September 20, 2009
More on God’s Signs
Did you know that there are 240 references to God’s Signs (capitalized) in the English meaning of the Qur’an Sharif (translated by Yusuf Ali)*? I then looked up the word “partners” and found 64 references in the Qur’an Sharif. I found it interesting that in many of my discussions with Muslims if the topic of Hell comes up, the command to not adds partners to Allah (swt) is mentioned.
Yet, from my readings this past month, it seems to me an equal if not greater warning is found in those who reject God’s Signs. Number alone, if you compare 240 references to God’s Signs to 64 references to adding partners to Allah (swt), it seems that the Signs are an important topic to consider.
I have also grown more sensitive to references to God’s Signs found in the earlier Holy Books. Today I was reading in the Injeel Sharif and came across two very interesting references to God’s Signs. Jesus (as) healed a man born blind on a day that Jews are not to do any work (the Sabbath). As a result, the religious rulers (Shariat Musa) come and interrogate the healed man. They begin to accuse Jesus of being a sinner because he healed someone on a day where no work should be done. The healed man and many listening in on the conversation question this line of reasoning. How could Jesus perform such miraculous signs if he had not been from God? Secondly, Messiah Jesus (as) continually acknowledges that all that he does is from God and by God’s leave. All the miraculous signs Jesus (as) demonstrates are done in God’s name and for God’s glory. These signs cause many to reject Jesus as God’s chosen king-the greatest opposition come from religious people who stand the most to lose if Jesus (as) really is the Messiah, God’s promised king. The people who received God’s provision were those who stood the most to gain-those who had been healed, touched in some way by Jesus (as) and his life, as well as those who listened to God’s messenger (rasool) and believed the message (Injeel).
In the Qur’an I found another powerful Sign linking Islam to the previous People of the Book. In an-Naziat 79:15-25, it tells the end of the story of what takes place between Prophet Musa (as) and the Pharaoh. Other portions of the story are told earlier in the Qur’an, but I want to highlight this portion because of the reference again to Signs. God gave Prophet Moses (as) many Signs to show to Pharaoh, but he rejected them and hardened his heart against what God was speaking through Moses (as). Then finally God gives Moses (as) one last Sign to show to Pharaoh,
79:15-25 079.015 Has the story of Moses reached thee? 079.016 Behold, thy Lord did call to him in the sacred valley of Tuwa:- 079.017 “Go thou to Pharaoh for he has indeed transgressed all bounds: 079.018 “And say to him, ‘Wouldst thou that thou shouldst be purified (from sin)?- 079.019 “‘And that I guide thee to thy Lord, so thou shouldst fear Him?’” 079.020 Then did (Moses) show him the Great Sign. 079.021 But (Pharaoh) rejected it and disobeyed (guidance); 079.022 Further, he turned his back, striving hard (against Allah). 079.023 Then he collected (his men) and made a proclamation, 079.024 Saying, “I am your Lord, Most High”. 079.025 But Allah did punish him, (and made an) example of him, – in the Hereafter, as in this life.
Here is the reference to the last Sign, the Great Sign, as the Qur’an Sharif calls it. But once again, we find that the Qur’an is using poetic language packed with meaning, but meaning that relies on the earlier Holy Books for full understanding.
What is the Great Sign?
If you look in the Tawrat Sharif you find in Exodus chapters 11-12, the story of the Great Sign. All the firstborn in Egypt will be put to death as God sends an angel throughout the Egyptian nation. God gives a command to the Jews to kill an unblemished goat or lamb and spread its blood on their doorposts and only those who do so will be saved from this angel of death. So Prophet Moses (as) and the Jews do as God has commanded them while that night the angel goes through Egypt and kills the firstborn of all the Egyptians while also sparing the firstborn of the Jews because of their faith in doing as God has commanded. The Great Sign is actually pretty terrible. Even Pharaoh’s son dies as a result. But what I find interesting again is God’s command to kill an unblemished lamb or goat.
Isn’t this very similar to the “garments of righteousness” where animals die in order for God to provide clothing made of animal skin that God gives Adam (as) and Eve (Hawa) as well as the “momentous sacrifice” that God gives Abraham (Ibrahim) (as) in the form of a ram which is a substitute for Abraham’s (as) son?
