200125 - Quran study meeting notes

March 13, 2020•1,102 words

God is good.

Discussion

Saturday Jan 25, 2020 was nice. To my surprise we had lots of people on the Quran Study call. I thank God for that.

Unfortunately, I did not take notes right after our call, and unfortunately again, I didn't prioritize these set of notes over other tasks I worked on that week. My apologies in advance.

Broadly, if my memory serves me correctly, we talked about

Ezra as son of God?

Brother Daniel was interested in investigating

[9:30]: The Jews said: "Ezra is the son of God," and the Nazarenes said: "The Messiah is the son of God." Such is their utterances with their mouths, they imitate the sayings of those who rejected before them. God will fight them. They are deluded from the truth!

[9:31]: They have taken their Priests and Monks to be patrons besides God, and the Messiah, son of Mary, while they were only commanded to serve One god, there is no god except He, be He glorified against what they set up.

The issue for Daniel was that there was little evidence to support anyone even claiming "Ezra as a son of God". In other words, the verifiable historical records we have with us today don't indicate that this was ever a claim in Jewish tradition.

Our discussion went many places, however, we landed on some the parable of the two individuals and the garden (18:32 to 18:44). Said Mirza in a recent video pointed out an important note about the individual who loses his garden, that although he did not explicitly say he was setting up partners with God, he eventually admits it when he realizes his folly.

Similarly, ayat 9:31 we reasoned is saying something similar. Individuals who are not careful might inadvertently be setting up partners with God through their actions when they take their priests, or imams, or leaders as supporters, when indeed none can support but God.

Muslims vs. Believers

We looked at ayat

[49:13]: O people, We created you from a male and female, and We made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Surely, the most honourable among you in the sight of God is the most righteous. God is Knowledgeable, Expert.

[49:14]: The Nomads said: "We believe." Say: "You have not believed; but you should say: 'We have submitted;' until belief enters into your hearts." And if you obey God and His messenger, He will not put any of your works to waste. God is Forgiver, Merciful.

[49:15]: Believers are those who believe in God and His messenger, then they became without doubt, and they strive with their money and their lives in the cause of God. These are the truthful ones.

and

[33:35]: Surely, the submitting males, and the submitting females, the believing males, and the believing females, the devout males, and the devout females, the truthful males, and the truthful females, the patient males, and the patient females, the humble males, and the humble females, the charitable males, and the charitable females, the fasting males, and the fasting females, the males who maintain their chastity, and the females who maintain, and the males who commemorate God frequently, and the females who commemorate; God has prepared for them a forgiveness and a great recompense.

Here God is making a distinction between those who have submitted versus those who believe (or heed warning). It's been so many weeks since this meeting happened and the only thing I recall about this bit of the discussion was what sis Noof said.

For Noof, submitting is complying with God's commands, or at least making the effort to behave in accordance with them. Over time, the internal belief sets in, and one becomes certain.

What is the deen of truth?

[9:29]: Fight those who do not believe in God or the Last Day, nor do they forbid what God and His messenger have forbidden, nor do they uphold the system (doctrine) of truth; from among the people who have been given the Book; until they pay the reparation, willingly or unwillingly, and they are subdued.

and

[9:33]: He is the One who has sent His messenger with the guidance and the system (doctrine) of truth, so that it will expose all other systems, even if the polytheists hate it.

Daniel preferred the term "doctrine" over "system" for a couple of reasons. For Daniel, the key takeaway revolves around the documented scripture as being the mechanism to dispel false doctrines that may have been prevelant at the time of the prophet Muhammad, and indeed, until now.

Salat as a verb

We briefly discussed Salat as a verb and touched on different types of salat.

[73:20]: Your Lord knows that you rise a little less than two thirds of the night, and half of it, and one third of it; and a group of those who are with you. And God measures the night and the day. He knows that you will not be able to keep up, so He pardons you. So read what is made easy of the Qur'an. He knows that there will be sick among you, and others that go forth in the land seeking from the bounty of God, and others who are fighting in the cause of God, so read what you can of it. And uphold the salat and contribute towards zakat and lend God a loan of righteousness. And whatever you put forth yourselves, you will find it with God, for it is better and a greater reward. And seek the forgiveness of God, for God is Forgiving, Merciful.

At the time we discussed this in Jan 2020, brother Daniel was of the opinion that there may be different types of salat. The one referenced to here in chapter 73 is a night vigil when one would practice or read what's easy of the Quran.

Names of God

We briefly started talking about this, however, decided that it would be nice to have this as the topic for our meeting on Feb 1, 2020. Regrettably, that Feb 2020 meeting didn't happen.

🙌

URL list from Saturday, Jan. 25 2020 17:56 PM

160801 - SG The Quran A Complete Revelation.pdf - Google Play:
9:29