as a free gift; but if they choose to make over to you a part of it, you may regard it as lawfully yours.

* * *

God gives Muslims social laws that improve the status of women. The Arabs before Muhammad would often bury their girl babies alive and treat women as no better than cattle or sheep.

4:12 A male shall inherit twice as much as a female. If there be more than two girls, they shall have two-thirds of the inheritance; but if there be one only, she shall inherit the half. Parents shall inherit a sixth each, if the deceased have a child; but if he leave no child and his parents be his heirs, his mother shall have a third. If he have brothers, his mother shall have a sixth after payment of any legacy he may have bequeathed or any debt he may have owed.

You may wonder whether your parents or your children are more beneficial to you. But this is the law of God; surely God is all-knowing and wise.

* * *

Many old practices are now outlawed by Muhammad. A man is no longer allowed to marry any female he chooses.

4:26 Forbidden to you are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your paternal and maternal aunts, the daughters of your brothers and sisters, your foster-mothers, your foster sisters, the mothers of your wives, your step-daughters who are in your charge, born of the wives with whom you have lain (it is no offence for you to marry your step-daughters if you have not consummated your marriage with their mothers), and the wives of your own begotten sons. You are also forbidden to take in marriage two sisters at one and the same time: all previous such marriages excepted.

* * *

A good marriage is still a rare occurrence and it surely was in the 600 AD period. God gave guidance to the Arabs about the proper treatment of women and children.

4:35 If you avoid the enormities you are forbidden, We shall pardon your misdeeds and usher you in with all honour. Do not covet the favours by which God has exalted some among you above others. Men shall be rewarded according to their deeds, and women shall be rewarded according to their deeds. Rather implore God to bestow on you His gifts.

Surely God has knowledge of all things.

To every parent and kinsman We have appointed heirs who will inherit from them. As for those with whom you have entered into agreements, let them, too, have their share. Surely God bears witness to all things.

Men have authority; over women because God has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because God has guarded them. As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them, forsake them in beds apart, and beat them. Then if they obey you, take no further action against them. Surely God is high, supreme.

If you fear a breach between a man and his wife, appoint an arbiter from his people and another from hers. If they wish to be reconciled, God will bring them together again. Surely God is all-knowing and wise.

4:40 Serve God and associate none with Him. Show kindness to parents and kindred, to orphans and to the destitute, to near and distant neighbours, to those that keep company with you, to the traveller in need, and to the slaves you own.

* * *

Muhammad gives rights to women that they never had before on the Arabian peninsula.

4:127 If a woman fear ill-treatment or desertion on the part of her husband, it shall be no offence for them to seek a mutual agreement, for agreement is best. People are prone to avarice. But if you do what is right and guard yourselves against evil, know then that God is cognizant of all your actions.

* * *

During the early days of Islam, there were many people persecuting the Muslims. The enemy uses every means to make their lives difficult.

When Muhammad moved to Medina, He made alliances with the local people of that town. In time, when attacks were lead from Mecca against him, some of the Medina peoples secretly made alliances with Mecca and betrayed Muhammad.

4:93 Others you will find who seek security from you as well as from their own people. Whenever they are called back to sedition they plunge into it headlong. If these do not keep their distance from you, if they neither offer you peace nor cease their hostilities against you, lay hold of them and kill them wherever you find them. Over such men We give you absolute authority.

* * *

Prayer is not just something that is done for a few minutes at certain times of day. It is also a state of mind. Remembrance of God is something we can do at any time of day.

4:104 When your prayers are ended, remember God standing, sitting, and lying down. Attend regularly to your prayers so long as you are safe: for prayer is a duty incumbent on the faithful, to be conducted at appointed hours. . .

* * *

Our society is now suffering because people in all walks of life are afraid to speak the truth and expose treachery and criminal behaviour. It is our obligation before God to speak the truth and not be silent, even if our lives and our friends and family will be harmed,.

4:134 Believers, conduct yourselves with justice and bear true witness before God, even though it be against yourselves, your parents, or your kinsfolk. Be they rich or poor, God knows better about them both. So do not be led by passion, lest you swerve from the truth. If you distort your testimony or decline to give it, know that God is cognizant of all your actions.

