SURAH AL-BAQARAH (AYAH 121 to 130)

الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَتْلُونَهُ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِ أُولَٰئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ ۗ وَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ {2:121}

[Q2:121] Allazeena aatainaahumul Kitaaba yatloonahoo haqqa tilaawatiheee ulaaa'ika yu'minoona bi; wa mai yakfur bihee fa ulaaa'ika humul khaasiroon.
[Q2:121] Those to whom We have given the Book read it as it ought to be read. These believe in it; and whoever disbelieves in it, these it is that are the losers.

[Q2:121] Orang-orang yang Kami berikan Kitab kepada mereka, sedang mereka membacanya dengan sebenar-benar bacaan (tidak mengubah dan memutarkan maksudnya), mereka itulah orang-orang yang beriman kepadanya; dan sesiapa yang mengingkarinya maka mereka itulah orang-orang yang rugi.

THE QUR’AN was given [1] to the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) and [2] those who were his flesh and blood.

µ  THEIR SPIRIT WAS ONE.  [*] THEY WERE CREATED FROM ONE LIGHT. [*] THEY ARE HIS AHLUL BAYT.

v  The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) had said:

"Ali's flesh is my flesh. Ali's blood is my blood".

"I and Ali are of one and the same light".

**According to the verse of Mubahilah (Ali Imran 3:61) Ali was the nafs (self) of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad). **It was Ali who stood by the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) and protected him in the battle of Uhad when all his companions ran away.

IN ALL THE BATTLES WHICH GUIDED THE COURSE OF ISLAMIC HISTORY, IT WAS ALI WHO WON VICTORIES FOR THE MUSLIMS. It is evident from these and other incidents in history that only the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) and his Ahlul Bayt (the Imams in his progeny) ARE THOSE **WHO STUDIED AND **FOLLOWED THE BOOK AS IT OUGHT TO BE DONE, AND IT IS ONLY THEY WHO ARE REFERRED TO IN THIS VERSE.

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(2:121) There are those, even among the people of the Scripture, who read the Book as it should be read and believe in it sincerely; *122 as for those who reject it, they are indeed the losers.

*122. This refers to the pious element among the People of the Book. Since these people read the Book with sincerity and honesty of purpose, they are inclined to accept whatever they find to be true according to it. 

يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَنِّي فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ {2:122}

[Q2:122] Yaa Baneee Israaa'eelaz-kuroo ni'matiyal lateee an'amtu 'alaikum wa annee faddaltukum 'alal 'aalameen.
[Q2:122] O’ children of Israel, call to mind My favor which I bestowed on you and that I made you excel the nations.

[Q2:122] Wahai Bani Israil, kenanglah akan limpah kurnia nikmatKu yang telah Kuberikan kepada kamu, dan Aku telah melebihkan (datuk nenek) kamu (yang taat dahulu) atas umat-umat yang lain (yang ada pada zamannya).

Please refer to the commentary of verses 47 and 48 of this surah.

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(2:122) O children of Israel, *123 remember that special favour I bestowed upon you, and that I exalted you above all the communities of the world.

*123. A fresh subject is now broached. In order to appreciate it fully, the following should be clearly borne in mind: 
(1) After NOAH, ABRAHAM was the first Prophet appointed by God to spread the universal message of Islam. At the outset, he journeyed for many years from Iraq to Egypt, and from Syria and Palestine to various parts of Arabia inviting people to serve and obey God. Later he appointed deputies in various regions to carry on his mission. He sent his nephew LOT to Trans-Jordan, his son ISAAC to Syria and Palestine, and his eldest son ISHMAEL to Arabia. Then he built, in Makka, the shrine called the Ka'bah which subsequently, and under God's own command, was made the centre of the prophetic mission.
(2) ABRAHAM'S PROGENY DESCENDED IN TWO MAIN BRANCHES.

      One of these, the Children of ISHMAEL, lived in Arabia. The Quraysh and other Arabian tribes belonged to this branch of Abraham's line. Even those Arabian tribes which were not related to him by blood identified themselves with Abraham, since they had been influenced in varying degrees by his religious ideas.

      The other branch consisted of the Children of ISAAC. In this branch there arose a great number of Prophets, for example JACOB, JOSEPH, MOSES, DAVID, SOLOMON, JOHN, and JESUS. Since Jacob was called Israel, his offspring came to be known as the Children of Israel. Other peoples who accepted their faith as a result of preaching either lost their former identity and became assimilated with them, or remained separate from them ethnically but identified with them religiously. At the time when decadence flourished this branch of the Abrahamic family gave birth first to Judaism, and subsequently to Christianity.* 
(3) THE TRUE MISSION OF ABRAHAM WAS TO INVITE PEOPLE TO OBEY GOD AND TO MOULD THE ENTIRE SYSTEM OF INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE LIFE ACCORDING TO DIVINE GUIDANCE. He was himself obedient to God and followed the teaching received from Him, and constantly strove to spread it and make all human beings live in obedience to it. It was because of this that he was appointed the religious leader and guide of the whole world.

     AFTER HIS DEATH, the task of guiding the world was entrusted to the branch which had issued from Isaac and Jacob, and which came to be known as the Children of Israel. It is in this branch that many Prophets were born. It was also this branch which was given the knowledge of the Straight Way, and was designated to lead all the nations of the world along that Way. It is of this favour that God again and again reminds these people.
      IN THE TIME OF SOLOMON this branch took Jerusalem as the centre of its mission. Jerusalem maintained its central position for all devotees of God and remained the qiblah (direction) in which all worshippers of God were required to turn in their Prayer.
(4) While addressing the Children of Israel in the last ten sections, God set forth the criminal record of the Jews, exposed their decadent state at the time of the revelation of the Qur'an, and made it clear to them that they had totally lacked gratitude to God for His favours and bounties. Not only had they ceased to guide the world, but had turned away from Truth and righteousness to such an extent that nearly all of them had lost the capacity to do good and to respond to Truth. 
(5) It is also intimated that the religious leadership of all mankind is not an exclusive privilege of Abrahamic blood, but rather the fruit of Abraham's sincere obedience and service to God, to which he had wholly consecrated himself. Only those who follow the way of Abraham, and guide the world along that way, are therefore entitled to the position of guidance and leadership. And since the Jews had abandoned it and become incapable of carrying out the mission of Abraham they were being removed from that position. 
(6) At the same time it is hinted that the non-Israelite peoples who identified themselves with Abraham through Moses and Jesus had also veered from the way of Abraham. The same was true of the polytheists of Arabia, who felt proud of belonging to Abraham and Ishmael and based this pride on lineage alone. For, so far as their faith and conduct were concerned, they had not even the remotest tie with Abraham and Ishmael. They did not deserve, therefore, to be entrusted with the religious leadership of the world. 
(7) It is also made clear that by God's will a Prophet, for whose advent Abraham and Ishmael had once prayed, was born in the other branch of the Abrahamic family, i.e. the Ishmaelites. The way propounded by this Prophet is exactly the same as that by Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob and in fact all the Messengers. His followers also confirm the truth of all those designated in the past to serve as God's Messengers, and call mankind to the same message those Messengers preached earlier. Thus, leadership now naturally devolves on those who follow this Prophet. 
(8) This proclamation of a transfer of leadership naturally called for the proclamation of a change in the direction of Prayer. As long as the Israelites held the reins of the world's religious leadership, Jerusalem remained the centre of the mission of Islam and the qiblah of truth-loving people. The Arabian Prophet (peace be on him) as well as his followers had accepted Jerusalem as the qiblah until God duly proclaimed the removal of the Jews from their position of leadership. With this proclamation Jerusalem ceased to enjoy its central position. So it was proclaimed that from then on the centre of God's true religion would be the place from which the message of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) had radiated. Since in the past it had been the centre of the mission of Abraham (peace be on him), it was difficult even for the polytheists and for the People of the Book to deny that the Ka'bah had a greater right to be made the qiblah. There was thus every reasonable ground for the decision to change the qiblah and its opponents could only object out of irrational adamance. 
(9) The proclamation that the followers ef the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) had been designated to the religious leadership of mankind, and that the Ka'bah would now be the focal point of man's religious life, was followed by directives (beginning with verse 153 and continuing to the end of the surah) addressed to the Muslims. These directives were aimed at enabling the Muslims to acquit themselves creditably of the duties laid upon their shoulders as the bearers of this mission. 

وَاتَّقُوا يَوْمًا لَا تَجْزِي نَفْسٌ عَنْ نَفْسٍ شَيْئًا وَلَا يُقْبَلُ مِنْهَا عَدْلٌ وَلَا تَنْفَعُهَا شَفَاعَةٌ وَلَا هُمْ يُنْصَرُونَ {2:123}

[Q2:123] Wattaqoo yawmal laa tajzee nafsun 'an nafsin shai 'anw wa laa yuqbalu minhaa 'adlunw wa laa tanfa'uhaa shafaa 'atunw wa laa hum yunsaroon.
[Q2:123] And be on your guard against a day when no soul shall avail another in the least neither shall any compensation be accepted from it, nor shall intercession profit it, nor shall they be helped.

[Q2:123] Dan peliharalah diri kamu dari (huru-hara) hari kiamat (yang padanya) seseorang tidak dapat mengganti atau melepaskan orang lain sedikitpun, dan tidak akan diterima daripadanya sebarang tebusan, dan tidak akan memberi manfaat kepadanya sebarang syafaat; dan orang-orang yang salah itu tidak akan ditolong (dari azab sengsara).

(see commentary for verse 122)

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(2:123) And dread the Day when no one shall avail anyone in any way; nor shall any ransom be accepted from anyone; nor shall intercession profit any body; nor shall the offenders be helped from any quarter.

وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا ۖ قَالَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهْدِي الظَّالِمِينَ{2:124}

[Q2:124] Wa izib talaaa Ibraaheema Rabbuho bi Kalimaatin fa atammahunna qaala Innee jaa'iluka linnaasi Imaaman qaala wa min zurriyyatee qaala laa yanaalu 'ahdiz zaalimeen.

[Q2:124] And when his Lord tried Ibrahim with certain words, he fulfilled them. He said: Surely I will make you an Imam of men. Ibrahim said: And of my offspring? My covenant does not include the unjust, said He.

[Q2:124] Dan (ingatlah), ketika Nabi Ibrahim diuji oleh Tuhannya dengan beberapa Kalimah (suruhan dan larangan), maka Nabi Ibrahim pun menyempurnakannya. (Setelah itu) ALLAH (SwT) berfirman: “Sesungguhnya Aku melantikmu menjadi Imam (Pemimpin ikutan) bagi umat manusia”. Nabi Ibrahim pun memohon dengan berkata: “(Ya Tuhanku!) Jadikanlah juga (apalah jua kiranya) dari keturunanku (pemimpin-pemimpin ikutan)”. ALLAH (SwT) berfirman: “(Permohonanmu diterima, tetapi) janjiKu ini tidak akan didapati oleh orang-orang yang zalim.”

