This document gives the reader a head start in understanding the Quran and the purpose of life. The intent is to provide context to the very first few verses in the Quran giving the reader a more profound understanding of the Miracle of Islam: The Holy Quran.

The Arabic word 'Qur'an' is derived from the root 'qara'a', which means "to read" or "to recite." This was the command which the Arc Angel Gabriel gave Prophet Muhammad PBUH in the Hira cave, situated three miles north-east of Mecca (Mishkat IV p.354).

The Qur'an is the final revelation from Allah. In Arabic the Qur'an is also referred to as 'Al-Kitab' (the book), 'Al-furkan' (the distinction between truth and falsehood), 'Al-mus'haf' (the scroll), and 'Al-thikhr' (the warning), as well as other names.

For those who like statistics, you may be interested to know that the Qur'an consists of 114 chapters (suras). each verse is known as an 'aya', which means "miracle" or a sign in Arabic. The main miracle in Islam is the Quran. The first chapter in the Quran is the “Fatiha”, also called Fatihatul Kitab” the opening of the book. The fatihah consists of 7 verses.

There is only one version of the Quran. The original words that were revealed to Prophet Muhammad PBUH. The Quranic verses were revealed to Prophet Mohammed over a period of 23 years. The tone and richness of the Quranic verses and the text did not change in time as the verses were revealed to the Prophet PBUH. Unlike the Hadeeth, which is a collection of the saying of Prophet Mohammed PBUH, the Quran is extremely rich in meaning, vocabulary and teachings. Prophet Muhammed was himself illiterate. God almighty revealed the most amazing book ever sent to mankind to Prophet Muhammed challenging humanity with its richness and miraculous context. Today we intend to show you some of the richness of the Quranic text and the purpose of life by simply going through the first few pages of the Quran.

The Quran was revealed in bits and pieces. In order to understand one verse, someone must be well versed in the entire Quran. That person needs to have the whole Quran memorized, he or she needs to read the explanation as provided to us by Prophet Muhammad and should commend the Arabic language.

Today, many westerners try to mislead people with verses from the Quran taken out of context and solely based on translated text. There is no one single translation that is 100% accurate. The meaning of the Quranic verses is still evolving and we are uncovering new miracles every time we try to learn more about the Quran. Even as you read a translated text, you need to commend knowledge of the whole Quran and explanation before understanding a verse. For example the story of Prophet Moses cannot be understood by simply reading a “Moses” chapter. Such a chapter does not exist in the Quran. The story of Prophet Moses exists throughout the Quran and is spread over 73 different chapters with verses complementing each other.

Before we start the study of the opening chapter in the Quran, we should note that this chapter is recited by Muslims around the Globe in its Arabic form at least 17 times a day. Prayer is one of the main pillars of Islam. Muslims perform at minimum their five daily prayers. Each prayer is comprised of multiple units. In each unit, Muslims are required to read this opening chapter called “Fatihah”. God in the Quran says in Chapter “Al-Hijr” Surah: 15, verse 87:

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَاكَ سَبْعًا مِّنَ الْمَثَانِي وَالْقُرْآنَ الْعَظِيمَ

87. And We have bestowed upon thee the Seven Oft-repeated (verses) and the Grand Qur'an.

According to the tafseer (explanation) of the Quran, the seven oft-repeated verses are the seven verses  of the opening chapter  Surat Al “Fatiha”. The following is a quick explanation of this opening chapter of the Quran:

1. سورة الفاتحة

بسم اللَّه الرحمن الرحيم {1}

In the name of God the Most Merciful, the one who provides mercy.

What is the mercy of God? If we look at Chapter Al-Aaraf: Surah: 7:156

قَالَ عَذَابِي أُصِيبُ بِهِ مَنْ أَشَاء وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَـاةَ وَالَّذِينَ هُم بِآيَاتِنَا يُؤْمِنُونَ {156}

God says: He said: "With My punishment I visit whom I will; but My mercy extends to all things. That (mercy) I shall ordain for those who do “taqkwah”(those who pray, give charity, believe and obey the commandments of God and His prophet Muhammad PBUH), and practice regular charity, and those who believe in Our signs;-

How do we compute and measure the mercy of God? Based on the teachings of Prophet Mohamed, the mercy that we all share on earth - by “we” we mean, human, animals, insects and everything on this earth- , that Mercy is less than 1% of God’s Mercy. Would a woman take her child, and deliberately, for no reason, throw this child into hell fire? Of course not. The mercy she has is part of that 1% shared by everything that crawls on this earth; Therefore, when we start our prayers and every other chapter in the Quran with the exception to chapter “Tawbah”, every one of them starts with this statement.

بسم اللَّه الرحمن الرحيم {1}

In the name of God the Most Merciful, the one who provides his mercy.

Now when you stand in prayer, starting your words in the name of God the Most Merciful, what more would you expect from the Most Merciful but His Mercy? Then you will say:

 الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ {2}

Praise be to Allah (God in Arabic), the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds;

We praise God. The lord of the Worlds. Notice how the Quran specifies that God is the lord of the Wolds  in plural. God is the lord of this world, our world, the world of the people before us, the lord of the people that will come after us, the lord of human and non-human. Here again, you are praising and giving thanks to Him the one who created you and you are testifying that he is the lord of the worlds. Now, that you are only a mere dot in this world, you are standing in front of your deity with no intermediary and  acknowledging that He (God) is you lord, the lord of your family, the lord of your country and the lord of all the worlds that pass and the ones to come. Then you say again:

 الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيمِ {3}

The Most Merciful, the one who provides mercy.

Here again, you are stating that God is the Most Merciful. There is no mercy except from Him, then what do you expect from the Most Merciful to provide to you more than His Mercy. Islam teaches us that our salvation is only through the Mercy of God the Most Merciful. Then you recite:

 مَـلِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ {4}

Master and owner of the Day of Judgment.

