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Introduction
When scientists study the universe, the more they understand of it, the more
questions arise. I found the same to be true for the Quran. I will try here to
answer some of the questions that arose out of the previous study, namely:
As always, only The GOD knows the absolute true answer to those questions
as well as all other questions. We will remember the 100% true
interpretation only on judgment day (see 7:53). Thus, I am simply hoping
that The GOD guides me to get closer to the straight path.
Verses such as 2:34 indicate that angels have freedom of choice. In this
case, to prostrate or not to prostrate:
“And that we from us (the jinn) are the correct/righteous, and from us are
other/lesser than that, we were on fragmented ways.” [72:11]
So the jinn too can choose their way, either the correct/righteous way or the
wrong way. In fact, perhaps everything in the skies and the earth has
freedom of choice as implied by the following verse:
We displayed/presented the trust on the skies/space and the earth, and the
mountains, so they refused that they bear it, and they were cautious/afraid
from it, and the human bore it, that he truly was unjust/oppressive, ignorant
[33:72]
It seems that everything in the skies and the earth, including mountains,
could have chosen to accept or refuse the “trust” so they already had
freedom of choice.
Some people have speculated that the trust (“Amana”) mentioned in verse
33:72 is free will. As we saw earlier, humans have freedom to choose which
path to take, but it seems that other creatures, including the humans, had
freedom of choice from before the “trust” was presented. So clearly this
cannot be the “trust” that the humans accepted. So let’s clear our minds
from any preconceived ideas about what the trust is and listen to what is said
in the Quran.
We displayed/presented the trust on the skies/space and the earth, and the
mountains, so they refused that they bear it, and they were cautious/afraid
from it, and the human bore it, that he truly was unjust/oppressive, ignorant
[33:72]
And those whom to their trusts and their covenant they are
protecting/observing [23:8]
I believe that a covenant is the contract/promise that results, for example,
from accepting a trust. What is the covenant that the descendants of Adam
have with The GOD? The answer is clearly given in the following verses:
Did I not make a covenant to you, Adam's descendants, that you do not
serve the devil, he truly is for you a clear/evident enemy, and that you serve
Me, that is a straight path? [36:60-61]
Another concept that “a’hd” and thus “amana” are closely related to is
“mythaq” or pledge. For example, see 2:27, 13:20, and 13:25:
Those who fulfill/complete the covenant to The GOD, and do not break/undo
the pledge/binding. [13:20]
While the “a’hd” or covenant applies to all people, the “mythaq” or pledge
seems to be a subset that applies to certain people. Also, while we may not
remember the covenant, we certainly know about the pledge since we
implicitly gave it in this life. For example, here is the “mythaq” of people who
are given the book:
And as The GOD took/received the pledge (“mythaq”) of those who were
given The Book, to clarify/show/explain it to the people, and do not
hide/conceal it, so they discarded/rejected it behind their backs and
bought/exchanged with it a small price, so how bad is what they
buy/exchange? [3:187]
Once the Quran was given to a certain group, they too became “those who
were given the book” and by accepting the Quran, they accepted the pledge
in verse 3:187. In order not to break this pledge, they should try to
clarify/show/explain it to the people (such as what I am trying to do right
now). Did the people who were given the Quran fulfill their pledge? Or did
many of them practically discarded the book of The GOD and exchanged it
for something less worthy such as the book of Bukhari? If so, then the
majority is breaching the pledge (“mythaq”), thereby breaking the covenant
(“a’hd”) and violating the trust (“amana”). Indeed, what bad exchange!
Another question that arises out of 33:72 and 36:60-61 is that the covenant
resulting from the trust, “not serving an enemy and serving The GOD”,
sounds straightforward and logical, so why did everybody refuse to bear the
trust except the human? Does the fact that we are now unaware of the
“hidden” side of things, including our own hidden side, have something to do
with it? Was this constraint part of the trust? It seems that the trust is not
merely a privilege but may have significant constraints associated with it.
The story of Adam can help shed some light on this because Adam too made
a covenant with The GOD and he too forgot about it:
The story of Adam is recited in several places in the Quran such as: 2:30-39,
7:10-25, 15:26-40, 17:61-65, 18:50, 20:115-124, and 38:69-85. The
following is the story as told in Chapter 20:
So We said: "Adam, that is an enemy for you and your spouse, so let him not
bring you both out from the Paradise, so you will be miserable/unhappy."
[20:117]
"In it for you, that you do not be hungry, nor exposed" [20:118]
"And that you do not be thirsty in it, nor heat stricken " [20:119]
So the devil inspired and talked to him, he said: "O Adam, do I guide you to
the immortality's/eternity's tree, and possession/kingdom that does not wear
out?" [20:120]
Perhaps another clue about the trust can be found in the forbidden tree that
Iblis fabricated a nice sounding lie about to lure them into eating from.
