Story Night: Fallen. Part 3

Part 3

Later Allah said, فَأَزَلَّهُمَا ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ عَنۡہَا Then the Shaitân (Satan) made them slip therefrom. See that Allah holds both of them (Adam and Hawa) responsible. When it comes to obeying Allah, both have equal responsibility and both were in the wrong. This is different from Christian narrative, because they believed that Eve was the one who tempted Adam to eat from the tree. To the extent that they say: the root of all ‘evil’ is Eve (evil from eve). They put the blame on Eve (Hawa). But in Islam, both of them was equally responsible for that mistake.

Then Allah said: وَقُلۡنَا ٱهۡبِطُواْ بَعۡضُكُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ عَدُوٌّ۬‌ۖ We said: “Get you down, all, with enmity between yourselves. They have to come down to earth. But is that the lowest you can go? It’s not the lowest. Because the lowest is the Hellfire. So that means that there are two levels of descent. This means that they just went down to the middle level (the earth). If it was a punishment, then the level that they have to go to is Jahannam. This means that Adam and Hawa were not sent to earth as a punishment. We have to understand and remember this because many people do not understand this.

So both of them were sent to earth, the middle level. And when you are sent to the middle level, you can either go back up or you can go lower down, right?

Allah sent Adam and Hawa down to earth, but He said in the ayat, ٱهۡبِطُواْ meaning it’s plural (more than two). So who does it mean here? Some ulama’ are of the opinion that it’s Adam, Hawa and Iblees. And it was added بَعۡضُكُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ عَدُوٌّ۬‌ۖ enmity between yourselves, meaning that they would be enemies to each other. But if you have been paying attention, it’s just not Adam who was there when Allah introduced humanity to the angels. We were also there, do you remember?

When Allah said ٱهۡبِطُواْ (go down all of you) it also means us, all of us. And we in fact will be enemies to each other, right? That’s why man will become enemy to another man; and vice versa. Man to man, woman to woman, man to women, man and satan altogether. And Satan will cause animosity amongst siblings, remember the first murder on earth? And also women will become enemies to each other when they hate each other’s guts. Even when they are in the same family (or may be, ‘because’ they are in the same family, who knows?).

And unfortunately syaitan has managed to create this oppression, this hatred, sometimes in the name of Islam. There are some people who use the name of Islam and say the most satanic things. Some people even use Islamic reasons to oppress women. Of course they have to misuse the understanding of the religion to achieve this. They have distorted the religion that made the sunnah of the Prophet the opposite of what it’s supposed to be.

And this is the tragedy of the Ummah. The worst propaganda against Islam is done by the hands of the Muslims themselves, knowingly or unknowingly. We have so much of it that it makes us sick. See how we made enemies between each other, while both thinking that they are defending the religion. Who gives you the licence to judge a person’s heart? And what made it worse is that it is being done by people that have religious standing in the community.

So when Allah says that you will be enemies to each other, don’t just think that it’s just between believers versus kuffar, that’s too simplistic. We are living in the time where people using the name of Islam to say terrible, horrible things. And as a result, they push people away from Islam. Because there are things that are attributed falsely to Allah and to the Prophet. And that made the name of Islam bad in the eyes of the non-Muslims, isn’t it?

And this is our fight. The fight to claim back the book of Allah and try to do justice to Sunnah of the Prophet. To snatch it back from the hands that oppress in the name of Allah and the Prophet. How dare they? Unfortunately this is happening everywhere that it is sickening.

But enough venting and let’s get back to the issues at hand. And Allah continues, وَلَكُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مُسۡتَقَرٌّ۬ وَمَتَـٰعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ۬ and for you on the earth shall be a resting-place and enjoyment for a season. The word ‘istiqrar’ means to stay and to stay with peace. It also means to find coolness. In contemporary English, as a human being sent to the earth, you will find on the earth a place to chill, literally.

