Witness | Choosing the Path of Struggle- Reflections Ramadan 28

It's the end of the month. We have prayed, we have enjoyed, we have struggled and we have been patient. We've done a bit of everything.
What now? Know that Allah has witnessed everything you did, and He, subhana wa ta'ala, tells us in the Qur'an what to continue doing, in Surah Muzammil:

Verily, your Lord knows that you do stand [in prayer at night] a little less than two-thirds of the night, or one-half of it, or a third of it, and also a party of those with you. And Allah measures the night and the day. He knows that you are unable to pray the whole night so He has turned to you in mercy.

So recite you of the Qur’an as much as is easy for you.

He knows that there will be some among you sick, other's travelling through the land, seeking of Allah's bounty, yet others fighting in Allah's cause. So recite as much of the Qur’an as may be easy for you, and perform Salah, and give Zakah, and lend to Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good deed you may offer up in your own behalf, you shall truly find it with Allah-better and richer in reward.
And [always] seek forgiveness of Allah.
Verily, Allah is much-forgiving, Most Merciful!

[73:20]

How do you know, if you are on the path of struggle? How do you know that you are "passing" the trials and tribulations of this dunya? Or, how do you make sure that your actions will definitely lead to success and the attainment of Paradise? The answer is in Surah Balad.

And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road? - The Path of struggle [90:12]

• [It is] the freeing of one's neck [from the burden of sin] /slave[90:13]
• or the feeding, upon a day of [one's own] hunger, [90:14]
• of an orphan near of kin, [90:15]
• or of a needy [stranger] lying in the dust – [90:16]
• and being, withal, of those who have attained to faith, and who
  enjoin upon one another patience in adversity, and enjoin upon one another compassion. [90:17]

Such are they that have attained to righteousness;
whereas those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages – they are such as have lost themselves in evil, [with] fire closing in upon them. [90:18-20]

May Allah (swt) forgive us, and accept from us, and make us witness another Ramadan.

Qur'an made easy | Taraweeh tips | After death- Reflections Ramadan 26

The Holy Qur'an has many verses that are repeated a few times, either in the same chapter, or in different chapters.
Then why of the favours of thy Lord will you deny is one such ayah, which Hafsa reflected upon a couple of days ago.
The ayah below is repeated 4 times in Surah Qamar:

وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ

And We have indeed made the Qur'an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?

To me, this ayah is very reassuring, especially since I've been studying Arabic Grammar for over a year now, without much progress!
Speaking of that, here are a few tips that help me concentrate in taraweeh and can be applied to any salah(for you Hammad):

• The first step is to go with the mindset that you're going to enjoy the experience. Many people assume it's going to be long, monotonous, slow recitation, etc. All this will defeat the whole purpose and let the shaitan get to you.
• Dress smart (don't go in your pjs), brush your teeth, perfume yourself (not smelling like fried food), eat light, get your coffee or whatever gives you the "punch"- The last thing you want to do is sleep through taraweeh. This adds to making the experience enjoyable. Imagine if the person next to you smelt like biryani or garlic? (as many people actually do!)
• Focus on the tajweed rules. Often, the rules of tajweed help you predict what the next letter will be, and once you get used to it, you'll also be able to predict the next words as well.
• Sh Hamza mentions learning Arabic as a long-term solution, however, use whatever Arabic you do know. When the imam recites a verse with the word "naar" (fire) in it, imagine the hellfire, how hot it will be, and how it would feel to be in that fire. Similarly, learning common vocabulary is very easy. Names and attributes of Allah, nature and creations of Allah from plants to food, condemnations, winning and losing, and many others- visualise them, thank Allah for your blessings, and ask for forgiveness, as appropriate.
• Read the translation before the evening's taraweeh. Whatever you retain will be strengthened through the recitation inshallah.
• Hold a Qur'an with translation- I do it ocassionally, and it always helps me remember the translation. Of course, there's difference in opinion about this.
• Stand with your feet apart. Men do this instinctinctly, but women tend to stick their feet together. Also, take long breaths. This is very helpful.
• There are different ways of placing your arms according to the different schools of thoughts- Either by your side, folded your chest or on your waist. Vary where you place them.
• Get your spot in the first row. This minimises distractions from fidgety people and everything else! Also, it makes you more conscious of the place you're standing at.
• Encourage someone who doesn't generally attend taraweeh to go with you.
• Say salam to the person on either side of you. Often you change rows to fill the gap, so there's lots of people to say salam to. Much as every salah and nawafil is a personal spiritual experience, it's also a congregational spiritual experience. Giving salams or having a quick conversation adds a level to being aware of where you are, and brings your attention to what you are doing, rather than getting lost in thoughts of pending tasks or other worries.
• The best khushoo of course, is to pray with being conscious of Allah (swt). Make dua that Allah (swt) increases your concentration and the ability to focus.

It's the time of the month when everyone is realising how fast it went, the moon's almost disappeared, about being sad, and most importantly, thinking about how they're going to keep up with their good habits, and not go back to the bad ones. At the beginning of the month, everyone talked about how it's a blessing to be able to witness this Ramadan especially because death is uncertain.
After my experience during last Ramadan, I realised that I needed to work on ways to continue earning rewards from Allah (swt) after I die. And our beloved Prophet (pbuh) tells us how to.

Narrated Abu Hurairah (ra)
Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said, "When a person is dead, his deeds are stopped except from three:
Deeds of continuous Sadaqah [well for drinking water, orphanage, etc]

1. (Written) knowledge with which mankind gets benefit
2. A righteous, pious son or daughter who begs Allah (swt) to forgive her/his parents.

[Sahih Muslim, the Book of Wasaya]

Begging Allah (swt) to forgive one's parents is an action anyone can do anytime without any preparation, unlike the other two. So, why delay ensuring you're being rewarded until the Day of Judgement?

