What is the story of Sabbath and why is Transgression in Sabaath leads to Azzab?

The concept of Sabbath is normally assumed to refer to Saturday or working on Saturday but this understanding is not backed by Quran. The basic meanings of the word are to rest, to calm down, to take a break or to recharge, to discontinue work, struggle or exertion for instance in Ayah 78:09 “We Ja’alna your Noum Sabbatt” meaning we appointed your sleep as Sabbat, period of rest, to recharge, to discontinue work etc. Similar meanings and usages are in Ayah 78:09. In Ayah 25:47 “And Allah has Ja’ala the layl for you as Libaasan and the Nnoum Sabatan and ….” means Allah has Ja’ala (appointed, made) the layl (night) for you as Libaasan (covering, hiding, shield) and the Nnoum (sleep, rest) Sabatan (rest, recharge, calm down).

The concept of Sabath as per Quran is explained by Quran itself for instance mention of Ashaab (companions, people)-e- Sabbath, in Ayah 4:154. In the earlier Ayah, 4:153, Allah addresses the Ahl-e-Kitaab (the owners, responsible ones of the Kitaab- Allah’s book of revelation) and stresses the Kitaab as Bayyinaat (distinct identification of right from wrong, explained in details with examples, clear evidence & proofs) as well as Mubin (same meanings as Bayyinat) Sultanan (authorization) of Allah. Then in Ayah 4:154, “We Rafa’ana Fouqahum them the T’oor with Meesaq and Qulna to them, ‘Admit the Baaba Sajadan’ and Qulna to them, ‘do not transgress in the S’abbathe’ and we Akhazna from them a Ghaleezan Meesaq” means that Allah has Rafa’ana (raised the status and prestige) Fouqahum (giving the Ahl-e-Kitaab preference over other) in respect of the T’oor (the stage of them getting the Hidayah- the Kitaab) with Meesaq (unbreakable covenant with Allah) and Qulna to them, ‘Admit the Baaba (doors of opportunity) Sajadan (in complete submission, internally convinced of its benefits) and Qulna to them, ‘do not transgress in the S’abbathe’ and we Akhazna (seize) from them a Ghaleezan (solemn) Meesaq’. This ayah shows that the divine instructions to not transgress in the S’abbathe is applicable to each and every one of us, as Ahl-e-kitaab, which is to abide by the Meesaq- the unbreakable covenant with Allah as Ahl-e-Kitaab.

The same reference of entering the Baaba (gates of opportunity) of the Kitaab (hidayah) in Sajda (humbly submissive & obedient to the laws of Allah) as divine instruction is mentioned in Ayah 7:161. Thereafter in Ayahs 7:162-163, “then they replaced those who do Zulm among them the Quool Ghaira which was Qeela to them. Then, we Arsalna upon them torment from the sky because they were Yazlimun. And ask them about the town which was situated on the Bahar, when they transgressed in the Sabath, when came to them the Hiyaat Youma their Sabtahum Shura’an and Youma not they Yasbatuna not came to them. Thus, we Nablu them with what they Yafsaquna” means ‘then they (those who do Zulm injustice at its height) among them, replaced the Quool (of Allah’s divine instructions) Ghaira (other than, against, in opposition to) what was Qeela (the divine command) to them. Then Arsalna (sent down) upon them torment from the sky because they were Yazlimun (did Zulm- injustice). And ask them about the town which was situated on the Bahar, when they transgressed in the Sabath, when came to them the Hiyaat (life in all its sources and manifestations, including the Hidayah) Youma (well-known aspects) their Sabtahum (recharge, giving life, rest, and sleep) Shura’an (man-made laws inserted as laws of Deen) and Youma (well-known aspects) not they Yasbatuna (rest, recharge, got life, calm down) not came to them. Thus, we Nablu (Mubtala, surround) them with what they Yafsaquna (did Fasaq, disobey, transgress)’. This Ayah shows that they replaced the specific Kalam and divine orders of Allah, with aspects that were Ghair- contradictory, against, other than those divine commands by making man-made laws as Shura’a (laws of Deen) which are not by Allah. Thus, instead of those Youm (well-known aspects) of Sabath (rest, recharge, sleep) that gives life- Hayyat (such as sleep, food, drink, source of personality and Character development, Hidayah etc.) they put forth such laws in the name of Deen, where the Youm (well-known aspects) of Sabathum (recharge, life, sleep, rest, calm) through which they could have received Hayaat (life, Emaan) they let go of those and used those as periods of activities and deprivation from Sabbath – All in the name of Allah’s laws as Shaura’a.

