The Holy Qor-aan 002:261
وَاِذۡ قَالَ اِبۡرٰهمُ رَبِّ اَرِنِىۡ كَيۡفَ تُحۡىِ الۡمَوۡتٰى ؕ قَالَ اَوَلَمۡ تُؤۡمِنۡؕ قَالَ بَلٰى وَلٰـكِنۡ لِّيَطۡمَٮِٕنَّ قَلۡبِىۡؕ قَالَ فَخُذۡ اَرۡبَعَةً مِّنَ الطَّيۡرِ فَصُرۡهُنَّ اِلَيۡكَ ثُمَّ اجۡعَلۡ عَلٰى كُلِّ جَبَلٍ مِّنۡهُنَّ جُزۡءًا ثُمَّ ادۡعُهُنَّ يَاۡتِيۡنَكَ سَعۡيًاؕ وَاعۡلَمۡ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ عَزِيۡزٌ حَكِيۡمٌؕ
Wa iz qaa-la ib-ra-he-mo Rub-bay aa-ray nee kai-fa toh-yay il-mao-taa Qaa-la aa wa laum toe-min Qaa-la ba-laa wa laa-kin-na lay yaut-ma-in-na qaul-bee Qaa-la fa khooz ur-ba-aa-ta um-may-na ut-tai-ray Fa soor hoon-na aa-lai ka Thoom-ma auj-aul aa-laa kool-lay ja-ba-lin min hoon-na jooz-aun Thoom-ma aud-o hoon-na yau-tee-na ka suy-yaun Wau-lum aun-na ul-laa-ha aa-zee-zoon ha-keem
And when Abraham said “My God, show me how You give life to the dead.” He (Allah) said, “And don’t you believe?”
He (Abraham) said, ‘Yes, but to comfort of my mind.” He (Allah) said, “Then take four birds. Then get them used to you.
“Then put each of them separately on as many hills.
“Then call them. They’ll come to you scurrying. “And know that Allah certainly is Mightiest, Wisest.”
- وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses; additionally; but; also; more over; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
- إِذۡ — Iz — When (= 1. At the juncture, occasion, place or time. 2. Call to mind; consider; recall; remember; think about)
- قَالَ — Qaa-la — He said (= v., past., s., m., 3rd person. Refers to Abraham. Asked; asserted; begged; conveyed; insisted; maintained; prayed; requested; submitted; stated; supplicated; told)
- إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمُ — Ibra-he-mo — Abraham (= The name of a Messenger / Prophet of Allah)
- رَبِّ — Rub-bay — GOD / LORD (= The Almighty Allah who fills needs of all creatures; Cherisher; Creator; Guardian; Master; Lord Provident; Master. The Only One Who provides all that sustains life. The Ultimate Provider of air, water, food and whatever we and all other creatures need to live and subsist)
- اَرِ — Aa-ray — Show (= v., pres., s., 1st person. Clear. Demonstrate. Expose. Make it seeable and visible. Manifest. Reveal. Show. Also, a) crystalize and materialize, and b) educate; instruct; teach; train; tutor. )
- نِىۡ — Nee — Me (= pro., s., m & f., 1st person. Me / My)
- كَيۡفَ — Kai-fa — How (= How about. How would it be, do or fare. What would it look. In what fashion, manner, method or in which way)
- تُحۡىِ — Toh-yee … (il) — You give life (= v., pres., 2nd person. Bestow or bring back to life; create; enliven; ordain or quicken to life; preserve life; raise, restore life or revive those considered dead; spare someone to live)
- الۡمَوۡتٰى — Mao-taa — The dead (= n., Lifeless; those passed away; whose life has ended)
- قَالَ — Qaa-la — He said (= v., past., s., m., 3rd person. Ref to Almighty God. Asked; questioned; stated; told; announced; reminded)
- اَ — Aa — Do (= Question mark like Are, Can, Have, Shell or Will?)
- وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See also وَ above)
- لَّمۡ — Laum — Not (= Do not, does not, did not or would not)
- تُؤۡمِنۡ — Tou-min — You believe (= v., pres., s., 2nd person. Bear conviction; have faith, trust)
- قَالَ — Quaa-la — He said (= v., past., s., m., 3rd person. Refers to Abraham. Asserted; begged; conveyed; insisted; maintained; prayed; requested; stated; told)
- بَلٰى — Ba-laa — Indeed (= But; aye; nay; however; instead; of course; nevertheless; on the contrary; rather; really; the fact is; the fact nevertheless is; the truth is; truthfully; verily; yea but; yes)
- وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See also وَ above)
- لٰـكِنۡ — Laa-kin … (l) — But (= However; nevertheless; yet)
- لِّ — Lay — For (= For the purpose of; in order to; so that; with intent to. A/t/a ‘I have asked this question that’)
- يَطۡمَٮِٕنَّ — Yaut-ma-in-na — To comfort (= Assure; ease; put at peace; reassure; satisfy; strengthen)
- قَلۡب — Qaul-b … (ee) — Mind (= n., s., 1. The central organ inside the chest of all living creatures that keeps up the supply of blood to every tissue by pumping blood constantly through veins and controls all body parts and directs all their functions. 2. Heart; inner soul; ability to think, choose, decide and act in an appropriate manner both physically and spiritually’; understanding)
- ىۡ — Ee — Me (= pro., s., m & f., 1st person. Me / My)
- قَالَ — Qaa-la — He said (= v., past., s., m., 3rd person. Refers to Almighty God. Admonished; announced; stated; told. See above)
- فَ — Fa — Then (= Consequently; resultantly; so; thereafter; therefore; yet)
- خُذۡ — Khooz — Take (= v., pres., s., 2nd person., Adopt; carry; catch; draw; get attached; get hold of; grab; hold; impound; move; obtain; pick up; pound; receive; secure; seize; take charge and control. Also, Absorb; comprehend; grasp; understand)
- اَرۡبَعَةً — Ur-ba-aa-ta … (um) — Four (= Cardinal number equal to the sum of 3 + 1)
- مِّنَ — May-na … (ut) — From (= From among a class, category, count, out or persons of)
- الطَّيۡرِ — Tai-ray — The birds (= n., The warm-blooded egg-laying feathered flying creatures. See the Note below for different translation of this word in the verse 003:050)
- فَ — Fa — Then (= Consequently; resultantly; so; thereafter; therefore; yet)
- صُرۡ — Soor — Train (= v., pres., s., 2nd person. Acclimatize; attach; draw; habituate; get them used to; have them attached; incline; habituate; tame. The next 2 words negate translating this word into ‘cut into pieces’ or ‘slaughter’)
- هُنَّ — Hoon-na — Them (= pro., pl., f., 3rd person. Refers to all those birds)
- إِلَى — Alai — To (= In the direction of; to; towards)
- كَ — Ka — You (= pro., s., m., 2nd person. Points towards Abraham)
- ثُمَّ — Thom-ma … (uj) — Then (= After that; later on; subsequently; thereafter)
- اجۡعَلۡ — Auj-aul — Put (= v., pres., s., 2nd person. Install; leave; plant; place)
- عَلٰى — A-laa — On (= In the direction of; over; to; top of; towards; upon)
- كُلِّ — Kool-lay — As many (= Put them on hills. As many as the birds; every one of them; the total number)
- جَبَلٍ — Ja-ba-lin … (m) — Hill (= Hillock; mount; mountain)
- مِنۡۢ — Min — From (= From among a class, category, count, out or persons of)
- هُنَّ — Hoon-na — Them (= pro., pl., f., 3rd person. Refers to all those birds)
- جُزۡءًا — Jooz-aun — Separately (= adv., Apart from each other; individually; one at a time; one by one; one on a hill. A/t/a, in parts)
- ثُمَّ — Thom-m … (aud) — Then (= After that; later on; subsequently; thereafter)
- ادۡعُ — Ud-o — You call (= v., pres., s., 2nd person. Holler at; invite; summon; scream or shout)
- هُنَّ — Hoon-na — Them (= pro., pl., f., 3rd person. Refers to all those birds)
- يَاۡتِيۡنَ — Ya-tee-na — They’ll come (= v., pres., pl., 3rd person. Fly; home in; respond; return; revert)
- كَ — Ka — You (= pro., s., m., 2nd person. Points towards Abraham)
- سَعۡيًا — Sau-yun — Scurrying (= Coming speedily and swiftly; hastening; hurrying in haste; flying fast; running hard; rushing; speeding)
- وَ — Wa …, (u) — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See alsoوَ above)
- اعۡلَمۡ — Lum — You know (= v., pres., s., 2nd person. Accept; acknowledge; admit)
- اَنَّ –Aun-na … (ul) — Certainly (= Absolutely; assuredly; clearly; definitely; indeed; positively; surely, verily)
- اللّٰهَ — Laa-ha — Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
- عَزِيۡزٌ — Aa-zee-zoon — Mightiest (= n., Superlative form indicates the greatest, the highest, the most, and highlights that none more than Him is the Strongest. The Eternal Defeater. The Defeater Who is not Defeated. The One Who is Honored infinitely and timelessly. See Note 001:001)
- حَكِيۡمٌ — Ha-kee-m — Wisest (= n., Superlative form indicates the greatest, the highest, the most, and highlights that none more than Him is Wise. Also: All-Wise. Extremely shrewd. Full of wisdom. None is wiser than Him. Who always Right in what He does. See Note 001:001)
* Note 002:261a. The word الطَّيۡرِ means the birds that qualify according to فَصُرۡهُنَّ اِلَيۡكَ and so can get tamed, attached and used to human beings. The qualification of being the fliers, flying creatures, living birds or soaring being that fly and float in air with wings spread is not essential since the flying vultures and bats can’t be tamed and or get used to humans.
