Bismillah. لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَنزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ Certainly, We sent Our apostles with manifest proofs, and We sent down with them the Book and the Balance, so that mankind may maintain justice. (Sūrat al-Hadid, No. 57, Āyat 25) Human societies have always wanted peace. They need peace to progress both individually and … Read more
Bismillah. لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ۖ وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ He has no partner. I have been commanded to follow this creed and I am the first of those who submit [to Allah]. (Sūrat al-An‘ām, No. 6, Āyat 163) A few verses of the Quran refer to the Prophet of Islam sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-ālihi wasallam as … Read more
Bismillah. فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُنجِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ So, We answered his prayer and delivered him from sorrow; and thus do We deliver the faithful. (Sūrat al-Anbiyā No. 21, Āyat 88) The story of Prophet Yūnus ‘alayhis-salām and his mission to the large city of Nineveh was discussed in previous reflections. To recap, the … Read more
Bismillah. وَأَنزَلْنَا ٱلْحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأْسٌۭ شَدِيدٌۭ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُۥوَرُسُلَهُۥ بِٱلْغَيْبِإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌۭ And We sent down iron, wherein is mighty power and benefits for the people, and so that Allah maymake evident those who support Him and His messengers in secret.Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted (Sūrat al-Hadīd, no.57, Āyat 25) As mentioned … Read more
Bismillah. يَـٰٓأَيَّتُهَا ٱلنَّفْسُ ٱلْمُطْمَئِنَّةُ, ٱرْجِعِىٓ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكِ رَاضِيَةًۭ مَّرْضِيَّةًۭ O Soul at Peace, return to your Lord, pleased and pleasing (Sūrat Al-Fajr, No.89, Āyat 27-28) This verse is a direct address from the Almighty to an extraordinary soul, one that is exceptional due to its being tranquil. The scholars of Arabic dictionary point out that the … Read more
Bismillah. فَلَوْلَا كَانَتْ قَرْيَةٌ آمَنَتْ فَنَفَعَهَا إِيمَانُهَا إِلَّا قَوْمَ يُونُسَ لَمَّا آمَنُوا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُمْ عَذَابَ الْخِزْيِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ Why has there not been any town that might believe, so that its belief might benefit it, except the people of Yunus? When they believed, We removed from them the punishment of disgrace … Read more
Bismillāh. فَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ وَلَا تَكُن كَصَاحِبِ الْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَىٰ وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ So, submit patiently to the judgement of your Lord, and do not be like the Man of the Fish who called out as he choked with grief. (Sūrat al-Qalam No. 68, Āyat 48) One of the Prophets of Allah whose story is briefly referred to … Read more
Bismillāh. إِنَّ سَعْيَكُمْ لَشَتَّىٰ , فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَىٰ وَٱتَّقَىٰ , وَصَدَّقَ بِٱلْحُسْنَىٰ , فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُۥ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ Your endeavours are indeed diverse. As for him who gives and is God-conscience, and confirms the best promise, We will surely ease him toward facility. (Sūrat al-Layl, No. 92, Āyat 4-7) The first three verses of Sūrat al-Layl begin with contrasting … Read more
Bismillāh. وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا لُقْمَانَ الْحِكْمَةَ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِلَّهِ وَمَن يَشْكُرْ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ Certainly, We gave Luqmān wisdom, saying, ‘Give thanks to Allah; and whoever gives thanks, gives thanks only for his own sake. And whoever is ungrateful, [let him know that] Allah is indeed all-Sufficient, all-Praiseworthy.’ (Sūrat Luqmān … Read more
Bismillāh. قَالُوا وَمَا لَنَا أَلَّا نُقَاتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَقَدْ أُخْرِجْنَا مِن دِيَارِنَا وَأَبْنَائِنَا ۖ فَلَمَّا كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْقِتَالُ تَوَلَّوْا إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنْهُمْ They said, ‘Why should we not fight in the way of Allah, when we have been expelled from our homes and [separated from] our children?’ But when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned … Read more