بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
In Surah Al Mulk, Allah reminds us of the purpose of life and tells us what will happen to someone who does not follow the Straight Path.
وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ﴿١٠﴾ فَٱعْتَرَفُوا۟ بِذَنۢبِهِمْ فَسُحْقًا لِّأَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ﴿١١
And they will say, "If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze." (10) And they will admit their sin, so [it is] alienation for the companions of the Blaze. (11) [Quran, Al Mulk 67:10-11]
أَفَمَن يَمْشِى مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِۦٓ أَهْدَىٰٓ أَمَّن يَمْشِى سَوِيًّا عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿٢٢
Then is one who walks fallen on his face better guided or one who walks erect on a straight path? (22) [Qur'an, Al Mulk 67;22]
Allah chooses the word مُكِبًّا (mukibban) which is a step higher than كبا kabban to describe someone who is forcing himself to keep his face on the ground.
مُكِبًّا عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ
mukib already mean upside down on his face
mukibban ala wajhihi, a phrase, means he keep his face down
Imagine human being that is sniffing the ground and looking down and walking.
In the beginning of the Surah, Allah tells us to look on the sky.
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَـٰوَٰتٍ طِبَاقًا ۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتٍ ۖ فَٱرْجِعِ ٱلْبَصَرَ هَلْ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ ﴿٣﴾ ثُمَّ ٱرْجِعِ ٱلْبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيْنِ يَنقَلِبْ إِلَيْكَ ٱلْبَصَرُ خَاسِئًا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ ﴿٤
[And] who created seven heavens in layers. You do not see in the creation of the Most Merciful any inconsistency. So return [your] vision [to the sky]; do you see any breaks? (3) Then return [your] vision twice again. [Your] vision will return to you humbled while it is fatigued. (4) [Quran, Al Mulk 67:3-4]
When you stand up straight you can look up. If you are looking down all the time you see earth.
When a dog is hungry, you see the dog sniffing looking down. You see similar behavior with other animals, looking down. The only time the animals look up is when there is danger. When they don't feel danger, they look down. When all of sudden they hear something, they look up.
There are some human beings who live a life of animals. The only time they truly look up, in the spiritual sense, is when the danger of the hereafter (akhirah) comes, but then Allah won't let them look down. In Surah Yaasin, Allah says, their heads are held back and their eyes are held open.
إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا فِىٓ أَعْنَـٰقِهِمْ أَغْلَـٰلًا فَهِىَ إِلَى ٱلْأَذْقَانِ فَهُم مُّقْمَحُونَ ﴿٨﴾ وَجَعَلْنَا مِنۢ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ سَدًّا وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ سَدًّا فَأَغْشَيْنَـٰهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ ﴿٩
Indeed, We have put shackles on their necks, and they are to their chins, so they are with heads [kept] aloft. (8) And We have put before them a barrier and behind them a barrier and covered them, so they do not see. (9) [Quran, Yaasin 36:8-9]
In Surah Mulk, Allah talks about a person whose head is down. That means the only aspiration, goals, engagement, or activities that this person has is having to do with dirt, i.e. with this world--pleasure, status, wealth, apetite. He lives his life facing the earth constantly.
Is this person is more guided as compared with the one who stands up straight, balanced? Someone looking down, they don't even know what danger and what lies ahead. The ones who keep straight, not only they know what lies ahead of them, they have a good picture of what lies ahead. When you are driving, you have a clear view of what lies ahead when the road is straight. If you go on a winding road you don't know what's around the bend. When the road is even and is straigt you can see way down. This is the life of someone who has a clear purpose--they know they are heading somewhere. Someone with head on the ground, they don't know where they are going.
We have to have a clear picture of what we are trying to accomplish, not just goals for the akhirah but also for the dunya--what are we going to do for Islam while we are here.
Surah Mulk is one of the oft recited Surahs and it is recommended to recite this Surah every night before sleep. This will keep a fresh reminder of where we are heading.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًا فَٱمْشُوا۟ فِى مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِهِۦ ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ ﴿١٥
It is He who made the earth tame for you - so walk among its slopes and eat of His provision - and to Him is the resurrection. [Quran, Al Mulk 67:15]
We ask Allah to guide us, our loved ones and the ummah on the Straight Path, the path of those upon whom He has bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked His anger or of those who are astray.
ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾ صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ﴿٧﴾
Aameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
Sunday, June 23, 2019
Saturday, June 22, 2019
Dream of Imam Hamzah -- Love Of AllahTowards The People of The Quran
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Imam Hamzah رحمه الله is one of the ten Qurra of Qiraat Al 'Asharah.
It is mentioned by Al Hafiz Al Mizzi in his book, Tahdhib Al Kamal, and ibn Al Jawzi in his book, Sifatu Safwah, and Ibnu Shahin in his book, Al Isharat fi Ilmi Al Ibarat (the science of dream interpretation), on the authority of Khalaf ibn Hisham Al-Bazzar, who is one of the two narrators in riwayah Hamzah from Sulaym ibn Isa, that his teacher, Sulaym, once narrated to him: “I once entered upon Hamzah ibn Habibi Az-Zayyad and I found him rolling his cheeks onto the ground while crying.”
I then exclaimed, “I seek refuge with Allah for your protection.” He then replied, “O You, what are you seeking protection for me from?”
He then narrated, “I saw in my dream the plain of hot violent winds as if the Day of Resurrection had been established. And that the reciters of the Quran had been summoned. So in respect to that I had been one of those that attended.
Thereupon, I heard a caller called in the sweetest words, ‘None shall enter upon Me except those who lived in accordance with the Quran.’
Upon that I retreated in despair قهقر (because Hamzah didn’t think he was one of them) until I heard a caller called my name. ‘Where is Hamzah ibn Habibi Az Zayyad?’
I then replied, ‘At your service, O caller of Allah, At your service.’
At which point an Angel hastened towards me and said, ‘But rather say, ‘At your service O Allah, At your service.’ So I replied with what I was told. Labbayk Allah humma labbayk
I was made to enter a dwelling wherein I heard the sound of reciters. Somebody reciting here and there, a congregation of reciters. I then paused and began to tremble from shock of where I was until I heard a caller announced, ‘No harm shall befall you. Rise and recite.’ لا بأس عليك
I then turned my face to find that I was now standing on a pulpit of white pearls. Its sides were yellow sapphire and its steps were green emeralds.
He then said to me. ‘Rise and recite.’ At which point I rose. He then said to me, Recite Surah An-Am.’
Thereupon I began to recite, not knowing who exactly I was reciting to, until ayah 60. Immediately upon reaching the next ayah, وَهُوَ ٱلْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِۦ And He is the Subjugator over His servants ,” He then said to me, ‘O Hamzah, am I not the Subjugator over My servants?’ (when this was asked, Hamzah knew who the speaker was, and that He is the Most Majestic, The Great, our Creator, Glory be to Him, the Most High).
Thereupon I said, ‘Yes, but rather You are.’
He (Allah) replied, ‘You have spoken the truth. Recite.’
I recited until finish Surah An-Am. Then I recited Surah Al Araf until I reached to the end. And in like the manner I began to prostrate (because at the end of the Surah is a verse of prostration).
He then said to me, ‘Sufficient for what has already has passed. Do not prostrate O Hamzah.’ (i.e. for the prostration in the dunya. The world of accountability has ended, i.e. dunya. And in the dream it was qiyamah. And obviously on that day there will be no more obligations.)
He said, ‘Who taught you this recitation?. I then replied, ‘Sulaym’. He then said, ‘You have spoken the truth.’ ‘And who taught Sulaym.’ I replied, ‘Yahya.’ He then replied, ‘Yahya has spoken the truth.’ ‘Wnd who did Yahya recite to?’ I replied, ‘Abu Abdul Rahman Al Sulami’. He then said, Abu Abdul Rahman Al Sulami has spoken the truth.’ ‘And who taught Abu Abdul Rahman?’ I replied, ‘the cousin of Your Prophet salallahu alayhi wasallam, Ali ibn Abi Talib.’ He then said, ‘Ali spoke the truth’. ‘And who taught Ali?’ I replied, ‘Your Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam’. He then said, ‘And who taught My Prophet?’. I replied, ‘Jibril’
He then said, ‘’And who taught Jibril?’ I then remained silent. He then said, ‘O Hamzah, say "You."’
Hamzah said, “How can I venture myself in saying ‘You.’
Out of shyness and haya’ (modesty) of Allah, Hamzah’s mind was unable to comprehend that he is standing in front of Allah. The Most Majestic is speaking to him while responding.
So I said, ‘You.’
