SURAH AL-IMRAN (AYAH 191 to 200)

الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَٰذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ {3:191}

[Q3:191] Allazeena yazkuroonal laaha qiyaamaiw-wa qu'oodanw-wa 'alaa juno obihim wa yatafakkaroona fee khalqis samaawaati wal ardi Rabbanaa maa khalaqta haaza baatilan Subhaanak faqinaa 'azaaban Naar.

[Q3:191] Those who remember ALLAH (SWT) standing and sitting and lying on their sides and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth: Our Lord! Thou hast not created this in vain! Glory be to Thee; save us then from the chastisement of the fire:
[Q3:191] (Iaitu) orang-orang yang menyebut dan mengingati ALLAH (SwT) semasa mereka berdiri dan duduk dan semasa mereka berbaring mengiring dan mereka pula memikirkan tentang kejadian langit dan bumi (sambil berkata): Wahai Tuhan kami! Tidaklah Engkau menjadikan benda-benda ini dengan sia-sia, Maha Suci Engkau, maka peliharalah kami dari azab Neraka. 

THOSE WHO KNOW THAT ALLAH (SWT) has not created the universe in vain and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth (to gain guidance and admonition), remember ALLAH (SWT) [1] in thought AND [2] in words constantly, AND [3] in all attitudes AND [4] actions. The glory of ALLAH (SWT) occupies an "abiding place" in the minds of such devout high ranking servants of ALLAH (SWT).

THEY KNOW THAT THE WHOLE UNIVERSE, CREATED BY ALLAH (SWT), IS NOT AN ILLUSION. The phenomena, we perceive by senses, are real (creation of ALLAH (SWT)), not a phantasm of imagination BECAUSE far is He from creating anything aimlessly. Though the attention insisted towards the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the change with night and day, seem to be simple.

BUT THE AWAKENED MIND, particularly of the scientists with the knowledge of the heavenly bodies and the constellations and those who are busy in their study of the deposits of the earth etc., know the significance of this drawing of the attention towards the factors mentioned in this verse.

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(3:191) those who remember Allah while standing, sitting or (reclining) on their backs, and reflect in the creation of the heavens and the earth, *135 (saying): 'Our Lord! You have not created this in vain. Glory to You! Save us, then, from the chastisement of the Fire. *136

*135. This means that with the help of those signs one can easily arrive at the Truth, provided one is not indifferent to God and looks at the phenomenon of the universe thoughtfully. 
*136. When people look carefully at the order of the universe, it becomes clear to them that it is an order permeated by wisdom and intelligent purpose. It is altogether inconsistent with wisdom that the man endowed with moral consciousness and freedom of choice, the man gifted with reason and discretion, should not be held answerable for his deeds. This kind of reflection leads people to develop a strong conviction that the After-life is a reality. Thanks to this conviction, they begin to seek God's refuge from His punishment. 

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ مَنْ تُدْخِلِ النَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُ ۖ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنْصَارٍ {3:192}

[Q3:192] Rabbanaaa innaka man tudkhilin Naara faqad akhzai tahoo wa maa lizzaalimeena min ansaar.
[Q3:192] Our Lord! Surely whomsoever Thou makest enter the fire, him Thou hast indeed brought to disgrace, and there shall be no helpers for the unjust:

[Q3:192] Wahai Tuhan kami! Sebenarnya sesiapa yang Engkau masukkan ke dalam Neraka maka sesungguhnya Engkau telah menghinakannya dan orang-orang yang zalim tidak akan beroleh seorang penolong pun.

These verses contain the words of the prayer of those mentioned in the preceding verse, which is an outcome of their intense belief in Him and His perfection.

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(3:192) Our Lord! Whomever You cause to enter the Fire, him You indeed bring to disgrace, and there will be none to succour the wrong-doers.

رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِي لِلْإِيمَانِ أَنْ آمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ فَآمَنَّا ۚ رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الْأَبْرَارِ{3:193}

[Q3:193] Rabbanaaa innanaa sami'naa munaadiyai yunaadee lil eemaani an aaminoo bi Rabbikum fa aamannaa; Rabbanaa faghfir lanaa zunoobanaa wa kaffir 'annaa saiyi aatina wa tawaffanaa ma'al abraar.

