2-97 Say: Whoever is an enemy to Gabriela — for surely he revealed it to thy heart by Allah’s command, verifying that which is before it and a guidance and glad tidings for the believers.b
قُلۡ مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّ۬ا لِّجِبۡرِيلَ فَإِنَّهُ ۥ نَزَّلَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ قَلۡبِكَ بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِ مُصَدِّقً۬ا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ وَهُدً۬ى وَبُشۡرَىٰ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ (٩٧)
2:97a جبریل – A saying in Bukhari by Akramah states that جبریل (Gabriel), میکال (Michael) and اسرافیل (Raphael) all have the meaning of عبداللّٰه (servant of Allah). The meaning of جبر or میك or سراف is عبد (servant) and ایل has the meaning of اللّٰه (Allah). But جبریل can be a compound word from جبر and اٰئل . The meaning of جبر is to reform something through dominance and so a sultan or king is also called جبر. And اٰئل is from اَوۡل , that is oft-returning. So جبریل is the one who returns again and again like a king who desires to reform.
Gabriel and the Jews: Several hadith of great reliability seem to indicate that during the time of the Holy Prophet, the Jews considered Gabriel to be their enemy. According to Bukhari, Abdullah bin Salam stated before the Holy Prophet: ذاك عدو الیھود من الملائکة and this is further underscored in some narrations that consider Gabriel to be ملك التشدید والعذاب (the angel of hardships and punishment).
Revelation brought by Gabriel: The Bible indicates that Gabriel is the angel that brings revelation. Accordingly, a verse in Daniel states: And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, “Gabriel make this man understand the vision.” (Daniel 8:16). The same is also apparent from Luke 1:19-26. Similarly, the Quran states that Gabriel brought revelation to the Holy Prophet, as in this verse. The Hadith establishes that Gabriel and the Holy Prophet mutually recited the Quran during the month of Ramadan, and Bukhari it shows that the same angel who brought revelation to the Holy Prophet brought revelation to Moses as well. See the statement of Waraqah in the book, کیف کان بدء الوحی (How Revelation Started) where he said: ھذا الناموس الذی نزل اللّٰه علٰی موسٰی . It appears that the Jews started associating punishment with Gabriel because whenever he brought revelation to prophets, the Jews rejected it because of their hard-heartedness and were punished for their rejection. They imputed this punishment to Gabriel.
2:97b: نَزَّلَهُ – The difference made between تنزیل and انزال is that تنزیل is used in situations where the revelation comes in parts or where the idea is to signal the revelation of chapters and verses of the Quran in succession, one after the other, whereas انزال is used more generically (R).
قلب – The literal meaning of قلب is to turn a thing from one state to another (R). The heart is called قلب because it turns the blood around or because it changes one’s thinking. The meaning of قلب is also the reality or essence of a thing (T). The hadith states: الالکل شئ قلب و قلب القران یٰس (Everything has a heart and the heart of Quran is the chapter Ya-Sin). Here, Ibn Kathir interprests the meaning of قلب as the essence or core.
The meaning of revelation to the heart: In comparison with the physical heart of the body, the soul has a heart which is the center of a person’s spirituality, and this is the heart mentioned here. This heart receives revelation. Some take نَزَّلَهُ ۥ عَلَىٰ قَلۡبِكَ to mean جعل قلبك متصفابا خلاق القران (Shaped your heart with the virtues of the Quran).
اذن – The ear is called اُذُن . And اِذن or اذان is a thing that is listened to and the words signify knowledge because knowledge is gained from listening. And, in a thing, اذن is to give knowledge that it is permitted. Hence by اللّٰه اذن is meant His intention and His action. Where اذن is used in the sense of knowledge, it is knowledge that reflects the will of God. Hence, اذن has a very specific meaning while علم to indicate knowledge is generic.
بشری – The manifest or outer side of leather is called بَشَرَة while its inner side is called اَدَمَة . It is with reference to this that humans are calledبَشَر . And بشریٰ and بشارة refers to news that makes one happy (R), because it makes the skin of the face expand [as in a smile].