The pigeons are warm-blooded egg-laying feathered flying creatures that fly with wings spread out. And the chicken and turkeys, though not flying and soaring beings, nevertheless fall in the ambit of this verse because of the words يَاۡتِيۡنَكَ سَعۡيًا since ‘they will come to you hurrying, scurrying, swiftly and doing their utmost.’
That word الطَّيۡرِ in the verse 003:050 is translated as the spiritual flights of imaginations, ideas, thoughts or plans. But Man did know when Jesus son of Mary was born as to what would happen nineteen centuries later. The prophetic forecast came true when his followers invented flying and soaring things with wings spread out such as airplanes, missiles, satellites and drones fueled by sources of energy unknown to Man nineteen hundred years earlier.
** Note 002:261b. The simple straightforward translation of this section as given above is ‘Then get them used to you. Then place them apart on all (as many) hills’.
The convoluted extrapolations by making additions such as ‘then slaughter them, cut them into pieces’ [Dr Al-Hilali and Dr Khan] and ‘cut their bodies to pieces’ and ‘scatter them over the mountain tops’ [NJ Dawood] are not palatable for the following reasons.
- Such translations are contrary to the Law of Nature since a physically dead person is not returned to physical life on earth again.
- No word in the original text provides any of the impugned extrapolations.
- The prior words فَصُرۡهُنَّ اِلَيۡكَ categorically negate any possibility of such extrapolations.
- The translations like ‘Put them each on a separate hill’ [Allamah Nooruddin] positively contradicts impugned extrapolations.
Abraham was not an Idolater
Abraham was not an idolater
The Holy Qor-aan established that Abraham was not an idolater (002:136, 003:068, 006:162) and repeated that differently – 006:079/080. It conferred the title of Best Exemplars on two prophets (Abraham p.o.h and Mohammed s.a.w) and one nation – Abraham’s followers – 060:005. It is the most authentic source to show how Abraham prayed, professed and practiced – 002:125 to 137.
Abraham thanked for his birth and guidance (026:079 and food and water – 026:080. God honored him specially (002:131) and raised prophets in his progeny – 019:059, 029:028.
Abraham prayed. He prayed for the acceptance of his prayers, sacrifices and services – 002:128, 014:040/041, 019:049. He prayed for his parents and the believers – 014:042. He prayed for his father – 019:048, 026:087. He prayed to get children – 037:100/101. He prayed for his children – 002:129/130, 014:036 to 041. He prayed for his town’s residents – 002:127, 014:036. He prayed for a cure when sick – 026:081. He prayed for a good legacy – 026:085. He prayed for forgiveness in the Hereafter – 026:082/083. He prayed for his admittance in the Paradise – 026:086. He prayed all the time and was forever inclined to God – 002:136, 006:162.
Abraham observed the natural elements, sky, sun and stars and concluded that he must worship their Creator – 006:076 to 079, 037:089. He saw the birds placed on four peaks flutter hurriedly to him on his call and saw how God quickens the dead back to life – 002:261.
Abraham finished the assigned tasks – 002:125. He convincingly countered argument that a human being controls life or death – 002:259. He argued with his nation who decided to burn him alive but Allah rescued him – 029:025. He demonstrated willingness to sacrifice his son until God stopped him – 037:103 to 108. He thus ended the custom of human sacrifice. .
Abraham honorably received guests (051:032), when they brought him the good news (029:032) and when they told him of his getting a Knowledgeable Son – 015:054, 051:029. He surprised his wife with the news of her bearing a son despite old age – 011:070 to 077, 051:030.
Abraham set up good precedents to follow – 002:126, 002:128, 006:162. He built God’s Home on Earth – 002:128, 022:027 to 030. He got Scriptures 087:020. He smashed statutes he could – 021:059 and opposed his father and nation worshiping idol – 006:075, 019:043 to 048, 021:053/058, 026:071/077, 029:017, 037:086/087. He turned his entire focus to God – 006:080.
As a whole-heartedly submissive person to God, at peace with His will and pleasure and bowing in total devotion, dedication, obedience, surrender and subservience, Abraham was مُسۡلِم which is a derivative of the root س ل م . But to translate his pursuits as a Moslem, in Islam (a believer in the Holy Qor-aan after Islam had come) is not right for the following reasons.
a. It defies the divine word since Torah and Bible came after Abraham – 003:066.
b. It belies the statement that Abraham was not a Jew or Christian – 003:068.
c. It runs against the grains of God’s question decrying the aforesaid claim – 002:141.
d. It runs against the logical sequence of events that occurred several centuries apart. He was not a Jew, Christian or a Moslem because all these religions came long after him.