Commentary on The Holy Quran Volume 1 Surah Fatiha

408 Pages·2009·4.82 MB·English

Commentary on
The Holy Quran
Volume f
SURAH FATIHA
Compiled from the Writings
and Pronouncements of
The Promised Messiah and Mahdi
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian
Translated by
Sir Muhammad Zafrula Khan
ISLAM INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS LTD
Commentary on the Holy Quran Vol. 1
Surah Fatiha
Compiled from the Writings and Pronouncements of
The Promised Messiah and Mahdi
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian
Translated by: Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan
First Published in UK by The London Mosque
Present Edition (UK) 2004
©Islam International Publications Limited
Published by:
Islam International Publications Limited
"Islamabad"
Sheephatch Lane
Tilford, Surrey GU10 2AQ
UK
Printed in England by Clays Ltd, St Ives pic
Al rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photo-copying, recording or otherwise, without the
prior written permission of the publishers.
ISBN: 1 85372 783 0
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
C o m m e n t a r y o n S u r a h F a t i h a 1
F i r s t t i t l e o f t h e S u r a h 1
Prediction of an Ancient Prophet about Fatiha 1
A l - h a m d , a n o t h e r n a m e o f t h e F a t i h a 2
A l - s a b a ' l m a s a n i 4
P r o p e r t i e s o f S u r a h F a t i h a 4
S u r a h F a t i h a a n d R o s e 5
Q u a l i t i e s o f R o s e 6
Internal qualities of Fatiha are healing for mind and spirit 7
Language of Fatiha is beyond range of human capacity 8
S p e c i a l Q u a l i t i e s o f F a t i h a 1 0
A C h a l l e n g e 1 0
T h e i n c o m p a r a b l e S u r a h 1 1
Proof of Unmatchable Characteristics of Holy Quran 13
G r e a t i n fl u e n c e o f F a t i h a 1 7
F a t i h a a m i r a c l e 1 8
F a t i h a o f t r e p e a t e d 1 8
S e c u r i t y a g a i n s t h e l l 1 8
F a t i h a c o m p r i s e s e v e r y V e r i t y 1 8
A H o l y T r e e 1 8
F a t i h a a n d I n n e r L i g h t 1 9
F a t i h a r e fl e c t s D i v i n e L i g h t 1 9
G l o r y o f F a t i h a 2 0
F a t i h a i s a C i t a d e l 2 1
P r a y e r f o r a l l M a n k i n d 2 3
E f f e c t i v e n e s s o f F a t i h a 2 3
S e e k i n g p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t S a t a n 2 3
T h e a g e o f t h e D i s s e m b l e r ' s r u i n 2 5
The Dissembler will be destroyed only by heavenly weapons 25
T h e D i s s e m b l e r i s n o t a n i n d i v i d u a l 2 6
M e a n i n g o f t h e F a t i h a 2 7
V e r s e 1 : B i s m i l l a h e - R r a h m a n i - R a h i m 2 7
S i g n i fi c a n c e o f R a h m a n i y y a t 2 8
R e v e l a t i o n o f D i v i n e L a w 2 9
S i g n i fi c a n c e o f R a h i m i y y a t 3 2
Distinction between Rahmaniyyat and Rahimiyyat 33
A c c e p t a n c e o f P r a y e r 3 8
C r i t i c i s m o f B i s m i l l a h r e f u t e d 3 9
M e a n i n g o f i s m 4 2
C o m p r e h e n s i v e n e s s o f R a h m a n a n d R a h i m 4 4
S i g n i fi c a n c e o f M u h a m m a d a n d A h m a d 4 6
P r i o r i t y o f S u p e r i o r o v e r I n f e r i o r 5 0
Perfect man is manifestation of Divine attributes 52
A d v e n t o f P r o m i s e d M e s s i a h f o r e t o l d 5 3
Rahmaniyyat and Rahimiyyat juxtaposed to
M u h a m m a d i y y a t a n d A h m a d i y y a t 5 5
