Reflection No. 230 on Q 8:24 – An Invitation to be fully alive

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ Yā-ayyuhal-ladhīna āmanūs-tajībū lillāhi, walir-rasūli idhā du ‘ākum limā yuHyīkum O believers, respond to Allah and His Messenger when he calls you to that which grants you life  (Sūratul Anfal, No. 8, Āyat 24).   This verse announces an invitation to accept that which gives … Read more

Reflection No. 229 on Q 4:36 – Do Good to your Neighbors

وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ  Wabil-wālidayni iHsānā wabidhil-qurbā walyatāmā walmasākīnī waljāri dhilqurbā wajāril-junub And do good to parents, the relatives, the orphans, the needy, the near neighbour and the distant neighbor  (Sūratun Nisā, No. 4, Āyat 36) An important part of Islam after worship of Allah and fulfilling His … Read more

Reflection No. 228 on Q 13:22 – Turning away evil with good

وَيَدْرَءُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ Wayadra’ūna bilHasnatis-sayyi’ah And those who repel evil [conduct] with good.  Sūratul Ra‘d, No.13, Āyat 22 The Ulul Albāb have been mentioned in the Quran as a people of intellect and insight. Many verses describe their qualities, and the above verse is part of a passage (Q 13:20 -23) that describes nine different … Read more

Reflection No. 227 on Q 49:11 – Mocking Others

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِنْ قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰ أَنْ يَكُونُوا خَيْرًا مِنْهُمْ Yā-ayyuhlladhīna āmanū lā yaskhar qawmun min qawmin ‘asā an yakūnū khayran minhum O believers, let no group make fun of another, for they may be better than them. (Sūratul Hujurāt, No. 49, Āyat 11) In this verse Almighty Allah warns people … Read more

Reflection No. 5:33 on Q 25:47 – Purpose of Night and Day

وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ لِبَاسًا وَالنَّوْمَ سُبَاتًا وَجَعَلَ النَّهَارَ نُشُورًا Huwal-ladhī ja‘ala lakumul-layla libāsan wan-nawma subātan wa ja‘alan-nahāra nushūrā And He it is Who made the night a covering for you, and the sleep a rest, and He made the day to rise up again. (Sūratul Furqān, No.25, Āyat 47) This verse talks about … Read more

Reflection No. 225 on Q 22:11 – Conditional Worshipping

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ حَرْ‌فٍ ۖ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ‌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ ۖ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انقَلَبَ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ‌ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَ‌ةَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَ‌انُ الْمُبِينُ Waminan-nāsi man ya‘budul-lāha ‘alā ḥarfin fa-in aṣābahu khayruni-ṭma’anna bihi, wa-in aṣābathu fitnatunin-qalaba ‘alā wajhihi khasirad-dunyā wal-ākhirah. Dhālika huwa khusrānul mubīn And among people are those who worship … Read more

Reflection No. 224 on Q 33:39 – Fear only Allah

الَّذِينَ يُبَلِّغُونَ رِسَالَاتِ اللَّهِ وَيَخْشَوْنَهُ وَلَا يَخْشَوْنَ أَحَدًا إِلَّا اللَّهَ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ حَسِيبًا Alladhīna yuballighūna risālātil-lāhi wayakhshawnahu walā yakhshawna aḥadan illal-lāha; wakafā billāhi ḥasībā Those who deliver the messages of Allah and fear Him, and do not fear anyone but Allah; and Allah is sufficient to take account. (Sūratul Ahzāb, No. 33, Āyat 39) … Read more

Reflection No. 223 on Q 16:97 – A good spiritual life

مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً ۖ وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ Man ‘amila ṣāliḥan min dhakarin aw unthā wa huwa mu’minun falanuḥyiyannahu ḥayātan ṭayyiba, walanujziyannahum ajarahum biaḥsani mā kānū ya‘amalūn Whoever acts righteously, [whether] male or female, should he be faithful, – We shall revive him with … Read more

Reflection No. 222 on Q 2:185 – Exalting God at the end of Ramadan

وَلِتُكَبِّرُوا اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ Walitukabbiru-llāha ‘alā mā hadākum wala‘allakum tashkurūn That you exalt the greatness of Allah for guiding you and that you may give thanks. (Sūratul Baqarah, No. 2, Āyat 185) Commentary These words come at the end of a verse which talks about the holy month of Ramadan in which … Read more

Reflection No. 221 on Q 66:8 – Perfection of Spiritual Light

رَبَّنَا أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا Rabbanā atmim lanā nūranā waghfirlanā Our Lord! Perfect our Light for us and forgive us (Sūratu Tahrīm, No. 66, Āyat 8) The above verse is the supplication of the believers on the Day of Judgement. When they have already been forgiven and are being taken to Heaven, their light … Read more