Page 169 - An Index to the Qur'an

not use your intellect? (2:44) edge encompasses all that happened to him. Then
It is not devoutness to turn your faces to the East he followed a path until he arrived between the
or to the West. Rather, those with true devoutness two mountains where he found a people scarcely
are those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, able to understand speech. They said, ‘Dhu’l-
the Angels, the Book and the Prophets, and who, Qarnayn! Yajuj and Majuj are causing corruption
despite their love for it, give away their wealth to in the land. Can we, therefore, pay tribute to you in
their relatives and to orphans and the very poor, return for your constructing a barrier between us
and to travellers and beggars and to set slaves and them?’ He said, ‘The power my Lord has
free, and who perform prayer and give the alms; granted me is better than that. Just give me a strong
those who honour their contracts when they helping hand and I will build a solid barrier be-
make them, and are steadfast in poverty and ill- tween you and them. Bring me ingots of iron!’
ness and in battle. Those are the people who are Then, when he had made it level between the two
true. They are the people who guard against evil. high mountain-sides, he said, ‘Blow!’and when he
(2:177) had made it a red hot fire, he said, ‘Bring me
They will ask you about the crescent moons. Say, molten brass to pour over it.’ They were, therefore,
‘They are set times for mankind and for the pil- unable to climb over it nor were they able to make
grimage.’ It is not devoutness for you to enter a breach in it. He said, ‘This is a mercy from my
houses by the back. Rather devoutness is pos- Lord. But when my Lord’s promise comes about,
sessed by those who guard against evil. So come He will crush it flat. The promise of my Lord is
to houses by their doors and have fear of Allah, surely true.’ (18:83-98)
so that hopefully you will be successful. (2:189)
DIABOLIS (IBLIS)
DHIKR (SEE REMINDER) We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate to Adam!’ and
they prostrated, with the exception of Diabolis.
DHU’L-KIFL (AS) He refused and was arrogant and was one of the
Remember Our servants Isma‘il, Al-Yasa‘ and disbelievers. (2:34)
Dhu’l-Kifl; each of them was among the best of We created you and then formed you and then
men. (38:48) We said to the angels, ‘Prostrate before Adam,’
and they prostrated–except for Diabolis. He was
DHU’L-QARNAYN not among those who prostrated. (7:11)
They will ask you about Dhu’l-Qarnayn. Say: ‘I Then the angels prostrated all together, every one
will tell you something about him.’ We gave him of them–except Diabolis. He disdained to be one
power and authority on the earth and granted of the prostrators. He said, ‘Diabolis, what is it
him a way to everything. So he followed a way that prevents you being among the prostrators?’
until he reached the setting of the sun and found it He said, ‘I will not prostrate to a human being
setting in a muddy spring and found a people by it. whom You have created out of dried clay formed
We said, ‘Dhu’l-Qarnayn! You can either punish from fetid black mud.’ He said, ‘Get out from
them or else you can treat them with gentleness.’ here, you are accursed. The curse will be on you
He said, ‘As for those who do wrong, we will pun- till the Day of Reckoning.’ He said, ‘My Lord,
ish them and then they will be returned to their grant me a reprieve until the Day they are raised
Lord and He will punish them with a dreadful pun- again.’ He said, ‘You are among the reprieved
ishment. But as for him who believes and acts until the Day whose time is known.’ He said, ‘My
rightly, he will receive the best of rewards and we Lord, because You misled me, I will make things
will issue a command, making things easy for him.’ on the earth seem good to them and I will mis-
Then he followed a way until he reached the rising lead them all, every one of them, except Your
of the sun and found it rising on a people to whom servants among them who are sincere.’ He said,
We had not given any shelter from it. Our knowl- ‘This is a Straight Path to Me. You have no au-
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