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
Bismillāh. إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوا وَّالَّذِينَ هُم مُّحْسِنُونَ Indeed, Allah is with those who are God conscious and those who are virtuous. Sūrat al-Nahl, No. 16, Āyat 128 During the battle of ‘Uhud, the Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-ālihi wasallam was greatly disturbed by the way his uncle Hamza was martyred. He complained to Allah … Read more
Bismillāh. Imam al-Sādiq (peace be upon him) has said: “The beginning of the year is the Night of Qadr. In it is written what shall transpire from one year to the next year.” Bihār al-Anwār, vol. 93, p. 3444 وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ …and so that you may magnify Allah for guiding … Read more
Bismillāh. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: “Indeed the doors of heaven are opened on the first night of the month of Ramadan, and they are not shut until the last night from it.” Bihār al-Anwār, vol. 10, p. 504 أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ … Read more