In another way of recitation, “Maliki Yawmiddeen”. On that day everyone is going to be taken to task and everyone is answerable to their action. It is only through His Mercy that people will be saved. We acknowledge in this verse that we give total submission to you our God the Master and owner of the day of Judgment to save us from your punishment and to enter us into your Mercy. We do that by testifying the following:

 إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ {5}

You alone do we worship, and your aid alone we seek.

Now, that you are standing in front of your Deity in prayer and testifying to him at least 17 times a day that you worship none but Him, rest assured that the Most Merciful hears your prayers and is pleased with you. He will provide for you in this life and will enter you into His Mercy on the day of resurrection. The day where there is no salvation except from God. On the day where no one will intercede for you but the ones God had allowed them to. Now that you have testified that God is the Most Merciful, the owner of the day of recompense and that we do worship Him alone, we then ask His guidance. What better guidance than being guided towards the straight path?

 اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ {6}

Guide us towards the straight path.

God teaches us to seek the straight path. The path that will take us to Paradise directly. The shortest distance between two points is nothing but the straight path. This is the path that God teaches us to take. The path that leads us towards our salvation. Then God gives us an example of the best path which is:

 صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ

The path of those on whom you have bestowed your Grace and favor upon.

Who are those whom God has bestowed his Grave and favor upon. Some of the Prophet’s  companions told him one day that they will miss him once the prophet PBUH dies. He Prophet Muhammad PBUH did not know how to answer them. They told him, that today they see him and they enjoy their interaction with him in this life. Once they die they might never have the chance to see him again. They believed that he, prophet Muhammed, PBUH, after he dies will be with other Prophets in the highest level of Paradise. God, shortly after, revealed the following verse in the Chapter Al-Nissa’ Surah: Surah 4:69:

وَمَن يُطِعِ اللّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاء وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَـئِكَ رَفِيقًا

All who obey Allah (God) and the apostle are in the company of those on whom God’s Grace and favor is upon them,- of the prophets (who teach), the sincere (lovers of Truth), the witnesses (who testify), and the Righteous (who do good): Ah! what a beautiful fellowship!

The Prophet then explained that if you obey God and follow His teaching by praying fasting and holding tight to the commandments of God in the Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad PBUH, then you are bound to meet and greet all the prophets such as prophet Adam, Prophet, Noah, Prophet Abraham, Prophet Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus and all other prophets. You will also be in the presence of those who are righteous one, then Martyrs and the truthful. What better friends do you desire to have?

Now that you ask God to guide you to the straight path the same way the prophets, the righteous ones, the truthful and martyrs where guided to, then you ask him in the same verse not to let you be among the one that are lost or the ones that God’s wrath is upon.

 غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ {7}

Not those God’s wrath is upon them ,nor those who are astray.

Oh God, guide us to the straight path and not to the path of those whom your wrath is upon. Who are those whom God’s wrath is upon. As we study the Quran we will see that God’s wrath is on those who said, we heard and we disobeyed. Those who know the truth but do not want to follow it. Those who know what they are supposed to do in terms of worshiping God and while knowing the truth they explicitly reject to fulfill their covenant and promise to God. An example in the Quran are the Jews who were given the Torah in which therein there is guidance to them and requirements onto them to worship God and to obey His commandments. They said we heard and we know we should do this but we decided not to do it. Some Muslims today do the same. They know they must pray and they disobey. Those are the ones God’s wrath is upon.

On the other hand, the ones who are lead astray are those who want the truth and are searching for it and establish what they believe in, but are indeed misguided. An example of those are the Christians of today. Those who want to do good and worship God, but instead they Worship Prophet Isaa (Jesus) peace be upon him.

2. سورة البقرة

Chapter 2: The Cow

بسم اللَّه الرحمن الرحيم

In the name of God the Most Merciful, the one who provides mercy.

الم {1}

Alef Lam Meem.

A, L, M. Simple Arabic letters. No one till today knows what these really mean. The best explanation is that the Arabs in Mecca and its surrounding use to brag about their profound Arabic language. People will stand in the market place and produce a 1000 verses long poem on the spot. People would compete to produce the most profound poems to earn fame and monetary rewards from local leaders and business men. God sent to these people an illiterate man, Prophet Muhammad PBUH, challenging them with this amazing Quran using the very same letters these people are proud of. In here, God says, “A”, “L”, “M”, the letter you are proud of,

 ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ {2}

This is the Book wherein there is no doubt in it; in it there is sure guidance to those who fear Allah.

God starts the Quran with this chapter and after challenging the Arab with their language, here God challenges the worlds with this statement. God starts His book making a firm statement that this book contains no doubt, mistake, imperfection or fault in it. Those who do find a single mistake would render this Quran void. Yet, since the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad PBUH, no one has been able to produce an inconsistency or find any fault in this book (The original Arabic form). It is worth noting, that there is no one on the face of the planet who would dare to publish a book that discusses such diverse subjects such as the universe, the earth, the sun, the moon, the human reproduction system and many other subjects that are only been understood recently through scientific discoveries which starts with such a statement: “ This Book, there is no doubt, contradiction or fault in it…”

Surely, how could an illiterate man in the 600’s AD be able to make such a claim without Divine revelation. This verse alone is miraculous on its own. As we move further in discussing future verses you will be able to see the miracles described in this book that only recently discovered scientific concepts have been discussed at length and in details in this Book. No one can make such a claim. God is only able to do so since he is the creator of this world and is able to describe to us the matters of creations, the atmosphere and other complex concepts that are hidden from us.

After God describes to us that this book is a challenge to the worlds than he explains the real purpose of this Divine book. God says: “in it, there is guidance to those “Muttaqueen”. What does Muttaqueen mean? Muttaqueen in a pure Arabic linguistic sense means those who obey the guidance given to them in order to avoid any unwanted consequences. For example, as a safe driver, I would obey the traffic laws and drive according to the speed limit and on the right side of the road in order not to get a ticket and pay the required fine as a consequence; therefore, a Muttaquee, the singular form of Muttaqueen, is the one who obey the guidance and laws required onto him/her in order to avoid the consequences.

In this verse, God has given us further meaning in the Quran about what this word mean in the next verse. The Muttaqueen are those:

 الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ {3}

Those who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them;

The first quality of a Muttaquee is that he/she believes in the unseen. In Islam we believe in God and we have not seen Him. We believe in the angels yet we have not seen them. We believe in the day of reserruction and yet it did not come to pass. This is the first pillar of Islam which is called in Arabic “Iman”. The word in this verse “You’minoun” which means those who believe. Those who believe in what God has taught us in the article of faith which is the first pillar of Islam. We believe in God, the angels, the final day. We also believe in all the messengers that God sent to humanity even though we have not seen them. We also believe in all the books revealed to these messengers.

Next God gives us another quality of who the Muttaqueen are. They are those who establish regular prayers. Prayer is the second pillar of Islam. During our prayer as discussed in the previous chapter “Al-Fatihah” is compulsory on every Muslim. During our prayer we praise God and we thank Him for all the favors he has bestowed on us. By praying to God we are acknowledging that He is our creator and our Deity and we are nothing but his slaves and servants.

Next God says that the third quality of a Muttaquee is that he/she spends in charity from what God has provided for him in terms of sustenance and wealth. Charity is the third pillar of Islam. Muslims are required to pay a minimal amount as a percentage based on their accumulated wealth but are also encouraged to spend folds and folds to earn rewards and pleasure from God as we will see as we go further discussing this great divine Book.

God further continues to describe the Muttaqueen in the next verse as follows:

 والَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِالآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ {4}

And those who believe in the Revelation sent to you (oh Prophet Muhammad), and sent before your time, and (in their hearts) have total assurance of the Hereafter.

Here, God says that the Muttaqueen are also those who believe in what has been revealed to you oh Prophet Muhammed which is this Book and the divine revelation in terms of your life and speaches to the companions. Those saying that have been recorded and the ones that were never recorded.  In addition the Muttaqueen must not only believe in the heareafter, but instead they must have total assurance and believe that a day will come where every person will be taken to task and will be accountable for their action. Those who are true Muttakeen will be saved from the wrath and punishment of God and will live eternally in Paradise. Those who are not Muttaqueen and refused to possess these qualities will be punished and will burn eternally in Hell Fire. These are the consequences for the Muttaqueen in the Quran and the Islamic teachings. You obey God and you believe in these main pillar of Islam and as a result you will be rewarded Paradise. Those who refused to have these qualities and beliefs will be faced with the consequence of burning in Hell Fire; therefore, God concludes by saying:

 أُوْلَـئِكَ عَلَى هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ {5}

 These are the ones on (true) guidance, from their Lord, and these are the ones who will prosper (the successful ones).

God describes the Muttaqueen are the true successful ones. True success is when God is pleased with you. When God is pleased with you, you enter His Mercy. Once you enter His Mercy you are truly saved. In two simple verses God described to us the true believers and the true good doers. These are the true successful ones. The definition of a true believer is simple. You must believe in the following:

1.       The article of faith:

a.       Believe in God and that Prophet Muhammad is the messenger of God

b.      Believe in the all the angels.

c.       Believe in all the messengers

d.      Believe in all the books revealed to their prophets in their original form.

e.      Believe in the Final day (believe in Heaven and Hell)

2.       Establish regular prayer

3.       Give in Charity (Zakat)

4.       Perform fasting during the month of Ramadan. (described later in this chapter)

5.       Perform Hajj (visitation to Mecca) during the month of Hajj (Pilgrimage) once in your lifetime if you have the means to do so.

These are the main pillars of Islam. Most of them described in these very first verses in the Quran. Once God has described to us the purpose of this book as providing guidance to the Muttaqueen, he then describes to us in the next two verses who are those who reject faith and reject being part of the Muttakeen:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنذِرْهُمْ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ {6}

As to those who reject Faith, it is the same to them whether you warn them or do not warn them; they will not believe.

After God explained to us the simple qualities of the Muttaqueen, the true believers, He teaches us about the a new set of people whom God refers to as the “Kafiroon” (those who reject faith and the favors that God has bestowed onto them). The verse makes it very simple. You cannot reason with those who reject faith and the favors that God has bestowed onto them because they do not believe in God. Unless they do believe in God and that the Prophet Muhammad is the messenger of God, there is no need to argue with them. These are ignorant people. It is hard to have an intelligent discussion with the ignorant ones. God teaches us that whether you try to warn them or not, they will never believe. If you promise them Paradise or if you warn them with Hell fire it will not make a difference since they already do not believe in God, Heaven or Hell.

 خَتَمَ اللّهُ عَلَى قُلُوبِهمْ وَعَلَى سَمْعِهِمْ وَعَلَى أَبْصَارِهِمْ غِشَاوَةٌ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عظِيمٌ {7}

Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes with a veil; great is the penalty they (incur).

God has placed a seal on their hearts. Once the heart is sealed, no matter what proofs you provide to this person, he/she is blinded. As we study the Quran we will see how the guidance comes from God. If they reject God then God is going to seal their hearts and place a veil onto their hearing and eyes. They  will physically see all the signs and miracles of creation around them but, yet they will not believe that these are proofs to God’s existence.

Here God in two verses describes to us the “Muttaqueen”, the true believers and in the above two verses He describes to us who the disbelievers (the ones who reject faith) are. The difference between those who accept faith and adhere to the commandments of God and between those who reject faith is very clear. It is like black and white. Now that we understand the difference between a believer and non-believer, God then in the next 13 verses describes to us who the hypocrites are:

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ آمَنَّا بِاللّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ {8}

Among mankind there are some who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day;" but they do not (really) believe.

This is the very first quality of the hypocrites. They tell people that they do believe but indeed they are not believers. They are hard to spot. They are the parasites of the society. They are not honest people. They have weakness in them. They fear men and do not fear God. These are worse than the unbelievers since the unbelievers, even though they reject faith, but they do not hide their true beliefs.

