Let’s Read Surah Al-Kahf Today (Friday): True Freedom

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Let’s Read Surah Al-Kahf Today (Friday): True Freedom

Allah says at the opening of Surah Al-Kahf:

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا

“All praise is due to Allah, who has sent down upon His slave the Book and has not made therein any deviance.” 

(Surah Al-Kahf 18:1)

The Qur’an teaches us a profound truth: every human being is a slave. The question is not whether you will be a slave, but to whom or to what. You may become a slave to people, money, culture, fashion, popularity, or your own ego. If you do not choose Allah, something else will inevitably take His place. There is no neutral ground. 

But when you choose Allah as your Master, you are freed from every other form of slavery. No human opinion controls you. No trend defines you. No desire owns you. That is true freedom.

Every Friday, we are reminded of this reality. The reminder begins with the greatest of creation—the Prophet ﷺ himself—who is described first and foremost as the slave of Allah. In that servitude lies honor, dignity, and liberation.

May Surah Al-Kahf renew our understanding of freedom and anchor our hearts in sincere servitude to Allah alone.

www.darannoor.com/islamic-books

Don’t Blame on the Environment

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Don’t Blame on the Environment

Some people say, “It’s very hard to be Muslim living in the West.”

 But that assumes īmān comes from the environment.

And if faith comes from the environment, then it can leave when the environment changes.

That is not how īmān began.

When the Prophet ﷺ recited the Qur’an, people stopped and thought.

 They reflected on what Allah was saying.

 And the more they reflected, the more their hearts changed—and through those hearts, the world changed.

True īmān comes from within.

When faith is rooted that deeply, even if the whole world feels like a glimpse of Hell, a believer will not leave Allah.

Look at Bilāl, Sumayyah, Yasir...

They were tortured, yet they did not abandon their faith—because their īmān was not built on comfort, but on certainty.

So the problem is not where we live.

 The solution is to return to the Qur’an with reflection—

 and rebuild īmān from the inside out.

www,darannoor.com/islamic-books

Parenting: A Lifetime of Worship

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Parenting: A Lifetime of Worship

Raising and caring for children is among the greatest acts of worship, carrying immense reward. When parents intend to raise their children with taqwa, obedient to Allah, mindful of halal and haram, and grounded in good character, every sacrifice becomes an act of devotion. Even if children do not turn out as hoped, parents are rewarded eternally for their sincere intention.

This service does not end when children grow up, move away, and begin lives of their own. A parent’s duʿa continues throughout life. A mother, in particular, gives of herself day and night, often at the expense of personal comfort and spiritual routine. 

When Allah opens her understanding, she realizes she is engaged in one of the highest forms of worship: nurturing believers who love Allah. She shares in the reward of her children’s good deeds—without diminishing their reward in the least. 

Through years of sacrifice and sincerity, many mothers attain a deep spiritual rank. With little solitude but great devotion, they develop awe, hope, and love of Allah that often surpass outward spiritual practices.

www.darannoor.com/islamic-books

Wake Up Before It Is Too Late

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Wake Up Before It Is Too Late

Surah Al-Muddaththir shatters the illusion that Qiyāmah is some abstract, distant event reserved for the end of time. Its warnings are urgent, personal, and near—because for each of us, our Qiyāmah begins the moment we die. The reckoning does not wait for centuries to pass; it waits for our final breath. 

So live this life as preparation for your Qiyāmah: restore harmony in your home, mend what is broken between hearts, soften your words with your spouse, bring joy, not pain, to your parents, and become a source of safety and mercy for your children. Stop being foolish with time and selfish with love. The Surah calls us to wake up now, while repentance is still accepted and reconciliation is still possible, before the trumpet sounds for us alone.

www.darannoor.com/islamic-books

Let’s Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday)-- Trust Allah’s Plan

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Let’s Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday)-- Trust Allah’s Plan

Ayah 109 of Surah al-Kahf reminds us that Allah’s knowledge is utterly limitless: 

قُل لَّوْ كَانَ ٱلْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِّكَلِمَٰتِ رَبِّى لَنَفِدَ ٱلْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَٰتُ رَبِّى وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِۦ مَدَدًا 

“Say: If the sea were ink for the words of my Lord, the sea would be exhausted before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even if We brought another like it as a supplement.” 

This is a profound miracle—Allah speaks to the human imagination using the greatest vastness we can conceive, the oceans, then tells us that even this immensity would run dry before His knowledge ends. No matter how much humanity writes, discovers, or advances, it will always be only a drop compared to the infinite “words” of Allah. 

