Quranic Reflection No. 496. Āyat 21: 107 – Mercy to the Universe

وَ ما أَرْسَلْناكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِلْعالَمِين‏ Wa mā arsalnāka illā rahmatan lil‘ālamīn We did not send you but as a mercy to all the nations. (Sūrat al-Anbiyā, No.21, Āyat 107) If we look back in history, each prophet sent as a guide for the people came with a unique story and manifested Divine attributes to … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 495. Āyat 73: 1 & 2 – The Night Vigil and Inner Strength

يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا Yā ayyuhal-muzammil, qumil-layla illā qalīla O you wrapped up in your mantle! Stand vigil through the night, except for a little of it. (Sūrat al-Muzzammil, No 73, Āyāt 1-2) Sūrat al-Muzzammil was revealed in Madīna and Mufassirūn believe that the first few verses were revealed in the early … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 494. Āyat 9:61 – The Prophet’s active listening

وَمِنْهُمُ الَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ النَّبِيَّ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ أُذُنٌ ۚ قُلْ أُذُنُ خَيْرٍ لَّكُمْ Waminhumul-ladhīna yu’dhan-nabiyya wayaqūlūna huwa udhunu khayrin lakum Among them are those who torment the Prophet, and say, ‘He is (all) ear.’ Say, ‘An ear that is good for you. (Sūrat al-Tawba, No 9, Āyat 61) In this verse Allah ‘azza wajall talks about how the … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 493. Āyat 10:23 – Human transgressions only hurt themselves

  يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّمَا بَغْيُكُمْ عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِكُم Yā ayyuhannāsu innamā baghyukum ‘alā anfusikum O mankind! Your violations are only to your own detriment. (Sūrat Yūnus, No 10, Āyat 23) In Sūrat Yūnus Almighty Allah talks about a people who when facing a storm in life beseech Allah to save them and they promise to … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 492. Āyat 15:97 – Reacting to lack of civility

وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ يَضِيقُ صَدْرُكَ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ Walaqad na‘lamu annaka yadhīqu sadraka bimā yaqūlūn Surely, We know that your chest tightens because of what they say. (Sūrat al-Hijr, No 15, Āyat 97) This verse was sent as a consolation to Holy Prophet Muhammad sallal-lāhu ‘alayhi wa-ālihi wasallam who was distressed by the mockery and jibes of the … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 491. Āyat 30:30 – Mankind’s God-Seeking Nature

  فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا فِطْرَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ Fa aqim wajhaka liddíni hanīfā fitratallāhillatī fatarannāsa ‘alayhā lā tabdīla likhalqillāhi dhālikaddīnul qayyim walākinna aktharannāsi lā ya‘lamūn So set your heart as a person of pure faith on this religion, the original … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 490. Āyat 26:227 – The Consequences of Oppression

وَسَيَعْلَمُ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَيَّ مُنقَلَبٍ يَنقَلِبُونَ Wasaya‘lamul-ladhīna zalamū ayya munqalibin yanqalibūn And the wrongdoers will soon know at what final place they will end up (Sūrat al-Shu‘arā, No 26, Āyat 227) This verse is a clear warning to those who are guilty of oppression. The word ‘munqalabīn’ is from ‘inqilāb’, to turn around. The wrongdoers … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 489. Āyat 39:74 – Reward of the Righteous

وَقَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ الَّذِي صَدَقَنَا وَعْدَهُ وَأَوْرَثَنَا الْأَرْضَ نَتَبَوَّأُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ نَشَاءُ ۖ فَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ الْعَامِلِينَ Waqālūl-hamdu lillāhil-ladhī sadqanā wa‘dahū wa-awrathanāl-ardha natabawwa’u minal-jannati hathyu nashā, fani‘ma ajrul-‘āmilīn They will say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah, who has fulfilled His promise to us and made us inheritors of the earth, that we may settle in … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 488. Āyat 10:71 – Responding to Intimidation

فَأَجْمِعُوا أَمْرَكُمْ وَشُرَكَاءَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُنْ أَمْرُكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ غُمَّةً ثُمَّ اقْضُوا إِلَيَّ وَلَا تُنظِرُونِ Fa-ajami‘ū amrakum washurakā’akum thumma lā yakun amrukum ‘alaykum ghummatan thumma-qdhū ilayya walā tunzirūn So, conspire together, along with your partners, leaving nothing vague in your plan, then carry it out against me without giving me any respite. (Sūrat Yūnus, No 10, … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 487. Āyat 29:45 – Establishing the Salāt

وَ أَقِمِ الصَّلاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلاةَ تَنْهى‏ عَنِ الْفَحْشاءِ وَ الْمُنْكَرِ وَ لَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ Wa-aqimisalāta innasalāta tanhā ‘anil-fahshāi walmunkari waladhikullahi akbar And maintain the prayer. Indeed, the prayer prevents indecencies and wrongs, and the remembrance of Allah is surely greater (Surat al-‘Ankabūt, no.29, Āyat 45) As we approach the Day of ‘Āshurā’, we send our … Read more