"After Ramadan" syndrome | Evaluate friendships- Reflections Ramadan 25

Sometime during Ramadan, either in the beginning, middle or end, many get used to saying the phrase, "inshallah, after Ramadan". Basically, people are trying to cut down on extra activities, such as phone calls and emails to focus on their worship.
However, as I've been telling my sister, if it's a task that you can postpone after Ramadan, then perhaps it's a task not worth indulging in. Far too many complain about the lack of time, yet many can't seem to let go of wasteful use of their time. Facebook is one such avenue. Hogging blog stats is another. And yet another is an irresponsible sleeping schedule (that ultimately messes you up and makes you tired towards the end).
One should ask themselves the question, "can I be doing something better with my time at this moment?".
I was talking to someone on the phone last night who complained to me how she felt bad about not being able to do much this Ramadan because of her schoolwork. And just the week before, she was @ a meeting that she could have skipped, or left early. Saving time in Ramadan for worship DOES NOT mean that you give up important tasks such as working, studying, cooking or cleaning, but rather, cutting down on everything that is extra. In fact, you are being rewarded for all the cooking and cleaning you do when it is for the sake of Allah (swt). There really is no room for saying, "I've been busy". It's about maximising the use your free/ and otherwise wasteful time.

In order to help oneself with such a problem, it's very important to quantify the amount of time these avoidable tasks take. I call this the shock treatment, because it would really shock you to know how many precious minutes and half-hours and hours you wasted.

Along these lines, it's also a good time to evaluate your friendships. Are your friends spending their time doing what you do and indulging you in wasting your time, intellect or your life? This is a question that Jeewan raised today in his reflections. We forget that our true brothers/sisters care about us before Allah, about who we are as individuals, our choices and decisions- about what will happen to us when we die.
So while you are examining yourselves, also examine who is the relationships with your brothers and sisters for?
Last night as the Imam recited the following verses from the end of Surah Qaf, he cried a lot and repeated them a few times. This one caught my attention:
His Companion will say: "Our Lord! I did not make him transgress, but he was (himself) far astray."
This verse struck me...... and made me realise how absolutely important it is to watch out for my sisters and brothers, so that I'm not the Companion who will be doomed that day.

And the Trumpet shall be blown: that will be the Day whereof Warning (had been given).
And there will come forth every soul: with each will be an (angel) to drive, and an (angel) to bear witness.
"Thou wast heedless of this; now have We removed thy veil, and sharp is thy sight this Day!"
And his Companion will say: "Here is (his Record) ready with me!"
(The sentence will be:) "Throw, throw into Hell every contumacious Rejecter (of Allah)!- "Who forbade what was good, transgressed all bounds, cast doubts and suspicions;
"Who set up another god beside Allah: Throw him into a severe penalty."
His Companion will say: "Our Lord! I did not make him transgress, but he was (himself) far astray."
He will say: "Dispute not with each other in My Presence: I had already in advance sent you Warning. "The Word changes not before Me, and I do not the least injustice to My Servants."
One Day We will ask Hell, "Art thou filled to the full?" It will say, "Are there any more (to come)?"

Declaring yourself free- Reflections Ramadan 18

Yesterday....I was quite overwhelmed with the Imam recited the verse:

11:35 Or do they say, "He has forged it"? Say: "If I had forged it, on me were my sin! and I am free of the sins of which ye are guilty!

أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ قُلْ إِنِ افْتَرَيْتُهُ فَعَلَيَّ إِجْرَامِي وَأَنَاْ بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُجْرَمُونَ

The word baree-un means to become free or be cleared from guilt or blame.
Here, Allah (swt) is telling Muhammad (pbuh) to declare that he is completely free of the sins which the disbelievers accuse him of.

I thought about how difficult it is to have a clean record. Can we say about ourselves, that we never:

• lie?
• backbite?
• gossip?
• tell on someone?
• check someone out?
• betray someone's trust?
• share a secret?
• ...

Can we declare a 100% on all the things disliked by Allah (swt)?

Often times we resolve to change our bad ways, but sometimes traits of that remain. If today we were to make a declaration to Allah (swt) about our actions and deeds, so that He may answer our duas and make our situations easy, what would that list contain? How confident are we about our 100-percent-ness of our virtues, etiquettes and moral values?

Are we completely shirk-free? Or is it that, we ocassionally brush off our sins to clean ourselves instead of getting rid of them completely?

In another verse, in Surah An'aam, Allah (swt) tells Muhammad (pbuh) to declare what he should:

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلاَتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَاْ أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ قُلْ أَغَيْرَ اللّهِ أَبْغِي رَبًّا وَهُوَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَلاَ تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ إِلاَّ عَلَيْهَا وَلاَ تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّكُم مَّرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَكُمْ خَلاَئِفَ الأَرْضِ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَكُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَاتٍ لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آتَاكُمْ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ سَرِيعُ الْعِقَابِ وَإِنَّهُ لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Say: "Behold, my prayer, and (all] my acts of worship, and my living and my dying are for God [alone], the Sustainer of all the worlds, in whose divinity none has a share: for thus have I been bidden-and I shall [always] be foremost among those who surrender themselves unto Him."

Say: "Am I, then, to seek a sustainer other than God, when He is the Sustainer of all things?" And whatever [wrong] any human being commits rests upon himself alone; and no bearer of burdens shall be made to bear another's burden. And, in time, unto your Sustainer you all must return: and then He will make you. [truly] understand all that on which you were wont to differ.
For, He it is who has made you inherit the earth, and has raised some of you by degrees above others, so that He might try you by means of what He has bestowed upon you. Verily, thy Sustainer is swift in retribution: yet, behold, He is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace. [6:162-165]

Such a beautiful declaration.

