STUDY
GUIDE 5
BUILDING THE WILL
PART I
READING MATERIAL
Holy Qur'an
Surah 11
"HUD"
The Will of God Part I
Self-Improvement
Page 3;
Paragraphs 4 & 5
Page 7;
Paragraphs 1 & 2
FACT (S)
Both the Bible and the Holy
Qur'an teach us that the Will of
Allah (God) is the Power behind
the Universe: its creation, its
maintenance and its sustenance.
WILL is the faculty of conscious
and especially of deliberate
action.
Both books teach us that Allah
(God) has given each of us a
FREE WILL. This faculty of
divine power distinguishes man
from all other life forms in
Creation.
"Brothers and Sisters, each time
we turn away from the struggle
to overcome difficulty, there
then is deterioration of
character and there is
destruction of the Will -- and
the Will that is within you is
God's gift. It is His Essence
that He gives to man and
anything that deteriorates your
Will destroys your ability to
cope with the problems of life.
Struggle is ordained."
(SELF-IMPROVEMENT Page 3)
DISCUSSION
1)
First, let us review some key
words and their definitions.
Please look at the
GLOSSARY.
2) You have
read Surah 11, "Hud", in
preparation for this session. In
the lives of the prophets, we
see examples of strong Will, or,
"conscious and deliberate
action." Just as the physical
body requires food (nourishment)
to stimulate and sustain it,
there is a primary source of
nourishment required to build
the Will. What is it?
Supplement
3) Let us
review 11:36-49. The Prophet
Noah obviously had a strong
Will. By what means or method
was his Will strengthened? Did
he attain his objective? What
happened to his opposition?
Supplement
4) Let us
review the "MAKE YOUR WORD BOND"
Pledge Card which is attached to
this guide. What is a "pledge"?
Why would the Honorable Elijah
Muhammad ask us to strive to
build schools, housing,
businesses, when there are
already a multitude of these
things already in existence
around us?
Supplement
5) Please give
some examples of the prophet's
encounters with opposition as
given in Surah 11. Why are we
given these histories to study
throughout the Holy Qur'an?
Supplement
6) Has
Minister Farrakhan encountered
any opposition? Why do you think
he has been singled out of the
thousands of men who claim to
carry the Word of Allah (God),
and is the subject of such
vicious attacks? Do you
encounter any opposition as one
who believes with him and
supports him in our mission?
What do you do when you
encounter opposition? After
completing this study session,
including the reading of the
11th Surah, what should you do
when you are opposed in your
mission?
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Select one bad habit that you
DESIRE to break. Beginning
tonight, you are to focus your
WILL on overcoming that habit.
Whether it is smoking, drinking,
gossip, excessive eating,
oversleeping, too much
television --- whatever it is,
you are to stop it as of NOW.-
At our next session, BUILDING
THE WILL PART II, be prepared to
speak on your progress in
overcoming the habit (it is not
necessary to state exactly what
the habit is, but you may do so
if you wish).
May Allah (God) bless us all
with success and the Will to do
HIS WILL for ourselves and
others.
SUPPLEMENT
1) See
GLOSSARY.
2) Before He
said "Be!", Allah (God) had the
DESIRE to BE. DESIRE is the food
that builds the Will. Desire
causes us to strive to achieve
whatever the object of our
desire is. You will recall that
Desire was defined in the
GLOSSARY in Session #3,
"Overcoming Difficulty".
Remember Minister Farrakhan's
words from SELF-IMPROVEMENT:
Building the
Will Part I - Page 2
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"The desire to
attain a goal brings us face to
face with difficulty. When we
undergo the trial of difficulty,
the trial may be so intense that
it extinguishes the light of the
desire to attain the goal"
As we embark upon the course of
building the Will, we see the
importance of keeping alive the
light of Desire. For the Will is
exercised only as long as there
is a Desire. Continuing,
perpetual desire generates
continuing, perpetual exercise
of the Will.
Without Desire, we have lost the
nourishment to strengthen our
Will, which weakens and is
ultimately starved to death. It
is the absence of the Desire to
read that makes it impossible to
achieve literacy; we must have
the Will to read so that when
difficulties are encountered in
learning how to read, we will be
able to overcome those
difficulties and accomplish the
goal.