THIS VERSE [1] GUIDES MANKIND TO IDENTIFY THE GENUINE LEADERS OF THE TRUE FAITH [2] AS WELL AS THE IMPOSTORS. IT ALSO HELPS TO UNDERSTAND [3] RISALAT AND [4] IMAMAT.

The covenant was made with Ibrahim, the father of Isma-il as well as Is-haq, long before either of the sons was born.

The Lord said to Abraham, "I will make you into a great nation, l will bless you and make your name so great that it shall be used in blessings:

Those that bless you I will bless, those that curse you, I will execrate.

All the families on earth will pray to be blessed as you are blessed."

There the Lord appeared to Abraham and said", I give this land to your descendants." So Abraham built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him. (Genesis 12:2, 3, and 7)

ALLAH (SWT) chose Hajirah to bear the first child of Ibrahim and named him Isma-il.

The angel of the Lord said to her (Hagar), "Go back to your mistress and submit to her ill-treatment ".

The angel also said: "I will make your descendants too many to be counted."

And the angel of the Lord said to her: "You are with child and will bear a son. You shall name him Ishmael, because the Lord has heard of your ill-treatment." (Genesis 16: 9 to 11)

Immediately after the birth of Isma-il, ALLAH (SWT) made a covenant with Ibrahim. Is-haq was not born at that time.

"Live always in my presence and be perfect, so that I may set my covenant between myself and you and multiply your descendants".

Abraham threw himself down on his face, and ALLAH (SWT) spoke with him and said, "I make this covenant, and I make it with you: You shall be the father of a host of nations". "I will fulfil my covenant between myself and you and your descendants after you, generation after generation, an everlasting covenant, to be your ALLAH (SWT), yours and your descendants' after you." (Genesis 17: 2, 3, 4 and 7)

ALLAH (SWT) further blessed Isma-il with twelve princes in his progeny.

"I have heard your prayer for Isma-il. I have blessed him and will make him fruitful. I will multiply his descendants; he shall be father of twelve princes, and I will raise a great nation from him." (Genesis 17: 20)

Ì  THE COVENANT WAS MADE WITH IBRAHIM AND NOT WITH IS-HAQ, a fact which the Jews overlook when they claim that the promised prophet (Deut 18:18) should be a Jew.

According to Genesis 17:7 the covenant was between ALLAH (SWT) and Ibrahim and his descendants, generation after generation, when Isma-il was born, SO IT IS LOGICAL TO SAY THAT IT PERTAINS TO THE CHILDREN OF ISMA-IL, NOT THE CHILDREN OF IS-HAQ who was born much after this covenant.

©  AGAIN, after the prophecy of the birth of Is-haq when Ibrahim showed concern about Isma-il, this covenant was renewed (Genesis 17:20), with added blessings - the Twelve Princes in the progeny of Isma-il. It differs with the covenant made with Ibrahim which includes both of his sons, Isma-il and Is-haq, and their descendants:

r  This is how you shall keep my covenant between myself and you and your descendants after you: circumcise yourselves, every male among you. (Genesis 17:10)

r  I will give you and your descendants after you the land in which you now are aliens, all the land of Canaan, and I will be Godto your descendants. (Genesis 17:8)

CIRCUMCISION IS OBLIGATORY FOR THE JEWS AS WELL AS THE MUSLIMS. The descendants of Ibrahim had the right to possess the land of Canaan BUT as the children of Is-haq, the Jews and the Christians, had corrupted the true faith of Ibrahim, the children of Isma-il thus became the rightful owners. In fact after the advent of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), the true representative of the house of Isma-il, according to Deut: 18:18, ALL THE JEWS AND THE CHRISTIANS SHOULD HAVE EMBRACED ISLAM, THE RELIGION OF ALLAH (SWT), WHICH IBRAHIM HAD FOLLOWED.

v  IBRAHIM WAS A PROPHET. IN SPITE OF HIS HOLDING THE OFFICE OF THE PROPHETHOOD HE WAS TESTED AND TRIED BY ALLAH (SWT) BEFORE HE MADE HIM AN IMAM. It means **that a prophet is not necessarily an Imam and **imamat is an office of a decidedly higher order which is granted only when one proves himself suitable and worthy after undergoing a test. "Verily, I make you an Imam for mankind" clearly indicates **THAT LIKE RISALAT, IMAMAT IS ALSO BESTOWED UPON THE CHOSEN REPRESENTATIVES OF ALLAH (SWT) BY ALLAH (SWT) HIMSELF.

       [*] It is a position no one, however virtuous or godly he may be, not even Ibrahim, the prophet of ALLAH (SWT), could claim for himself, nor can it be conferred on any one by any *individual, *group or *community. IT IS AN EXCLUSIVELY DIVINE ACTION.

What was the nature of the test which Ibrahim passed to qualify himself for the imamat? To test a prophet of ALLAH (SWT) of the calibre of Khalilullah in the elementary matters of personal cleanliness and ethics, as some commentators say, sounds meaningless. It was not an ordinary test, definitely not connected with daily habits, behavioural patterns and acts of personal cleanliness. The word kalimat has been used here in the same sense invested in verse 37 of this surah - ALLAH (SWT) turned to Adam mercifully when he received the kalimat from his Lord. See commentary of verse 37 of this surah.