Bringing of revelation by Gabriel to the Holy Prophet: Gabriel brought revelation to the prophets as is apparent from the Bible (See previous note), but the Jews mistakenly considered Gabriel to be an angel of punishment. Hence it became necessary, when Gabriel is mentioned in the revelation, to clarify that just as Gabriel brought revelation to previous prophets, he also brings revelation to the heart of the Holy Prophet. This revelation verifies the previous revelations and is good news for those who accept it. Gabriel is, therefore, not an angel of punishment, but the bringer of guidance and good news.
2-98 Whoever is an enemy to Allah and His angels and His messengers and Gabriel and Michael, then surely Allah is an enemy to disbelievers.
مَن كَانَ عَدُوًّ۬ا لِّلَّهِ وَمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَتِهِۦ وَرُسُلِهِۦ وَجِبۡرِيلَ وَمِيكَٮٰلَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَدُوٌّ۬ لِّلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ (٩٨)
عَدُوًّ۬- The meaning of عَدۡو is to transgress, that is to go beyond all limits, and to have no agreement. If the discord is with respect to the heart, it means عَداوَة and معاودة , that is enmity, if it is with respect to walking, then it isعَدۡو(running or racing), if it is with respect to a particular affair or with respect to disturbance in the court, then it is عُدۡوان andعَدۡو, that is aggression or wrongdoing. عَدُوًّ۬ , that is an enemy, may be of two types: One who is intentional and objective in his enmity, as in: مِن قَوۡمٍ عَدُوٍّ۬ لَّكُمۡ (…a tribe hostile to you…) (4:92), and the other who has no intention or plan, but creates a condition that causes harm similar to that caused by an enemy, as the statement of Abraham about idols: فَإِنَّہُمۡ عَدُوٌّ۬ لِّىٓ إِلَّا رَبَّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (Surely they are an enemy to me, but not (so) the Lord of the worlds, or as stated: إِنَّ مِنۡ أَزۡوَٲجِكُمۡ وَأَوۡلَـٰدِڪُمۡ عَدُوًّ۬ا لَّڪُمۡ (…surely of your wives and your children there are enemies to you…) (64:14). It is from this perspective that Allah is the enemy of the unbelievers, that is, He will treat them as such, or that they will be at the receiving end of His punishment.
It is stated here that enmity with Gabriel is enmity with Allah and His angels. Michael is specifically mentioned because the Jews considered Michael to be their friend. Accordingly, it is stated in Daniel: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people” (Daniel 12:1). Whoever acts with enmity toward Allah and the angels, then Allah too treats that person accordingly.
The meaning of Allah’s enmity: Allah does not harbor enmity against anybody. The use of the word is only to signify the punishment for enmity that would be meted out to them. For the use of this word see 15a.
2-99 And We indeed have revealed to thee clear messages, and none disbelieve in them except the transgressors.
وَلَقَدۡ أَنزَلۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ ءَايَـٰتِۭ بَيِّنَـٰتٍ۬ۖ وَمَا يَكۡفُرُ بِهَآ إِلَّا ٱلۡفَـٰسِقُونَ (٩٩)
فاسق – They are called فاسق here because a covenant had been taken from them regarding the last prophet. This covenant is mentioned more clearly in the next verse. For the meaning of فاسق see 26b.
2-100 Is it that whenever they make a covenant, a party of them cast it aside? Nay, most of them have no faith.
2-101 And when there came to them a messenger from Allah verifying that which they have, a party of those who were given the Book threw the Book of Allah behind their backs as if they knew nothing.a
أَوَڪُلَّمَا عَـٰهَدُواْ عَهۡدً۬ا نَّبَذَهُ ۥ فَرِيقٌ۬ مِّنۡهُمۚ بَلۡ أَكۡثَرُهُمۡ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ (١٠٠)
وَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمۡ رَسُولٌ۬ مِّنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ مُصَدِّقٌ۬ لِّمَا مَعَهُمۡ نَبَذَ فَرِيقٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ ڪِتَـٰبَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمۡ كَأَنَّهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ (١٠١)
2:101a: نَبَذَ – نَبَذَ is to discard a thing whose worth and value is not appreciated (R). It is further elucidated that these people did not even care about the book of God, the Torah, in which the covenant to accept the Holy Prophet was stated.
