English Translation of Al-Quran
[37].Surah As-Saffat (Those Ranged in Ranks)
Ayat 114. And, indeed Allah gave his Grace to Musa (Moses) and Haroon (Aaron).
Ayat 115. And Allah saved them and their people from the great distress;
Ayat 116. And helped them, so that they became the victors;
Ayat 117. And Allah gave them the clear Scripture;
Ayat 118. And guided them to the Right Path;
Ayat 119. And Allah left for them (a goodly remembrance) among generations (to come) in later times;
Ayat 120. Salamun (peace) be upon Musa (Moses) and Haroon (Aaron)!”
Ayat 121. Verily, thus do Allah reward the Muhsinun (good-doers).
Ayat 122. Verily! They were two of Allah’s believing servants.
Tafseer of Surah As-Saffat (Those Ranged in Ranks) Ayat 114. Again (of old) Allah bestowed the favor on Moses PBUH and Aaron PBUH, The story of Moses PBUH is told in numerous passages of the Qur’an. The passages most illustrative of the present passage will be found in 28:4 (oppression of the Israelites in Egypt) and 20:77-79 (the Israelites triumphant over their enemies when the latter were drowned in the Red Sea). Ayat 115. And We delivered them and their people from (their) Great Calamity; What could have been a greater calamity to them than that they should have been held in slavery by the Egyptians, that their male children should have been killed and their female children should have been saved alive for the Egyptians? Ayat 116. And We helped them, so they overcame (their troubles); The Israelites were delivered by three steps mentioned inverses 114,115, and 116 respectively; but the consummation of Allah’s favour on them was (verses 117-118) the Revelation given to them, which guided them on the Straight Way, so long as they preserved the Revelation intact and followed its precepts. The three steps were: (1) the divine commission to Moses and Aaron: (2) the deliverance from bondage; and (3) the triumphant crossing of the Red Sea and the destruction of Pharaoh’s army. Ayat 117. And Allah gave them the Book which helps to make things clear; Mustabin has a slightly different force from Mubin. I have translated the former by “which helps to make things clear”, and the latter by “which makes things clear”—apt descriptions as applied to the Tawrah and the Quran. Ayat 118. And Allah guided them to the Straight Way. Ayat 119. And Allah left (this blessing) for them among generations (to come) in later times: Ayat 120. “Peace and salutation to Moses and Aaron!” Ayat 121. Thus indeed do Allah reward those who do right. Ayat 122. For they were two of our believing Servants.
English Translation of Hadith
Hazrat Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) said, “The superiority of the learned over the devout worshipper is like my superiority over the most inferior amongst you (in good deeds).” He went on to say, “Allah, His angels, the dwellers of the heaven and the earth, and even the ant in its hole and the fish (in water) supplicate in favor of those who teach people knowledge.”
[At-Tirmidhi, Hadith # 2685]
Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah As-Saffat Ayat 119. And Allah left for them (a goodly remembrance) among generations (to come) in later times” Alim (learned person) here means scholar of the Qur’an and Hadith, who adheres to Faraid and Sunnah and remains busy in learning and imparting knowledge. `Abid (devout worshipper) is one who spends most of his time in the worship of Allah. The benefit of his voluntary prayer and remembrance of Allah is restricted to his own self while the benefit of knowledge of the scholar reaches others also. Hence, of the two, the latter is far superior. If Salat is mentioned with reference to Allah, it denotes “Allah’s Grace with Mercy;” if it is mentioned with reference to the angels, it denotes “to pray for forgiveness;” and if it is mentioned with reference to other creatures – men, animals, etc., – then it means prayer and supplication. Thus, Allah graces that person with His Mercy who teaches people the beneficial knowledge, i.e., the knowledge of Islam; angels pray to Allah to forgive his (or her) sins; and other creatures pray for his (or her) well-being. In this way, this Hadith stresses the distinction of religious scholars and highlights the esteem in which they are held by Allah, His angels and his other creatures.
