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Divine Covenant and Oaths

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Divine Covenant and Oaths

عهد الله والأيمان

In Islam, the concepts of Divine Covenant (عهد الله) and oaths (الأيمان) hold profound significance, reflecting the deep relationship between humanity and Allah. A covenant with Allah often refers to the sacred promise a believer makes to uphold monotheism, obey His commands, and live righteously, which is foundational for one's ultimate salvation, as only [he who had taken from the Most Merciful a covenant] will have intercession. This covenant is not a mere formality but a solemn commitment that guides a Muslim's entire life. Equally important are oaths, both those taken by humans and those affirmed by Allah Himself. When Allah says, "[The truth [is My oath], and the truth I say]," or "[I swear by the setting of the stars, And indeed, it is an oath - if you could know - [most] great]," it underscores the absolute veracity and immense power of His words. For believers, taking an oath in Allah's name is an extremely serious matter, binding them to truthfulness and fulfillment. Breaking such an oath without valid reason is a grave sin, as it implies a disregard for Allah's sanctity. These concepts remind us of our accountability and the sanctity of our words and promises in the divine presence, ensuring we do not presume [oaths [binding] upon Us] that challenge His sovereignty.

Quran 13 verses

لَّا يَمْلِكُونَ ٱلشَّفَٰعَةَ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱتَّخَذَ عِندَ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ عَهْدًا

Laa yamlikoonash shafaa'ta illaa manittakhaza 'indar Rahmaani 'ahdaa

None will have [power of] intercession except he who had taken from the Most Merciful a covenant.

(تو لوگ) کسی کی سفارش کا اختیار نہ رکھیں گے مگر جس نے خدا سے اقرار لیا ہو

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: مَنِ اتَّخَذَ عِندَ الرَّ‌حْمَـٰنِ عَهْدًا "Except the one who has taken a covenant with the Rahman (All-Merciful) " - 19:87. Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ has said that عَھد means a declaration of firm belief in the Unity of Allah Ta’ ala, while others say that عِھد means committing the Qur’ an to memory....
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: They namely mankind will not have the power to intercede save him who has made a covenant with the Compassionate One the covenant being the profession of lā ilāha illā’Llāh wa-lā hawla wa-lā quwwata illā bi’Llāh ‘there is no god but God and there is no power or strength except in God’.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Condition of the Righteous and the Criminals on the Day of Resurrection Allah, the Exalted, informs about His righteous friends, who feared Him in the life of this world. They followed His Messengers and believed in what the Messengers told them. They obeyed them in what they commanded them and ...

قَالَ فَٱلْحَقُّ وَٱلْحَقَّ أَقُولُ

Qaala falhaqq, walhaqqa aqool

[Allah] said, "The truth [is My oath], and the truth I say -

فرمایا سچ (ہے) اور میں بھی سچ کہتا ہوں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In verse 75, it was said: لِمَا خَلَقْتُ بِيَدَيَّ (what I created with My hands...): Here, it is about Sayyidna 'Adam (علیہ السلام) that Allah Ta’ ala has said that it is He who had created him with His hands. There is a consensus among the majority of the Muslim Ummah that "hands" do not mean that...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: He said ‘So the truth is — and the truth I always speak read both words in the accusative fa’l-haqqa wa’l-haqqa; or with the first in the nominative and the second in the accusative because of the verb aqūlu ‘I speak’ that follows. As for reading the first one in the accusative this would be on acco...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Story of Adam and Iblis Allah mentions this story in Surat Al-Baqarah, at the beginning of Surat Al-A`raf, in Surat Al-Hijr, Al-Isra', Al-Kahf and here. Before creating Adam, peace be upon him, Allah told the angels that He was going to create a human being from sounding clay of altered smooth b...

فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَٰقِعِ ٱلنُّجُومِ

Falaa uqsimu bimaawaa qi'innujoom

Then I swear by the setting of the stars,

ہمیں تاروں کی منزلوں کی قسم

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Sequencing of Arguments Preceding verses put forward rational arguments, in support of life after death, by inviting attention to Allah's infinite power. The current verses are meant to prove this fact by giving an authoritative reference, that is, the Qur'an. Allah swears to the Greatness of the Qu...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Nay I swear fa-lā uqsimu lā is extra by the setting-places of the stars!
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Allah swears to the Greatness of the Qur'an The usage of La (in Fala) is not an extra character without meaning, as some of the scholars of Tafsir say. Rather it is used at the beginning of an oath when the oath is a negation. This is like when `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her said, "La by Al...