This ayah humbles the intellect, shatters arrogance, and gently teaches that true wisdom begins with recognizing our limits before the Infinite Knower. In that humility lies serenity: when we realize how boundless Allah’s knowledge is, we learn to trust Allah’s plan—even when we do not yet understand it.

www.darannoor.com/islamic-books

Begin with Yourself

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ

“O you who believe, save yourselves and your families from the Fire...” (Surah at-Tahrim 66:6)

This is about priorities. We often exhaust ourselves over global problems we cannot control while neglecting the crises inside our own homes. Allah will not ask us why we failed to change the world. He will ask what we did with ourselves, our salah, our character, our children, and our homes.

Ibrahim (peace be upon him) could not change his people, yet Allah called him a nation unto himself—because he fulfilled his responsibility with steadfastness.

The individual and the family are the foundation of the community. Corruption begins within the self, then the home, before it spreads to society. The fire of the Hereafter is fueled by fires ignited in this world—fear, toxicity, and spiritual neglect.

Our youth are facing an identity crisis rooted in fear, anxiety, and broken family environments. Shayṭan’s greatest success is destroying families, because a child raised in fear and conflict carries that damage into the ummah.

Divorce is not the enemy. Toxicity is. Islam does not require remaining in oppressive or irreparable marriages. What harms children most is not whether their parents are together or apart—it is ongoing conflict, hostility, and toxicity, whether within marriage or after separation.

Save yourself. Save your family. That is where reform begins.

www.darannoor.com/islamic-books

When Allah’s Love Is Withheld: Treachery and Constant Argumentation

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

When Allah’s Love Is Withheld: Treachery and Constant Argumentation

Allah’s love does not mean that every action is approved. The Qur’an tells us plainly:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ خَوَّانٍ كَفُورٍ 

“Allah does not love those who are treacherous and ungrateful” (Al-Hajj 22:38). 

When a person lies, betrays trust, or constantly argues to win rather than to find the truth, it shows a problem in the heart. The Qur’an also warns about people who sound impressive and religious, but are actually harmful, saying:

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يُعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهُ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيُشْهِدُ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِي قَلْبِهِ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ الْخِصَامِ

“And among the people is one whose speech pleases you in worldly life, and he calls Allah to witness what is in his heart, yet he is the most quarrelsome of opponents.” (Al-Baqarah 2:204). 

True faith is not about clever words or winning arguments—it’s about honesty, humility, and seeking what is right.

www.darannoor.com/islamic-books

Allah Loves the Muhsinin

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Allah tells us that He loves the muhsinin. Allah says,

وَأَحْسِنُوا ۛ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

“And do good (iḥsan). Indeed, Allah loves the muḥsinin (those who excel in goodness).” 

Quran, al-Baqarah (2:195)

This love is tied to a level of goodness that goes beyond what is easy, expected, or emotionally convenient. Ihsan is not merely doing what is fair; it is doing what is beautiful for the sake of Allah, even when the other person falls short. The muhsin gives not because people deserve it, but because Allah deserves excellence in our character. 

This is why Allah’s love is attached to iḥsan because it reflects sincerity, self-restraint, and a heart anchored in the Hereafter. This is most evident in difficult relationships. Showing goodness to parents especially when they hurt or disappoint us is among the highest forms of iḥsan, because it is hard and done purely for Allah’s sake. In marriage as well, a husband may continue to give generously despite feeling unappreciated, and a wife may choose kindness even after years of hurt. This goodness is not because the other always deserves it, but because Allah does—and Allah loves the muḥsinin.

www.darannoor.com/islamic-books

Becoming Among the Ulū al-Albāb: Minds That Reflect, Hearts That Submit

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Becoming Among the Ulū al-Albāb: Minds That Reflect, Hearts That Submit

In the Qur’an, ulū al-albāb—“people of deep understanding”—are those whose hearts and minds are awake, reflective, and anchored in truth. Allah describes them as people who remember Him constantly, ponder His signs in creation and revelation, and allow knowledge to transform their character and choices. They do not stop at surface-level learning; instead, they connect intellect with humility, reflection with action. To strive to be among the ulū al-albāb, we cultivate sincere remembrance (dhikr), thoughtful reflection (tafakkur), and obedience rooted in wisdom—seeking knowledge not to impress, but to draw closer to Allah and live with moral clarity, purpose, and compassion.

