Chapter 17 - Bani Israel
***Please note... The info in the parentheses immediately following the verse number indicates the file or article to which they refer. Verses will continue to be added as the documents are introduced.
17:1(Hajj) Transliteration: “Subhaan alladhi asraa bi-‘abdi-hi layilan min al-Masjid al-Haram ilaa al-Masjid al-Aqsa alladhi baarak-na howla-hu li-nuriya-hu min aayaati-na. Inna-hu huwa as-Samee’ al-Baseer.” Exalted and Perfect is the Entity Who, in the persistent shadows of Darkness (لیلاّ – Layilan), directed His obedient subject (بعبدہ – bi-‘Abdi-hi) to migrate (asraa) from a station of obedience and submission(المسجد – al-Masjid), rendered in a state of prohibition by enemies (الحرام – al-Haraam), to a far off (الاقصیٰ –Al-Aqsaa) Center of submission and obedience (al-masjid) whose general environment or surroundings We had already made a source of inspiration, so that We may show him Our happy signs. Indeed, that August Entity continuously keeps an ear upon your affairs and keeps Himself well informed.
17:1(13) “Limitless in Glory is He Who directed His servant, in the midst of persistent darkness, to migrate from that “place where submission to Allah was forbidden” to another “distant center of submission to Allah’s commands” whose environment We had already made conducive and supportive for his mission, in order that we manifest for him prospects of success. Verily He is the one Who listens about and monitors your struggle.” Masjid, the Noun of time and place from sjd (submission), is the centre of submission and surrender as well as the commandments to which one has to submit. Even Quran itself can be called Masjid because we need to submit to its teachings. When used with “Al” it signifies a particular station, point, center, land where submission is in force.
17:7(4) The address here is to the Israelites : "If you persevere in doing good, you will but be doing good to yourselves; and if you do evil, it will be done to yourselves." And so, when the prediction of the second period came true, they came to disgrace you utterly, and to enter your Centre of authority (الْمَسْجِدَ ) as they had entered it once before, and to destroy with utter destruction all that they had conquered.
17:11(35) The human asks for evil as he asks for 'good'; the human is prone to be hasty.
17:32 “And do not go near the act of spoiling the essence of Deen (وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنَىٰ ). Indeed that is an excess and a transgression (فَاحِشَةً) and an evil way to adopt (وَسَاءَ سَبِيلًا). And do not humiliate a person (وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ) whom Allah has given respect except when it becomes legitimate to do so”.
17:78-79(24) “Establish firmly the pursuit of Divine Commandments (اقم الصلوٰۃ) enabling you to press hard (لدلوک) towards the path of Glory (الشمس), leading to the total extinction of the darkness of ignorance (غسق اللیل) and culminating into drawing forth (قرآن) the light of Dawn (الفجر). Indeed the bringing forth of the light of dawn (قرآن الفجر) is a prominently manifest phenomenon (مشھودا). And in the midst of darkness of ignorance (وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ), you must always remain awake and vigilant (فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ); it’s an additional obligation for you; so that your Lord may glorify and raise you to a highly praised status/position (مَقَامًا مَّحْمُودًا).”
17:100(35) Say, "If you were the ones possessing the vaults of my Lord's mercy, you would have held back for fear of spending. Man is always tight-fisted.