How To Learn The Quran Effectively

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

The Quran is the Speech of Allah. The Quran is more eloquent and more blessed than anything people can say. It is similar to the superiority of Allah over any of us. The Quran is a guidance for all of mankind. The religion of Islam is not based on whims, superstitions, and desires but based upon proofs from Allah Most High. Whoever turns his face in Islam to Allah and does good, that is the one that enters the Kingdom of Allah, and no fear will be concerning them, nor will they grieve.

وَقَالُوا۟ لَن يَدْخُلَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ إِلَّا مَن كَانَ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَـٰرَىٰ ۗ تِلْكَ أَمَانِيُّهُمْ ۗ قُلْ هَاتُوا۟ بُرْهَـٰنَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ ﴿١١١﴾ بَلَىٰ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ فَلَهُۥٓ أَجْرُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿١١٢

And they say, "None will enter Paradise except one who is a Jew or a Christian." That is [merely] their wishful thinking, Say, "Produce your proof, if you should be truthful." (111) Yes [on the contrary], whoever submits his face in Islam to Allah while being a doer of good will have his reward with his Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve. (112) [Quran, 2:111-112]

Let's start learning the Quran and understand it. There are some manners in learning the Quran.

1. Begin with the right intentions

Narrated `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him),

I heard the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam saying, "The reward of deeds depends on the intentions, so whoever emigrated for the worldly benefits or to marry a woman, his emigration was for that for which he emigrated, but whoever emigrated for the Sake of Allah and His Apostle, his emigration is for Allah and His Apostle." [Bukhari]

2. Ask Allah repeatedly for knowledge

Allah Most High says,

وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًا

and say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge." [Quran, Ta-Ha 20:114]

3. Make a plan everyday to understand the Quran

A student who ask Allah to pass an exam but don't make any effort to study, will he pass the exam? If we just pray for knowlege but don't put any effort, are we sincere in the du'a?

More knowledge will strengthen our faith and it will be easier to obey Allah and make it easier to spread the knowledge in better way.

How should we ask? Like a person who hasn't eaten for a few days. Will he ask Allah once? No. He will ask again and again.

4. Use all the resources starting with the pen because Allah says,

ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ ﴿٣﴾ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ ﴿٤﴾ عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ ﴿٥

Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous - (3) Who taught by the pen - (4) Taught man that which he knew not. (5) [Quran, Al-Alaq 96:4]

When Allah says that He taught by the pen, pick up the pen immediately. You have written millions of words with your hand, now use your hand to learn Quranic Arabic and make it a habit to write down what you learn. Where do you write? Maintain a notebook (not just on pieces of paper here and there), keep a record of what you are learning, develop a small library of notebooks and books.

According to modern research writing helps you learn things effectively. You have to first read or listen to the material, think about them, and then use your eyes and fingers to write while keeping your whole body silent and focus on the task. So promise yourself that you will at least spend 5 to 10 minutes daily writing new words and grammatical forms of the new words. And do it not with laziness and boredom but with passion, devotion and sincerity. If there is any knowledge that the ummah is deficient in is the knowledge of the Quran.

5. Try to compete for the sake of Allah

تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿١﴾ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْغَفُورُ ﴿٢

Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent - (1) [He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving - (2) [Quran, Al Mulk 67:1-2]

Allah created not just to see who is a Muslim and who is not but to see who is best in deeds -- in individual works (such as prayers, homes, office, charity, character, etc) and in social works (such as, helping others, doing da'wah, enjoining good and forbiding evil, etc). So only learn for the sake of Allah and try to be a better person. Allah will reward you based on your efforts not on the results. We can never going to be perfect but our paradigm is I am going to submit wholeheartedly to Allah and if I make a mistake I am going to ask Allah for forgiveness.

Now, Shaytan is burning in rage because you are taking the first step to learn the Quran. Shaytan will try to stop you and he is very experienced in this. But don't worry, you have the support of Allah with your sincere intentions. Shaytan is ready and the angel is ready to record your good deeds.

6. Don't stop here. Bring the Quran into your life

After the study, try to visualize what you have studied, extract the du'a from the Quran, evaluate what you have studied and then spread the message. Beg Allah. He will come to you running if you walk towards Him.

May Allah grant us tawfiq. 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

Golden Advices For Students of Quran – A Poem

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

Golden Advices For Students of Quran – A Poem (translated)

Praise be to Allah,
Who preserved and provided me
And bestowed the honor of reciting the Quran upon me
And blessings upon the chosen Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
Best of mankind from the sons of ‘Adnani
This is a poem
Containing precious advice like the pearls of a necklace
I made it for him who seeks to know the verses of guidance
And organized it for those looking for guidance
I ask my Lord that He favors with completion, this piece of poem
and its meanings, with clarity
O those who seek the pathways of salvation and desire
To memorize the Quran with eagerness and dedication
I am going to present to you a blueprint
(Of advices) like jewelry made of gold ore
You will recite the Quran with ease and smoothness
And will be preserved from the ill of forgetfulness
Purify your intentions and your actions towards your Lord
And call upon Him to strengthen you
And to remove shaytan’s whispers from you
Leave the sins, small and big ones
For sin extinguishes the light of the mind
Find the shaykh with a quranic chain of narration
The trustworthy one, the generous bearer of the Quran, in your proximity
The ascetic, the pious, the radiant one
With the nobleness of manners and faith
Don’t miss a lesson of your shaykh even once
Don’t miss a lesson of your shaykh even once
And beware of carelessness and distractions
Go to his lesson if you memorized only one ayat
For regular attendance quenches the mistakes of the thirsty
After prayer, memorize 3 lines
That is after each mandatory prayer
Don’t be weak, lacking will
So in total, it is 15 lines
After each full and smiling day
The total after 6 days, my fellow
Is 90 lines, understood with clarity
At the 7th day, review the achieved
To help anchor in your mind
If you will, then only 5 verses per day of healthy prayers
So the sum will be 150 ayats
After each month, if you calculate
Review and repeat what you have memorized without boredom
And write it down with some meanings
Review with the companions when you meet them
And give advice to the brother and sisters
A recitation through a phone call even one verse
Is better than useless chat
Recite what you have memorized during your nightly prayers
For night is the time of (Allah) the Benefactors kindness
Recite in the other prayers as well
And be grateful towards your Lord, the Most Powerful
Contemplate and look at the verses
If you have you have your eyesight
To help engraving them in your memory
Preserve your heart as much as you can from passion and inclination
Until your heart is enlightened with the Quran
And pay attention to the similar verses
For they are an aid for the memory and comprehension
The similitude in the Quran is a favor
For the passionate pondering student
And if you forget or err too much
Don’t despair, for it is from shaytan
And if you completed the memorization
Review the whole Quran in 7 days
Following the example of your human Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
Don’t ever accept praises from anyone
Don’t ever accept praises from anyone
Don’t ever accept praises from anyone
And heal yourself from the hidden shirk (riyaa’) and its evil
And purify yourself from grudges and hatred
Don’t ever accept praises from anyone or material profit
For everything is doomed to fade
Walk with the fear of God within you
And wear proper clothes
Perfume yourself with perfume
Have a siwak dried cloves in your mouth
Keeping your body clean for the sweetness of the Quran
Abandon detestable deeds, vices and disputes
Don’t look in your acts like a child
Don’’t recite in wicked places
Like places of people of perversion and disobedience
Don’t bed with the Quran
And live by it
Like a proud man, not cowardly
And the low world of man
Suffice yourself with the Quran
And ask for aid from the Creator, the Most Merciful
The Quran wa sent down, O my people
So that you live by it
It was not revealed for marriages and funerals
O you Bearer (Memorizer) of the Quran
O your Bearer of the Quran
Read and Elevate Yourself
Recite
For you are the believer of God
In fact, you are the best men
So the chosen Prophet said
In the hadith narrated by Uthman
My Lord, forgive me if I forgot
For I am a weak servant destined to disappear
And if I was right, its thanks to You Alone, my Creator
You are the Most Generous with infinite mercy
This poem was made by Muhammad ibn abi al Hassan
Honor him O Lord of goodness and kindness
And his brothers in the “Recite and Elevate yourself” assembly
Forgive them with the intercession of the Quran
As well as every reciter and every teacher
Bestow upon them the grace of your satisfaction
As well as every reciter and every teacher
Bestow upon them the grace of your satisfaction
And salutations upon the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam)
At every moment and second of this creation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msc-eluL5Vc

May Allah shower His mercy upon the Shaykh and elevate him to the highest station. 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

Grateful For The Quran

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

The Quran was sent down by the Creator of the universe, who was always there and will always be there. We should be extremely happy that Allah Most High sent us this Book full of blessings. Therefore, we should Recite it, Understand it, Ponder it, Memorize it, Teach it, Spread it, and Take Admonition from it.

The blessed month of Ramadhan is the month of the Quran. Allah Most High wants us to ponder upon His Book.

كِتَـٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَـٰرَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوٓا۟ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿٢٩﴾

[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded. [Quran, Sad 28:29]

You don't need to ponder when you read a newspaper. You just read it once to get the message. But you must stop and ponder to understand the Book of Math or Science. Similarly, you must stop and ponder the Quran. In order to do that you have to understand it first. If we realize the greatness of the Quran we will be more motivated to ponder upon it.

So, this Ramadhan pick up a good translation and tafsir and make a point to read the Quran with understanding and ponder upon what you are reading. Perhaps by next Ramadhan you would have learned enough Arabic that you will be able to understand the Quran without translation. Inshaa Allah.

May Allah enable us to reap the full benefits of Ramadhan and blessings of the Quran. 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

Preparing For Allah's Gaze On The First Night of Ramadhan -- Pardon People

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

Make due preparation for the first night of the blessed month of Ramadhan as this is the night that Allah gazes upon His slaves.

Baihaqi relates,

“When it is the first night of the month of Ramadhan, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, gazes to them and the one to whom Allah looks, He does not punish him, ever.”

Some people are cognizant of the Divine gaze and are affected by it whereas others remain unaware and unaffected.

The place to which Allah looks is the heart. So what will Allah see in your and my heart if He were to look to us on the first night of Ramadhan?

One of the qualities that would prevent us from this blessed gaze (and from many other opportunities for forgiveness) is malice. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) taught us of the Night of Power and the Half Night of Sha’ban that those who harbor rancor, mistreat parents, severe bonds of kinship or drink are prevented from Allah’s merciful gaze.

We can purify our hearts in preparation for this gaze from the Merciful, Forgiving Lord and also expose ourselves to an opportunity for His pardon when we need it most, by pardoning His servants.

Allah Most High says in Surah Ash-Shura,

وَجَزَ‌ٰٓؤُا۟ سَيِّئَةٍ سَيِّئَةٌ مِّثْلُهَا ۖ فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُهُۥ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿٤٠

And the retribution for an evil act is an evil one like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation - his reward is [due] from Allah. Indeed, He does not like wrongdoers. [Quran, Ash-Shura 42:40]

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A caller will call [on the Day of Rising], ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter paradise’ Then he will call a second time, ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter paradise’ It will be said, ‘Who is the one whose reward is upon Allah, Mighty and Majestic?’ He will say, ‘Those who pardon people.’ Then he will call a third time, ‘Let him stand whose reward is upon Allah and let him enter paradise.’ Then so and so many thousand will stand and enter paradise without reckoning." Imagine being among that fortunate group and having all of our many sins forgiven and receiving our reward directly from Allah!

In preparation for the blessed first night of Ramadhan and that day in which each of us will meet Allah, let us pardon one another and all of Allah's servants.

O Allah, if any of Your slaves have transgressed the rights You have prescribed to me, they are excused. I ask you to grant them and me Paradise, and that You make us among its dwellers whom You have described in the Quran,

وَنَزَعْنَا مَا فِى صُدُورِهِم مِّنْ غِلٍّ إِخْوَ‌ٰنًا عَلَىٰ سُرُرٍ مُّتَقَـٰبِلِينَ ﴿٤٧﴾ لَا يَمَسُّهُمْ فِيهَا نَصَبٌ وَمَا هُم مِّنْهَا بِمُخْرَجِينَ ﴿٤٨

And We will remove whatever is in their breasts of resentment, [so they will be] brothers, on thrones facing each other. (47) No fatigue will touch them therein, nor from it will they [ever] be removed. (48)[Quran, Al-Hijr 15:47]

وَٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَ‌بَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ‌ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَ‌ٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِى قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ رَ‌بَّنَآ إِنَّكَ رَ‌ءُوفٌ رَّ‌حِيمٌ

...Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful. [Qur'an, Al-Hashr 59:10]

May Allah not deprive us of any of the gifts that are bestowed on this great night. May He give us the ability to seek His pleasure by praying to Him and seeking His forgiveness in this night. We ask that Allah decrees for us all that is good and deflects from us all that is harmful.

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

Prepare For Ramadhan -- Do Lots of Istighfar

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

What will be your state on the last day of Sha’ban? Make sure you end Sha’ban in the best of states, for Allah, the Exalted, records the rewards that we will receive and the supererogatory actions that we will perform before Ramadhan enters. Allah, the Exalted, also records the bad deeds and the wretchedness of those that will be deprived the blessings of Ramadhan.

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) ascended the minbar and said: “Ameen, Ameen, Ameen.” It was said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, you ascended the minbar and said, ‘Ameen, Ameen, Ameen.” He said: “Jibreel (peace be upon him) came to me and said: ‘If Ramadhan comes and a person is not forgiven, he will enter Hell and Allah will cast him far away. Say Ameen.’ So I said Ameen. He said: ‘O Muhammad, if both or one of a person’s parents are alive and he does not honor them and he dies, he will enter Hell and Allah will cast him far away. Say Ameen.’ So I said Ameen. He said: ‘If you are mentioned in a person’s presence and he does not send blessings upon you and he dies, he will enter Hell and Allah will cast him far away. Say Ameen.’ So I said Ameen.” [Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan]

How unfortunate and miserable are these three kinds of people against whom Jibreel has supplicated that they be turned away from the Mercy of Allah, and the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) has said, 'Ameen,' for this supplication.


اللهمَّ إنَّكَ عَفُوٌ تُحِبُّ العَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنَّا

Allahumma innaka `afuwun tuhibbu-l’`afwa f`afwa `anna

O Allah, truly You are all-Pardoning, You love to pardon so pardon us.”[Ahmad, Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi]

May Allah enable us to reach Ramadhan and grant us the biggest portion of all goodness and make Ramadhan a cause of rectification and the removal of tribulations.

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

Strengthening Our Relationship With The Quran

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

The Quran is healing, guidance and mercy for the believers.

Allah Most High says in Surah Yunus,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَآءٌ لِّمَا فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٥٧﴾ قُلْ بِفَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِۦ فَبِذَ‌ٰلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا۟ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ ﴿٥٨

O mankind, there has to come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers. (57) Say, "In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy - in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate." (58) [Quran, Yunus 10:57-58]

Every Muslim know the importance of reciting the Quran. There is so much reward in reciting the Quran.

The Quran will come on the Day of Judgment to intercede for the one who recite it.

Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: One who was devoted to the Quran will be told to recite, ascend and recite carefully as he recited carefully when he was in the world, for he will reach his abode when he comes to the last verse he recites. [Abu Dawood]

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: One who is skilled in the Quran is associated with the noble, upright recording angels, and he who falters when he recites the Quran and finds it difficult for him will have a double reward. [Abu Dawood]

The Quran is an extraordinary Book then there is extraordinary etiquette in reciting it. We are reading the Book of Allah, not a newspaper or any scholar's book. The early salaf used to choose the right place and the right time to recite it. They prepared themselves before they recited the Quran -- take wudu', use miswak, brush teeth, freshen the mouth, face the qibla.

Choose a place of solitude where you are able to concentrate while reading. Not with TV or music on. Not lying on the bed. Turn off or silent the phone so you won't be distracted.

The middle of the night in solatul tahajjud is one of the best times to bond with the Quran and create a link with Allah.

Start your day with salatul fajr, zikr and read the Book of Allah

أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَو‌ٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَقُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا ﴿٧٨

Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed. [Quran, Al Isra' 17:18]

To read 20-30 minutes of Quran in the morning is not difficult to attain peace and tranquility.

The two integrals in regards to the etiquitte in reciting the Quran:
1. Tarteel -- calm composed measured manner, recite every letter as it ought to be recited with proper implementation of the rules tajweed.
2. Taddabur -- reflecting and pondering upon the verses

Unfortunately people spent years to obtain a degree, they know about politics, they are up to date with current technology, but they cannot read Quran. Some have spent a life of 50 or 60 years but they cannot learn how to recite the Book of Allah. That is very sad.

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, "The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it." [Al Bukhari]

Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peac) said, "Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah, he will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a ten-fold reward. I do not say that Alif-Lam-Mim is one letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter." [At- Tirmidhi].

The actual relationship we have with the Quran is when we are standing in prayer and reciting it, and when we are standing behind an imam and listening to it being recited. Our relationship with the Quran happens five times a day at least. If somebody's prayer is good, his Quran is good, and if someone is not engaging with the Quran in his prayers, then his relationship with the Quran is entirely superficial. If we want our prayers to benefit us, we should know and realize what we are doing at each step.

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَآ ﴿٢٤

Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts? [Quran, Muhammad 47:24]

The stories in the Quran are not just stories as stories are for entertainment. Quran is for guidance. So we should take lessons from these stories.

Allocate some time everyday to listen to the Quran. Listening to the Quran is an act of ibadah. When the qari or imam recite from the hearts, it affects our hearts. There should be more time to listen to the Quran than listen to the news or nasyids. Give Quran more attention.

