- V -

VAINGLORY

But those who disbelieve are full of vainglory and entrenched in hostility. (38:2)

VALLEY

Nor will they give away any amount, whether large or small, nor will they cross any valley, without it being written down for them so that Allah can recompense them for the best of what they did. (9:121)

(Ibrahim said,) ‘Our Lord! I have settled some of my offspring by Your Sacred House in an uncultivated valley. Our Lord! Let them perform prayer! Make the hearts of mankind incline towards them and provide them with fruits, so that hopefully they will be thankful.’ (14:37)

(Allah said to Musa) ‘I am your Lord. Take off your sandals. You are in the holy valley of Tuwa.’ (20:12)

Then, when they reached the Valley of the Ants, an ant said, ‘Ants! Enter your dwellings so that Sulayman and his troops do not crush you unwittingly.’ (27:18)

But when he reached it a voice called out to him from the right hand side of the valley in the part which was full of blessing, from out of the bush: ‘Musa, I am Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.’ (28:30)

When they saw it as a storm cloud advancing on their valleys they said, ‘This is a storm cloud which will give us rain.’ No, rather it is what you desired to hasten–a wind containing painful punishment. (46:24)

Has the story of Musa reached you: when his Lord called out to him in the holy valley of Tuwa? (79:15-16)

Do you not see what your Lord did with ‘Ad–Iram of the Columns whose like was not created in any land–and Thamud who carved out rocks in the valley-side? (89:6-9)

VEGETABLES

And when you said, ‘Musa, we will not put up with just one kind of food so ask your Lord to supply to us some of what the earth produces–its green vegetables, cucumbers, grains, lentils and onions,’ he said, ‘Do you want to replace what is better with what is inferior? Go back to Egypt, then you will have what you are asking for.’ Abasement and destitution were stamped upon them. They brought down anger from Allah upon themselves. That was because they rejected Allah’s Signs and killed the Prophets without any right to do so. That was because they rebelled and went beyond the limits. (2:61)

VEIL

When you recite the Qur'an, We place an obscuring veil between you and those who do not believe in the hereafter. (17:45)

Mention Maryam in the Book, how she withdrew from her people to an eastern place, and veiled herself from them. Then We sent Our Spirit to her and it took on for her the form of a handsome, well-built man. (19:16-17)

He (Sulayman) said, ‘Truly do I love the love of good, with a view to the glory of my Lord until the sun disappeared behind its veil.’ (38:32)

It does not befit Allah to address any human being except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or He sends a messenger who then reveals by His permission whatever He wills. He is indeed Most High, All-Wise. (42:51)

No indeed! Rather that Day they will be veiled from their Lord. (83:15)

VEIN

We created man and We know what his own self whispers to him. We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. (50:16)

VERSES THAT ARE THE CORE OF THE BOOK (MUHKAM VERSES)

It is He Who sent down the Book to you from Him: verses containing clear judgements–they are the core of the Book–and others which are open to interpretation. Those with deviation in their hearts follow what is open to interpretation in it, desiring conflict, seeking its inner meaning. No one knows its inner meaning but Allah. Those firmly rooted in knowledge say, ‘We believe in it. All of it is from our Lord.’ But only people of intelligence pay heed. (3:7)

VERSES THAT ARE OPEN TO INTERPRETATION (MUTASHABIH VERSES)

VICTORIOUS

So let those who sell the life of this world for the hereafter fight in the Way of Allah. If someone fights in the Way of Allah, whether he is killed or is victorious, We will pay him an immense reward. (4:74)

Two men among those who were afraid, but whom Allah had blessed, said, ‘Enter the gate against them! Once you have entered it, you will be victorious. Put your trust in Allah if you are believers.’ (5:23)

As for those who make Allah their friend, and His Messenger and those who believe: it is the party of Allah who are victorious! (5:56)

Those who believe and migrate and strive in the Way of Allah with their wealth and themselves have a higher rank with Allah. They are the ones who are victorious. (9:20)

(Allah will say,) ‘Today I have rewarded them for being steadfast. They are the ones who are victorious.’ (23:111)

All who obey Allah and His Messenger and have awe of Allah and fear of Him, they are the ones who are victorious. (24:52)

In the land nearby, but after their defeat they will themselves be victorious. (30:3)

It is Our army which will be victorious. (37:173)

Allah will give security those who guarded against evil in their victorious Safe Haven. No evil will touch them and they will know no sorrow. (39:61)

Allah has written, ‘I will be victorious, I and My Messengers.’ Allah is Most Strong, Almighty. (58:21)

