Month: September 2014

Reflection No. 180 on Q 39:3 – True Sincerity

أَلَا لِلَّهِ الدِّينُ الْخَالِصُ Now, surely, sincere devotion is due to Allah (alone) (Sūratul Zumar, No. 39, Āyat 3) Being a true servant of Allah means to be devoted to Him and Him alone. He is the focus of life, and all else revolves around Him. Just as the pilgrims circumbulate around the Ka’ba, the … Read more

ALI-274: Islam and the Theory of Evolution

The course will introduce the students to a comprehensive understanding of evolution before embarking on the Islamic perspective. The Islamic perspective will take an in-depth look at the theory from a theological, and then a scriptural perspective. In the scriptural analysis, students will learn tools of interpreting the Quran and then work directly with verses … Read more

ALI-273: Introduction to Sahīfa Sajjādiyya

The course will cover a comprehensive discussion on the significance, role and authenticity of Sahīfa Sajjādiyyah. We will discuss the need and relevance of the Du‘ās of the Sahīfa in contemporary times. Days: Two Tuesday Sep 9 & 16, 2014 from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. Venue: JCC, Seminar Room B 045 Instructor: Hasanayn Kassamali Slides Session 1

Reflection No. 179 on Q 2:26 – Hypocritical Attitude

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي أَنْ يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًا مَا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا ۚ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًا Indeed Allah is not ashamed to set forth a parable whether it is that of a gnat or anything above it. As for those who … Read more

Reflection No. 178 on Q 3:37 – Nurturing of Growth

فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ وَأَنْبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا Fataqabbalahā rabbuhā biqabūlin hasanin wa-ambatahā nabātan hasanā So her Lord accepted her with a gracious acceptance, and made her grow in a worthy fashion (Sūrat Āli Imrān, No. 3, Āyat 37) When the mother of Bibi Maryam (a) was giving birth she expected a male child whom she … Read more

Reflection No. 177 on Q 49:12 – Avoid Suspicions

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ Yā ayyuhaladhīna āmanūj-tanibū kathīran minaz-zanni inna ba‘daz-zanni ithm O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion. Indeed some suspicions are sins. (Sūratul Hujurāt, No. 49, Āyat 12) Suspicions, or negative assumptions, are deadly in relationships. Assumptions, both positive and negative, make up a big … Read more

Reflection No. 176 on Q 39:29 – Submitting to ONE Master

ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا رَجُلًا فِيهِ شُرَكَاءُ مُتَشَاكِسُونَ وَرَجُلًا سَلَمًا لِرَجُلٍ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ مَثَلًا ۚ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ Dharaba-llāhu mathalan rajulan fīhi shurakā’u mutashākisūna wa rajulan salaman lirajulin hal yastawiyāni mathalan. Alhamdu lillāhi. Bal aktharuhum lā ya‘lamūn. Allah draws and example: a man jointly owned by several contending masters, and a man … Read more