^{Surah Name:} Aal-e-Imran ^Meaning: The Family of Imran

Key Points

Surah Aal-e-Imran

Secrets Of Revelation

Recall when Allaah^-SWT said, O ‘Isa... and the Message of Wisdom.

Now what was the secret plan? The Jews wanted to assassinate Prophet ‘Isa^-AS whereas Allaah^-SWT not only planned to save him^-AS but also to make him^-AS a manifestation of His Greatness and a proof of the Prophethood of the final Prophet Muhammad^-SW. Just as his^-AS birth was miraculous, so was his^-AS upbringing. He^-AS talked in infancy and his^-AS miracles were the most bewildering!

Demonstration Of Divine Power

And then his^-AS Ascension to the heavens and his^-AS ultimate return to the world, followed by his^-AS death; all is a manifestation of Allaah^-SWT's Omnipotence.

Allaah^-SWT said O ‘Isa^-AS! I shall take you^-AS and cause you^-AS to ascend unto Me.’ This particular translation is arrived at if the word Mutawaffika is translated literally. But if it is translated as ‘death’, it would imply that the Jews cannot kill you^-AS because I shall give you^-AS a natural death. But for the time being I shall raise you^-AS to heavens, this fact is highlighted by another Ayah of the Qura'an. “They surely did not kill him^-AS; Allaah^-SWT lifted him^-AS up to Him.” (4:158)

Ascension Of Prophet ‘Isa^-AS

And if the Ascension is taken as spiritual, then assassination also results in death even if not at the hands of the Jews, but given by Allaah^-SWT, so what is the superiority in his^-AS Ascension? In fact the Spirit of every righteous person is also taken up after death. But here the Ascension of Prophet ‘Isa^-AS is stated^’. ‘Isa^-AS is the name of Spirit and physical body together and not of Spirit alone. The truth is that the teacher of Qura'an, the Holy Prophet^-SW himself has given the interpretation of this Ayah saying that “Prophet ‘Isa^-AS was lifted to the heavens and will stay there until his^-AS return to this world in later times. He^-AS will participate in Jihad, will get married, will have children, will be buried in my tomb upon death and Abu Bakr^-RAU and ‘Umar^-RAU will be resurrected along with Prophet ‘Isa^-AS and myself.” Now a Muslim has absolutely no need to further probe this question. As for the liars and the impostor prophets, who gave them the right to interpret the Qura'an anyway? The Ummah has a consensus over the fact that Prophet Muhammad^-SW is the last Prophet and he^-SW has himself said “There shall be no Prophet after me”, a statement as clear as daylight. He^-SW even has forewarned people of the appearance of Dajjal (Anti Christ) and that they should beware of his mischief. He^-SW also foretold that Prophet ‘Isa^-AS shall descend from the heavens and cautioned against impostors and liars. If any honorary or shadow prophet was still to come, why didn't the Holy Prophet^-SW inform about him? It is amazing that some people insist so enthusiastically on the death of Prophet ‘Isa^-AS. Even if for a second we agree to their absurd assertions, it still does not prove Mirza Qadiyani to be a gentleman, let alone a Prophet!

Besides, the Prophethood is related to beliefs based on the teachings of the Holy Prophet^-SW and not on the question of the death of Prophet ‘Isa^-AS. In fact, there are so many Ahadith which refer to the life and ultimate return of Prophet ‘Isa^-AS that only a non-believer can deny them.

Allaah^-SWT said that He would clear Prophet ‘Isa^-AS from the evil of the non-believers. When the Holy Prophet^-SW was raised, he^-SW exonerated Prophet ‘Isa^-AS from the accusations of both categories of non-believers. Those who accused him^-AS, as well as those who claimed that he^-AS was son of God. Allaah^-SWT also promised that He would make his^-AS followers dominate the non-believers until the Day of Judgement.