What does your heart know? - Reflections Ramadan 15

Subhanallah, I've met many reverts to Islam, and they talk about finding the "inner" peace, and I'd often wonder, if that inner peace is within me, being a born Muslim, or, do I have to search for it as well? And if I'm not searching for it, then is my heart made of stone?

You ask about a heart of stone...Just today an American female colleague (also a convert to Islam) and I were talking about the difference between those who were born Muslim and those who adopted the faith by the mercy of Allah. There is a beautiful aya about Nabi Isa that reads:

You [Allah] know what is in my heart, though I know not what is in Yours. For You know in full all that is hidden [5:116].

It is not so much that you "feel" anything but rather that you know for certain that Allah Subhana Wa ta'ala knows your heart - every square inch of it, and that everything is exposed and revealed to Him. You don't have to feel this - you have to just have faith in this. Remember that our Ihsan requries of us to worship Allah as if we see Him, even though we don't. Everything in our Muslim hearts should be exposed and free to be before Allah.

- Raahil Bernand, Revert to Islam on September 20, 2007

Garbage | Tahajjud- Ramadan Reflections Day 6

After taraweeh last night, my mother signalled to me to pick up the garbage around her. She was already prepared with a plastic bag. I started picking up tissues and Al Ain Water cups and filling the bag with it. It seemed that everyone was oblivious to my action. I felt a bit frustrated and flustered.
On the first night of Taraweeh, my friend, the Imam's wife and I talked about the entire story of this great woman:

Abu Hurairah(ra) reported that a dark-skinned woman used to clean the Mosque and then died. The Prophet (pbuh) did not know about it. One day the Prophet (pbuh) remembered her and said: "What happened to that person?" The people replied: "Oh Allah's Apostle! She died." He said: "Why did you not inform me?" They said: The story was so and so." He said: "Show me her grave" and he offered the funeral prayer. [Sahih Bukhari]

There really is no need for us to clean the masjid after us, since there's always someone hired to do it. However, that's not what Islam teaches us. You do not leave your garbage for someone else to pick up. I remember the saying that people in the West are unclean and keep their surroundings clean, whereas people in the East are personally clean but their surroundings are very dirty. Why are we so ill-trained that we cannot keep a tissue in hand and throw it a few metres away into a garbage can?

The Prophet (pbuh) said, cleanliness is half of faith and Alhamdulillah fills the scale, and Subhanallah and Alhamdulillah fill up what is between the heavens and the earth. Salah is a light, and charity is proof (of one's faith) and endurance is a brightness and the Qur'an is a proof on your behalf or against you. All men go out early in the morning and sell themselves, thereby setting themselves free or destroying themselves." (Muslim).

Our surroundings, the environment, are as much part of us are are our belongings, and we are required to take care of them. Alhamdulillah we don't face that problem in UAE, but in places like Canada, the mosque carpets are often smelling because of wet/dirty feet/socks or the mosque not being able to shampoo the carpets as often. We have to step up and solve these problems. The Masjid belongs to us. Read page one.
Our ranks are so low... but can we not strive to be like the woman who used to clean the masjid and the Prophet (pbuh) loved her action so much that he prayed for her? Would you not want the Prophet (pbuh) to pray for you?
Too many people say that one person is not going to make a difference. It is not true. Every big change starts with one person, a group, a movement, and finally a global voice- We will never know the impact until we train ourselves to be foresighted and understand the far-reaching effects of our consequences.

I thought about how what I'm doing may not have any effect on the women around me. I don't speak Arabic, so I can't give them a general talk on cleaning up after themselves. However, I know and believe that if I clean up as much as I can every day in Taraweeh, for the next 23 days or so, someone will notice and begin to follow, and soon it will pick up... inshallah!

This is a small action, but it illustrates the importance of your personal actions. Your actions will carry through for generations, and our reward lies with Allah (swt) alone.


In Surah Ibrahim, Allah (swt) says:

(And remember that) it is God who has created the heavens and the earth, and who sends down water from the sky and thereby brings forth (all manner) of fruits for your sustenance; and who has made ships subservient to. you, so that they may sail through the sea at His behest; and has made the rivers subservient (to His laws, so that they be of use) to you; and has made the sun and the moon, both of them constant upon their courses, subservient (to His laws, so that they be of use) to you; and has made the night and the day subservient (to His laws, so that they be of use) to you. And (always) does He give you something out of what you may be asking of Him; and should you try to count God's blessings, you could never compute them. (And yet,) behold, man is indeed most persistent in wrongdoing, stubbornly ingrate! [14:32-34]

So true! Let's try to count some blessings of Allah (swt) until we exhaust ourselves, and then thank Him profusely for them. I find that the best time to do this exercise is when you're most depressed. Nothing lifts me than counting my blessings.

Another good time to do this is in tahajjud of course. Tahajjud simply is the best time to do any time of worship!
Here's a dua you can make in fajr/tahhajud from Surah Bani Isra'il:

Establish regular prayers - at the sun's decline till the darkness of the night, and the morning prayer and reading: for the prayer and reading in the morning carry their testimony. And pray in the small watches of the morning: (it would be) an additional prayer (or spiritual profit) for thee: soon will thy Lord raise thee to a Station of Praise and Glory!
Say: "O my Lord! Let my entry be by the Gate of Truth and Honour, and likewise my exit by the Gate of Truth and Honour; and grant me from Thy Presence an authority to aid (me)." [17:78-80]

رَّبِّ أَدْخِلْنِي مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَأَخْرِجْنِي مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ وَاجْعَل لِّي مِن لَّدُنكَ سُلْطَانًا نَّصِيرًا

Charity | Death | Discipline- Reflections Ramadan 1 & 2

Day 2

After we got home from taraweeh, I drove mummy to do some groceries. As I was stepping into the market, I noticed a small booth, with a big glass box on top of it. I grabbed the trolley and while fumbling with my bag to get my wallet out, I told my mother to go ahead. There was a man behind the stall and a lot of reading material as well. I wanted my action to be as fast as possible, but it was long enough to hear him say Jazakallah to me, and for me to reply to him.

