Logging life

So invoke Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, although the disbelievers dislike it. [ Al-Mu'min : 14] Sahih International and when you do call Allah with sincerety : And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible. [ Al-Mu'min : 60] Sahih International

Why do we have so many examples, parables, similitude in Quran? And We have certainly presented for the people in this Qur'an from every [kind of] example - that they might remember. [Az-Zumar: 27] translation: Sahih International

Why do we read Quran and what should be the immediate and long-term impact of its reading on the readers? Quran explains the immediate affect of reading: Allah has sent down the best statement, a Book (this Quran), its parts resembling each other in goodness and truth, oft-repeated. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it (when they recite it or hear it). Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah. He Guides therewith whom He pleases and whomever Allah sends astray, for him there is no guide. [Az-Zumar: 23] Muhsin Khan translation.

Auliya in Arabic means friend, helper, or protector. In Sufism, those who have reached high level of God-consciousness are called Auliya-Allah or friends of Allah. These are important people and no harm in visiting their graves and praying for them. But more often than not their graves (dargaahs) become a place to to plead and ask them for favors. Allah in Az-Zumar verse 3 in fact uses the word "Auliya" to say that Allah should be approached directly. LO! for Allah is the religion exclusive. And those who take patrons beside Him, saying: We Worship them not save in order that they may bring us nigh Unto God in approach - -verily Allah will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Verily Allah guideth not him who is a liar and ingrate. [Az- Zumar : 3] Daryabadi translation.

In the following verse, Allah tells Prophet Daud (alaihe salaam) that I have made you a khalifa in the earth ( خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ ) so govern among people (فَاحْكُم بَيْنَ النَّاسِ ) with truth (justice) and do not follow your own desire ( بِالْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَىٰ ). I find it significant that Allah tells Prophet Daud to govern among people and not rule over the people which suggests that correct understanding of "khalifa" is not "badshaah" as it is translated into Urdu below rather Ziauddin Sardar's translation of "trustee" will be closer to the meaning. Also, the verses lays down some guiding principles for the ones occuping the office of khalifa or by extension anyone in the position of governance that it should be done with justice and not one's desires. Pickthall (And it was said unto him): O David! Lo! We have set thee as a viceroy in the earth; therefor judge aright between mankind, and follow not desire that it b...

In Surah Saffat, mentioning the story of Yunus, how he fled from his nation, then while crossing the river, his ship was caught in a storm and his name came up in the lots and he was thrown overboard then a ship swallowed him, Allah says that he may have remained there had he not been doing the tasbeeh. And had he not been of those who exalt Allah. He would have remained inside its belly until the Day they are resurrected. [ Saffat: 143-144 ] So according to traditions Prophet Yunus recited this famous dua: And we are advised to recite this dua whenever in difficulty. But should this dua be our first line of defense in trouble? Prophet Yunus was of course in a situation where he can not try anything else but remember Allah but shouldn't we be first trying all we can and then only leave the result in the hands of Allah? So in cases of emergency, first break glass, turn on the fire alarm and use the fire extinguisher.

In Surah As-Saffat, Allah declares Himself as Rabb-ul-Mashaariq i.e. Lord of the easts. Not sure why most translators have translated it as the Lord of the sunrises. But if we stick to original Arabic then question arises east from where? is it east from the reader's perspective or east of Hijaz? Also, how many easts are there? As-Saaffat Lord of the heavens and of the earth and all that is between them, and Lord of the sun's risings. (5) Lo! We have adorned the lowest heaven with an ornament, the planets; (6) سورة الصَّافات وہ پروردگار ہے آسمانوں کا اور زمین کا اور جو کچھ ان کے درمیان میں ہے اور پروردگار ہے طلوع کرنے کے مواقع کا۔ (۵) ہم ہی نے رونق دی ہے اسی طرف والے آسمان کو عجیب آرائش یعنی ستاروں کے ساتھ۔ (۶) Next verse, except for Pickthall everyone translate kavakib as start. It says that stars are ornaments of the sky (nearest heaven), this also raises lot of questions about nature and function of the stars. And then continue reading till verse number 10....