"And you Adam, reside you and your mate/spouse the Paradise, so you eat
from it where/when you willed, and do not approach/near this tree, so you
will become from the unjust/oppressive." [7:19]
The Sunni clergy were and continue to be heavily influenced by Paulian (the
rogue Nazarene sect that hijacked the name of Christ) and Talmudic
traditions and thus they interpreted the Arabic word (“saw’a”) as “private
parts”. However, that interpretation is not consistent with the following
verse:
So The GOD sent a crow digging in the earth, to show him how to cover his
brother's physical body (“saw’a”), he said: "Oh my calamity, have I been
unable to be like that crow, so I cover/bury my brother's physical body
(“saw’a”)?" So he became from the remorseful. [5:31]
Clearly the crow showed the son of Adam how to cover/bury his murdered
brother’s physical body, not how to cover/bury his private parts or his evil
intentions. Therefore, I believe that it is not shame of nakedness but the
surprise of seeing their “physical” selves that prompted them to try to cover
themselves.
Also, according to verses such as 69:17 and 89:22, the angels will come with
our Lord on judgment day. Perhaps that is why the devil tempted Adam and
mate using the lie of the tree having the power to turn them into two angels.
Maybe Adam and spouse thought that this way they would escape being
judged on judgment day.
There are many verses in the Quran indicating that there is a hidden side to
the universe that we are part of (see 32:17, 7:27, 69:38-39, 50:22, 21:97,
30:7).
They know (what is) apparent/visible from the low life, and they, about the
ending, are unaware/oblivious [30:7]
In fact, the “hidden” side of the universe provides access to information that
may enable other creatures to make choices that are in line with The GOD’s
natural system. It seems from verse 8:48 that even the devil, who unlike us,
has access to this hidden side doesn’t dare to do actions that violate The
GOD’s natural system, he merely suggests/tells others to do so.
And when the devil decorated/beautified for them their works/deeds, and he
said: "No defeater/conqueror from the people for you today and that I am a
savior/rescuer for you." So when the two groups saw each other, he
returned/withdrew on his two heels, and he said: "That I am
innocent/renouncing/separating from you, I see/understand what you do not
see/understand, I fear The GOD, and The GOD (is) strong (severe) in the
punishment." [8:48]
As we saw earlier, the fact that we can’t detect or see the hidden side of the
universe may explain why we don’t remember accepting the trust. Could this
be why we are constantly asked to remember in the Quran and the Quran
itself is described as a reminder?
It seems that the people who will go to heaven will remember that the
provisions provided for them were also provided in their previous existence
as indicated in 2:25:
And announce good news to those who have faith and did/made the
correct/righteous deeds, that to them are treed gardens the rivers flow from
beneath it. Whenever they were provided from it a fruit of provision, they
said: "This is what we were provided from before." And they were given with
it similar, and for them in it are purified mates/pairs and they are in it
immortally/eternally. [2:25]
Also it seems that on the day where people see the greatest disaster they will
remember, as indicated by verses such as 7:53, 79:34-35, and 89:23.
And on that day hell was brought. On that day the human/mankind
remembers, and from where is for him the remembrance/reminder? [89:23]
Why would the bringing of hell remind people? Have we all seen hell before?
If so, since hell is not here yet, how could we have seen a future outcome?
The following verse may provide an indication:
It seems from the Quran that perhaps some creatures such as the angels are
able to see some of the future outcomes. Verses such as 37:8 confirm that
those in the highest group/elite (“al-mala’a al-a’ala”) may have at least some
ability to see future outcomes. In verse 2:30, they were able to see that a
successor/appointee in the earth would corrupt in it and kill senselessly. In
fact, the angels seem to be so confident about the future outcomes of that
action that they question The GOD’s decision.
The word “khalifa” comes from the root “KhaLaF”, which has some of the
following connotations that are relevant to verse 2:30:
Also verse 7:10, which like 2:30 also comes right before the story of Adam
confirms that humankind is the empowered
successor/appointee/leader/replacement in the earth:
And We had empowered you in the earth, and We made for you in it
livelihood/sustenance, little (is) what you thank/be grateful. [7:10]
Before we continue, it is worth noting that the angels are not part of the
skies and the earth as indicated by 16:49:
And to The GOD prostrates what is in the skies/space and what is in the
earth from a walker/creeper/crawler, and the angels, and they are not being
arrogant. [16:49]
Consequently, we can deduce that the angels were not among the creatures
that were offered the trust in 33:72. On the other hand, The GOD told the
angels alone about putting a successor/appointee/leader/replacement
(“khalifa”) on earth. So, was being a test for the angels part of the trust? As
we saw, one of the connotations of “khalifa” is “replacement”, so perhaps
humankind was to replace the angels as leaders of the earth. This may
explain the following reaction from the angels:
...They said: "Do you make/put in it, who corrupts in it and sheds the bloods,
and/(while) we praise/glorify with Your praise and we (continue to admit
Your) holiness/sanctity to You."... [2:30]
So now, back to our original question. Perhaps one of the ways to approach
the 'trust' is to think about what makes us different from other creatures
since we are the only ones who accepted the trust. From the Quran, we can
find several features that are unique to humankind:
As we saw above, humankind is the earth’s
successor/appointee/leader/replacement (“khalifa”).
