Section Al-Furqan – Part 23

We are continuing with our study of Section Al-Furqan. We last investigated the verses that mentioned how the Creator of the universe brings the truth with the best explanation. That is the only way for us to be guided in our practical life where the message of the Qur’an would be walking along with us. I go through different experiences and there are always some verses that would guide me to get through the different situations that I get into. When I don’t pay attention to the clear message presented by God then I would suffer the consequence within my feelings here and physically as well in the Hereafter.

The subject continues in the following verse and brings the news of what happened to the previous prophets. The example used here is of prophet Moses, the most often mentioned prophet in the Qur’an.

وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا مُوسَى ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَجَعَلْنَا مَعَهُۥٓ أَخَاهُ هَـٰرُونَ وَزِيرًۭا 

25:35 We gave the Book to Moses and assigned him his brother Aaron as a helper

The word “وَزِيرًۭا” is translated as “helper”. The original meaning would be a minister helping the president. In this case, his brother is employed to help Moses to convey the message of God. The root letters refer to someone who takes on a burden. In this verse’s context, the “burden” is taken up by the brother to help Moses in spreading the message.

Why do we think the Qur’an keeps reminding us that Moses needed his brother as a helper? Why would a great famous prophet need a helper? His exemplary life somehow reminds us of the life of prophet Muhammad (pbuh), as they were both on the same line. Prophet Moses is also mentioned in Section Ta-Ha:

وَٱجْعَل لِّى وَزِيرًۭا مِّنْ أَهْلِى
20:29 and give me a helper from my family

In this verse as well, the word “وَزِيرً” is used by asking God to appoint a helper from his family. Why is this being told to me and how is it applicable to my life now? We can take this as a reminder for us to help the prophet as well in spreading the message of God. For example, in the Qur’an there is the mention of Jesus asking: “Who is going to help me?”. The verse is in As-Saf, 61:14: “Who will come with me to help God?” The disciples “الحواريون ” replied that they would help him. In the case of prophet Moses, his brother was the helper and in the case of prophet Muhammad (pbuh) we see his companions as helpers. We see the reference to the companions of prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in Section Al-Fath, verse 29: “Muhammad is the Messenger of God. Those who follow him are harsh towards the disbelievers and compassionate towards each other…” 

Do the prophets need help from human beings? We hear verses in the Qur’an that mention God is enough so why would God’s messengers need any help from people? At the same time, the prophets are presented to us with the need for helpers among human beings. Prophets are those who receive the message and are responsible for spreading it. The message is provided by God, but the spreading of the message is left onto the human side of the prophets. The prophetic mission of spreading the message shows us that the best “sunnah” (prophetic path) is to be involved in spreading the message. As a result, every human being is responsible for spreading the message to those who need it.  In our living, can we help the prophet? Yes, by spreading the message so that it does not disappear and those who need it will receive it and enjoy it. If I find myself convinced with the message, then I must help in spreading it by either taking on the leadership position or helping the leaders involved in the mission of spreading the message. That is what this verse refers to by mentioning the prophets’ need for helpers, that I must try to spread the message and help those who are trying to spread the message. To help someone, I must first learn myself and be convinced. There are many ways to help in supporting the message such as certain skills one may have, such as in presentation, organization, writing, editing, artistic, financial, etc., according to where one can be useful. No one can be perfect in everything, which is how we are made to work together in different ways.

Why does prophet Moses ask particularly for his brother?

The word used is “أَخَاهُ” referring to his brother. In the verse from Section Ta-Ha above, the phrase “مِّنْ أَهْلِى”, meaning from “my family”. Why particularly from his family? In Islam as far as belief matters are concerned where belief values are being dealt with, if the family members do not share those beliefs, then one does not have to obey them. There is a lot of emphasis in the Qur’an on blood relationships such as father and mother with their responsibilities towards their family and children. When the children grow up, they now have responsibilities towards their parents when the parents get old. Inheritance is not divided among needy ones but goes to the family members of the one deceased. If there are some needy people present during the distribution of the inheritance, then one can give some share out of the inheritance that they received to them. 

The Qur’an attaches importance to blood relationships which means that blood relationships must be carefully and specifically dealt with. It says that the “رَحِم”, which is “womb” relationship, i.e. blood relationships, must be kept in good condition. I don’t have to share the same belief to be nice to my family members. Belief is unique to everyone. We must help, respect and take care of our family and relatives regardless of their belief. I cannot say that my brother or sister does not share my belief so I will close my ties to them. The family members don’t have to follow my belief, and I don’t have to follow their belief. Obviously, I cannot ask my family members who do not share my belief to help me spread the message.

Unfortunately, family ties are lost in secular societies. The conditions of secular society destroyed family relationships including marriage ties being corrupted. No one is committing their life to someone else. Everyone says that I am an individual being and must not have any responsibility towards anyone else. This secular society cannot be the criteria for us as it does not conform to the way human beings are created. Nowadays, family ties are based on the fashion of the time. 

We are advised by the Qur’an to get close to the relatives, gain their sympathy and get their help to spread the message as it is more organic to take care of each other. Belief matters are separate when it comes to keeping family relationships. We are created with physical family ties. The word “أَهْل” also refers to the spouse where after getting married, the couple becomes one unit, i.e. after having a child, both mother and father can say: “my child”. The parents act together as one unit.

In the example of prophet Noah who specifically asked for his son to be saved but was told that the son was not one of his family members, is related to belief matters.  In the same scenario presented by the Qur’an, Noah particularly demands his son to be saved, not any other ordinary person passing by. Why did Noah do that? Physical blood relationship requires that; blood relationships are ordained by God. Prophet Noah’s attitude towards his son is how God ordained it to be. The Qur’an in Section Luqman advises to be nice and respectful to the parents whether they believe or not (31:14-15). For example, someone is a believer whereas the father is not. When the father dies, the son will still inherit from him. The blood ties are still there regardless of his belief. We cannot sever relations with family members based on belief. 

However, if belief is attacked, which is a special circumstance, then one must defend their belief from the family member that is attacking. These are special cases for specific reasons. For example, in Section Luqman (31:15), it says that if parents pressure you about anything which contradicts your belief in the truth and you have no knowledge about it which makes sense to you, then do not obey them. Reject them in a respectful way by keeping the balance of family relationships in an honorable way.

If the family members share the same belief, I can expect them to be my helpers to share the message which is more organic to the way that we are created. Blood ties are always stronger than any other ties.

Let’s investigate another verse on the same topic:

وَزَكَرِيَّآ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥ رَبِّ لَا تَذَرْنِى فَرْدًۭا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْوَٰرِثِينَ

21:89 And Zakariyya when called out to his Lord, ‘My Lord, do not leave me on my own, though You will remain when all else has ceased to be.’

We see the same request from prophet Zakariyya to have an heir from his family. Is Zakariyya asking for a child to inherit his property? The word “ٱلْوَٰرِثِ” is used for the one who inherits some property. The verse is reminding us that everything will return to God at the end. The prophets do not leave any property behind to be inherited. If they have left anything, it will be transferred to the community budget. The verse mentions having someone from the family to help in spreading the message.

We will investigate the latter phrase of the verse “وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلْوَٰرِثِينَ”, translated as “You will remain when all else has ceased to be” in the next set of notes.