Then there is this other theme in the Qur’an’s references to Signs-Man vs. God. In every of these stories there is a human attempt to circumvent God’s Way. Adam (as) and Eve try to cover themselves, but cannot cover their shame. Noah’s son tries to save himself by climbing to the top of the mountain instead of taking God’s provision of the Ark. Then you have Pharaoh trying to oppose God, His worship, and His Signs, by even commanding his people to worship himself as God. But in the end, Allah (swt) is the best of planners.
These are two very important themes found in the Qur’an Sharif, and interestingly they are also found in the earlier Holy Books. Maybe these might be good places to begin interfaith dialogue upon…
Well, I leave it at that for today. But I have greatly enjoyed reading the Qur’an Sharif and hope to continue to comment on various Signs in later posts. And here’s an early, Eid Mubarak ho! To all of you. Blessings and peace.
*References to “Signs” in the English meaning of the Holy Qur’an by Yusuf Ali: Surah al-Baqara 2:39, 41, 61, 73, 87, 92, 99, 118, 129, 145, 151, 159, 164, 185, 187, 209, 211, 213, 219, 221, 231, 242, 252, 253, 266. Surah Aal-E-Imran 3:04, 11, 19, 21, 58, 70, 86, 97, 98, 101, 103, 105, 108, 112, 113, 118, 164, 183, 184, 190, 199 Surah An-Nisa 4:56 Surah al-Maeda 5:86, 110 Surah al-Araf 7:26, 37, 126, 132, 133, 136 Surah al-Anfal 8:31, 52, 54 Surah at-Tawba 9:09, 11, 65 Surah Yunus 10:05, 07, 15, 17, 21, 24, 73, 74, 75, 92, 101 Surah Hud 11:59, 96 Surah Yusuf 12:105 Surah Ibrahim 14:05, 09 Surah Al-Hijr 15:75, 81 Surah an-Nahl 16:12, 44, 104, 105 Surah al-Isra 17:01, 12, 59, 101 Surah al-Kahf 18:17, 56, 57, 105, 106 Surah Maryam 19:58, 73, 77 Surah Ta-Ha 20:23, 42, 54, 56, 72, 126, 127, 128, 134 Surah an-Anbiya 21:32, 37, 77 Surah al-Hajj 22:16, 51, 52, 57, 72 Surah al-Mumenoon 23:30, 45, 58, 66, 105 Surah an-Noor 24:01, 18, 58, 59 Surah al-Furqan 25:36, 73 Surah Ash-Shuara 26:15 Surah an-Naml 27:12, 13, 14, 81, 82, 83, 84, 86, 93 Surah al-Qasas 28:45, 47, 48, 59, 87 Surah al-Ankaboot 29:23, 24, 39, 49, 50 Surah al-Room 30:9, 10, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 37, 46, 47 Surah Luqman 31:07, 31, 32 Surah as-Sajda 32:15, 22, 24, 26 Surah al-Ahzab 33:34 Surah Saba 34:05, 19, 38, 43 Surah Fatir 35:25 Surah Ya-Seen 36:06, 46 Surah Sad 38:29 Surah az-Zumar 39:42, 52, 59, 63, 71 Surah al-Ghafir 40:04, 05, 13, 22, 23, 28, 34, 35, 50, 63, 66, 69, 81, 83 Surah Fussilat 41:15, 28, 37, 39, 40, 53 Surah Ash-Shura 42:29, 32, 33, 35 Surah az-Zukhruf 43:46, 47, 63, 69 Surah ad-Dukhan 44:33 Surah al-Jathiya 45:03, 04, 05, 06, 08, 09, 11, 13, 17, 25, 31, 35 Surah al-Ahqaf 46:07, 26, 27 Surah an-Najm 53:18 Surah al-Qamar 54:42 Surah al-Hadid 57:09, 17, 19, 25 Surah al-Mujadila 58:05 Surah as-Saff 61:06 Surah al-Jumua 62:02, 05 Surah at-Taghabun 64:06, 10 Surah at-Talaq 65:11 Surah al-Qalam 68:15 Surah al-Muddaththir 74:16 Surah an-Naba 78:28 Surah al-Mutaffifin 83:13 Surah al-Burooj 85:01 Surah al-Balad 90:19
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