The Qur’an chapter 6
The sixth chapter of the Qur’an is called al-ʾAnʿām, or The Cattle. It consists of 165 verses. Here is our commentary.
Disclaimer
We are not Muslims. We have no expertise with the Qur’an.
We are reading the Qur’an as a good-faith effort to to become better-equipped for the ministry of of Interfaith Dialogue with Muslims.
We are Christians who are reading the Qur’an for the first time. Our mindset is to approach the Qur’an with respect and as learners. Our comments are simply whatever stood out to us.
In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful.
VERSE 1. Praise be to God who has created the heavens and the earth, and who made the darkness and the light; yet those who have rejected their Lord continue to deviate.
those who have rejected their Lord. In this context, the rejecters seem to be the Jewish people.
VERSE 2. He is the One who created you from clay, then He decreed a period of time for you; a time only known by Him. Yet you still deny.
created you from clay. This aligns with the testimony in the Bible:
Genesis 2:7. The LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Psalm 103:14. For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust.
VERSE 3. And He is God in the heavens and the earth. He knows your secrets and what you reveal; and He knows what you earn.
He knows what you earn. Muslims should not lie about their income.
VERSE 4. And every sign that came to them from their Lord, they turned away from it.
they turned away. In this context, the rejecters seem to be the Jewish people.
VERSE 5. They have denied the truth when it came to them. The news will ultimately come to them of what they were mocking.
VERSE 6. Did they not see how many generations We have destroyed before them? We granted them dominance over the land more than what We granted you, and We sent the sky to them abundantly, and We made rivers flow beneath them; then, We destroyed them for their sins, and established after them a new generation.
We destroyed them for their sins. In this context, the Qur’an seems to be speaking of the Jewish people.
established after them a new generation. In this context, the Qur’an seems to be speaking of the Christian people.
VERSE 7. And if We had sent down to you a book already written on paper, and they touched it with their own hands, then those who have rejected would say: “This is but clear magic!”
VERSE 8. And they said: “If only an angel were sent down to him?” But if We had sent down an angel, the matter would be settled, then they would no longer be respited.
VERSE 9. And had We sent an angel, We would have made him appear as a man, and We would have confounded them in what they already are confounded.
VERSE 10. Messengers before you were mocked, but those who ridiculed suffered the consequences of that which they mocked.
Matthew 23:37. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!
VERSE 11. Say: “Roam the earth, then see what the punishment of the rejecters was!”
VERSE 12. Say: “To whom is all that is in the heavens and the earth?” Say: “To God.” He has decreed mercy on Himself, that He will gather you to the Day of Resurrection in which there is no doubt. Those who have lost their souls, they do not believe.
Those who have lost their souls. This implies that people have a soul to begin with.
VERSE 13. And for Him is what resides in the night and in the day; and He is the Hearer, the Knower.
VERSE 14. Say: “Shall I take other than God as an ally; the Initiator of the heavens and the earth; while He feeds and is not fed!” Say: “I have been commanded to be the first who submits.” And do not be of the polytheists.
the first who submits. To submit yourself to God is the essence of Islam. After all, the word “Islam” means voluntary submission to the will of God.
the polytheists. The Qur’an has a dim view of polytheists.
VERSE 15. Say: “I fear if I disobey my Lord, the retribution of a great Day!”
retribution. This word appears many times in this chapter.
VERSE 16. Whoever He spares from it, then He has had mercy on him; and that is the clear triumph.
VERSE 17. And if God were to inflict you with harm, then none can remove it except He; and if He were to bless you with good, then He is capable of all things.
VERSE 18. And He is the Supreme over His servants; and He is the Wise, the Expert.
VERSE 19. Say: “Which is the greatest testimony?” Say: “God is witness between me and you, and He has inspired to me this Qur’an that I may warn you with it and whoever it reaches, that you are bearing witness that with God are other gods!” Say: “I do not bear witness!” Say: “He is only One god, and I am innocent of what you have set up!”
He has inspired to me this Qur’an. Presumably this is spoken by Mohammed.
He is only One god. This reminds us of the Shahada, the testimony of faith for a Muslim. Here are some translations into English:
I bear witness that there is no deity but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God.
There is no God except Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.
VERSE 20. Those to whom We have given the Book recognize it as they recognize their sons. Those who lost their souls, they do not believe.
Those who lost their souls. This implies that people have a soul to begin with.
VERSE 21. And who is more wicked than he who invents lies about God, or denies His revelations! The wicked will never succeed.
VERSE 22. And the Day We gather them all, then We say to the polytheists: “Where are your partners whom you used to claim?”
the polytheists. The Qur’an has a dim view of polytheists.