Also another feature that maybe unique to the human is that The GOD’s
spirit was blown into the human (see 32:9, 15:29, 38:72). However, so far I
couldn’t find more evidence to confirm whether this is a unique feature of
humankind or not.
Hence the trust may entail all of those features that are unique to
humankind. Another important clue about the trust can be found at the end
of 33:72:
We displayed/presented the trust on the skies/space and the earth, and the
mountains, so they refused that they bear it, and they were cautious/afraid
from it, and the human bore it, that he truly was unjust/oppressive, ignorant
[33:72]
Why is the human called unjust/oppressive and ignorant for accepting the
trust? Accepting the first two privileges (the “khalifa” and “knowledge of all
the names”) does not seem like a bad decision. However, accepting those
privileges along with the constraint of not having access to the “hidden” side
that as we saw earlier provides crucial information helping other creatures
make choices that are in line with The GOD’s natural system does seem
risky. This is especially an unjust/oppressive and ignorant decision, given
that it was known in advance that any “khalifa” would corrupt in the earth.
Also, it is a known fact that The GOD’s punishment is severe (see verses
such as 8:48) and that The GOD will punish the hypocrites and takers of
partners as indicated in 33:73 immediately following the verse about the
trust.
I believe that this is maybe why everybody in the skies and the earth did not
want to bear the trust and why the human is called unjust/oppressive and
ignorant for accepting it.
Now add an angel who became a vengeful jinn that is bent on diverting us
from the only path that leads to heaven among a very large number of paths
that all lead to hell and the outlook for humankind does seem gloomy indeed.
Also, while still in the highest group/elite and perhaps was able to see some
future outcomes, this vengeful jinn confidently said that the majority of the
humans will follow him (see 7:17).
In summary, the trust entails being a
successor/appointee/leader/replacement in the earth while knowing the
names but being unaware of the “hidden” side of the universe.
Verses 2:27 and 13:25 talk about the people who break the covenant and
thereby corrupt in the earth as the angels in verse 2:30 knew the “khalifa”
would:
Those who break The GOD's covenant (“a’hd”) from after its
binding/pledging, and they cut/sever what The GOD ordered connected, and
they corrupt in the earth, those are the losers. [2:27]
Since we now know that being a “khalifa” maybe the major component of the
trust, it seems that to fulfill the Trust, we must not corrupt in the earth. In
turn, in order not to corrupt in the earth, we must fulfill The GOD’s covenant
and not cut what The GOD ordered connected as indicated by 2:27.
As we saw earlier, this is The GOD’s covenant that we must not break:
And I did not create the Jinns and the humankind except to serve Me.
[51:56]
To fulfill the covenant and thus accomplish our purpose in life to serve The
GOD alone, everything we do in life should be for The GOD (see 6:162-163):
Say: "That my “Salat” and my methods, and my life, and my death, (is) to
the Lord of the universes. No partner to Him, and with that I was
ordered/commanded, and I am first (of) the Muslims." [6:162-163]
"I am The GOD; there is no other god but Me. So you shall serve Me, and
establish the “Salat” for My Remembrance." [20:14]
So it seems that “Salat” is closely related to fulfilling our covenant and our
purpose in life. So the next question is how does Salat relate to our
covenant?
How Do Salat and Zakat Relate to Our Covenant?
Verses 9:1-13 confirm that both “Salat and Zakat” concepts are related to
the “covenant” concept. Those who broke their covenant with the faithful are
to bring forth Salat and Zakat to be forgiven. Verses 9:11 and 9:12 indicate
two opposite paths (courses of action) that the people who fought to kill the
faithful after making a covenant with them can take:
Path 1:
"If they repent, and they uphold the "Salat", and they bring forth the
"Zakat", then they are your brothers in the system, and We explain the
revelations for a people who know. " [9:11]
Path 2:
"And if they break their oaths after their covenant, and they distort your
system, then you may kill the chiefs of rejection. Their oaths are nothing to
them, perhaps they will cease." [9:12]
Thus, the opposite of "breaking their oaths after their covenant, and
distorting your system" is "upholding the Salat, and bringing forth the
Zakat". This means that "Salat" is equivalent to “committing to their oaths
and covenant” and "Zakat" is equivalent to “purifying the system from their
deliberate distortions”.