A child who is crawling does not
realize that he has the ability
to walk until he performs the
act. What triggers his conscious
and deliberate action of
walking? Desire. His mother or
father may call him, "Come to
Mommy" or "Come to Daddy" and
out of his desire to do so, he
stands; he wobbles; he achieves
his balance; he walks. Or, a
brightly-colored ball is placed
in his range of vision. He is
delighted; he wants to touch it;
he wants to pick it up and
handle it. His desire for the
object leads him to exercise his
will to overcome whatever
difficulty he must overcome in
order to walk.
We learned in Session 4, "The
Struggle For Balance", that our
primary inclination is to Allah
(God). In our nature is the
ultimate desire for Allah (God).
But because we have been made
other than ourselves, or other
than the nature in which we were
created, we may not realize our
ultimate desire, but, - as the
Holy Qur'an teaches, we take our
low desires as our God. Before
we can build our Will our
balance must be achieved, so
that we move forward with Allah
(God) as the center of our
existence in our conscious mind
and in our hearts.
3) In the
history of Noah, we find the
definitive portrayal of a man
with a strong Will to do the
Will of Allah (God). The
nourishment for his Will was his
Desire to please Allah (God,
While his Knowledge was limited,
his Faith was not. His Faith in
his lord was manifested in his
constancy at his task. His
ultimate objective Was Allah
(God); his specific objective
was to build the ark. His Desire
set the path of the direction of
his efforts.
There was opposition to Noah and
those with him. The chiefs of
the people mocked him and caused
the people to mock him. But the
mockery actually strengthened
his Will. Will is Power. In the
physical body, it is the muscle
that is power. As we exercise
muscles and develop them by
lifting weights, we exercise the
Will in the same way: by
overcoming resistance. If we
don't meet and overcome
resistance, our Will cannot
develop.
Building the
Will Part I - Page 3
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"Faith is the
substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things unseen."
Though the ark was built on dry
land, Allah (God) knew He would
inevitably destroy the wicked
with a flood. The water came
just after Noah finished the
ark. He achieved his objective;
he and those who believed with
him. His opposition was
destroyed in the flood. Allah
(God) had told him long before,
"Surely they will be drowned."
Holy Qur'an 11:37.
We see in these verses that Noah
was not weak and equivocal in
his Faith; contrary to the
misconception of many of us, men
of God have always been and must
be, strong-willed. The
opposition, on the other hand,
is always self willed. Noah
prevailed and did not yield, for
he had submitted his Will to the
Will of Allah (God) and
therefore could not be defeated.
When the chiefs of his people
laughed at him, the Holy Qur'an
tells us that he returned their
contempt for the making of the
ark with his contempt for their
opposition and their plans to
destroy him: "He said: If you
laugh at us, surely we, too,
laugh at you as you laugh at
us." Holy Qur'an 11:38. The "us"
and the "we" means those who
were with Noah. They were vastly
outnumbered by the disbelievers,
as the Holy Qur'an teaches,
"...and there believed not with
him but a few." 11:40.
4) Here, our
pledge (security) that we put up
is our word. This act of giving
our word is our first step
toward overcoming the resistance
we meet in the inertia of self.
This is necessary because we
cannot build a Nation without
improving self for the benefit
of ourselves and others.
There is no point in the
consistent reference to the
prophets and their struggle to
overcome difficulties, unless
these references serve to
motivate and inspire us to say,
"I will do exactly that; I will
achieve my objective." And so,
when Allah (God) asked Noah to
build the ark on dry land, this
is symbolic of the Honorable
Elijah Muhammad asking us to
build in the midst of buildings.
That is, to the disbelievers, it
appeared that Noah's work was
not only unnecessary and
useless, but foolish,
Noah, by faith, was certain that
water was coming. What did the
Honorable Elijah Muhammad, by
faith, know was coming? He knew
that the schools would fall,
that housing would deteriorate
and businesses would close down.
Allah (God) told Noah to build
the ark (a place of security)
under Our eyes. We are not IBM,
we are just a group of Black
people, putting together that
which to this world seems no
more than planks and nails; we
are ridiculed for our efforts,
but we who believe know what the
disbelievers know not --- that
what we build, no matter how
crude compared to this world --
will provide us with safety and
security in a world that is
coming down around us. Just as
Allah (God) told Noah, "Surely
they will be drowned", we see
the signs that in 1987, this
world will go under.