[Q3:193] Our Lord! Surely we have heard a preacher calling to the faith, saying: Believe in your Lord, so we did believe; Our Lord! Forgive us therefore our faults, and cover our evil deeds and make us die with the righteous.
[Q3:193] Wahai Tuhan kami! Sesungguhnya kami telah mendengar seorang Penyeru (Rasul) yang menyeru kepada iman, katanya: Berimanlah kamu kepada Tuhan kamu, maka kami pun beriman. Wahai Tuhan kami, ampunkanlah dosa-dosa kami dan hapuskanlah daripada kami kesalahan-kesalahan kami dan matikanlah kami bersama orang-orang yang berbakti (yang banyak berbuat kebajikan).

(see commentary for verse 192)

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(3:193) Our Lord! Indeed we heard a crier calling to the faith saying: "Believe in your Lord"; so we did believe. *137 Our Lord, forgive us our sins, and wipe out our evil deeds and make us die with the truly pious.'

*137. Many eras have passed before you. Go about, then, in the land and behold the end of those who gave the lie to (the directives and ordinances of Allah). 

رَبَّنَا وَآتِنَا مَا وَعَدْتَنَا عَلَىٰ رُسُلِكَ وَلَا تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۗ إِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ {3:194}

[Q3:194] Rabbanaa wa aatinaa maa wa'attanaa 'alaa Rusulika wa laa tukhzinaa Yawmal Qiyaamah; innaka laa tukhliful mee'aad.

[Q3:194] Our Lord! And grant us what Thou hast promised us by Thy messengers; and disgrace us not on the day of resurrection; surely Thou dost not fail to perform the promise.
[Q3:194] Wahai Tuhan kami! Berikanlah kepada kami pahala yang telah Engkau janjikan kepada kami melalui Rasul-rasulMu dan janganlah Engkau hinakan kami pada hari kiamat; sesungguhnya Engkau tidak memungkiri janji. 

(see commentary for verse 192)

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(3:194) 'Our Lord, fulfil what You promised to us through Your Messengers, and disgrace us not on the Day of Resurrection; indeed You never go back on Your promise. *138

*138. Such people do not doubt the fact that God will fulfil His promises. What they do doubt is whether they will be reckoned among those for whom those promises were made. Hence they pray to God to make them worthy of His promised rewards. They are afraid lest they remain targets of slander and ridicule by the unbelievers in this world, and then be disgraced in the Hereafter before the same unbelievers who may mock them once again saying that their faith has been of no avail to them. 

فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ أَنِّي لَا أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَامِلٍ مِنْكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَىٰ ۖ بَعْضُكُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ ۖ فَالَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا وَأُخْرِجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ وَأُوذُوا فِي سَبِيلِي وَقَاتَلُوا وَقُتِلُوا لَأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَلَأُدْخِلَنَّهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ثَوَابًا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عِنْدَهُ حُسْنُ الثَّوَابِ {3:195}

[Q3:195] Fastajaaba lahum Rabbuhum annee laaa Udee'u 'amala 'aamilim minkum min zakarin aw unsaa ba'dukum mim ba'din fal lazeena haajaroo wa ukhrijoo min diyaarihim wa oozoo fee sabeelee wa qaataloo wa qutiloo la ukaffiranna 'anhum saiyi aatihim wa la udkhilanna hum Jannnatin tajree min tahtihal anhaaru sawaabam min 'indil laah; wallaahu 'indahoo husnus sawaab.
[Q3:195] So their Lord accepted their prayer: That I will not waste the work of a worker among you, whether male or female, the one of you being from the other; they, therefore, who fled and were turned out of their homes and persecuted in My way and who fought and were slain, I will most certainly cover their evil deeds, and I will most certainly make them enter gardens beneath which rivers flow; a reward from ALLAH (SWT), and with ALLAH (SWT) is yet better reward.

[Q3:195] Maka Tuhan mereka perkenankan doa mereka (dengan firmanNya): Sesungguhnya Aku tidak akan sia-siakan amal orang-orang yang beramal dari kalangan kamu, samada lelaki atau perempuan, (kerana) setengah kamu (adalah keturunan) dari setengahnya yang lain; maka orang-orang yang berhijrah (kerana menyelamatkan agamanya) dan yang diusir keluar dari tempat tinggalnya dan juga yang disakiti (dengan berbagai-bagai gangguan) kerana menjalankan agamaKu dan yang berperang (untuk mempertahankan Islam) dan yang terbunuh (gugur Syahid dalam perang Sabil) - sesungguhnya Aku akan hapuskan kesalahan-kesalahan mereka dan sesungguhnya Aku akan masukkan mereka ke dalam Syurga yang mengalir di bawahnya beberapa sungai, sebagai pahala dari sisi ALLAH (SwT) dan di sisi ALLAH (SwT) jualah pahala yang sebaik-baiknya (bagi mereka yang beramal soleh).