Description of Companions of Holy Prophet by Moses
a n d J e s u s 5 6
M u l t i p l i c i t y o f D i v i n e A t t r i b u t e s 5 8
Distinction between Rahmaniyyat and Rahimiyyat 59
Striving is essential for achieving good results 61
T w o T y p e s o f M e r c y 6 3
R a h i m i y y a t s t i m u l a t e s h o p e a n d e f f o r t 6 7
D i v i n e A t t r i b u t e o p e r a t e i n t w o w a y s 7 0
Ve r s e 2 : A l - h a m d u - l i l l a h e R a b b i l A a l a m e e n 7 1
A l l p e r f e c t e x c e l l e n c e b e l o n g s t o A l l a h 7 1
True hamd belongs to Being Who Exercises
B e n e v o l e n c e d e l i b e r a t e l y 7 1
Hamd is verbal praise offered for acts of Benevolence 72
C o g n i t i o n o f A l l a h t h r o u g h A t t r i b u t e s 7 3
Reflection over Divine Attributes safeguards against errors 74
Perfection of beauty and perfection of Beneficence are
u n i q u e q u a l i t i e s O f t h e S u p r e m e B e i n g 7 7
F o u r b a s i c v a r i e t i e s o f B e n e fi c e n c e 7 8
S e c o n d B e n e fi c e n c e 7 8
T h i r d B e n e fi c e n c e 7 9
F o u r t h B e n e fi c e n c e 8 1
God of Christians became dependent on an inadequate son 85
J e s u s w a s a h u m b l e h u m a n b e i n g 8 7
Brahmoos regard God as dumb, mute and without
p o w e r o f s p e e c h 8 8
R a b b 9 0
Allah is Master of the World of Element and Command 94
A l l p e r f e c t a t t r i b u t e s c o m b i n e d i n A l l a h 9 5
God's grace and providence not confined to one people 96
God has made provision for material and spiritual welfare
o f a l l p e o p l e s 9 7
All powers working in the Universe do not operate on
their own, Divine power operates through them 99
Verses 3-4:Most Gracious, Ever Merciful,
M a s t e r o f t h e D a y o f J u d g m e n t 1 0 1
Besides the day of greatest Dispensation there is
cont inuous judgment in th is l i fe as we l l 102
God's grace manifests itself in four ways 103
First and Second Categories of Divine Grace 104
T h i r d C a t e g o r y o f D i v i n e G r a c e 1 0 7
F o u r t h C a t e g o r y o f D i v i n e G r a c e 1 0 8
Powers of the God of Aryas are confined merely
t o m a n i p u l a t i o n 1 1 2
Five oceans of attributes of Supreme Being 114
S e c o n d O c e a n 1 1 5
T h i r d O c e a n 1 1 5
F o u r t h O c e a n 1 1 6
F i f t h O c e a n 1 1 6
If all objects are self-existing what need is there of God? 118
Worship absorbs and sucks Divine Grace 120
No one can be accounted righteous unless he is totally
d e d i c a t e d t o H o l y P r o p h e t 1 2 0
Excelence of Attributes of God demands a response from
o u r m u n d a n e n a t u r e s 1 2 3
F o u r f o u n t a i n s o f b e n e fi c e n c e 1 2 5
Rabbil Aalameen is most comprehensive attribute of all 128
A l l ah ' s wo rds a re m i r ro rs o f H i s wo rks 128
All that exists in the World is manifestation of
g r a c i o u s n e s s o f t h e L o r d 1 2 9
Rahimiyyat is contingent upon revelation of Book of Allah 131
Justice cannot be established except after limits have been
s e t b y A l l a h t h r o u g h H i s B o o k s 1 3 2
Four A t t r i bu tes suppor t t h rone o f A l l ah 135
Four Attributes of Allah that are manifested afresh in the
h e r e a f t e r 1 3 7
Allah is not merely the prime cause He is the deliberate
P r o v i d e r A n d n o u r i s h e r 1 3 8
All that exists is a creation of God and is dependent on HIM 141