May Allah help us bond with the Book of Allah. 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

Preparing For Ramadhan -- Perform Extra Prayers

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

Voluntary sunnah prayers are great means to draw closer to Allah Most High. If you have no missed obligatory prayers to make up, start to pray voluntary sunnah prayers to prepare yourself for the extra prayers that take place in Ramadhan. If you do have missed obligatory prayers, use the time you would give to the sunnah prayers to make some of them up.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah blessings and peace be upon him)said that Allah (mighty and sublime be He) said:

“Whosoever shows enmity to someone devoted to Me, I shall be at war with him. My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it. I do not hesitate about anything as much as I hesitate about [seizing] the soul of My faithful servant: he hates death and I hate hurting him." [It was related by al-Bukhari.]

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:
" إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَالَ: مَنْ عَادَى لِي وَلِيًّا، فَقَدْ آذَنْتُهُ بِالْحَرْبِ، وَمَا تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ عَبْدِي بِشَيْءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ، وَمَا يَزَالُ عَبْدِي يَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيَّ بِالنَّوَافِلِ حَتَّى أُحِبَّهُ، فَإِذَا أَحْبَبْتُهُ، كُنْتُ سَمْعَهُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ بِهِ، وَبَصَرَهُ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ بِهِ، وَيَدَهُ الَّتِي يَبْطِشُ بِهَا، وَرِجْلَهُ الَّتِي يَمْشِي بِهَا، وَإِنْ سَأَلَنِي لَأُعْطِيَنَّهُ، وَلَئِنْ اسْتَعَاذَنِي لَأُعِيذَنَّهُ، وَمَا تَرَدَّدْتُ عَنْ شَيْءٍ أَنَا فَاعِلُهُ تَرَدُّدِي عَنْ نَفْسِ عَبْدِي الْمُؤْمِنِ، يَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ وَأَنَا أَكْرَهُ مَسَاءَتَهُ"
رواه البخاري


May Allah increase us in worship and bring us closer to Him. 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

Preparing For Ramadhan -- Increase Quran Recitation Starting With Surah Kahf Today (Friday)

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

The blessed month of Ramadhan is just around the corner. When we talked about Ramadhan, the first thing that comes to most minds is fasting for 29 or 30 days. We think of Ramadhan as the month of fasting but Allah wants us to think of it as the month of the Quran. The month of Ramadhan is a celebration of Muslim identity as people of Quran.

The purpose of fasting is taqwa (to protect oneself from Hellfire).

Allah Most High says,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿١٨٣

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous - (183) [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:183]

However, the purpose of Ramadhan is different than fasting. It is to make it easy for us to build taqwa with the guidance of the Quran.

Allah Most High says,

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ ۚ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ ٱلشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ ۖ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ ۗ يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٨٥

The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful. (185) [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:185]

If you don’t have a habit of reading the Quran daily, take this as an opportunity to incorporate that habit into your life. This will enable you to read longer sections of the Quran during Ramadhan. Even if doing a complete reading of the Quran during Ramadhan is too difficult, making a habit of reading one page or even a few verses a day will bring many blessings during the holy month and afterwards, as the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: “The most beloved of actions to Allah are the most consistent ones, even if in little amount.”

Start today by reading Surah Kahf, a surah that Muslims recite every Friday following the practice of the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam.

May Allah enable us to reach Ramadhan and make it the best Ramadhan for us and our families. 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

Attracting The Blessings Of The Quran During The Lockdown

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

The Quran is blessed. Allah Most High says,

وَهَـٰذَا كِتَـٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ مُبَارَكٌ فَٱتَّبِعُوهُ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ ﴿١٥٥

And this [Qur'an] is a Book We have revealed [which is] blessed, so follow it and fear Allah that you may receive mercy. [Quran, Al-An'Am 6:155]

The Quran is blessed. The night in which it was revealed becomes better than 1000 months.

إِنَّآ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ فِى لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِ ﴿١﴾ وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ ﴿٢﴾ لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ ﴿٣

Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree. (1) And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree? (2) The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. (3) [Quran, Al-Qadr 97:1-3]

The Quran is blessed. The month in which it was revealed becomes the best month (Ramadhan).

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ

The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:185]

Start preparing to receive the blessed month of Ramadhan.

The Quran is blessed. The Messenger to whom it was revealed is the seal of the Prophethood with the best character. In the Quran, Allah praises the Prophet's high standard of moral excellence:

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿٤

And indeed, you are of a great moral character. [Quran, Al-Qalam 68:4]

The Quran has changed the history of the world and the Companions who received the Quran became the leaders of the world within 100 years. Allah recorded in the Quran that He is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him.

وَٱلسَّـٰبِقُونَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَـٰنٍ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى تَحْتَهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ﴿١٠٠

And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment. [Quran, At-Tawbah 9:100]

For almost 1000 years Muslims retained global leadership in all spheres of life.

