[2]. The clear Book is the Qur’an whose verses are clear with regards to its language and rulings, and all its meanings. A Book whose Truth is evident and which clears up that which is indefinite and inexact.
[3]. Of the blessed land of the Levant after the destruction of Pharaoh.
Despite observing how the wicked draw the sword to bring down the Muslims, Muslims trusted Allāh to make things right for them. Life is hard and often unfair. Yet we hear in the words of Prophet Muhamad an echo from Psalm 37 that says: "Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in Allāh and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.Take delight in Allāh, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to Allāh; trust in him and he will do this; He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before Allāh and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in Allāh will inherit the land.
[4]. Of the Levant.
[5]. That his kingdom would come to an end at the hands of a newborn from the Children of Israel.
[6]. What would be the end result of this matter.
[8]. Resting in their houses.
[9]. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) said, narrating from his Lord 'Allāh', may He be blessed and exalted: “O My slaves (of mankind and jinn), all of you are astray except those whom I guide, so ask Me for guidance, and I will guide you. O My slaves, all of you are hungry except those whom I feed, so ask me for food and I will feed you. O My slaves, all of you are naked except those whom I clothe, so ask Me for clothing and I will clothe you. O My slaves, you err night and day, but I forgive all sins, so ask Me for forgiveness and I will forgive you." With regard to that which no one but Allāh, may He be exalted, is able to do, it is not permissible to seek it from anyone except Allāh, may He be glorified; it should not be sought from the angels or from the Prophets or from anyone else. It is not permissible to say to anyone other than Allāh: ‘Forgive me’ or ‘Grant us rain or ‘Grant us victory’ or ‘Guide our hearts’ and so on. One should turn to Allāh at times of ease and at times of hardship, and seek the help of Allāh in all his affairs. If a person calls anyone else to help him in a matter in which that person is able to help like the situation of this Israelite asking help from Moses, then this is permissible. So long as a person is alive, present and able, there is nothing wrong with seeking his help, but it is better and preferable to ask Allāh for help in all circumstances. And Allāh is Able to do all things.
[10]. I.e., the Israelite or the Coptic thought that Moses wanted to strike him.
[11]. Zipporah and her younger sister.
[12]. Do not wait for praise for every good thing you do, and do not look for applause for every heroic act. Live with a devout heart. Help those who need help, and console those who need consolation,
support the weak and help the stumbling to stand upright. Make doing good as a habit in you, like breathing. If you give charity, then turn away quickly averting your gaze, so that you do not see the brokenness of the poor before your eyes. How noble was Moses, peace be upon him, when he give the help, he turned away, and Allāh rewarded him with something more beautiful than a word of thanks. Always remember that you are dealing with Allāh - Generous God.
[13]. I.e., Zipporah.
[14]. To attain shyness, be humble, don't put yourself forward, don't seek position, fame or notoriety - dress and behave modestly, don't look down on others, help the weak, aid the oppressed, don't show off, avoid the desire to be the centre of conversations and attention - don't put out images of yourself for the people to see - don't seek to embarrass and shame others, and specially the believers, rather learn to love them and aide them - and if you are unknown, praise Allāh and thank Him. Muhammad, God's messenger said: "There is not a person who humbles himself for Allāh except that Allāh raises him."
[15]. Muhammed, God's messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Righteousness is good character and manners, and sin is what disturbs your heart and you hate for people to find out about it.”
Striving for righteousness means having a relationship with Allāh defined by obedience to His will and being shaped to have good character, taking as a model and good example the messenger of God, the Prophet Muhammad, for Allāh has not called us to impurity, but to righteousness. Being righteous makes the believers set themselves apart from the evils of the world.
[16]. About the route to Egypt.
[17]. I.e., examples or precedents, followed by subsequent tyrants.
[18]. Allāh wants the best for all people - He wants His salvation to reach the world. And that is why He has sent the prophet Muhammad, as His last and final messenger to all the nations.