* * *

4:147 God does not love harsh words, except when uttered by a man who is truly wronged. God hears all and knows all. Whether you do good openly or in private, whether you forgive an injustice -- God is forgiving and all-powerful.

* * *

God has fulfilled His Promise. In each cycle God sends a new Messenger, who is an incarnation of the previous Manifestation of God. They come with the same spiritual message and reveal all that man needs to know for his own personal and cultural development.

5:5 This day I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favour to you. I have chosen Islam to be your faith.

* * *

5:49 We decreed for them a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and a wound for a wound. But if a man charitably forbears from retaliation, his remission shall atone for him. Transgressors are those that do not judge according to God's revelations.

* * *

Proper preparation for prayer helps man understand the importance of mental and spiritual cleanliness.

5:8 Believers, when you rise to pray wash your faces and your hands as far as the elbow, and wipe your heads and your feet to the ankle.

The Day of Resurrection is the time of the return of the Manifestation of God. In biblical writings a 'day' is equivalent to a thousand years. This 'day' refers to a period of time, an era when a particular 'message' rules.

5:40 As for the unbelievers, if they offered all that the earth contains and as much besides to redeem themselves from the torment of the Day of Resurrection, it shall not be accepted from them. Woeful punishment awaits them.

They will strive to get out of the Fire, but get out of it they shall not. Lasting punishment awaits them.

* * *

For almost 1400 years two world religions have grown, fought and declined side by side. Islam and Christianity blossomed from the pure soil of Muhammad and Jesus but the resulting institutions, the creations of man's politics, grapled with each other in mindless obsessive hate and ignorance. Did God foresee that man would not be able to overcome his prejudices and greed.

I like to think that in this passage, God is referring to the Christians and the Muslims. God wishes them to compete for spiritual qualities until the Day of the Return.

We have ordained a law and assigned a path for each of you.

5:53 Had God pleased, He could have made of you one community: but it is His wish to prove you by that which He has bestowed upon you. Vie with each other in good works, for to God shall you all return and He will resolve your differences for you.

* * *

The Pilgrimage is a journey imposed apron men who are able once in their lifetime, to the sacred Ka'bah in Mecca.

5:97 God has made the Ka'bah, the Sacred House, the sacred month, and the sacrificial offerings with their ornaments, eternal values for mankind; so that you may know God has knowledge of all that the heavens and the earth contain; that God has knowledge of all things.

* * *

Muhammad gave detailed instructions on the making of a will.

5:104 Believers, you are accountable for none but yourselves; he that strays cannot harm you if you are on the right path. To God shall you all return, and He will declare to you what you have done.

Believers, when death approaches you, let two just men from among you act as witnesses when you make your testament; or two men from another tribe if the calamity of death overtakes you while you are travelling the land. Detain them after prayers, and if you doubt their honesty, let them swear by God: 'We will not sell our testimony for any price even to a kinsman.

We will not hide the testimony of God; for we should then be evil-doers.'

If both prove dishonest, replace them by another pair from among those immediately concerned, and let them both swear by God, saying: 'Our testimony is truer than theirs. We have told no lies, for we should then be wrongdoers.' Thus will they be more likely to bear true witness or to fear that the oaths of others may contradict theirs. Have fear of God and be obedient.

God does not guide the evil-doers.

* * *

Justice and unity are two themes that occur in the Koran.

They are not subjects that mankind has learned well.

6:153 Do not tamper with the property of orphans, but strive to improve their lot until they reach maturity. Give just weight and full measure; We never charge a soul with more than it can bear: Speak for justice, even if it affects your own kinsmen. Be true to the covenant of God.

Thus He exhorts you, so that you may take heed.

6:160 Have nothing to do with those who have split up their religion into sects. God will call them to account and declare to them what they have done.

* * *

7:25 Children of Adam! We have given you clothes to cover your shameful parts, and garments pleasing to the eye; but the finest of all these is the robe of piety.

That is one of God's revelations. Perchance they will take heed.

Children of Adam! Let not Satan tempt you, as he seduced your parents out of Paradise. He stripped them of their garments to reveal to them their shameful parts. He and his minions see you whence you cannot see them.

We have made the devils guardians over the unbelievers.

* * *

Man's faith is strengthened with the Remembrance of God

7:203 When the Koran is recited, listen to it in silence so that you may be shown mercy.

Remember your Lord deep in your soul with humility and reverence, and without ostentation: in the morning and in the evening; and do not be negligent.

* * *

9:36   God ordained the months twelve in number when He created the heavens and the earth. Of these, four are sacred, according to the true Faith. Therefore do not sin against yourselves by violating them. But you may fight against the idolaters in all these months, since they themselves fight against you in all of them.

Know that God is with the righteous.

* * *

The Warning refers to the Koran itself. The Book is a Call to Mankind to turn away from the 'lower self' and learn the spiritual meaning of our lives here on Earth.

10:58 You people! A warning has come to you from your Lord, a cure for the mind, a guide and a blessing to true believers.

* * *

The Right Path -- The Straight Path -- The Narrow Path -- The Path Less Trodden

16:9 God alone points to the right path. Some turn aside but, had He pleased, He would have given you all guidance.

* * *

God is trying to tell us about the secrets of our souls. He uses analogies to prod our imaginations. If the tiny bee has been given such wonderful abilities, what is man then capable of?

16:70 Your Lord inspired the bee, saying: 'Make your homes in the mountains, in the trees, and in the hives which men shall build for you.

Feed on every kind of fruit, and follow the trodden paths of your Lord.'

From the bees belly comes forth a syrup of different hues, a cure for men. Surely in this there is a sign for those who would take thought.

* * *

The following is God's instructions to Muhammad and the Muslims on how to teach their Cause.

16:126 Call men to the path of your Lord with wisdom and kindly exhortation. Reason with them in the most courteous manner. Your Lord best knows those who stray from His path and those who are rightly guided.

If you punish, let your punishment be commensurate with the wrong that has been done you. But it shall be best for you to endure your wrongs with patience.

Be patient, then: God will grant you patience. Do not grieve for the unbelievers, nor distress yourself at their intrigues. God is with those who keep from evil and do good works.

* * *

God has instructed the Arabs and all peoples to treat their parents with respect.

17:23 Serve no other deity besides God, lest you incur disgrace and ruin.

Your Lord has enjoined you to worship none but Him, and to show kindness to your parents. If either or both of them attain old age in your dwelling, show them no sign of impatience, nor rebuke them; but speak to them kind words.

Treat them with humility and tenderness and say: 'Lord, be merciful to them. They nursed me when I was an infant.'

* * *

Prayer is the central part of Islam. Devotion, humility and moderation are key guidelines.

17:110 Say: 'You may call on God or you may call on the Merciful: by whatever name you call on Him, His are the most gracious names.' Pray neither with too loud a voice nor in silence, but between these extremes, seek a middle course.

* * *

21:16 It was not in sport that We created the heaven and the earth and all that lies between them. Had it been Our will to find a diversion, We could have found one near at hand. Indeed, We will hurl Truth at Falsehood, until Truth shall triumph and Falsehood be no more. Woe betide you, for all the falsehoods you have uttered.

* * *

21:38 Impatience is the very stuff man is made of. I shall show you My signs: do not ask Me to hurry them on.

* * *

21:92 Of a truth, this is your religion, the one Religion, and I am your Lord; therefore serve me.

* * *

22:41 'Our Lord is God.' Had God not defended some men by the might of others, monasteries and churches, synagogues and mosques in which His praise is daily celebrated, would have been utterly destroyed.

But whoever helps God shall be helped by Him. God is powerful and mighty: He will assuredly help those who, once made masters in the land, will attend to their prayers and render the alms levy, enjoin justice and forbid evil. God governs the destiny of all things.

* * *

24:2 The adulterer and the adulteress shall each be given a hundred lashes. Let no pity for them cause you to disobey God, if you truly believe in God and the Last Day; and let their punishment be witnessed by a number of believers.

The adulterer may marry only an adulteress or an idolatress; and the adulteress may marry only an adulterer or an idolater. True believers are forbidden such marriages.

Those that defame honourable women and cannot produce four witnesses shall be given eighty lashes. Do not accept their testimony ever after, for they are great transgressors.

* * *

24:26 Unclean women are for unclean men, and unclean men for unclean women. But good women are for good men, and good men for good women. These shall be cleared of calumny; forgiveness, and a generous provision, await them.

Believers, do not enter the dwellings of other men until you have asked their owners' permission and wished them peace. That will be best for you. Perchance you will take heed.