Allah Most High tells us the purpose of the revelation is for reflection and reminder. Allah Most High says,

كِتَـٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَـٰرَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوٓا۟ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿٢٩

[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded. {Quran, Sad 38:29]

We should be grateful that Allah sent down the Quran for us. Therefore we should recite, understand, ponder, memorize and spread the Quran. If we want to receive the barakah (blessings) of the Quran, we should do these two things -- reflect upon it and heed the reminder. In order to be able to reflect upon the verses we have to understand them first. So take immediate steps to learn the language of the Quran. Meanwile, use a good translation and tafsir.

May Allah make us of people of understanding and grant us the blessings of the Quran. 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

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Alhamdulillah For The Quran

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

For Muslims, Friday is highlighted by the recitation of Surah Al-Kahf. This is from the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wasallam. He, sallallau alayhi wasallam, was reported to have said,

"Whoever recites Surah al-Kahf on Friday, a light shall shine forth for him between the two Fridays,”

"Whoever recites Surah al-Kahf as it was revealed, will have a light on the Day of Resurrection.”

"One who recites Surah al-Kahf on the day of Jumu'ah will remain protected from every fitnah. And if Dajjal appears, he will stay safe against the trying challenges released by him as well."

The Surah is very blessed and contains many benefits for us. We should try our best to not miss reciting this Surah on Fridays. Contemplate over its meanings as well, so that we may derive full benefits from it.

Allah Most High begins the Surah with Alhamdulillah. One part of Alhamdulillah is that you thank Allah and the second part is that you appreciate (praise) Allah.

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ ﴿١﴾ قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا ﴿٢﴾ مَّـٰكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًا ﴿٣

[All] praise and thanks is [due] to Allah, who has sent down upon His Servant the Book and has not made therein any deviance. (1) [He has made it] straight, to warn of severe punishment from Him and to give good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a good reward (2) In which they will remain forever (3) [Quran, Al-Kahf 18:1-3]

In this Surah, Allah Most High reminds us again that the everlasting abode is the Aakhirah (Hereafter).

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. [Quran, al-Kahf 18:46]

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.

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.

Alhamdulillah (All praise and thanks to Allah) for the Qur'an, a guidance for the believers and those conscious of Allah. [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:1-2]

So let's make a habit of reading a portion of the Quran everyday and thank Allah for this gift of the Quran.

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

Protecting and Boosting Your Most Precious Thing in Life

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

The most precious thing in our lives is not our jobs, our homes, our wealth, our circle of influence, our titles, not even our families or our health. It is our Faith (Iman). Because our Faith is our key to Paradise, our eternal home. And so, we should protect it for our dear life.

Whoever dies believing in the Oneness of Allah and believing in His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, will go to Paradise sooner or later. A person who died in Faith might go to Hell first because of his sins for not doing the deeds of Islam but his eventual abode is Paradise inshaa Allah. But don't plan to go even a slight detour to Hell because any amount of time in Hell is something we cannot imagine--the terror, the fear, the pain. Plus our iman is not sitting around without any enemy. There is an enemy who wants our Iman. That enemy is called shaytan (devil). Allah Most High says in Surah Al-Baqarah,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ فِى ٱلسِّلْمِ كَآفَّةً وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَ‌ٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٢٠٨

O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. [Quran, Al Baqarah 2:208]

The shaytan doesn't really care about many things you do. He doesn't care if you womanize, fornicate, drink, gamble, waste your time, screaming at your parents. He is only after one thing--your Iman. He is forever lurking to steal your Iman from your heart so you go to Hell and stay in Hell with him forever. He put doubts in your heart. He gives you ideas. Everything he does is to push you to the limits to get something he really wants from you-- your Iman.

What is your defense against the shaytan? We have no defense against the shaytan except for the actions of Islam and staying away from disobedience. Allah Most High says in Surah Al-Hijr,

قَالَ رَبِّ بِمَآ أَغْوَيْتَنِى لَأُزَيِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَأُغْوِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿٣٩﴾ إِلَّا عِبَادَكَ مِنْهُمُ ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ ﴿٤٠﴾ قَالَ هَـٰذَا صِرَ‌ٰطٌ عَلَىَّ مُسْتَقِيمٌ ﴿٤١﴾ إِنَّ عِبَادِى لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَـٰنٌ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَكَ مِنَ ٱلْغَاوِينَ ﴿٤٢﴾ وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمَوْعِدُهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ ﴿٤٣﴾ لَهَا سَبْعَةُ أَبْوَ‌ٰبٍ لِّكُلِّ بَابٍ مِّنْهُمْ جُزْءٌ مَّقْسُومٌ ﴿٤٤﴾ إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّـٰتٍ وَعُيُونٍ ﴿٤٥﴾ ٱدْخُلُوهَا بِسَلَـٰمٍ ءَامِنِينَ ﴿٤٦