Building the
Will Part I - Page 4
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The Honorable Elijah Muhammad
called us to build a Nation. In
accordance with this call,
Minister Farrakhan said he is
determined to develop a Mosque
to the glory of God. And he is
doing it through building human
potential. We said we want to
help him. We gave our word
(pledge). By working to build
the ark each day, Noah's will
was strengthened. Every nail he
drove in took him closer to his
goal. Every newspaper you sell,
every thing you do in the way of
this work, takes us all a step
closer to our goal. Every one
and every action counts. Every
prayer we say every day, every
good deed, is a nail in the
plank and the sound of building
drowns out the sound of the
mockery from our opposition.
There is no such thing as a
member of a nation who does not
count. That is why they take a
census in this country. They
want to count the human
potential, the human resources
available. We must build self to
build a community.
5) After
discussing Hud, Abraham and Lot,
Salih, Shu'aib, Noah, review the
accompanying letter to us from
Minister Farrakhan.
6) We know that
our Brother is encountering not
only opposition, but vehement
opposition, which grows as his
words manifest as true at a
rapid pace. If we are even
minimally active in the work of
the resurrection of the mentally
and spiritually dead, we too are
encountering opposition. But
Allah has ordained struggle. The
Honorable Elijah Muhammad says
that you cannot be a champion
without an opponent. That is, we
can all think we are determined,
but how determined we are cannot
be determined until opposition
comes.
Allah (God) is set to prove that
He is the One God. In order for
Him to manifest His Power, He
allows His enemies to attempt to
destroy His servants, to destroy
His Plan, so that He can show
them He is with us and His
backing of us will cause us to
prevail over the most powerful
enemies that He has.
Opposition is vital, necessary.
Without opposition, it cannot be
proved that a tender plant
cannot just be plucked up out of
the ground. When we go to pull
on it, we find out it is rooted
in the ground; it has a strength
that is not apparent just
looking at it. This shows us
that Allah (God) is with the
plant, which is of His Creation.
Until we have tasted the
fierceness of opposition, the
depth of our roots in the Faith
will not be manifested.
Study the parable of the sower
in Matthew 13:18-23. The seed
aptly stands for the Word of
Allah (God), that is, the Truth,
because when implanted in the
heart and conscience, it grows,
develops and brings forth
spiritual fruit. The ground, but
on the bad, as a sower scatters
the seed not only on good
example to those who would
preach, not to neglect the
unreceptive or even the
Building the
Will Part I - Page 5
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wicked in their
ministrations. The seed falling
by the wayside, or rather on a
hard, beaten track across the
field, is the case of those of
us whose attention on our
business, social and other
worldly affairs, renders us
unreceptive to the Word; even
while the word is being
preached, our minds are
elsewhere, so when the message
is finished, we immediately
return to our usual affairs and
contact with the world sweeps
away any recollection of what we
did hear. "Satan cometh
immediately and taketh away the
word that was sown in their
hearts" (Mark).
The seed falling upon the rocky
places, where there is a thin
layer of soil above and hard
rock beneath, is the case of
those who are quickly
susceptible to religious
influence, but wanting in
spiritual depth, so no permanent
impression can be made. Some of
us start out enthusiastic but
tire easily and fade away.
The seed falling among thorns is
the case of those of us who have
every capacity for developing
the highest spiritual gifts; but
we fail because we deliberately
attempt to serve two masters,
which is impossible.
The seed failing on good ground
is the case of those of us who
are not only receptive to being
taught, corrected and renewed,
but who respond to the teachings
in proportion to the spiritual
capacity and unique insight
which Allah (God) has blessed us
with individually.
Look over the statements the
prophets made to their
opposition about their complete
trust in Allah (God). Look over
the fact that Minister Farrakhan
invited the Jews and the entire
government of America, in the
midst of their persecution of
him, to come against him With
all of their persecution of him
' to come against him with all
of their power and then to
double it. These are the
strongest indicators we will
ever receive that we must call
on Allah (God), for on Him and
Him alone, can we rely.
We are powerless without Allah.
Noah was able to build the ark
because he submitted his Will to
Allah's Will. He bent (arc) his
own will so that God's Will
could be done through him. What
makes us stand upright and
strong is the power of Allah
(God), so to Him we must submit.
This is a true state of balance.
Building the
Will Part I - Page 6
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GLOSSARY
FULFILLER (FULFILL) One who
fills the requirements of;
satisfies a condition, or
answers a purpose. (To bring to
an end; complete; perform;
realize one's ambitions and
potentialities; to carry out
something desired, promised,
expected or predicted.
ARK A refuge or place of
security.
ARC The part of a circle
representing the apparent course
of a heavenly body; any unbroken
part of the circumference of a
circle or other curved line; a
bowlike curved line or object; a
curved structure that supports
the weight of material over an
open space; any part of a curve,
especially a circle.