He replied, ‘You have spoken the truth O Hamzah, and from the rights of the Quran is that I honor the people of the Quran, especially if they live by the Quran. O Hamzah, the Quran is My Speech. And there is nobody that I love more than the people of the Quran. Come close, O Hamzah.’ So I came close until He submerged my hand in Al Ghaliyah (a rich scented fragrance). And that perfumed me with it.
He then said, ‘I have not done this just for you. But rather I have done this for the reciters before you and after you. And whoever is made to recite the Quran the way you have been made to, he will arrive to nobody except Me on the Day of Resurrection. And I have concealed from you, O Hamzah, and that I have more. Thus, inform your companions of My Honoring and love for the people of the Quran. For verily they are the chosen and outstanding (Mustafa al Akhyar). O Hamzah, by My Glory and Might, I shall never punish a tongue that recited the Quran with the Fire, nor a heart that retains it, nor an ear that hears it, nor an eye that looks at it.’
I then exclaimed, ‘Glory to be to You, Glory be to You, O My Lord. (Subhanaka bi Rabbi)’
He then said, ‘O Hamzah, where are those that look at my Mushaf?’
I then replied, My Lord, Do you mean those who have memorized (Huffadh al Masahif)?’
He replied, ‘No. But rather I shall preserve them. So when they come to Me I will raise them for every verse (they recite) a level’
(i.e. those who recite by looking at the Mushaf are one group, and those who recite from memory are another group. Each will be rewarded accordingly. When Hamzah asked about those that look at the Mushaf he assumed the Huffadh)
Hamzah then turned around to his student, Sulaym, and said to him, ‘And will you rebuke me for crying while I am in the ground.’
This is who Hamzah was and the love of Allah towards people of the Quran. We hope this motivates us to learn Quran and improve our relationship with the Quran.
We ask Allah to forgive us and have mercy on us.
اللهم اجعلنا من أهل القرآن ، الذين هم أهلك وخاصتك ، يا أرحم الراحمين
O Allah, make us of the people of the Quran, who are Your elect and honored people, O the Most Merciful.
Aameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Imam Hamzah رحمه الله is one of the ten Qurra of Qiraat Al 'Asharah.
It is mentioned by Al Hafiz Al Mizzi in his book, Tahdhib Al Kamal, and ibn Al Jawzi in his book, Sifatu Safwah, and Ibnu Shahin in his book, Al Isharat fi Ilmi Al Ibarat (the science of dream interpretation), on the authority of Khalaf ibn Hisham Al-Bazzar, who is one of the two narrators in riwayah Hamzah from Sulaym ibn Isa, that his teacher, Sulaym, once narrated to him: “I once entered upon Hamzah ibn Habibi Az-Zayyad and I found him rolling his cheeks onto the ground while crying.”
I then exclaimed, “I seek refuge with Allah for your protection.” He then replied, “O You, what are you seeking protection for me from?”
He then narrated, “I saw in my dream the plain of hot violent winds as if the Day of Resurrection had been established. And that the reciters of the Quran had been summoned. So in respect to that I had been one of those that attended.
Thereupon, I heard a caller called in the sweetest words, ‘None shall enter upon Me except those who lived in accordance with the Quran.’
Upon that I retreated in despair قهقر (because Hamzah didn’t think he was one of them) until I heard a caller called my name. ‘Where is Hamzah ibn Habibi Az Zayyad?’
I then replied, ‘At your service, O caller of Allah, At your service.’
At which point an Angel hastened towards me and said, ‘But rather say, ‘At your service O Allah, At your service.’ So I replied with what I was told. Labbayk Allah humma labbayk
I was made to enter a dwelling wherein I heard the sound of reciters. Somebody reciting here and there, a congregation of reciters. I then paused and began to tremble from shock of where I was until I heard a caller announced, ‘No harm shall befall you. Rise and recite.’ لا بأس عليك
I then turned my face to find that I was now standing on a pulpit of white pearls. Its sides were yellow sapphire and its steps were green emeralds.
He then said to me. ‘Rise and recite.’ At which point I rose. He then said to me, Recite Surah An-Am.’
Thereupon I began to recite, not knowing who exactly I was reciting to, until ayah 60. Immediately upon reaching the next ayah, وَهُوَ ٱلْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِۦ And He is the Subjugator over His servants ,” He then said to me, ‘O Hamzah, am I not the Subjugator over My servants?’ (when this was asked, Hamzah knew who the speaker was, and that He is the Most Majestic, The Great, our Creator, Glory be to Him, the Most High).
