Bismillāh, وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أَمْوَٰتًۢا ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَآءٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يُرْزَقُونَ Do not suppose those who were slain in the way of Allah to be dead; no, they are living, and provided for near their Lord. (Sūrat Āli Imrān, No. 3, Āya169) This verse was revealed after the battle of ‘Uhud when the … Read more
Bismillāh. إِنَّهُ مِن سُلَيْمَانَ وَإِنَّهُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ It is from Sulaymān, and it begins in the name of Allah, the all-Beneficent, the all-Merciful. (Sūrat al-Naml no.27, Āyat 30) The queen of Sheba is the only woman mentioned in the Quran as a ruler. She was regarded as among the wisest women of her … Read more
Bismillāh. سَأَلَ سَائِلٌ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُ دَافِعٌ An asker asked for a punishment sure to befall, which none can avert from the disbelievers. (Sūrat al-Ma‘ārij, No.70, Āyat 1-2) Most of the Quran reminds us of the mercy of Allah, subhānahu wata‘ālā It is repeated 113 times at the beginning of each sūrah, and twice within Sūrat al-Naml. Indeed … Read more
Bismillāh سَأَلَ سَائِلٌ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُ دَافِعٌ An asker asked for a punishment sure to befall, which none can avert from the disbelievers. (Sūrat al-Ma‘ārij, No.70, Āyat 1-2) Most of the Quran reminds us of the mercy of Allah, subhānahu wata‘ālā It is repeated 113 times at the beginning of each sūrah, and twice within Sūrat al-Naml. Indeed … Read more
Bismillāh. فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَاقِعِ النُّجُومِ. وَإِنَّهُ لَقَسَمٌ لَّوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ. إِنَّهُ لَقُرْآنٌ كَرِيمٌ. فِي كِتَابٍ مَّكْنُونٍ. لَّا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ. تَنزِيلٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ I swear by the places where the stars set! And indeed, it is a great oath, should you know. This is indeed a noble Qur’an, in a guarded Book —no one … Read more
Bismillāh إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوا وَّالَّذِينَ هُم مُّحْسِنُونَ Indeed, Allah is with those who are God-conscious and those who are virtuous. (Sūrat al-Nahl, No.16, Āyat 128) In this last verse of al-Nahl, Allah, ‘subhānahu wata‘ālā, links taqwā and virtue together. Many verses also talk about this link between the two qualities. According to Islam piety and virtue go together. … Read more
Bismillāh جَزَآؤُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًۭا رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَشِىَ رَبَّهُۥ Their reward with their Lord will be gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them and they with Him. That is for whoever … Read more
Bismillāh. يَا أَيُّهَا الْإِنسَانُ إِنَّكَ كَادِحٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَدْحًا فَمُلَاقِيهِ O man! You are laboring toward your Lord laboriously, and you will encounter Him. (Sūrat al-Inshiqāq, No. 84, Āyat 6) This verse addresses mankind regardless of their creed or worldview, and regardless of whether they are living a life of piety or one of sin. … Read more
Bismillāh وَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَٱهْجُرْهُمْ هَجْرًۭا جَمِيلًۭا And be patient over what they say and keep away from them in a graceful manner. (Sūrat Al-Muzzammil, No.73, Āyat10) People react differently to change. While some may be ready to accept new ideas, others choose to resist change. When the Holy Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-ālihi wasallam spread the message … Read more
Bismillāh. أَنتَ وَلِيِّي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۖ تَوَفَّنِي مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ You are my guardian in this world and the Hereafter! Let my death be in submission [to You] and unite me with the Righteous. (Sūrat Yūsuf, No.12, Āyat 101) When Prophet Yūsuf ‘alayhis-salām reunites with his family he concludes his conversation with them by turning to Allah, subhānahu wata‘ālā. He expresses … Read more