The similar concept is obvious from Ayah 2:63-74- after talking about Meesaq with Allah and Rafa’a (raising the prestige) as T’oor in Ayah Ayah 2:63, Allah then says in Ayah 2:64-65 “Then, you Tawallu from after that. Then if not the Fazal of Allah upon you and Rahmat, surely you would have been Khasireen. And indeed, you have the knowledge of those who transgressed among you in the Sabbath, then Qulna to them, ‘be Qirdatan despised/despicable” means ‘Then, you Tawallu (turn away from, disconnected from, repelled away) from after that. Then if not the Fazal (blessings) of Allah upon you and Rahmat, surely you would have been Khasireen (losers in both worlds, lost your Nafs-e-Mut’mainna). And indeed, you have the knowledge of those who transgressed among you in the Sabbath, then Qulna to them, ‘be Qirdatan (those who do not use their intellect, Aqal and are lazy) despised/despicable. Shows the concept of Sabath, as those who not only transgressed against Allah’s divine instructions as mentioned in the Kitaab, they Tawalla- turn away from in repulsion, disobedience and dislike- from such laws and Deen, and because of their blind following and lack of use of their Aqal, thinking and reasoning, they become despicable and despised Qirdatan (who do not use their Aqal-intellect, who are lazy). The Ayahs after that i.e., from Ayah 2:66 to 2:74, all discussed the divine order, Amar to Zabiha (deprive from, disconnect from & part with for good from) Baqaratun (creation of discord or dissention among members of the society that severs society, disconnects and separates people, divide them into sects and groups, creating animosity and rivalry between them) as strongly aligned with the concept of Sabaath.

In Ayah 4:47 refers to such acts of the As’haabe Sabatth who are Haadu (religious scholars, leaders & preachers)- for whom their Wajahu, their attention and focus has been the worldly benefits of this temporary life, such as popularity, fame, attention, wealth, money etc. In this ayahs 4:47, after Allah said that Allah would obliterate, destroy and eliminate all these priorities and focus, because of which they went against Allah’s commands due to these specific acts of kufar with their Wajahu, focus instead on the worldly benefits, Allah then says, “We La’nahum them as what La’naa the Ashaab-e-Sabatth” means exactly like the Ashab-e-Sabath, they are La’ana- get disconnected from the blessings of Allah, as a consequences of their own acts of Kufr, them going against Allah’s explicit commands, not utilizing their faculties including thinking and pondering, are therefore unable to enjoy the pleasures of life by being deprived from Allah’s blessings and get disconnected due to their own actions thus face the same situation as Ashaab-e-Sabath- blind followers who lost their intellect, becomes mentally slaves and despised by everyone.

The concept of Sabath is beautifully explained in Ayahs 16:123-124, “Then We Auhiyena upon you that you Atabea’ Millat of Ibrahem Haneefan and not was of the Mushrikeen. Only Ja’ala the Sabbath upon those who Akhtalafu in it. And Indeed, your Rabb to Hikam between them Youma Qayyamate in what they Yakhtalefuna in it” means ‘ then We Auhiyena (give life, wahiy) upon you that you Atabea’ (follow, obey with internal conviction of its benefits) the Millat (the ways and methods) of Ibrahem Haneefan (opposite of Shirk, doing Abd of Only Allah, following the laws of only Allah) and not was of the Mushrikeen (who do Shirk, assigned partners with Allah in matters where Allah is the only authority, for instance being Hikm- lawmaker & judge, in matters of Deen, is only Allah, no one else, but if one follows the laws of anyone from outside of Quran, this is Shirk). Only Ja’ala (appointed, made) the Sabbath (the concept of transgressing Allah’s laws, inserting their own man-made laws as Shur’aa in Deen) upon those who Akhtalafu (differ in deen) in it. And indeed, your Rabb to Hikam (judge) between them Youma Qayyamate in what they Yakhtalefuna (they differ amongst each other as well as differ from the Kitaab and contradict) in it. This Ayah is defining the concept of Sabath a bit more in terms of the acts of those people who do Shirk, who are not Hanifan, who do not follow the Millat of Ibrahim, in terms of them Ikhtilaaf, contradict, differ not only from the commands of Allah as mentioned in the Kitaab but also from each other, diving themselves in different sects and groups, where each follow their own man-made laws, are all Ashaa’be Sabaath, people of Sabath.

Azaab as Despised Qirdatan: What does it mean by Despicable Qirdatan?