24:29 It shall be no offence for you to seek shelter in empty dwellings. God knows what you reveal and what you hide.

24:30   Enjoin believing men to turn their eyes away from temptation and to restrain their carnal desires. This will make their lives purer. God has knowledge of all their actions.

Enjoin believing women to turn their eyes away from temptation and to preserve their chastity; not to display their adornments (except such as are normally revealed); to draw their veils over their bosoms and not to display their finery except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their step-sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women-servants, and their slave-girls; male attendants lacking in natural vigour, and children who have no carnal knowledge of women. And let them not stamp their feet when walking so as to reveal their hidden trinkets.

Believers, turn to God in penitence, that you may prosper.

24:32   Take in marriage those among you who are single and those of your male and female slaves who are honest. If they are poor, God will enrich them from His own bounty. God is munificent and all-knowing.

Let those who cannot afford to marry live in continence until God shall enrich them from His own bounty. As for those of your slaves who wish to buy their liberty, free them if you find in them any promise and bestow on them a part of the riches which God has given you.

* * *

The proof of God is the Word of God. The people wanted to see miracles by Muhammad stated that he could only reveal what God had revealed to Him. Moses had revealed miracles and Christ had healed the sick but yet how many of the desert people were Jews and Christians?

Could the people not see that the Arabic Koran was a true miracle?

26:192 This is surely revealed by the Lord of the Worlds.

The faithful Spirit has brought it down into your heart, that you may give warning in eloquent Arabic speech.

It was surely foretold in the scriptures of the ancients.

Is it not sufficient proof for them that the doctors of the Israelites recognize it?

In this chapter of the Koran, God explains to Muhammad how Moses was raised up as a prophet to the Jewish people when they were captives in Egypt. Moses spoke directly with God and he was God's spokesperson on earth.

28:1 . . . These are the verses of the Glorious Book.

In all truth We shall recount to you the tale of Moses and Pharaoh for the instruction of the faithful.

Now Pharaoh made himself a tyrant in the land. He divided his people into castes, one group of which he persecuted, putting their sons to death and sparing only their daughters. Truly, he was an evil-doer.

But it was Our will to favour those who were oppressed in the land and to make them leaders among men, to bestow on them a noble heritage and to give them power in the land; and to inflict on Pharaoh, Haman, and their warriors the very scourge they dreaded.

We revealed Our will to Moses' mother, saying: 'Give him suck, but if you are concerned about his safety, then put him down onto the river.

'Have no fear, nor be dismayed; for We shall restore him to you and shall invest him with a mission.'

* * *

Pharaoh's household picked him up, though he was to become their adversary and their scourge. For Pharaoh, Haman, and their warriors were sinners all.

His wife said to Pharaoh: 'This child may bring joy to us both. Do not slay him. He may show promise, and we may adopt him as our son.' But they little knew what they were doing.

Moses' mother's heart was sorely troubled. She would have revealed who he was, had We not given her strength so that she might become a true believer. She said to his sister: 'Go, and follow him.'

28:12 She watched him from a distance, unseen by others.

Now We had caused him to refuse his nurses' breasts. His sister said to them: 'Shall I direct you to a family who will bring him up for you and take good care of him?'

* * *

Thus did We restore him to his mother, so that she might rejoice in him and grieve no more, and that she might learn that God's promise was true. Yet most men are not aware of this.

And when he had reached maturity and grown to manhood We bestowed on him wisdom and knowledge. Thus do We reward the righteous.

He entered the town unnoticed by its people, and found two men at each other's throats, the one of his own race, the other an enemy.

The Israelite appealed for Moses' help against his enemy, so that Moses struck him with his fist and slew him.

'This is the work of Satan,' said Moses. 'He is the sworn enemy of man and seeks to lead him astray. Forgive me, Lord,' he said, 'for I have sinned against my soul.'

* * *

And God forgave him; for He is the Forgiving one, the Merciful. He said: 'By the favour You have shown me, Lord, I vow that I will never lend a helping hand to wrongdoers.'

28:18 Next morning, as he was walking in the town in fear and caution, the man who sought his help the day before cried, out to him again for help.

'Clearly,' said Moses, 'you are a quarrelsome man.'