2-102 And they follow what the devils fabricated against the kingdom of Solomon.a And Solomon disbelieved not,b but the devils disbelieved, teaching men enchantment.c And it was not revealed to the two angels in Babel, Harut and Marut.d Nor did they teach (it to) anyone, so that they should have said, We are only a trial, so disbelieve not.e But they learn from these two (sources)f that by which they make a distinction between a man and his wife.g And they cannot hurt with it anyone except with Allah’s permission.h And they learn that which harms them and profits them not. And certainly they know that he who buys it has no share of good in the Hereafter.i And surely evil is the price for which they have sold their souls, did they but know!
وَٱتَّبَعُواْ مَا تَتۡلُواْ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينُ عَلَىٰ مُلۡكِ سُلَيۡمَـٰنَۖ وَمَا ڪَفَرَ سُلَيۡمَـٰنُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ كَفَرُواْ يُعَلِّمُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ ٱلسِّحۡرَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَى ٱلۡمَلَڪَيۡنِ بِبَابِلَ هَـٰرُوتَ وَمَـٰرُوتَۚ وَمَا يُعَلِّمَانِ مِنۡ أَحَدٍ حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَآ إِنَّمَا نَحۡنُ فِتۡنَةٌ۬ فَلَا تَكۡفُرۡۖ فَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنۡهُمَا مَا يُفَرِّقُونَ بِهِۦ بَيۡنَ ٱلۡمَرۡءِ وَزَوۡجِهِۦۚ وَمَا هُم بِضَآرِّينَ بِهِۦ مِنۡ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَيَتَعَلَّمُونَ مَا يَضُرُّهُمۡ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمۡۚ وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمُواْ لَمَنِ ٱشۡتَرَٮٰهُ مَا لَهُ ۥ فِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ مِنۡ خَلَـٰقٍ۬ۚ وَلَبِئۡسَ مَا شَرَوۡاْ بِهِۦۤ أَنفُسَهُمۡۚ لَوۡ ڪَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ (١٠٢)
2:102a تَتۡلُواْ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينُ عَلَىٰ – The use of the word تلی or تلاوت is specific to prescriptions in the revelation of Allah. See 44a. One meaning of تلی علیه would be that he read out to him, as in: يَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡہِمۡ ءَايَـٰتِهٖ . It is obvious that this cannot be the meaning here because the devils did not recite anything to the kingdom of Solomon. Hence, another meaning is meant here. The meaning of یتلوا علیٰ فلان is یَکۡذبُ عَلیه , that is, they lied about it or they made a false imputation against him. In other words, they imputed false things to Solomon to seem that they were from God.
مُلۡكِ – مُلۡكِ and all other words derived from the same root have a sense of power and vehemence in their meaning (T). مُلك is to order the confiscation of something and to put it to one’s own use, and in ordinary parlance it means kingship. The meaning here is prophethood as stated by Mujahid in the commentary of the verse: ٱللَّهُمَّ مَـٰلِكَ ٱلۡمُلۡكِ (O Allah, Owner of the Kingdom) (3:26). Solomon’s real kingdom was his prophethood.
Solomon son of David: His period was around 977 BC. No other Israelite ruler matched his reign for splendor and glory and the extent of his empire. He was a prophet as well as a king.
The false imputation of the Jews against Solomon: After explaining how the Jews, with the advent of the Holy Prophet, turned their back on the Book of Allah, it is now explained that instead of following the Book of Allah, the Jews had started following the falsehoods that the mischievous and seditious people were falsely imputing to Solomon to fool the populace, and to destroy the truth in this way. Many falsehoods were attributed to Solomon by the Jews. Unfortunately, the Muslims also adopted some of these fables which include the magic of Solomon and the images of Solomon. By ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ is meant the people who imputed such falsehoods to Solomon.
2:102b Solomon’s unbelief and polytheism in the Bible: This statement is made in the Quran because a section of the Jews had developed so much malice against Solomon that they imputed unbelief and polytheistic practices to Solomon and these charges made their way into the Bible. Accordingly, it is stated in 1 Kings, “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God,” (11:4). Further on, it is stated that Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord and the Lord was angry with him.