وَإِنَّهُۥ لَقَسَمٌ لَّوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ

Wa innahoo laqasamul lawta'lamoona'azeem

And indeed, it is an oath - if you could know - [most] great.

اور اگر تم سمجھو تو یہ بڑی قسم ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Sequencing of Arguments Preceding verses put forward rational arguments, in support of life after death, by inviting attention to Allah's infinite power. The current verses are meant to prove this fact by giving an authoritative reference, that is, the Qur'an. Allah swears to the Greatness of the Qu...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And indeed it the swearing by these setting-places of stars is a tremendous oath if you only knew — if you were people of deep knowledge you would realise the magnitude of this oath.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Allah swears to the Greatness of the Qur'an The usage of La (in Fala) is not an extra character without meaning, as some of the scholars of Tafsir say. Rather it is used at the beginning of an oath when the oath is a negation. This is like when `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her said, "La by Al...

أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَٰنٌ عَلَيْنَا بَٰلِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ

Am lakum aymaanun 'alainaa baalighatun ilaa yawmil qiyaamati inna lakum lamaa tahkumoon

Or do you have oaths [binding] upon Us, extending until the Day of Resurrection, that indeed for you is whatever you judge?

یا تم نے ہم سے قسمیں لے رکھی ہیں جو قیامت کے دن تک چلی جائیں گی کہ جس شے کا تم حکم کرو گے وہ تمہارے لئے حاضر ہوگی

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: This verse: أَفَنَجْعَلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَالْمُجْرِ‌مِينَ (Otherwise, shall We make the obedient like the sinners?... 68:35). Clarifies that it is rationally necessary that there should come a time when people will have to give account of their deeds, a place where the guilty ones will find no escap...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Or do you have oaths pledges binding secured on Us until the Day of Resurrection ilā yawmi’l-qiyāmati is semantically connected to ‘alaynā ‘on Us’; these words ‘alaynā bālighatun ‘binding on Us’ contain the sense of an oath given in other words ‘Did We swear to you?’ the response to which is what fo...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): A Parable of the Removal of the Earnings of the Disbelievers This is a parable that Allah made of the behavior of the Quraysh disbelievers with the great mercy, and tremendous favors He granted them. The mercy and favor of sending of Muhammad ﷺ to them. But they met him with denial, rejection and op...

فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِمَا تُبْصِرُونَ

Falaaa uqsimu bimaa tubsiroon

So I swear by what you see

تو ہم کو ان چیزوں کی قسم جو تم کو نظر آتی ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِمَا تُبْصِرُ‌ونَ وَمَا لَا تُبْصِرُ‌ونَ (I swear by what you see, and what you do not see….69:38-39). This comprehends the entire body of creation. Some say 'what you do not see' refers to the Being of Allah Ta` ala and His attributes. Others say 'what you see' refers to things of t...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: So indeed fa-lā lā is extra I swear by all that you see of creatures
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Qur'an is the Speech of Allah Allah swears by His creation, in which some of His signs can be seen in His creatures. These also indicate the perfection of His Names and Attributes. He then swears by the hidden things that they cannot see. This is an oath swearing that the Qur'an is His Speech, H...

وَمَا لَا تُبْصِرُونَ

Wa maa laa tubsiroon

And what you do not see

اور ان کی جو نظر میں نہیں آتیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِمَا تُبْصِرُ‌ونَ وَمَا لَا تُبْصِرُ‌ونَ (I swear by what you see, and what you do not see….69:38-39). This comprehends the entire body of creation. Some say 'what you do not see' refers to the Being of Allah Ta` ala and His attributes. Others say 'what you see' refers to things of t...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: and all that you do not see of them in other words I swear by all creatures
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Qur'an is the Speech of Allah Allah swears by His creation, in which some of His signs can be seen in His creatures. These also indicate the perfection of His Names and Attributes. He then swears by the hidden things that they cannot see. This is an oath swearing that the Qur'an is His Speech, H...

فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِٱلْخُنَّسِ

Falaaa uqsimu bil khunnas

So I swear by the retreating stars -

ہم کو ان ستاروں کی قسم جو پیچھے ہٹ جاتے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌ مَّا أَحْضَرَ‌تْ (then everyone will know what he [ or she ] has put forward... 81:14). It means that when Resurrection, with all the horrors mentioned above, will take place, man will realise what he has brought with him. The word 'what' here refers to his good and bad deeds, all of...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: So I swear fa-lā lā is extra by the receding planets
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Explanation of the Words Al-Khunnas and Al-Kunnas Muslim recorded in his Sahih, and An-Nasa'i in his Book of Tafsir, in explaining this Ayah, from `Amr bin Hurayth that he said, "I prayed the Morning prayer behind the Prophet , and I heard him reciting, فَلاَ أُقْسِمُ بِالْخُنَّسِ - الْجَوَارِ ا...