And you will find enjoyment and utility. It’s until a given time. So there will be something that we will enjoy and find relaxation on earth. But it’s not permanent. Unfortunately some people think that their money will make them eternal. As Allah says in Humazah:3 يَحْسَبُ أَنَّ مَالَهُ أَخْلَدَهُ thinking that his wealth will make him live forever! Allah does not want you to condemn your worldly life, don’t take it wrongly.

Some Muslim got this wrong idea that we cannot enjoy this dunya. What Allah tells us not to do is to enjoy this world so much that you forget about the akhirah, that’s all. That you forget that this world is only temporary. Please study the life of the Prophet. He lived in Madinah in the time of war. But he did live his life. He didn’t put down those sahabas that enjoy this world. He’was fighting, yes but at the same time, he enjoyed this world as well. Who are you to be more hardcore than the Prophet and sahabahs? Remember that Allah gives this worldly life for us to enjoy and afterwards to thank Allah. How can you thank Allah if you don’t use His blessings on us?

Remember when the visitors came to see Prophet Ibrahim? Did he not serve them fat meat? That’s dunya, isn’t it? So remember that we are not supposed to condemn this world, but we need to live in it in a balanced way, that’s all. Allah wants happiness for the believers in both worlds. So appreciate the gifts that Allah gives us. Remember that Allah takes pride in the beautiful world that He had created.

That’s why Adam is being told to use the مَتَـٰعٌ in this world. He’s not being punished, remember? But Adam has seen Jannah already. This world is nothing compared to Jannah. You cannot imagine the sadness that he felt.

So Allah said, فَتَلَقَّىٰٓ ءَادَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ كَلِمَـٰتٍ۬ Then Adam learnt from his Lord certain Words. Adam came into contact with certain words from Allah. Look at how Allah used the words here. Allah could have said that He ‘revealed’ the words but instead He used the word: تَلَقَّىٰٓ. This word means stumble, come into contact; it’s usually used in Arabic when you come upon a treasure, something valuable. What are those words?

The words are mentioned in A’raf:23 رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ “O our Sustainer! We have sinned against ourselves -and unless Thou grant us forgiveness and bestow Thy mercy upon us, we shall most certainly be lost!“ Allah Himself taught Adam these words and when he said it, Allah accepted his repentance.

Allah is saying when you accept your mistake as your personal responsibility, and repent, Allah will come close to you. Because after Adam mentioned those words, Allah said (Baqarah: 37): فَتَابَ عَلَيۡهِ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلتَّوَّابُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ and He relented toward him, verily He! He is the Relentant, the Merciful. Allah is saying here that even if you did something wrong that caused you to be expelled from Jannah, it doesn’t mean that Allah does not love you. No human being has been removed from the mercy of Allah. As long as you are on earth and you are not dead, Allah may still accept your repentance.

Then Allah said: قُلۡنَا ٱهۡبِطُواْ مِنۡہَا جَمِيعً۬ا‌ۖ We said: get ye all down from here. But He also adds, فَإِمَّا يَأۡتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّى هُدً۬ى and if there cometh unto you a guidance from Me, which means ‘if and when’ they receive the guidance from Allah. Who is ‘they’? Adam and his progenies (that means us). فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡہِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ then whosoever shall follow My guidance, –no fear shall come on them, nor shall they grieve. Of course, Adam was afraid because of what he did. But Allah says here that He will remove that fear and get rid of the sadness so long he and his progeny take the guidance seriously.

That’s two things that Allah will take away: fear and sadness. That is the promise of Allah to us. So if you don’t want fear and sadness in your life, then what must you do? Obviously follow Allah’s guidance. In our case, this refers to the Qur’an. It is Allah’s remedy for fear and also for sadness. And remember that this promise was made to Adam and the ultimate fulfilment of that promise comes with the revelation of Qur’an.

By the way, what is the beauty of Jannah? More than anything else, it’s the removal of fear and sadness. Sadness is something that happened in the past and fear is something that might happen in the future. Both these will be removed in Jannah. And the same joy that you will experience in Jannah, Allah can also bring it to you here on earth. Of course if you follow the guidance from Allah. That means that you will experience it while you are on the road to Jannah. That is the promise of Allah to us and what a beautiful promise it is.