 يُخَادِعُونَ اللّهَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلاَّ أَنفُسَهُم وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ {9}

Fain would they deceive Allah and those who believe, but they only deceive themselves, and realize (it) not!

 They think they are deceiving and tricking God and the believers, but indeed they are deceiving no one but themselves and yet they are not aware of it. Their hearts are not pure. They are not to be trusted.

 فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللّهُ مَرَضاً وَلَهُم عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ {10}

In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has increased their disease: And grievous is the penalty they (incur), because they are false (to themselves).

They have diseased hearts. They are sick on the inside. They are willing to go through humiliation and degrade themselves by pretending they are something which they are not. You will notice that God throughout the Quran refer to the hypocrites as the ones with diseased hearts. They chose this path and as a result, God has increased their heart with more disease. For them, if they die on this stage, God has prepared painful punishment for the things they lied about.

From this verse we also understand that dishonesty and lies are the qualities of the hypocrites. True believers should always hold steadfast to the truth. God says in Surat Al-Tawbah: 9:119

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ وَكُونُواْ مَعَ الصَّادِقِينَ {119}

O ye who believe! Fear Allah and be with those who are true (in word and deed).

God urges us to obey God and to be with the truthful. Not only to be truthful but to also associate ourselves with the truthful and the true believers. The verb use here is “Ittaqoo Allah”. Meaning be amongst the Muttakeen that fear Allah’s wrath by obeying His commandments.

Furthermore, God provides us with more details about them:

 وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لاَ تُفْسِدُواْ فِي الأَرْضِ قَالُواْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ {11}

When it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth," they say: "Why, we only Want to make peace!"

When they are confronted by the truthful and the believers to not spread mischief on earth, they say that their intention is to make peace. Their motive could be right but the mean is not acceptable in Islam. These are not honorable people. They are spreading lies thinking they are doing good. God wants the believers to be strong in their faith and to stand up for oppression and aggression and not to have diseased hearts. Then God says about them:

 أَلا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْمُفْسِدُونَ وَلَـكِن لاَّ يَشْعُرُونَ {12}

Of a surety, they are the ones who make mischief, but they realize (it) not.

 Indeed these are the ones who make mischief. These are the ones who are spreading lies and preventing the true message of Islam to spread to the rest of the world. They do this to preserve their positions, their jobs and their powers. Aren’t they indeed the ones that are spreading lies and mischief even though they think not? They are indeed unaware of that fact. Ignorance is not acceptable in Islam. Muslims should seek the truth and should hold strongly to it.

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ آمِنُواْ كَمَا آمَنَ النَّاسُ قَالُواْ أَنُؤْمِنُ كَمَا آمَنَ السُّفَهَاء أَلا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ السُّفَهَاء وَلَـكِن لاَّ يَعْلَمُونَ {13}

When it is said to them: "Believe as the others believe:" They say: "Shall we believe as the fools believe?" Nay, of a surety they are the fools, but they do not know.

When they are confronted by the true believers who urge them to believe like others “The Muttaqueen” have believed, they say, why should we believe like these fools. This is a statement that repeats throughout the ages with all the prophets that were sent to their people. The first people that obey and follow the messengers and prophets are the poor and less fortunate in society. Those with high positions who think they have something to lose are the first to fight back; therefore, they say how can we, the leaders and rich in society, obey and believe the messengers and follow in the footsteps of the poor and the less fortunate? There are the ones they refer as fools!

God then says to them, indeed they are the true fools yet they are ignorant enough to not be aware of that.

 وَإِذَا لَقُواْ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ قَالُواْ آمَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْاْ إِلَى شَيَاطِينِهِمْ قَالُواْ إِنَّا مَعَكْمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِؤُونَ {14}

When they meet those who believe, they say: "We believe;" but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say: "We are really with you: We (were) only jesting."

When they are with the company of the true believing men and women, they testify that they are true believers. They even pray with them and observe the Islamic rituals and practices with the believing men and women. On the other hand, when they are alone with their evil friends, those who obey and listen to Satan the devil, they say to them that they are with them. They even go further by stating that they are simply mocking the believers. God then responds to them by saying:

 اللّهُ يَسْتَهْزِىءُ بِهِمْ وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ {15}

Allah will throw back their mockery on them, and give them rope in their trespasses; so they will wander like blind ones (To and fro).

God is the one who will mock them and make it evident what they do in this life and on the day of resurrection. God will make all their secret-plotting evident and public so mankind is now aware of their evil deeds. Also God increases them in their evil plotting so they can earn more sins that they will have to pay for on the day of resurrection and in Hell fire.

 أُوْلَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ اشْتَرُوُاْ الضَّلاَلَةَ بِالْهُدَى فَمَا رَبِحَت تِّجَارَتُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُهْتَدِينَ {16}

These are they who have bartered Guidance for error: But their traffic is profitless, and they have lost true direction,

These are the ones who have purchased misguidance with the true guidance. They rejected to be guided by God by selling true guidance with misguidance. Indeed their trade was profitless which resulted in huge losses for them. They sold Paradise with Hell fire. How evil of an eternal abode place for them!

 مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي اسْتَوْقَدَ نَاراً فَلَمَّا أَضَاءتْ مَا حَوْلَهُ ذَهَبَ اللّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتٍ لاَّ يُبْصِرُونَ {17}

Their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in utter darkness. So they could not see.

Their example is like a man who starts fire in a very dark moonless night. His pupils have adjusted to the source of light. Once he is able to see well due to the light produced by the fire, God turns off the fire suddenly leaving this person in total darkness not able to see his own hands. Similar to when someone is using electricity to light up a room. His eyes have adjusted to that source of light. If someone shuts down the light or if there is loss of electricity, for a few moments, this person feel he is in total darkness until his eyes adjust back to the new surrounding darkness. Indeed they are:

صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لاَ يَرْجِعُونَ {18}

Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path).