§  IBRAHIM'S TRIAL WAS A TEST OF THE STEADFASTNESS OF HIS FAITH IN ALLAH (SWT). In his dream prophet Ibrahim received the command of ALLAH (SWT) to slay his son, Isma-il. Awake, he at once carried out the command (Saffat 37:105 to 108). His faith in ALLAH (SWT) was on trial. He was certain that what he saw in his dream was the command of ALLAH (SWT).

      [*] ALLAH (SWT) made him an Imam of mankind, **YET he had no right to hand over the office of imamat to his descendants, **therefore, he requested ALLAH (SWT) to let his descendants inherit it. He could only pray for it, which he did. And it is ALLAH (SWT) who alone has the right to appoint an Imam. "My covenant does not include the zalim (unjust)" indicates that imamat is given only to those who have not sinned. ONLY AN INFALLIBLE CAN BE AN IMAM.

¥  Like Ibrahim, **Imam Husayn, his descendant, readily sacrificed his sons in the way of ALLAH (SWT).

ZALIM (UNJUST) IN THE VIEW OF THE QUR’AN, IS HE WHO WORSHIPS, OR HAS WORSHIPPED A GHAYRALLAH. SHIRK (IDOLATRY) IN THE WORDS OF THE QUR’AN IS THE GREATEST ZULM OR INJUSTICE. THEREFORE HE WHO, AT ANY TIME IN HIS LIFE, HAS BEEN A MUSHRIK (IDOLATER) CAN NEVER BE AN IMAM.

µ  Besides the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) there was no one, among his companions, who had not been an idol-worshipper, save his cousin, Ali ibne Abi Talib, who alone could be rightfully chosen by providence "to receive the covenant of imamat". 

µ  The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), therefore, under the command of ALLAH (SWT) transferred the imamat to Ali, and after Ali to the eleven Imams in the progeny of Muhammad and Ali. IN THIS WAY THE COVENANT OF ALLAH (SWT) WITH IBRAHIM WAS FULFILLED, AND IN THE PROGENY OF ISMA-IL THE TWELVE PRINCES, THE TWELVE HOLY IMAMS, WERE BORN.

ISMAT (INFALLIBILITY) REQUIRED FOR IMAMAT APPLIES [*] TO PURITY FROM ALL KINDS OF SINS, GREAT OR SMALL, HIDDEN OR OPEN, BECAUSE THE CONDUCT OF AN INDIVIDUAL IS THE OUTCOME OF HIS INHERENT CHARACTER AND IN-BUILT DISCIPLINE.

Ü  THEREFORE, it is downright hypocrisy to accept any man of questionable character as an Imam, arguing that hidden sinfulness should be left alone, and only outward justice should be taken into consideration.

Ü  THOSE WHO HAVE SINNED BUT TURNED REPENTANT TO ALLAH (SWT) AND GAVE UP SINNING CANNOT CLAIM INFALLIBILITY.

»    Firstly, no one knows for sure that his sins have been forgiven by the Lord.

»    Secondly, repentance may bring forgiveness BUT the term sinner can never be removed from the name of the person who has sinned. He will be called a forgiven or pardoned sinner. He cannot be equal to a man who has never sinned at all at any time in his life, like Ibrahim.

THE COVENANT MADE WITH AN INFALLIBLE PROPHET (IBRAHIM) CAN ONLY BE FULFILLED BY GIVING IMAMAT TO THOSE WHO ARE, INWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY, AS PURE AND INFALLIBLE AS THE GREAT PROPHET IBRAHIM WAS.

µ  THE WORK OF LEGISLATION WAS ENDED WITH THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad). Through the last messenger of ALLAH (SWT), the perfected and completed religion of ALLAH (SWT)  was conveyed to mankind for their material welfare and spiritual progress for all times till the end of the world; yet the mercy of the Lord must continue because an everlasting covenant was made with Ibrahim:

I will fulfil my covenant between myself and you and your descendants after you, generation after generation, an everlasting covenant. (Genesis 17:7)

THEREFORE THERE MUST BE AN INFALLIBLE IMAM, A DIVINELY COMMISSIONED GUIDE, WITH POWER AND AUTHORITY DELEGATED TO HIM BY ALLAH (SWT), IN EVERY AGE, TO KEEP THE PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT PATH AND DIRECT THEM UNTO THE DESTINATION DETERMINED BY THE MERCIFUL LORD OF THE WORLDS.

Ø  The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) said:

Whoever dies, not knowing the Imam of his age, dies in ignorance.

ALLAH (SWT) MADE IBRAHIM AN IMAM OF MANKIND. He was neither a ruler nor a political force, YET it was made obligatory on mankind to obey him in all temporal as well as spiritual matters, AND AFTER HIM, to obey those of his descendants who have been chosen as Imams. THEREFORE IT IS THE DUTY OF ALL MUSLIMS TO OBEY AND FOLLOW THE IMAM OF THE AGE IN ALL MATTERS, because, as in the case of Ibrahim, political or temporal power is not necessary for an Imam in order to demand obedience from the people.

§  THE OFFICE OF IMAMAT IS NOT HEREDITARY. It is ALLAH (SWT)'s covenant, which is only bestowed upon an infallible devotee of ALLAH (SWT) who comes out successful from the tests and trials specifically prescribed for him by ALLAH (SWT). A sinner or a forgiven sinner cannot be an Imam.

THE NAMES OF THE TWELVE IMAMS, THE DESCENDANTS OF IBRAHIM IN THE PROGENY OF ISMA-IL, DIVINELY COMMISSIONED IN FULFILMENT OF THE COVENANT MADE WITH IBRAHIM, ARE GIVEN BELOW:

(According to verse 3:33 of Ali Imran, ALLAH (SWT) CHOSE AND PREFERRED ADAM AND NUH AND THE DESCENDANTS OF IBRAHIM AND THE DESCENDANTS OF IMRAN ABOVE ALL HIS CREATURES. The requisite merits were known to ALLAH (SWT) only but whosoever was chosen had to undergo an evident test or trial.

†  After Ibrahim the lineage was divided into two branches. The lineage Is-haq terminated in Isa who was raised to heavens.

†  The descendants of Isma-il carried the light to Abdul Muttalib. AGAIN IT WAS BIFURCATED through his two sons – [a] Abdullah, the father of Muhammad al Mustafa, and [b] Abu Talib, the father of Ali al Murtada.

†  **MUHAMMAD AND ALI WERE IDENTICAL WITH EACH OTHER IN SPIRIT, **CHARACTER AND WISDOM. **ONE REFLECTED THE OTHER. THIS IDENTITY AND UNITY WAS INTEGRATED IN ONE ENTITY THROUGH THE MARRIAGE OF ALI AND FATIMAH, THE HOLY DAUGHTER THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad).

1.    Ali al Murtada.

2.    Hasan al Mujtaba - the elder son of Ali and Fatima.

3.    Husayn al Shahid ul Shuhada - the younger son of Ali and Fatimah.

4.    Ali bin Husayn al Zayn al Abidin.

5.    Muhammad bin Ali al Baqir.

6.    Jafar bin Muhammad al Sadiq.

7.    Musa bin Jafar al Kazim.

8.    Ali bin Musa al Riza.

9.    Muhammad bin Ali al Taqi.

10.  Ali bin Muhammad al Naqi.

11.  Hasan bin Ali al Askari.

12.  Muhammad bin Hasan al Mahdi.

(IMAM MUHAMMAD AL MAHDI is alive like Khizr and Isa. He is the living Imam, for all times till the end of the world. He is the awaited saviour. At the appointed time he will appear in order to exercise the divine authority. Along with him Isa will also come back on the earth and follow the leadership of Imam al Mahdi, as Ali had followed the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad). In this way the bifurcated descendants of Ibrahim will be reunited.)

ALL THE ABOVE MENTIONED IMAMS WERE INFALLIBLE FROM BIRTH TO THEIR MARTYRDOM AND NEVER RECEIVED ANY FORMAL EDUCATION OR TRAINING AT THE HANDS OF ANY MORTAL, YET WERE THE FOUNTAINHEADS OF KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM AND GUIDANCE.

Ü  THE MERIT FOR SELECTION TO THE DIVINE OFFICE OF NUBUWWAT, RISALAT, IMAMAT, OR KHILAFAT IS **THE DEGREE OF SUBMISSION TO THE DIVINE WILL AND **THE ABILITY TO REFLECT (OR TO CONVEY) THE SAME TO OTHERS, THE MEASURE OF PERFECTION WHICH DETERMINES THE STATE OF NEARNESS TO THE ABSOLUTE.

The test (ibtila) is the theoretical and functional knowledge of the kalimat (the most comprehensive names) on account of which Adam was given the khilafatullah (vicegerency of ALLAH (SWT). These kalimat are accommodated in the essence of Muhammad and Ali Muhammad. They are the manifestation of the light of the kalimat appeared before Adam for the first time.

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(2:124) Recall to mind that when his Lord put Abraham to test *124 in certain things and he fulfilled all of them, He said, "I am going to make you the leader of mankind." Abraham humbly asked, "Does this promise apply to my descendants also?" He replied, "My promise does not apply to the transgressors." *125

*124. At various places the Qur'an enumerates the severe tests through which Abraham passed. It was only after these had been completed successfully that he was able to establish his worthiness to serve as the religious guide and leader of all mankind. From the moment when the truth was revealed to him till the moment he died, his life was a continuous tale of sacrifice and suffering for his cause. There is no conceivable object of man's love and attachment in the world which Abraham did not sacrifice for the sake of the truth. Likewise, there is no conceivable danger which instinctively frightens man which Abraham did not encounter for the sake of the Truth. 
*125. This specifies that God's promise of the conferment of leadership applied only to those of Abraham's offspring who were righteous, and that the wrong-doers were naturally excluded. This also makes it clear that, just as the promise did not apply to the misguided Israelites, it did not apply to the polytheistic Ishmaelites. 

وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى ۖ وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَنْ طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ {2:125}

[Q2:125] Wa iz ja'alnal Baita masaabatal linnassi wa amnanw wattakhizoo mim Maqaami Ibraaheema musallaaa; wa 'ahidnaaa ilaaa Ibraaheema wa Ismaa'eela an tahhiraa Baitiya littaaa'ifeena wal'aakifeena warrukka'is sujood.

[Q2:125] And when We made the House a pilgrimage for men and a (place of) security, and: Appoint for yourselves a place of prayer on the standing-place of Ibrahim. And We enjoined Ibrahim and Ismail saying: Purify My House for those who visit (it) and those who abide (in it) for devotion and those who bow down (and) those who prostrate themselves.