An important side note here. What about the fear of Allah? That is a valid fear, right? And we do have a sense of sadness over the sins that we have made, right? Then why did it say that they will have fear and sadness? Ulama’ says that it means that you will not be overrun with fear and sadness. Yes you will experience fear and sadness but it will not overwhelm you. Allah will give the strength for you to move on.

That means that we can have valid fear for our kids, for our parents, for akhirah and sadness over the things that have passed, but Allah will not let that sadness bury you in emotions. Because if it does, it will paralyse you. Allah will keep that emotion in check and what will keep it in check? It’s the book of Allah.

But unfortunately there are people that are angry and subsequently explain the Qur’an in anger; and there are those that are too relaxed and they explain the book of Allah in that manner. And there are those that are afraid and they interpret the Qur’an in that way as well. This is not right. Instead, we have to come to the book of Allah submissively. If you come to it with bias, then you will have a prejudice towards it.

Remember that the Qur’an will give you what you came for. If you come to it for guidance, it will give you guidance. If you come to it with a bias, then it will give you the bias that you were looking for. Remember that you have to follow the guidance and the guidance doesn’t have to follow you.

Then Allah says وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ‌ۖ هُمۡ فِيہَا خَـٰلِدُونَ “And those who disbelieve and deny Our signs – those will be companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.” Allah is saying here that the only rescue is if we follow Allah’s guidance. If you deny it, and you fall into doubt, then there is no help left for you.

So where is the juicy part? Remember that the story we are reading now comes from Surah Baqarah. It’s a long surah and it’s not only about Adam and when you read this long surah, you’d think that it has completely random subjects, right? It moves from one subject to another subject and then to another subject. But actually, everything is connected in the Qur’an and you cannot understand the Qur’an in isolation. Allah put these verses together for a purpose.

Our job now is to figure out what the story of Adam is doing in Surah Baqarah. What’s the connection? What benefit does it serve? In the study of tafseer, this is called ilm al-bayan. One of its subject matters is to understand how the ayats of the Qur’an are organised.

To understand this, let’s look at the overview of Surah Baqarah briefly. The first part of the surah (part 1) talks about the believers and compares it with the non-believers and the hypocrites. When you get to the very end of the surah (part 9), there’s a dua and that dua is the dua to protect the believers from falling into hypocrisy and helps the believers against the non-believers. See the connection?

Part 2 of the surah is what we just studied (the story of Adam) and the essence of the story is about Adam who was given all of Jannah but Satan caused him to slip as a result of greed. He has all of Jannah except that tree and the incentive that Satan promised him was staying in Jannah forever, remember? And greed and living forever goes together, right? As we’ve seen before: يَحْسَبُ أَنَّ مَالَهُ أَخْلَدَهُ thinking that his wealth will make him live forever! So this part 2 is about Adam and how greed can destroy humanity and keeps us away from Jannah.

And if you go to part 8 of this surah, it begins with ayat about spending in the path of Allah. Then there’s an ayat about Riba’ (interest). So part 8 is about the best thing that you can do with your money (in the path of Allah) and the worst thing that you can do with it (riba’). It is followed by verses about business. So part 8 verses teach us about controlling greed. Again, do you see the connection? Special attention here to ayah 268 which again relates to Satan ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنُ يَعِدُكُمُ ٱلۡفَقۡرَ وَيَأۡمُرُڪُم بِٱلۡفَحۡشَآءِ‌ۖ Satan promised you with poverty and orders you to immorality. This is what he did with Adam. He promised Adam bankruptcy and getting out from Jannah if did not follow his ‘advice’, and once Adam made the mistake, their clothes were removed and Satan continues to command humans to shamelessness.

So part 2 and part 8 are connected. You follow so far?