VERSE 23. Then, their only excuse was to say: “By God, our Lord, we were not polytheists!”
polytheists. The Qur’an has a dim view of polytheists.
VERSE 24. See how they lied to themselves, and that which they invented was lost to them.
VERSE 25. And from them are those who listen to you; and We have made covers over their hearts to prevent them from understanding it, and a deafness in their ears; and if they see every sign they will not believe; even when they come to you they argue, those who reject say: “This is nothing except tales of old!”
VERSE 26. And they prohibit others from it, and keep away themselves from it; but they will only destroy themselves, yet they do not notice.
VERSE 27. And if you could see when they are standing over the Fire, they say: “If only we could be sent back, we would not deny the revelations of our Lord, and we would be believers!”
the Fire. Presumably the fires of Hell.
VERSE 28. Indeed, it is now apparent to them what they had been concealing before; and if they were sent back they would return again to what they were prohibited from, they are but liars!
they are but liars. This still seems to be referring to polytheists.
VERSE 29. And they had said: “There is only this worldly life, and we will not be resurrected!”
There is only this worldly life:
1 Corinthians 15:19. If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.
VERSE 30. And if you could see them when they are standing at their Lord; He said: “Is this not the truth?” They said: “Yes, by our Lord,” He said: “Then taste the retribution for what you have rejected.”
taste the retribution. This is a powerful statement. Thus far we have seen it in 3:106 and 4:56 and 6:30.
VERSE 31. Losers are those who have denied their meeting with God; until the Hour comes to them suddenly, then they say: “We deeply regret that which we have wasted in it,” and they will carry their burdens on their backs; miserable indeed is their burden.
Losers. In previous contexts, this term seems to denote the people who go to Hell.
VERSE 32. And the worldly life is nothing more than play and distraction, and the abode of the Hereafter is far better for those who are righteous. Do you not comprehend?
VERSE 33. We know that you are saddened by what they say; they are not rejecting you, but it is the revelations of God which the wicked disregard.
Luke 10:16. Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me. Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
VERSE 34. Messengers before you were denied, but they were patient for what they were denied, and they were harmed until Our victory came to them; there is no changing the words of God. News of the messengers has come to you.
VERSE 35. And if their aversion has become too much for you, then perhaps you could make a tunnel in the earth, or a ladder to the heavens, and bring them a sign. Had God willed, He would have gathered them to the guidance; so do not be of the ignorant ones.
VERSE 36. Only those who listen will respond. As for the dead, God will resurrect them, then to Him they will return.
As for the dead, God will resurrect them. The Qur’an posits the resurrection of the dead.
We wonder how this is interpreted. Will ALL dead people will be resurrected, or only select dead people?
VERSE 37. And they said: “If only a sign was sent to him from his Lord!” Say: “God is able to send a sign, but most of them would not know.”
VERSE 38. And there is not a creature on the earth, nor a bird that flies with its wings, except they belong to nations like you belong. We did not leave anything out of the record; then to their Lord they will be gathered.
VERSE 39. And those who deny Our revelations, they are deaf and dumb, in darkness. Whoever God wishes He misguides, and whoever He wishes He puts him on a straight path.
Whoever God wishes He misguides. If the LORD God forces a person to be misguided, will God hold the person culpable for being on the wrong path?
whoever He wishes He puts him on a straight path. Similarly, if the LORD God forces a person onto the right path, will God reward the person for being on the right path?
VERSE 40. Say: “We will see when the retribution of God comes to you, or the Hour comes to you, if you will still call on any other than God. If you are being truthful.”
retribution. This word appears many times in this chapter.
VERSE 41. “No, it is Him alone you will call on; and He will remove that which you called Him for, if He wills; and you will forget what you set up.”
VERSE 42. And We have sent others to nations before you. We then took them with adversity and hardship, perhaps they would implore.
We then took them with adversity and hardship. This reads as if God deliberately inflicts adversity and hardship upon people.
VERSE 43. If only they had implored when Our punishment came to them; but their hearts hardened, and the devil adorned for them what they used to do.
VERSE 44. So when they forgot what they had been reminded of, We opened for them the gates of all opportunities; and when they were happy with what they were given, We took them suddenly! They were confounded.
VERSE 45. It was thus that the remainder of the wicked people were wiped out; and praise be to God, Lord of the worlds.
the remainder of the wicked people were wiped out. This seems to allude to The Flood.
VERSE 46. Say: “Do you see that if God were to take away your hearing and your eyesight, and He seals your hearts; which god besides God can bring it to you?” See how We dispatch the signs, but then they turn away.
VERSE 47. Say: “Do you see if the retribution of God comes to you suddenly, or gradually, will anyone be destroyed except the wicked people?”
retribution. This word appears many times in this chapter.
