Bismillāh. قَالُوا وَمَا لَنَا أَلَّا نُقَاتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَقَدْ أُخْرِجْنَا مِن دِيَارِنَا وَأَبْنَائِنَا ۖ فَلَمَّا كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقِتَالُ تَوَلَّوْا إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنْهُمْ They said, ‘Why should we not fight in the way of Allah, when we have been expelled from our homes and [separated from] our children?’ But when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned … Read more
Bismillāh, لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَنزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ ٱلنَّاسُ بِٱلْقِسْطِ Certainly, We sent Our apostles with manifest proofs, and We sent down with them the Book and the Balance, so that mankind may maintain justice. (Sūrat al-Hashr, No. 57, Āyat 25) There are many verses of the Holy Quran which refer to why … Read more
Bismillāh, وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَمْوَٰتًۢا ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَآءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ Do not suppose those who were slain in the way of Allah to be dead; no, they are living, and provided for near their Lord. (Sūrat Āli Imrān, No. 3, Āya169) This verse was revealed after the battle of ‘Uhud when the … Read more
Bismillāh. إِنَّهُ مِن سُلَيْمَانَ وَإِنَّهُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ It is from Sulaymān, and it begins in the name of Allah, the all-Beneficent, the all-Merciful. (Sūrat al-Naml no.27, Āyat 30) The queen of Sheba is the only woman mentioned in the Quran as a ruler. She was regarded as among the wisest women of her … Read more
Bismillāh. سَأَلَ سَائِلٌ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُ دَافِعٌ An asker asked for a punishment sure to befall, which none can avert from the disbelievers. (Sūrat al-Ma‘ārij, No.70, Āyat 1-2) Most of the Quran reminds us of the mercy of Allah, subhānahu wata‘ālā It is repeated 113 times at the beginning of each sūrah, and twice within Sūrat al-Naml. Indeed … Read more
Bismillāh سَأَلَ سَائِلٌ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُ دَافِعٌ An asker asked for a punishment sure to befall, which none can avert from the disbelievers. (Sūrat al-Ma‘ārij, No.70, Āyat 1-2) Most of the Quran reminds us of the mercy of Allah, subhānahu wata‘ālā It is repeated 113 times at the beginning of each sūrah, and twice within Sūrat al-Naml. Indeed … Read more
Bismillāh. فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَاقِعِ النُّجُومِ. وَإِنَّهُ لَقَسَمٌ لَّوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ. إِنَّهُ لَقُرْآنٌ كَرِيمٌ. فِي كِتَابٍ مَّكْنُونٍ. لَّا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ. تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ I swear by the places where the stars set! And indeed, it is a great oath, should you know. This is indeed a noble Qur’an, in a guarded Book —no one … 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) In this last verse of al-Nahl, Allah, ‘subhānahu wata‘ālā, links taqwā and virtue together. Many verses also talk about this link between the two qualities. According to Islam piety and virtue go together. … Read more
Bismillāh جَزَآؤُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًۭا رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَشِىَ رَبَّهُۥ Their reward with their Lord will be gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them and they with Him. That is for whoever … Read more
Bismillāh. يَا أَيُّهَا الْإِنسَانُ إِنَّكَ كَادِحٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَدْحًا فَمُلَاقِيهِ O man! You are laboring toward your Lord laboriously, and you will encounter Him. (Sūrat al-Inshiqāq, No. 84, Āyat 6) This verse addresses mankind regardless of their creed or worldview, and regardless of whether they are living a life of piety or one of sin. … Read more