regarding 9 : 101 and 15:17-18

[munir rana]

Dear Forum Members
Salam

What do you think about the three times punishment described in the following verse.

9 : 101
Among the Arabs around you are hypocrites, as well as from the city people; they are audacious in hypocrisy. You do not know them, but We know them. We will punish them twice, then they will be returned to a great punishment.

One more verse to understand.

15:17-18
And we have protected it from every devil expelled. Except one who steals a hearing and is pursued by a clear burning flame.

What does it mean by hearing? and another question is, if it is protected then how could anyone steal a hearing.

Thanks.

[Hassan A]

Salaam munir rana,

I wish I was well versed enough of the Quran to be able to answer your inquiry; but am not. So instead, with regards to your inquiry, I give you Muhammad Asad's interpertaion of 15:17-18.

Note: his translation of the/those two verses is slightly different than the translation you shared. Below is how he translates the two verses:

15:17
And We have made them secure against every satanic force accursed

(15:18)
so that anyone who seeks to learn [the unknowable] by stealth is pursued by a flame clear to see.

His explanation of those two verses is as followed:

15:17 - The term shaytan ("satan") - derived from the verb shatana ("he was [or "became"] remote") - often
denotes in the Qur'an a force or influence remote from, and opposed to, all that is true and good
(Taj al-'Arus, Raghib): thus, for instance, in 2:14 it is used to describe the evil impulses
(shayatin) within the hearts of "those who are bent on denying the truth". In its widest, abstract
sense it denotes every "satanic force", i.e., every impulsion directed towards ends which are
contrary to valid ethical postulates. In the present context, the phrase "every satanic force
accursed (rajim)"- like the phrase "every rebellious (marid) satanic force" in a similar context
in 37:7 - apparently refers to endeavours, strongly condemned in Islam, to divine the future by
means of astrological speculations: hence the preceding reference to the skies and the stars. The
statement that God has made the heavens "secure" against such satanic forces obviously implies
that He has made it impossible for the latter to obtain, through astrology or what is popularly
described as "occult sciences", any real knowledge of "that which is beyond the reach of human
perception" (al-ghayb).

15:18 - Lit., "excepting [or "except that"] anyone who seeks to hear by stealth...", etc. The implication
seems to be that any attempt at fathoming the mysteries of the unknowable by such illicit means
("by stealth") is inevitably followed by "a flame clear to see", i.e., by burning, self-evident
frustration.

Hope that helps.

[HOPE]

Salaam all,

This is Wahiduddin Khan's explanation of 15:16-17:
"There are innumerable stars spread out in the universe, grouped in clusters called constellations.  During the night when the atmosphere is free of clouds, dust, etc, when one stands on open ground and casts a glance at the sky, the array of twinkling stars in the vastness of the heavens is so wonderfully glorious that, on seeing it, man becomes overwhelmed by the feeling of God's greatness and majesty.  Those who used to tell the Prophet he should show an angel descending from heaven were asked, 'Is the scene of the stars in the sky shown to you everyday not enough to awaken your consciousness and is not enough to melt your hearts?  Must you then demand further miracles?'

Satan too has been allowed to settle along with human beings on the earth.  Here he enjoys full freedom to go wherever he likes.  But in God's world beyond this earth, insurmountable hindrances have been placed in the path of Satan, so that he is unable to go beyond a certain limit.

It is a different interpretation than provided.  Hope it helps you, too

Peace

[munir rana]

Salam

Thanks Hassan A and Hope for your responses.

Munir Rana

[HOPE]

Peace Munir,

You are very welcome, continuing:9:101 " Some of the desert Arabs around you are hypocrites as are some of the people of Madinah- they are stubbornly resistant to moral teachings.  You do not know them, but We know them ....

When the call goes out for God's religion, there can be either a hostile or a favorable response.  If hostile, those who issue the call become aliens or muhajirs in their own hometown; if favorable, they risk neither life nor property and can lend their support to the muhajirs..  The helpers are called ansar.  The Meccan Muslim townspeople were forced into the position of muhajirs while the Madinan townspeople were able to become ansars during that period.  God's approval is attainable by anyone willing to pay the price of being a muhajir or an ansar.  God causes some people to be deprived in order to see that they turn to Him.  Similarly, God saves others from deprivation in order that they may help the deprived ones and join those who spend for the sake of God.  Those who do not adopt this standard are not 'pleased' with God's plan and God will not be 'pleased with them in the Hereafter.  A hypocrite is one who claims to be a Muslim, but when the question arises of paying the price of hijrah for the sake of religion, he does not find it in his heart to do so.
 

[munir rana]

Dear Hope

Salam

My query was about three times punishemnt. What do you think about it?

[HOPE]

Salam,

Hypocrites punished twice in this world for their duplicity maybe.  9:55 says God will punish them through their wealth and offspring.

[munir rana]

Dear Hope

Salam.

May be you are right. Allah knows best.
Thanks for your response.

Munir Rana