[Iblees] said, "My Lord, because You have put me in error, I will surely make [disobedience] attractive to them on earth, and I will mislead them all (39) Except, among them, Your chosen servants." (40) [Allah] said, "This is a path [of return] to Me [that is] straight. (41) Indeed, My servants - no authority will you have over them, except those who follow you of the deviators. (42) And indeed, Hell is the promised place for them all. (43) It has seven gates; for every gate is of them a portion designated." (44) Indeed, the righteous will be within gardens and springs. (45) [Having been told], "Enter it in peace, safe [and secure]." (46) [Quran, Al Hijr 15:39-46]

The most important of the actions of Islam are the obligations of Islam such as the five daily prayers, fasting, zakat, hajj, good treatment of parents, seeking knowledge, and staying away from disobedience (such as lying, stealing, fornication, adultery, backbiting, slander, gambling, earning unlawful income, eating haram, showing nakedness, etc). These obligations need to always be strengthened and they should be surrounded with other good actions such as sunnah prayers, reading the Quran and other dhikr of Allah, du'as, charity, keeping wudu' at all times, humility, haya', develop good character, etc, so that shaytan will have a hard time getting through them and enter our hearts. We seek refuge with Allah from the accursed shaytan.

There are amazing blessings of Faith. Faith is related to success in life. Faith in Allah gives us postive attitude, gratitude, very strong degree of determination, preseverance and patience, and trust in Allah. The stronger the Faith the stronger these qualities. In order to develop Faith, make sure we read and learn the Quran and its Tafsir, study the Seerah and Hadith.

This lockdown is definitely the best time to put up all the defenses available to us in order to protect and boost our Iman. Inshaa Allah by the time the lockdown is lifted, we will come out with strong defenses against Shaytan and continue to strengthen them until we meet Allah.

May Allah grant us tawfiq and 'afiyah always. 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

Looking Beyond Coronavirus Pandemic

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

While we are in our homes, engage in much 'ibadah and learning beneficial knowledge. Minimize contact with other people. Switch off your phones for that matter and spend quality time with your family. Read, learn, and memorize the Quran and do as many khatam of the Quran with your family. Write down a daily schedule so it is not left to chance. Pray the five daily prayers with your family in congregation. The family that prays together will stick together inshaa Allah.

The pandemic is a wake up call for everyone. Allah is giving us the opportunity for retrospection and for correction thereafter. So set a time to ponder and ask ourselves, "What is wrong in my life? Am I conducting myself in a manner a Muslim should? Have I continued to wrong others? Have I been mistreating or disrespectful to my parents? Have I wronged my spouse, my siblings, my employees, or other people, the animals and the environment? Am I treating people around me as I should? Are there people that I should make amends with? Are there any mistakes that I should mend now?" Be honest to yourself and really ask these questions to yourself and take the steps to correct them.

Don't engage in bickering about this and that. Focus upon ourselves. While we are inculcating the habit of reading the Quran and doing khatams, praying tahajjud, dhuha, rawatib and other sunnah prayers, fasting, asbstaining from riba (usury/interest) and other haram (prohibitions), let's not let our hearts forget the joy of going to the masjid, praying in congregation and saying "Aameen" behind the Imam, the joy of attending the gatherings of ilm and dhikr. Maintain our collective memories of what it means to worship Allah in the manner Muslims do. When the day comes and the restrictions are removed, inshaa Allah, we will go to the masjid, we will go to the gatherings of knowledge and remembrance of Allah, we won't let people beg us to come to the masjid, we will continue to help people and have concern for other people's needs, we will visit the sick, we will maintain good personal hygiene, and we will help keep our environment clean.

When we emerge back into the society in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, let us emerge as new individuals, ready to serve our communities and ready to continue the mission of the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam. We take up the task of filling up the masjids without anyone having to ask us to do so, answer to the call of adhan and better still be at the masjid before the azan is called.