Jews believe the Universe is regulated by fixed laws where
G o d h a s n o p o w e r t o i n t e r v e n e 1 4 5
Christians ascribe Divine attributes to son of Mary 147
Aryas do not accept God as creator and Lord of souls 148
Brahmos believe the universe is performing its functions
i n d e p e n d e n t l y o f G o d 1 5 0
Powers possessed by the limitless Being must by their very
n a t u r e b e u n l i m i t e d 1 5 1
Brahmos conceive God as miserly and weak 153
Advent of Promised Messiah resembles the Hour of
R e s u r r e c t i o n 1 5 8
Day of Requital means drawing forth from their graves the
s p i r i t u a l l y d e a d 1 5 9
Meanings of Muhammadiyyat and Ahmadiyyat 161
Age of dominance of disbelievers prophesied by
H o l y Q u r a n 1 6 2
By Day of Resurrection is meant day of Promised Messiah
fi n a l t r i u m p h o f I s l a m 1 6 3
Holy Prophet Muhammad was perfect manifestation of
p r i n c i p a l D i v i n e a t t r i b u t e s 1 6 7
Holy Prophet manifested Rahmaniyyat through his example 169
Party of Promised Messiah included among Companions of
H o l y P r o p h e t 1 7 0
Meaning of set t lement of God on throne 172
Idolators describe Divine attributes as gods 174
Holy Quran destroys all deities set up by followers of
v a r i o u s r e l i g i o n s 1 7 5
F a t i h a R e b u t s A r y a s a n d S a n a t a n i s t s 1 7 5
F a t i h a R e b u t s F a l s e R e l i g i o n s 1 7 7
Evil doers suffer a living death and pass on prematurely 178
B r a n c h e s o f D i v i n e C o m m a n d m e n t s 1 7 9
L e s s o n i n F a t i h a 1 8 3
G o s p e l a n d F a t i h a C o n t r a s t e d 1 8 3
N a t u r e o f D i v i n e T h r o n e ( A r s h ) 1 8 6
D u t i e s o f M e m b e r s o f t h e M o v e m e n t 1 8 7
Verse 5:Thee alone do we worship, and Thee alone
d o w e i m p l o r e f o r h e l p 1 8 8
Employ your faculties before supplications 190
Give one another gifts of prayer in mutual affection 193
Worshipper should be completely absorbed in the love
o f G o d 1 9 6
Worshipping God as true object of love saintliness 196
Salvation through sincerity and steadfastness 197
Men of God permitted to give help in secondary capacity 198
Essence of worship is to take on complexion of
w o r s h i p p e d 1 9 9
Vani ty and ar rogance eat up a l l v i r tues 199
Three conditions of those who follow the ways
o f t h e i r L o r d 2 0 0
Five daily prayers are the highest worship 201
Advent of Ahmad, the Messiah foretold in Fatiha 202
E f f o r t a n d p r a y e r s h o u l d b e c o m b i n e d 2 0 4
To be able to tread the straight path one must use faculties
a p p r o p r i a t e l y a n d s u p p l i c a t e 2 0 6
A repeated supplication source of comfort 209
Those who rely on their own strength and do not
d e p e n d o n A l l a h a r e h u m i l i a t e d 2 1 0
T h r e e k i n d s o f u n i t y 2 1 0
Verses 6-7: Guide us along the straight path;the
path of those on whom Thou hast bestowed
Thy favours,those who have not incurred Thy
w r a t h a n d h a v e n o t g o n e a s t r a y 2 1 1
T h r e e s t a g e s o f h u m a n d e v e l o p m e n t 2 1 2
W a y s o f D i v i n e g u i d a n c e 2 1 3
Seeking guidance from God is like turning to an eminent
p h y s i c i a n f o r h e a l i n g 2 1 5
Steadfastness wins the pleasure of Al lah 216
Prophet and Apostles are the rightly guided ones who
s h o u l d b e f o l l o w e d 2 1 9