I just finished reading the ayah from the Qur'an: By no means shall ye attain righteousness unless ye give (freely) of that which ye love; and whatever ye give, of a truth Allah knoweth it well. [3:92]

There's reward for giving charity, but imagine the reward of the people who... organise charitable actions. So, step up to the next level, don't just be a giver.

Two days ago my friends were telling me of a few deaths in 2 different countries. Two days ago my mother's sister-in-law (brother's wife) gave birth to a child who did not survive. She went into labour knowing that there's a chance of her losing her child, chance of her own death. There are not many ocassions when we know death came very close to us... and spared us.
Inshallah Allah (swt) will bless my mami with jannah, because of the hadith.
I'm a firm believer that everyone is in my life for a reason, even if I meet them once and never see them again. It was no coincidence that this baby's death, and the incidents that 2 of my friends narrated to me were at the same time. Allah (swt) wants us to know... wants me to realise, and turn to him, and ask for forgiveness, and increase in my good deeds.

I also thought about how my mamu didn't mention a word of that when I answered the phone, how my mother didn't give me the medical details and how, I just wasn't so involved at all, as if something distant from me happened.. to someone I didn't know. True, my parents still think I'm a child who doesn't need to be involved in grown up matters.. but every death to me, is a reminder of my experiences for a year as a Muslim chaplain assistant at a hospital. I dealt with parents... somehow... funerals... children... staff... And it has had an impact.

Day 1

Discipline and organisation are so important in our lives as Muslims. Taraweeh is all about discipline. Everyone in straight rows, with utmost attention. It's a great test for mothers when their children are running around or crying. In fact, taraweeh makes you very alert. You have to be early if you want to be in the first row. Yet, if your mother requires assistance, then you have to forego your space in the first row and make your mother comfortable first. It's discipline because it doesn't happen once. It's not one set of "Allahu Akbar", but many times over, that you have to raise your hands to.

And when someone leaves a row, others are automatically conscious of the gap, and hasten to fill it. Let not there be shaitan between us...


And once you're done, it's about connecting with those on either side of you. Sometimes, it's a Philipino or a Somali maid. Other times, it's someone's feeble grandmother. Say salam to all, and spread the sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh).

Ramadan will help you get organised. Try Seinfield's productivity secret.

My Dua cards collection

I keep a Qur'an stand (rehal) on my prayer mat that has my Qur'an and dua cards. My mother probably has memorised all these duas, and she knows the dua for each ocassion, event, problem, need, etc.. I just refer to one of these booklets. Every now and then mummy will find some new set of duas for me to add to my collection.

So, first is my Qur'an, which was a gift from my friend Ehab.









Fortification of the Muslim: A really famous pocket dua book for all ocassions.

This book is a bit incomplete, it has selected verses from the Qur'an for medical problems such as asthma, throat infection, eyesight, etc. But the name of the Surah is not mentioned against the ayahs. However, there are no references what so ever in this book, so I can't say it's very authentic. I read it very ocassionally, just to see learn how and why they're referenced the verses to a certain problem.

Morning and Evening Prayers of the Prophet (pbuh) are a standard list of masnoon duas. Best time to read them is at fajr and maghrib. It includes some of the popular duas such as ayat-al-kursi and sayyid-istighfar.

Two very important every day supplications in the life of a Muslim- Dua for Guidance, and Dua of Need. Read it every day





My favourite: Duas from the Qur'an. It has the duas made by the Prophets, and other duas that Allah (swt) has asked us to make. I like these duas more because they are ayahs from the Qur'an; you can recite them with proper tajweed and feel the power of the words that Allah (swt) send down for us.








Duas for protection (from all types of evil). It's amazing how many different types of dua the Prophet (pbuh) taught us. Subhanallah!






Duas to protect you from depression and sadness :)








Duas to protect you from the evil eye.








Masnoon duas: A collection of beautiful Sunnah duas with Urdu translation. I have posted my favourite one here.







Al Hisnul Hasin: Again, a very popular book. Although, I'm a bit cautious with some of the duas where you have to recite them a certain number of times as references are often left out in this book. At the end there's a really nice section on what the Prophet (pbuh) has said on the excellence of reciting some of the chapters of the Qur'an.






This is the same collection of Morning and Evening invocations except it's with Urdu translation and I keep this in my bag. [It's smaller in size than the other one]







This booklet has all the duas for travelling: for the marketplace, before entering a masjid to mounting your vehicle and en route. I keep this in my bag too.




I have PDFs of these cards, so drop me a note if you need any.

Khatam

اللَّهُمَّ ذَكِّرْنِىْ مِنْهُ مَا نَسِيْتُ وَ عَلِّمْنِىْ مِنْهؤ مَا جَهِلْتُ وَ ارْزُقْنِىْ تِلَاوَتَهْ انَآءَ الَّيْلِ وَ انَآءَ الَّنهَارِ وَ اجْعَلْهُ لِىْ حُجَّةً يَّا رَبَّ الْعَلَمِيْنَ


Allahumma dhakkirni minhu ma nasiitu, wa 'alimni minhu ma jahiltu, war zuqni tilaawatahu anaall-laili wa-ana' annahaari, waj'alhu li hujjatan ya Rabbanal-alameen

O Allah! Make me remember which of it I have not been able to know; and grant me its recitation during the times of the day and night, and make it for me an evidence. O Lord of the Worlds

Alhamdulillah I finished reading the Qur'an today (don't ask me when I started it!) and I made a special dua for all my friends.