In the Ayahs 2:62-63 as well as in Ayahs of Surah Al-A’raaf 7:163-166 and al-Maa’idah 5:59-60; Allah has referred to one of the forms of Azaab as being turned into despicable Qirdatan normally translated as Monkeys and Apes. The punishment of Ashaab-e-Sabbath is mainly mentioned in the chapters of al-Araf, al-Baqara and an-Nisa. Although normally mistranslated and misinterpreted as to be turned into monkeys and apes in the physical sense, which does not make sense logically- even if we translate the word Qirdatan as monkey or apes, the reference as being turned into despicable Qirdatan is more with respect to the behavioral and psychological sense, just like a popular saying, ‘Monkey see monkey do’. In spite of being given a high intellectual ability, a typical behavior of a monkey is to imitate others and not to use its own brain and faculties. When Allah says, “be Qirdatun despised” this form of Azaab basically means to be like such people who instead of following their own reasoning and intellect, would be involved in blind following of others devoid of any logics or reasoning. In addition to being turned into blind followers, the other word mentioned alongside is the word ‘Despicable’, which means someone who is shameful, disgraceful, hated and disliked. Therefore, when Allah says “Be Despicable Qirdatun!”, it doesn’t only refer to becoming such humans who blindly follow others and who do not use their own intellect and reasoning; but it also means that such humans would be hated, disgraced, dishonored and disliked by everyone around them.

The word Qirdatan (قِرَدَةً) is normally mistranslated as apes or monkeys, but the word is used in Quran only few times. If we look at the use of the word in classical or medieval Arabic, the word was used to refer to the medical or scientific terminology of Achordal- meaning not connected with or developed from the notochord, meanings not having a spinal cord. The used of the word in Quran could be interpreted in one of two ways when it comes to the use of the word for us as humans,

Not having a spinal cord– means that although we have been blessed by brain and intellectual faculties by Allah, but such faculties are not being able to be used by the person due to lack of spinal cord- hence the person is not using intellect and reasoning abilities. And
Not having the spinal cord– Since the spinal cord connects your brain with the rest of your body, allowing you to control your movements. Without the spinal cord, the person is not able to move any part of the body by him/her self and hence is lazy as well as being controlled by someone or something other than the person’s own brains.

Hence whenever Allah uses the word for instance in Ayah 5:60, “Say, ‘Shall I Naba (inform) you with Sharin (opposed to Khair, destruction, evil) from that which Mas’ubatun (gives return) from Allah of Allah’s La’anahu (disconnection from Allah’s Blessings) and Ghazaba (deprivation of Allah’s Naimat) upon it/him/her and Ja’ala (appointed, made) of them The Qiradata and The Khanazeera and Abada (follow, submit, to the laws of) the T’aghoot. Those are Sharr makanan (situations/positions) and Azalal (farthest misled away) from Sawa (soundness, thoroughness, strength, dependability, trustworthiness, safety and security) the Sabeel”. Here if we look at the uses of the word AL-Qirdata- meaning specific Qirdata. Here Allah is not referring to some specific apes or monkey, but such people who have been made the Qirdate and are Sharr (opposite of Khair), which is reflective of such attributes of people who do not have the spine, have no control over their own self, desires and wishes, who are lazy, who do not use their intellect and reasoning and whose decisions and movements are controlled by elements, and people other than their own reasoning and intellect, in terms of them blind following others, thereby not utilizing their blessed cognitive faculties.

In ayah 2:65 “And you surely knew those of you who violated the Sabbath. We said to them, ‘Be despicable (قِرَدَةً) Qirdata!’.” defining the word Qirdata being characteristics of the people who transgress negatively and violate the boundaries set by Allah which clearly shows that they have no control over their own self, desires and wishes. Similarly in ayah 7:166 “So when they took pride about that which they had been forbidden, WE said to them, ‘Be despicable (قِرَدَةً) Qirdatan!’.” Again, the ayah defining the word Qirdata being characteristics of the people who transgress negatively and violate the boundaries set by Allah, feeling pride over their transgression- showing that they have no control over their own self, desires and wishes. Therefore, when Allah uses the phrase “Qirdatan Khase’ena” with respect to the Azaab by Allah, for instance as used in Ayah 2:65, and 7:166, it refers to becoming such people, who do not use their own intellect, have no control over their own self, desires and wishes, who are lazy and who blindly follow others and whose decisions and movements are controlled by others and because of such attributes they are despised and hated.

Some Examples of Transgression in Sabaath

If someone ordain to pray during night time, or wake up for certain activities during periods of rest, sleep or recharge, in the name of Deen and Allah’s Laws (shura’a) which are not as per Quran, then those are the acts of Sabaath, in terms of transgressing beyond Allah’s Kitaab and commands and replacing Allah’s commands with man-made orders in the name of Deen. Similarly, if anyone ask another to stay away from food and drink (for instance in the name of fasting during the month of Ramadan) that is also deprivation from aspects that are made to give us life and Hayyat. Also, if someone deprives Hayyat from the Kitaab (Quran) to restrict it only for recitation, all in the name of Deen, then that is also Sabath. Basically, each and every aspect of Allah’s blessings whose main purpose was supposed to be Sabbath (to calm down, to give rest, to recharge, to give life) and as Hayyat by Allah, but when people are deprived from such blessings of Allah due to these man-made laws, then that leads to them being despicable Qirdatan and being disconnected from the blessings of Allah (the concept of La’ana of Allah). These are just few of the examples, if we look around us today, there are many such examples of transgression in Sabaath, where people are simply blindly following these rituals- all in the name of Deen.

