Quraanic Exegesis, Dought&clear, - * Why did Allaah cause the children of Israel to die with a thunderbolt (lightning) then bring them back to life?

mwb

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If all muslims will die once and then be resurrected on the Day of Judgment, why were the People of Israel caused to die by a lightening and then brought back to life ? (Quran 2:55).
Praise be to Allaah.
Allaah tells us in His Holy Book the story of the smiting of the Children of Israel, then how He brought them back to life after death, in two places. It is mentioned in the context of speaking of the Children of Israel and the blessings that Allaah bestowed upon them, and how they responded to those blessings with ingratitude, denial and forgetfulness.
Allaah, may He be exalted, says: (interpretation of the meaning):
“And (remember) when you said: ‘O Moosa (Moses)! We shall never believe in you until we see Allaah plainly.’ But you were seized with a thunderbolt (lightning) while you were looking.
56. Then We raised you up after your death, so that you might be grateful”
[al-Baqarah 2:55-56]
And He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“The people of the Scripture (Jews) ask you to cause a book to descend upon them from heaven. Indeed, they asked Moosa (Moses) for even greater than that, when they said: “Show us Allaah in public,” but they were struck with thunderclap and lightning for their wickedness. Then they worshipped the calf even after clear proofs, evidences, and signs had come to them. (Even) so We forgave them. And We gave Moosa (Moses) a clear proof of authority”
[al-Nisa’ 4:153]
The thunderbolt was a punishment for them for their transgressions against Allaah and their persisting in stubbornly asking questions and their arrogance despite all the signs and proof that Allaah showed to them. And despite that they asked Allaah to let them see Him plainly in this world, and they made their faith conditional upon this sign, although Allaah is far above weak eyes seeing Him in this world; rather they will see Him in Paradise. So He punished them with death by thunderbolt which seized them mightily, but because of His forbearance, forgiveness and tolerance towards His slaves, He resurrected them after death to this world, so that they might know how great Allaah's blessing to them was and give thanks to Him for giving them a respite and allowing them the opportunity once again to repent and turn back to Him. So the thunderbolt was a punishment for them and the resurrection after death was a sign and a blessing from Him so that they might learn a lesson and be reminded by it, and then give true and sincere thanks for the blessing of Allaah. Hence the verse in Soorat al-Baqarah ends with the words “so that you might be grateful”.
Al-Haafiz Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) says:
Remember My blessing to you, when I brought you back to life after the thunderbolt, when you asked to see Me plainly, which you and those like you cannot do – as Ibn Jurayj said.
Ibn ‘Abbaas said concerning this verse, “And (remember) when you said: ‘O Moosa (Moses)! We shall never believe in you until we see Allaah plainly in’”: (it means) clearly. End quote.
Tafseer al-Qur’aan il-‘Azeem(1/264).
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
The words “And (remember) when you said: ‘O Moosa (Moses)!” mean: remember also, O Children of Israel, when you said... This is addressed to those who were alive at the time of the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him), but His blessings to the first of the nation are also blessings to the last of them, so it is valid to address it to the latter ones, even though this blessing came to those who went before them. And His words “ ‘We shall never believe in you’” mean: we will never follow you, and we will never believe, and we will never acknowledge that which you have brought.
His words “you were seized with a thunderbolt (lightning)” mean: death which was sent upon them.
And His words: “Then We raised you up after your death”: this is a great blessing to them, that Allaah seized them with its punishment, then He raised them again so that they might be deterred and it might be an expiation for them. Hence He said:“so that you might be grateful”, i.e. that you might give thanks to Allaah. This is explaining the reason. End quote.
Tafseer Soorat al-Baqarah1/191
Al-Taahir ibn ‘Ashoor (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
This was an alert and a rebuke to them, hence He said: “for their wickedness.” The wickedness in question is what is narrated in Soorat al-Baqarah, when they refused to believe Moosa until they saw Allaah plainly. Their wickedness was not in merely asking to see Him, because Moosa had made a similar request on another occasion, of which Allaah tells us in the verse where He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And when Moosa (Moses) came at the time and place appointed by Us, and his Lord (Allaah) spoke to him; he said: ‘O my Lord! Show me (Yourself), that I may look upon You.’ Allaah said: ‘You cannot see Me, but look upon the mountain; if it stands still in its place then you shall see Me.’ So when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He made it collapse to dust, and Moosa (Moses) fell down unconscious. Then when he recovered his senses he said: ‘Glory be to You, I turn to You in repentance and I am the first of the believers’”
[al-A’raaf 7:143]
End quote.
Al-Tahreer wa’l-Tanweer(4/301)
And Allaah knows best.

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Quraanic Exegesis, Dought&clear, - * The meaning of al-huroof al-muqatta’ah in the Qur’aan

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what is meant by the ayah Alim Lam Meem, and other similar ayahs in the quran? What have the scholars said regarding them?
Praise be to Allaah.
A group of scholars, such as the Rightly-Guided Khaleefahs (may Allaah be pleased with them), and others among the Sahaabah, Taabi’een and their followers, refrained from interpreting this aayah and others which contain al-huroof al-muqatta’ah [letters which appear at the beginning of some soorahs]. It was not narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) interpreted them, so it is preferable for us to say Allaah knows best what they mean. But it was narrated that some of the mufassireen among the Sahaabah, Taabi’een and their followers did interpret them, and they differed as to their interpretation.
Al-Saheeh al-Masboor min al-Tafseer bi’l-Ma’thoorby Dr Hikmat Basheer, vol 1, p. 94
Some of the scholars tried to discover the wisdom behind these letters and said: These letters are mentioned – and Allaah knows best – at the beginning of soorahs which point to the miraculous nature of the Qur’aan, which implies that all mankind is unable to match it, even though it is composed of the letters that they use in their daily speech. This was the view supported by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) and was approved of by Abu’l-Hajjaaj al-Mazzi (may Allaah have mercy on him). And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions, and grant them peace.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, vol. 4, p. 144.