Moving on. Part 3 of the Surah is about the laws that Allah gave to Bani Israel and how they kept breaking Allah’s law. Now compare to Part 7. It has the list of laws that Allah gives to the Muslim Ummah. From the laws of Hajj to divorce, about eating and all that. One is about the law to the Israelites and the other is the law to the Muslims.

Part 4 is where it was told that Prophet Ibraheem passed his test from Allah. And Part 6 is telling us that this ummah will be tested. So both these parts are about tests. One for the Israelites and one for us.

What’s left? We’ve looked at part 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9 of Surah Baqarah. Right in the middle is Part 5 is where Allah told us that the Qiblah is changing. The center of Islam and all humanity is the Qiblah and the center of Surah Baqarah is about Qiblah. The Qiblah is changing from the qiblah of the Bani Israel to the qiblah of the Ummah of Muhammad. Just like the beginning of the Surah is about Bani Israel and later part is about the Ummah of Muhammad. And in the middle is about the Qiblah.

So that’s the overview of Surah Baqarah in brief. Let’s get back to the original discussion of this writing. The story of Adam is in Part 2 and we know that he is our father. And immediately after that is the part about Bani Israel (Children of Israel) as a nation. The next part is about Ibraheem and he is also a father. And the part after that is about our nation and we have a qiblah of our own. So the topic is about a father (Adam) and after that a nation (Children of Israel) and after that about a father again (Ibraheem) and later about another nation (our nation, Children of Ismael). So the formula is Father – nation – Father – nation.

Now look at this: One father will be compared to one nation. So Adam will be compared to Bani Israel (The Israelites). How? Check this out. We’ve learnt that Adam was being sent to the earth as a Khalifah. And the only other prophet that has been described as a Khalifah is from Bani Israel which is Dawud a.s. as told in Sad:26 يٰداوودُ إِنّا جَعَلنٰكَ خَليفَةً فِي الأَرضِ O David, indeed We have made you as a khalifah upon the earth. 

Remember that there were two complaints about humans from the angels when Allah said that He wanted to make humans as khalifah on earth? That they will cause corruption and spill blood, right? And what did the Israelites do? وَقَضَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ فِى ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ لَتُفۡسِدُنَّ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَرَّتَيۡنِ And We conveyed to the Children of Israel in the Scripture that, “You will surely cause corruption on the earth twice (Isra’:4). The angels said that humans will cause corruption and who proved them correct? The Israelites.

The second complaint of the angels is that humans will spill blood. What did the Israelites do? ثُمَّ أَنتُمۡ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ تَقۡتُلُونَ أَنفُسَكُمۡ Then, you are those [same ones who are] killing one another (Baqarah:85). What the angels feared was fulfilled by the Israelites.

What happened when Adam and Hawa made their epic mistake? They were told to come down to earth from Jannah قُلۡنَا ٱهۡبِطُواْ مِنۡہَا جَمِيعً۬ا‌ۖ We said, “Go down from it, all of you. And we have already explained that the reason is because of greed. Now look at what the Israelites did. While they were in the desert, they were given Manna and Salwa. But they were not satisfied with it. The said, وَإِذۡ قُلۡتُمۡ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ لَن نَّصۡبِرَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامٍ۬ وَٲحِدٍ۬ فَٱدۡعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُخۡرِجۡ لَنَا مِمَّا تُنۢبِتُ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ مِنۢ بَقۡلِهَا وَقِثَّآٮِٕهَا وَفُومِهَا وَعَدَسِہَا وَبَصَلِهَا‌ۖ And [recall] when you said, “O Moses, we can never endure one [kind of] food. So call upon your Lord to bring forth for us from the earth its green herbs and its cucumbers and its garlic and its lentils and its onions.” (Baqarah:61). It’s because of greed, isn’t it?

And because of that Moses said to them, ٱهۡبِطُواْ مِصۡرً۬ا فَإِنَّ لَڪُم مَّا سَأَلۡتُمۡ‌ۗ Go down into [any] settlement and indeed, you will have what you have asked.” Again, the same word ٱهۡبِطُواْ was used with Adam and the Israelites.

