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in their life here can also give them another kind of life after the end of this life? Or, if they look at external nature, they
see the earth dead and barren and Allah's fertilising showers bring it in to life, growth and beauty in various forms. The
Creator of this great pageant of Beauty can surely create yet another and a newer world. (22.5)
50:7 - And the earth--We have spread it out and set thereon mountains standing firm and produced
therein every kind of beautiful growth (in pairs) 49464947
4946 Cf. xiii. 3; and xv. 19 and n. 1955. The earth is round, and yet it appears stretched out as a vast expanse, like a carpet
kept steady with the weight of the mountains. (50.7)
BEAUTIFUL LOANS:
2:245 - Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful loan which Allah will double unto his credit and
multiply many times? It is Allah that giveth (you) want or plenty and to Him shall be your
return. 276
276 Spending in the cause of God is called metaphorically "a beautiful loan". It is excellent in many ways: (1) it shows a
beautiful spirit of self-denial; (2) in other loans there may be a doubt as to the safety of your capital or any return
thereon; here you give in the Lord of All, in Whose hands are the keys of want or plenty; giving you may have
manifold blessings, and withholding you may even lose what you have. If we remember that our goal is God, can we
turn away from His cause? (2.245
5:12 -Allah did aforetime take a Covenant from the Children of Israel and We appointed twelve
captains among them and Allah said: "I am with you: if ye (but) establish regular prayers
practice regular charity believe in My apostles honor and assist them and loan to Allah a
beautiful loan verily I will wipe out from you your evils and admit you to gardens with rivers
flowing beneath; but if any of you after this resisteth faith he hath truly wandered from the path
of rectitude." 709710711
709 Cf. ii. 63 and n. 78, "Moses... called for the elders of the people... and all the people answered together and said. 'All
that the Lord hath spoken we will do.' " (Exod. xix, 7-8). This was under the towering height of Mount Sinai. The
chieftains or elders or leaders of the people were selected, one from each of the twelve tribes (see ii. 60 and n. 73).
For census purposes the names of the elders of the tribes are given in Num. i. 4-16: they are called "every one the
head of the house of his fathers". Later, twelve other "heads of the Children of Israel" were selected to spy out the
land of Canaan: their names are mentioned in Num. xiii. 1-16. See also, below, v. 20-26 and notes. (5.12)
57:11 - Who is he that will loan to Allah a beautiful Loan? For (Allah) will increase it manifold to his
credit and he will have (besides) a liberal reward. 5287
64:17 - If ye loan to Allah a beautiful loan He will double it to your (credit) and He will grant you
Forgiveness: for Allah is most Ready to appreciate (service) Most Forbearing 55005501
5500 Cf. ii. 245 and n. 276. Our Charity or Love is called a loan to Allah, which not only increases our credit account
manifold, but obtains for us the forgiveness of our sins, and the Capacity for increased service in the future. (64.17)
73:20 - The Lord doth know that thou standest forth (to prayer) nigh two-thirds of the night or half
the night or a third of the night and so doth a party of those with thee. But Allah doth appoint
Night and Day in due measure. He knoweth that ye are unable to keep count thereof. So He
hath turned to you (in mercy): read ye therefore of the Qur'an as much as may be easy for
you. He knoweth that there may be (some) among you in ill-health; others travelling through
the land seeking of Allah's bounty; yet others fighting in Allah's Cause. Read ye therefore as
much of the Qur'an as may be easy (for you); and establish regular Prayer and give regular
Charity; and loan to Allah a Beautiful Loan. And whatever good ye send forth for your souls
Ye shall find it in Allah's presence yea better and greater in Reward. And seek ye the Grace of
Allah: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. 5771577257735774577557765777
5775 Cf. ii. 2456, and n. 276, where the meaning of "a Beautiful Loan" is explained. See also lvii. 18. The "Beautiful Loan"
should be that of our own souls. We should expect no retums in kind, for that is not possible. But the reward we shall
find with Allah will be infinitely greater and nobler. Cf. the biblical phrase, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven"
(Matt. vi. 20). (73.20)
BEAUTIFUL NAMES:
7:180 - The most beautiful names belong to Allah: so call on Him by them; but shun such men as
use profanity in His names: for what they do they will soon be requited. 1154
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