VERSE 48. And We do not send the messengers except as bearers of good news and warners; whoever believes, and does good, then there is no fear for them nor will they grieve.
VERSE 49. And those who deny Our revelations, the retribution will inflict them for what wickedness they were in.
retribution. This word appears many times in this chapter.
VERSE 50. Say: “I do not say to you that I possess the treasures of God, nor do I know the future, nor do I say to you that I am an angel. I merely follow what is inspired to me.” Say: “Are the blind and the seer the same? Do you not think?”
I merely follow what is inspired to me. This is a lovely statement. It is the best that any of us can say. We act with sincerity according to what we understand to be true.
VERSE 51. And warn with it those who realize that they will be gathered to their Lord; they do not have besides Him any ally nor intercessor; perhaps they will be righteous.
they will be gathered to their Lord. This seems to allude to the Resurrection.
VERSE 52. And do not turn away those who call on their Lord at dawn and dusk seeking His face; you are not responsible for their judgment, nor are they responsible for your judgment; if you turn them away, then you will be of the wicked.
VERSE 53. And it is such that We test them with one another, so that they may say: “Are these the ones whom God has graced from among us?” Is God not aware of the thankful?
VERSE 54. And if those who believe in Our revelations come to you, then say: “Peace be upon you, our Lord has decreed mercy upon Himself, that any of you who commits sin out of ignorance and then repents afterwards and amends, then He is Forgiving, Merciful.”
those who believe in Our revelations. Does this refer to all monotheists? Or only to Muslims?
VERSE 55. And it is such that We explain the revelations, and point out the way of the criminals.
VERSE 56. Say: “I am prohibited from serving those you call upon other than God” Say: “I will not follow your desires, otherwise I would go astray and I would not be of those guided.”
VERSE 57. Say: “I am on a clarity from my Lord and you have denied it. I do not have what you hasten towards; the judgment is with God only; He narrates the truth, and He is the best decider.”
I am on a clarity from my Lord. This is a lovely statement. It is the best that any of us can say. We act with sincerity according to what we understand to be true.
VERSE 58. Say: “If I had what you were hastening towards, then the matter between us would have been resolved. And God is fully aware of the wicked.”
VERSE 59. And with Him are the keys of the unseen, none know them except He. And He knows what is in the land and in the sea; and not a leaf falls except He knows of it; nor a seed in the darkness of the earth; nor anything moist or anything dry; all in a clear record.
not a leaf falls except He knows of it. This affirms God’s omniscience. God knows everything.
VERSE 60. And He is the One who seizes you during the night, and He knows what you have done during the day, then He sends you back again to complete an appointed term; then to Him is your return and He will inform you of what you used to do.
seizes you during the night. What does this mean?
VERSE 61. And He is the Supreme over His servants, and He sends over you guardians. So that when the time of death comes to one of you, Our messengers terminate his life, and they do not neglect any.
Our messengers. Presumably this refers to angels.
terminate his life. This seems to suggest that people die because angels terminate their lives.
VERSE 62. Then they are returned to God, their true Patron; to Him is the judgment and He is the swiftest of reckoners.
Then they are returned to God. After people die, they immediately go to God.
It does not mention a Purgatory or other intermediate realm.
VERSE 63. Say: “Who rescues you from the darkness of the land and the sea?” You call on Him in humility and in secret: “If You save us from this, we will be of the thankful!”
VERSE 64. Say: “God will save you from it and from all distresses, yet you will still set up partners!”
VERSE 65. Say: “He is able to send retribution from above you or from below your feet, or He will make you belong to opposing factions, then He will let you taste the might of each other.” See how We dispatch the signs, perhaps they may understand.
retribution. This word appears many times in this chapter.
VERSE 66. And your people denied it, while it is the truth. Say: “I am not a guardian over you!”
VERSE 67. “For every news there is a time, and you will come to know.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1. For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
VERSE 68. And if you encounter those who make fun of Our revelations, then turn away from them until they move on to a different narrative; and if the devil makes you forget, then do not sit after remembering with the wicked people.
VERSE 69. And those who are righteous are not responsible for their judgment, but to remind; perhaps they will be aware.
VERSE 70. And leave alone those who have taken their system for play and distraction, and the worldly life has tempted them. And remind with it that a soul will suffer for what it has earned, it will not have besides God any ally nor intercessor; and even if it brings all justice, none will be accepted from it. These are the ones who have suffered with what they have earned; for them will be a boiling drink, and a painful retribution for what they had rejected.
a soul will suffer for what it has earned. There is a law of “sowing and reaping” throughout the Bible. How shall we reconcile it with grace and mercy? Here are the verses we’ve found »
retribution. This word appears many times in this chapter.