Baqaratan as an Example of Transgression in Sabaath- Ayahs 2:65-71

The word Baqaratun is normally translated as cow, however the word Baqara’s basic characteristics of meanings are in terms of divide or separate something, to slit, ripped, split cut or divide something, to make a hole in something or to cut it open. Thus, the term refers to creating discord or dissention that severs society, disconnects and separates people, divide them into sects and groups, creating animosity and rivalry between them- Thus this is in direct contradicting to the divine command of ‘Aqemu S’S’alat’ to establish and strengthen permanent and strong connection as a system of social care, compassion and justice among all, because Baqaratun disrupts Deen, discord society and create Fasad and unrest among the members.

The divine Amar/ order is to Zabiha (deprive from, disconnect from, part with for good from) Baqaratun (creation of discord or dissention among members of the society that severs society, disconnects and separates people, divide them into sects and groups, creating animosity and rivalry between them). The concept of the specific Baqaratun that Allah’s Amar is to Zabiha is basically linked to the concept of Sabaath. The specific features and characteristics of the Baqaratun that Allah’s specific Amar/ order to Zabiha, are then defined as that kind of discord and divide in society that has the following characteristics

It is neither Faariz- ordained as mandatory and Faraz by Allah, nor those who impose these laws are the Faariz- imposer, forcer for any laws as Faraz in Deen
It’s not the first or the last time that people have inserted these man-made laws in Shura’a and have been forced through A’waanun- mutual help and cooperation of people
These man-made laws are Sa’far’a- useless and futile in terms of their impacts and influence as any sort of Fa’qeun- treatment, healing, or any benefit whatsoever for the society
In spite of the fact that it’s futile and useless for those who see, follow, abide by these rules, it’s Lunaha- distinguishing aspects of it being futile and useless is Tussurru- hidden and concealed;
It’s not Zalulan- subservient, willing to be influenced, amended, changed, subject to, or could be used by anyone to Tuseer- create impression, benefit, impact or influence the earth in any positive way;
It’s not Tasqey- cannot heal, treat humanity nor can satisfy their needs and requirements in any way whatsoever nor, it can satisfy the needs and requirements of their Haras’a- their earnings, their deeds that they put forward for their Nafs for the Akhira) as Musalmimatin- Haras’a done in complete submission as Aslamtu of Allah’s Deen.
In fact, it is not Shayyatan- there is nothing in it for the benefit of the society, the humanity, their Harasa or the earth, in any manner whatsoever.

Concept of Sabaath as per Quran- in a nutshell

Thus, as obvious from all these Ayaat, the concept of Sabbath refers to all such man-made laws inserted in Deen as Shura’a which are Ghair- opposite to, contradictory of and against what Allah has ordered in the Kitaab and are against the explicit terms of Meesaq- strong, unbreakable covenant with Allah as Ahl-e-Kitaab (owners of and responsible for the Kitaab of Allah). By transgressing in Allah’s Deen, and going against the laws of Allah as Faasiq, by inserting the man-made laws as laws of Deen; the basic end result of which is the deprivation of Hayyat- life, which is supposed to give people Sabbath- rest, recharge, sleep, calm, life etc. Thus, each and every aspect of Allah’s blessings whose main purpose was supposed to be Sabbath (to calm down, to give rest, to recharge, to give life) and as Hayyat by Allah, but when people are deprived from such blessings of Allah due to these man-made laws, then that leads to them being despicable Qirdatan and being disconnected from the blessings of Allah (the concept of La’ana of Allah). And this is the basic concept of Ashaab-e-Sabaath- those people who insert man-made laws in the name of Shura’a (laws of Deen) that result in deprivation of Hayyat from Sabaath. Quran refers to the Ashaab-e-Sabbath as those who committed these acts as well as those who blindly follow these man-made laws, they get La’ana (disconnected from the blessings) of Allah; they get Azaab of Allah as despicable Qirdatan- not in the physical sense, but in sense of metaphorically blind followers, who lost their intellect, got into mental slavery and despised by the world due to them being lazy and not using their Aqal and intellect.

Please read the Translation, Keyword Vocabulary, Detailed Concept and Lesson of Ayahs 2:62 to 2:74 by Clicking HERE

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The Concept of Sabaath as per Quran