They are indeed deaf, unable to speak, blind. They are deaf because they hear the truth but do not comprehend it. Unable to speak, because they know the truth, but chose lies instead. Blind, because they see the sign of God all around them, but are unaware of them. Verily they are lead astray from the straight path and are not able to come back to the true guidance.

 أَوْ كَصَيِّبٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاء فِيهِ ظُلُمَاتٌ وَرَعْدٌ وَبَرْقٌ يَجْعَلُونَ أَصْابِعَهُمْ فِي آذَانِهِم مِّنَ الصَّوَاعِقِ حَذَرَ الْمَوْتِ واللّهُ مُحِيطٌ بِالْكافِرِينَ {19}

Or (another similitude) is that of a rain-laden cloud from the sky: In it are zones of darkness, and thunder and lightning: They press their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunder-clap, the while they are in terror of death. But Allah is ever round the rejecters of Faith!

Their example is like those who are in the middle of a thunder storm. They have no light to guide them. They are in total darkness. The thunder produced by the lightning strike comes with a huge deafening sound. They place their fingers in their ears fearing death. Indeed God has surrounded them with his might and is well aware of their evil doings.

 يَكَادُ الْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ أَبْصَارَهُمْ كُلَّمَا أَضَاء لَهُم مَّشَوْاْ فِيهِ وَإِذَا أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُواْ وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَارِهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّه عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ {20}

The lightning all but snatches away their sight; every time the light (Helps) them, they walk therein, and when the darkness grows on them, they stand still. And if Allah willed, He could take away their faculty of hearing and seeing; for Allah hath power over all things.

The only source of light is like the example of the lightning in a very dark stormy night. They are in total darkness and suddenly the lighting comes to them in a short period with blinding light. How evil of a source of guidance that is.  If God wills he would take away their hearing and their sight. Verily God is  able and has power on all things.

In these first 20 verses of this chapter God describes to us the three types of people. Those who believe “Muttakeen”, those who disbelieve “Kafiroon”, and the hypocrites. Now God provides to us the very first commandment in the Quran. It is a direct commandment to all mankind. This is the command that provides us with the purpose of life. It is summarized in two Arabic words “Worship you Lord”:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُواْ رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ {21}

O ye people! Adore your Guardian-Lord, who created you and those who came before you, that ye may have the chance to learn righteousness;

In this verse God gives us a direct commandment. He says: Oh Mankind, worship your lord. We have been created for the sole purpose of worshiping God. Here God makes it very explicit and direct. He did not say, believe in your lord. He wants us to worship Him. Worshiping God encompasses the actions the Muttaqueen must perform: Believe in God and all His signs, pray to Him, obey His commandments and do what you are commanded to do. God not only gives us the commandment to worship Him, but He also tells us why. Because He is the one who has created us and those before us. Without God, we would not have been living. God provided for us oxygen, the trees that produce oxygen, the fruits, vegetables and meat to eat. God has given us all the provisions and gave us eyes, ears, limbs and everything we have to see, sense and appreciate His favors onto us; therefore, we should be thankful to Him and to worship Him the way He wants us to worship Him. Then He tells us why. Why should we worship him. God says in this verse: “Maybe you would become Muttaqueen!” (in Arabic “La’allakum Tattaquoon”) so maybe you would reach the level of Taquwah in terms of belief, prayers and your good actions. Once you reach that level, you are among those whom God has guided towards the straight path. Your reward is Paradise. In the next verse God explains to us some of His favors onto us:

 الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الأَرْضَ فِرَاشاً وَالسَّمَاء بِنَاء وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاء مَاء فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقاً لَّكُمْ فَلاَ تَجْعَلُواْ لِلّهِ أَندَاداً وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ {22}

Who has made the earth your couch, and the heavens your canopy; and sent down rain from the heavens; and brought forth therewith Fruits for your sustenance; then set not up rivals unto Allah when ye know (the truth).

Out of God’s Mercy he has furnished this earth for you. He planted in this earth its vegetation. He made it filled with beautiful colors. God could have easily made the whole earth a desert and could have provided us with one source of food that can rain on us. Instead, he has given us more than what we deserve. He has furnished this earth for us. He has built the protective layers in the atmosphere over our heads. He sent down rain from the heaven in abundance by which fruits and vegetables comes forth to us from the ground as means of sustenance to us; therefore, do not attribute others to Him the one who has given you all that is on earth while you know that this only comes from God.

Then comes another challenge to mankind. A powerful challenge:

 وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُواْ بِسُورَةٍ مِّن مِّثْلِهِ وَادْعُواْ شُهَدَاءكُم مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ {23}

And if ye are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant, then produce a Sura like thereunto; and call your witnesses or helpers (If there are any) besides Allah, if your (doubts) are true.

If you have doubt that this Quran is revealed from God, then simply try to bring one small chapter like it and call in it anyone else besides God. Worship the cow, worship anything but God and try to come up with one small chapter. Call onto your witnesses besides God. If you do this, then you can make this book void. The challenge of God does not end here. Then God says:

فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُواْ وَلَن تَفْعَلُواْ فَاتَّقُواْ النَّارَ الَّتِي وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَافِرِينَ {24}

But if ye cannot- and of a surety ye cannot- then fear the Fire whose fuel is men and stones,- which is prepared for those who reject Faith.

But if you are not able to do so and you will never be able to so! Note, the challenge from god centuries ago. He clearly states that no one is going to be able to take this challenge. What a profound statement and a challenge. How can an illiterate man make such a statement to the Arabs then and to the worlds at large. Then God concludes by saying, fear the consequence of Hell fire its fuel is nothing but men and stones! For sure I do not want to be in it. I would obey God and fear His punishment and instead I would seek His mercy by truly worshiping Him. Therefore, I would like to be among the following:

 وَبَشِّرِ الَّذِين آمَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ كُلَّمَا رُزِقُواْ مِنْهَا مِن ثَمَرَةٍ رِّزْقاً قَالُواْ هَـذَا الَّذِي رُزِقْنَا مِن قَبْلُ وَأُتُواْ بِهِ مُتَشَابِهاً وَلَهُمْ فِيهَا أَزْوَاجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ {25}

But give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that their portion is Gardens, beneath which rivers flow. Every time they are fed with fruits therefrom, they say: "Why, this is what we were fed with before," for they are given things in similitude; and they have therein companions pure (and holy); and they abide therein (forever).