In our case, here are our covenant and pledge with The GOD, which as we
saw earlier are connected:
And as The GOD took/received the pledge (“mythaq”) of those who were
given The Book, to clarify/show/explain it to the people, and do not
hide/conceal it, so they discarded/rejected it behind their backs and
bought/exchanged with it a small price, so how bad is what they
buy/exchange? [3:187]
From other verses in the Quran, we can see that Salat’s purpose is:
Remembering The GOD (20:14) by remembering His favor and the pledge
(“mythaq”) that we made with Him (5:7) and "hearing and obeying" Him (i.e.
prostration/”sujood”).
Fulfilling our pledge by reciting the book (29:45, 17:78) and explaining it
(3:187), including explaining its application to our system of laws and
community.
Now it is clear that Salat helps us in serving The GOD by connecting our
covenant and pledge with their actual fulfillment in our system while Zakat
helps us in not serving the devil by purifying our system from his distortions.
The “Salat” puts those who have faith in contrast to the rejecters. The
rejecters betray/break their covenant, cut what The GOD ordered connected
(see 2:27, 13:25), and disconnect their words from their deeds (see 26:226-
227). On the other hand, those who have faith connect their covenant and
pledge (words) with the fulfillment of their covenant and pledge (deeds) by
upholding the Allegiance/Connection Assembly = “Salat” (see 13:19-22).
And We had connected for them the utterance, perhaps they remember
[28:51]
Interestingly, we are finding that the concepts we covered so far from the
Quran such as Free Choice, Trust, Covenant, Pledge, Forbidden Tree, Khalifa,
Salat, Zakat, our purpose in life, and serving The GOD are all interconnected
as was indicated in 28:51.
Here is the verse immediately following verse 33:72 that talks about the
trust:
For The GOD to punish the (male and female) hypocrites, and the (male and
female) sharers/takers of partners (with The GOD), and for The GOD to
forgive the (male and female) who have faith, and The GOD was forgiving,
merciful. [33:73]
Remember the test that we are going through in this low life:
Did the people assume/suppose that they be left to say "we had faith" and
they are not being tested? And We had tested those who were before them,
so The GOD will know those who were truthful, and He will know the
liars/deniers/falsifiers. [29:2-3]
And The GOD will know those who have faith, and He will know the
hypocrites. [29:11]
Perhaps the test of this low life is an assessment of whether we will betray or
observe the trust. Also, continue to read the story of Adam in chapter 20:
Then His Lord chose/purified him, so He forgave him, and guided. [20:122]
The Quran helps us with the our purpose in life by, for example, talking
about the outcomes that we are going to face in the afterlife and providing
knowledge that help us connect all the information we have together to
determine our purpose in life. It is simply a reminder to help us choose the
right path that will lead to a desirable outcome in the afterlife and warn us
about the other paths and the miserable outcome that they will certainly lead
to.
As I mentioned in the introduction, when scientists study the universe, the
more they understand of it, the more questions arise and I found the same
to be true for the Quran. One word that was repeated many times in this
article is “why”. Children have this natural instinct to keep asking “why”.
Unfortunately, many education systems, especially in Sunni and Shia nations,
have been an agent for suppressing this inquisitive nature so that by the
time the child grows into an adult, they are a tamed blind follower. A more
natural education system that attempts to harness this inquisitive nature to
promote the revival of scientific discovery and civilization is desperately
needed. Meanwhile, please coach your children to continue to ask “why”.
And I did not create the Jinns and the humankind except to serve Me.
[51:56]
Also,
And had your Lord willed He would have made the people one nation, and
they still/continue differing/disagreeing. [11:118]
Except who your Lord had mercy upon and for that He created them, and
your Lord's word/expression (is) completed: "I will fill Hell from the Jinns and
the people all together." [11:119]
By putting 51:56 and 11:118-119 together, we can see that despite all
people differences/disagreements, what unites those who our Lord has mercy
on is the serving of The GOD alone. So even though we may occasionally
disagree on some Quranic interpretations, what is really important is that we
agree to serve The GOD alone and not the devil and his lies.
Many new questions arose while writing this article, for example:
Now that we understand from the Quran that the universe has a
sensed/physical side and a “hidden” side, what more can we find out about
that “hidden” side from the Quran?
How do our findings relate to new scientific theories that try to explain the
universe such as string theory, m-theory, and f-theory? All those theories
suggest that there are indeed “hidden” dimensions in the universe.
Also, what else can we find out about the straight path?
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: