Reflection No. 104 on Q 20:14 – Foundations of Faith

إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي Innanee Anallaahu laa ilaaha ilaa ana. Fa`budnee, wa-aqimis-salaati lidhikree. Surely I am Allah, there is no god but Me, therefore serve Me and keep up prayer for My remembrance. Surat Taha (No.20), Ayat 14 As part of the first revelation received by Nabi Musa (a), … Read more

Reflection No. 103 on Q 35:15 – Dependence on God

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنْتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ Yaa-ayyuhan-naasu antumul-fuqaraa’u ilallaah, wallaahu huwal-ghaniyul-Hameed O mankind! you are the ones who stand in need of Allah, and Allah, He is the All-Sufficient, the All-Praised. – Suratul Fatir (No. 35), Ayat 15 Human beings are completely poor and needy in front of God. In … Read more

Reflection No. 102 on Q 10:54 – Regret

 وَأَسَرُّوا النَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا الْعَذَابَ ۖ وَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ بِالْقِسْطِ Wa-asirrun-nadaamata lamma rawul-`adhaaba, wa qudhiya baynahum bil-qist They will hide their remorse when they see the punishment, and judgement will be made between them with justice. Surat Yunus (No. 10), Ayat 54 This verse describes the scene on the Day of Judgment when there will be … Read more

Reflection No. 101 on Q 5:2 – Working together for a common good

وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ Wata‘aawanoo ‘alal-birri wat-taqwaa. Walaa ta‘aawanoo ‘alal-ithmi wal-‘udwaan (O you who believe) . . . help one another in piety and goodness and do not help one another in sin and aggression Suratul Mai’dah (No. 5), Ayat 2 Islam encourages its followers to work together for … Read more

Reflection No. 100 on Q 56:10-11 – Nearness to Allah

وَالسَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ أُولَٰئِكَ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ Wassaabiqoonas-saabiqoon. Ulaa’ikal-muqarraboon And the Foremost (in Faith) will be the Foremost (in the Hereafter). These will be the ones nearest to Allah. Suratul Waqi‘ah  (No.56), Aayaat 10-11 Human beings often lead lives that are lonely and unfulfilled. Although surrounded by family and friends, and many of the trappings of worldly success, they … Read more

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