Commentary on the Koran: Surah 90 (No.Q090)

Pickthall Translation; Bible Quotes are from the English Standard Version unless otherwise noted.

Introduction

The text refers to the City of God (No. 180) and when the elect are given the way of ascent to the city in the Holy Spirit.

It is a Very Early Beccan Surah that concerns the objectives of the faith.

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90.1. Nay, I swear by this city -

90.2. And thou art an indweller of this city -

90.3. And the begetter and that which he begat,

Hebrews 11:10, 16 ¹⁰For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

¹⁶But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,

90.4. We verily have created man in an atmosphere:

Psalm 8:4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Isaiah 2:22 Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?

Psalm 144:4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.

Man was created as a physical being for a reason. The physical life is a training stage for a higher vocation. If he defies the instructions of his master he can be put out of action and consigned to retraining in the Second Resurrection.

90.5. Thinketh he that none hath power over him?

Psalm 33:16 The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.

Isaiah 40:17 All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.

Refer to:

Daniel 4:35 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 28 (No. Q028) at ayat 88; Proverbs 21:30 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 30 (No. Q030) at ayat 27 and Jeremiah 9:23 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 51 (No. Q051) at ayat 40.

90.6. And he saith: I have destroyed vast wealth:

Genesis 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

1Corinthians 4:2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.

Man has squandered the wealth that was given to him and he is not concerned about it.

90.7. Thinketh he that none beholdeth him?

Refer to:

Psalm 33:14 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 17 (No. Q017) at ayat 60; Job 34:21-22 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 24 (No. Q024) at ayat 21and Job 28:24 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 29 (No. Q029) at ayat 8.

90.8. Did We not assign unto him two eyes

90.9. And a tongue and two lips,

90.10. And guide him to the parting of the mountain ways?

Refer to Psalm 94:9 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 27 (No. Q027) at ayat 2.

Proverbs 20:12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both.

Exodus 4:11 Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?

Psalm 51:15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

Luke 1:64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.

Genesis 11:8 So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.

Psalm 107:7 He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.

The next texts deal with the ascent to the City in the Holy Spirit and by good deeds in religion pure and undefiled.

90.11. But he hath not attempted the Ascent -

90.12. Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Ascent is! -

90.13. (It is) to free a slave,

90.14. And to feed in the day of hunger.

90.15. An orphan near of kin,

90.16. Or some poor wretch in misery,

90.17. And to be of those who believe and exhort one another to perseverance and exhort one another to pity.

90.18. Their place will be on the right hand.

[That is the Right Hand of the Throne of God.]

Refer to:

1Timothy 5:8 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 65 (No. Q065) at ayat 7; James 1:27 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 30 (No. Q030) at ayat 30 and Romans 2:7 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 45 (No. Q045) at ayat 15.

Isaiah 58:6-10 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? ⁷Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? ⁸Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. ⁹Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, ¹⁰if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

Jeremiah 9:24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”

Matthew 25:34-40 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ ³⁷Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? ³⁸And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ⁴⁰And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

1John 3:17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

Hebrews 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

90.19. But those who disbelieve Our revelations, their place will be on the left hand.

90.20. Fire will be an awning over them.

See Matthew 25:41-46 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 89 (No. Q089) at ayat 26.

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