Let's Recite Surah Kahf Today -- A Moment of Peace and Tranquility

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

In a world full of turmoil, we could all use a moment of tranquility by reciting Surah Kahf now.

“A man was reciting Surat Al-Kahf and his horse was tied with two ropes beside him. A cloud came down and spread over that man, and it kept on coming closer and closer to him till his horse started jumping (as if afraid of something). When it was morning, the man came to the Prophet, and told him of that experience. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam said, “That was As-Sakina (tranquility) which descended because of (the recitation of) the Qur’an.”” [Bukhari]

Before we look for the virtues of reciting Surah Kahf's every Friday, we should recite it because the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam asked us to do. He only asked us to do what he did himself. It was also the sunnah of the Companions, who were all too eager to follow in the footsteps of the beloved Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wassallam.

قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّـهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّـهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّـهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٣١

Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." (31)

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:31]

Try to memorize this Surah starting with the first ten verses.

“If anyone learns by heart the first ten verses of the Surah al-Kahf, he will be protected from the Dajjal.” [Muslim]

Though memorization of some surahs is just plain obvious (like Surah Al-Fatiha for the validation of your prayer), but Surah Kahf’s memorization has been specifically talked about.

Since Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassalaam was so concerned about us following his advice is the least we can do.

فَلَعَلَّكَ بَـٰخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا ﴿٦

Then perhaps you would kill yourself through grief over them, [O Muhammad], if they do not believe in this message, [and] out of sorrow. (6)

[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:6]

Most of us think of memorization as an extra deed, but the following hadith clarifies how hollow your soul is when you have nothing of the Qur'an in your heart.

"He who does not memorize any part from the Qur’an he is like the ruined house." [At-Tirmidhi]

To take a verse to heart is to know it by heart. Memorization provides us with knowledge of a qualitatively and physiologically different variety — you take the verse inside you and you know it at a deeper level than if you had simply read it off some device. What you have in your heart is easier to access and apply to your life in spontaneous situations. You won’t have to open a copy of it or turn on your device for that.

Qur'an holds so much wisdom in it that keeping it in your heart will make you a wise person as well.

Obviously, memorization doesn’t only mean to save it in your heart but also to absorb it deep within. So much so that Qur'an could be seen on you. People could tell, just by looking at you, that you have memorized the Qur'an or a part of it.

"The character of Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam was the Quran," as narrated by Aisha radhiAllahu anha.

The more you memorize, the higher your rank with Allah.

"Recite and rise up, and be increased in reward with every Ayah." [Tirmidhi]

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. [Qur'an Al-Kahf 18:10]

May Allah make us of those who truly love the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassalllam, those who will follow his sunnah, those who will be raised up with him on Day of Judgment, those who will drink from his blessed hands and those who He will admit with him into Paradise.

Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Never Despair

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We can be overwhelmed when we look at what's happening around us and around the world. The more you watch the news the more likely you can be depressed. As Muslims, we are more likely to be depressed when we watch the news unless we look at the light that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala has gifted us with. That light is His beloved Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace.

يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ قَدْ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا كُنتُمْ تُخْفُونَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَيَعْفُوا۟ عَن كَثِيرٍ ۚ قَدْ جَآءَكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّـهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَـٰبٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿١٥

O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Now has come to you Our Messenger (Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wassallam) explaining to you much of that which you used to hide from the Scripture and pass over (i.e. leaving out without explaining) much. Indeed, there has come to you from Allah a light (Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wassallam) and a clear Book (this Qur'an). (15) Wherewith Allah guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His Will unto light and guides them to a Straight Way (Islamic Monotheism) (16)

[Qur'an, Al-Mai'dah 5:16]

The Qur'an manifests guidance and it clarifies guidance. The light embodies that guidance and he shows us how we can live that guidance. The light in itself is luminous and it illuminates the way for all who seek guidance. He defines Allah's message so perfectly, "I am only sent to perfect noble character (human potential)" because he saw the good in people.

If we look at the life of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam and how he responded to crisis, it gives us clarity on how we should respond to the circumstance we are in. His role was not to be a critic or a religious commentator, but to be someone who is building and nurturing the good and responding in the manner that pleases the Creator and how to make things better.

When we look at any crisis, whether it relates to our own life crisis or others, we need to put things in perspective. That perspective has an aspect that relates to Allah and another aspect that relates to Allah's creation. Look at the crisis with the eye of faith. Nothing that happens is independent of Allah.

Allah created us and everything. He is Al-Hayy Al-Qayyum, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence.

قُلْ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّـهِ ۖ فَمَالِ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ٱلْقَوْمِ لَا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ حَدِيثًا ﴿٧٨ ...

... Say, "All [things] are from Allah." So what is [the matter] with those people that they can hardly understand any statement? (78)

[Qur'an, An=Nisa' 4:78]

وَٱللَّـهُ خَلَقَكُمْ وَمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٩٦

While Allah created you and that which you do?" (96)

[Qur'an, As-Saffat 37:96]

قُلِ ٱللَّـهُ خَـٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَهُوَ ٱلْوَٰحِدُ ٱلْقَهَّـٰرُ ﴿١٦ ...

Say, "Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Prevailing." (16)

[Qur'an, Ar-R'ad 13:16]

... ٱللَّـهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ

Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth...

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:255]

The second aspect is that this world is the world of responsibility. Others have responsibility and we have responsibility -- we hold others accountable for what they are responsible for and we hold ourselves accountable for what we are responsible for -- which is to conduct ourselves in the manner acceptable to Allah, pleasing to Allah or beloved to Allah. These are the three levels of a believer. You want to be acceptable to Allah, pleasing to Allah or beloved to Allah. This is what life is all about.

We need to look at things the right way. Nothing happens in existence except by Allah decreeing it and in it destiny is unfolding. Yet human beings are responsible and we hold people responsible for their choices and we demand justice and and right conduct from them. At the same time we demand right response from ourselves.

When we put things in this perspective, we can never despair because hope and fear relates to faith. We do not hope from creation but we hope from the Creator. The Prophetic attitude is one of extreme hope, clarity and confidence because his hope was never in his strength, his abilities and his resources (his people, his alliances, etc) but in Allah. He did not fear anyone except Allah.

Don't feel sorrow. Don't despair. Getting frustrated doesn't make something still begin to move. Groaning and complaining is not the Sunnah, rather it goes against faith because one of the pillars of iman (faith) is that you believe in destiny as it unfolds, and that both good and bad are from Allah.

We have no objection to the way things are as they relate to Allah. It is all a test. Allah is the One who created both life and death as trial. You look at situation and ask yourself "What is my responsibility, individually and collectively?"

Stop watching the news. If you are concern, seek to gather some bricks and start building. Come together with your community to raise awareness and have a clear strategy. If you can't do something on your own, assist those who are doing it.

Instead of being a spectator to life, be in the footsteps of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam. Grab the light that has come to us from Allah.

May Allah guide the ummah and enable us to make things better for ourselves and others and enable us to always pursue the good for others as grateful servants of Allah. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Don't Be A Donkey

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We know that all praise and gratitude belongs to Allah alone (Alhamdulillah) and we know that Allah is the Lord of the Worlds (Rabb Al-'Alamin) and we know that Allah is the Most Merciful (Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim). This knowledge should lead us to action -- worship Allah. The result of knowledge is slavehood. Allah is the Master and we are His slaves. A slave does what his master wants him to do, not what the slave wants to do. But how many a time we hear or see people doing things in opposition to what God wants, as if this world belong to them, as if they are not going to die, as if when they die, everything will be good for them even though they have disobeyed God in this life.

The previous Divine Book, Torah, described the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, almost with the same qualities as are described in the Qur'an, which required that as soon as the Jews saw the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, they should have recognized him and believed in him. But the material position and possessions blinded them to the teachings of Torah. Despite their knowledge of Torah, they acted as practical ignoramus. Allah described such block-headed behavior with the example of a donkey loaded with weighty tomes. The donkey carries its loads, but it is neither aware of its subject-matter, nor does it benefit by it.

مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا۟ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ ٱلْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًۢا ۚ بِئْسَ مَثَلُ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّـهِ ۚ وَٱللَّـهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿٥

The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not take it on is like that of a donkey who carries volumes [of books]. Wretched is the example of the people who deny the signs of Allah. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. (5)

[Qur'an Al-Jumu'a 62:5]

Commentators have stated that the example given by the verse for Jews applies to any religious scholar who does not act upon his knowledge.

A Persian poet has put it thus:
He is neither a scholar, nor a knowledgeable person.
He is but an animal of four legs, carrying the load of some books

May Allah guide us and our families on the straight path, increase us in beneficial knowledge and make us act upon the knowledge, and make us of those who revive the Sunnah of His beloved Messenger, sallallahu alayhi wassallam. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

Precious Guidance

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Allah taught us to ask for guidance over and over again. That is because we are desperate for Allah's guidance. When you have guidance from Allah, all of a sudden you are transformed and become successful. So the number one thing you should ask Allah for, is guidance.