[Q2:125] Dan (ingatlah) ketika Kami jadikan Rumah Suci (Baitullah) itu tempat tumpuan bagi umat manusia (untuk Ibadat Haji) dan tempat yang aman; dan jadikanlah oleh Kamu Makam Ibrahim itu tempat sembahyang. Dan Kami perintahkan kepada Nabi Ibrahim dan Nabi Ismail (dengan berfirman): “Bersihkanlah Rumahku (Kaabah dan Masjid Al-Haraam dari segala perkara yang dilarang) untuk orang-orang yang bertawaf, dan orang-orang yang beriktikaf (yang tetap tinggal padanya), dan orang-orang yang rukuk dan sujud”.

Mathabatan and amnan, with reference to bayt, means a place of refuge, rest and peace where one earns ample recompense from ALLAH (SWT).

Ahdina (We took a promise or We enjoined) refers to ALLAH (SWT)'s covenant that the eternally blessed descendants of Ibrahim should keep the holy Kabah pure, and should remove the false Gods whenever installed in it.

v  In 7 Hijra the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), the promised prophet, for whose advent Ibrahim prays in verses 128 and 129 of this surah, after the fall of Makka, visited the holy Kabah. THERE, Ali stood on the shoulders of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) and pulled down all the idols, firmly fixed in the walls, in order to purify the sacred house of ALLAH (SWT).

Tahhira (to purify) implies **that a house for the worship of ALLAH (SWT) already existed there before Ibrahim, which like the Kabah in the times of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), was despoiled with idols. It was in ruins. Ibrahim rebuilt it.

Ì  As verse 127 of this surah suggests, after purification, the place was reserved for worship of ALLAH (SWT) only.

Ì  According to verse 3:96 of Ali Imran, the first house made for the worship of ALLAH (SWT) was the Kabah in Makka, and in verse 22:29 of al Hajj it has been referred to as bayt ul atiq (the ancient house).

»         Muir, Burton, Rodwel and Fretyag have tried to mislead the Christians by stating that Ibrahim had never gone to Arabia to build the holy Kabah.

These are the names of the sons of Ishmael named in order of their birth; Nebaioth, Ishmael's eldest son, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam." (Genesis 25:13)

»         It is a fact that Kedar has been connected with Arabia in the Old Testament.

"Hard is my lot, exiled in Meshech, dwelling by the tents of Kedar." (PSALMS 120:5)

»        Also refer to Isaiah 42:11 and 60:7. In Genesis 21:14 to 21 Hajirah's wandering in the wilderness of Beersheba with her son Ismail, the appearance of the well (Zamzam)and ALLAH (SWT)'s promise to make of Ismail a great nation have been clearly mentioned.

The events concerning Ibrahim, Hajirah and Ismail, which actually took place, are given below:

Ibrahim's wife Sarah had borne him no children. She had a handmaid whose name was Hajirah. She gave her to Ibrahim as a wife.

     Hajirah bore Ibrahim a son. Ibrahim named the child Ismail. After his birth, the peace and harmony of the family was disturbed. Sarah ill-treated Hajirah. Ibrahim was vexed on Ismail's account. He sought ALLAH (SWT)'s help.

     ALLAH (SWT), in view of Sarah's past goodness, directed Ibrahim to send away Hajirah and Ismail to a place now called Makka. Ibrahim, with the help of Jibrail, took Hajirah and Ismail out of the native land and reached Arabia. They stopped at the place where hajar aswad or the black stone is stationed.

     Jibrail informed Ibrahim that it was a land full of ALLAH (SWT)'s blessings and bounties, and there used to be a house (known as baytul mamur) in that place, which was held sacred and venerated by mankind in ancient times, and that it was ALLAH (SWT)'s will that Ibrahim and Ismail should rebuild the ruined house again.

     A shelter was made for Hajirah and Ismail so that they could live there in Ibrahim's absence because ALLAH (SWT) had commanded Ibrahim to go back to his native land.

At the time of his departure Hajirah said:

"O Ibrahim, the devotee of ALLAH (SWT), in whose care are you leaving us here?"

Ibrahim said:

"I leave you in the care of ALLAH (SWT) who saved me from the fire in which Namrud threw me, and gave me all that which I needed and desired."

Hajirah said:

"I rely upon ALLAH (SWT). He is sufficient for me and my child."

When Ibrahim reached the mount Zi-Tavi, he stopped and turned towards the place where he left Hajirah and Ismail and prayed:

"Our Lord! Verily I have settled a part of my progeny in a barren valley near to Thy holy house, our Lord, so that they may establish prayer; so incline some hearts of men that they yearn towards them, and provide them with fruits in order that they may be grateful." (IBRAHIM 14:37)

When the water in the waterskin, Ibrahim left for them, was finished, there was no water any where near them to quench their thirst. There was no milk in her breasts. The heat in the desert had dried it. The scorching sun brought the situation from bad to worse. The child was restless. He cried, cried and cried. The mother ran hither and thither, between Safa and Marwa.

      From Safa to Marwa and Marwa to Safa she ran seven times because when she was on the mount of Safa she heard a voice from the mount of Marwa, and when she reached Marwa she heard a voice from Safa. There was no one in sight.

      Unable to see her son dying, she left him where he was lying and stood alone on the mount of Marwa. Dejected, helpless, yet worried for her son she came back. There she saw a spring of fresh and sweet water gushing forth from the earth under the feet of Ismail.

      In her absence Jibrail, under the command of ALLAH (SWT), came and produced a well full of water (known as Zamzam) - also recorded in Genesis 21: 14 to 21. She heard a voice (saying): "Fear not. The Lord has produced this well for you and your son, but it will also serve the pilgrims who will visit His holy house which your husband and son shall build."