The Bible’s text tampered and its rectification by the Quran: While this is definitive proof that Biblical text is tampered with as evidenced by the immoral actions purportedly committed by a prophet, it is also proof that the Quran is a guardian over the previous scriptures in that it exposes their errors. Even Christian researchers agree that this narration in the Bible is incorrect. Accordingly, the Encyclopedia Biblica states: “That Solomon had a number of wives, both Israelite and non-Israelite, is probable enough, but he did not make alters for all of them, nor did he himself combine the worship of his wives’ gods with that of Yahwe.” The majesty of the Quran can be gauged from the fact that it’s original writings that came from an unlettered person who had not read the Bible are vindicated by research, while the Bible’s narration is proven erroneous. It follows that the Quran does not plagiarize from the Bible but instead corrects the errors of the Bible.
2:102c ٱلسِّحۡرَ – ٱلسِّحۡرُ الحِّداعُ و تَخۡیِیۡلَاتٌ لا حقیۡة لھا (magic is deception and an illusion and devoid of reality) (R). Jauhri describes magic as: کل ما لطف و دق ما خذہ فھو سحر (A matter whose reality is subtle and exquisite is سحر (magic)). A hadith states: ان من البیان لسحرا (some eloquent speech is as effective as magic), meaning thereby that the speech attracts the hearts of the people towards the proposition of the speaker. By the devils teaching the people magic is meant putting deceptive ideas in the minds of people and getting them to make dishonest statements that have no basis in truth. Even today, the devils teach similar things to people. The meaning of سحر as a basic transformation of nature, as commonly considered by people, has no basis in fact.
What is stated here is that the devils, meaning mischievous people, spread malicious lies about Solomon. The Jews act upon them. Secondly, they follow the magic which is taught by people who are themselves troublemakers. The next verse explains to whom they impute these statements.
2:102d بَابِلَ – بَابِلَ was an ancient and large city which was the capital city of Iraq for a long time. It was situated on the banks of River Euphrates and its ruins can still be found on both banks of the river. It was the capital of Iraq even prior to 2300 BC. Historians state that the city wall around it was 55 miles long. At the time of Nebuchadnezzar, it was at its zenith but later it was destroyed.
مَآ أُنزِلَ – Theمَآ in مَآ أُنزِلَ is used in the sense of negativing the statement as stated by Ibn Jarir because angels have never been sent physically into the world as Messengers, leave alone receiving magic from on High.
The Jews took the story of Harut and Marut from the Iranians: The Jews had a relationship with the Iranians, and used this relationship to instigate the Iranians against Islam. It was from the Iranians that they had taken the story of Harut and Marut. It was a widespread belief among the Iranians, as Sale has written, that there were two angels, Harut and Marut, in Babel who had received some revelation and that they taught people magic. Accordingly, Allah, the Most High, has negated two things here. First are those things that were attributed to Solomon, it is stated that he did not disbelief. Second the tale of Harut and Marut and the idea that they received some magic through revelation. It is stated that the Jews followed magical practices under the pretext that they were revealed to two angels Harut and Marut. It is here refuted that magic was revealed to the two angels Harut and Marut.
The opinion of researchers on Islam about the story of Harut and Marut: The nonsensical stories about Harut and Marut that some researchers wrote can be traced back to a certain extent to the Magians or the Jews. The Quran and Hadith are free from such frivolities. Imam Razi after describing these stories opines that these tales are sinful and vile. Shahab Iraqi writes that whoever believes that Harut and Marut are two angels who were punished because of their liaison with Zohra (Venus) is a disbeliever in Allah because the angels are innocent and cannot disobey Allah. Ruh al-Maani states that none of these tales can be verified to have originated from Prophet Muhammad. One wishes that Islamic books had been free from such frivolous stories that a rational person cannot accept. In short, those with knowledge regard these tales as vile.