Thereupon I said, ‘Yes, but rather You are.’
He (Allah) replied, ‘You have spoken the truth. Recite.’
I recited until finish Surah An-Am. Then I recited Surah Al Araf until I reached to the end. And in like the manner I began to prostrate (because at the end of the Surah is a verse of prostration).
He then said to me, ‘Sufficient for what has already has passed. Do not prostrate O Hamzah.’ (i.e. for the prostration in the dunya. The world of accountability has ended, i.e. dunya. And in the dream it was qiyamah. And obviously on that day there will be no more obligations.)
He said, ‘Who taught you this recitation?. I then replied, ‘Sulaym’. He then said, ‘You have spoken the truth.’ ‘And who taught Sulaym.’ I replied, ‘Yahya.’ He then replied, ‘Yahya has spoken the truth.’ ‘Wnd who did Yahya recite to?’ I replied, ‘Abu Abdul Rahman Al Sulami’. He then said, Abu Abdul Rahman Al Sulami has spoken the truth.’ ‘And who taught Abu Abdul Rahman?’ I replied, ‘the cousin of Your Prophet salallahu alayhi wasallam, Ali ibn Abi Talib.’ He then said, ‘Ali spoke the truth’. ‘And who taught Ali?’ I replied, ‘Your Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam’. He then said, ‘And who taught My Prophet?’. I replied, ‘Jibril’
He then said, ‘’And who taught Jibril?’ I then remained silent. He then said, ‘O Hamzah, say "You."’
Hamzah said, “How can I venture myself in saying ‘You.’
Out of shyness and haya’ (modesty) of Allah, Hamzah’s mind was unable to comprehend that he is standing in front of Allah. The Most Majestic is speaking to him while responding.
So I said, ‘You.’
He replied, ‘You have spoken the truth O Hamzah, and from the rights of the Quran is that I honor the people of the Quran, especially if they live by the Quran. O Hamzah, the Quran is My Speech. And there is nobody that I love more than the people of the Quran. Come close, O Hamzah.’ So I came close until He submerged my hand in Al Ghaliyah (a rich scented fragrance). And that perfumed me with it.
He then said, ‘I have not done this just for you. But rather I have done this for the reciters before you and after you. And whoever is made to recite the Quran the way you have been made to, he will arrive to nobody except Me on the Day of Resurrection. And I have concealed from you, O Hamzah, and that I have more. Thus, inform your companions of My Honoring and love for the people of the Quran. For verily they are the chosen and outstanding (Mustafa al Akhyar). O Hamzah, by My Glory and Might, I shall never punish a tongue that recited the Quran with the Fire, nor a heart that retains it, nor an ear that hears it, nor an eye that looks at it.’
I then exclaimed, ‘Glory to be to You, Glory be to You, O My Lord. (Subhanaka bi Rabbi)’
He then said, ‘O Hamzah, where are those that look at my Mushaf?’
I then replied, My Lord, Do you mean those who have memorized (Huffadh al Masahif)?’
He replied, ‘No. But rather I shall preserve them. So when they come to Me I will raise them for every verse (they recite) a level’
(i.e. those who recite by looking at the Mushaf are one group, and those who recite from memory are another group. Each will be rewarded accordingly. When Hamzah asked about those that look at the Mushaf he assumed the Huffadh)
Hamzah then turned around to his student, Sulaym, and said to him, ‘And will you rebuke me for crying while I am in the ground.’
This is who Hamzah was and the love of Allah towards people of the Quran. We hope this motivates us to learn Quran and improve our relationship with the Quran.
We ask Allah to forgive us and have mercy on us.
اللهم اجعلنا من أهل القرآن ، الذين هم أهلك وخاصتك ، يا أرحم الراحمين
O Allah, make us of the people of the Quran, who are Your elect and honored people, O the Most Merciful.
Aameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
Friday, June 21, 2019
Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Alhamdulillah For The Quran
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Alhamdulillah (All praise and thanks to Allah) for the Qur'an, a guidance for the believers and those conscious of Allah.
The Quran reminds us over and over again that the everlasting abode is the Aakhirah (hereafter). If we are truly certain about this, then we won't worry ourselves with this dunya, accumulating wealth and trying to impress people, instead we will rush to good deeds.
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَاوَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. [Qur'an, al-Kahf 18:46]
Sometimes we forget that this is the fleeting dunya (world), the dunya wherein we will face trials, left, right, and center. But the Quran will help us face it with patience.
So why won't you read the Quran everyday?
رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance.
Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Alhamdulillah (All praise and thanks to Allah) for the Qur'an, a guidance for the believers and those conscious of Allah.
The Quran reminds us over and over again that the everlasting abode is the Aakhirah (hereafter). If we are truly certain about this, then we won't worry ourselves with this dunya, accumulating wealth and trying to impress people, instead we will rush to good deeds.
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَاوَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. [Qur'an, al-Kahf 18:46]
Sometimes we forget that this is the fleeting dunya (world), the dunya wherein we will face trials, left, right, and center. But the Quran will help us face it with patience.
So why won't you read the Quran everyday?
رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا
Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance.
Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
Thursday, June 20, 2019
Quran Reflection -- Who Are Guaranteed Success?
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
In Surah Al-Mu'minun (Quran, 23:1-11), Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala tells us that if you are a true believer you have already become extremely successful. The believers are guaranted this success.
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١
Certainly will the believers have succeeded: [Quran, Al-Mu'minun 23:1]
The noun ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ (those actually believed), is used here instead of a verb ءَامَنُو. The verb ءَامَنُو (iman) is fragile. Noun is considered permanent. It is a though their iman is given stability. Noun deosn't have a tense, past, present or future.
When Allah compliments the strongest of believers, whose faith is described as somethinng that have reached a certain of maturity, there is a certain threshhold that they have crossed. Though their iman can still go up and down, but they don't go below the minimal line.
The phrase يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ "O you who have believed" covers a broad spectrum of Muslims--broadly it includes hypocrites, those who are just Muslims and actually haven't tasted the sweetness of iman, and the elite true believers. Allah knows what is in the hearts but we don't. So we can't judge people. When somebody says salaam to us, our right to judge them is gone but we can judge ourselves as a whole.
Who are the true believers that have attained success?
1. ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى صَلَاتِهِمْ خَـٰشِعُونَ
They who are during their prayer humbly submissive
They are people who have reached a stage of maturity in their lives and everytime they pray they have a constant khushu'. Khushu' is a fear that overwhelms the person, a feeling of awe and overpowered. They are in a state of fear and awe of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala when they pray.
2. وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ ٱللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ
And they who turn away from ill speech
This is a logical progression of the first. If one has truly developed a feeling of fear and awe of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, he would turn away from speech that has no benefit whatsoever (in worldly or spiritual sense). Any free moment for a believer, he should be engaged in zikr (remembrance of Allah). For many people, every free second has been taken over by mobile phones. Do yourself a favor and erase games, songs from your phone, and stay away from useless social media chats and conversations. Every free moment you are with your phone engaging in those activities, your brain tunes out too.
If you find yourself talking a lot, then you would probably notice in yourself that you don't have khushu' in the solat. If you don't talk a lot, it gives you time to reflect. Allah gives you a chance to do that in solat, and then you would continue that outside of solat. People who has developed relationship of talking with Allah, realize the value of talking and so that permeates into other conversations.
3. وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَوٰةِ فَـٰعِلُونَ
And they who are observant of zakah
For the purpose of cleansing themselves, they get busy. They realized their personality is dirty. Maybe they have a problem of just saying things, of letting things get to the heart very quickly. Maybe they have an inconsideration problem, extremely selfish, too addicted to entertainment, laziness problem, disrespect problem. You don't get to this stage of realization until you have gone through the first two stages above.
So, make a project out of yourself--make a list of things that you don't like about yourself and start addressing the problems. When you address one problem, you will discover another problem. When you start making yourself a better person, your sensitivity to things that you weren't sensitive before increased and your need to become better person increases. You become more and more disturbed to things that didn't bother you before. Speak and talk can't make you a better person. The only person who can make you a better person is you. So get busy with cleansing yourself.
4. وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَـٰفِظُونَ ﴿٥﴾ إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ ﴿٦﴾ فَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْعَادُونَ ﴿٧
And they who guard their private parts (5) Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed - But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors -
Of all the kinds of sins that people can be tempted to is immorality and shamelessness. Shaytan is good at luring people to that. It started with our father, Adam alayhissalaam. This is something we have to actively guard. We have to create a protective environment at home, masjid, on campus, during Islamic gatherings and conventions, etc. We have to strike a good balance.
When somebody has a marriage but pursues beyond that, it is because they don't find beauty in their marriage, addictive to what they find on the internet. Actually the scum industry is bigger than Microsoft, Google and the entire tech sector combined. We can't underestimate its power. At every turn there is a trigger, a suggestion. As society we have to engage an active battle against immorality and shamlessness.
5. وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَـٰنَـٰتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَٰعُونَ
And they who are to their trusts and their promises attentive
Amanah is when somebody is at peace entrusting you with something. 'A'd is a promise. When you parents send you to school, pay for your tuition, it is an amanah for you to go learn. So you should go to classes and study, and not sleep and play most of the time.
'A'd is a promise. If you say yes to something, do it. It is an obligation hanging over your head. It is mandated over a descent person to fulfill the promise. If you can't do it, just say no at the beginning. So people don't say you are a liar.
6. وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَٰتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ
And they who are to their trusts and their promises attentive
When it comes to multitude of prayers, solat becomes salawat. They are additional prayers such as sunnah prayers before and after fard prayers, witr prayers, dhuha prayers, tahajjud prayers, rawatib prayers, and all other prayers beyond the fard prayers. The solat is something you have to guard and you guard it with the sunnah prayers.
Those are the true believers that have succeeded. They are the inheriors of the highest Paradise, Jannatul Firdaus, and will abide therein eternally.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْوَٰرِثُونَ ﴿١٠﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ ٱلْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ ﴿١١
Those are the inheritors (10) Who will inherit al-Firdaus. They will abide therein eternally. (11)
May Allah make us true believers and grant us success in this life and the next and make us the inheritors of the highest Paradise. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
In Surah Al-Mu'minun (Quran, 23:1-11), Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala tells us that if you are a true believer you have already become extremely successful. The believers are guaranted this success.
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١
Certainly will the believers have succeeded: [Quran, Al-Mu'minun 23:1]
The noun ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ (those actually believed), is used here instead of a verb ءَامَنُو. The verb ءَامَنُو (iman) is fragile. Noun is considered permanent. It is a though their iman is given stability. Noun deosn't have a tense, past, present or future.
When Allah compliments the strongest of believers, whose faith is described as somethinng that have reached a certain of maturity, there is a certain threshhold that they have crossed. Though their iman can still go up and down, but they don't go below the minimal line.
The phrase يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ "O you who have believed" covers a broad spectrum of Muslims--broadly it includes hypocrites, those who are just Muslims and actually haven't tasted the sweetness of iman, and the elite true believers. Allah knows what is in the hearts but we don't. So we can't judge people. When somebody says salaam to us, our right to judge them is gone but we can judge ourselves as a whole.
Who are the true believers that have attained success?
1. ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى صَلَاتِهِمْ خَـٰشِعُونَ
They who are during their prayer humbly submissive
They are people who have reached a stage of maturity in their lives and everytime they pray they have a constant khushu'. Khushu' is a fear that overwhelms the person, a feeling of awe and overpowered. They are in a state of fear and awe of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala when they pray.
2. وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ ٱللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ
And they who turn away from ill speech
This is a logical progression of the first. If one has truly developed a feeling of fear and awe of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, he would turn away from speech that has no benefit whatsoever (in worldly or spiritual sense). Any free moment for a believer, he should be engaged in zikr (remembrance of Allah). For many people, every free second has been taken over by mobile phones. Do yourself a favor and erase games, songs from your phone, and stay away from useless social media chats and conversations. Every free moment you are with your phone engaging in those activities, your brain tunes out too.
If you find yourself talking a lot, then you would probably notice in yourself that you don't have khushu' in the solat. If you don't talk a lot, it gives you time to reflect. Allah gives you a chance to do that in solat, and then you would continue that outside of solat. People who has developed relationship of talking with Allah, realize the value of talking and so that permeates into other conversations.
3. وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَوٰةِ فَـٰعِلُونَ
And they who are observant of zakah
For the purpose of cleansing themselves, they get busy. They realized their personality is dirty. Maybe they have a problem of just saying things, of letting things get to the heart very quickly. Maybe they have an inconsideration problem, extremely selfish, too addicted to entertainment, laziness problem, disrespect problem. You don't get to this stage of realization until you have gone through the first two stages above.
