The Majestic Quran

7 Such as shaving one’s head and throwing stones at the three pillars. 8 “The only things He has made unlawful for you are carcasses, blood, pork, and animals slaughtered in any name other than God’s” ( Al-Baqarah 2: 173 and Al-An ʿ am 6: 145). 9 The sacred symbols of God in the Hajj are the Kaaba, the Sacred Months, staying at Arafa, walking between the hills of Safa and Marwa, and the sacrifice of livestock. 10 Or, as mentioned by Al-Qurtubi, the place where one symbolically emerges from the sanctified state ( ihram ) of a pilgrim with the final circling of the Kaaba. 11 This was revealed in Madinah just after the migration. It is the first time that the Quran gives permission for physical fighting. It was further elaborated in verses 190-192 of Al-Baqarah. 12 “Military Jihad is prescribed only for self-defence and defence of the oppressed” (M.A.Haleem: Exploring the Quran). 13 The idea that the mind resides in the brain, not the heart, is relatively modern. However, recent research in neuroscience shows a close link between the heart and the brain. Possibly the mind also resides in the heart. 14 According to some commentators, “Satan” here refers not to the Devil himself, but to those humans who try, like Satan, to tempt others away from God’s path. One example is when the leaders of Makkah offered the Prophet r power and wealth, in return for giving up the teaching of Islam. 15 Judgement Day is described as “barren” because there will be no further opportunities to add to the fruit of one’s actions. 16 The verb means God causing His creation “to submit to the will or power” of human beings, who will then be judged according to how they made use of them, either for good or ill, be it carefully or wastefully. 17 Literally “know”. 18 The commentators note how the pagan Arabs would put offerings of food out for their gods, only to watch the flies come and spoil it. 19 There is no hardship in Islam, the Lord knows human weaknesses. What makes Islam easy to believe and practise is, it’s free from myths and superstitions, it’s rational and appeals to common sense; has no ritualism but simple practises of worship and social habits; allows it’s followers to benefit from worldly wealth in moderation but condemns excessive consumerism. 20 These seven habits are: faith, humility, avoiding useless pursuits, generosity, sexual purity, having a sense of responsibility, taking care of contracts, and are prayerful. 21 See Chapter Al Hajj: 5. 22 From verse 31-80, seven habits of disbelievers are mentioned, they are; critical, deny resurrection, contempt of Prophets, confused, hate the truth, whimsical and stubborn. 23 According to some commentaries, “the truth” here refers to God. 24 Z ina , like ‘fornication’, is general and refers to all unlawful penetrative sexual intercourse between men and women, regardless of their marital status. ‘Adultery’ is specifically fornication by a married person. 25 This underlines the heinous crime of fornication, a Muslim convicted of it can’t marry a believer of good character. 26 The word muhsanat literally means “protected” or “fortified”, be it by a bond of marriage or their own good name. 27 The strict requirement of four independent witnesses of honourable reputation who happen to observe the act of penetration clearly with their eyes. In other words, it is insufficient merely to see two people naked together, or to make assumptions about what may or may not be going on under a sheet. Since it is almost impossible to imagine such a situation, the verse should be interpreted as emphasising the importance of truthfulness, the harmful effect on society of spreading