[57] Surah Al-Hadid [The Iron]: Ayat 027

২৭. অতঃপর আমি তাদের পশ্চাতে প্রেরণ করেছি আমার রসূলগণকে এবং তাদের অনুগামী করেছি মরিয়ম তনয় ঈসাকে ও তাকে দিয়েছি ইঞ্জিল।  আমি তার অনুসারীদের অন্তরে স্থাপন করেছি নম্রতা ও দয়া। আর বৈরাগ্য, সে তো তারা নিজেরাই উদ্ভাবন করেছে; আমি এটা তাদের উপর ফরজ করিনি; কিন্তু তারা আল্লাহর সন্তুষ্টি লাভের জন্যে এটা অবলম্বন করেছে। অতঃপর তারা যথাযথভাবে তা পালন করেনি। তাদের মধ্যে যারা বিশ্বাসী ছিল, আমি তাদেরকে তাদের প্রাপ্য পুরস্কার দিয়েছি। আর তাদের অধিকাংশই পাপাচারী।

Ayat 27. Then, We sent after them, Our Messengers, and We sent 'Iesa (Jesus) ­ son of Maryam (Mary), and gave him the Injeel (Gospel). And We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him, compassion and mercy. But the Monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for them, but (they sought it) only to please Allah therewith, but that they did not observe it with the right observance. So We gave those among them who believed, their (due) reward, but many of them are Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).

Tafseer of Surah Al-Hadid Ayat 27. Then, in their wake, We followed them up with (others of) Our messengers: We sent after them Jesus the son of Mary, and bestowed on him the Gospel; and We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him Compassion and Mercy. But the Monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for them: (We commanded) only the seeking for the Good Pleasure of Allah. but that they did not foster as they should have done. Yet We bestowed, on those among them who believed, their (due) reward, but many of them are rebellious transgressors. The chief characteristic of the teaching in the Gospels is humility and otherworldliness. The first blessings in the Sermon on the Mount are on "the poor in spirit", "they that mourn", and they that are "meek" (Matt. 5:3-5). Christ's disciples were enjoined to "take no thought for the morrow", and told: "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Matt. 6:34). They were also commanded "that ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matt. 5:39). These are fragmentary presentments of an imperfect philosophy as seen through monastic eyes. Insofar as they represent pity, sympathy with suffering, and deeds of mercy, they represent the spirit of Christ. But Allah's Kingdom requires also courage, resistance to evil, the firmness, law, and discipline which will enforce justice among men. It requires to mingle with men, so that they can uphold the standard of Truth, against odds if necessary. These were lost sight of in Monasticism, which was not prescribed by Allah. Allah certainly requires that men shall renounce the idle pleasures of this world, and turn to the Path which leads to Allah's Good Pleasure. But that does not mean gloomy lives, ("they that mourn"), nor perpetual and formal prayers in isolation. Allah's service is done through pure lives in the turmoil of this world. This spirit was lost, or at least not fostered by monastic institutions. On the contrary, a great part of the "struggle and striving" for noble lives was suppressed. Many of them lost true Faith, or had their Faith corrupted by superstitions. But those who continued firm in Faith saw the natural development of Religion in Islam. Their previous belief was not a disadvantage to them, but helped them, because they kept it free from false and selfish prejudices. These are the ones who are further addressed at the beginning of verse 28 below. The corruptions in the Christian Church, the hair-splitting disputes, and mutual strife and hatred of sects had become a scandal by the time that the light of lslam came into the world. The pages of Gibbon's great History bear witness. Not only had the religion become void of grace, but the lives of the people, priests and laity, had fallen into great depths of degradation. See remarks in my Appendix V, and the general picture in Kingsley's Hypatia. 

Hazrat Abdullah bin Masud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) said, "When the Children of Israel became sinful, their learned men prohibited them but they would not turn back. Yet, the learned men associated with them and ate and drank with them. So, they were cursed at the tongues of Dawud and `Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), because they were disobedient and were given to transgression.'' At this stage Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) who was reclining on a pillow sat up and said, "No, By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, there is no escape for you but you persuade them to act justly.''  [At-Tirmidhi Hadith # 3047 & 3048].

Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah Al-Hadid Ayat 27. Then, We sent after them, Our Messengers, and We sent 'Iesa (Jesus) ­ son of Maryam (Mary), and gave him the Injeel (Gospel)". This Hadith tells us that the duty of `Ulama' is to check the people from vice and if, in spite of all their efforts people do not abandon them, they should avoid associating with them because it is a matter of religious reverence and vanity. If they do not do it, they will also be cursed like the disobedient lot. May Allah save us from this negligence.