And when Moses was about to lay his hands on their enemy, the Egyptian said:

'Moses, would you slay me as you slew that man yesterday? You are surely seeking to be a tyrant in the land, not an upright man.'

* * *

A man came running from the farthest quarter of the city.

'Moses,' he cried, 'the elders are plotting to kill you. Fly for your life, if you, will heed my counsel!'

He went away in fear and caution, saying: 'Lord, deliver me from the wicked people.' And as he made his way towards Midian, he said: 'May the Lord guide me to the even path.'

28:23 When he came to the well of Midian he found around it a multitude of men watering their flocks, and beside them two women who were keeping back their sheep. 'What is it that troubles you?' he asked.

They replied: 'We cannot water them until the 'shepherds have driven away their flocks. Our father is an aged man.'

Moses watered their sheep for them and then retired to the shade, saying: 'Lord, I surely stand in need of the blessing which You have sent me.'

* * *

One of the two girls came bashfully towards him and said: 'My father calls you. He wishes to reward you for watering our flock.'

And when Moses went and recounted to him his story, the old man said: 'Fear nothing. You are now safe from the wicked people.'

One of the girls said: 'Father, take this man into your service. A man who is strong and honest is the best that you can hire.'

The old man said: 'I will give you one of these' two daughters of mine in marriage if you stay eight years in my service; but if you wish it, you may stay ten.

I shall not deal harshly with you; God willing, you shall find me an upright man.'

'So be it between us,' said Moses. 'Whichever term I shall fulfil, I trust I shall not be wronged. God is the witness of what we say.'

* * *

And when he had fulfilled his term and was journeying with his folk, Moses descried a fire on the mountain-side.

He said to his people: 'Stay here, for I can see a fire.

Perhaps I can bring you news, or a lighted torch to warm yourselves with.'

When he came near, a voice called out to him from a bush in a blessed-spot on the right side of the valley, saying:

'Moses, I am God, Lord of the Worlds. Throw down your staff.'

And when he saw it slithering like a serpent, he turned and fled, without a backward glance.

'Moses,' said the voice, 'approach and have no fear. You are safe. Put your hand in your pocket: it will come out white, although unharmed. Now draw back your arm, and do not stretch it out in terror.

* * *

These are two signs from your Lord for Pharaoh and his people. Surely, they are sinful men.'

28:33   'Lord,' said Moses, 'I have killed one of their number and fear that they will slay me.

Aaron my brother is more fluent of tongue than I; send him with me that he may help me and confirm my words, for I fear they will reject me.'

He replied: 'We will strengthen your arm with your brother, and will bestow such power on you both, that none shall harm you. Set forth, with Our signs. You, and those who follow you, shall surely triumph.'

And when Moses came to them with Our undoubted signs, they said: 'This is nothing but baseless sorcery; nor have we heard of the like among Our forefathers.'

Moses replied: 'My Lord knows best the man who brings guidance from His presence and gains the recompense of the life to come. The wrongdoers shall never prosper.'

'Nobles,' said Pharaoh, 'you have no other god that I know of except myself. Make me, Haman, bricks of clay, and build for me a tower that I may climb to the god of Moses. I am convinced that he is' lying.'

* * *

28:39 Pharaoh and his warriors conducted themselves with arrogance and injustice in the land, thinking they would never be recalled to Us.

But We took him and his warriors, and We cast them into the sea. Consider the fate of the evildoers.

We made them leaders who called men to the Fire, but on the Day of Resurrection none shall help them. In this world We laid a curse on them, and on the Day of Resurrection they shall be among the damned.

After We had destroyed the first generations We gave the Book to Moses as a clear sign, a guide and a blessing for mankind, so that they might take thought.

You were not present on the western side of the Mountain when We charged Moses with his commission, nor did you witness the event.

* * *

We raised many generations after him whose lives were prolonged. You did not dwell among the people of Midian, nor did you recite to them Our revelations; but it was We who sent you forth.

You were not present on the mountain-side when We called out. Yet have We sent you forth, as a blessing from your Lord, to forewarn a nation to whom no one has been sent before, so that they may take heed and may not say, when evil befalls them on account of their misdeeds:

'Lord, had You sent us an apostle, we should have obeyed Your revelations and believed in them.'

And now that they have received the truth from Us, they ask: 'Why is he not given the like of what was given to Moses?' But do they not deny what was formerly given to Moses?