      The flow of water increased day by day and the surrounding land became fertile. People began to come and settle there. Soon it became a flourishing town. Trade and commerce developed. When Ibrahim returned he found the wasteland in the desert a busy trade centre.

The running of Hajirah between Safa and Marwa has been prescribed as one of the essential rites of hajj.

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(2:125) And remember that We made this House (the Ka'bah) the centre nd sanctuary for mankind and enjoined the people to dedicate to worship the place where Abraham used to stand for prayer, and We urged Abraham and Ismail to keep My House pure for those who would go round it and those who would retire to it for devotion and prayer and for those who would bow down and prostrate themselves there in worhsip. *126

*126. 'Purify My House' does not merely mean keeping it clean of dirt and filth. The real purity and cleanliness of the House of God rests in the fact that in it the name of God alone should be glorified. If someone declares in its sacred precincts that anything other than God is his Lord, his object of worship and adoration, the dispenser of man's needs and requirements, the hearer of man's supplications, then such a person is guilty of desecrating the House of God.
This verse also contains a hint as to the evil-doing of the people of the Quraysh. They boasted that they were the inheritors of the legacy of Abraham and Ishmael, but instead of being faithful to that legacy, they actually trampled over it. So, just as the Children of Israel were excluded from the promise made to Abraham, so were the polytheistic children of Ishmael. (See also n. 125 above - Ed.) 

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا بَلَدًا آمِنًا وَارْزُقْ أَهْلَهُ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ مَنْ آمَنَ مِنْهُمْ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۖ قَالَ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَأُمَتِّعُهُ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ أَضْطَرُّهُ إِلَىٰ عَذَابِ النَّارِ ۖ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ {2:126}

[Q2:126] Wa iz qaala Ibraaheemu Rabbij 'al haazaa baladan aaminanw warzuq ahlahoo minas samaraati man aamana minhum billaahi wal yawmil aakhiri qaala wa man kafara faumatti'uhoo qaleelan summa adtarruhooo ilaa 'azaabin Naari wa bi'salmaseer.

[Q2:126] And when Ibrahim said: My Lord, make it a secure town and provide its people with fruits, such of them as believe in ALLAH (SWT) and the last day. He said: And whoever disbelieves, I will grant him enjoyment for a short while, then I will drive him to the chastisement of the fire; and it is an evil destination.

[Q2:126] Dan (ingatlah) ketika Nabi Ibrahim berdoa dengan berkata: “Wahai Tuhanku! Jadikanlah (negeri Makka) ini, negeri yang aman sentosa, dan berikanlah rezeki dari berbagai jenis buah-buahan kepada penduduknya, iaitu orang-orang yang beriman kepada ALLAH (SwT) dan hari akhirat di antara mereka”. ALLAH (SwT) berfirman:” (Permohonanmu itu diterima) tetapi sesiapa yang kufur dan ingkar maka Aku akan beri juga ia bersenang-senang menikmati rezeki itu bagi sementara (di dunia), kemudian Aku memaksanya (dengan menyeretnya) ke azab neraka, dan (itulah) seburuk-buruk tempat kembali”.

(see commentary for verse 125)

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(2:126) And remember that Abraham prayed, "Lord, make this city a city of peace and security, and provide with every kind of fruit those of its people, who believe in Allah and the Last Day'. Allah answered, "As for the disbelievers, I will also provide them with the necessities of life in this world, *127 though in the Next World I will drag them to the torment of Hell, and that is the worst abode."

*127. (Here a distinction is made between honouring a people by entrusting it with the religious leadership and guidance of the world, and bestowing on it an abundant means of livelihood - Ed.) When Abraham enquired who merited world leadership it was made clear to him that only his truly believing and righteous children, to the exclusion of the wrong-doing ones, were worthy of it. This occasioned God to clarify that the religious leadership of the world was quite distinct from its livelihood. Men of faith alone were entitled to the former, whereas both believers and unbelievers would be provided the latter. If someone enjoys abundant material wealth it should not be misconstrued to mean that God is necessarily pleased with him and that he has been designated by God to provide religious guidance to the world. 

وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ {2:127}

[Q2:127] Wa iz yarfa'u Ibraaheemul qawaa'ida minal Baitiwa Ismaa'eelu Rabbanaa taqabbal minnaa innaka Antas Samee'ul Aleem.
[Q2:127] And when Ibrahim and Ismail raised the foundations of the House: Our Lord! Accept from us; surely Thou art the Hearing, the Knowing:

[Q2:127] Dan (ingatlah) ketika Nabi Ibrahim bersama-sama Nabi Ismail meninggikan binaan asas-asas (tapak) Baitullah (Kaabah) itu, sambil keduanya berdoa dengan berkata: “Wahai Tuhan kami! Terimalah daripada kami (amal kami); sesungguhnya Engkaulah yang Maha Mendengar, lagi Maha mengetahui;

WHEN IBRAHIM AND ISMAIL RAISED THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE HOLY KABAH, THEY PRAYED TO ALLAH (SWT) TO ACCEPT THEIR SERVICE, MAKE THEM BOTH MUSLIMS (SUBMISSIVE TO ALLAH (SWT), AND ALSO [1] MAKE THEIR DESCENDANTS MUSLIMS, AND [2] RAISE UP IN THEM A MESSENGER **WHO WOULD RECITE TO THEM ALLAH (SWT)'S REVELATION, **TEACH THEM THE BOOK AND **THE WISDOM AND **PURIFY THEM.