ٱلْجَوَارِ ٱلْكُنَّسِ

Al jawaaril kunnas

Those that run [their courses] and disappear -

(اور) جو سیر کرتے اور غائب ہو جاتے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌ مَّا أَحْضَرَ‌تْ (then everyone will know what he [ or she ] has put forward... 81:14). It means that when Resurrection, with all the horrors mentioned above, will take place, man will realise what he has brought with him. The word 'what' here refers to his good and bad deeds, all of...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: the movers the setters that is the five planets Saturn Jupiter Mars Venus and Mercury takhnusu means ‘they sink away’ during their orbit whereas we see stars at the end of their zodiacal course return to the start; taknisu means that they enter their kinās ‘hideaway’ in other words they retreat into...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Explanation of the Words Al-Khunnas and Al-Kunnas Muslim recorded in his Sahih, and An-Nasa'i in his Book of Tafsir, in explaining this Ayah, from `Amr bin Hurayth that he said, "I prayed the Morning prayer behind the Prophet , and I heard him reciting, فَلاَ أُقْسِمُ بِالْخُنَّسِ - الْجَوَارِ ا...

وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا عَسْعَسَ

Wallaili izaa 'as'as

And by the night as it closes in

اور رات کی قسم جب ختم ہونے لگتی ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌ مَّا أَحْضَرَ‌تْ (then everyone will know what he [ or she ] has put forward... 81:14). It means that when Resurrection, with all the horrors mentioned above, will take place, man will realise what he has brought with him. The word 'what' here refers to his good and bad deeds, all of...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: and by the night as it approaches as it falls with its darkness or it means as it recedes;
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Explanation of the Words Al-Khunnas and Al-Kunnas Muslim recorded in his Sahih, and An-Nasa'i in his Book of Tafsir, in explaining this Ayah, from `Amr bin Hurayth that he said, "I prayed the Morning prayer behind the Prophet , and I heard him reciting, فَلاَ أُقْسِمُ بِالْخُنَّسِ - الْجَوَارِ ا...

وَٱلصُّبْحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ

Wassubhi izaa tanaffas

And by the dawn when it breathes

اور صبح کی قسم جب نمودار ہوتی ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌ مَّا أَحْضَرَ‌تْ (then everyone will know what he [ or she ] has put forward... 81:14). It means that when Resurrection, with all the horrors mentioned above, will take place, man will realise what he has brought with him. The word 'what' here refers to his good and bad deeds, all of...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: and by the dawn as it breathes as it extends until it becomes broad daylight
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Explanation of the Words Al-Khunnas and Al-Kunnas Muslim recorded in his Sahih, and An-Nasa'i in his Book of Tafsir, in explaining this Ayah, from `Amr bin Hurayth that he said, "I prayed the Morning prayer behind the Prophet , and I heard him reciting, فَلاَ أُقْسِمُ بِالْخُنَّسِ - الْجَوَارِ ا...

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

Laaa uqsimu bihaazal balad

I swear by this city, Makkah -

ہمیں اس شہر (مکہ) کی قسم

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary لَا أُقْسِمُ بِهَـٰذَا الْبَلَدِ (I swear by this city...90:1). The particle la ('no' ) in the beginning of this sentence has no meaning here. Such particles in Arabic language are commonplace. However, the more appropriate view is that when a Surah begins with a la (no) followed by an oa...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: I swear lā is extra by this land of Mecca
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Which was revealed in Makkah بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Swearing by the Sanctity of Makkah and Other Things that Man was created in Hardship Here Allah has sworn by Makkah, the Mother of the Towns, addressing its resident (durin...

وَوَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ

Wa waalidinw wa maa walad

And [by] the father and that which was born [of him],

اور باپ (یعنی آدم) اور اس کی اولاد کی قسم

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: وَوَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ (and by the father and that which he begot,...90:3) The word walid refers to Holy Prophet 'Adam (علیہ السلام) the father of mankind, and the phrase مَا وَلَدَ 'that which he begot' refers to his children from the inception of the world to the end of the world. Thus this phrase...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And by the begetter that is Adam and that which he begat that is his descendants mā ‘that which’ actually means man ‘whom’.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Which was revealed in Makkah بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Swearing by the Sanctity of Makkah and Other Things that Man was created in Hardship Here Allah has sworn by Makkah, the Mother of the Towns, addressing its resident (durin...

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