Reflection No. 133 on Q 5:8 – Justice

اعْدِلُوا هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ I‘dilū huwa aqrabu lit-taqwā Be just, that is closer to piety (Sūratul Mā’idah, No. 5, Āyat 8) There are few things as important as the concept of justice in Islam. Justice, like the oneness of God, pervades all roots and branches of religion. According to Tafsīr-e Namūne, just as all beliefs … Read more

Reflection No. 132 on Q 4:128 – Reconciliation

وَالصُّلْحُ خَيْرٌ waS-SulHu khary; And reconciliation is better (Sūratun Nisā’, No. 4,Āyat 128)   The word ‘sulh’ means to make peace, improve a relationship, to help overcome conflict, and create amicability between warring parties.   This short sentence from verse 128 of Sūratun Nisā’signifies an essential truth. For human beings harmony, affection, reconciliation, are natural … Read more

Reflection No. 131 on Q 4:79 – Good and Evil

مَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ ۖ وَمَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِنْ نَفْسِكَ Mā aswābaka min Hasanatin famimallāhi, wamā aswābaka minsayyiatin famin nafsika Whatever good happens to you, it is from Allah, and whatever evil happens to you, it is from yourself (Sūratun Nisā’, No. 4, Āyat 79).   Questions about (the origin of) evil … Read more

Reflection No. 130 on Q 64:14 – To forgive others

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَّكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ ۚ وَإِن تَعْفُوا وَتَصْفَحُوا وَتَغْفِرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١٤﴾ Yā ayyuhalladhīna āmanū innā min azwājikum wa-awlādikum ‘aduwwal-lakum faHdharūhum, wa-in ta‘fū wataSfaHU wataghfrū fainnallāha ghafurur-raHīm. O you believers! Indeed among your spouses and children you have enemies; beware of them. And if you excuse, forbear and … Read more

Reflection No. 129 on Q 21:2-3 – To be serious

مَا يَأْتِيهِمْ مِنْ ذِكْرٍ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ مُحْدَثٍ إِلَّا اسْتَمَعُوهُ وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونلَاهِيَةً قُلُوبُهُمْ Mā ya’tīhim min dhikrin mir-rabbihim muHdathin illā-stama‘ūhu wahum yal ‘abūna lāhiyatan qulūbuhum There does not come to them a new reminder from their Lord but they listen to it while they play around, their hearts set on diversions . . .  (Sūratul Anbiyā’ No. … Read more

Reflection No. 128 on Q 5:105 –  Concern of One’s Own Self

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ Yā ayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū ‘alaykum anfusakum O you who believe, take care of your ownselves (Sūratul Mā’idah, No. 5, āyat 105)   This verse tells believers not to worry about others, but be concerned about their own selves, and their guidance and progress in the way of Allah. Human beings … Read more

Reflection No. 127 on Q 3:135 – Istighfar

وَمَنْ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ Wa-may-yaghfirudh-dhunūba illal-lāh And who forgives the sins except Allah? Sūrat Āli ‘Imrān (No. 3), Āyat 135 As we end the holy month of Ramadan 1434 we hope that we are among those whom Allah has forgiven during this month. According to the Holy Prophet (s) the person who is not … Read more

Reflection No. 126 on Q 7:55 – Du‘ā

اُدْعُوا رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً Ud‘ū rabbakum tadharru‘an wa-khufyah Call on your Lord, humbly and secretly . . . Sūratul A‘rāf (No. 7), Āyat 55 Du‘ā is to call out to Allah. It is to seek help, comfort, guidance, etc. from the Creator. Human beings are fortunate to have the doors of Du‘ā open for them. … Read more

Reflection No. 125 on Q 5:114 – Eid

قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا وَآيَةً مِنْكَ Qāla ‘Īsa-bnu maryama allāhumma rabbanā anzil ‘alayjnā mā’idatam-minas-samā’i takūnu lanā ‘īdan li-awwalinā wa-ākhirana wa-āyatam-minka Isa, son of Mary, said: O Allah, Lord of us! Send down for us a table spread with food from heaven, that it may … Read more

Reflection No. 124 on Q 4:86 – Greeting each other

وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُمْ بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَسِيبًا Wa-idhā Huyyītum bitaHiyyatin fa-Hayyū bi-aHsana minhā aw rudūhā. Innallāha kāna ‘alā kulli shay’in Hasība And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet with a better (greeting) than it or return it; surely Allah takes account of all things. … Read more