Suras 3. Aal e Imran
Part 3
3 Aal E Imran
Family of Imran
Revelation In Madina
- Revealed in the middle of Madina (around 4th year of Hijra). Battle of badr in 2nd year of Hijra and 3rd year was the battle of Uhud.
- Al Baqara and Aal e Imran should be recited regularly; they will come on day of judgement as flock of birds for the reciter to intercede.
Dealing with Christians
- Delegation from Najaran of Christians. Half of the Surah deals with Christianity and Isa عليه السلام. Imran is the grandfather of Isa عليه السلام. Maryam is the daughter of Imran and mother of Isa عليه السلام.
Main Themes Christianity & Uhud
- Theme 1 – Commonalities and differences between Christianity and Islam (or other ahl e kitab). Tauheed, Quran, Prophet
- Theme 2 – encouraging believers after the setback from Uhud.
- This Quran is affirming the original message revealed to the previous prophets (and their books).
Quranic Ayaat Clear vs Ambiguous
- Aya 7 Allāh himself categorised Quran into 2 categories
- Ayaat which are clear (Muhkam) these are backbone
- Ayaat which are ambiguous (mutashahbay). These will be interpreted wrongly and ignore the first category, this is done by people who have disease in heart.
- Allah and the people of knowledge know the ambiguous ayaat.
- Prerequisite for knowledge is sincerity. Dua that our hearts don’t go astray after hidaya and have mercy on us. Aya 8
Importance of Context – Read holistically
- Context is important and some people will take one aya or Part of an aya and misinterpret it by itself whereas the entire ayat, Surah or Quran should be studied holistically.
Belief in Prophet ﷺ
- Aya 31 if you truly love Allāh follow the Prophet ﷺ and only then Allāh will love you. Aya 32 obey both Allah and the Prophet ﷺ. This was a message for Christians if you love God then follow the final Prophet ﷺ. Even if a Muslim says only Quran no Sunnah, this is incorrect because Quran itself says it.
Stories in the Surah (after Aya 33)
- Adam عليه السلام (first Prophet)
- Nuh عليه السلام (first Messenger)
- Family of Ibrahim عليه السلام
- Family of Imran (Maryam and Isa)
- These families preferred by Allah over others
- Zakaria عليه السلام is the Maternal uncle of Maryam. He asked for a child and Allāh blessed him him Yahya (John) as a miracle in old age. Yahya and Isa are first cousins (mothers are sisters).
- Stories told in Quran are told in the most eloquent way. The morals are there and no unnecessary details on names, dates etc.
Raising of Isa عليه السلام
- Aya 55 when Allāh said o Isa I will raise you up. Isa عليه السلام is not dead he was saved from being killed and was raised miraculously by Allāh. Mainstream Muslims believe that he will return as an ummati of Prophet ﷺ . Mutawafiq is translated by some as died, but there are other verses and Ahadith which clearly states that Isa عليه السلام is not dead. Tawafa is also used for those who goto sleep and soul leaves body. For mainstream Muslims Isa عليه السلام is still alive in a long sleep
Argument against False divinity of Isa عليه السلام
- Aya 59 birth of Isa in the eyes of Allah is the same as that of Adam عليه السلام Allāh said be and he was there. His miraculous birth is associated with divinity by Christians, and Allāh is clarifying even more deserving Adam without both parents. They are both are human
- Aya 44 all of this is from knowledge unseen we are inspiring to you. You were not there when they were debating about Maryam. Stories in the Quran which weren’t even in old books. How could an unlettered Prophet ﷺ have knowledge of advanced Hebrew stories from Jewish and Christian books? Arabs had no knowledge of this.
Gender Equality in Islam
- Islam has the ultimate Shariya equality because in worship both genders are rewarded equally.
- Gender emphasis and role of mother. Surah is family of Imran (Maryam and her mother). Role of mother in religion of child. The mother of Maryam made Dua that the child is righteous and for sake of Allah. When daughter is born mother was concerned because she wanted to make the child a Rabi.
- Aya 36 Allāh says the male is not like the female. Gender is a biological factor (not a human construct). In Islam a lady can become an Aalima, scholar, mufasir, Muhadith, etc. Maryam عليه السلام still became a righteous student and worshipper for the sake of Allah.
- When zakaria visited Maryam she always had food from Allāh. He was a prophet and he was inspired by her piety. After this he asked for a son after age 90.
- Allah has chosen Maryam above all other ladies of all the world. Aya 42.
Gender Roles
- Our mother Um Salama asked the Prophet ﷺ a question why are only men mentioned in the Quran. Allah revealed Aya 195 no deeds of any will be lost. Male or female. You are from each other. You are not enemies to each other but from each other.
- Men and women are equal spiritually in the eyes of Allah. Good deeds are same in eyes of Allah regardless of gender.
- Give women their legitimate rights otherwise they might ask for illegitimate rights (e.g imam of masjid).
- Never judge your worth by comparing yourself to other gender or any other creature or roles given to them. Responsibilities are different for genders but has nothing to do with preference both are equal to Allāh.
Good among Ahl e Kitab
- Some of ahl e Kitab are good and some are not good. Aya 113 some ahl e kitab are true worshipper. Piety can exist in non Muslims. Of course Islam is the only religion acceptable to Allah. If one has piety and then sees Islam and rejects it they have failed.
- Islam is the only acceptable Religion
- Aya 98 why do you reject Allāh. Aya 19 the only religion acceptable to Allah is Islam. Aya 83 do they desire any other religion than Islam Aya 85 whoever chooses other than Islam as religion Allāh will not accept it.
Muslims mistake in Battle of Uhud
- Aya 152 Reminded that they were helped in Badr. Allah fulfilled his promise initially you were winning then you bickered among yourself, disobeying command, reject command of Prophet ﷺ and that is why what happened happened. Failure comes when 1) we don’t have faith or resolution 2) we bicker among our selves 3) we disobey Allāh and the Prophet 4)we have love for dunya
- Even if the Prophet ﷺ passed away is Aya 144 is helpful he is a messenger and he will leave but we have to keep believing in Allah.
- Aya 102 O you who believe have Taqwa of Allah as he deserves and do not die except as Muslims. and Aya 193 is used to guarantee as Dua.
Ayat on Life & Death
- Every soul will taste death. Time of death cannot be moved earlier or later.
- The martyrs have their own life. They are alive but we do not
- Parallels between Surah al Baqara & Aal e Imran
- Mention of Ka’ba, Ibrahim عليه السلام, Hajj, Powerful verses for sadqa, Prohibition of interest, Role and status of Ummah around mid mark.
Recitation at Tahajjud Aya 190-194
- Aya 190 -194 were recited by the Prophet ﷺ when he used to wake up for Tahajjud.
- There are signs in the universe, Think of Allah standing sitting lying down. Nothing is created without purpose.
- Ask for forgiveness and success on day of judgement and how we follow the Prophet ﷺ. Great duas in these ayaat.
Reinspyre 