[19]. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) was asked: "Was there ever a day that was worse for you than the day of Uhud?" He said: “I suffered a great deal at the hands of the pagans, and the worst that I suffered from them was the day of Al-‘Aqabah, when I presented myself to their chief, and he did not respond to what I wanted. So I left, so distressed that I did not know in which direction I was heading, and I did not realise where I was until I was in Qarn al-Tha‘aalib, where I lifted my head and saw that a cloud was shading me. I looked and saw therein Gabriel, who called me and said: "Allāh has heard what your people said to you, and how they have responded to you. He has sent to you the angel of the mountains, so that you can tell him to do whatever you want to them." Then the angel of the mountains called out to me and greeted me, then he said: "Muhammad, Allāh has heard what your people have said to you, and I am the angel of the mountains. Your Lord has sent me to you so that you can tell me what to do with them. If you wish I will bring together the two mountains of Makkah to crush them. The Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him: “Rather I hope that Allāh will bring forth from their loins people who will worship Allāh alone, not associating anything with Him.”
[20]. I e., submitters to the Will of God.
[21]. Muhammad, God's Messenger, said: "Allâh has made this town, Makkah, a sanctuary. Its thorny bushes should not be cut, its game should not be chased, and its fallen things should not be picked up except by one who would announce them publicly."
[23]. Muhammad, God's messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach his companions to seek guidance from Allāh in all things, just as he used to teach them a chapter from the Qur'an. He said: If any one of you is concerned about a decision he has to make, then let him pray two rak’ahs of non-obligatory prayer, then say: (O Allāh, I seek Your guidance [in making a choice] by virtue of Your knowledge, and I seek ability by virtue of Your power, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power, I have none. And You know, I know not. You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allāh, if in Your knowledge, this matter (then it should be mentioned by name) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my affairs (i.e., both in this world and in the Hereafter), then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if in Your knowledge it is bad for me and for my religion, my livelihood and my affairs (or: for me both in this world and the next life), then turn me away from it, and turn it away from me, and ordain for me the good wherever it may be, and make me pleased with it.
[24]. Darkness can be bad for us. If we spend too much time out of reach of daylight, we lose track of time, we are more likely to feel depressed and we are more prone to lose touch with reality. Scientific research shows that prolonged exposure to darkness can very quickly disrupt our internal rhythms, our sense of self and our relationship with the world around us. We are creatures of the day, and though we need darkness in order to sleep, we need light in order to live.
[25]. A good night’s sleep and rest is a priceless gift from Allāh. Healthy sleep restores strength and well-being to the human body and refreshes the mind and spirit. Sleep recreates. The Qur’an indicates that sleep is not meant only for the recuperation of a man’s body, but that there is a tremendous furtherance of spiritual and moral life during sleep and rest.
Sleep is considered a temporary withdrawal of the soul from the body, similar to the way it is taken during death.
Waking up from sleep is seen as a form of resurrection, as the soul returns to the body.
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) used to say when he wake up from the sleep, "Praise be to Allah, Who has given us life again after He has taken it, and unto Him is the Resurrection."
[26]. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Allāh detests all the proud of heart. Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Money that makes you arrogant is poverty. The knowledge that makes you haughty is ignorance. The position that makes you mighty is
decadence. And the power that makes you tyrant is weakness. Real wealth, prestige, and knowledge are found in the humble.
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him, the most humble man, used to milk his goat and polish his shoes, and sew his dress, and race with his wife Aisha.
He wipes away the tears of his wife, Safiya.
And when his companions divided the tasks of slaughtering the sheep. One of them said, “I will slaughter it,” and the other said, “I will skin it.” The Prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and exalt his mention, said: I am bringing firewood.
[27]. In order to verify them, but only to rebuke and punish them by their sins.
[28]. i.e., Makkah in this life, and Paradise in the Hereafter.