Quranic Reflection No. 451. Āyat 6:120 – Outward and Inner Sins

وَذَرُوا ظَاهِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَبَاطِنَهُ Wadharū zāhiral-isthmi wabātinah Renounce outward sins and the inward ones. (Sūrat al-An‘ām, No 6, Āyat 120) This verse commands believers to stay away from sins completely, both the outer and the inner form of sins. The word used for sins in this verse is ‘ithm’, a word that originally means something … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 448. Āyat 28:24 – The Du ‘ā of Prophet Mūsā (a)

رَبِّ إِنِّي لِما أَنْزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ qala rabbi innī limā anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqīr My Lord! I am indeed in need of any good You may send down to me! ‏(Sūrat al-Qasas, No.28, Āyat 24) The Quran has many beautiful Du’ās that we can use daily.  One such Du’ā that we should … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 447. Āyat 4:147 – Allah appreciated good deeds

وَكَانَ اللَّـهُ شَاكِرًا عَلِيمًا Wakānallāhu shākiran ‘alimā And Allah is appreciative, all-knowing (Sūrat al-Nisā, No 4, Āyat 147) To thank someone is to respond to their act of kindness towards you and express appreciation for it. The Arabic word is ‘shukr’. Being grateful is a noble quality highly encouraged in Islam. According to the Quran, … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 446. Āyat 57:27 – Monasticism and Islam

وَرَهْبَانِيَّةً ابْتَدَعُوهَا مَا كَتَبْنَاهَا عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ رِضْوَانِ اللَّـهِ فَمَا رَعَوْهَا حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهَا Warhabāniyyatani-btada‘ūhā mā katabnāhā ‘alayhim illā-btighā’a ridhwāni-llāhi famā ra‘awhā haqqa ri‘āyatihā But as for monasticism, they innovated it—We had not prescribed it for them—only seeking Allah’s pleasure. Yet they did not observe it with due observance. (Sūrat al-Hadīd, No 57, Āyat 27) The … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 446. Āyat 57:27 – Monasticism and Islam

وَرَهْبَانِيَّةً ابْتَدَعُوهَا مَا كَتَبْنَاهَا عَلَيْهِمْ إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ رِضْوَانِ اللَّـهِ فَمَا رَعَوْهَا حَقَّ رِعَايَتِهَا Warhabāniyyatani-btada‘ūhā mā katabnāhā ‘alayhim illā-btighā’a ridhwāni-llāhi famā ra‘awhā haqqa ri‘āyatihā But as for monasticism, they innovated it—We had not prescribed it for them—only seeking Allah’s pleasure. Yet they did not observe it with due observance. (Sūrat al-Hadīd, No 57, Āyat 27) The … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 445. Āyat 5:41 – Combative Listening

سَمَّاعُونَ لِلْكَذِبِ سَمَّاعُونَ لِقَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ لَمْ يَأْتُوكَ Sammā‘ūna lilkadhibi sammā‘ūna liqawmin ākharīna lam ya’tūka They are listeners for the sake of a lie, listeners for another people who have not come to you (Sūrat al-Mā’idah, No 5, Āyat 41) The verse above talks about the qualities of the hypocrites, telling the Holy Prophet sallal-lāhu ‘alayhi … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 444. Āyat 5:41 – Active in disbelief

يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ لَا يَحْزُنْكَ الَّذِينَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْكُفْرِ مِنَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا آمَنَّا بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَلَمْ تُؤْمِنْ قُلُوبُهُمْ Ya ayyuhar-rasūlu lā yahzunkal-ladhīna yusāri‘ūna fil-kufri minal-ladhīna qālū āmannā biafwāhihim walam tu’min qulūbihum O Messenger! Do not grieve for those who are active in disbelief, such as those who say, ‘we believe’ with their mouths but their hearts … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 443. Āyat 59:19 – Not Forgetting Allah

وَلَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ نَسُوا اللَّهَ فَأَنسَاهُمْ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ Wa lā takūnū kalladhīna nasullāha fa-ansāhum anfusahum And do not be like those who forget Allah, so He makes them forget their own souls. It is they who are the transgressors. ‏(Sūrat al-Hashr, No.59, Āyat 19) We often try to prioritize different aspects of … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 442. Āyat 3:156 – Frustrating the Enemies

لِيَجْعَلَ اللَّـهُ ذَٰلِكَ حَسْرَةً فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ Liyaj‘alal-lāhu dhālika hasratan fī qulūbihim So that Allah may make it a regret in their hearts. (Sūrat Āli Imran, No 3, Āyat 156) When the Muslims went for the battle of ‘Uhud a group of the hypocrites and those who disbelieved refused to accompany them. Upon return of the … Read more

Quranic Reflection No. 441. Āyat 3:141 – Hidden blessings of mistakes

وَلِيُمَحِّصَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَيَمْحَقَ الْكَافِرِينَ Waliyumahhis-allāhul-ladhīna āmanū wayamhaqal-kāfirīn That He may purge those who believe and deprive the unbelievers of blessings. (Sūrat Āli Imrān, No 3, Āyat 141) This verse continues a passage talking about the battle of ‘Uhud and its results. In the verse before this Allah subhānahu wata‘ālā talks about shifting fortunes … Read more