Remember when Adam entered Jannah and was told to eat anywhere that he liked? وَكُلَا مِنۡهَا رَغَدًا حَيۡثُ شِئۡتُمَا and eat therefrom in [ease and] abundance from wherever you will. The same thing was told to the Israelites in Baqarah:58 وَإِذۡ قُلۡنَا ٱدۡخُلُواْ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلۡقَرۡيَةَ فَڪُلُواْ مِنۡهَا حَيۡثُ شِئۡتُمۡ رَغَدً۬ا And [recall] when We said, “Enter this city and eat from it wherever you will in [ease and] abundance. Here you can see the similarities of the words used.

What was the gift that Allah gave Adam when he was on earth? Words right? تَلَقَّىٰٓ ءَادَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ كَلِمَـٰتٍ۬ Then Adam learnt from his Lord certain Words. And the words were about his acknowledgement that he did wrong. And what was told to the Israelites when they entered the city? وَٱدۡخُلُواْ ٱلۡبَابَ سُجَّدً۬ا وَقُولُواْ حِطَّةٌ۬ and enter the gate bowing humbly and say, ‘Relieve us of our burdens.’ But where Adam acknowledged his mistakes, the Israelites did not. They were given one word (whereas Adam got more words) but even one word they didn’t manage to handle and even changed it, ridiculing their prophet and Allah. فَبَدَّلَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ قَوۡلاً غَيۡرَ ٱلَّذِى قِيلَ لَهُمۡ But those who wronged changed [those words] to a statement other than that which had been said to them (Baqarah:59).

When the angels made their complaints, Allah told them, قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَعۡلَمُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ Allah said, “Indeed, I know that which you do not know.” and immediately they backed down. But the Israelites talked like they knew more than Allah and Allah rebuked them قُلۡ ءَأَنتُمۡ أَعۡلَمُ أَمِ ٱللَّهُ‌ۗ Say, “Are you more knowing or is Allah?” 

Remember when Allah said to the angels (and to Iblees)? وَأَعۡلَمُ مَا تُبۡدُونَ وَمَا كُنتُمۡ تَكۡتُمُونَ And I know what you reveal and what you have concealed. And what did the Israelites do? They hid the revelations. إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكۡتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبِ Indeed, they who conceal what Allah has sent down of the Book (Baqarah:174).

What did Iblees refuse to do? Sajdah, right? Israelites not only do not want to do sajdah, they even didn’t want to do ruku’ (which is something less than a sujood). That’s why they are being told to do that in Baqarah:43 وَٱرۡكَعُواْ مَعَ ٱلرَّٲكِعِينَ and bow down with those who bow down. 

So now we can see that Adam is compared with the Israelites. The angels made a complaint that human beings are not up to the task as a khalifah. Then Allah gave long narratives about the Israelites who were supposed to be the chosen nation, that were given so many prophets, and so many chances, and yet they proved that the angels were right, didn’t they? So far, we’ve seen that the angels were right in their complaints about human beings.

Later, Allah mentioned the story of another father, Ibraheem a.s. Who was also tested. Adam was tested and he failed temporarily and later recovered. Whereas the Israelites were also tested and they continued to fail again and again. Then Ibraheem was tested and he passed. We mentioned before that Baqarah is about father – nation – father – nation. And the similar things about them is test and test. Ibraheem was tested with colossal things and he completed the test as mentioned in Baqarah:124 وَإِذِ ٱبۡتَلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمَ رَبُّهُ ۥ بِكَلِمَـٰتٍ۬ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ‌ۖ And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them. That’s how great Ibraheem was and that’s why we are called the religion of Ibraheem.

Who’s next? Us! Allah said that he will test us next. وَلَنَبۡلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىۡءٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡخَوۡفِ وَٱلۡجُوعِ وَنَقۡصٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡوَٲلِ وَٱلۡأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٲتِ‌ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient (Baqarah:155). So now it is our turn to be tested. When Allah told that He wants to create humans on earth, it created a question inside the mind of the angels. And that question is not answered by the doings of the Israelites. Because they are a disappointment to the legacy of their father, Ibraheem. They were supposed to uphold the legacy but they failed. But the legacy of Ibraheem must be upheld. So who will uphold it? I think that you can guess it by now.

By the way, the legacy of Ibraheem is built on the foundation of the Ka’bah. This was mentioned in Baqarah:127 وَإِذۡ يَرۡفَعُ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمُ ٱلۡقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ ٱلۡبَيۡتِ And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House. This means that he did not build it from scratch because the foundation is already there. But where did the foundation come from? It was from Adam, who started the project. So the first father started the project and the second father finished the project.

And Ibraheem has two kinds of children: Ishaq on one side and Ismail on the other side. From Ishaq came the Israelites and we already knew that they had failed and didn’t do justice to the house.

And now it’s the turn of the children of Ismail, the Muslims turn to uphold it. And we are the final ummah that walks on this earth. There’s no more ummah after us, right? And thus we are supposed to be the answer to the angels from Allah when He answered to them,  أَعۡلَمُ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ He (Allâh) said: “I know that which you do not know.” This means that Allah knows the Muslims and the Ummah of Muhammad. Allah trusts us to show what humans can do, that we can take care of the earth and there will be those who will rise to the occasion when the time comes.

So we have a huge responsibility on our shoulders.

Now to close this long writing, let’s look at the ending part of the surah. Towards the end, we learn that Ibraheem turned to Allah and asked Him how He gave life to the dead. وَإِذۡ قَالَ إِبۡرَٲهِـۧمُ رَبِّ أَرِنِى ڪَيۡفَ تُحۡىِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ‌ۖ And [mention] when Abraham said, “My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead.” (Baqarah:260). In the beginning, angels and Iblees asked their questions. And now it’s about the question of the Ibraheem. And Allah proceeds to show Ibraheem how He brought life to the dead.

And in the previous verse, Allah told the story of a prophet who passed through a town and he saw that it was completely ruined and he couldn’t see how Allah can bring it back to life. أَوۡ كَٱلَّذِى مَرَّ عَلَىٰ قَرۡيَةٍ۬ وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا قَالَ أَنَّىٰ يُحۡىِۦ هَـٰذِهِ ٱللَّهُ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِهَا‌ۖ Or [consider such an example] as the one who passed by a township which had fallen into ruin. He said, “How will Allah bring this to life after its death?” And Allah made him dead for a hundred years and later brought him back to life. Again, it’s about bringing the dead to life.

Why are these stories important? So many people think that this ummah is dead. That there is no hope left for us. And it’s true isn’t it that there’s so much corruption, disobedience, fitnah, hatred, ignorance and all. The list is endless. It seems that we can be considered as ‘dead’ in a way. But Allah says that He gives death and He also gives life. So why don’t you believe that this ummah of ours can be brought back to life? This is a matter of iman. Don’t think that there’s no hope left for us. We must believe that there is still hope. Yes, you may not be able to see now, but we must put our trust in Allah’s plan.

And lastly, let’s look at two scenes in Suratul Baqarah. One is in the beginning and another one at the end. In the beginning, we learn about a man brought down to earth from Jannah. When he was sent to earth, Adam was told to look out for guidance.

And at the end of surah, there are two ayats of Surah Al Baqarah where our Prophet received it after travelling from earth to meet Allah in the Heaven (Isra’ Mi’raj). So the surah begins with a human being going down to earth and as the surah concludes with another man ascending to receive revelations. Descent in the beginning and ascend at the end.

And what Allah says in that verse? ءَامَنَ ٱلرَّسُولُ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيۡهِ مِن رَّبِّهِۦ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ‌ۚ The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers (Baqarah:285). In the Arasy (Throne of Allah), Allah mentioned the ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ‌ۚ which is us. Why? Because we are the answers to the angel’s question. Again, remember that we have a huge responsibility on our shoulders. May we be the ones that are involved in fulfilling it.

The End.