Reflection No. 136 on Q 33:70 – Taqwā

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا Yā ayyuhalladhīna āmanūt-taqullāh wa-qulū qawlan sadīda O you who believe! Be God conscious and speak upright words (Sūratul AHzāb, No. 33, Āyat 70)   Words of the human being are a reflection of what goes on in the heart and mind of the person. The cleanliness … Read more

Reflection No. 135 on Q 12:92 – Nobility of spirit

قَالَ لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ ۖ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ Qāla lā tathrība ‘alaykumul-yawma, yaghfirullāhu lakum, wa-huwa arHamur-rāHimīn He said: There shall be no reproof against you this day; Allah may forgive you, and He is the most Merciful of the merciful (Sūrat Yūsuf, No. 12, Āyat 92) When the brothers of Nabī Yūsuf (a) recognized … Read more

Reflection No. 134 on Q 20:132 – Perseverance in Salaat

 وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَاصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا – Wa’mur ahlaka bi-SSalāti wa-STabir ‘alayhā And bid your family to prayer and be steadfast in its maintenance. (Sūra Tāhā, Āyat 132) Out of all the actions that Allah has made obligatory on us, none is as quintessential to spirituality and closeness to Allah as is Salāt. Salāt, i.e. the ritual prayer, … Read more

Reflection No. 133 on Q 5:8 – Justice

اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ I‘dilū huwa aqrabu lit-taqwā Be just, that is closer to piety (Sūratul Mā’idah, No. 5, Āyat 8) There are few things as important as the concept of justice in Islam. Justice, like the oneness of God, pervades all roots and branches of religion. According to Tafsīr-e Namūne, just as all beliefs … Read more

Reflection No. 132 on Q 4:128 – Reconciliation

وَالصُّلْحُ خَيْرٌ waS-SulHu khary; And reconciliation is better (Sūratun Nisā’, No. 4,Āyat 128)   The word ‘sulh’ means to make peace, improve a relationship, to help overcome conflict, and create amicability between warring parties.   This short sentence from verse 128 of Sūratun Nisā’signifies an essential truth. For human beings harmony, affection, reconciliation, are natural … Read more

Reflection No. 131 on Q 4:79 – Good and Evil

مَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ ۖ وَمَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِنْ نَفْسِكَ Mā aswābaka min Hasanatin famimallāhi, wamā aswābaka minsayyiatin famin nafsika Whatever good happens to you, it is from Allah, and whatever evil happens to you, it is from yourself (Sūratun Nisā’, No. 4, Āyat 79).   Questions about (the origin of) evil … Read more

Reflection No. 130 on Q 64:14 – To forgive others

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَّكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ ۚ وَإِن تَعْفُوا وَتَصْفَحُوا وَتَغْفِرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١٤﴾ Yā ayyuhalladhīna āmanū innā min azwājikum wa-awlādikum ‘aduwwal-lakum faHdharūhum, wa-in ta‘fū wataSfaHU wataghfrū fainnallāha ghafurur-raHīm. O you believers! Indeed among your spouses and children you have enemies; beware of them. And if you excuse, forbear and … Read more

Reflection No. 129 on Q 21:2-3 – To be serious

مَا يَأْتِيهِمْ مِنْ ذِكْرٍ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ مُحْدَثٍ إِلَّا اسْتَمَعُوهُ وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونلَاهِيَةً قُلُوبُهُمْ Mā ya’tīhim min dhikrin mir-rabbihim muHdathin illā-stama‘ūhu wahum yal ‘abūna lāhiyatan qulūbuhum There does not come to them a new reminder from their Lord but they listen to it while they play around, their hearts set on diversions . . .  (Sūratul Anbiyā’ No. … Read more

Reflection No. 128 on Q 5:105 –  Concern of One’s Own Self

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ Yā ayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū ‘alaykum anfusakum O you who believe, take care of your ownselves (Sūratul Mā’idah, No. 5, āyat 105)   This verse tells believers not to worry about others, but be concerned about their own selves, and their guidance and progress in the way of Allah. Human beings … Read more

Reflection No. 127 on Q 3:135 – Istighfar

وَمَنْ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ Wa-may-yaghfirudh-dhunūba illal-lāh And who forgives the sins except Allah? Sūrat Āli ‘Imrān (No. 3), Āyat 135 As we end the holy month of Ramadan 1434 we hope that we are among those whom Allah has forgiven during this month. According to the Holy Prophet (s) the person who is not … Read more