So, make a project out of yourself--make a list of things that you don't like about yourself and start addressing the problems. When you address one problem, you will discover another problem. When you start making yourself a better person, your sensitivity to things that you weren't sensitive before increased and your need to become better person increases. You become more and more disturbed to things that didn't bother you before. Speak and talk can't make you a better person. The only person who can make you a better person is you. So get busy with cleansing yourself.
4. وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَـٰفِظُونَ ﴿٥﴾ إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ ﴿٦﴾ فَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْعَادُونَ ﴿٧
And they who guard their private parts (5) Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed - But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors -
Of all the kinds of sins that people can be tempted to is immorality and shamelessness. Shaytan is good at luring people to that. It started with our father, Adam alayhissalaam. This is something we have to actively guard. We have to create a protective environment at home, masjid, on campus, during Islamic gatherings and conventions, etc. We have to strike a good balance.
When somebody has a marriage but pursues beyond that, it is because they don't find beauty in their marriage, addictive to what they find on the internet. Actually the scum industry is bigger than Microsoft, Google and the entire tech sector combined. We can't underestimate its power. At every turn there is a trigger, a suggestion. As society we have to engage an active battle against immorality and shamlessness.
5. وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَـٰنَـٰتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَٰعُونَ
And they who are to their trusts and their promises attentive
Amanah is when somebody is at peace entrusting you with something. 'A'd is a promise. When you parents send you to school, pay for your tuition, it is an amanah for you to go learn. So you should go to classes and study, and not sleep and play most of the time.
'A'd is a promise. If you say yes to something, do it. It is an obligation hanging over your head. It is mandated over a descent person to fulfill the promise. If you can't do it, just say no at the beginning. So people don't say you are a liar.
6. وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَٰتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ
And they who are to their trusts and their promises attentive
When it comes to multitude of prayers, solat becomes salawat. They are additional prayers such as sunnah prayers before and after fard prayers, witr prayers, dhuha prayers, tahajjud prayers, rawatib prayers, and all other prayers beyond the fard prayers. The solat is something you have to guard and you guard it with the sunnah prayers.
Those are the true believers that have succeeded. They are the inheriors of the highest Paradise, Jannatul Firdaus, and will abide therein eternally.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْوَٰرِثُونَ ﴿١٠﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ ٱلْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ ﴿١١
Those are the inheritors (10) Who will inherit al-Firdaus. They will abide therein eternally. (11)
May Allah make us true believers and grant us success in this life and the next and make us the inheritors of the highest Paradise. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
Monday, June 17, 2019
Quran Reflection -- Life Is A Series of Tests
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Life is a test and tests are means to purify our hearts. Tests can come like ocean waves, unceasing. Prophets were the most tested and tested the hardest. We will be tested again and again for as long as we live, so that when we meet Allah, our heart is sound inshaa Allah, like gold ores that have been put through intense heat to extract the gold.
Nothing, wealth nor children, will benefit anyone when they meet Allah except the ones that come with a sound heart.
يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ ﴿٨٨﴾ إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى ٱللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ ﴿٨٩﴾
The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children (88) But only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart." (89) [Quran, Ash-Shu'ara 26:89]
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۗ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِٱلشَّرِّ وَٱلْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٣٥
Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned. [Quran, Al-Anbiya 21:35]
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴿٢٨٦
Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people." [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:286]
May Allah shower His Mercy upon us and save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next and make our meeting with Him the best of meetings.
Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Life is a test and tests are means to purify our hearts. Tests can come like ocean waves, unceasing. Prophets were the most tested and tested the hardest. We will be tested again and again for as long as we live, so that when we meet Allah, our heart is sound inshaa Allah, like gold ores that have been put through intense heat to extract the gold.
Nothing, wealth nor children, will benefit anyone when they meet Allah except the ones that come with a sound heart.
يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ ﴿٨٨﴾ إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى ٱللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ ﴿٨٩﴾
The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children (88) But only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart." (89) [Quran, Ash-Shu'ara 26:89]
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۗ وَنَبْلُوكُم بِٱلشَّرِّ وَٱلْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ ﴿٣٥
Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned. [Quran, Al-Anbiya 21:35]
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴿٢٨٦
Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people." [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:286]
May Allah shower His Mercy upon us and save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next and make our meeting with Him the best of meetings.
Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.
Wassalaam
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