You who believe! Be helpers of Allah as ‘Isa son of Maryam said to the Disciples, ‘Who will be my helpers to Allah?’ The Disciples said, ‘We will be the helpers of Allah.’ One faction of the tribe of Israel believed and the other disbelieved. So We supported those who believed against their enemy and they became victorious. (61:14)

VICTORY

When a Book does come to them from Allah, confirming what is with them–even though before that they were praying for victory over the disbelievers–yet when what they recognise does come to them, they reject it. Allah’s curse is on the disbelievers. (2:89)

These are Allah’s limits. As for those who obey Allah and His Messenger, We will admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever. That is the Great Victory. (4:13)

But if you meet with favour from Allah they say–as if there were no friendship between you and them–‘Oh! If only I had been with them so that I too might have won a great victory.’ (4:73)

Those who anticipate the worst for you say, ‘Were we not with you?’ whenever you gain a victory from Allah, but if the disbelievers have a success they say, ‘Did we not have the upper hand over you and yet in spite of that keep the believers away from you?’ Allah will judge between you on the Day of Rising. Allah will not give the disbelievers any way against the believers. (4:141)

Yet you see those with sickness in their hearts rushing to them, saying, ‘We fear the wheel of fate may turn against us.’ But it may well be that Allah will bring about victory or some other contingency from Him. Then they will deeply regret their secret thoughts. (5:52)

Allah will say, ‘This is the Day when the sincerity of the sincere will benefit them. They will have Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever and ever. Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. That is the Great Victory.’ (5:119)

Anyone from whom punishment is averted on that Day has been shown great mercy by Allah. That is the Clear Victory. (6:16)

Remember when you called on your Lord for help and He responded to you: ‘I will reinforce you with a thousand angels riding rank after rank.’ Allah only did this to give you good news and that so your hearts would be at rest. Victory comes from no one but Allah. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (8:9-10)

If it was a decisive victory you were seeking, that victory has clearly been won. If you desist, it will be better for you; but if you return, We also will return. Your troops will not help you at all, however many they are. Allah is with the believers. (8:19)

Those who believe and migrate and strive in the Way of Allah with their wealth and themselves have a higher rank with Allah. They are the ones who are victorious. (9:20)

Allah has promised the men and women of the believers Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever, and fine dwellings in the Gardens of Eden. And Allah’s good pleasure is even greater. That is the great victory. (9:72)

Allah has prepared Gardens for them with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever. That is the great victory. (9:89)

The forerunners–the first of the Migrants (Muhajirun) and the Supporters (Ansar)–and those who have followed them in doing good: Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. He has prepared Gardens for them with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever and ever. That is the great victory. (9:100)

Allah has bought from the believers their selves and their wealth in return for the Garden. They fight in the Way of Allah and they kill and are killed. It is a promise binding on Him in the Torah, the Gospel and the Qur’an and who is truer to his contract than Allah? Rejoice then in the bargain you have made. That is the great victory. (9:111)

There is good news for them in the life of this world and in the hereafter. There is no changing the words of Allah. That is the great victory! (10:64)

They asked for Allah’s victory, and every obdurate tyrant failed. (14:15)

(Allah will say,) ‘Today I have rewarded them for being steadfast. They are the ones who are victorious.’ (23:111)

All who obey Allah and His Messenger and have awe of Allah and fear of Him, they are the ones who are victorious. (24:52)

The Romans have been defeated in the land nearby, but after their defeat they will themselves be victorious in a few years’ time. The affair is Allah’s from beginning to end. On that day, the believers will rejoice in Allah’s help. He grants victory to whoever He wills. He is the Almighty, the Most Merciful. (30:2-5)

They say, ‘When will this victory come if you are telling the truth?’ (32:28)

Say: ‘On the Day of Victory the faith of those who disbelieved will be of no use to them. They will be granted no reprieve.’ (32:29)

He will put your actions right for you and forgive you your wrong deeds. All who obey Allah and His Messenger have won a mighty victory. (33:71)

Truly this is the Great Victory! (37:60)

Allah will give security those who guarded against evil in their victorious Safe Haven. No evil will touch them and they will know no sorrow. (39:61)

(Angels ask forgiveness for those who believe:) ‘And safeguard them from evil acts. Those You safeguard from evil acts are truly the recipients of Your mercy on that Day. That is the Mighty Victory.’ (40:9)

A favour from your Lord. That is the Great Victory. (44:57)

As for those who believed and did right actions, their Lord will admit them into His mercy. That is the Clear Victory. (45:30)

Truly We have granted you a clear victory, so that Allah may forgive you your earlier errors and any later ones and complete His blessing upon you, and guide you on a Straight Path and so that Allah may help you with a mighty help. (48:1-3)

(It is) so that He may admit the men and women of the believers into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever, and erase their bad actions from them; and in Allah’s sight that is a mighty victory. (48:5)