ASCENT Movement upward from a
lower to a higher state, degree
or status; advancement; act of
climbing or traveling up; a
procedure toward a source or
beginning.
INERTIA Inactivity;
sluggishness. The property of
matter by which it retains its
state of rest or its velocity
along a straight line so long as
it is not acted upon by an
external force. That which is
inert, having no inherent power
of action.
INFINITE Unbounded, unlimited;
endless; inexhaustible;
immeasurably great.
ENDEAVOR To exert oneself to do
or effect something; make an
effort or strive.
EXTREMITY (EXTREME) Of a
character or kind farthest
removed from the ordinary or
average; exceeding the bounds of
moderation; the terminal point,
limit or part of something.
CONSTANT Not changing or
varying; uniform; regular;
continuing without pause or
letup; recurrent; persistent;
faithful, unswerving in love or
devotion; steady.
CONSEQUENTIAL Following as an
effect, result or outcome;
resultant; following as a
logical conclusion or inference;
of importance.
Building the
Will Part I - Page 7
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GLOSSARY
PLEDGE A solemn promise or
agreement to do or refrain from
doing something. To stake, as
one's honor; security for the
fulfillment of a promise, as
one's word; an assurance of
support or good will.
PLAN A scheme of action or
procedure; a design; a definite
purpose; a formula or system; a
method of doing something.
OPPOSITION The action of
resisting or combating;
antagonism or hostility; the
state or position of being
placed opposite. Set against.
OBJECTIVE Something that one's
efforts are intended to attain
or accomplish; purpose; goal;
target.
ULTIMATE Last, furthest,
farthest; ending a process or
series. Maximum, decisive,
conclusive; representing a limit
beyond, which further progress
is impossible; the final result.
WAY A method, plan or means for
attaining a goal; passage or
progress on a course; a path
leading from one place to
another; course or mode of
procedure that one chooses or
wills; range or extent of
experience or notice; condition,
as to health, prosperity or the
like; a road, route, passage or
channel.
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Holy
Qur'an
CHAPTER 11
Hud
(REVEALED AT
AKKAH:10 sections;123 verses )
SECTION 1:A
Warning
In the name of Allah, the
Beneficent, the Merciful.
1 I, Allah, am the Seer. A
Book, whose verses are
characterized by wisdom, then
they are made plain, from One
Wise, Aware: That you should
serve none but Allah. Surely I
am to you from Him a warner and
a giver of good news.
3 And ask forgiveness of your
Lord, then turn to Him. He will
provide you with a goodly
provision to an appointed term,
and will bestow His grace on
every one endowed with grace.
And if you turn away, I fear for
you the chastisement of a great
day.
4 To Allah is your return,
and He is Possessor of power
over all things.
5 Now surely they cover up
their breasts a to conceal
(their enmity) from Him. Now
surely, when they put their
garments as a covering, He knows
what they hide and what they
make public. Surely He is Knower
of what is in the breasts.
Part 12
6 And there is no animal in
the earth but on Allah is the
sustenance of it, and He knows
its resting-place and its
depository. All is in a clear
record.
7 And He it is Who created
the heavens and the earth in six
periods; and His Throne of Power
is ever on water a that He might
manifest (the good qualities
in)you, whoever of you is best
in deeds. And if thou sayest,
You shall surely be raised up
after death, those who
disbelieve say: This is nothing
but clear deceit.
8 And if We delay for them
the chastisement for a stated
period, they will certainly say:
What prevents it? Now surely on
the day when it will come to
them, it will not be averted
from them, and that which they
scoffed at will beset them.
SECTION 2:Truth of
Revelation
9 And if We make man taste
mercy from Us, then withdraw it
from him, he is surely
despairing, ungrateful
10 And if We make him taste a
favour after distress has
afflicted him, he says: The
evils are gone away from me.
Certainly he is exultant,
boastful,
11 Except those who are
patient and do good. For them is
forgiveness and a great reward.
12 Then, may it be that thou
wilt give up part of what is
revealed to thee and thy breast
will be straitened by it,
because they say: Why has not a
treasure been sent down for him
or an angel come with him? Thou
art only a Warner. And Allah is
in charge of all things.
13 Or, say they: He has
forged it. Say: Then bring ten
forged chapters like it, and
call upon whom you can besides
Allah, if you are truthful.
14 But if they answer you
not, then know that it is
revealed by Allah’s knowledge,
and that there is no God but He.