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Quraanic Exegesis, Dought&clear, - * Why did Allaah create the heavens and the earth in six days when He is able to have created it in less time?

mwb

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If Allah intends a thing, his only word is "BE" and it is. can you please explain why he took 6 days to create the heavens and earth?.
Praise be to Allaah.
One of the firm beliefs held by people of deep faith and complete Tawheed is that the Lord, may He be exalted, is able to do all things, and His power is without limits. He has absolute power, perfect will and ultimate control of all affairs. If He wills a thing, it happens as He wills it at the time when He wills it, and in the manner that He wills.
There are many definitive texts in the Book of our Lord and in the Sunnah of His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) which affirm this and state it clearly, with no ambiguity. It is sufficient here for us to quote some of the verses that indicate this, such as the verses (interpretation of the meaning):
“The Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it : ‘Be!’ — and it is”
[al-Baqarah 2:117]
Al-Haafz Ibn Katheer said in his commentary on this verse (Tafseer1/175): “Here Allaah explains the completeness of His power and the greatness of His authority, and that if He wills and decrees something, He simply says to it, ‘Be!’ – just once – and it is, i.e., it comes into existence as He willed it. This is like the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
‘Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, “Be!” — and it is!’
[Ya-Seen 36:82].”
And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“When He has decreed something, He says to it only: ‘Be!’ —and it is”
[Aal ‘Imraan 3:47]
“It is He Who gives life and causes death. And when He decides upon a thing He says to it only: ‘Be’— and it is”
[Ghaafir 40:68]
“And Our Commandment is but one as the twinkling of an eye”
[al-Qamar 54:50]
Al-Haafiz Ibn Katheer said in his commentary on this verse (4/261): “Here Allaah tells us how His will is executed in His creation, and how His decree is implemented. ‘And Our Commandment is but one’ means, We only issue a command once, and We do not need to repeat it a second time, and what We command happens in the twinkling of an eye, it is not delayed for an instant. How well the poet put it:
‘When Allaah wills something, all He says to it is “Be!”, once, and it is.’”
And there are many other verses which speak of this matter and explain it.
Once this is established, then why did Allaah create the heavens and the earth in six days?
Firstly:
It is narrated in more than one verse of the Book of our Lord that Allaah created the heavens and the earth in six days. For example, Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Indeed, your Lord is Allaah, Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days, and then He rose over (Istawa) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty)”
[al-A’raaf 7:54]
Secondly:
There is nothing that Allaah does but there is great wisdom in it. This is one of the meanings of Allaah’s name al-Hakeem (The Most Wise). Allaah may or may not show this wisdom to us, and those who have deep knowledge may understand it, to the exclusion of others.
But the fact that we may not know or understand this wisdom should not make us deny it or object to the rulings of Allaah, or try to ask too much about this wisdom that Allaah has hidden from us. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“He [Allaah] cannot be questioned as to what He does, while they will be questioned”
[al-Anbiya’ 21:23]
Some scholars have attempted to explain the reason why the heavens and the earth were created in six days:
1 – Imam al-Qurtubi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said inal-Jaami’ li Ahkaam al-Qur’aan, commenting on al-A’raaf 7:54 (4/7/140):
“Allaah mentions this period – i.e. six days – although if He had wanted to create it in an instant, He could have done so, because He is Able to say to it ‘Be!’ and is. But He wanted to:
- Teach His slaves kindness and deliberation in their affairs.
- Manifest His power to the angels step by step.
- And there is another reason: He wanted to create it in six days because Allaah has decreed a course for everything, for which reason He He delays the punishment for the sinners, because everything has an appointed time with Him.”
2 – Ibn al-Jawzi said in his tafseer calledZaad al-Maseer(3/162), commenting on the verse in Soorat al-A’raaf:
“If it is said, why did He not create it in an instant when He is Able to do so? There are five answers to this question:
(i) He wanted to create something each day to show His power to the angels and those who witnessed it. This was suggested by Ibn al-Anbaari.
(ii) He was preparing things for Adam and his offspring before Adam existed, to emphasize Adam’s high standing before the angels.
(iii) Doing things in a short time is more indicative of power, and deliberation is more indicative of wisdom. Allaah wanted to manifest His wisdom in that, just as He manifested His power when He said, ‘ “Be!” And it is.’
(iv) He taught deliberation to His slaves, because if the One Who does not make mistakes created the universe in a deliberate manner, then it is more appropriate for those who are vulnerable to making mistakes to do things in a deliberate manner.
(v) Creation was accomplished step by step, lest anyone think that this happened as the result of an accident of nature.
3 – al-Qaadi Abu’l-Sa’ood said in his commentary on the verse in al-A’raaf (3/232):
“The fact that Allaah created things in stages although He is able to have created everything in one go is indicative of the Divine Will and is a sign of His power for those who understand, and it encourages deliberation in all things.”
And he said in his commentary on al-Furqaan 25:59 (6/226):
“The One Who created these great stars in this precise configuration in stages, even though He is able to create them in one go, (that was) for a great reason and sublime purpose, which human minds cannot comprehend fully.”
Based on the above, it is clear that Allaah has absolute power, ultimate will and perfect control, and He has wise reasons for everything that He creates, which no one knows but He, may He be exalted. Now you can understand some of the reasons why Allaah created the heavens and the earth in six days when He is able to have created them simply by saying “Be!”.
May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and companions.

*AS'SALAMU ALAIKUM (WR, WB)*
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