Khalifas shall continue to be raised among Muslims 221
J e s u s d i e d a n a t u r a l d e a t h 2 2 4
Messiah to appear f rom among Musl ims 226
The Brahmos have scant fa i th in prayer 229
Putting everything in its proper place is straight path 230
T h r e e s e t s o f o b l i g a t i o n s 2 3 1
Sirat- i-Mustaqeem object ive of worshipper 234
Worshipper should stand before God with yearning and
t o t a l h u m i l i t y 2 3 5
Three sources o f gu idance fo r Mus l ims 236
F o u r g r a d e s o f e x c e l l e n c e 2 3 8
F o u r c a t a g o r i e s o f f a v o u r e d o n e s 2 3 9
Two parties of Islam -forerunners and those coming after 240
God intends to prepare a community like the people
p r e p a r e d b y t h e H o l y P r o p h e t 2 4 2
W a y o f I m a m a t i s e v e r o p e n 2 4 4
Allah has made Muslims spiritual heirs of all prophets 245
Divine speech is proof of Divine presence 246
T h r e e s t a g e s o f k n o w l e d g e 2 4 8
A follower of the Holy Prophet is eligible for
D i v i n e a d d r e s s 2 4 9
Muslims will be granted all bounties granted to previous
p e o p l e s 2 5 3
The r igh t pa th i s the pa th o f Prophe ts 255
If prophethood has ceased Muslims cannot be regarded
b e s t o f p e o p l e s 2 5 6
G o d i s n o t n i g g a r d l y 2 5 9
Progress towards the Div ine is l imi t less 259
T h e d o o r o f P r o p h e t h o o d n o t c l o s e d 2 6 2
Divine Communion in full measure is the Muhammadi
p r o p h e t h o o d 2 6 3
The seal of Khalifas must be from followers of the
H o l y P r o p h e t 2 6 4
Promised Messiah is the only perfect reflection of
H o l y P r o p h e t 2 6 5
Employ God-given capacities first and then pray to Allah 267
Purpose of Promised Messiah's advent is the completion
o f s p i r i t u a l e d i fi c e o f I s l a m 2 6 7
Salvation cannot be achieved through prayers
a n d f a s t i n g a l o n e 2 6 9
M e a n s o f w a r d i n g o f f t h e m a j o r s i n s 2 7 0
Employ the appropriate available means and then pray
f o r m o r e 2 7 1
W o r s h i p s h o u l d w i n D i v i n e p l e a s u r e 2 7 2
Exaggerated Exaltation of Prophets is Shirk 273
Bel ievers are sp i r i tua l he i rs o f Prophets 274
Prayer is spirtual force that attracts Divine grace 276
Surah Fatiha and New Testament contrasted 276
Comprehensive prayer for seeking correct solutions
t o p r o b l e m s 2 7 8
Purifying grace of the Holy Prophet continues 280
S e e k i n g a l l r e q u i r e m e n t s f r o m G o d 2 8 1
The favoured ones and those smitten by God's wrath
w i l l c o n t i n u e t o e x i s t 2 8 3
T h e I m a m o f t h e a g e m u s t b e o b e y e d 2 8 4
W a y o f s e e k i n g e a s e a n d c o m f o r t 2 8 5
M e r e v i s i o n s a r e o f n o a v a i l 2 8 6
R e v e l a t i o n i s D i v i n e b o u n t y 2 8 7
God cannot be known by means of intellect alone 287
True prayer should aim at pleasing Al lah 288
Righteousness and Divine favour are highest
g r a d e o f v i r t u e 2 8 9
F o u r k i n d s o f E x c e l l e n c e 2 9 1
P u r p o s e o f A h m a d i y y a M o v e m e n t 2 9 1
Hardships and trials must be encountered for winning
p l e a s u r e o f A l l a h 2 9 2
Verbal affirmation must be supported by conduct 293
T h r e e a s p e c t s o f p r a y e r 2 9 4
God treats each person according to his attitude to Him 295
Divine wrath means loss of Divine mercy 297