Will you then submit?
15 Whoever desires this
world’s life and its finery —We
repay them their deeds therein,
and they are not made to suffer
loss in it.
16 These are they for whom
there is nothing but Fire in the
Hereafter. And what they work
therein is fruit- less and their
deeds are vain.
17 Is he then (like these)
who has with him clear proof
from his Lord, and a witness
from Him recites it, and before
it (is) the Book of Moses, a
guide and a mercy? These believe
in it. And whoever of the
parties disbelieves in it, the
Fire is his promised place. So
be not in doubt about it. Surely
it is the truth from thy Lord,
but most men believe not.
18 And who is more unjust
than he who forges a lie against
Allah? These will be brought
before their Lord, and the
witnesses will say: These are
they who lied against their
Lord. Now surely the curse of
Allah is on the wrongdoers,
19 Who hinder (men) from the
path of Allah and desire to make
it crooked. And they are
disbelievers in the Hereafter.
20 These will not escape in
the earth, a nor have they
guardians besides Allah. The
chastisement will be doubled for
them. They could not bear to
hear, and they did not see.
21 These are they who have
lost their souls, and that which
they forged is gone from them.
22 Truly in the Hereafter
they are the greatest losers.
23 Surely those who believe
and do good and humble
themselves before their Lord,
these are the owners of the
Garden; therein they will abide.
24 The likeness of the two
parties is as the blind and the
deaf, and the seer and the
hearer. Are they equal in
condition? Will you not then
mind?
SECTION 3:History of
Noah
25 And certainly We sent Noah
to his people: Surely I am a
plain warner to you,
26 To serve none but Allah.
Verily I fear for you the
chastisement of a painful day.
27 But the chiefs of his
people who disbelieved said: We
see thee not but a mortal like
us, and we see not that any
follow thee but those who are
the meanest of us at first
thought. Nor do we see in you
any superiority over us; nay, we
deem you liars.
28 He said: O my people, see
you if I have with me clear
proof from my Lord, and He has
granted me mercy from Himself
and it has been made obscure to
you. Can we compel you to
(accept) it while you are averse
to it?
29 And, O my people, I ask
you not for wealth (in return)
for it. My reward is only with
Allah, and I am not going to
drive away those who believe.
Surely they will meet their
Lord, but I see you a people who
are ignorant.
30 And, O my people, who will
help me against Allah, if I
drive them away? Will you not
then mind?
31 And I say not to you that
I have the treasures of Allah;
and I know not the unseen; nor
do I say that I am an angel. Nor
do I say about those whom your
eyes scorn that Allah will not
grant them (any) good —Allah
knows best what is in their
souls — for then indeed I should
be of the wrongdoers.
32 They said: O Noah, indeed
thou hast disputed with us and
prolonged dispute with us, so
bring upon us that which thou
threatenest us with, if thou art
truthful.
33 He said: Only Allah will
bring it on you, if He please,
and you will not escape:
34 And my advice will not
profit you, if I intend to give
you good advice, if Allah
intends to destroy you. He is
your Lord; and to Him you will
be brought back.
35 Or say they: He has forged
it? Say: If I have forged it, on
me is my guilt; and I am free of
that of which you are guilty.
SECTION 4:History of
Noah
36 And it was revealed to
Noah: None of thy people will
believe except those who have
already believed, so grieve not
at what they do:
37 And make the ark under Our
eyes and Our revelation, and
speak not to Me on behalf of
those who are unjust. Surely
they will be drowned.
38 And he began to make the
ark. And whenever the chiefs of
his people passed by him, they
laughed at him. He said: If you
laugh at us, surely we, too,
laugh at you as you laugh (at
us).
39 So you shall know who it
is on whom will come a
chastisement which will disgrace
him, and on whom a lasting
chastisement will fall.
40 At length when Our command
came and water gushed forth from
the valley, We said: Carry in it
two of all things, pair, and
thine own family —except those
against whom the word has
already gone forth — and those
who believe. And there believed
not with him but a few.
41 And he said: Embark in it,
in the name of Allah be its
sailing and its anchoring.
Surely my Lord is Forgiving,
Merciful.
42 And it moved on with them
amid waves like mountains. And
Noah called out to his son, and
he was aloof: O my son, embark
with us and be not with the
disbelievers.
43 He said: I will betake
myself for refuge to a mountain
that will save me from the
water. He said: There is none
safe today from Allah’s command,
but he on whom He has mercy. And
a wave intervened between them,
so he was among the drowned.
