[19].Surah Maryam [Mary]: Ayat 58 (Ayat Sajda)

Ayat 58. Those were they unto whom Allah bestowed His Grace from among the Prophets, of the offspring of Adam, and of those whom We carried (in the ship) with Nuh (Noah), and of the offspring of Ibrahim (Abraham) and Israel and from among those whom We guided and chose. When the Verses of the Most Beneficent (Allah) were recited unto them, they fell down prostrating and weeping. (Ayat Sajda)

[Tafseer] The earlier generations are grouped into three epochs from a spiritual point of view: (1) from Adam [PBUH] to Noah [PBUH], (2) from Noah [PBUH] to Abraham [PBUH], and (3) from Abraham [PBUH] to an indefinite time, say to the time when the Message of Allah was corrupted and the need arose for the final Messenger of Unity and Truth. Israel is another name for Jacob [PBUH]. The original is in the Aorist tense, implying that the "Posterity" alluded to includes not only the messengers but their worthy followers who are true to Allah and uphold His standard.   

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) said: "Glorify your Lord in Ruku` (bowing posture) and exert yourself in supplication in prostration. Thus your supplications are liable to be accepted.''

[Muslim Book 004,Chapter 37, Hadith # 970].

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) said, "A slave becomes nearest to his Rubb when he is in prostration. So increase supplications while prostrating.''

[Muslim Book 004,Chapter 37, Hadith # 979] 

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Maryam Ayat 58."When the Verses of the Most Beneficent (Allah) were recited unto them, they fell down prostrating and weeping. " Both the Ahadith mentioned above, evidently show that there is greater possibility of acceptance of an invocation which is made in prostration. Therefore, one must do it in the voulntary Salat.

[19].Surah Maryam [Mary] : Ayat 56-57

Ayat 56. And mention in the Book (the Qur'an) Idris [PBUH](Enoch).Verily! He was a man of truth, (and) a Prophet.

Ayat 57. And We raised him to a high station.

[Tafseer] Hazrat Idris [PBUH] is mentioned twice in the Qur'an, viz.: here and in 21:85, where he is mentioned among those who patiently preserved. All we are told is that he was a man of truth and sincerity, and a prophet, and that he had a high position among his people. It is this point which brings him in the series of Prophets just mentioned: he kept himself in touch with his people, and was honoured among them. Spiritual progress need not cut us off from our people, for we have to help and guide them. He kept to truth and piety in the highest station in Paradise. 

Hazrat Mu'awiyah bin Al-Hakam (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I said: "O Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH), I have recently emerged from ignorance and Allah has favoured me with Islam. There are still some men among us who visit the soothsayers to consult them (on matters relating to the future).'' He [SAWW](PBUH) replied, "Do not visit them.'' I said: "There are some men who are guided by omens.'' He replied, "These are the ideas which come up in their minds but you should not be influenced by them (i.e., these things) should not prevent them from pursuing their works.'' I said: "There are some men who practise divination by drawing lines on the ground.'' The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) replied, "There was a Prophet who drew lines, the line which agrees with the line drawn by that Prophet would be correct.''

[Muslim Book 04,Chapter 51, Hadith # 1094]

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Maryam Ayat 56."mention in the Book (the Qur'an) Idris [PBUH]" "These are the ideas which come up in their minds'' means that sometimes something appears and one's mind at once takes it as a bad omen. This is something instinctive and natural and one is not accountable for it. But if one acts in accordance with that omen then what he does is wrong and is, therefore, forbidden. For this reason, the Prophet [SAWW](PBUH) said, "(i.e., these things) should not prevent them from pursuing their works.''

2. The drawing of a line mentioned in this Hadith is different from the drawing of lines in Iyafah mentioned earlier. Moreover, that was an act of a Prophet which was done by him in the light of Wahy sent to him by Allah and, therefore, was certainly correct. But now, nobody possesses that knowledge and cannot, therefore, be adopted. The statement of the Prophet (PBUH) that: "The line which agrees with the line drawn by that Prophet would be correct'' was by way of elucidation. It does not mean that that act can also be done by anyone today, for how can it be done without knowing its principles. How did that Prophet of Allah draw that line? What were its principles? Since that knowledge has passed away with that Prophet, it is now no longer valid, nor would it be fruitful. Who was the Prophet who did it? Some people say it was Prophet Daniyal (PBUH)(Daniel), while other think it was Prophet Idris (PBUH). Allah Alone knows the truth.

