19: Faith through the test of fire
﴾74:26﴿ Soon will I cast him into Saqar! ﴾74:27﴿ And what will explain to thee what Saqar is? ﴾74:28﴿ It neither spares, nor releases, ﴾74:29﴿ and it burns the flesh .﴾74:30﴿ Over it are nineteen (angels guarding). ﴾74:31﴿ We have appointed none but angels to guard the Fire (al Naar), and made their number (19) only as a fitnah (trial or confusion?) for the unbelievers, so that those to whom the Book was given are certain and those who believe increase in belief. And that those who were given the Book, and those who believe will not be in doubt. And that those in whose hearts there is a sickness, together with the unbelievers, may say: 'What did Allah intend by this as an example? ' As such, Allah leaves in error whom He will and He guides whomsoever He will. None knows the hosts of your Lord except He. This is no more than a Reminder to humans. ﴾74:32﴿ No, by the moon! ﴾74:33﴿ By the receding night ﴾74:34﴿ and the morning when it appears, ﴾74:35﴿ it is one of the greatest (miracle). (74:26-27) translation Yusuf Ali) (74:28-34, translation Qaribullah) |
Ø 74:30 is the only place where number 19 is mentioned in the entire Quranic text. The Arabic transliteration of 74:30 is ‘Alayha (Over it) Tis’ata ‘Ashara (19).
74:30 is a multiple meaning allegorical verse with very deep meaning and the pronoun used in 74:30 (over “it”) is feminine (Affix pronoun Ha, referring to Heeya, third person singular feminine pronoun) and is linked first and foremost to the feminine noun “Saqar” mentioned in 74:26. “Saqar” means “to injure by heat, scorch”; it refers to a heat that is so intense that it melts what is exposed to it. It is one of the names used in Quran to represent hell. This is the most straightforward explanation.
Ø Therefore, the affix “Ha” (it) in 74:30 cannot for example apply directly to the word “Quran” which is a masculine name. It can apply to the “imperishable tablet” (upon which Quran is engraved in 85:22), which can be either masculine or feminine as Quran is proven to be guarded by 19 as well. More widely, 19 guards the entire creation.
“Over it is
Ø In 74:31 God informs us that “angels have been appointed to guard the Fire (al Naar), and made their number (19) only as a “fitnah” for the unbelievers”.
It is important to define at this point the Arabic word “Fitnah” since it can have two fairly different meanings.
1. The term “Fitnah” (فتنة, GV 535) originally refers to the refining of metal to remove dross (impurities) as the metal is melted and impurities are separated through the process. Such a process is very accurately described in verse 13:17. The original meaning of “Fitnah” is therefore very much in line with both the words “Saqar” (scorching, melting heat) and “Nar” (fire) in 74:26 and 74:31 respectively.
Similarly, one of the main purposes of the miracle of 19 is to separate the truth from falsehood and it proved in a most spectacular way that 9:127 is the last verse of sura 9 (excluding the false verses 9:128-129, read article on the website). It is interesting that after 9:127 and until
Example of “Fitnah” as a test in the Quran:
﴾51:13﴿ (It will be) a Day when they will be tried (and tested) over the Fire! ﴾51:14﴿ "Taste ye your trial (fitnah)! This is what ye used to ask to be hastened!" (translation Yusuf Ali)
﴾54:27﴿ For We will send the she-camel by way of trial (fitnah) for them. So watch them, (O Salih), and possess thyself in patience! (translation Yusuf Ali)
﴾64:15﴿ Your riches and your children may be but a trial (fitnah): but in the Presence of Allah, is the highest, Reward. (translation Yusuf Ali)
2. “Fitnah” has a second meaning frequently used in the Quran which is that of “public disturbance” (oppression, confusion, discord) which puts the community of believers to the test:
﴾2:191﴿ You may kill those who wage war against you, and you may evict them whence they evicted you. Oppression (fitnah) is worse than murder. Do not fight them at the Sacred Masjid, unless they attack you therein. If they attack you, you may kill them. This is the just retribution for those disbelievers. (Translation Rashad Khalifa)
﴾3:7﴿ He sent down to you this scripture, containing straightforward verses - which constitute the essence of the scripture - as well as multiple-meaning or allegorical verses. Those who harbor doubts in their hearts will pursue the multiple-meaning verses to create confusion (fitnah), and to extricate a certain meaning. None knows the true meaning thereof except GOD and those well founded in knowledge. They say, "We believe in this - all of it comes from our Lord." Only those who possess intelligence will take heed. (Translation Rashad Khalifa)
﴾64:15﴿
From the two above meanings we have to put 74:30-31 into context to understand which of the two meanings is intended for “fitnah”:
74:31 tells us that their number (the angels who guard the fire), 19, is a “fitnah” for the unbelievers so that “those to whom the Book (Jewish and Christians) was given” may become “certain (that Quran is from God) and those who believe increase in belief. And that those who were given the Book (Jewish and Christians), and those who believe will not be in doubt. And that those in whose hearts there is a sickness, together with the unbelievers, may say: 'What did Allah intend by this as an example?
Crucial question: If Fitnah were to mean that number 19 is a “confusion”, how is possible that Jewish and Christians would reach certainty (about Quran) and that believers will “increase in belief” as a result? 74:31 precises that it will erase doubt for both Jewish, Christians and believers. It is immediately clear that if number 19 were intended to be a confusion, it cannot possibly increase the faith and eraise all doubt for Jewish, Christians and believers. On the contrary it would simply spread more confusion for everyone.
Ø This leaves us with the original Arabic meaning for “fitnah”, which is a symbolical trial through fire that “separates” the metal from impurities, that is to say that number 19 is a test that will separate believers from unbelievers. 19 will convince, increase the faith and remove all doubts from the hearts of the Jewish, Christians and Muslims, while those who deny the truth will as a result categorize themselves as impure.
19 is the ultimate symbolical test of faith through fire that separates:
Those who believe will have a faith as strong as precious metal (they will have reached certainty and will be blessed with paradise if they follow Quran) while those who reject the miracle will symbolically burn like impurities (they will be in doubt as a result of their rejection and face the retribution of hell).
In verses 74:30-31, 19 is a symbol of separation between heaven and hell: the 19 angels who guard hell stand right in between.
19 is not to be taken lightly, it is one of the greatest miracles, and a warning to the human race:
﴾74:30﴿ Over it are nineteen (angels guarding). ﴾74:31﴿ We have appointed none but angels to guard the Fire (al Naar), and made their number (19) only as a trial for the unbelievers, so that those to whom the Book was given (Jewish and Christians) are certain and those who believe (Muslims) increase in belief. And that those who were given the Book (Jewish and Christians), and those who believe (Muslims) will not be in doubt. And that those in whose hearts there is a sickness, together with the unbelievers, may say: 'What did Allah intend by this as an example? ' As such, Allah leaves in error whom He will and He guides whomsoever He will. None knows the hosts of your Lord except He. This is no more than a Reminder to humans. ﴾74:32﴿ No, by the moon! ﴾74:33﴿ By the receding night ﴾74:34﴿ and the morning when it appears, ﴾74:35﴿ it is one of the greatest (miracle). ﴾74:36﴿ A warning to mankind. ﴾74:37﴿ For those among you who wish to advance, or regress.
The prophecy of Malachi 3
Quran unmistakably prophesizes that the miracle of 19 will eventually win the hearts of the people of the book (Jewish and Christians). It is very interesting that Rashad Khalifa (who unveiled the great miracle of 19) proclaimed that he was the messenger of the Covenant and pointed at Malachi
Malachi 3
1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the Covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
It is absolutely incredible that, like the miracle of 19 which is a symbolical fitnah (TEST) through intense fire that separates believers from disbelievers, the messenger of the covenant is the one who as a result of his coming will purify the sons of Levi (the Jews, as prophesized in 74:31) as gold and silver are refined through fire!
For those who would still have a doubt in their hearts, witness and behold the ultimate incontrovertible proof that Rashad Khalifa is indeed the messenger who was destined to reveal the miracle of 19:
http://www.islamrevolution.org/rashadsdeathandsura19.htm
The test of Fire:
Abraham was persecuted because he purified his faith, stood up against ignorance and destroyed the idols in his community.
Abraham passes the test of fire:
﴾21:67﴿ Shame on you and on that you worship other than Allah! Have you no understanding? ' ﴾21:68﴿ They said: 'Burn him and help your gods, if you are going to do anything! '﴾21:69﴿ 'O Fire, ' We said, 'be coolness and safety for Abraham.' (Translation Qaribullah)
The book of Daniel relates a similar story:
Daniel 3:
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king." 25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. (Translation: King James version)
It is up to us to purify ourselves for the day everyone will face the blazing furnace (19:71) for the ultimate Fitnah (test). Are you ready for the test of fire? Who will be spared by the fire and who will burn?
There is no other god beside God!
﴾13:17﴿ He sends down water from the sky, causing the valleys to overflow, then the rapids produce abundant foam. Similarly, when they use fire to refine metals for their jewelry or equipment, foam is produced. GOD thus cites analogies for the truth and falsehood. As for the foam, it goes to waste, while that which benefits the people stays close to the ground. GOD thus cites the analogies.
﴾1:1﴿ Praise God, lord of the universe.
