وَلَمْ أَكُنْ بِدُعَائِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّا I have never been disappointed, my Lord, in my prayers to You. Sura Maryam, verse 4 These are the words of Nabi Zakaria (a) as he prays for a son. I am old and feeble, he says, and my hair has turned white. It seems unlikely that I can now … Read more
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ The believers are indeed brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren. Sura al-Hujurat, verse 10 Faith is a powerful unifying factor. It overcomes boundaries of race and background, of geographical locations and cultural differences. Faith speaks to the heart, and the bond between believers can be felt across many … Read more
يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَنْ يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا He grants wisdom to whom He pleases, and whoever is granted wisdom, he indeed is given a great good Sura al Baqarah, verse 269 Often we confuse knowledge with wisdom. The two are quite different. Knowledge is information, facts, an acquired accumulation which … Read more
إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا Surely the Shaytan is your enemy, so treat him as an enemy Sura al-Fatir, verse 6 Awareness of an enemy means being on the alert. There is no time to be complacent. Especially when the enemy is hidden, when it can enter into your mind and thoughts, and whisper … Read more
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُونُوا أَنْصَارَ اللَّهِ O you who believe! be helpers (in the cause) of Allah Sura as-Saff, verse 14 How would you like to be part of the group that works for Allah on earth? It is a privileged position and an honor that is bestowed on those who are sincere in … Read more
إِنَّمَا أَشْكُو بَثِّي وَحُزْنِي إِلَى اللَّهِ I complain of my anguish and grief only to Allah Sura Yusuf, verse 86 Nabi Ya’qub (a) says these words when his sons tell him he will kill himself with grief over Yusuf (a). The Prophet tells his sons that he is not complaining to them. He complains … Read more
أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ قَدْ Successful indeed are the believers, who are humble in their prayers Sura al-Muminun, verse 1-2 Everyone wants to be successful. But what is true success? The criteria for success may differ from person to person, hence we need the criteria from the Creator, who truly knows … Read more
كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً كَشَجَرَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌ وَفَرْعُهَا فِي السَّمَاء تُؤْتِي أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا A good word is like a good tree, whose root is firm and whose branches are in the sky, yielding its fruit in every season with the permission of its Lord. Sura Ibrahim, verse 24-25 The good word in … Read more
اِنَّ صَلوتِي وَ نُسُكِي وَ مَحْيَايَ وَ مَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ My prayers, my sacrifice, my life and my death, are for Allah the Lord of the worlds. Sura al-An’am, verse 162 This statement was made by the Holy Prophet (s) to declare his complete sincerity. All he did was only for Allah. He … Read more
اِنِّي ذَاهِبٌ اِلى رِبِّي سَيَهْدِيْنِي I am going towards my Lord, He will guide me. Sura as-Saffat, verse 99 This verse is the statement of Nabi Ibrahim (a) after he emerged from the fire, safe and unhurt. He is going to migrate to another place, and tells the people that I am going towards … Read more