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«أم» means mother. «أم الكتاب» This Surah is named so because in the Noble Qur'an, writing begins with it. (For this reason, it is also called «فاتحة الكتاب» .) And in prayer, recitation also begins with it, and «الدين» means recompense, whether in good or in evil, as it is said: «كما تدين تدان‏.‏» (As you do, so shall you reap). Mujahid said that «الدين» means reckoning, while «مدينين‏» means «محاسبين‏» , that is, those who have been reckoned.

Narrated Abu Sa`id bin Al-Mu'alla: While I was praying in the Mosque, Allah's Messenger called me but I did not respond to him. Later I said, "O Allah's Messenger! I was praying." He said, "Didn't Allah say'--"Give your response to Allah (by obeying Him) and to His Apostle when he calls you." (8.24) He then said to me, "I will teach you a Sura which is the greatest Sura in the Qur'an, before you leave the Mosque." Then he got hold of my hand, and when he intended to leave (the Mosque), I said to him, "Didn't you say to me, 'I will teach you a Sura which is the greatest Sura in the Qur'an?' He said, "Al-Hamdu-Li l-lah Rabbi-l-`alamin (i.e. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds) which is Al-Sab'a Al-Mathani (i.e. seven repeatedly recited Verses) and the Grand Qur'an which has been given to me."

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger said, "When the Imam says: 'Ghair-il-Maghdubi `alaihim Walad-Dallin (i.e. not the path of those who earn Your Anger, nor the path of those who went astray (1.7)), then you must say, 'Ameen', for if one's utterance of 'Ameen' coincides with that of the angels, then his past sins will be forgiven."

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Narrated Anas: The Prophet said, "On the Day of Resurrection the Believers will assemble and say, 'Let us ask somebody to intercede for us with our Lord.' So they will go to Adam and say, 'You are the father of all the people, and Allah created you with His Own Hands, and ordered the angels to prostrate to you, and taught you the names of all things; so please intercede for us with your Lord, so that He may relieve us from this place of ours.' Adam will say, 'I am not fit for this (i.e. intercession for you).' Then Adam will remember his sin and feel ashamed thereof. He will say, 'Go to Noah, for he was the first Apostle, Allah sent to the inhabitants of the earth.' They will go to him and Noah will say, 'I am not fit for this undertaking.' He will remember his appeal to his Lord to do what he had no knowledge of, then he will feel ashamed thereof and will say, 'Go to the Khalil--r-Rahman (i.e. Abraham).' They will go to him and he will say, 'I am not fit for this undertaking. Go to Moses, the slave to whom Allah spoke (directly) and gave him the Torah .' So they will go to him and he will say, 'I am not fit for this undertaking.' and he will mention (his) killing a person who was not a killer, and so he will feel ashamed thereof before his Lord, and he will say, 'Go to Jesus, Allah's Slave, His Apostle and Allah's Word and a Spirit coming from Him. Jesus will say, 'I am not fit for this undertaking, go to Muhammad the Slave of Allah whose past and future sins were forgiven by Allah.' So they will come to me and I will proceed till I will ask my Lord's Permission and I will be given permission. When I see my Lord, I will fall down in Prostration and He will let me remain in that state as long as He wishes and then I will be addressed.' (Muhammad!) Raise your head. Ask, and your request will be granted; say, and your saying will be listened to; intercede, and your intercession will be accepted.' I will raise my head and praise Allah with a saying (i.e. invocation) He will teach me, and then I will intercede. He will fix a limit for me (to intercede for) whom I will admit into Paradise. Then I will come back again to Allah, and when I see my Lord, the same thing will happen to me. And then I will intercede and Allah will fix a limit for me to intercede whom I will let into Paradise, then I will come back for the third time; and then I will come back for the fourth time, and will say, 'None remains in Hell but those whom the Qur'an has imprisoned (in Hell) and who have been destined to an eternal stay in Hell.' " (The compiler) Abu `Abdullah said: 'But those whom the Qur'an has imprisoned in Hell,' refers to the Statement of Allah: "They will dwell therein forever." (16.29)

Mujahid said that by «إلى شياطينهم‏» their friends, the hypocrites and polytheists, are meant. The meaning of «محيط بالكافرين‏» is that Allah is the gatherer of the disbelievers. In «على الخاشعين‏» , by «خاشعين‏» , steadfast believers are meant. «بقوة‏» means to act upon it with strength, this is what is intended. Abu’l-‘Aliyah said that by «مرض‏» , «شك» is meant. By «صبغة» , religion is meant. «وما خلفها‏» means a lesson for the later people who remain. The meaning of «لا شية‏» is that there is no whiteness in it, and apart from Abu’l-‘Aliyah, others said that the meaning of «يسومونكم‏» is that they used to raise it over you or always caused you trouble. And (in Surah al-Kahf) «الولاية‏» with an open waw means «ربوبية» , that is, divinity. And «ولاية‏» with a kasrah on waw means leadership. Some people said that all the grains which people eat are called «فوم‏.‏» . ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) read it as thūm, meaning garlic. The meaning of «فادارأتم» is that you disputed among yourselves. Qatadah said «فباءوا‏» means they turned back, and apart from Qatadah, another person (Abu ‘Ubaydah) said the meaning of «يستفتحون‏» is that they used to seek help. The meaning of «شروا‏» is sold. The word «راعنا‏» is derived from «رعونة» . When the Arabs called someone foolish, they would address him with the word «راعنا‏» . «لا يجزي‏» will be of no use. The meaning of «ابتلي» is tested, examined. The word «خطوات‏» «خطو» is the plural of qadam (foot).

Narrated `Abdullah: I asked the Prophet, "What is the greatest sin in the Sight of Allah?" He said, "That you set up a rival unto Allah though He Alone created you." I said, "That is indeed a great sin." Then asked, "What is next?" He said, "To kill your son lest he should share your food with you." I asked, "What is next?" He said, "To commit illegal sexual intercourse with the wife of your neighbor."

In the explanation of the mentioned verse, Mujahid said that «من» was the gum of a tree and «سلوىا» were birds.

Narrated Sa`id bin Zaid: Allah's Messenger said, "The Kam'a (i.e. a kind of edible fungus) is like the Manna (in that it is obtained without effort) and its water is a (medicine) cure for eye trouble."