www.darannoor.com/islamic-books

The Ego Trap: When the Nafs Becomes the Master

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

The Ego Trap: When the Nafs Becomes the Master

Ego simply means “me”, myself, or “I,” and many people are driven by it without even realizing it. In Islam, this inner pull is called the nafs. It’s the part of us that constantly wants more—more comfort, more attention, more control. It can be childish in how it demands instant satisfaction, yet it’s also very dangerous if we let it take the lead. The ego and the nafs are always focused on me: my needs, my wants, my desires—especially in a world that encourages being self-centered. When we obey the nafs, it slowly pulls us into selfishness, making us care less about others and more about pleasing ourselves at any cost. Islam teaches that the nafs can either be trained so you control it, or left unchecked until it controls you. At its worst, it traps a person in a false identity, making them believe life revolves around them and causing them to forget who they truly are and who they will ultimately stand before—Allah.

www.darannoor.com/islamic-books

Let’s Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday)--Timeless Lessons for Life’s Greatest Tests

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Let’s Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday)--Timeless Lessons for Life’s Greatest Tests

Reading Surah al-Kahf on Fridays is a blessed weekly practice that brings light, guidance, and protection.

The Prophet ﷺ taught that its recitation grants a light between two Fridays, renewing faith, strengthening trust in Allah, and grounding the heart amid life’s trials.

Through its four stories, Surah al-Kahf teaches balance in facing the tests of life:

• The Youth of the Cave teach steadfast faith under pressure.
• The Man with the Two Gardens warn against arrogance and ingratitude.
• Musa and Khidr (peace be upon them) teach patience and trust in Allah’s hidden wisdom.
• Dhul-Qarnayn models justice and responsibility in power.

Together, they guide us through the trials of faith, wealth, knowledge, and authority.

www.darannoor.com/islamic-books

Silent Poison of the Heart: Beware of Arrogance

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Silent Poison of the Heart: Beware of Arrogance

Beware of arrogance, for it is a hidden disease that often goes unnoticed until it hardens the heart. Arrogance appears when a person looks down on others because of knowledge, wealth, lineage, beauty, popularity, fame, or even religiosity. Examples are such as someone thinking, “I pray more than others,” “I know more Qur’an,” “I’m more educated,” or mocking people for their accent, job, appearance, or level of practice. Even refusing advice, struggling to apologize, or feeling irritated when corrected are signs of pride. 

This disease blinds a person to their own faults while magnifying the faults of others, forgetting that every blessing is from Allah and can be taken away at any moment. 

True humility is to see oneself as needy before Allah and to view others with mercy, not superiority.

www.darannoor.com

When the Heart Remembers Allah, the Body Calms, and the Mind Finds Peace

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

When the Heart Remembers Allah, the Body Calms, and the Mind Finds Peace

Overcoming anxiety and depression begins by realigning the heart with Allah before trying to quiet the chaos of thoughts. The Prophet ﷺ taught that true inner peace flows from tawḥīd, trust in Allah’s decree, consistent prayer, and remembrance (dhikr). 

Allah Himself promises this healing when He says:

 أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ

 “Surely, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest” (Qur’an 13:28). 

Islam does not deny pain; it gives it meaning—transforming distress into purification, hope, and closeness to Allah. As the heart settles through remembrance, gratitude, patience, and balanced action, the mind gradually finds calm—because when the heart is at peace with Allah, the mind follows.

www.darannoor.com

Hidayah (Guidance from Allah)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Hidayah (Guidance from Allah)

Hidayah (guidance) is not something we earn through intelligence, effort, or even good deeds alone—it is a gift from Allah, granted to hearts that are sincere, humble, and willing to turn back to Him. Allah may place the truth in front of many people, but only those whose hearts are open will truly see it. Hidayah often comes quietly: through a hardship that softens the heart, a reminder that arrives at the right moment, or a realization that pulls a person away from sin and toward Allah. 

Our role is not to force guidance, but to seek it constantly, protect it through obedience, and ask Allah—again and again—to keep our hearts firm upon it.

Types of Hidayah

Hidayah comes in distinct types, each from Allah alone. There is general guidance, where Allah shows humanity the path through the Qur’an, the Prophet ﷺ, and reminders—this guidance is available to all. Then there is guidance of acceptance and firmness, where Allah allows the truth to enter the heart, be embraced, and acted upon; this is the most precious form and cannot be forced by anyone. Ongoing guidance—being kept steadfast upon faith—and guidance after guidance, where Allah increases clarity, certainty, and closeness for those who respond sincerely. The believer’s role is to keep asking Allah for every level of guidance, knowing that seeing the path is one thing, but walking it—and remaining on it—is a mercy only Allah grants.

www.darannoor.com