VERSE 71. Say: “Shall we call upon other than God what cannot benefit us or harm us, and we turn back on our heels after God has guided us?” This is like the one whom the devils have managed to mislead on the earth, he is confused, having friends who call him to the guidance: “Come to us!” Say: “The guidance is the guidance of God, and we have been ordered to submit to the Lord of the worlds.”
we have been ordered to submit. To submit yourself to God is the essence of Islam. After all, the word “Islam” means voluntary submission to the will of God.
VERSE 72. And you shall hold the Connection, and be aware; and to Him you will be gathered.
VERSE 73. And He is the One who has created the heavens and the earth with the truth, and the day He says: “Be,” then it is! His saying is truth; and to Him is the sovereignty the Day the horn is blown. Knower of the unseen and the seen; He is the Wise, the Expert.
VERSE 74. And Abraham said to his father, Azar: “Will you take statues as gods? I see you and your people are clearly misguided.”
his father, Azar. The Book of Genesis actually says the father of Abraham was תֶּרַח (“Teraḥ”).
See for example:
Genesis 11:26. Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
VERSE 75. And it is such that We showed Abraham the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, so that he will be of those who have certainty.
VERSE 76. When the night covered him, he saw a planet, and he said: “This is my Lord.” But when it disappeared he said: “I do not like those who disappear.”
a planet. A Muslim does not worship planets.
VERSE 77. So when he saw the moon rising, he said: “This is my Lord.” But when it disappeared he said: “If my Lord does not guide me, then I will be among the wicked people!”
the moon. A Muslim does not worship the moon.
VERSE 78. So when he saw the sun rising, he said: “This is my Lord, this is bigger.” But when it disappeared he said: “My people, I am innocent of what you have set up.”
the sun. A Muslim does not worship the sun.
VERSE 79. “I shall turn my face to the One who initiated the heavens and the earth, in monotheism, and I am not of the polytheists.”
monotheism. A Muslim is a monotheist.
I am not of the polytheists. A Muslim is not a polytheist.
VERSE 80. And his people debated with him. He said: “Do you debate with me regarding God, when He has guided me? I do not fear that which you have set up except if my Lord wills; my Lord encompasses all things in knowledge; will you not remember?”
VERSE 81. “And how can I possibly fear what you have set up; yet you do not fear that you have set up partners with God, for which He has not sent down upon you any authority! So which of our two groups is more worthy of security if you know?”
what you have set up. Presumably this is referring to non-Muslims.
VERSE 82. Those who believe and do not confound their belief with wrongdoing; they will have security, and they are guided.
confound their belief with wrongdoing. Many people profess Christian faith. And yet they are the Bad Guys, and feel righteous about it.
They have confounded their Christian belief with wrongdoing.
VERSE 83. And such was Our argument that We gave Abraham over his people; We raise the degree of whom We please. Your Lord is Wise, Knowledgeable.
VERSE 84. And We granted him Isaac and Jacob, both of whom We guided; and Noah We guided from before; and from his progeny is David, and Solomon, and Job, and Joseph, and Moses, and Aaron. It is such that We recompense the good doers.
We recompense the good doers. This verse makes it seem that God rewards holy living with social markers of “success”.
VERSE 85. And Zechariah and John, and Jesus, and Elias; all were from the upright.
VERSE 86. And Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot; and each We have preferred over the worlds.
VERSE 87. And from their fathers and their progeny and their brothers We have also chosen; and We guided them to a straight path.
VERSE 88. Such is the guidance of God, He guides with it whom He pleases of His servants. And if they set up partners, then all that they had worked would fall away from them.
He guides with it whom He pleases. Apparently God only guides select people. That implies that God does NOT guide the other people.
VERSE 89. Those to whom We have given the Book, and the judgement, and the prophethood, if they reject it, then We will entrust it to a people who will not reject it.
This verse maps out three markers of being guided by God:
- the Book. Presumably this refers to the Qur’an. If so, it seems to say that if you have the Qur’an, you are therefore guided by God.
- the judgement. That is, “authority”. According to My Islam, it means the correct understanding of the revealed guidance.
- the prophethood. Presumably this refers to the prophet Mohammad. If so, it seems to say that if you follow the teachings of Mohammad, you are therefore guided by God.
VERSE 90. These are the ones guided by God; so let their guidance be an example. Say: “I do not ask you for any wage; this is but a reminder for the worlds.”
These are the ones guided by God. The people guided by God are those who have the three markers mapped out in the previous verse.
VERSE 91. And they did not appreciate God as He deserves to be appreciated, for they said: “God has never sent down anything to any mortal.” Say: “Who then has sent down the Book which Moses had come with, a light and a guidance for the people? You treat it simply as paper for display, and you conceal much; and you were taught what neither you nor your fathers knew.” Say: “God has.” Then leave them playing in their folly.
VERSE 92. And this is a Book which We have sent down, blessed, affirming what is between his hands, and that you may warn the capital of the towns and those around it. And those who believe in the Hereafter believe in it, and they maintain their connecting.
this is a Book which We have sent down. This verse seems to portray the Qur’an as a finished paper book that was sent directly from God into Spacetime (the Time-Space continuum).
VERSE 93. And who is more wicked than he who invents lies about God, or says: “It has been inspired to me,” when We did not inspire anything to him; or who says: “I will bring down the same as what God has sent down.” And if you could only see the wicked at the moments of death when the angels extend their hands to them: “Bring yourselves out.” Today you will be given the severest punishment for what you used to say about God without truth, and you used to be arrogant towards His revelations.
It has been inspired to me. Many Christians say something like this.
They interpret it as a prophetic experience such as a vision.
VERSE 94. “And you have come to Us individually, just as We had created you the first time; and you have left behind you all that We have provided for you; and We do not see your intercessors with you that you used to claim were with you in partnership; all is severed between you, and what you have claimed has abandoned you.”
VERSE 95. God is the splitter of the seeds and the grains; He brings the living out from the dead and He brings the dead out from the living. Such is God; so why are you deluded?
He brings the living out from the dead. Presumably this refers to the Resurrection.
VERSE 96. Initiator of the morning and Maker of the night to reside in; and the sun and the moon for counting. Such is the measure of the Noble, the Knowledgeable.
VERSE 97. And He is the One who made for you the stars, to guide you by them in the darkness of the land and the sea. We have explained the signs to a people who know.
VERSE 98. And He is the One who initiated you from one person; with a place for stability and development. We have explained the signs to a people who understand.
initiated you from one person. This affirms the biblical portrayal of creation, where all humans originated from Adam.
VERSE 99. And He is the One who sent down water from the heaven, and We brought out with it plants of every kind. We brought out from it a green from which We bring out complex seeds; and what is from the palm trees, from its sheaths hanging low and near; and gardens of grapes; and olives and pomegranates, comparable and not comparable. Look at its fruit when it blossoms and its ripeness. In this are signs for a people who believe.
VERSE 100. And they set up partners with God from among the Jinn, while He had created them. And they invented for Him sons and daughters without them having any knowledge! Be He glorified and exalted above what they describe.
the Jinn. What are the Jinn?
According to Wikipedia, Muslim scholars have three different interpretations:
- The Jinn are invisible bodies in which air and fire dominate
- The Jinn are disembodied spirits of the planets
- The Jinn are the souls of the dead
VERSE 101. Originator of the heavens and the earth, how can He have a child when He did not take a wife? And He created all things and He is knowledgeable in all things.
Originator. Presumably “creator.”
VERSE 102. Such is God, your Lord, there is no god except He; creator of all things, so serve Him. And He is Caretaker over all things.
there is no god except He. This reminds us of the Shahada, the testimony of faith for a Muslim. Here are some translations into English:
I bear witness that there is no deity but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God.
There is no God except Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.
VERSE 103. The eyesight cannot reach Him, yet He can reach all eyesight; and He is the Subtle, the Expert.
VERSE 104. “Visible proofs have come to you from your Lord; so whoever can see, does so for himself, and whoever is blinded, will be such. I am not a watcher over you.”
I am not a watcher. A Watcher is a type of angel. They are described in the biblical Book of Daniel, as well as in the ancient Hebrew text called 1 Enoch. Read more »
VERSE 105. It is thus that We dispatch the signs and that they may say: “You have studied,” and We will make it clear for a people who know.
VERSE 106. Follow what is inspired to you from your Lord; there is no god except He, and turn away from the polytheists.
Follow what is inspired to you. This is the path of discipleship. It is to act upon what God reveals to you.
the polytheists. The Qur’an has a dim view of polytheists.
VERSE 107. And if God had willed, they would not have set up partners. And We did not place you over them as a guardian, nor are you over them as a sponsor.
This verse suggests that one Muslim does not have hierarchical authority over another:
- We did not place you over them as a guardian
- nor are you over them as a sponsor
This is probably a better system than in the Christian movement.
In the Christian movement, there is dizzying array of people in leadership roles that assert hierarchical authority over other believers. Inevitably it leads to the misuse of power and to corruption.
In the kings of the Old Testament, we see powerful examples that power corrupts. That absolute power corrupts absolutely. Read more »
VERSE 108. And do not insult those who call on other than God, lest they insult God out of ignorance. And We have similarly adorned for every nation their works; then to their Lord is their return and He will inform them of what they had done.
VERSE 109. And they swore by God using their strongest oaths; that if a sign came to them they would believe in it. Say: “The signs are from God; and how do you know that once it comes, that they will not disbelieve?”