A sub-human status was allotted to women in almost all philosophies and religions, before Islam. IN THIS VERSE it is stated that man and woman are counter parts to each other ("one of you from the other") and of the same human status. This truth was proclaimed to mankind not in the twentieth but in the sixth century of the Christian era.

ISLAM RECOGNISES PERFECT EQUALITY OF BOTH SEXES (IN THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE GOOD), ACCORDING TO THEIR [*] NATURAL ASSIGNMENTS AND [*] NATIVE ENDOWMENTS.

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(3:195) Their Lord answered the Prayer thus: "I will not suffer the work of any of you, whether male or female, to go to waste; each of you is from the other. *139 Those who emigrated and were driven out from their homesteads and were persecuted in My cause, and who fought and were slain, indeed I shall wipe out their evil deeds from them and shall certainly admit them to the gardens beneath which rivers flow." This is their reward with their Lord; and with Allah lies the best reward. *140

*139. All humans are equal in the sight of God. God does not have separate criteria for judging the male and the female, the master and the slave, the high and the low. 
*140. It is reported that some non-Muslims came to the Prophet and said that Moses had produced his staff and had been endowed with the miracle of the shining hand (see Qur'an 7: 108; 20: 22), and that Jesus restored sight to the blind and cured the lepers (see Qur'an 31 49). Other Prophets had also been granted miracles. What miracles, they enquired, could the Prophet perform? In response the Prophet recited all the verses from verse 190 to the end of this surah, adding that that was what he had brought.

لَا يَغُرَّنَّكَ تَقَلُّبُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فِي الْبِلَادِ {3:196}

[Q3:196] Laa yaghurrannaka taqal lubul lazeena kafaroo fil bilaad.
[Q3:196] Let it not deceive you that those who disbelieve go to and fro in the cities fearlessly.

[Q3:196] Jangan sekali-kali engkau (wahai Muhammad) terpedaya oleh usaha gerakan orang-orang yang kafir di dalam negeri (yang membawa keuntungan-keuntungan kepada mereka).

DO NOT THINK THAT ALLAH (SWT) APPROVES the acts of those who seek enjoyment and pleasures of this world by displaying ostentatiously glamour and pride. THEIR ENJOYMENT IS VERY BRIEF AND SHORT-LIVED. HELL SHALL BE THEIR EVERLASTING ABODE.

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(3:196) (O Messenger!) Do not let the strutting about of the unbelievers in the land deceive you.

مَتَاعٌ قَلِيلٌ ثُمَّ مَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ {3:197}

[Q3:197] Mataa'un qaleelun summa maawaahum Jahannam; wa bi'sal mihaad.

[Q3:197] A brief enjoyment! Then their abode is hell, and evil is the resting-place.
[Q3:197] (Semuanya) itu hanyalah kesenangan yang sedikit, (akhirnya akan lenyap), kemudian tempat kembali mereka Neraka Jahannam dan itulah seburuk-buruk tempat ketetapan. 

(see commentary for verse 196)

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(3:197) This is but a little enjoyment, then their destination is Hell -what an evil resting place!

لَٰكِنِ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا نُزُلًا مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَمَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ لِلْأَبْرَارِ{3:198}

[Q3:198] Laakinil lazeenat taqaw Rabbahum lahum Jannnaatun tajree min tahtihal anhaaru khaalideena feehaa nuzulammin 'indil laah; wa maa 'indal laahi khairul lil abraar.
[Q3:198] But as to those who are careful of (their duty to) their Lord, they shall have gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding in them; an entertainment from their Lord, and that which is with ALLAH (SWT) is best for the righteous.

[Q3:198] Tetapi orang-orang yang bertakwa kepada Tuhan mereka, mereka beroleh Syurga-syurga yang mengalir di bawahnya beberapa sungai, mereka kekal di dalamnya, sebagai tempat sambutan tetamu (yang meriah dengan nikmat pemberian) dari ALLAH (SwT) dan (ingatlah) apa jua yang ada di sisi ALLAH (SwT) adalah lebih bagi orang-orang yang berbakti (yang taat, yang banyak berbuat kebajikan). 

THOSE WHO SAFEGUARD THEMSELVES WITH **FULL AWARENESS OF DIVINE LAWS AND **TAKE REFUGE WITH ALLAH (SWT) SHALL EARN HIS ETERNAL BLISS, in quantity and quality as well as in permanence which is better than the ephemeral worldly prosperity.

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(3:198) But those who fear their Lord: theirs shall be the gardens beneath which rivers flow and in which they will live forever: a hospitality from Allah Himself, And Allah's reward is best for the truly pious.

وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَمَنْ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ خَاشِعِينَ لِلَّهِ لَا يَشْتَرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ {3:199}

[Q3:199] Wa inna min Ahlil Kitaabi lamai yu minu billaahi wa maaa unzila ilaikum wa maaa unzila ilaihim khaashi 'eena lillaahi laa yashtaroona bi Aayaatil laahi samanan qaleelaa; ulaaa'ika lahum ajruhum 'inda Rabbihim; innal laaha saree'ul hisaab.

[Q3:199] And most surely of the followers of the Book there are those who believe in ALLAH (SWT) and (in) that which has been revealed to you and (in) that which has been revealed to them, being lowly before ALLAH (SWT); they do not take a small price for the communications of ALLAH (SWT); these it is that have their reward with their Lord; surely ALLAH (SWT) is quick in reckoning.

[Q3:199] Dan sesungguhnya di antara Ahli Kitab, ada orang yang beriman kepada ALLAH (SwT) dan (kepada) apa yang diturunkan kepada kamu (Al-Quran) dan juga (kepada) apa yang diturunkan kepada mereka, sedang mereka khusyuk kepada ALLAH (SwT) dengan tidak menukarkan ayat-ayat ALLAH (SwT) untuk mengambil keuntungan dunia yang sedikit. Mereka itu beroleh pahalanya di sisi Tuhan mereka. Sesungguhnya ALLAH (SwT) amat segera hitungan hisabNya.

There are some among the people of the book who are not like the people mentioned in verses 187, 196 and 197 of this surah. THEY BELIEVE IN ALLAH (SWT) AND THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) AS THE PROMISED PROPHET MENTIONED IN THEIR BOOK (see al Baqrah 2:40).

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(3:199) And among the People of the Book some believe in Allah and what has been revealed to you, and what has been revealed to them. They humble themselves before Allah, and do not sell Allah's revelations for a small price. For these men their reward is with their Lord. Allah is swift in His reckoning.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ {3:200}

[Q3:200] Yaaa aiyuhal lazeena aamanus biroo wa saabiroo wa raabitoo wattaqul laaha la'allakum tuflihoon.

[Q3:200] O you who believe! Be patient and excel in patience and remain steadfast, and be careful of (your duty to) ALLAH (SWT), that you may be successful.
[Q3:200] Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Bersabarlah kamu (menghadapi segala kesukaran dalam mengerjakan perkara-perkara yang berkebajikan) dan kuatkanlah kesabaran kamu lebih daripada kesabaran musuh, di medan perjuangan) dan bersedialah (dengan kekuatan pertahanan di daerah-daerah sempadan) serta bertakwalah kamu kepada ALLAH (SwT) supaya kamu berjaya (mencapai kemenangan) 

Rabita means to participate in the garrisoning of the frontiers. THIS WAS A DUTY IMPOSED BY THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD). IT COULD BE PERFORMED BY TURNS--THE MINIMUM PERIOD IS 3 DAYS, AND THE MAXIMUM IS 40 DAYS.

To [1] persevere (have endurance in suffering) and [2] excel in perseverance, [3] be ever ready to defend, and [4] safeguard oneself with full awareness of ALLAH (SWT)'s laws are the ruling principles for the human soul to journey through this world to salvation and eternal bliss. 

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(3:200) Believers, be steadfast, and vie in steadfastness, *141 stand firm in your faith, and hold Allah in fear that you may attain true success.

*141. The original Arabic word is "sabiru". This has two possible meanings. One is that whenever they are in confrontation with unbelievers, the believers should endure even greater hardships for their cause, and display a higher degree of fortitude than the unbelievers. The other is that the believers should try to excel one another in facing the opposition and hostility of unbelievers with courage and fortitude.