44 And it was said: O earth,
swallow thy water, and O cloud,
clear away. And the water was
made to abate, and the affair
was decided, and it rested on
the Judi, and it was said: Away
with the iniquitous people!
45 And Noah cried to his Lord
and said: My Lord, surely my son
is of my family, and Thy promise
is true, and Thou art the
Justest of the judges.
46 He said: O Noah, he is not
of thy family; he is (an
embodiment of) unrighteous
conduct. So ask not of Me that
of which thou hast no knowledge.
I admonish thee lest thou be of
the ignorant.
47 He said: My Lord, I seek
refuge in Thee from asking of
Thee that of which I have no
knowledge. And unless thou
forgive me and have mercy on me,
I shall be of the losers.
48 It was said: O Noah,
descend with peace from Us and
blessing on thee and on nations
(springing) from those with
thee. And there are nations whom
We afford provisions, then a
painful punishment from Us
afflicts them.
49 These are announcements
relating to the unseen which We
reveal to thee; thou didst not
know them — (neither) thou nor
thy people — before this. So be
patient. Surely, the (good) end
is for the dutiful.
50 And to ‘Ad (We sent) their
brother Hud. He said: O my
people, serve Allah, you have no
god save Him. You are only
fabricators.
51 O my people, I ask of you
no reward for it. My reward is
only with Him Who created me. Do
you not then understand?
52 And, O my people, ask
forgiveness of your Lord, then
turn to Him, He will send on you
clouds pouring down abundance of
rain and add strength to your
strength, and turn not back,
guilty.
53 They said: O Hud, thou
hast brought us no clear
argument, and we are not going
to desert our gods for thy word,
and we are not believers in
thee.
54 We say naught but that
some of our gods have smitten
thee with evil. He said: Surely
I call Allah to witness, and do
you, too, bear witness that I am
innocent of what you associate
(with Allah)
55 Besides Him. So scheme
against me all together, then
give me no respite.
56 Surely I put my trust in
Allah, my Lord and your Lord.
There is no living creature but
He grasps it by its forelock.
Surely my Lord is on the right
path.
57 But if you turn away, then
indeed I have delivered to you
that with which I am sent to
you. And my Lord will bring
another people in your place,
and you cannot do Him any harm.
Surely my Lord is the Preserver
of all things.
58 And when Our commandment
came to pass, We delivered Hud
and those who believed with him
with mercy from Us; and We
delivered them from a hard
chastisement.
59 And such were ‘Ad. They
denied the messages of their
Lord, and disobeyed His
messengers and followed the
bidding of every insolent
opposer (of truth).
60 And they were overtaken by
a curse in this world and on the
day of Resurrection. Now surely
‘Ad disbelieved in their Lord.
Now surely, away with ‘Ad, the
people of Hud!
SECTION 6:History of
Salih
61 And to Thamud (We sent)
their brother Salih. He said: O
my people, serve Allah, you have
no god other than Him. He
brought you forth from the earth
and made you dwell in it, so ask
forgiveness of Him, then turn to
Him. Surely my Lord is Nigh,
Answering.
62 They said: O Salih, thou
wast among us a centre of (our)
hopes before this. Dost thou
forbid us to worship what our
fathers worshipped? And surely
we are in grave doubt about that
to which thou callest us.
63 He said: O my people, see
you if I have clear proof from
my Lord and He has granted me
mercy from Himself —who will
then help me against Allah, if I
disobey Him? So you would add to
me naught but perdition.
64 And, O my people, this is
Allah’s she-camel, a sign for
you, so leave her to pasture on
Allah’s earth and touch her not
with evil, lest a near
chastisement overtake you.
65 But they hamstrung her, so
he said: Enjoy yourselves in
your houses for three days. That
is a promise not to be belied.
66 So when Our commandment
came to pass, We saved Salih and
those who believed with him by
mercy from Us from the disgrace
of that day. Surely thy Lord —
He is the Strong, the Mighty.
67 And the cry a overtook
those who did wrong, so they
were motionless bodies in their
abodes,
68 As though they had never
dwelt therein. Now surely Thamud
disbelieved in their Lord. So
away with Thamud!
SECTION 7:Abraham and
Lot
69 And certainly Our
messengers came to Abraham with
good news. They said: Peace!
Peace! said he. And he made no
delay in bringing a roasted
calf.
70 But when he saw that their
hands reached not to it, he
mistrusted them and conceived
fear of them. They said: Fear
not; we have been sent to Lot’s
people.
71 And his wife was standing
(by), so she wondered. Then We
gave her the good news of Isaac,
and beyond Isaac, of Jacob.
72 She said: O wonder! Shall
I bear a son when I am an
extremely old woman, and this my
husband an extremely old man?
This is a wonderful thing
indeed!
73 They said: Wonderest thou
at Allah’s commandment? The
mercy of Allah and His blessings
on you, O people of the house!
Surely He is Praised, Glorious.
74 So when fear departed from
Abraham and good news came to
him, he began to plead with Us
for Lot’s people.
75 Surely Abraham was
forbearing, tender-hearted,
oft-returning (to Allah).
76 O Abraham, cease from
this. Surely the decree of thy
Lord has gone forth and there
must come to them a chastisement
that cannot be averted.
77 And when Our messengers
came to Lot, he was grieved for
them, and he was unable to
protect them, and said: This is
a distressful day!
78 And his people came to
him, (as if) driven on towards
him, and they were used to the
doing of evil deeds before. He
said: O my people, these are my
daughters —they are purer for
you; so guard against (the
punishment of) Allah and
disgrace me not about my guests.
Is there not among you any
right-minded man?
79 They said: Certainly thou
knowest that we have no claim on
thy daughters, and thou knowest
what we desire.
80 He said: Would that I had
the power to repel you!—rather I
shall have recourse to a strong
support.
81 They said: O Lot, we are
the messengers of thy Lord. They
shall not reach thee. So travel
with thy people for a part of
the night —and let none of you
turn back —except thy wife.
Surely whatsoever befalls them
shall befall her. Surely their
appointed time is the morning.
Is not the morning nigh?
82 So when Our decree came to
pass, We turned them upside
down, and rained on them stones,
as decreed, one after another,
83 Marked (for punishment)
with thy Lord. And it is not far
off from the wrongdoers.
SECTION 8:History of
Shu‘aib
84 And to Midian (We sent)
their brother Shu’aib. e said: O
my people, serve Allah, you have
no other god save Him. And give
not short measure and weight. I
see you in prosperity, and I
fear for you the chastisement of
an all-encompassing day:
85 And, O my people, give
full measure and weight justly,
and defraud not men of their
things, and act not corruptly in
the land, making mischief:
86 What remains with Allah is
better for you, if you are
believers. And I am not a keeper
over you.
87 They said: O Shu‘aib, does
thy prayer enjoin thee that we
should forsake what our fathers
worshipped or that we should not
do what we please with regard to
our property? Forsooth thou art
the forbearing, the
right-directing one!
88 He said: O my people, see
you if I have a clear proof from
my Lord and He has given me a
goodly sustenance from Himself.
And I desire not to act in
opposition to you, in that which
I forbid you. I desire nothing
but reform, so far as I am able.
And with none but Allah is the
direction of my affair to a
right issue. In Him I trust and
to Him I turn.
89 And, O my people, let not
opposition to me make you guilty
so that there may befall you the
like of that which befell the
people of Noah, or the people of
Hud, or the people of Salih. Nor
are the people of Lot far off
from you.
90 And ask forgiveness of
your Lord, then turn to Him.
Surely my Lord is Merciful,
Loving-kind.
91 They said: O Shu‘aib, we
understand not much of what thou
sayest and surely we see thee to
be weak among us. And were it
not for thy family, we would
surely stone thee, and thou art
not mighty against us.
92 He said: O my people, is
my family more esteemed by you
than Allah? And you neglect Him
as a thing cast behind your
backs! Surely my Lord
encompasses what you do.
93 And, O my people, act
according to your ability, I too
am acting. You will come to know
soon who it is on whom will
light the punishment that will
disgrace him, and who it is that
is a liar. And watch, surely I
too am watching with you.
94 And when Our decree came
to pass, We delivered Shu’aib
and those who believed with him
by mercy from Us. And the cry
overtook those who were
iniquitous, so they were
motionless bodies in their
abodes,
95 As though they had never
dwelt in them. So away with
Midian, just as Thamud perished!
SECTION 9:The Iniquitous
and the Righteous
96 And certainly We sent
Moses with Our signs and a clear
authority,
97 To Pharaoh and his chiefs,
but they followed the bidding of
Pharaoh; and Pharaoh’s bidding
was not right-directing.
98 He will lead his people on
the day of Resurrection, and
bring them down to the Fire. And
evil the place to which they are
brought!