VERSE 110. And We divert their minds and eyesight, as they did not believe in it the first time; and We leave them in their transgression, blundering.
We divert their minds and eyesight. This suggests God deliberately keeps some people from ascertaining the truth.
VERSE 111. And if We had sent down to them the angels, and the dead spoke to them, and We had gathered before them everything, they still would not believe except if God wills. Alas, most of them are ignorant.
they still would not believe except if God wills. The Qur’an says people will not believe unless God wills it to happen.
This suggests that people do not have freedom of will.
VERSE 112. And as such, We have permitted the enemies of every prophet – human and Jinn devils – to inspire each other with fancy words in order to deceive. Had your Lord willed, they would not have done it. You shall disregard them and their fabrications.
Jinn devils. What are the Jinn?
According to Wikipedia, Muslim scholars have three different interpretations:
- The Jinn are invisible bodies in which air and fire dominate
- The Jinn are disembodied spirits of the planets
- The Jinn are the souls of the dead
VERSE 113. And that will be listened to by the minds of those who do not believe in the Hereafter, and they will accept it, and they will take of it what they will.
VERSE 114. “Shall I seek other than God as a judge when He has sent down to you the Book fully detailed?” Those to whom We have given the Book know it is sent down from your Lord with the truth; so do not be of those who have doubt.
He has sent down to you the Book. This seems to portray the Qur’an as a finished paper book that was sent directly from God into Spacetime (the Time-Space continuum).
VERSE 115. And the word of your Lord is completed with truth and justice; there is no changing His words. He is the Hearer, the Knower.
VERSE 116. And if you obey most of those on the earth they will lead you away from the path of God; that is because they follow conjecture, and that is because they only guess.
they follow conjecture. Many Christian denominations are based on conjecture and tradition.
VERSE 117. Your Lord is fully aware of who strays from His path, and He is fully aware of the guided ones.
the guided ones. Presumably this means “people who receive God’s guidance.”
VERSE 118. So eat from that on which the name of God has been remembered, if you indeed believe in His revelations.
the name of God. What is the name of God?
VERSE 119. And why should you not eat that on which the name of God has been mentioned, when He has fully detailed to you what has been made forbidden; except what you are forced to? Many misguide by their desires without knowledge; your Lord is fully aware of the transgressors.
the name of God. What is the name of God?
VERSE 120. And leave alone, publicly and privately, that which is a sin; those who earn sin will be punished for what they have taken.
VERSE 121. And do not eat from that which the name of God has not been mentioned, for it is wickedness. And the devils they inspire their supporters to argue with you; and if you obey them, then you are polytheists.
the name of God. What is the name of God?
has not been mentioned. Presumably this means you may not eat food until you say the name of God.
This requirement reminds us of Catholics who will not eat a meal until they recite a rote prayer of blessing.
are polytheists. The Qur’an has a dim view of polytheists.
VERSE 122. Is he who was dead and to whom We gave life, and We made for him a light to walk with among the people, as he whose example is in darkness and he will not exit from it? It is such that the work of the rejecters has been adorned for them.
VERSE 123. And as such, We have permitted in every town the influential from its criminals, to scheme in it. They only scheme their own souls without perceiving.
VERSE 124. And if a sign comes to them they say: “We will not believe until we are given the same as what the messengers of God were given!” God is fully aware of where He makes His message; those criminals will have debasement with God and a painful retribution for what they had schemed.
retribution. This word appears many times in this chapter.
VERSE 125. Whoever God wishes to guide, He will comfort his chest to submission; and whoever He wishes to misguide, He will make his chest tight and constricted, as one who is ascending towards the heaven. It is such that God makes foulness upon those who do not believe.
whoever He wishes to misguide. Apparently God wishes to misguide some people.
VERSE 126. And this is the straight path of your Lord. We have fully detailed the revelations to a people who remember.
VERSE 127. They will have the abode of peace with their Lord; He is their supporter because of what they used to do.
the abode of peace with their Lord. Or “a home of peace in the presence of their Lord” according to My Islam.
VERSE 128. And the Day We gather them all: “O assembly of Jinn, you have managed to take many from mankind.” Their supporters from mankind said: “Our Lord, we have indeed enjoyed one another, and we have reached our destiny to which You delayed us.” He said: “The Fire is your dwelling, abiding therein, except as your Lord wishes.” Your Lord is Wise, Knowledgeable.
assembly of Jinn. What are the Jinn?
According to Wikipedia, Muslim scholars have three different interpretations:
- The Jinn are invisible bodies in which air and fire dominate
- The Jinn are disembodied spirits of the planets
- The Jinn are the souls of the dead
VERSE 129. It is such that We make the wicked as supporters to one another for what they have earned.