Ì  This prayer shows that THERE HAD ALWAYS BEEN SOME MEN AND WOMEN IN THE PROGENY OF IBRAHIM WHO WERE TRUE MUSLIMS, THROUGH WHOM THE DIVINE LIGHT OF MUHAMMAD AND ALI PASSED TILL IT REACHED ABDUL MUTTALIB. [*] Then his two sons Abdullah and Abu Talib carried it separately. [*] Abdullah transferred it to Muhammad, and [*] Abu Talib transferred it to Ali, the vicegerent and the successor of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) the first of the twelve Imams the divinely commissioned rightly guided guides for mankind. "I and Ali are from one and the same light", said the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad)

The word ummat does not always means a community or a nation. In verse 120 of al Nahl it refers to a single individual.

µ  THIS PRAYER ALSO SHOWS HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO BE A TRUE MUSLIM. **EVEN A DISTINGUISHED PROPHET OF ALLAH (SWT) LIKE IBRAHIM MAKES A REQUEST TO ALLAH (SWT) TO LET HIM REMAIN A MUSLIM.

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(2:127) And remember that when Abraham and Ishmael were raising the walls of the House, they prayed, "Lord, accept this service from us; You are All-Hearing and All-Knowing.

رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُسْلِمَةً لَكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ {2:128}

[Q2:128] Rabbanaa waj'alnaa muslimaini laka wa min zurriyyatinaaa ummatam muslimatal laka wa arinaa manaasikanaa wa tub 'alainaa innaka antat Tawwaabur Raheem.

[Q2:128] Our Lord! And make us both submissive to Thee and (raise) from our offspring a nation submitting to Thee, and show us our ways of devotion and turn to us (mercifully), surely Thou art the Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful.

[Q2:128] “Wahai Tuhan kami! Jadikanlah kami berdua: orang-orang Islam (yang berserah diri) kepadaMu, dan jadikanlah daripada keturunan kami: umat Islam (yang berserah diri) kepadamu, dan tunjukkanlah kepada kami syariat dan cara-cara ibadat kami, dan terimalah taubat kami; sesungguhnya Engkaulah Maha Penerima taubat, lagi Maha Mengasihani;

(see commentary for verse 127)

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(2:128) Lord, make us Your Muslims (submissive servants) and also raise from our offspring a community which should be Muslim (submissive to Your Will). Show us the ways of Your worship and forbear our shortcomings: You are Forgiving and Merciful.

رَبَّنَا وَابْعَثْ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِكَ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ {2:129}

[Q2:129] Rabbanaa wab'as feehim Rasoolam minhum yatloo 'alaihim aayaatika wa yu'allimuhumul Kitaaba wal Hikmata wa yuzakkeehim; innaka Antal 'Azeezul Hakeem.

[Q2:129] Our Lord! And raise up in them a Messenger from among them who shall recite to them Thy communications and teach them the Book and the wisdom, and purify them; surely Thou art the Mighty, the Wise.

[Q2:129] “Wahai Tuhan Kami! Utuslah kepada mereka seorang Rasul dari kalangan mereka sendiri, yang akan membacakan kepada mereka ayat-ayat (firmanMu) dan mengajarkan mereka isi kandungan Kitab (Al-Quran) serta Hikmat kebijaksanaan dan membersihkan (hati dan jiwa) mereka (dari syirik dan maksiat). Sesungguhnya Engkaulah yang Maha Kuasa, lagi Maha Bijaksana”.

(see commentary for verse 127)

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(2:129) Lord, raise up from among them a Messenger who shall recite Your Revelations to them and teach them the Book and Wisdom and purify their lives. *128 You art All-Powerful and AllWise". *129

*128. The term 'purification' used here embraces the purification of beliefs and outlook, morals, habits and customs, and social, cultural and political life; the purification of man's life in its totality. 
*129. This has been said in order to indicate that the advent of Muhammad (peace be on him) was in fact God's response to the prayer of Abraham (peace be on him). 

وَمَنْ يَرْغَبُ عَنْ مِلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِلَّا مَنْ سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ ۚ وَلَقَدِ اصْطَفَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَإِنَّهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ {2:130}

[Q2:130] Wa manny yarghabu 'am-Millarti Ibraaheema illaa man safiha nafsah; wa laqadis tafainaahu fid-dunyaa wa innaho fil aakhirati laminas saaliheen.

[Q2:130] And who forsakes the religion of Ibrahim but he who makes himself a fool, and most certainly We chose him in this world, and in the hereafter he is most surely among the righteous.

[Q2:130] Tidak ada orang yang membenci ugama Nabi Ibrahim selain dari orang yang membodohkan dirinya sendiri, kerana sesungguhnya Kami telah memilih Ibrahim (menjadi nabi) di dunia ini; dan sesungguhnya ia pada hari akhirat kelak tetaplah dari orang-orang yang soleh yang (tertinggi martabatnya).

ONLY THOSE MEN OF UNDERSTANDING WHO KNOW AND APPLY REASON BECOME MUSLIMS. Those who reject islam are fools. they are damned and disgraced for ever. 

©  Safiha nafsahu means he who makes a fool of himself, therefore, is liable to be condemned.

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(2:130) Now, who else can have aversion to the way of Abraham but the one who has debased himself with folly and ignorance? Abraham was the man whom We chose for Our service in this world, and in the Next World he shall be among the righteous.