From Surah Nur

Read Surah Nur tonight before going to bed.

24:39 But the Unbelievers,- their deeds are like a mirage in sandy deserts, which the man parched with thirst mistakes for water; until when he comes up to it, he finds it to be nothing: But he finds Allah (ever) with him, and Allah will pay him his account: and Allah is swift in taking account.
وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَعْمَالُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍ بِقِيعَةٍ يَحْسَبُهُ الظَّمْآنُ مَاء حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءهُ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ شَيْئًا وَوَجَدَ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ فَوَفَّاهُ حِسَابَهُ وَاللَّهُ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ (24:39)

24:40 Or (the Unbelievers' state) is like the depths of darkness in a vast deep ocean, overwhelmed with billow topped by billow, topped by (dark) clouds: depths of darkness, one above another: if a man stretches out his hands, he can hardly see it! for any to whom Allah giveth not light, there is no light!
أَوْ كَظُلُمَاتٍ فِي بَحْرٍ لُّجِّيٍّ يَغْشَاهُ مَوْجٌ مِّن فَوْقِهِ مَوْجٌ مِّن فَوْقِهِ سَحَابٌ ظُلُمَاتٌ بَعْضُهَا فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ إِذَا أَخْرَجَ يَدَهُ لَمْ يَكَدْ يَرَاهَا وَمَن لَّمْ يَجْعَلِ اللَّهُ لَهُ نُورًا فَمَا لَهُ مِن نُّورٍ (24:40)

24:41 Hast thou not seen that Allah, He it is Whom all who are in the heavens and the earth praise; and the birds in their flight? Of each He knoweth verily the worship and the praise; and Allah is Aware of what they do.
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالطَّيْرُ صَافَّاتٍ كُلٌّ قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهُ وَتَسْبِيحَهُ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ (24:41)
...
24:43 Hast thou not seen how Allah wafteth the clouds, then gathereth them, then maketh them layers, and thou seest the rain come forth from between them; He sendeth down from the heaven mountains wherein is hail, and smiteth therewith whom He will, and averteth it from whom He will. The flashing of His lightning all but snatcheth away the sight.
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُزْجِي سَحَابًا ثُمَّ يُؤَلِّفُ بَيْنَهُ ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُ رُكَامًا فَتَرَى الْوَدْقَ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ خِلَالِهِ وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ السَّمَاء مِن جِبَالٍ فِيهَا مِن بَرَدٍ فَيُصِيبُ بِهِ مَن يَشَاء وَيَصْرِفُهُ عَن مَّن يَشَاء يَكَادُ سَنَا بَرْقِهِ يَذْهَبُ بِالْأَبْصَارِ (24:43)
...
24:45 Allah hath created every animal of water. Of them is (a kind) that goeth upon its belly and (a kind) that goeth upon two legs and (a kind) that goeth upon four. Allah createth what He will. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.
وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَ كُلَّ دَابَّةٍ مِن مَّاء فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِي عَلَى بَطْنِهِ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِي عَلَى رِجْلَيْنِ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِي عَلَى أَرْبَعٍ يَخْلُقُ اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاء إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ (24:45)

What is the heart?

The most important part of your 'person' is your inner self. This inner self the Qur'an calls the qalb or the 'heart'. The heart of the Prophet pbuh was the first recipient of the Quranic message:

You will therefore reap the full joys and blessings of reading the Qur'an when you are able to involve your heart fully in your task.
The heart in the Quranic vocabulary, is not the piece of flesh in your body, but the centre of all your feelings, emotions, drives, aspirations, remembrance and attention.
It is the hearts which soften:
اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُّتَشَابِهًا مَّثَانِيَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِي بِهِ مَنْ يَشَاء وَمَن يُضْلِلْ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ 39:23
or harden and become stony.
see post: Stones
It is they which go blind and refuse to recognise the truth
أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ يَعْقِلُونَ بِهَا أَوْ آذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ 22:46
for it is their function to reason and understand.
وَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الْجِنِّ وَالإِنسِ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ لاَّ يَفْقَهُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ لاَّ يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ آذَانٌ لاَّ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا أُوْلَـئِكَ كَالأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ أُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْغَافِلُونَ 7:179
أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ يَعْقِلُونَ بِهَا أَوْ آذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ 22:46
إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَذِكْرَى لِمَن كَانَ لَهُ قَلْبٌ أَوْ أَلْقَى السَّمْعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ 50:37
In hearts lie the roots of all outward diseases
فَتَرَى الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ يُسَارِعُونَ فِيهِمْ يَقُولُونَ نَخْشَى أَن تُصِيبَنَا دَآئِرَةٌ فَعَسَى اللّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَ بِالْفَتْحِ أَوْ أَمْرٍ مِّنْ عِندِهِ فَيُصْبِحُواْ عَلَى مَا أَسَرُّواْ فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ نَادِمِينَ 5:52
they are the seat of all inner ills;
فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللّهُ مَرَضاً وَلَهُم عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ 2:10
hearts are the abode of Iman
يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ لاَ يَحْزُنكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْكُفْرِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ قَالُواْ آمَنَّا بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَلَمْ تُؤْمِن قُلُوبُهُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ هِادُواْ سَمَّاعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ سَمَّاعُونَ لِقَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ لَمْ يَأْتُوكَ يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ مِن بَعْدِ مَوَاضِعِهِ يَقُولُونَ إِنْ أُوتِيتُمْ هَـذَا فَخُذُوهُ وَإِن لَّمْ تُؤْتَوْهُ فَاحْذَرُواْ وَمَن يُرِدِ اللّهُ فِتْنَتَهُ فَلَن تَمْلِكَ لَهُ مِنَ اللّهِ شَيْئًا أُوْلَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُرِدِ اللّهُ أَن يُطَهِّرَ قُلُوبَهُمْ لَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا خِزْيٌ وَلَهُمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ 5:41
and hypocrisy.
فَأَعْقَبَهُمْ نِفَاقًا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ يَلْقَوْنَهُ بِمَا أَخْلَفُواْ اللّهَ مَا وَعَدُوهُ وَبِمَا كَانُواْ يَكْذِبُونَ 9:77
It is the hearts again, which are the centre of good and bad thing, whether it be contentment and peace,
الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ 13:28
the strength to face afflictions,
مَا أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَمَن يُؤْمِن بِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ 64:11
mercy,
ثُمَّ قَفَّيْنَا عَلَى آثَارِهِم بِرُسُلِنَا وَقَفَّيْنَا بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْإِنجِيلَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ رَأْفَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَرَهْبَانِيَّةً ابْتَدَعُوهَا مَا كَتَبْنَاهَا عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَّا ابْتِغَاء رِضْوَانِ اللَّهِ فَمَا رَعَوْهَا حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهَا فَآتَيْنَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ 57:27
brotherly love,
وَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ لَوْ أَنفَقْتَ مَا فِي الأَرْضِ جَمِيعاً مَّا أَلَّفَتْ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَلَـكِنَّ اللّهَ أَلَّفَ بَيْنَهُمْ إِنَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ 8:63
taqwa
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَغُضُّونَ أَصْوَاتَهُمْ عِندَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ امْتَحَنَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ لِلتَّقْوَى لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ 49:3
ذَلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ 22:32