They say: 'Two works of sorcery complementing one another!' And they declare: 'We will believe in neither of them.'

Say: 'Bring down from God a scripture that is a better guide than these and I will follow it, if what you say be true!'

If they make you no answer, know that they are led by their desires. And who is in greater error than the man who is led by his desire, without guidance from God? God does not guide the evil-doers.

We have caused the Word to reach them so that they may take thought. Those to whom We gave the Scriptures before this believe in it.

When it is recited to them they say: 'We believe in it; it is the truth from our Lord. We submitted to, Him long before it came.'

* * *

Twice shall their reward be given them, because they have endured with fortitude, requiting evil with good and giving in alms from what We gave them; and because they pay no heed to idle talk, but say:

'We have our actions and you have yours. We wish you peace. We will have nothing to do with ignorant men.'

You cannot guide whomever you please: it is God who guides whom He will. He best knows those who yield to guidance.

The Arabic Koran is a true miracle. There is no argument among those that read Arabic that the Koran is a wonderful gem in that languages.

Part of the trouble that was created by man was to not properly translate This Book into other languages. There was even an agenda to see that the western world never discovered its wonderful message.

The real test for Mankind is to be exposed to the Word and thus be forced to change direction in its life. Before the new Message is revealed man may be excuded but afterwards he is held responsible. What has the western world lost because he has not been informed of the Muslim message? Allah and God are the same god. The one, the independent God, who is without partner.

29:45 Proclaim the portions of the Book that have been revealed to you and be steadfast in prayer. Prayer fends off lewdness and evil.

But your foremost duty is to remember God. God has knowledge of all your actions.

29:46 Be courteous when you argue with the People of the Book, except with those among them who do evil. Say: 'We believe in that which has been revealed to us and which was revealed to you. Our God and your God is one. To Him we submit.'

Thus have We revealed the Book to you. Those to whom We gave the Scriptures believe in it, and so do some of your own people. Only the unbelievers deny Our signs.

Never have you read a book before this, nor have you ever transcribed one with your right hand.

Had you done either, the unbelievers might have doubted.

But to those who are endowed with knowledge it is an undoubted sign. Only the wrongdoers deny Our signs.

They ask: 'Why have no signs been sent down to him by his Lord?' Say: 'Signs are in the hands of God. My mission is only to give plain warning.'

Is it not enough for them that We have revealed to you the Book for their instruction? Surely in this there is a blessing and an admonition for true believers.

Say: 'Sufficient is God as my witness, and your witness.

He knows all that the heavens and the earth contain. Those who believe in falsehood and deny God will surely be the losers.' They challenge you to hasten on the scourge.

Had there not been a time appointed for it, the scourge would have long since taken them. Indeed, it will come down upon them suddenly, and catch them unawares.

* * *

'The life of this world is but a sport and a diversion.It is the life to come that is the true life: if they but knew it.'

This statement is the key to understanding the Koran and the New Testament. The Manifestation did not come to help us to enjoy this mortal life but to prepare us for our journey into all the 'Worlds of God'.

29:62 God gives abundantly to whom He will and sparingly to whom He pleases. God has knowledge of all things.

If you ask them who it is that sends down water from the sky and thus resurrects the earth after its death, they will surely reply: 'God.' Say: 'Praise, then, be to God!' But most of them are senseless.

The life of this world is but a sport and a diversion. It is the life to come that is the true life: if they but knew it.

* * *

Muhammad was known to prophecy on the events of his time.

The Greeks were Christians and he had a preference for Christians for they are people of the Book.

30:1 The Greeks have been defeated in a neighbouring land. But in a few years they shall themselves gain victory: such being the will of God before and after.

On that day the believers will rejoice in God's help. He gives victory to whom He will. He is the Mighty One, the Merciful.

That is God's promise; God will never break His promise.

Yet most men do not know it.

* * *

35:29 We have bestowed the Book on those of Our servants whom We have chosen. Some sin against their souls, some follow a middle course, and some, by God's leave, vie with each other in charitable works: this is the supreme virtue.

* * *

It seems that a reason why some men become rich beyond the incomes of their peers is not that these people are more deserving but because God is testing them. He expects more and better behaviour from them and His punishment will be sever for those that treat their fellow men badly.

