Check our new online courses here; or see the details below.
Bismillāh.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَّكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ ۚ وَإِن تَعْفُوا وَتَصْفَحُوا وَتَغْفِرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
O you who have faith! Indeed, you have enemies among your spouses and children; so beware of them. Yet if you excuse, forbear, and forgive, then Allah is indeed all-forgiving, all-merciful.
(Sūrat at-Taghābun No. 64, Āyat 14)
The above verse can seem surprising. How can our own spouses or children be our enemies? According to a narration from Imam al-Bāqir ‘alayhis-salam, this verse was revealed in reference to a challenge faced by early Muslims. When some men wanted to migrate to be with the Prophet sallal-lāhu ‘alayhi wa-ālihi wasallam, their families would cling to them, pleading, “We beg you by Allah not to leave and abandon us.” Some of these men would listen to their families and stay behind, so Allah ‘azza wajall warned them against obeying their loved ones in this matter. Hence, warning us that our families may be our enemies was in reference to not wavering in our responsibilities to Allah subhānahu wata’ālā due to the love we have for our family.
The Imam (a) then explains the latter part of the verse, saying that some men would leave anyway, telling their families, “By Allah, if you don’t migrate with me and Allah later reunites us, I will never help you with anything.” This approach was also not acceptable, and hence Allah enjoins them to forgive their family and accept them once they migrate.
Beyond this specific historical context, the verse powerfully emphasizes the importance of forgiveness within the family. It is the only place in the Quran where Allah (swt) uses such strong language—”excuse, forbear, and forgive”—to encourage forgiveness. This unique emphasis highlights that when it comes to our closest relationships, forgiveness is an essential quality.
For any relationship to be stable and strong, both people must accept that no one is perfect and mistakes will happen. If a spouse is unwilling to forgive their partner, their life together will be filled with conflict. The importance of this trait can be seen in the following narration. It is narrated that Imam al-Sādiq (a) was asked, “What is the right of a woman upon her husband such that if he fulfills it he is considered a doer of good deeds?” In return the Imam (a) said, “He should feed her and clothe her and if she acts out of ignorance he should forgive her.”
A final point to keep in mind is that children learn their values by imitating their parents. If they see their parents as stubborn and inflexible people who always demand their rights, they may come to see forgiveness as a sign of weakness.
We pray that Allah helps us implement the beautiful ethics of Islam in our lives. We ask Him, for the sake of Muhammad and his pure progeny, to strengthen our families and the love within them.
Sources: Allāmah Muhammad Husayn Tabātabā’ī, Tafsīr al-Mīzān
ALI 703: Lessons from the Timeless Event of Karbala
The movement of Imam al-Husayn (ʿa) offers timeless lessons in akhlāq, guiding us to higher spiritual and ethical heights. In this webinar we will reflect on Sayyidah Zaynab (ʿa)’s contributions to this sacred legacy — focusing on the theme of Fervor and Honor (Ghayrah) with insights from the Qur’an and the Ahadith of the Maʿsūmīn (ʿa).
Schedule: Sunday, Oct 26, 2025
Timings: 1:30 pm to 3 pm in Toronto/NY; 10:30 am to 12pm LA/Vancouver
Instructor: Syed Ali Kazmi
Fees: CAD $10.00
ALI 707: Quranic Arabic and Knowledge – Level 2
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a) has said: Learn Arabic, for it is the word of Allah with which He speaks to His creation [in the Holy Quran]. In this online course, specially tailored for past and present Madrasah teachers, we will discuss simple Quranic vocabulary and grammar. To make it interesting, occasionally we will cover short stories and historical events in the Quran and their application in our daily lives. In this level, we will identify nouns and their different forms, a few verbs, and particles from Surahs Numbers 108 to 114 of the Quran.
Scholars on learning Quranic Arabic
Eligibility: All past and present Madrasah teachers are welcome to join this course, including those who were unable to register for Level 1. Most of the material from Level 1 will be revised in Level 2, and the recordings for Level 1 are available at: www.academyofislam.com/ali-702/.
Schedule: 6 Wednesdays, Sep 24 to October 29, 2025
Timings: 4:45-5:45 pm in LA/Vancouver, 7:45pm – 8:45 pm in NY/Toronto
Instructor: Sh Hasanayn Kassamali
Fees: CAD $50.00
Attendance and Homework: This course is designed for those who are serious about learning Quranic Arabic by attending all live sessions, participating actively in class, and completing homework assignments. Homework will be shared with classmates for feedback and discussion.
Registration for all courses: www.academyofislam.com/registration/