Guidance from Allah is very precious so much so that Allah obligates us to ask for it in every prayer and in every cycles of every prayer.

ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦

Guide us to the straight path - (6)

[Qur'an, Al Fatihah 1:6]

Guidance is not the same as knowledge. It does not increase with knowledge. In fact, knowledge can backfire -- your behavior is bad, your prayers are empty, you become proud. There are examples of this kind of people in the Qur'an:

مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا۟ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ ٱلْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًۢا ۚ بِئْسَ مَثَلُ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّـهِ ۚ وَٱللَّـهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿٥

The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not take it on is like that of a donkey who carries volumes [of books]. Wretched is the example of the people who deny the signs of Allah. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. (5)

[Qur'an Al-Jumu'a 62:5]

Don't make knowledge become a fashion. Knowledge is supposed to humble you. When a tree bears fruit, its branches come down. When you have knowledge you will come down. You will make sajda (prostration) more. If you are not like this, beg Allah for guidance, beg Allah for transformation.

May Allah guide us, our families, our teachers and the entire ummah. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam

What Their Breasts Conceal Is Greater

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

We are surrounded by people who can hurt you, whether they are non-Muslims or Muslims with hypocritical behavior. And when they are your close friends or relatives, it can take you off guard. It shouldn't surprise you if they turn enemies. Indeed, they can be your worst enemies. All this is what the Muslims can see for themselves, but the venom that lies hidden in their hearts is far too fatal.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا بِطَانَةً مِّن دُونِكُمْ لَا يَأْلُونَكُمْ خَبَالًا وَدُّوا مَا عَنِتُّمْ قَدْ بَدَتِ الْبَغْضَاءُ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَمَا تُخْفِي صُدُورُهُمْ أَكْبَرُ ۚ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿١١٨

O you who have believed, do not take as intimates those other than yourselves, for they will not spare you [any] ruin. They wish you would have hardship. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater. We have certainly made clear to you the signs, if you will use reason. (118)

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:118]

It has been enjoined upon Muslims that they should not take persons other than those from their own community as confidants and advisers, in a way that leads one into spilling the sensitive secrets of one's own government, community or state.

We have been told that:

هَا أَنتُمْ أُولَاءِ تُحِبُّونَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِبُّونَكُمْ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْكِتَابِ كُلِّهِ وَإِذَا لَقُوكُمْ قَالُوا آمَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا عَضُّوا عَلَيْكُمُ الْأَنَامِلَ مِنَ الْغَيْظِ ۚ قُلْ مُوتُوا بِغَيْظِكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ ﴿١١٩

Here you are loving them but they are not loving you, while you believe in the Scripture - all of it. And when they meet you, they say, "We believe." But when they are alone, they bite their fingertips at you in rage. Say, "Die in your rage. Indeed, Allah is Knowing of that within the breasts." (119)

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:119]

Why would an intelligent person take such people as his confidant? The mentality of disbelievers has been further clarified:

إِن تَمْسَسْكُمْ حَسَنَةٌ تَسُؤْهُمْ وَإِن تُصِبْكُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَفْرَحُوا بِهَا ۖ وَإِن تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا لَا يَضُرُّكُمْ كَيْدُهُمْ شَيْئًا ۗ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ ﴿١٢٠

If good touches you, it distresses them; but if harm strikes you, they rejoice at it. And if you are patient and fear Allah, their plot will not harm you at all. Indeed, Allah is encompassing of what they do. (120)

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:120]

How can Muslims remain protected against the hypocrites and the deadly hostility of opponents? For this, a simple and effective prescription is sabr (patience, endurance) and taqwa (fear of Allah).

The Qur'an has prescribed sabr and taqwa as an effective measure against all hardships. Sabr and taqwa contain within themselves a successful rule for all aspects of individual and collective life as well as public, government and military affairs. The promise of Divine help has been made conditional upon sabr and taqwa [Qur'an, AleImran 3:125] and prosperity and success have been made dependent on sabr and taqwa [Qur'an, AleImran 3:200; Yusuf 12:120].

No doubt, under the shade of its universal mercy, Islam has given unusual instructions to Muslims in order that they treat non-Muslims with compassion, goodwill, kindness and tolerance. A Muslim cannot be permitted to go beyond a certain limit when developing or promoting relations (unilateral, bilateral or multi-lateral) with those who disbelieve in or practice hostility against the Law of Islam.

Our Lord, 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. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam