1. In the Name
of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
2. For the
covenants (of security and safeguard enjoyed) by the Quraysh,
3. Their
covenants (covering) journeys by winter and summer,-
4. Let them
worship the Lord of this House,
5. Who provides
them with food against hunger, and with security against fear (of danger)!
The Quraysh
loved their city, Mecca and they were proud of this place. First of all, Mecca
is positioned in such a way that the Quraysh and the other inhabitants of Mecca
felt safe and moreover this place was the ideal place for trade and through
this they earned a lot of profits. With all the facilities that Allah has given
them, they should have been the first to accept that the message that Allah had
revealed through His beloved Prophet (pbuh) is a message of truth. But
unfortunately they turned their backs except a small part of them who had
accepted the Message of Islam.
Who
had given the Quraysh their talents for commerce/ trade, manual works and how
to straighten out a difficult situation? It is Allah of course! He also gave
them intuitions to move at the right time to trade and make Mecca a place where
no enemy could enter. Despite all this, they rejected the message of Allah.
Instead of showing gratitude to Allah, they denigrated His signs and His
prophet.
This
Surah shows us that all our successes and the powers we possess on this earth
come from Allah. Without Him, we are helpless and powerless. So, for all the
blessings that He gives us we must be grateful to Him for this and we must
worship Him alone as He deserves and we must see that all our actions are in
accord with His will and glory.
Verset
2 : Li -‘iilaafi
QURAYSHIN. - For the covenants (of security and safeguard
enjoyed) by the Quraysh;
The
tribe of the Quraysh was the most noble tribe of Arabia, and the Holy Prophet
(pbuh) belonged to that tribe. They had the custody of the Ka’aba, the House of
Humanity, and the fact that they were in possession of the Ka’aba, they
benefited a lot from it.
1)
Because of the position where the Ka’aba was situated, they had great influence
over the other tribes.
2) Their
central position facilitated their commerce, as well as their relations with
other tribes, and this brought them much profit and honour,
(3)
According to the Arab cultures, the territories of Mecca were considered sacred
and as a result, the city was not destroyed by wars, discussions or private
disputes.
The Quraysh,
therefore, enjoyed a position of security, and they had no reason to fear
dangers. They enjoyed this honour because they were the servants of this sacred
temple (i.e., the Ka’aba) and they took advantage of the benefits that this
brought to them. They owe this honour and this position to Allah. So when Allah
had manifested His signs and sent His message, should they not have been the
first ones to have faith in the Oneness of Allah and in the purity of His
Messenger?
During
periods when general security was threatened, their honour and influence as
guardians of the Ka’aba, allowed them to maintain their security and make pacts
so that these wars were not repeated in their place, and in the vicinity of
their city. Then they contracted peace pacts (treaties) with Syria, Persia
(Iran), Yemen and Abyssinia - treaties that safeguarded their lives and
businesses in their travels throughout the seasons, all year round.
Verset 3 : ‘Iilaafihim
rihlatash-shi-taaa-‘i was-sayf. - Their covenants
(covering) journeys by winter and summer;
For
their businesses, they had to travel. In winter, they travelled to warm places/
countries such as Yemen and in summer they travelled to cold countries such as
Syria and the north (of the peninsula). Through these journeys, the Quraysh
have perfected their knowledge and skill to trade, and they have gained a great
deal of knowledge of the world and the arts that exist, and they have learned
to perfect their language, which served to refine their expression, especially with
regard to their expressions and feelings in literature and other arts.
Verset 4 : Fal-ya’-buduu
Rabba haazal-Bayt. - Let them worship the Lord of this House;
The
House which is mentioned here is the Holy Ka’aba.
Verset 5 : ‘Allaziii
‘at-‘amahum-minjuu-‘iww-wa ‘aamanahum-min-khawf. - Who
provides them with food against hunger, and with security against fear (of
danger)!
Not
only did their trade caravans enriched them, but they also attracted other
countries to trade in Mecca. The people who came from distant countries brought
with them other goods and gifts and all this enriched the Meccans. Their
territory was inviolable (the enemy could not enter it). They were safe in
their homes and never had to suffer the disadvantages of war. It is for these
benefits that Allah has commanded them to submit and to pray Him alone and not
to show any ingratitude towards Him Who has provided them all these benefits.
« Inna fii zaalika la Aayatal li qawmiyy-Yasma’uun » - Indeed
there are therein signs for people who listen. May Allah help
us to praise Him and not become ungrateful to Him for the favours He has poured
upon us - the Muhammadan Ummah. Ameen.
---Friday Sermon of 25 August 2017(02
Dhul-Hijjah 1438 AH) delivered by Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius.