لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ فِي كَبَدٍ laqad khalaqnal-insāna fī kabad Certainly We have created man to be in distress (Sūratul Balad, No. 90, Āyat 4) In the above verse Allah declares an important truth; a truth that may not be palatable to the human being. Life for human beings is often distressful and replete with travail. … Read more
وَإِذَا مَسَّ الْإِنْسَانَ الضُّرُّ دَعَانَا لِجَنْبِهِ أَوْ قَاعِدًا أَوْ قَائِمًا فَلَمَّا كَشَفْنَا عَنْهُ ضُرَّهُ مَرَّ كَأَنْ لَمْ يَدْعُنَا إِلَىٰ ضُرٍّ مَسَّهُ Wa-idhā massal-insānadh-dhurru da‘āna li-janbihi aw qā‘idan aw qā’iman falammā kashafnā ‘anhudhurrahū marra ka-al-lam yad‘unā ilā dhurri massah When distress befalls man he supplicates to Us [lying] on his side, sitting, or standing; but when … Read more
وَلَمْ أَكُنْ بِدُعَائِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّا walam akum bidu‘āki rabbi shaqiyya And never have I been disappointed, my Lord, in my supplication to You. (Sūrat Maryam, No. 19, Āyat 4) When a believer supplicates and prays to Allah, he prays with full conviction that Allah will hear and answer. The answer may not always come in … Read more
إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُم Inna ‘iddatash-shuhūri ‘indallāhi-thnā ‘ashara sharan fī kitābi-llāhi yawma khalaqas-samāwāti wal-ardha minhā arba‘atun hurum Indeed the number of months with Allah is twelve months in Allah’s Book, the day when He created the heavens and the earth. Of … Read more
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُو ا . . . وَتَعَاوَنُواعَلَىالْبِرِّوَالتَّقْوَىٰ Yā ayyuhal-ladhīna āmanū . . . wa-ta‘āwanū ‘alal-birri wat-taqwā O, You who believe . . . help one another in goodness and piety (Sūratul Mā’idah, No. 5, Āyat 2) This verse emphasizes the necessity of cooperating and supporting in virtue and piety. Āyatullāh Nāsir Makārim Shirāzī … Read more
ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ Idfa‘ billatī hiya aHsan Repel evil with what is best (Sūrat Fussilat, No. 41, Āyat 34) One of the highest signs of a noble character is to be able to do good to someone who has been mean to you. It requires strength of character and an ego free mind. … Read more
وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ – wa shāwirhum fil-amri And consult with them in (certain) matters (Sūrat Āli Imrān, No. 3, Āyat 159) Consulting others and taking their opinions reveals a level of trust and respect for them. The practice of consulting others has many benefits. It stimulates thought, enhances self-esteem, strengthens relationships, and binds society together. … Read more
وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِين – wallāhu khayrur-rāziqīn And Allah is the best of Sustainers (Sūratul Jumu‘ah, No. 62, Āyat 11) Financial stress has a huge impact on people’s emotional lives. We worry about income, paying bills, financial stability etc. Although it is necessary to work hard and struggle to achieve the sustenance we need, many verses … Read more
قُلْ لَا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ Qul lā amlikku linafsī dharrawn-walā naf‘an illā mā shā’a-llāhu Say: I have no control over my harms or any benefits except what Allah pleases (Sūrat Yūnus, No. 10, Āyat 49) Human beings often see themselves as in charge of most of the things they … Read more
أَلَا إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَ اللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ Alā inna awliyā’a-llāhi lā khawfun ‘alayhim walā hum yaHzanūn Now surely the friends of Allah – they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve (Sūrat Yūnus, No, 10, Āyat 62). The word ‘awliya’ in the verse above refers to those who are close … Read more