Page 136 - An Index to the Qur'an

who purifies it has succeeded, he who covers it do. (3:156)
up has failed. (91:7-10) Among you there are people who hang back and
if you encounter a setback then they say, ‘Allah
COW has blessed me in that I was not there with them.’
And when Musa said to his people, ‘Allah com- (4:72)
mands you to sacrifice a cow,’ they said, ‘What! But if you meet with favour from Allah they
Are you making a mockery of us?’ He said, ‘I seek say–as if there were no friendship between you
refuge with Allah from being one of the igno- and them–‘Oh! If only I had been with them so
rant!’ They said, ‘Ask your Lord to make it clear that I too might have won a great victory.’ (4:73)
to us what it should be like.’ He said, ‘He says it You who believe! When you encounter those
should be a cow, not old or virgin, but some- who disbelieve advancing in massed ranks into
where between the two. So do as you have been battle, do not turn your backs on them. (8:15)
told.’ They said, ‘Ask your Lord to make it clear Anyone who turns his back on them that day, un-
to us what colour it should be.’ He said, ‘He says less he is withdrawing to rejoin the fight or with-
it should be a yellow cow, a pleasure to all who drawing to support another group, brings Allah’s
look.’ They said, ‘Ask your Lord to make it clear anger down upon himself. His refuge is Hell.
to us what it should be like. Cows are all much What an evil destination! (8:16)
the same to us. Then, if Allah wills, we will be Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day do
guided.’ He said, ‘He says it should be a cow not not ask you to excuse them from striving with
trained to plough or irrigate the fields–com- their wealth and themselves. Allah knows the
pletely sound, without a blemish on it.’ They people who guard against evil. (9:44)
said, ‘Now you have brought the truth.’ So they Among them are there some who say, ‘Give me
sacrificed it–but they almost did not do it. (2:67- permission to stay. Do not put temptation in my
71) way.’ Have they not fallen into that very tempta-
The King declared, ‘I dreamt of seven fat cows tion? Hell hems in the disbelievers. (9:49)
which seven thin ones ate and seven green ears They swear by Allah that they are of your num-
of wheat and seven others which were dry. O ber, but they are not of your number. Rather, they
counsellors! Explain my dream to me if you are are people who are scared. (9:56)
those who can interpret visions!’ They said, ‘A If they could find a bolt-hole, cave or burrow,
jumbled mass of mixed-up dreams! We do not they would turn and scurry away into it. (9:57)
know the meaning of such things.’ The one of
them who had been saved then said, remember- CRADLE
ing after a period, ‘I will tell you what it signifies, (The angels said to Maryam,) ‘He (‘Isa) will speak
so send me out.’ ‘O truthful Yusuf, tell us of seven to people in the cradle, and also when fully
fat cows which seven thin ones ate and seven grown, and will be one of the righteous.’ (3:46)
green ears of wheat and seven others which were Remember when Allah said, ‘‘Isa, son of
dry so that I can return to them and let them Maryam, remember My blessing to you and to
know.’ (12:43-46) your mother when I reinforced you with the
Purest Spirit so that you could speak to people in
COWARDICE the cradle and when you were fully grown; and
You who believe! Do not be like those who dis- when I taught you the Book and Wisdom, and
believe and say of their brothers, when they are the Torah and the Gospel; and when you created
going on journeys or military expeditions, ‘If they a bird-shape out of clay by My permission, and
had only been with us, they would not have died then breathed into it and it became a bird by My
or been killed,’ so that Allah can make that an- permission; and healed the blind and the leper
guish for them in their hearts. It is Allah Who by My permission; and when you brought forth
gives life and causes to die. Allah sees what you the dead by My permission; and when I held
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