If this promise pertains to the mere acceptance of his^-AS Prophethood both the Christians and the Muslims share it. But if it refers to complete obedience, it can only be for the Muslims. Ever since the raising of Prophet ‘Isa^-AS even the Christians have not been overpowered by the Jews, let alone the Muslims. As for the state of Israil, it is nothing more than a joint cantonment of the Socialists and the Christians. The Jews have always been the accursed people and will In-sha-Allaah^-SWT continue to be humiliated till the end. And above all, the followers and the deniers will appear before Allaah^-SWT one day and He himself will resolve their differences and pass His verdict. His judgement will be based on the principle that the non-believers will be severely punished in this world and in Akhirah and no one will come to their rescue. The life of the non-believers in today’s world is pitiable and a warning for others. The moribund Muslim of today has at least managed to preserve his honour, while the young daughters of the non-believers turn into hippies. Family life has been transformed into a picture of Hell. Lawlessness and murders are rampant. Their activities in everyday life can put even animals to shame, while the severest tortures await them in the Akhirah.

On the contrary, those blessed with faith and righteousness shall be amply rewarded for their virtue. The non-believers have invoked His fury because of their heartless rejection of the truth, and Allaah^-SWT never likes such flagrant sinners. All these true accounts revealed to the Holy Prophet^-SW are a clear proof of his^-SW Prophethood.

Miracles Generally In Accord With Contemporary Eminence

In every era, the Prophets^-AS were blessed with miracles in accordance with the eminence of that period. Prophet Musa^-AS raised in the age of sorcerers was blessed with miracles that humbled them all. The era of Prophet ‘Isa^-AS was the age of philosophers and physicians and the miracles granted to him^-AS were to compete with his^-AS contemporaries. The era of Prophet Muhammad^-SW was of rhetoric excellence and he^-SW was blessed with the greatest living miracle in the form of Qura'an, which is matchless and shall remain so forever.

Indeed the likeness of ‘Isa^-AS...full knowledge of the miscreants.

For Allaah^-SWT Prophet ‘Isa^-AS is like Prophet Aadam^-AS, who was created without parents, from clay. Allaah^-SWT commanded him^-AS to be and at once he^-AS was! Similarly by His Command Prophet ‘Isa^-AS was born without a father.

This was a dialogue held between the Holy Prophet^-SW and the Christians of Najran when they wanted to prove Prophet ‘Isa^-AS’s Divinity. They insisted that if Prophet ‘Isa^-AS was not the son of God then who was his^-AS father? They did not bother to think that when a human being can never reproduce a goat or vice versa, although both belong to the animal kingdom differing only in species, how can a human being be born of God when there is nothing in common between the two. Rather, Allaah^-SWT is Omnipotent and Independent and a human being dependent and incidental. How would a man who needs food and has to die, be born of Allaah^-SWT, Who is above all such things? He is neither anyone’s father nor son and no one can be like Him.

In this context, is the creation of Prophet ‘Isa^-AS without a father more astonishing or that of Prophet Aadam^-AS without both parents? Allaah^-SWT the Almighty can do whatever He wishes.

Analogy Valid In Shari’ah

From the above Ayah the jurists have deduced analogy to be a valid argument in Shari’ah. The creation of Prophet Aadam^-AS has been presented as an analogy to prove the birth of Prophet ‘Isa^-AS without a father. Allaah^-SWT declares that this is indeed the truth, which has been sent unto you^-SW from your Rubb. Knowledge especially that of Allaah^-SWT's Book, is the nourishment of Spirit. This is why the Attribute Rubb is used, since it is essential to provide for spiritual nourishment along with the physical. Allaah^-SWT tells the Holy Prophet^-SW that there is no room for any doubt over what has been revealed unto him^-SW.

Mubahalah (Mutual Imprecation)

The Holy Prophet^-SW is being told that when inspite of clear signs and testimony from Allaah^-SWT, anyone refuses to accept his^-SW words and is arrogant, he^-SW should invite him for Mubahalah. It means that both parties must come out with their women and children and pray to Allaah^-SWT that He may accurse the group standing on falsehood and inflict His Wrath on it.