[19].Surah Maryam [Mary] : Ayat 54-55

Ayat 54. And mention in the Book (the Qur'an) Ismail [PBUH](Ishmael). Verily! He was true to what he promised, and he was a Messenger, (and) a Prophet.

Ayat 55. And he used to enjoin on his family and his people As-Salat (the prayers) and the Zakat, and his Lord was pleased with him.

[Tafseer] Ismail [PBUH] was Zabih-Ullah, i.e., the chosen sacrifice of Allah in Muslim tradition. When Abraham told him of the sacrifice, he voluntarily offered himself for it, and never flinched from his promise, until the sacrifice was redeemed by the substitution of a ram under Allah's commands. He was the fountainhead of the Arabian Ummah, and in his posterity came the Prophet of Allah. The Ummah and the Book of Islam reflect back the prophethood on Isma'il. (He enjoined upon his people worship) he enjoined upon his people perfection of the prayer (and alms giving) by giving the poor-due and alms, (and was acceptable in the sight of his Lord) he was righteous.  

Hazrat Salamah bin Al-Akwa (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) happened to pass by a group of people who were having a arrow shooting match. (Upon seeing them, he Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH)) said, "Shoot, O sons of (Prophet) Ismail (PBUH), for your (fore)fathers was an archer.''

[Al-Bukhari Book 04,Chapter 52, Hadith # 148] 

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Maryam Ayat 54."mention in the Book (the Qur'an) Ismail [PBUH](Ishmael)" Arabs are also called Banu Ismail because they are the descendants of Prophet Ibrahim's (PBUH) son, Ismail (PBUH). This is the reason that Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH) is reckoned an ancestor of the Prophet [SAWW](PBUH) for his being his descendant.

[19].Surah Maryam [Mary]: Ayat 51-53

Ayat 51. And mention in the Book (this Qur'an) Mûsa [PBUH] (Moses). Verily! He was chosen and he was a Messenger (and) a Prophet.

Ayat 52. And We called him from the right side of the Mount, and made him draw near to Us for a talk with him [Mûsa [PBUH] (Moses)].

Ayat 53. And We bestowed on him his brother Harun [PBUH] (Aaron), (also) a Prophet, out of Our Mercy.

[Tafseer] Moses [PBUH] was (1) especially chosen, and therefore prepared and instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, in order that he might free his people from Egyptian bondage; there may also be a reference to Mosses' [PBUH] title of Kalim Allah, the one to whom Allah spoke without the intervention of angels: see 4:164, and n. 670); (2) he was a prophet (Nabi), in that he received inspiration; and (3) he was a messenger (Rasul) in that he had a Book of Revelation, and an Ummah or organized Community, for which he instituted laws. The incident here I think refers to the incidents described more fully in 20:9-36; a reference may also be made to Exod. 3:1-18 and 4:1-17. The time is when Moses (with his family) was travelling and grazing the flocks of his father-inlaw Jethro, just before he got his commission from Allah. The place is somewhere near Mount Sinai (Jabal Musa). Moses sees a Fire in the distance, but when he goes there, he hears a voice that tells him it is sacred ground. Allah asked him to put off his shoes and to draw near, and when he went near, great mysteries were revealed to him. He was given his commission, and his brother Aaron [PBUH] was given to him to go with him and aid him. It is after that that he and Aaron went and faced Pharaoh in Egypt , as narrated in 7:103-144, etc. The right side of the mountain may mean that Moses [PBUH] heard the voice from the right side of the mountain as he faced it: or it may have the figurative meaning of "right" in Arabic, i.e., the side which was blessed or sacred ground. Moses [PBUH] was diffident, and reluctant to go to Pharaoh as he had an impediment in his tongue, and he asked that his brother Aaron [PBUH] should be associated with him in his mission. Allah in His Mercy granted his request: 20:25-36. 