or, doubt and hesitation,
إِنَّمَا يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَارْتَابَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِي رَيْبِهِمْ يَتَرَدَّدُونَ 9:45
regrets,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لاَ تَكُونُواْ كَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ وَقَالُواْ لإِخْوَانِهِمْ إِذَا ضَرَبُواْ فِي الأَرْضِ أَوْ كَانُواْ غُزًّى لَّوْ كَانُواْ عِندَنَا مَا مَاتُواْ وَمَا قُتِلُواْ لِيَجْعَلَ اللّهُ ذَلِكَ حَسْرَةً فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ وَاللّهُ يُحْيِـي وَيُمِيتُ وَاللّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ 3:156
anger.
وَيُذْهِبْ غَيْظَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَيَتُوبُ اللّهُ عَلَى مَن يَشَاء وَاللّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ 9:15
Finally, it is, in reality, the ways of the heart for which we shall be accountable, and only the one who brings before his God a sound and whole heart will deserve to be saved.

God will not take you to task for oaths which you may have uttered without thought, but will take you to task [only] for what your hearts have conceived [in earnest]: for God is much-forgiving, forbearing. (Baqara 2:255)

The Day on which neither wealth will be of any use, nor children [and when] only he [will be happy] who comes before God with a heart free of evil!” (As Shu'ara 26:88-89)

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Source: The way to the Qur'an by Khurram Murad

What righteousness is not, and is

I think verses 177 and 189 in Surah Baqarah are the only 2 ayahs in the Quran that talk about what Birr is not, and what it is. Very beautiful.

لَّيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَن تُوَلُّواْ وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَـكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَالْمَلآئِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَالسَّآئِلِينَ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُواْ وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاء والضَّرَّاء وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ أُولَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَأُولَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ
Righteousness is not that you turn your faces to the East, and the West; but righteousness is that one believes in Allah and the Last Day and the angels and the Book and the Prophets, and gives wealth, despite it's love (or, out of His love), to relatives, and to orphans, the helpless, the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and (spends) in the (freeing) slaves and observes the prayers and pays the Zakah; and those who fulfil their promise when they promise and, of course, the patient in hardships and sufferings and when in battle! Those are the ones who are true, and those are the God-fearing (2:177)

Mufti Shafi Uthmani writes in his tafseer:
Birr is an umbrella word in Arabic used for what is good in the absolute sense, and which combines in itself all acts of righteousness and obedience, inward or outward.

Often, we're so busy perfecting rituals. We're so busy gaining all the knowledge we can, yet our actions and intentions don't seem to synergise.
This verse comprehensively presents the Islamic injunctions:
- First, the articles of faith
- Then, dealings with people
- Finally, mention of morals.

Such are the true Muslims, and they are the ones who are God-fearing.
-> Spending wealth should be out of love for Allah, or/and, spending from that which you love. One should also be satisfied with what he spends: not that the hands spend, and the heart aches.

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الأهِلَّةِ قُلْ هِيَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّ وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَنْ تَأْتُوْاْ الْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقَى وَأْتُواْ الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
They ask you about the new moons. Say: They are indicative of time for the people, and of the Hajj. And it is not righteousess that you come into your houses from their backs but righteousness is that one fears Allah. And come to the houses through their doors. And fear Allah so that you may be successful.(2:189)

During the times of Jahiliyyah, people used to enter their houses from the back, as it was forbidden to do so from the front in the state of Ihram. This ayah adds 2 more injunctions:
- Jihad
- Hajj

And we should not undermine the importance of the lunar months. Know your dates.

But the most important message is to keep fearing Allah, so that we can hope to have the best of both the worlds.

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For further reading, the tafseer is here: Maariful Quran

The Excellence of Surah An'aam

It is mentioned in a hadith that when the Surah An'aam was revealed, Rasoolullah (saw) said, Alhamdulillah. And then he said:
"By Allah, so many angels came to convey this Surah that the corners of the heaves became covered with their great numbers".

