يَوْمَ لَا يَنْفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ The day on which neither property nor children will avail, except he who comes to Allah with a sound heart. Sura Shuara, verses 87-89 Keeping the heart sound and healthy, free of diseases and flaws, is a difficult task. It is even harder … Read more
وَالَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَنْ يُوصَلَ And those who join that which Allah has commanded to be joined Sura ar-R’ad, verse 21 According to Tafsir, one of the things that Allah has commanded to join, or keep intact, is family relationships. The keeping of good relationships with family members is a religious duty. … Read more
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِنْ قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰ أَنْ يَكُونُوا خَيْرًا مِنْهُمْ O you who believe! Let not some people among you laugh at others, perhaps they may be better than them. Sura al-Hujurat, verse 11 Human beings tend to judge others. They deride differences and are quick to look down on those … Read more
وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَتَهَجَّدْ بِهِ نَافِلَةً لَكَ عَسَىٰ أَنْ يَبْعَثَكَ رَبُّكَ مَقَامًا مَحْمُودًا And during a part of the night, say the night prayer beyond what is incumbent on you; perhaps your Lord will raise you to a praiseworthy position. Sura al-Israa, verse 79 In the human being’s journey towards Allah, the fastest means of transportation … Read more
وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ And the clothing of Taqwa, that is the best. Sura al- A’raf, verse 26 Clothing gives human beings an identity. It covers that which needs to be concealed, and is a source of beauty and adornment. Humans have always used attractive clothes to make themselves look good, to stand out at … Read more
لَوْ أَنْزَلْنَا هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَىٰ جَبَلٍ لَرَأَيْتَهُ خَاشِعًا مُتَصَدِّعًا مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ Had We sent down this Quran on a mountain, you would certainly have seen it falling down, splitting asunder because of the fear of Allah. Sura al-Hashr, verse 21 The effect of the Holy Quran on the human heart can be amazingly powerful. … Read more
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا O you who believe! Remember Allah, a frequent remembrance. Sura al-Ahzab, verse 41 Life in this world has many distractions. Distractions that distance you from God, create Ghaflat or heedlessness, harden the heart, and generally prevent you from reaching the high status that a human being can … Read more
وَعَجِلْتُ إِلَيْكَ رَبِّ لِتَرْضَى I hastened toward You, my Lord, so that You might be pleased Sura Taha, verse 84 When Nabi Musa (a) goes to get the rules of the Tawrat from Allah, and is accompanied by a group of the Bani Israel, he goes ahead of them and reaches the appointed place while … Read more
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