Quranic Reflection No. 480. Āyat 20:40 – Acquiring a measure of perfection

ثُمَّ جِئْتَ عَلَىٰ قَدَرٍ يَا مُوسَى Thumma ji’ta ‘alā qadarin yā Mūsā Then you turned up as ordained, O Mūsā (Sūrat TāHā, No 20, Āyat 40) Verses 11 to 47 of Sūrat TāHā talk about the conversation that Allah ‘azza wajall had with Prophet Mūsā ‘alayhis salām at the encounter on Mt Sinai. There are a lot of matters … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 479. Āyat 4:9 – Empathy for Orphans

وَلْيَخْشَ الَّذِينَ لَوْ تَرَكُوا مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّةً ضِعَافًا خَافُوا عَلَيْهِمْ Walyakhshal-ladhīna law tarakū min khalfihim dhurriyatan dhi‘āfan khāfū ‘alayhim Let those fear [the result of mistreating orphans] who, were they to leave behind weak offspring, would be concerned on their account. (Sūrat al-Nisā, No 4, Āyat 9) When Allah ‘azza wajall talks about the importance of treating … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 478. Āyat 57:23 – A Balanced Mindset

لِكَيْلَا تَأْسَوْا عَلَی مَا فَاتَكُمْ وَلاَ تَفْرَحُوا بِمَا آتَاكُمْ  Likaylā ta’saw alā mā fātakum wa lā tafrahū bimā ātākum So that you may not grieve for what escapes you nor boast for what comes your way (Sūrat al-Hadīd, No. 57, Āyat 23) We live in an interesting time, where society has us so caught up … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 477. Āyat 16:26 – The Collapse of Unjust Establishment

قَدْ مَكَرَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَأَتَى اللَّـهُ بُنْيَانَهُم مِّنَ الْقَوَاعِدِ فَخَرَّ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّقْفُ مِن فَوْقِهِمْ وَأَتَاهُمُ الْعَذَابُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ Qad makaralladhīna min qablihim fa-atallāhu bunyānahum minal-qwā’idi fakharra ‘alayhimus-saqfu min fawqihim wa-atāhumul-‘adhābu min haythu lā yash‘urūn Those before them also devised plans, but Allah demolished their building from the foundations, and the roof fell … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 472. Āyat 13:43 – Imam Ali in the Quran

وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَسْتَ مُرْسَلًا ۚ قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ Wayaqūlul-ladhīna kafarū lastma mursalan. Qul kafā billāhi shahīdan baynī wabaynakum wamin ‘indahu ‘ilmul-kitāb And those who disbelieve say: You are not a messenger. Say: Allah is sufficient as a witness between me and you, and whoever has knowledge of … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 473. Āyat 41:30 – Steadfastness on the Journey to Allah

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنْتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ Innaladhīna qālū rabbunal-lāhu thummas-taqāmū tatanazzalu ‘alayhimul-malā’ikatu allā takhāfū walā tahzanū wa-abshirū bil-jannatil-latī kuntum tū‘adūn Indeed, those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah!’ and then remain steadfast, the angels descend upon them, [saying,] ‘Do not fear, nor … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 474. Āyat 2:250 – Praying for Strength

رَبَّنا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنا صَبْراً وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدامَنا وَانْصُرْنا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكافِرِينَ Rabbanā afrigh ‘alaynā sabran wa thabbit aqdāmanā wansurnā ‘alalqawmil-kāfirīn Our Lord pour down upon us patience and make our steps firm and assist us against the unbelieving people. (Sūrat al-Baqarah, No. 2, Āyat 250) This verse is part of a set of verses that describe … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 475. Āyat 58:11 – Spending time in seeking knowledge

يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ Yarfa‘i-llāhul-ladhīna āmanū minkum walladhīna ūtul-‘ilma darajāt Allah will raise in rank those of you who have faith and those who have been given knowledge. (Sūrat al-Mujādilah, No 58, Āyat 11) In verses 9 – 11 of this sūra, Almighty Allah ‘azza wajall talks about certain rules for social … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 476. Āyat 2:189 – Following the Right Course of Action

وَلَيْسَ الْبِرُّ بِأَن تَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِن ظُهُورِهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنِ اتَّقَىٰ ۗ  وَأْتُوا الْبُيُوتَ مِنْ أَبْوَابِهَا ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ Wa laysal-birru bi-an ta’tūl-buyūta min zuhūrihā wallakinnal-birra manittaqā, wa’tul-buyūta min abwābiha. wattaqullāha la‘allakum tuflihūn It is not righteousness that you enter houses from the back; rather, righteousness is [personified by] one who is God … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 472. Āyat 13:43 – Imam Ali in the Quran

وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَسْتَ مُرْسَلًا ۚ قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ Wayaqūlul-ladhīna kafarū lastma mursalan. Qul kafā billāhi shahīdan baynī wabaynakum wamin ‘indahu ‘ilmul-kitāb And those who disbelieve say: You are not a messenger. Say: Allah is sufficient as a witness between me and you, and whoever has knowledge of … Read more