VERSE 130. “O assembly of Jinn and mankind, did not messengers come to you from amongst you and narrate to you My revelations, and warn you of the meeting of this Day?” They said: “Yes, we bear witness upon ourselves;” and the worldly life deceived them, and they bore witness upon themselves that they were rejecters.
assembly of Jinn. What are the Jinn?
According to Wikipedia, Muslim scholars have three different interpretations:
- The Jinn are invisible bodies in which air and fire dominate
- The Jinn are disembodied spirits of the planets
- The Jinn are the souls of the dead
VERSE 131. That is because your Lord was not to destroy any town because of its wickedness while its people were unaware.
while its people were unaware. God refrains from destroying a town if its people are unaware of their own wickedness.
VERSE 132. But there are degrees for what they had done; and your Lord is not unaware of what they do.
there are degrees. There are degrees of wickedness.
VERSE 133. And your Lord is the Rich, possessor of Mercy. If He wished, He could remove all of you and bring after you whom He pleases, just as He established you from the seed of another people.
VERSE 134. What you have been promised will come, you cannot escape it.
VERSE 135. Say: “My people, work as you see fit, for I too am working. You will then know to whom will be the punishment of the Hereafter. The wicked will not succeed.”
the punishment of the Hereafter. Apparently wicked people will be punished in the afterlife.
VERSE 136. And they made for God a portion of what He provided them from the crops and the hoofed animals; they said: “This is for God,” by their claims, “And this is for our partners.” So what was for their partners did not reach God, and what was for God, it reached their partners! Miserable is how they judged.
the hoofed animals. Apparently Muslims may eat hoofed animals.
VERSE 137. And it was adorned for the polytheists, by their partners, to abort their children in order to turn them and to confound their system for them. Had God willed they would not have done this, so ignore them and what they invent.
the polytheists. The Qur’an has a dim view of polytheists.
VERSE 138. And they said: “These hoofed animals and crops are reserved, and none shall eat from them except as we please,” by their claims; and hoofed animals whose backs are forbidden, and hoofed animals over which they do not mention the name of God as an innovation against Him. He will recompense them for what they invented.
These hoofed animals. Apparently Muslims may eat hoofed animals.
VERSE 139. And they said: “What is in the bellies of these hoofed animals is exclusive for our males and forbidden for our wives, and if comes out dead, then they will be partners in it.” God will recompense them for what they describe. He is Wise, Knowledgeable.
VERSE 140. Losers are those who have aborted their children foolishly, without knowledge, and they forbade what God had granted them by lying about God. They have strayed and they were not guided.
aborted their children. This refers to infanticide, according to My Islam.
VERSE 141. And He is the One who initiated gardens; both trellised and untrellised; and palm trees, and plants, all with different taste; and olives and pomegranates, comparable and not comparable. Eat from its fruit when it blossoms and give its due on the day of its harvest; and do not overindulge. He does not like the overindulgers.
He does not like the overindulgers. This is unexpected.
VERSE 142. And from the hoofed animals are those for burden, and also for clothing. Eat from what God has provided you and do not follow the footsteps of the devil; he is to you a clear enemy.
VERSE 143. Eight, in pairs: from the sheep two, and from the goats two. Say: “Is it the two males that He forbade or the two females, or what the wombs of the two females bore? Inform me if you are truthful!”
Eight, in pairs:
- sheep (2) – verse 143
- goats (2) – verse 143
- camels (2) – verse 144
- cattle (2) – verse 144
VERSE 144. And from the camels two, and from the cattle two. Say: “Is it the two males that He forbade or the two females, or what the wombs of the two females bore? Or were you witnesses when God ordered you with this?” Who is more wicked than he who invents lies about God to misguide the people without knowledge. God does not guide the wicked people.
VERSE 145. Say: “I do not find in what is inspired to me to be forbidden for any eater to eat, except: that it be already dead, or running blood, or the meat of pig – for it is foul – or what has become nasty by being sacrificed to other than God.” But whoever is forced to, without seeking disobedience or transgression, then your Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.
But whoever is forced. Apparently if a Muslim is forced to eat forbidden foods, it will be OK.
VERSE 146. And for those who are Jewish We have made forbidden all that have undivided hoofs; and from the cattle and the sheep We made forbidden their fat except what is attached to the back, or entrails, or mixed with bone. That is a punishment for their rebellion, and We are truthful.
VERSE 147. If they deny you, then say: “Your Lord has vast mercy, but His might will not be turned away from the criminal people.”
VERSE 148. Those who are polytheists will say: “If God wished, we would not have set up partners, nor would have our fathers, nor would we have made anything forbidden.” Those before them lied in the same way, until they tasted Our might. Say: “Do you have any knowledge to bring out to us? You only follow conjecture, you only guess.”