Hazrat Al-Mughirah bin Shu'bah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) said, "Musa (Moses) (PBUH) asked his Rubb: `Who amongst the inhabitants of Jannah will be the lowest in rank?' He said: `It will be a person who will be admitted into Jannah last of all when all the dwellers of Jannah have entered Jannah. It will be said to him: Enter Jannah. But he will say: O my Rubb! How should I enter while the people have settled in their apartments and taken their shares? It will be said to him: Will you be satisfied and pleased if you have a kingdom like that of a monarch of the world? He will say: I will be content, my Rubb. Allah will say: For you is that, and like that and like that and like that and like that. He will say at the fifth time: I am well-pleased, my Rubb. Allah will say: It is for you and ten times more like it. You will have whatever your soul desires and whatever your eyes could delight in. He will say: I am well-pleased, my Rubb.' Musa (PBUH) said: `Who will be of the highest rank in Jannah.' Allah said: `They are those whom I chose and I established their honour with My Own Hand. I attest with My Seal that they will be blessed with such bounties as no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human mind has perceived.'' [Muslim Book 01,Chapter 83, Hadith # 363] 

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Maryam Ayat 52."made him draw near to Us for a talk with him [Mûsa (Moses)]." This Hadith highlights Allah's unbounded Mercy and Bounty upon His slaves in Jannah although they do not deserve all that.

[19].Surah Maryam [Mary] : Ayat 49-50

Ayat 49. So when he had turned away from them and from those whom they worshipped besides Allah, We gave him Ishaque [PBUH](Isaac) and Yaqub [PBUH](Jacob), and each one of them We made a Prophet.

Ayat 50. And We gave them of Our Mercy (a good provision in plenty), and We granted them honour on the tongues (of all the nations, i.e everybody remembers them with a good praise).

[Tafseer] Isaac [PBUH] and Isaac's son Jacob [PBUH] are mentioned here as carrying on one line of Abraham's [PBUH] traditions. The other line was carried on by Ismail [PBUH], who is mentioned independently five verses lower down, as his line got special honour in the Holy Prophet of Islam [PBUH]. That is why his mention conies after that of Moses [PBUH] . Abraham [PBUH] and his son and grandson Isaac [PBUH] and Jacob [PBUH] , and their line, maintained the banner of Allah's spiritual truth for many generations, and they won deservedly high praise—the praise of truth—on the tongues of men. Abraham [PBUH] prayed that he should be praised by the tongue of truth among men to come in later ages: 26:84. Ordinary praise may mean nothing: it may be due to self-flattery on the part of others or artful management by the person praised. Praise on the tongue of sincere truth is praise indeed! 

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: It was asked, "O Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH)! Who is the most honourable amongst mankind?'' He [SAWW](PBUH) said, "The most honourable of them is one who is the most pious of them.'' They said, "We are not asking about this". He said, "Then, the most honourable of men was Yusuf [PBUH] (Joseph), the Prophet of Allah, the son of Allah's Prophet, who was the son of the Prophet of Allah, who was the son of the Khalil of Allah (i.e., Ibrahim (PBUH))' They said, "We are not asking you about this.'' He enquired, "Are you then asking me about the classes of the Arabs? The best of them in the Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance are the best of them in Islam, provided they comprehend the religious knowledge".

[Al-Bukhari Book 05,Chapter 55, Hadith # 572] 

Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Maryam Ayat 49."We gave him Ishaque [PBUH] (Isaac) and Yaqub [PBUH] (Jacob), and each one of them We made a Prophet" We come to know from this Hadith that the families which enjoyed popularity and prestige for their eminent qualities (like generosity, chivalry, honesty, etc.) in the pre-Islamic period were also credited for these values after their acceptance of Islam. But now their respect was qualified with their religious knowledge and practice. Their capabilities, self-respect and other qualities were turned towards a different direction. These qualities which were previously used for paganism were now devoted for Islam.