وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا فِي كُلِّ قَرْيَةٍ أَكَابِرَ مُجْرِمِيهَا لِيَمْكُرُوا فِيهَا Wakadhālika ja‘alnā fī kulli qaryatin akābira mujrimīhā liyamkuru fīhā Thus, have We installed in every town its major criminals that they may plot therein. (Sūrat al-An‘ām, No 6, Āyat 123) This intriguing verse can be better understood by analyzing its words. • The first word ‘kadhālika’ … Read more
فَمَهِّلِ الْكَافِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًا Famahhil al-kāfirīna amhilhum ruwaydā So, respite the unbelievers; give them a gentle respite (Sūrat al-Tāriq, No 86, Āyat 17) The Quran tells the Prophet (s) to give those who have rejected faith a respite – a break for a while to do what they want – before the consequences of their … Read more
يا وَيْلَتى لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلاناً خَلِيلًا Yā waylatā laytanī lam attakhidh fulānan khalīlā Woe to me! I wish I had not taken so and so as a friend! (Sūrat al-Furqan, No.25, Āyat 28) The company we keep says a lot about us. Friends have a tremendous influence over how we behave, think and even … Read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
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