Give glad tidings to those who believe and did righteous deeds. You will notice all throughout the Quran, that in order to earn the pleasure of God and to enter into His mercy, you would not only need to believe, but you would also need to do righteous deeds. Among those righteous deeds are prayers, charity, fasting and other good actions, such as be good to your neighbors and friends. To those, they are blessed with eternal success in Paradise with rivers that flow underneath. Every time you are provided with provisions such as fruits, these provisions would look similar to what you were used to on earth except the taste is way more fulfilling and pleasing.  In Paradise you will also be blessed with purified spouses unlike on earth where lust  and impurity exist. In Heaven spouses are clean and pure providing you eternal bliss and happiness.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَسْتَحْيِي أَن يَضْرِبَ مَثَلاً مَّا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهَـذَا مَثَلاً يُضِلُّ بِهِ كَثِيراً وَيَهْدِي بِهِ كَثِيراً وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلاَّ الْفَاسِقِينَ {26}

Allah disdains not to use the similitude of things, lowest as well as highest. Those who believe know that it is truth from their Lord; but those who reject Faith say: "What means Allah by this similitude?" By it He causes many to stray, and many He leads into the right path; but He causes not to stray, except those who forsake (the path),-

According to Ibn Abbas, when God has provided the two previous examples about the thunder and lightning when dealing with the hypocrites earlier in this chapter, the non-believers were questioning how come Allah (God) is in need to provide examples. Here, Allah answers them with this verse. Allah has created everything and as a result He can give examples and similitude to anything He wills. Whether this similitude is to a small creature such as a mosquito or even smaller. Allah alone knows the greatness of His creation and can do whatever He pleases. In these examples, God causes the hypocrites and the non-believers to be more led astray. But the true believers will be led into the right path. Then Allah concludes this verse by stating that truly the ones that are misled are the “Fassiqueen”. A new term that God has introduced in the Quran. Some people translate “Fassiqueen” into rebellious. Here Youssif Ali translated it to those who forsake the path. The real explanation of the word “Fassikeen” comes in the next verse:

 الَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ اللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ مِيثَاقِهِ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِي الأَرْضِ أُولَـئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ {27}

Those who break Allah.s Covenant after it is ratified, and who sunder what Allah Has ordered to be joined, and do mischief on earth: These cause loss (only) to themselves.

God here tells us who the “Fassikeen” are. They are those who break the covenant they made with Allah after it is ratified. They made a promise to worship God and to be righteous and to fulfill their duties towards God but they failed to fulfill their promise. Then Allah goes further in describing them. Another quality is that they break ties that God has ordered them to make. Those who break ties with the next of kin. Those that are not righteous to their parents. Those who are not good to their neighbors. All such ties Muslims are commended to hold. The “Fassiqueen” are the ones who break such ties. The last quality of the “Fassiqueen” as described in this verse is that they spread mischief on earth. They are the ones that worship other than God and promote others to do the same. They promote corruption and spread their non-godly actions to others. A great example is what is happening on TV in today’s society. People are spreading new rules of living that have no regards to God. A way of life that is purely based on material things, sex, corruption and things that are not pleasing to God. These people could be praying to God themselves and doing what they are supposed to do in terms of their own actions, yet they are spreading lies and corrupted ways of life to the rest of the world. Indeed these are among the “Fassiqueen”.

At the end, God tells us what truly happens to them. God says these are indeed the losers. No matter how successful they were in this worldly life, in the hereafter, they are nothing but losers.  They are losers because after death they will be answerable to their actions and will have to pay dearly in Hell fire.

Then Allah poses the following question to humanity:

 كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَاتاً فَأَحْيَاكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ {28}

How can ye reject the faith in Allah.- seeing that ye were without life, and He gave you life; then will He cause you to die, and will again bring you to life; and again to Him will ye return.

How do you reject Allah and all the favors He has bestowed onto you? Remember what you were before He created you? You were nothing. You were dead, non-existing. God brought you to life. He gave you life and provided you with sight, feelings, parents, oxygen to breath, food to eat. Then He will take you back to Him after He takes your life away from you. Once you are dead, you will return to Him. You belong to God. Your entire life belong to God. Nothing you own or possess is yours. Everything came from God. Then why do you then disbelieve in Him the one who has given you life? Why do you disbelief in Him, the one who will take your life away? Why then do you disbelief in Him the one that you are bound to return to?

Then God reminds us with His favors on us:

هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ لَكُم مَّا فِي الأَرْضِ جَمِيعاً ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى إِلَى السَّمَاء فَسَوَّاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ {29}

It is He Who hath created for you all things that are on earth; Moreover His design comprehended the heavens, for He gave order and perfection to the seven firmaments; and of all things He hath perfect knowledge.

Here God reminds us that it is Him who has created for us everything that is on earth. If you look at this earth we live in and all that is in it, know for sure, based on this verse, that everything on and in this earth is created for us. Look at all the trees that give out Oxygen. The fruits we eat. The insect that pollinate the flowers and fruits. The cattle that produce clothing, food and drinks for us. God explicitly states in this verse that He has created everything on and in earth for us to use and enjoy. Now, if someone gives you $100 dollars for no reason what would you do? You would at least be thankful for that person, wouldn’t you? The least we should do is be thankful to God. We do this by obeying His previous commandments and by worshiping Him.

Then God says that He exalted Himself to the heavens and perfected them into seven Heavens. These could be seven Universes. Only God knows the extent of His creation. It is worth noting though that the atmosphere surrounding the earth is made of seven layers. In another verse in the Quran God says in Chapter “Al-Mulk” 67:3:

الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ طِبَاقًا …

            He Who created the seven heavens one above another;…

This is another miracle in the Quran that has only been recently discovered in science today that the earth’s atmosphere consist of seven layers. How would prophet Muhammed, an illiterate man living in the 600’s AD know all of that?

