Read!

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

One third of the Qur'an is stories--the key to knowing everything what is happening in your life now.

"We tell you the best of stories in revealing this Qur’an to you, even though you were unaware of it before it came." Qur'an Yusuf 12:3

In the stories, you will see exactly what's happening to you. You learn from these stories. Allah tells the best of stories--why are we busy reading novels and the like ignoring these stories?

Allah give you the victory when you are humble. When the Muslims thought that they could win against the non-believers in the battle of Hunayn, because of their greater army, and just when they were about to lose the battle, the tide changed because they realized they were slaves of Allah and Allah gave them victory. When we realize we are slaves of Allah, our lives will be different. People have miserable lives because something else is filling their lives, not Allah. If people have respect for the laws of Allah, they will be happy no matter what because when you obey Allah, Allah will put barakah (blessings) in your life.

The first ayah (verse) revealed was Iqra' (Read! In the Name of your Lord...) Qur'an Al-'Alaq 96:1. It wasn't al-Fatiha. How do you read? You read by Allah, our Creator. This verse was revealed to a person who could not read or write. But he, Allah bless him and grant him peace, became the source of knowledge for one reason, because he applied this verse. So read what has been given to us on a silver platter. Find the time to read and understand the Qur'an and try to apply them in your lives. Try to read a juz (chapter) a day. This is not a big deal inshaAllah if you put learning your religion a priority.

May Allah increase us in sacred knowledge and grant us tawfiq. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

Wassalaam

Allah mentions them to those in His presence

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu Alaykum

I pray that you are well.

Abu Hurayra, Allah be well pleased with him, related that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A group does not gather in one of the houses of Allah Most High reciting Qur'an and studying it together, except that tranquility descends upon them, mercy envelopes them, the angels encompass them, and Allah mentions them to those in His presence. (Muslim)

MashaAllah we had a great turnout for the khatma last night at Masjid Al-Ittehad and many Amin to the du'a (including the angels inshaAllah and Allah knows best). May Allah accept our worship and du'a. May Allah draw us closer to Him and give us tawfiq to continue reciting His words everyday. Amin.

Our next khatma will be on Friday, April 16, 2010 at 7pm (California time) inshaAllah. Please continue reading at a least a juz of the Qur'an a day with your family and invite your friends and circle of influence to do so. "Help one another to piety and godfearing; do not help each other to sin and enmity. And fear God; surely God is terrible in retribution." Qur'an Al-Ma'idah 5:2

Reciting the Qur'an is a great act of worship. Every letter you recite will earn you the pleasure of Allah and will draw you closer to Him Subhanahu. A person should maintain his recitation and do much of it.

Abi Dawud related from the Righteous Forebears, Allah be well pleased with them, that some of them would finish the Qur'an once very two months, once every month, once every 10 nights, 8 nights; most of them every 7 nights, some every 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2 nights, some everyday and night, twice everyday and night, twice each day, and 8 times each day--4 by night and 4 by day. Uthman ibn Affan, Allah be well pleased with him, and Imam Shafi'i and Mujahid, Allah have mercy on them, completed recitation of the Qur'an every day.

A hadith of Anas, Allah be well pleased with him, said that the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "The best of works are al-hall and al-rihlat." It was asked, "what are they?" He said, "Beginning the Qur'an and completing it."

May Allah grant us tawfiq. Amin. Please do not forget us in your prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam