Reflection No. 99 on Q 41:30 – Qualities of a believer

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا Innalladheena qaaloo Rabbuna-llaah thummas-taqaamoo, tatanazzalu ‘alayhimul-malaa’ikatu: allaa takhaafoo, walaa taHzanoo Surely those who say Our Lord is Allah, then are steadfast, the angels descend upon them saying; Fear not nor be grieved. ..Surat Ha Mim (No. 41), Aayat 30 This verse … Read more

Reflection No. 98 on Q 17:7 – Freedom of Choice

إِنْ أَحْسَنتُمْ أَحْسَنتُمْ لأَنفُسِكُمْ وَإِنْ أَسَأْتُمْ فَلَهَا In ahsantum ahsantum li-anfusikum, wa-in asa’tum falahaa If you do good, you do good for your own souls, and if you do evil, it is for them [the souls] Suratul Israa (No. 17), verse 7 This verse is an address to the Bani Israel, but is a statement … Read more

Reflection No. 96 on Q 21:94 – Working Hard for Good Deeds

 فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتِ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَا كُفْرَانَ لِسَعْيِهِ وَإِنَّا لَهُ كَاتِبُونَ Famay-ya‘mal minas-swāliHāti wahuwa mu’minun falā kufrānaa lisa‘yihi wa-inna lahu kātibūn. Whoever shall do of good deeds and he is a believer, his endeavor shall not go unappreciated, and We will indeed write it down for him. (Sūratul Ambiyā, Āyat 94) The human being … Read more

Reflection No. 95 on Q 40:61 – Ingratitude to Allah

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى النَّاسِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ Innallāha ladhū fadlin ‘alan-nāsi walākinna aktaharan-nāsi lā yashkurūn Allah is full of grace to mankind, but most people are not grateful. (Sūrat Ghāfir, No.40, Āyat 61) Ingratitude to Allah is a common quality among mankind. But that does not make it acceptable. It is … Read more

Reflection No. 94 on Q 49:12 – Suspicions and Negative Assumptions

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ Yā ayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū-jtanibū kathīram-minaz-zanni inna ba‘daz-zanni ithm O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion. Indeed some suspicions are sins. (Sūratul Hujurāt, No. 49, Āyat 12) Suspicions, or negative assumptions, are deadly in relationships. Assumptions, both positive and negative, make up a big part … Read more

Reflection No. 93 on Q 5:74 – Forgivness and Repentance

أَفَلَا يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ Will they not then turn to Allah and ask His forgiveness? And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Sura Maidah, verse 74 The door of repentance and forgiveness that Allah has kept open for the believers is a sign of His great love for them. He has told … Read more

Reflection No. 92 on Q 5:83 – Remembering Allah with Emotion

تَرَىٰ أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُوا مِنَ الْحَقِّ you see their eyes overflowing with tears on account of the truth that they recognize Sura Maidah, verse 83 Tears are an authentic sign of emotional turbulence. When the heart is overwhelmed with emotion, it releases it through tears. That is why psychologists believe it is … Read more

Reflection No. 91 on Q 61:2 – Matching your Actions with your Words

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لَا تَفْعَلُونَ O you who believe! why do you say that which you do not do? Sura Saff, verse 2 Many believers want to do good, and say they will, but they lack the determination to follow on what they say. This weakness is reproached in this verse, … Read more

Reflection No. 90 on Q 23:99-100 – Regret

رَبِّ ارْجِعُونِ لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ My Lord! Send me back, so that I may do good in that which I left. Sura Mu’minun, verse 99-100 Regret is a very difficult pill to swallow. It has been described as a negative emotion that creates a sorrowful feeling of loss. A frustration at a missed … Read more