2:102e The makers of the Harut and Marut tale also say that the two angels are hanging head down in a well and that they teach magic to people. However, they preface their teaching by telling the people that they are a trial and that they should not become unbelievers by learning magic from them. The Quran has condemned the learning of magic by calling it the work of the devil. Muslims should avoid such useless activities.
2:102f The personal pronoun مِنۡهُمَا points to both the sources that had been mentioned previously, that is, the sinful talks imputed to Solomon although he had no connection with them, and secondly, the magic that was reputedly revealed to Harut and Marut.
2:102g In this one sentence, the reality of the full plan that was being hatched against the Holy Prophet is explained. There is only one society outside of religion that creates a distinction between men and women, that is, men can become its members but not women and that is Freemasonry. So, this verse informs that efforts are being made to destroy Islam by Freemasons, that is, secret societies. This is hinted in the next few words, and that the Jews in collaboration with the Freemasons are making secret plans against the Holy Prophet.
2:102h Secret plans against Islam: Here it is told that their purpose is to harm Islam and the Holy Prophet, but they will be unsuccessful in harming them. In another place in the Quran, it is stated that the People of the Book make secret plans to harm the believers: إِنَّمَا ٱلنَّجۡوَىٰ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ لِيَحۡزُنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَلَيۡسَ بِضَآرِّهِمۡ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّ (Secret counsels are only of the devil that he may cause to grieve those who believe, and he can hurt them naught except with Allah’s permission) (58:10). In both places the words are similar. So, in these words too, there is a hint about the secret plans that the Jews were making in collaboration with the Freemasons to kill the Holy Prophet.
The reality of Freemasons: The Freemasons are a society that has existed since ancient times. It is thought to be founded during the time of Solomon. Freemasons do not disclose their condition to anybody nor what they learn. The control of this society in this age is in the hands of nations that have political dominance over the world and its final goal is Christianity. Some ignorant Muslims also get trapped in their net and ruin their faith and belief.
Four things are disclosed here. First, there are some fiendish people who are making secret plans. Second, they find the rationale for this activity by imputing it to prophets (Solomon) and angels (Harut and Marut). Third that these plans are being made by those who differentiate between men and women, that is, Freemasons. Fourth, that their objective is to destroy Islam but they will not be able to harm it.
The reason for harm to believers: إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِۚ is in the form of استثنائے منقطع , that is a new statement starts after it. The meaning, therefore, is that they will not be able to harm the believers, but that the believers may suffer harm only if Allah permits. The need to provide this exception here is that Allah has stated His law that the believers will suffer from some difficulties, and something of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits, because without such struggle, believers cannot achieve perfection. So the enemies will be unsuccessful in their secret plans to harm, that is to destroy [Islam or kill the Prophet] but some harm may befall the believers in line with Allah’s plan to take them to perfection.
2:102i خَلَـٰقٍ۬ – خَلق is to create, that is the external form, while خُلق implies traits of character, that is, the internal form. And خلاق is the excellence that one achieves with his خُلق , that is the qualities of his character. For this reason, its meaning has become pleasure and delight, or share (R).
The fate of the planners: It is made clear here that not only would the Jews not be able to harm the Holy Prophet but that these things would be a source of harm to the Jews. They will not be able to benefit from them, but on the contrary would suffer loss. Accordingly, their plans against Islam ultimately resulted in their destruction and banishment from their homes.
2-103 And if they had believed and kept their duty, reward from Allah would certainly have been better; did they but know!a
وَلَوۡ أَنَّهُمۡ ءَامَنُواْ وَٱتَّقَوۡاْ لَمَثُوبَةٌ۬ مِّنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ خَيۡرٌ۬ۖ لَّوۡ كَانُواْ يَعۡلَمُونَ (١٠٣)
2:103a مَثُوبَةٌ۬ – مَثُوبَةٌ۬ and ثواب are both from ثوب which means for a thing to return to its original real self. And مَثُوبَةٌ۬ or ثواب is used to mean reward for an action. The derivation is on the grounds that it is as if the same action is returned (R).
This verse introduces belief in the Quran and in this way provides a connection with the next section which mentions the magnificence of the Quran and the need to believe in because it abrogates the shariah or laws of the previous scriptures.
Bayan-ul-Quran 