Those who are polytheists. The Qur’an has a dim view of polytheists.
VERSE 149. Say: “With God is the greatest argument. If He wished He would have guided you all.”
VERSE 150. Say: “Bring forth your witnesses who bear witness that God has made this forbidden.” If they bear witness, then do not bear witness with them, nor follow the desires of those who deny Our revelations, and those who do not believe in the Hereafter; and they make equals with their Lord!
VERSE 151. Say: “Come let me recite what your Lord has forbidden for you: that you should not set up anything with Him; and do good to your parents; and do not abort your children due to poverty, We provide for you, as well as for them; and do not come near immorality, what is public of it and private; and do not kill the life that God has made forbidden, except through justice. That is what He enjoined you that you may comprehend.”
what your Lord has forbidden for you. For most people, this phase identifies the essence of a religion. It is a list of things that are forbidden.
The word “religion” is derived from the Latin word religiō, which, in turn, comes from the word relegere.
- The first part of that word is re. It means “again.
- The second part of that word is ligare. It means “to bind.”
Thus a religion binds you again. A religion restricts you. Again.
VERSE 152. “And do not come near the money of the orphan, except for what is best, until he reaches his independence; and give honestly full measure and weight equitably. We do not burden a soul except with what it can bear, and if you speak then be just even if against a relative; and regarding the pledges made to God, you shall observe them. This He has enjoined you that you may remember.”
VERSE 153. And this is My path, a straight one. “So follow it, and do not follow the other paths lest they divert you from His path. That is what He has enjoined you to that you may be righteous.”
VERSE 154. Then We gave Moses the Book, to complete for those who do right, and to fully detail all things, and a guide and mercy that they may believe in the meeting of their Lord.
We gave Moses the Book. This seems to refer to the Torah.
VERSE 155. And this is a Book that We have sent down which is blessed, so follow it and be aware, that you may receive mercy.
that you may receive mercy. To receive mercy, you must follow the Book.
Mercy is not freely given. Rather, it is merited.
VERSE 156. Lest you say: “The Book was only sent down to two groups before us, and we were unaware of their study!”
VERSE 157. Or you say: “If the Book was sent to us we would have been more guided than they!” Clarity has come to you from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy. Who is more wicked than he who denies the revelations of God and turns away from them? We will punish those who turn away from Our revelations with the pain of retribution for what they turned away.
retribution. This word appears many times in this chapter.
VERSE 158. Do they wait until the angels come to them, or your Lord comes, or certain signs come from your Lord? The Day certain signs come from your Lord, it will do no good for any soul to believe if it did not believe before, or it gained good through its belief. Say: “Wait, for we are waiting.”
VERSE 159. Those who have divided their system and become sects, you are not with them in anything. Their matter will be with God, then He will inform them of what they had done.
divided their system and become sects. This is the story of the Christian movement. Constant division producing more and more sects.
VERSE 160. Whoever comes with a good deed, he will receive ten times its worth, and whoever comes with a sin, he will only be recompensed its like; they will not be wronged.
VERSE 161. Say: “My Lord has guided me to a straight path, an upright system, the creed of Abraham the monotheist; he was not of the polytheists.”
the polytheists. The Qur’an has a dim view of polytheists.
VERSE 162. Say: “My connecting, and my rites, and my life, and my death, are all to God-Lord of the worlds.”
VERSE 163. “He has no partner, and it is to this that I was commanded, and I am the first of those who have submitted.”
those who have submitted. To submit yourself to God is the essence of Islam. After all, the word “Islam” means voluntary submission to the will of God.
VERSE 164. Say: “Shall I seek other than God as a Lord when He is the Lord of everything?” And every soul earns what is for it; and no bearer may carry the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return and He will inform you of what you disputed in.
every soul earns what is for it. There is a law of “sowing and reaping” throughout the Bible. How shall we reconcile it with grace and mercy? Here are the verses we’ve found »
VERSE 165. And He is the One who made you inheritors on the earth, and He raised some of you over others in grades, to test you with what He had given you. Your Lord is swift to punishment, and He is Forgiving, Merciful.
THE QUR’AN
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Phrases, Adventures
Here at the Explore the Faith website, we are using the Modern Literal Translation of the Qur’an by Free Minds. According to their About Us page, all their work at that site, unless specified, may be copied and/or distributed on condition that reference is given back to www.free-minds.org. According to Wikisource, the Modern Literal Translation “is in the public domain worldwide because it has been so released by the copyright holder.”
To help our understanding, we are consulting The Sublime Quran, Revised Edition, translated by Laleh Bakhtiar, Ph.D., distributed by Kazi Publications.
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.