Note: this verse and the heavens mentioned in the verse could be seven other Universes. Only God knows best here.

Then God concludes this verse by stating that Allah alone is well aware of everything. No one but Him has the knowledge of everything.

Throughout the previous verses God has defined to us the creation of earth and defined to us that we should worship Him and the types of people that exist on this earth. Now God is going to give us details on who our true enemy is:

 وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلاَئِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً قَالُواْ أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاء وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ {30}

Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." They said: "Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?- whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?" He said: "I know what ye know not."

In this verse God describes to us another type of His creation. The angels. The Quran describes to us that the Angels are created from light and their sole purpose is to obey and worship God. God presented to the Angels that He plans to create the first human. This human will be a trustee on earth. Note, that God had already created the earth and the atmosphere layer and all the Universes around us solely for us. Now that He has prepared the earth to be the perfect living environment for humans, God foretold the angels that He plans to create a trustee on this earth. Someone who will be trusted to inherit the earth and rule on it. The angels raised their concerns to God. Are you going to place on it someone that is going to shed blood and create mischief on it while the angels all they do is worship and glorify God?

God’s answer to them was that He knows what they knew not. God has a plan that only He knows. Now here God reveals to us some of His intended plans.

Note: due to its importance, this story repeats all throughout the Quran to reveal to us more details about the dialogs that took place between God, the angels, Adam, his wife Eve and Satan. I will try to summarize it to provide more context to the reader.

 وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الأَسْمَاء كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلاَئِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاء هَـؤُلاء إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ {31}

And He taught Adam the nature of all things; then He placed them before the angels, and said: "Tell me the nature of these if ye are right."

When God created Adam, He created him from all different types of dirt from earth. God says in the Quran that he created Adam from dirt, then from mud then from sticky mud and then from clay and then from hard clay.  The different verses throughout the Quran teach us the different stages on how God created Adam. We also know from the explanations of Prophet Muhammed PBUH that God created Adam in the shape of a fully grown tall man. Today when someone is born, he/she is born as a baby with limited abilities. Out of the Mercy of God we are created babies in order not to inflict harm to ourselves. Imagine if we are born 6 feet tall in a fully developed body but with the brain of a child. We would cause harm to ourselves moments after we are born.

Here God has created Adam in the shape of a grown man. In order for Adam to be able to sustain himself and function correctly God describes to us how He taught Adam everything. He taught Him right from wrong. He taught him about all types of animals, vegetables. In reality everything we know today was taught by God to Adam. Here God says: “And He taught Adam the nature of all things” . Right after God taught Adam all these names and what they do and why they are created, he then presented the same things to the Angels and He asked them to tell Him what these are. The angels had no clue then. The angels initially questioned the motive for which God wanted to create Adam. Here God asked them to name the things that God created on earth. They question why is Adam going to shed blood but they had no clue what they were talking about. They said:

 قَالُواْ سُبْحَانَكَ لاَ عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلاَّ مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ {32}

They said: "Glory to Thee, of knowledge We have none, save what Thou Hast taught us: In truth it is Thou Who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom."

Here the angels realized that they have no knowledge and as a result they should have never questioned what God has decreed; therefore, they said, Glory be to you we have no knowledge except the knowledge you have bestowed on us. Very, you are the Oft Knowing and the Most Wise.

قَالَ يَا آدَمُ أَنبِئْهُم بِأَسْمَآئِهِمْ فَلَمَّا أَنبَأَهُمْ بِأَسْمَآئِهِمْ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ {33}

He said: "O Adam! Tell them their natures." When he had told them, Allah said: "Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth, and I know what ye reveal and what ye conceal?"

God then said: O Adam. Teach them what you have been taught. Adam then was able to communicate to the angels and was able to teach them all the things that God has created in full details. After Adam finished explaining to them what he had learned, God then reminded then angels by saying to them: "Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth, and I know what ye reveal and what ye conceal?" . God heard what the angels were questioning His Will and He is well aware of everything in the heavens and on earth.  The angels then submitted to God and acknowledge their mistakes. At that point God commanded all the angels to prostrate down to Adam:

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلاَئِكَةِ اسْجُدُواْ لآدَمَ فَسَجَدُواْ إِلاَّ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَى وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ {34}

And behold, We said to the angels: "Bow down to Adam" and they bowed down. Not so Iblis: he refused and was haughty: He was of those who reject Faith.

In other chapters and narrations of this story, God foretold the angels that when I present Adam to you, I will command you to prostrate down to him. Now that God has presented Adam and proved to them that he has knowledge they knew not, he then ordered all the angels to prostrate down to Adam. At the commandment of God, they all prostrated down except Iblis who refused and was arrogant and as a result was among the “Kafireen” (those who rejected faith and the favors of God onto them).

Iblis was not an angel. This is clearly described in the Quran in future verses. God created Iblis (Satan) from fire. Angels are created from light. When God ordered the angels to prostrate down to Adam, Iblis (Stan) was supposed to do the same. Here, Iblis refused and rejected to prostrate down to Adam. By doing so, he disobeyed God and His commandment.

Note: the very first act of disobedient and sin mentioned in the Quran is this one. The act of arrogance. The Arabic word for that is “Istakbara”. He was arrogant. He felt he was from a better race. Iblis was truly a racist. In the other narrations, God asks Iblis, why did you refuse to prostrate to Adam now that I have commanded you to do so? Iblis’s answer was, I am better than him. You have created me from fire and you have created him from clay. The Quran is teaching us that no race can assume superiority over another just because of color of sex. God casted Iblis out Paradise because Iblis (Stan) refused to seek forgiveness for the act of arrogance that he had performed. If Iblis asked forgiveness, God would have forgiven him. He instead insisted on his arrogance. As you will see in future verses such in the chapter “Al-Aaraf”, Iblis asked God for heed and time till the day of resurrection. He also took permission from God to deceive as many humans as he can. God then told him that you do not have any power on my true servants. You will only be able to deceive those who follow you out of their own veins and desires. Those who follow you will be casted in Hell fire along with you.

