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Practice and Pursuit of Ihsan-Lecture:1

Release Date: 08/24/2020

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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TOPIC OF THE YEAR: The pursuit and practice of Ihsan

The primary purpose of these gatherings is to give our condolences to the household of the beloved Holy Prophet of Islam.

BLESSINGS OF THESE MAJLIS:

It revives not only our deen but us too.

It helps us realign what really matters.

Commemorating the tragedy has kept our religion alive.
It is only the Grace of God and this huge sacrifice by the most beloved of his creatures that has kept this deen alive till today.
It allows us to get in touch with ourselves and remind ourselves of where we need help and transformation in our life.

An important part of these days is to pass on the message of Kerbala to others.

Hadith by Imam Reza (AS): “By learning our knowledge and teaching it to people. If people knew the merits of our knowledge they would follow us.”

Imam Hussain’s (AS) message: Living with the concept of ihsan- kindness, excellence, and virtue.

COVID- Challenges and opportunities:

Safety and protection
Intention and action
Motivation to attend

The Holy Family as inspiration

Fatima Zahra (SA):

“Best of people on the earth in origin, dignity and honour.”
Pillar of Islam
An axis of intercession
Her children- Hasan, Hussain, Mohsin come from the same root word- h-s-n.
Hasan: one who is virtuous and does good.
Hussain: derivative of Hasan.

Basic foundations of morality and righteousness

Adl: Give people their due which has been asked of them. Imam Ali (AS) said that, “Adl is the foundation on which the world rests.”
Ihsan is going above and beyond justice and acting with nobility and kindness. Imam Ali (AS) says, “When you are focused on doing more than is required, that’s how people fall in love with you.”

‘Hasana’ is a key root word of the Quran.

It appears 194 times in the Quran.
It means inner beauty, living a life of virtue.
Allah is the ultimate ‘mohsin’- one who does ihsan.
When we do things that are hurtful to ourselves or others, He deals with us only that we deserve. But when we do good, he multiplies it.

LINKS:

H.A.R. GIBBS: A STUDY OF HISTORY (1963)

Fara'edoh-Samtayn vol.2 p.68

Beharul-Anwar, vol.43 pp.4-18

Beharul-Anwar, vol.8 p.51

Surah Al-Nahl [16:90]

Surah Qassas [28:77]

Surah An-Najm [53:31]

To access lots of free resources on relationships and personal growth, please sign up for #DailyWisdom at www.marziahassan.org/dailywisdom

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