Here the interpolation of Shi’ites has caused many commentators to err. They depose that as soon as this Ayah was revealed, the Holy Prophet^-SW summoned Hadhrat ‘Ali^-RAU, Hadhrat Fatimah^-RAU, Hadhrat Hassan^-RAU and Hadhrat Hussain^-RAU. He^-SW was carrying Hadhrat Hussain^-RAU in his^-SW arms and holding Hadhrat Hassan^-RAU by the hand while, Hadhrat Fatimah^-RAU and Hadhrat ‘Ali^-RAU followed behind, as they left for the arena.

Let us pause here for a moment and ponder over the background. The delegation from Najran comprised only three men namely Sharjeel, ‘Abdullah bin Sharjeel and Jabbar bin Faidh. They were representing the entire Christian community of Najran. Their families were in Najran, which is at an aerial distance of eight hundred kilometres from Madinah and probably twelve hundred kilometres by road. Besides, all the commentators unanimously agree that the delegation from Najran did not accept the invitation for Mubahalah and conceded to pay Jizyah (tax payable to Islamic Govt. by non-Muslim subjects). Then why would the Holy Prophet^-SW take the family of Hadhrat ‘Ali^-RAU to the arena while the contesting party’s families were hundreds of miles away? Such an action cannot be expected from a person of ordinary intelligence let alone Holy Prophet^-SW. And Hadhrat Fatimah^-RAU cannot fit in the wording of Nisa’ana (our women) because Abna’ana wa Nisa’ana means ‘children and wives. Now the family of Hadhrat ‘Ali^-RAU be taken as the Holy Prophet^-SW’s children as Hadhrat ‘Ali^-RAU was like his^-SW son because he^-RAU was brought up by him^-SW and was also his^-SW son-in-law, but who represents the wives?

Yet a more flabbergasting argument presented by Shi’ites is that the word An-fusana (our souls) is used for Hadhrat ‘Ali^-RAU and he^-RAU is the soul of the Holy Prophet^-SW. Therefore, it was his^-RAU right to be the Caliph and the Amir (leader) because by virtue of being the Holy Prophet^-SW’s soul, Hadhrat ‘Ali^-RAU was as privileged as he^-SW himself. What they forget is that he^-RAU was also his^-SW son in law; then how could the soul of the Holy Prophet^-SW get married to his^-SW daughter?

Actually this Ayah refers to all the believers, followers and their wives and children. The Holy Prophet^-SW was to pray on their behalf and the Christian delegation on the behalf of the Christian community. This fact is endorsed by a Hadith of the Holy Prophet^-SW, who swore by Allaah^-SWT that His Punishment lurked over the people of Najran! Had they done Mubahalah, their faces would have been distorted to monkeys and pigs and the entire valley would have been filled with raging fire killing even the birds in the trees, and before the end of the year all the Christians would have been dead (Mazhari).

The expression “all the Christians” in the above Hadith indicates that the words ‘our children, our women and our souls’ stand for all the followers and their family members, so that whichever group is on the right path may survive and the other is eradicated. But the Christians were terrified because they knew very well that the Holy Prophet^-SW was Allaah^-SWT's true Messenger. They were denying him^-SW only to maintain their own supremacy and leadership over their people. Therefore, they made peace by paying Jizyah and averted the Mubahalah.

All the incidents revealed in Allaah^-SWT's Book are absolutely true. No one save Allaah^-SWT deserves to be worshipped, be it a Prophet^-AS, a Wali, an angel or anyone else. The belief of Trinity is again negated. Allaah- is the Supreme Ruler and His Wisdom encompasses all. No one can claim to be His partner in any of His Attributes. Then how can anyone possibly share the Divinity? If the non-believers still continue to raise objections then the matter may be left to Allaah^-SWT, He knows the mischievous very well. This indicates that to impede people from faith or to indulge in sin is not only wrong, but also it tantamounts to creating imbalance and leading the world to destruction. This tangible world thrives on faith and obedience to Allaah^-SWT. Mischief and evil disturbs its peace and harmony. And when there shall remain not a single soul on the earth to remember Allaah^-SWT, leaving behind only the non-believers, this world shall be destroyed.

The non-believers are not only ungrateful but are also responsible for bringing calamities to this beautiful world created by Allaah^-SWT.They cannot conceal themselves from Allaah^-SWT, as He knows them fully well.