May Allah forgive and pardon all our sins and relieve everyone from this pandemic quickly. May Allah answer the du'as of the righteous, the needy and the weak. May Allah cure the sick and grant us good in this life and save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next. 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

Hadith On Black Seed, A Cure For Every Disease Except Death

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

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"Use this black seed. For indeed it contains a cure for every disease except As-Sam" And As-Sam is death.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ عَلَيْكُمْ بِهَذِهِ الْحَبَّةِ السَّوْدَاءِ فَإِنَّ فِيهَا شِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ إِلاَّ السَّامَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَالسَّامُ الْمَوْتُ ‏
[At-Tirmidhi]

Narrated Abu Huraira (May Allah be pleased with him):

I heard Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) saying, "There is healing in black cumin for all diseases except death."

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ عُقَيْلٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ، وَسَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، أَنَّ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، أَخْبَرَهُمَا أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ فِي الْحَبَّةِ السَّوْدَاءِ شِفَاءٌ مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ إِلاَّ السَّامَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ شِهَابٍ وَالسَّامُ الْمَوْتُ، وَالْحَبَّةُ السَّوْدَاءُ الشُّونِيزُ‏.‏
[Al Bukhari]

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

How Wonderful Is The Affair Of The Believer

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

With all the precautions we must take to avoid spreading and getting infected by Coronavirus, the reality is that Allah has decreed Coronavirus pandemic for us in this time. If we receive it with awareness of Him, patience, and knowledge that nothing will happen except what Allah has written and willed it upon us, then it’s all good.

Prophet Muhammad ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him. (Muslim)

Allah Most High says in Surah At-Tawbah,

قُل لَّن يُصِيبَنَا إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ اللهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَانَا وَعَلَى اللهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ

Say, "Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector." And upon Allah let the believers rely. [Quran, At-Tawbah 9:51]

On the authority of Abu Abbas Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:

One day I was behind the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) [riding on the same mount] and he said, “O young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice]: Be mindful of Allah and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, then ask Allah [alone]; and if you seek help, then seek help from Allah [alone]. And know that if the nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, they would not benefit you except with what Allah had already prescribed for you. And if they were to gather together to harm you with anything, they would not harm you except with what Allah had already prescribed against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.” It was related by at-Tirmidhi, who said it was a good and sound hadeeth. Another narration, other than that of Tirmidhi, reads: Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. Recognize and acknowledge Allah in times of ease and prosperity, and He will remember you in times of adversity. And know that what has passed you by [and you have failed to attain] was not going to befall you, and what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and hardship with ease. [40 Hadith Nawawi 19]

Narrated `Aisha:

(the wife of the Prophet) I asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about the plague. He told me that it was a Punishment sent by Allah on whom he wished, and Allah made it a source of mercy for the believers, for if one in the time of an epidemic plague stays in his country patiently hoping for Allah's Reward and believing that nothing will befall him except what Allah has written for him, he will get the reward of a martyr." [al-Bukhari 3474]

We ask Allah to forgive all our sins, and grant us all beautiful patience and true 'afiyah (well being). May Allah cure all those who are sick quickly.

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.

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

Quran Reflection -- Take Care of Yourselves and Stop Wrongdoing

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

Allah Most High says in Surah al Ma'idah

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ لَا يَضُرُّكُم مَّن ضَلَّ إِذَا ٱهْتَدَيْتُمْ ۚ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٠٥

O you who have believed, upon you is [responsibility for] yourselves. Those who have gone astray will not harm you when you have been guided. To Allah is you return all together; then He will inform you of what you used to do. [Quran, Al Ma'ida 5:105]

Narrated Abu Bakr As-Siddiq:

"O you people! You recite this Ayah: Take care of yourselves! If you follow the guidance no harm shall come to you from those who are astray (5:105). I indeed heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: 'When the people see the wrongdoer, and they do not stop him (from doing wrong), then it is soon that Allah shall envelope you in a punishment from Him.'"

عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّكُمْ تَقْرَءُونَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ ‏:‏ ‏(‏ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ لاَ يَضُرُّكُمْ مَنْ ضَلَّ إِذَا اهْتَدَيْتُمْ ‏)‏ وَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏"‏ إِنَّ النَّاسَ إِذَا رَأَوْا ظَالِمًا فَلَمْ يَأْخُذُوا عَلَى يَدَيْهِ أَوْشَكَ أَنْ يَعُمَّهُمُ اللَّهُ بِعِقَابٍ مِنْهُ ‏"‏

[Sunan Abi Dawood]

You need to spread the Truth but it is up to people to follow it or not. There is no sin on you if they are misguided as long as you are not misguided.

رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ ﴿٨﴾ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ ٱلنَّاسِ لِيَوْمٍ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ ﴿٩

Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower. Our Lord, surely You will gather the people for a Day about which there is no doubt. Indeed, Allah does not fail in His promise.

[Quran, Aleimran 3:8-9]

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