189- THEY ASK YOU ABOUT THE CRESCENTS (OF THE MOON0, SAY: “THEY ARE SIGNS FOR TIMES FOR PEOPLE AND FOR HAJJ”.  AND IT IS NOT RIGHTEOUS TO ENTER THE HOUSES THROUGH THEIR BACKS, BUT IT IS RIGHTEOUSNESS TO BE PIOUS, AND ENTER THE HOUSES THROUGH THEIR DOORS, AND BE PIOUS SO THAT YOU MAY SUCCEED. 

There are two issues to discuss in this Ayah:  First;

The Muslims asked Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him about the moon and its phases.  Although there are many scientific facts in the Quran, Allah the Highest did not answer them with a lesson in Astronomy, but just mentioned the benefits of these phases to them, and knowing the times of the year and the time for Hajj.

Some of us at the present day might have wished for a more detailed account of and astronomical explanation.  After all, there are many scientific statements in the Quran, which were not well understood at the time the Quran was sent down.  Why not this time when people asked?  This is Allah’s decision, and who are we to pretend to know why.

The Quran was not sent down as an Encyclopedia however.  The Quran is a Book of Guidance in our life on this Earth.  The scientific facts mentioned in the Quran which could not have been known at the time the Quran was sent down, are but a proof of the authenticity of the Quran, that it could not have been written by human but by Allah the Highest.   

No book, books, or billions of encyclopedias could contain Allah’s knowledge, for He said: “SAY: ‘IF THE SEA WAS TO BE INK FOR MY LORD’S WORDS, THE SEA WILL RUN OUT, BEFORE MY LORD’S WORDS RUN OUT, EVEN IF AS MUCH AS THE SEA IS SUPPLIED AGAIN”.  (S: 18 A: 109)

Second:

The Arabs used to go on Hajj and Omrah before the prophecy of Mohamed prayer and peace upon him.  They had some strange practices relating to them also, introduced through the times of Idolatry.  One of them was that if a person leaves his home to go to Omrah, should he need to go back to his home or any other person’s home for any reason, it was considered righteous not to go through the front door, but the back of the house.  We do know why.

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him as going on Omrah, and after leaving his house, he went back in through the front door.  He was asked bout this. 

Allah the Highest tells us that such practices mean nothing to him in terms of our righteousness and piety.  Piet is our true observance of Allah’s commands, not whatever strange practices we invent then make a mark of our piety, while it means nothing to Allah the Highest.  People did, and we still do that.

Abd Allah Ibn Abas reported: “Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him passed by a man in Makah what was standing in the hot sun (not shading himself), he said: “What is this?”  He was told: “Allah’s messenger, this man made a nazr to fast, never to shad himself, never to speak, and to be always standing” He said: “Tell him to speak, shad himself, site down and end his fast”.  (B:Eman;31 & D:Eman;19 & Ma:karafat;21 & Mal:Nozor;6 & A:4;168)

Piety and righteousness are achieved through worshiping Allah the Highest sincerely and observing his commands, not through any other actions.  Particularly if such actions are not commanded by Allah.

B: Bukhari   M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi