Page 189 - An Index to the Qur'an

from a drop of sperm then from a clot of blood When the earth is convulsed and the mountains
then from a lump of flesh, formed yet unformed, are crushed and become scattered dust in the air.
so We may make things clear to you. We make (56:4-6)
whatever We want stay in the womb until a spec- Before that they were living in luxury, persisting
ified time and then We bring you out as children in immense wrongdoing and saying, ‘When we
so that you can reach your full maturity. Some of are dead and turned to dust and bones, shall we
you die and some of you revert to the lowest then be raised again or our forefathers, the earlier
form of life so that, after having knowledge, they peoples?’ (56:45-48)
then know nothing at all. And you see the earth We have warned you of an imminent punish-
dead and barren; then when We send down ment on the Day when a man will see what he
water onto it it quivers and swells and sprouts has done, and the disbeliever will say, ‘Oh, if
with luxuriant plants of every kind. (22:5) only I were dust!’ (78:40)
(The ruling circle of his people said,) ‘Does he That Day some faces will be dust-covered,
promise you that when you have died and be- (80:40)
come dust and bones you will be brought forth By the charging horses panting hard, striking
again?’ (23:35) sparks from their flashing hooves, raiding at full
They say, ‘When we are dead and turned to dust gallop in the early dawn, leaving a trailing dust-
and bones, shall we then be raised again?’ cloud in their wake, (100:1-4)
(23:82)
We will advance on the actions they have done DUTY
and make them scattered specks of dust. (25:23) It is prescribed for you, when death approaches
Those who disbelieve say, ‘When we and our fa- one of you and if he has some goods to leave, to
thers are turned to dust will we then be brought make a will in favour of his parents and relatives,
forth again?’ (27:67) correctly and fairly: a duty for all those who
Among His Signs is that He created you from guard against evil. (2:180)
dust and here you are now, widespread human Mothers should nurse their children for two full
beings! (30:20) years–those who wish to complete the full term
Allah created you from dust and then from a drop of nursing. It is the duty of the fathers to feed and
of sperm and then made you into pairs. No fe- clothe them with correctness and courtesy–no
male becomes pregnant or gives birth except self is charged with more than it can bear. No
with His knowledge. And no living thing lives mother should be put under pressure in respect
long or has its life cut short without that being in of her child nor any father in respect of his child.
a Book. That is easy for Allah. (35:11) The same duty is incumbent on the heir. If the
(They say,) ‘When we are dead and turned to couple both wish weaning to take place after
dust and bones will we then be raised up again mutual agreement and consultation, there is
alive?’ (37:16) nothing wrong in their doing that. If you wish to
One of them will say, ‘I used to have a friend find wet-nurses for your children, there is noth-
who would say to me, "Are you one of those who ing wrong in your doing that provided you hand
say that it is true: that when we have died and are over to them what you have agreed to give with
turned to dust and bones, we will face a correctness and courtesy. Have fear of Allah and
Reckoning?"’ (37:51-53) know that Allah sees what you do. (2:233)
Nonetheless they are amazed that a warner There is nothing wrong in your divorcing women
should have come to them from among them- before you have touched them or allotted a
selves and those who disbelieve say, ‘What an dowry to them. But give them a gift–he who is
extraordinary thing! When we are dead and wealthy according to his means and he who is
turned to dust...? That would be a most unlikely less well off according to his means–a gift to be
return!’ (50:2-3) given with correctness and courtesy: a duty for
187