Welcome to our weekly program “Path Towards Enlightenment” in which we present you a fluent and easy-to-understand explanation of the ayahs of the holy Qur’an.

We start from where we left you last Friday and here are ayahs 41 and 42 of Surah Ankabut:

مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِ اللَّـهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ كَمَثَلِ الْعَنكَبُوتِ اتَّخَذَتْ بَيْتًا ۖ وَإِنَّ أَوْهَنَ الْبُيُوتِ لَبَيْتُ الْعَنكَبُوتِ ۖ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ

إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ مِن شَيْءٍ ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

“The parable of those who take guardians instead of Allah is that of the spider that takes a home, and indeed the frailest of homes is the home of a spider, had they known!”

“Allah indeed knows whatever thing they invoke besides Him, and He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.”

Over the past few weeks, while explaining to you the previous ayahs of this Surah, whose name ‘Ankabut” is Arabic for spider, we focused on the terrible fate that befell the sinful, unrepentant and rebellious disbelievers, who spared no efforts to trouble and torment the Prophets sent by God to guide them. This ayah, in a beautiful expression, likens the situation of the intransigent disbelievers who indulge in polytheism, to a spider, or more properly to the cobweb it weaves, and goes on to say that these seemingly mighty, powerful and arrogant persons, who dwell in supposedly safe and secure places, should realize that the home of the spider is the weakest of all homes. In other words, even the most powerful rulers are very weak before the Might of Almighty Allah, and the homes they have built can be destroyed with a gust of wind, whenever Divine Providence decrees. To be more precise, those who rely on others instead of God have actually put their trust in a cobweb that could be blown away and destroyed with ease. This is an admonition to the disbelievers, to repent, rectify and reform themselves in order to avail of God’s Infinite Mercy, instead of continuing their aimless and worthless life.

From these ayahs we learn that:

1. Parables are among the methods of God Almighty for clarifying facts to mankind, so that it would be easy to understand.

2. Real faith in monotheism is based on firm foundations which no power can shake while polytheism and atheism are like the cobwebs that are easily wiped out.

3. We should trust the One and Only God, who is Invincible and All-Wise.

Now we read ayahs 43 and 44 of Surah Ankabut:

وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ ۖ وَمَا يَعْقِلُهَا إِلَّا الْعَالِمُونَ

خَلَقَ اللَّـهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِالْحَقِّ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

“And We draw these parables for mankind; but no one grasps them except those who have knowledge.”

“Allah created the heavens and the earth with reason. There is indeed a sign in that for the faithful.”

These ayahs refer to the importance of Qur’anic parables and mean to say that these similes are not useless. They are the words of God expressed for clarifying the difference between true belief and disbelief. Although these parables appear simple they have deep and valuable points for those who have knowledge. They appeal to the intellect. The next ayah means to say that God has not created the heavens and the earth in vain, but with a purpose, and if we ponder on the world of creation, there are indeed clear signs for people of faith regarding the handiwork of the All-Mighty and All-Wise Creator. It is unfortunate that the polytheists, the disbelievers, and the atheists, fail to understand such clear realities and facts.

From these ayahs we learn that:

1. The parables in the holy Qur’an are full of meaning, and help us understand the facts of life and creation, when we proper reflect upon them.

2. The world has been created for a specific goal and has a purpose behind; which means the creation of universe, life, and the human race, which is the best of creation, is not something accidental or haphazard.

Now we read ayah 45 of Surah Ankabut:

اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ ۖ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّـهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ

“Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book, and maintain the prayer. Indeed the prayer prevents indecencies and wrongs, and the remembrance of Allah is surely greater. And Allah knows whatever [deeds] you do.”

This ayah, like the rest of the holy Qur’an, is addressed to Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God be upon him and his progeny), but it includes all those who have faith in belief in Islam. In this ayah, two tasks have been recommended, one is recitation of the holy Qur’an and the other is the holding of the daily ritual prayer. When we adhere to the letter and spirit of the heavenly scripture, and punctually perform the daily ritual prayers, we will strengthen the pillars of faith, and be on guard against impiety, indecency, sins, and other wrongdoings, because regular observance of these two, enables us to have a clear conscience and perception, which in turn help us to remain clean in thought, action, and appearance. Without the least doubt, if recitation of the holy Qur’an is accompanied with proper reflection on the concepts of divine ayahs, it will have more positive impact and will further strengthen our faith. If prayers are held in the proper manner with attention to the meaning of the words and phrases being recited, and with presence of heart towards God, it will keep us away from wrongdoing and sins. One of benefits of the proper performance of the daily ritual prayers is to purify the human body and spirit, and make them immune from all sorts of pollution. Besides immunity from sins, the most important benefit of the daily ritual prayers, if accompanied by firm faith in the fundamentals of Islam, is proximity to God the All-Merciful, and receiving of His blessings.

From this ayah we learn that:

1. Recitation of the holy Qur’an and punctual performance of the daily ritual prayers top the educational programs of Islam.

2. The holy Qur’an explains to us the philosophy and wisdom of several Islamic injunctions including the daily ritual prayer which keeps believers away from impurities, by increasing attention towards God.

3. Doing good deeds like recitation of the holy Qur’an and holding of prayers naturally keep human away from evil deeds.

4. Prayer plays a great role in reforming the person and the society.

 FK/AS/ME