99 And they are overtaken by
a curse in this (world), and on
the day of Resurrection. Evil
the gift which shall be given!
100 This is an account of the
towns which We relate to thee.
Of them are some that stand and
(others) mown down.
101 And We wronged them not
but they wronged themselves. And
their gods whom they called upon
besides Allah availed them
naught when the decree of thy
Lord came to pass. And they
added to them naught but ruin.
102 And such is the
punishment of thy Lord, when He
punishes the towns while they
are iniquitous. Surely His
punishment is painful, severe.
103 Surely there is a sign in
this for him who fears the
chastisement of the Hereafter.
That is a day on which people
will be gathered together, and
that is a day to be witnessed.
104 And We delay it not but
for an appointed term.
105 On the day when it comes,
no soul will speak except by His
permission; so (some) of them
will be unhappy and (others)
happy.
106 Then as for those who are
unhappy, they will be in the
Fire; for them therein will be
sighing and groaning —
107 Abiding therein so long
as the heavens and the earth
endure, except as thy Lord
please. Surely thy Lord is Doer
of what He intends.
108 And as for those who are
made happy, they will be in the
Garden abiding therein so long
as the heavens and the earth
endure, except as thy Lord
please — a gift never to be cut
off.
109 So be not thou in doubt
as to that which these worship.
They worship only as their
fathers worshipped before. And
surely We shall pay them in full
their due undiminished.
SECTION 10:Believers
Comforted
110 And We certainly gave the
Book to Moses, but differences
arose therein. And had not a
word gone forth from thy Lord,
the matter would have been
decided between them. And they
are surely in a disquieting
doubt about it.
111 And thy Lord will surely
pay back to all their deeds in
full. He indeed is Aware of what
they do.
112 Continue then in the
right way as thou art commanded,
as also (should) those who turn
(to Allah) with thee. And be not
inordinate, (O men). Surely He
is Seer of what you do.
113 And incline not to those
who do wrong, lest the fire
touch you; and you have no
protectors besides Allah, then
you would not be helped.
114 And keep up prayer at the
two ends of the day and in the
first hours of the night. Surely
good deeds take away evil deeds.
This is a reminder for the
mindful.
115 And be patient, for
surely Allah wastes not the
reward of the doers of good.
116 Why were there not then
among the generations before you
those possessing understanding,
forbidding mischief in the
earth, except a few among them
whom We delivered? And the
unjust pursued the enjoyment of
plenty, and they were guilty.
117 And thy Lord would not
destroy the towns unjustly,
while their people acted well.
118 And if thy Lord had
pleased, He would have made
people a single nation. And they
cease not to differ,
119 Except those on whom thy
Lord has mercy; and for this did
He create them. And the word of
thy Lord is fulfilled: I shall
fill hell with jinn and men, all
together.
120 And all We relate to thee
of the account of the messengers
is to strengthen thy heart
therewith. And in this has come
to thee the truth and an
admonition and a reminder for
the believers.
121 And say to those who
believe not: Act according to
your power, surely we too are
acting;
122 And wait, surely we are
waiting (also).
123 And Allah's is the unseen
in the heavens and the earth,
and to Him the whole affair will
be returned. So serve Him and
put thy trust in Him. And thy
Lord is not heedless of what you
do.
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Self-Improvement
Page 3; Paragraphs 4 & 5
"Will,"
according to Webster's, it "the
faculty of conscious and
especially of deliberate
action." There is no action that
is not preceded by a conscious
thought, planning and then the
carrying of a plan into action
(s). "Will" is the power of
control that the mind has over
its own action's).
To be able to
Will is to have a creative force
within that actually can change
the conditions of our lives, the
condition of our homes, the
condition of our community, the
condition of the Nation and the
condition of the World.
Self-Improvement
Page 7; Paragraphs 1 & 2
Look at how many
people today live in fear. "I'm
on a job and I am afraid that I
am going to be fired" (by a
cantankerous boss or foreman).
Think of it. So the foreman is
threatening your security. You
are afraid, so it restricts your
Will. And, in a sense, it helps
to make the individual not just
a worker on the job, but a slave
to the job.
Anytime we are
afraid to think, to move, to
express ourselves, for fear of
being censured; for fear of
losing a job; then we need to
get away from that type of job,
for we have lost the most
precious thing that we could
have and that is a Free Will.
That is what Allah (God) has
given us. But if your choices
are made our of Fear, then you
have made yourselves a slave.
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