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Attend to His communication [25:73]

Release Date: 04/04/2024

Loving and Living the Quran

Here is today's reflection from the Quran: In Sura Maida, the Quran whilst talking about whom to take as a Wali, says: Your Wali is only Allah, His Apsotle, and the faithful of those who keep up prayers and give alms while they bow. [Quran 5:55] As we commemorate the occasion of the martyrdom of Imam Ali (as), let us reflect on this verse to remind us of his position as various scholars from all schools of Islamic thought concur that this verse was revealed in response to an act of Imam Ali [as]. Before we begin reflecting on the verse, let us examine a key word in this verse which is Wali:...

Be lenient with those that trigger you [3:159]

Loving and Living the Quran

For the next couple of days, we will inshallah explore the following verse from Sura Ale Imran: So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]. (Quran 3:159) There is so much to discuss and learn from in this verse. Today, let us give a bit of background and discuss the segment: So by mercy from Allah,...

Consult them in the matter [3:159]

Loving and Living the Quran

Continuing with this verse from Sura Ale Imran: So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in [some of] the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]. (Quran 3:159) After appreciating the Prophet [saw] for being lenient with his companions who disobeyed him, the Holy Prophet [saw] is advised to consult his companions. Scholars explain that in...

Have tawakul in Allah [3: 159]

Loving and Living the Quran

Continuing with this verse from Sura Ale Imran: So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in [some of] the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]. (Quran 3:159) The final part of the verse advises the Holy Prophet [saw] that once you have decided on a matter, have tawwakul or trust in Allah and ends by saying that Allah loves those who rely...

Attend to what is better on Friday [62:9]

Loving and Living the Quran

Today’s reflection is verse 9 from Chapter 62, Sura Juma, when Allah [swt] addresses the believers and says: O you who believe! when the call is made for prayer on Friday, then hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trading; that is better for you, if you know. [62:9] 4 important points are made in this verse: 1. When the call for the Friday congregational prayers is made, rush to attend to it In other words, answer the call and join the congregation as soon as possible. 2. Leave trading and other worldly distractions at this time...

Do what good you can, as soon as you can[23:61]

Loving and Living the Quran

Today’s reflection is from Chapter 23, Sura Muminum where the Holy Quran says: "It is they who hasten to every good work and these who are foremost in them." [23:61] In this verse and a couple of verses preceding it, Allah [swt] points out a few qualities of the believers. One of their qualities that they “hasten to do good deeds”. This desire is borne out of a desire to please Allah [swt] and drives them to take quick action towards worthy causes and goals. The word the Quran uses is yusāri‘ūna which signifies “racing” towards good actions. It is interesting...

275 Harkat mein barket [53:39]

Loving and Living the Quran

In Verse 39 of Sura Najm, Allah says: And that man shall have nothing but what he strives for. (Holy Quran 53:39) For today’s verse, I could not find a better title than the Urdu phrase: Harkat mein barkat, meaning there is blessing in movement/striving. One of the principles of life, taught by experience and by Divinity, is that human beings get what they strive towards. It is important to note that what the Quran is telling us is that our outcome will be in accordance with our striving. The Arabic word sa’ā which is used literally means to walk fast, to run almost, to walk with effort....

A truth about life [90:4]

Loving and Living the Quran

Today’s reflection is from Sura Balad where Allah [swt] says: Certainly We have created man to be in distress. [90:4] In this verse, Allah [swt] uses the word kabad for distress. Scholars explain that the word kabad which originally means intensity, also signifies 'a disease in the liver of a person’ and is used for any trouble and misery. This verse spells out a truth about the human experience during this plane of existence: from the time the human embryo is conceived it will go through difficult stages with pain and toil until the time it is born, and even from then...

You have what it takes [2:286]

Loving and Living the Quran

Yesterday we reflected on a truth about this life from the Quran: that life is full of challenges. Today, let us look at a promise of Allah [swt] that gives us confidence that we have what it takes to succeed in these challenges and find our way through these distresses. At the end of Chapter 2, Sura Al-Baqara the Quran tells us: Allah does not task any soul [impose a duty on, place a burden on] beyond its capacity. [2:286] This brief selection from a longer verse suggests many important points of reflection: The word Quran uses for soul is “Nafs”, the struggling part of...

As We Say Goodbye . . .

Loving and Living the Quran

As We Wrap Up The Blessed Month Of Ramadan, We May Be Feeling A Mix Of Emotions: A Tinge Of Sadness At The Ending Of The Month Of Blessings, Mercy And Forgiveness, A Sense Of Relief That We Were Able To Fast And Pray [And That We Can Eat Again!] And Maybe Some Regret That We Did Not Or Could Not Do More During The Blessed Minutes And Hours Of This Sacred Month Of Allah [Swt] When We Were His Guests. Many of us have been deeply impacted by the news from Palestine and our sense of helplessness to stop the atrocities. Please let us remind ourselves that we have the huge weapon of Dua at our...

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Continuing with painting a portrait of the Ibrad ur Rahman, verse 73 of Chapter 25, Sura Furqan points to another characteristic of these sincere believers:

[25:73] and they who, when they are reminded of the signs of their Lord, fall not deaf and blind against them

Scholars explain that the “falling deaf and blind” refers to the act of falling down, to snore, to droop down as if the person were bored or inattentive, or did not wish to see or hear or pay attention. In other words, it is ignoring or being inattentive to the message being conveyed.

The Quran mentions spiritual deafness and blindness in other places and reminds us that we can have eyes and ears but still be deaf and blind.

Truly God-conscious are those who are deeply desirous of understanding the message, and therefore "listen to it with wide-awake ears and look into it with seeing eyes". Because they are connected to the All Compassionate and trust that all instructions of come from Him are for their ultimate benefit, they are eager to hear any truth or message or see any sign from Allah [swt] because they know it will helps them to reach their goal .

They act, not out of some superstitious beliefs or on a superficial level but from a firm conviction that this is what is right, what is most beneficial. They don’t ignore or just perform the ritual of hearing or seeing Allah [swt]’s verses. Instead, through their ears and their eyes they gain insights which are deep and profound. This is why they are able to see beyond the immediate and remain steadfast in going towards the goal. They are fully awake, mindful and aware, and so whatever they receive by way of guidance is absorbed and implemented.

As many of us are attending more closely to the Quran during this month, let us ask ourselves if there are commands or instructions that we have been resisting or avoiding. Can we relook at some of these and see how we can take baby steps to implement these in our lives?

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