Heritance Of Leadership/Guidance

LESSON # 127 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Heritance Of Leadership/Guidance

Verse –124b of 286, Section – 15

(Abraham) said: And of my offspring (will there be leaders)? He said: My covenant includeth not wrongdoers.

Qaala  wa min-zurriyyatii.  Qaala laa yanaalu  ‘abdiz-zaa-limiin.

Lesson

Zurriyyatii – (my offspring, my children, my generation) the word zurriyyatun has very vast meanings. That is to say in it children, children of the children and so on all are included. Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him) had two sons, Prophet Ishmael and Prophet Isaac (peace be upon them). Race of these two Prophets (peace be upon them) became zurriyyatun of the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him). The God Almighty blessed very much to this dynasty. Countless Prophets (peace be upon Them) were born in this family.

The children of Israel were very proud of their racial superiority. They used to say that they belonged to the race of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him) and it was written in the Torah that God Almighty have blessed and favoured them. It has been cleared through this verse that:

·       The children of Prophet Ishmael (peace be upon Him) are also included in this racial superiority and pride, blessings and favours.

·       The covenant of the God Almighty was only for the persons who had good characters not for those who were of bad characters. Those people who have lost the felicity of belief and good deeds, for them racial superiority can not become reason of distinction.

*After straying the ancient nations the God Almighty is laying foundation of the nation (the followers) of His Last Prophet and Messenger Muhammad (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) for the rank of leadership and guidance. So it was necessary that significant history of arising invitation of Holy Qur’an be mentioned.

The glorious and respectable Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him) was tried with many different methods by the God Almighty. He (peace be upon Him) was put in test, trouble and calamity but He (peace be upon Him) succeeded in all the examinations, never left patience and firmness. Due to result of this success the God Almighty appointed Him (peace be upon Him) as leader for guidance of the people. The Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Him) asked about His children (offspring) that “will they be also leaders”? The God Almighty commanded that “My covenant does not include the wrongdoers”. That is to say this rank will be bestowed to your race but with the condition that while they will not be cruel, disobedient and violent. If they adopted this path then this rank “leadership” will be snatched from them.

During a long period the leadership remained in the race of Prophet Abraham’s one son’s children i.e. the children of Israel who was son of Prophet Isaac (peace be upon Them). While they went astray, they did not pay the Right then this leadership was handed over to the Last Messenger Muhammad (may glory, grace, blessings and peace be upon Him) who was from the children of Prophet Ishmael, the second son of the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon Them). Now it is responsibility of the Muslims to prove themselves that they are able to hold this rank “leadership”.      

    

Transliteration in Roman Script & English Translation of Holy Qur’an written by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore and Paraphrase collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated by Muhammad Sharif)