It is also worth noting that God created Eve, Adam’s spouse, from one of Adam’s ribs.  Then God told Adam and Eve:

 وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَكُلاَ مِنْهَا رَغَداً حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلاَ تَقْرَبَا هَـذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الْظَّالِمِينَ {35}

We said: "O Adam! dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden; and eat of the bountiful things therein as (where and when) ye will; but approach not this tree, or ye run into harm and transgression."

Note here how God refers to Himself in the plural term “We”. This is called the plural of majesty. In Arabic, when you approach a king or someone of higher statue in life you are supposed to talk to them in the plural term out of respect. This is purely a linguistic issue.

God says: O Adam, dwell in paradise you and your spouse Eve and eat therein from whatever you desire. God has provided Adam and Eve all of Paradise. God has a plan. He then told them that you are allowed to eat anything you desire except from that one tree. This is how God wanted to teach Adam how not to obey Satan and to obey the commandments of God. God not only told Adam do not eat from that tree. He told Adam and Eve not to approach the tree. God knows if they did approach the tress Satan would have even more power onto them to deceive them and to force them to disobey God. God clearly told them that if you do eat from it you would be among the wrong doers. He also warned them that Satan is your enemy. So clearly take him as your enemy. He is not your friend. You are forbidden to take him as a friend.

 فَأَزَلَّهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ عَنْهَا فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِ وَقُلْنَا اهْبِطُواْ بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ وَلَكُمْ فِي الأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَاعٌ إِلَى حِينٍ {36}

Then did Satan make them slip from the (garden), and get them out of the state (of felicity) in which they had been. We said: "Get ye down, all (ye people), with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling-place and your means of livelihood - for a time."

While in Paradise, Stan deceived both Adam and Eve. He used his ability to communicate to them through what is called “Waswassah” in the Quran. He talked to both Adam and Eve directly to their mind and chest and was able to convince them that if they tasted this forbidden tree they would turn into angels and would live therein eternally. Here once again Satan is playing the race game. He believes that Angels are better than Gins (Iblis –Stan- is the father of Gins. The Gin race is created from Fire). According to the Quran, the Gin are among us. They can see us but we cannot see them. Also Stan believes that the Gin race is better than the human race which is created out of clay. Adam hesitated to obey Iblis. Iblis insisted on them tasting the tree. He swore to them by God that he is truthful. Adam never thought that someone would lie especially while swearing by God’s name. As a result, Adam and Eve believed Iblis and tasted the tree. By them tasting the tree, the devil Satan (Iblis) has deceived them and caused them to lose their privilege in Paradise.  As soon as they both tasted the tree, their nakedness became apparent to them and they started placing leaves from the heavenly trees to cover their nakedness. At that point God has ordered them to be casted out of Paradise and thrown into earth. Unlike Stan who insisted on his arrogance, Adam realized that he disobeyed God and wanted to apologize to God for the sins they committed. Therefore God taught him what to say:

 فَتَلَقَّى آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ {37}

Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration, and his Lord Turned towards him; for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.

Here Adam was given a few words to ask God’s forgiveness. These words are also mentioned in the chapter Al-Aarf:  Surah 7:23:

قَالاَ رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ {23}

They said: "Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls: If thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Thy Mercy, we shall certainly be lost."

As soon as Adam uttered these words seeking God’s forgiveness. God immediately forgave him. Indeed God is Oft Forgiving , Most Merciful.

 قُلْنَا اهْبِطُواْ مِنْهَا جَمِيعاً فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّي هُدًى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَايَ فَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ {38}

We said: "Get ye down all from here; and if, as is sure, there comes to you Guidance from me, whosoever follows My guidance, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

After God accepted Adam and Eve’s forgiveness he ordered them to go to down to earth along with Satan and his race. God then made it very clear to us that Satan and the human race are clear and evident enemies. This is the decree and the will of God.  Whomever sees guidance from God and follows it indeed they have nothing to fear. They will be blessed in this life and in the hereafter.

 وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بِآيَاتِنَا أُولَـئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ {39}

"But those who reject Faith and belie Our Signs, they shall be companions of the Fire; they shall abide therein."

But those who see the guidance and reject it and disbelieve in God and all His signs are indeed the companions of Hell fire. They are going to dwell in it eternally.

With that, we have reached the end of this introduction of the Miracle of Islam the Holy Quran. These few verses answer the most difficult questions that humanity has today. What is the purpose of our life. Why are we created? Where does evil come from. All this is answered in a few verses. The above is merely a summary of some of the wisdom we can conclude from these few verses. The true knowledge is with God Himself. We continue to learn and study the Quran. The more we read and learn the Quran we discover new things. Indeed these are great words of wisdom to give glad tidings to those who believe and great warnings to those who disbelieve.

It is mind boggling that a book that discusses the main purpose of our creation and answers the most difficult questions ever raised by humanity starts with a verse that challenges mankind: “This book, there is no doubt, contradiction, imperfection in it”. How can an illiterate man be able to produce such a profound book if he was not guided by the one and only God. The All Mighty, the only one Worthy of praise. God “Allah”, the lord of the worlds. Glory be to Him.

I urge you to study this book. To try to indulge in reading it over and over and over again in order to start to scratch the surface of some of the meanings of these verses. This is a book like no other. Indeed, this is a speech from God to mankind.

Praise be to God who has blessed us with this great Book and this great religion. The only form of religion accepted by God. The religion of true submission to the Will of God. The religion of Islam.

It is worth noting that all messengers came with the same message to their people. Their message was to submit to the Will of God and to worship Him and to be thankful to Him as true Muslims (Those who truly submit to God).

References:

The Holy Quran

English translation in italic provided by Yousuf Ali http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/SURAI.HTM