39:43 God takes away men's souls upon their death, and the souls of the living during their sleep. Those that are doomed He keeps with Him, and restores the others for a time ordained. Surely there are signs in this for thinking men.

Have they chosen others besides God to intercede for them? Say: 'Even though they have no power nor understanding?'

Say: 'Intercession is wholly in the hands of God. He has sovereignty over the heavens and the earth. To Him shall you be recalled.'

When God alone is named, the hearts of those who deny the hereafter shrink with aversion; but when their other gods are named, they are filled with joy.

Say: 'Lord, Creator of the heavens and the earth, who have knowledge of the unknown and the manifest, You alone can judge the disputes of Your servants.'

If the wrongdoers possessed all the treasures of the earth and as much besides, they would gladly offer it to redeem themselves from the harrowing scourge on the Day of Resurrection. For God will show them what they have never reckoned with.

The evil of their deeds will manifest itself to them, and that which they derided will encompass them.

39:50 When evil befalls man he calls out to Us; but when We vouchsafe him a favour from Ourself, he says: 'It is my due.' By no means! It is but a test: yet most of them do not know it.

The same was said by those before them: but they gained nothing from what they did, and the very evil of their deeds recoiled upon them.

The wrongdoers among these shall also have the evil of their deeds recoil upon them: nor shall they ever be immune.

Do they not know that God gives abundantly to whom He will and sparingly to whom He pleases? Surely there are signs in this for true believers.

* * *

The Message of the Manifestation of God is a Glorious blessing and if his heart is touched and he is transformed than he has found the Love of God. There is a song from the south that says, 'Keep your eye on the Prize'. Rain falls in his heart and from his eyes, bringing a new Springtime, and changing even this world into paradise.

41:33 And who speaks better than he who calls men to the service of God, does what is right, and says: 'I am a Muslim'?

41:35 Good deeds and evil deeds are not equal. Requite evil with good, and he who is your enemy will become your dearest friend. But none will attain this attribute save those who patiently endure; none will attain it save those who are truly fortunate.

If Satan tempts you, seek refuge in God. It is God who hears all and knows all.

Among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. But do not prostrate yourselves before the sun or the moon; rather prostrate yourselves before God, who created them both, if you would truly serve Him.

If they disdain His service, let them remember that those who dwell with God give glory to Him night and day and are never wearied.

And among His signs is the resurrection of the earth. You see it dry and barren: but when We send down the rain upon it, it stirs and swells. He that gives it life will surely raise the dead to life. He has power over all things.

* * *

This verse could be another prophecy that Islam and Christianity will remain separate until 'The Return'. And that is surely what happened.

42:6 Had it been God's will, He could have united them as one people and of one religion. But God brings whom He will into His mercy; the wrongdoers have none to befriend or help them.

* * *

46:14 We have enjoined man to show kindness to his parents. With much pain his mother bears him, and with much pain she brings him into the world. He is born and weaned in thirty months. When he grows to manhood and attains his fortieth year, let him say:

'Inspire me, Lord, to give thanks for the favours You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and to do good works that will please You. Grant me good descendants. To You I turn and to You I submit.'

* * *

There are several statements in the Koran about the evil of backbiting. This practice is the cause of great sorrow in many communities.

49:6 Believers, if an evil-doer brings you a piece of news, inquire first into its truth, lest you should wrong others unwittingly and then regret your action.

* * *

49:9 If two parties of believers take up arms the one against the other, make peace between them. If either of them unjustly attacks the other, fight against the aggressors till they submit to God's judgement.

When they submit, make peace between them in equity and justice; God loves those who exercise justice.

49:10 The believers are a band of brothers. Make peace among your brothers and fear God, so that you may be shown mercy.

* * *

49:12 Believers, avoid immoderate suspicion, for in some cases suspicion is a crime. Do not spy on one another, nor backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Surely you would loathe it.

* * *

53:33 To those who avoid the grossest sins and indecencies and commit only small offences, your Lord will show abundant mercy.

He knew you well when He created you from earth and when you were still in your mothers' wombs. Do not pretend to purity; He knows best those who guard themselves against evil.

* * *

62:10 Then, when the prayers are ended, disperse and go your ways in quest of God's bounty. Remember God always, so that You may prosper.

-- End --