Bismillāh. إِنَّ إِبْراهِيمَ لَحَلِيمٌ أَوَّاهٌ مُنِيبٌ Surely Ibrāhīm was forbearing, compassionate and repentant to Allāh. Sūrat Hūd, No. 11, Āyat 75 We remember the spirit and character of Prophet Ibrāhīm ‘alayhis-salām annually during the days of Dhul Hijjah. Through his sincerity, humility, and complete devotion to Allah ‘azza wajall, he became known as Khalīlullāh — … Read more
Bismillāh. وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا To Allah prostrates whoever there is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly… Sūrat al-Ra‘ad, No. 13, Āyat 15 To appreciate this verse, it is helpful to first clarify some of the terms used in it. The word sujūd is normally translated as ‘prostration’. … Read more
Bismillāh. إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ Indeed the prayer restrains from indecent and wrongful conduct, and the remembrance of Allah is surely greater. And Allah knows whatever [deeds] you do. Sūrat al-‘Ankabūt, No. 29, Āyat 45 After mentioning an important consequence of prayer, that is … Read more
Bismillāh. إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ Indeed the prayer restrains from indecent and wrongful conduct. Sūrat al-‘Ankabūt, No. 29, Āyat 45 In this final verse of the twentieth juz’ of the Qur’an, Allah says that prayer restrains believers from fahshā and munkar. The word fahshā means a repulsive and ugly act such as adultery, … Read more
Bismillāh. وَٱتَّخَذَ قَوْمُ مُوسَىٰ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ مِنْ حُلِيِّهِمْ عِجْلًۭا جَسَدًۭا لَّهُۥ خُوَارٌ ۚ أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّهُۥ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمْ وَلَا يَهْدِيهِمْ سَبِيلًا ۘ ٱتَّخَذُوهُ وَكَانُوا۟ ظَـٰلِمِينَ The people of Mūsā took up in his absence a calf [cast] from their ornaments—a body that gave out a lowing sound. Did they not regard that it did not … Read more
Bismillāh. إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ We have made it an Arabic Qur’ān so that you may exercise your reason. Sūrat al-Zukhruf, No. 43, Āyat 3 In many verses such as the above, Allah mentions the fact that the Qur’ān was revealed in the Arabic language. Such verses indicate an important belief that Muslims have: … Read more
Bismillāh. فَلَمَّا أَحَسَّ عِيسَىٰ مِنْهُمُ الْكُفْرَ قَالَ مَنْ أَنصَارِي إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ قَالَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ نَحْنُ أَنصَارُ اللَّهِ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَاشْهَدْ بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ When Jesus sensed their faithlessness, he said, ‘Who will be my helpers [on the path] toward Allah?’ The Disciples said, ‘We will be helpers of Allah. We have faith in Allah, and you … Read more
Bismillāh. أَتَدْعُونَ بَعْلًا وَتَذَرُونَ أَحْسَنَ الْخَالِقِينَ اللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ وَرَبَّ آبَائِكُمُ الْأَوَّلِينَ Do you invoke Ba‘al and abandon the best of creators, Allah, your Lord and Lord of your forefathers? Sūrat as-Sāffāt, No. 37, Āyāt 125-6 Prophet Ilyās (Elijah) ‘alayhis salām was among the descendants of Prophet Hārūn (a). He lived a few generations after Prophet Mūsā (a) … Read more
Bismillāh. وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صَادِقَ الْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولًا نَّبِيًّا And mention in the book, Ishmā‘īl. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and an apostle and prophet. Sūrat Maryam, No. 19, Āyat 54 According to narrations from the Ahl al-Bayt ‘alayhim al-salām, the Prophet Ismā‘īl mentioned in the above verse is … Read more
Bismillāh. قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَكَّى وَ ذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلَّى Successful is he who purifies his soul, remembers the name of his Lord, and prays. Sūrat Al-A‘lā, No. 87, Āyāt 14-15 What is success? All human beings seek success in life. This is a part of their Divinely gifted nature. Some human beings find success … Read more