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

Reflection No. 220 on Q 51:18 – The sahr: time of seeking forgiveness

وَبِالْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ And in the early part of the morning they asked forgiveness. (Sūratuz Zāriyāt, No. 51, Āyat 18) One of the qualities of the true believers as described in the verse above is seeking forgiveness in the very early hours of the morning. This refers to the Salātul Layl, the prayer recited after … Read more

Reflection No. 219 on Q 17:82 – The Quran as healing & mercy

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ Wa-nunazzilu minal-qur’āni mā huwa shifā’un waraHmatun lil-mu’minin We send down from the Quran what is a cure and a mercy to the faithful. (Sūratul Isrā’ No. 17, Āyat 82) Almighty Allah has revealed the Holy Quran as a healing and a mercy for believers. These two qualities … Read more

Reflection No. 218 on Q 2:186 – Closeness to God

وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ Wa-idhā sa’alaka ‘ibādī ‘annī fa-innī qarīb If My worshippers ask you about Me, I am near (Sūratul Baqarah, No. 2, Āyat 186) The aim of every act of worship is to seek nearness to Almighty Allah. The above verse is part of the passage on fasting and Allah brings … Read more

Reflection No. 217 on Q 2:185 – Understanding the Spirit of Fasting

يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ Yurīdullāhu bikumul-yusra walā yurīdu bikumul-‘usr Allah desires ease for you and He does not desire hardship for you (Sūratul Baqarah, No. 2, Āyat 185) This verse is part of a passage about fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. Almighty Allah states an important truth: He does … Read more

Reflection No. 216 on Q 17:44 – Tasbīh of the Universe

وَإِنْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَٰكِنْ لَا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ Wa-in min shayin illā yusabbiHu biHamdihi walākin lā tafqahūna tusabbīHahum There is not a thing but celebrates His praise, but you do not understand their glorification. (Sūratul Isrā, No. 17, Āyat 44) Tasbīh is a glorification of Allah. It proclaims that He is free of … Read more

Reflection No. 215 on Q 54:55 – Being the Guest of Allah

فِي مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ عِنْدَ مَلِيكٍ مُقْتَدِرٍ Fī maq ‘adi sidqin ‘inda malīkin muqtadir In the seat of Truth, with a most Powerful King. (Sūratul Qamar, No. 54, Āyat 55) This verse talks about the reward of the pious and God conscious believers. They will be in Heaven hosted by Allah. The description of their place … Read more