At the Zoo

I visited the Al Ain zoo after perhaps more than 10 years. I was in the mood for ice-skating, but Jeewan and his kids wanted to visit the zoo this past weekend when they came over to Al Ain.

The zoo has changed a lot, a lot of the fences have been replaced by glass. There's been extensive landscaping, and a bird sanctuary has been added. However, most of the zoo was under construction, which was sad. I didn't see any elephants, or rhinos, or fish. We did see snakes, alligators, African and Desert exhibits, and penguins.

I realised I had forgotten everything I knew about animals. I didn't remember the last time I even saw most of them.
When the apes talk to each other, they sounded like horns. The monkeys were the noisiest.
I observed the apes for quite some time, as Jeewan and Muad clicked away on their cameras.
I saw one of the gorillas sitting on a pedestal...and thought to myself, it's sitting just like the way humans sit- leaning their backs, with one leg stretched out, one knee bent up and an arm on it, and arm on the side to support your weight. But if you compare the creation with humans, no human would want to be turned into a monkey as any punishment.
And then I reflected on the ayah:

[2:65] And well you knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath: We said to them: "Be you apes, despised and rejected."
وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ الَّذِينَ اعْتَدَواْ مِنكُمْ فِي السَّبْتِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُواْ قِرَدَةً خَاسِئِينَ

I saw eagles and vultures, quietly staring out @ us.
And I couldn't stop thinking about the nile crocodile. The last time I was around crocodiles was when I went to Thailand in 1999. Crocodiles dont move a lot. They come from a very ancient lineage, since the times of dinosaurs, if they ever existed. They're very still in water, and most of the times their eyes are closed. Just when you're about to think its dead, or sleeping, it blinks. They look very sinister and evil. There's no good in them. You dont want to be around them. Why would even want crocodile leather? What good it is to kill an evil creature and then eat its meat as a "delicacy"? A crocodile's bite strength is upto 3,000 pounds per square inch!

I left the zoo thinking, why would Allah, of all reptiles, create crocodiles?

As you can tell, I'm not an animal person.

Stones

ثُمَّ قَسَتْ قُلُوبُكُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ فَهِيَ كَالْحِجَارَةِ أَوْ أَشَدُّ قَسْوَةً وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْحِجَارَةِ لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنْهُ الأَنْهَارُ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَشَّقَّقُ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ الْمَاء وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَهْبِطُ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللّهِ وَمَا اللّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
Then, even after that, your hearts were hardened and became as stones, or worse than stones, for hardness. For indeed there are stones, from out which rivers gush, and indeed there are stones which split asunder so that water flows from them. And indeed there are stones which fall down for the fear of Allah. Allah is not unaware of what you do. [Surah Baqarah, verse 74]

This verse talks about 4 different types of stones, or rocks. Our hearts that become as hard as stones, stones from which rivers gush forth, stones which split and water flows from them and stones that fall from the fear of Allah.

Why does Allah (swt) mention our hearts in this verse, along with the stones?

Al-Qurtubi and other Imams say that Allah creates this characteristic - humbleness - in stones. Another view is that solid inanimate objects possess a certain degree of awareness.

Sometimes, even a stone can put you to shame.

A Meeting With Allah...

Choosing a phone number

I had enough planned for my morning today with mummy being out, but my brother woke up really early and shouted with excitement: "Get your Du number!". Du has just opened- a new company in competition with Etisalat. And you can "book" the phone # you want for a fee that varies from 100 to 3000 Dhs. Numbers like 7654321 are Platinum, others 5565565 are Gold, and so on. Honestly, what a waste of money. We spent about 2 hours searching for some good numbers.
I've to get a phone number, and I've booked a few numbers too!
One that's the same as my Toronto #: 055- 619-4485
If only my name was 7 letters! Most people miss out the last letter anyways: 055-HUM-AIRA (486-2472)
The other # I asked him to book: 055-FOR-GIVE (367-4483)
Hmm... I should have made it __4-GIVE.
I wanted to get PATIENCE, but that's 8 letters!
Any more suggestions for cool phone numbers?
I wont know how many of these #s I'll get until December 28th, but I'll be @ Hajj @ that time inshallah.
In other news, my brother bought me a printer/scanner and a digital camera. Now I can take all those pictures everyone's been asking me about inshallah!

Also, in more news, I'll be moving my leadership blog from wordpress to blogger. Wordpress is annoyingly slow, and has too many features that aren't necessarily very useful. Also, blogger now has labels, which can be used as categories...and that was the biggest advantage of wordpress. The only thing that's missing is the Read more feature, but I'm sure that will come up soon...

And the final piece of news, Hafsa would probably be quite amused, but someone wanted to learn Arabic grammar from me, she's mummy's age... and not to mention, I didn't learn much Arabic grammar myself, so we both are going to learn a loooooot of Arabic grammar inshallah. Plus, I'll pick up quite a bit of Urdu as well. I'm looking for a good book to translate from Urdu to English (that hasn't been translated yet), to improve my Urdu... any suggestions?

