وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ And the clothing of Taqwa, that is the best. Sura al- A’raf, verse 26 Clothing gives human beings an identity. It covers that which needs to be concealed, and is a source of beauty and adornment. Humans have always used attractive clothes to make themselves look good, to stand out at … Read more
لَوْ أَنْزَلْنَا هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَىٰ جَبَلٍ لَرَأَيْتَهُ خَاشِعًا مُتَصَدِّعًا مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ Had We sent down this Quran on a mountain, you would certainly have seen it falling down, splitting asunder because of the fear of Allah. Sura al-Hashr, verse 21 The effect of the Holy Quran on the human heart can be amazingly powerful. … Read more
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا O you who believe! Remember Allah, a frequent remembrance. Sura al-Ahzab, verse 41 Life in this world has many distractions. Distractions that distance you from God, create Ghaflat or heedlessness, harden the heart, and generally prevent you from reaching the high status that a human being can … Read more
وَعَجِلْتُ إِلَيْكَ رَبِّ لِتَرْضَى I hastened toward You, my Lord, so that You might be pleased Sura Taha, verse 84 When Nabi Musa (a) goes to get the rules of the Tawrat from Allah, and is accompanied by a group of the Bani Israel, he goes ahead of them and reaches the appointed place while … Read more
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ The believers are indeed brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren. Sura al-Hujurat, verse 10 Faith is a powerful unifying factor. It overcomes boundaries of race and background, of geographical locations and cultural differences. Faith speaks to the heart, and the bond between believers can be felt across many … Read more
وَلَمْ أَكُنْ بِدُعَائِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّا I have never been disappointed, my Lord, in my prayers to You. Sura Maryam, verse 4 These are the words of Nabi Zakaria (a) as he prays for a son. I am old and feeble, he says, and my hair has turned white. It seems unlikely that I can now … Read more
يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَنْ يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا He grants wisdom to whom He pleases, and whoever is granted wisdom, he indeed is given a great good Sura al Baqarah, verse 269 Often we confuse knowledge with wisdom. The two are quite different. Knowledge is information, facts, an acquired accumulation which … Read more
إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا Surely the Shaytan is your enemy, so treat him as an enemy Sura al-Fatir, verse 6 Awareness of an enemy means being on the alert. There is no time to be complacent. Especially when the enemy is hidden, when it can enter into your mind and thoughts, and whisper … Read more
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا أَنْصَارَ اللَّهِ O you who believe! be helpers (in the cause) of Allah Sura as-Saff, verse 14 How would you like to be part of the group that works for Allah on earth? It is a privileged position and an honor that is bestowed on those who are sincere in … Read more
إِنَّمَا أَشْكُو بَثِّي وَحُزْنِي إِلَى اللَّهِ I complain of my anguish and grief only to Allah Sura Yusuf, verse 86 Nabi Ya’qub (a) says these words when his sons tell him he will kill himself with grief over Yusuf (a). The Prophet tells his sons that he is not complaining to them. He complains … Read more