Allah was pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you under the tree. He knew what was in their hearts, and sent down serenity to them and has rewarded them with an imminent victory, and with much booty which they will take. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (48:18-19)

Allah has confirmed His Messenger’s vision with truth: ‘You will enter the Sacred Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) in safety, Allah willing, shaving your heads and cutting your hair without any fear.’ He knew what you did not know and ordained, in place of this, an imminent victory. (48:27)

And how is it with you that you do not give in the Way of Allah, when the inheritance of the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah? Those of you who gave and fought before the Victory are not the same as those who gave and fought afterwards. They are higher in rank. But to each of them Allah has promised the Best. Allah is aware of what you do. (57:10)

On the Day you see the men and women of the believers, with their light streaming out in front of them, and to their right: ‘Good news for you today of Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever. That is the Great Victory.’ (57:12)

The Companions of the Fire and the Companions of the Garden are not the same. It is the Companions of the Garden who are the victors. (59:20)

He will forgive you your wrong actions and admit you into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, and fine dwellings in the Gardens of Eden. That is the Great Victory. (61:12)

And other things you love: support from Allah and imminent victory. Give good news to the believers! (61:13)

On the Day He gathers you for the Day of Gathering–that is the Day of Profit and Loss. As for those who believe in Allah and act rightly, We will erase their bad actions from them and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever and ever. That is the Great Victory! (64:9)

For those who guard against evil there is triumph. (78:31)

But those who believe and do right actions will have Gardens with rivers flowing under them. That is the Great Victory. (85:11)

When Allah’s help and victory have arrived and you have seen people entering Allah’s religion in droves, then glorify your Lord’s praise and ask His forgiveness. He is the Ever-Returning. (110:1-3)

VIRGIN

They said, ‘Ask your Lord to make it clear to us what it should be like.’ He (Musa) said, ‘He says it should be a cow, not old or virgin, but somewhere between the two. So do as you have been told.’ (2:68)

(In Paradise) We have brought maidens into being and made them purest virgins. (56:35-36)

It may be that if he does divorce you, his Lord will give him in exchange better wives than you: Muslim women, believing women, obedient women, penitent women, women who worship, women who fast much–previously married women as well as virgins. (66:5)

VISION

The King declared, ‘I dreamt of seven fat cows which seven thin ones ate and seven green ears of wheat and seven others which were dry. O counsellors! Explain my dream to me if you are those who can interpret visions!’ (12:43)

When We said to you, ‘Surely your Lord encompasses the people with His knowledge.’ We only appointed the vision We showed you and the Accursed Tree in the Qur’an as a trial and temptation for the people. We frighten them, but it only increases them in their excessive insolence. (17:60)

We called out to him, ‘Ibrahim! You have discharged your vision.’ That is how We recompense good-doers. (37:104-105)

VOICE

Remember your Lord in yourself humbly and fearfully, without loudness of voice, morning and evening. Do not be one of the unaware. (7:205)

(Allah said to Satan,) ‘Stir up any of them you can with your voice and rally against them your cavalry and your infantry and share with them in their children and their wealth and make them promises!’ The promise of Satan is nothing but delusion. (17:64)

A voice called out to her (Maryam) from under her, ‘Do not grieve! Your Lord has placed a small stream at your feet.’ (19:24)

Then when he reached it, a voice called out, ‘Musa!’ (20:11)

On that day they will follow the Summoner who has no crookedness in him at all. Voices will be humbled before the All-Merciful and nothing but a whisper will be heard. (20:108)

But when he (Musa) reached it, a voice called out to him, ‘Blessed be Him who is in the Fire and all who are around it. Glory be to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds!’ (27:8)

(Luqman said to his son,) ‘Be moderate in your tread and lower your voice. The most hateful of voices is the donkey’s bray.’ (31:19)

You who believe! Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet and do not be as loud when speaking to him as you are when speaking to one another, lest your actions should come to nothing without your realising it. (49:2)

Those who lower their voices when they are with the Messenger of Allah are people whose hearts Allah has tested for heedfulness. They will have forgiveness and an immense reward. (49:3)

VOW

Whatever amount you spend or vow you make, Allah knows it. The wrongdoers have no helpers. (2:270)

(A voice called out to Maryam,) ‘Eat and drink and delight your eyes. If you should see anyone at all, just say, "I have made a vow of abstinence to the All-Merciful and today I will not speak to any human being."’ (19:26)

(We said to Ibrahim,) ‘Then they should end their state of self-neglect and fulfil their vows and circle the Ancient House.’ (22:29)

They fulfil their vows and fear a Day whose evil will spread far and wide. (76:7)