Wait... there's some last bit of news. You can read the stories of the Prophets over and over again, and continue to learn loads of them. So I decided I'd cover a Prophet (peace be upon him) a day with my grandmother and go over his life before going to bed. I think that's a great bonding exercise, and she's leaving for Pakistan in a few days :(

Some ayahs for reflection-
Allah (swt) talks about the hypocrites in Surah Baqarah:

2:17 Their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in utter darkness. So they could not see.
مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي اسْتَوْقَدَ نَاراً فَلَمَّا أَضَاءتْ مَا حَوْلَهُ ذَهَبَ اللّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتٍ لاَّ يُبْصِرُونَ

2:18 Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path).
صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لاَ يَرْجِعُونَ

2:19 Or (another similitude) is that of a rain-laden cloud from the sky: In it are zones of darkness, and thunder and lightning: They press their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunder-clap, the while they are in terror of death. But Allah is ever round the rejecters of Faith!
أَوْ كَصَيِّبٍ مِّنَ السَّمَاء فِيهِ ظُلُمَاتٌ وَرَعْدٌ وَبَرْقٌ يَجْعَلُونَ أَصْابِعَهُمْ فِي آذَانِهِم مِّنَ الصَّوَاعِقِ حَذَرَ الْمَوْتِ واللّهُ مُحِيطٌ بِالْكافِرِينَ

2:20 The lightning all but snatches away their sight; every time the light (Helps) them, they walk therein, and when the darkness grows on them, they stand still. And if Allah willed, He could take away their faculty of hearing and seeing; for Allah hath power over all things.
يَكَادُ الْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ أَبْصَارَهُمْ كُلَّمَا أَضَاء لَهُم مَّشَوْاْ فِيهِ وَإِذَا أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُواْ وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَارِهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّه عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

The Parable of the Light of Allah (swt)

God is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His light is, as it were, that of a niche containing a lamp; the lamp is [enclosed] in glass, the glass [shining] like a radiant star: [a lamp] lit from a blessed tree - an olive-tree that is neither of the east nor of the west the oil whereof [is so bright that it] would well-nigh give light even though fire had not touched it: light upon light! God guides unto His light him that wills [to be guided]; and [to this end] God propounds parables unto men, since God [alone] has full knowledge of all things.

[Qur'an: Surah Nur: 35]

Verses to ponder on this week

[But as for you, O believers,] never shall you attain to true piety unless you spend on others out of what you cherish yourselves; and whatever you spend - verily, God has full knowledge thereof.

[Al-Imran 92]

Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations after receiving Clear Signs: For them is a dreadful penalty,

[Al-Imran 105]

If misfortune touches you, [know that] similar misfortune has touched [other] people as well; for it is by turns that We apportion unto men such days [of fortune and misfortune]: and [this] to the end that God might mark out those who have attained to faith, and choose from among you such as [with their lives] bear witness to the truth- since God does not love evildoers

[Al-Imran 140]

"...This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favor unto you, and have chosen for you as religion Al-Islam..."

[Maidah 3]

"Come, let me convey unto you what God has [really] forbidden to you: "Do not ascribe divinity, in any way, to aught beside Him; and [do not offend against but, rather,] do good unto your parents; and do not kill your children for fear of poverty - [for] it is We who shall provide sustenance for you as well as for them; and do not commit any shameful deeds, be they open or secret; and do not take any human being's life-[the life] which God has declared to be sacred -otherwise than in [the pursuit of] justice: this has He enjoined upon you so that you might use your reason; and do not touch the substance of an orphan - save to improve it-before he comes of age." And [in all your dealings] give full measure and weight, with equity: [however,] We do not burden any human being with more than he is well able to bear; and when you voice an opinion, be just, even though it be [against] one near of kin. And [always] observe your bond with God: this has He enjoined upon you, so that you might keep it in mind. And [know] that this is the way leading straight unto Me: follow it, then, and follow not other ways, lest they cause you to deviate from His way. [All] this has He enjoined upon you, so that you might remain conscious of Him.

[Al-An'am 151-153]

Duas for this week

O our Sustainer! Lay not upon us a burden such as Thou didst lay upon those who lived before us! O our Sustainer! Make us not bear burdens which we have no strength to bear! "And efface Thou our sins, and grant us forgiveness, and bestow Thy mercy upon us! Thou art our Lord Supreme: succour us, then, against people who deny the truth!"

[Surah Al-Baqara 286]

"O my Sustainer! Bestow upon me [too], out of Thy grace, the gift of goodly offspring; for Thou, indeed, hearest all prayer."

[Al-Imran 38]

"O our Sustainer! We believe in what Thou hast bestowed from on high, and we follow this Apostle; make us one, then, with all who bear witness [to the truth]!"

[Al-Imran 53]

"We believe in God, and in that which has been bestowed from on high upon us, and that which has been bestowed upon Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and their descendants, and that which has been vouchsafed by their Sustainer unto Moses and Jesus and all the [other] prophets: we make no distinction between any of them. [68] And unto Him do we surrender ourselves."

[Al-Imran 84]

"O our Sustainer! Forgive us our sins and the lack of moderation in our doings! And make firm our steps, and succour us against people who deny the truth!"

[Al-Imran 147]

"God is enough for us; and how excellent a guardian is He!”

[Al-Imran 173]

Our Lord! Thou createdst not this in vain. Glory be to Thee! Preserve us from the doom of Fire.

[Al-Imran 191]

"Our Lord! any whom Thou dost admit to the Fire, Truly Thou coverest with shame, and never will wrong-doers Find any helpers!"

[Al-Imran 192]

"Our Lord! we have heard the call of one calling (Us) to Faith, 'Believe ye in the Lord,' and we have believed. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, blot out from us our iniquities, and take to Thyself our souls in the company of the righteous.

[Al-Imran 193]

"Our Lord! Grant us what Thou didst promise unto us through Thine apostles, and save us from shame on the Day of Judgment: For Thou never breakest Thy promise."

[Al-Imran 194]

"Our Lord! we believe; write us down among the witnesses."

[Maidah 83]

"We have no knowledge: it is Thou Who knowest in full all that is hidden."

[Maidah 109]

"...provide for our sustenance, for thou art the best Sustainer (of our needs)."

[Maidah 114]