My Quran Reflections

Bismillah. Our relationship with Allah is the most important relationship in our lives. He is our Rabb, our Lord, our Master, Our King and our Sustainer. We are his slaves, and the success of the slaves lies in the total obedience and surrender, to the will of their Master and Owner. Annemarie Schimmel, the German orientalist scholar on Islam, wisely wrote, “The true slave ( abduhu ) of God is … the truly free person.” ( Celebrating Muhammad , p. 15) Being a slave of Allah is an honour, not a humiliation. But in order for us to be honoured we must submit and humble ourselves before our Gracious Lord. As you know, the prophets and the messengers are the best of Allah’s creation, and Allah calls them His slaves. In Surah al-Zukhruf 43:59, Allah says about Isa alayhis Salam, “He was not more than a slave. We granted Our Favour to him, and We made him an example to the Bani Israel.” In Surah al-Isra 17:11, Allah says about the night journey of Prophet Muhammad ...

Bismillah. The references are all from Surah Yusuf. Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) Alayhis Salam Loving son (12:4) Morally upright (12:23) In self-control - did not give in to temptation (12:24) Speak the truth (12:26) Ready to sacrifice his freedom for his beliefs (12:33) God-conscious - righteous (12:33, 53, 90) Trust in Allah (12:34, 90) Believes in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (12:38) Conveys Allah’s message to others (12:39-40) Patient in adversity (12:42, 90) Known as someone who tells the truth (12:46) His reputation is important to him (12:50) He wants the truth to be known (12:50) Even enemies testify to his upright character (12:51) Does not want any donut about his trustworthiness (12:52) Know your strengthens and qualifications (12:55) Generous to his family (12:62) Intelligent (12:62) Judicious (12:70-79) Defends himself (12:77) Confront wrong-doers with the truth (12:89) Forgiving to those who have wronged him (12:92) Family oriented (12:99...

Bismillah. From: Surah Ikhlas (112:1-4); Surah an-Nur (24:35); Surah al-Baqarah (2:255); Surah al-Hashr (59:21-24); Surah al-Hadid (57:1-3). Beauty Nothing comparable unto Him He is the Light Self-Subsistent Fount of All Being He knows what is open and what is hidden Truly exalted Most Gracious Dispenser of Grace Beyond our perception His limitless glory Maker of forms and appearances Truly Wise Everything in the heavens and earth extol His glory The Outward The Inward Majesty Allah-us-Samad He guides whom He wills Has knowledge of all things Ever-Living Neither slumber overtakes Him nor sleep Everything belong to Him Power over everything Tremendous Sovereign Supreme The One on whom all salvation rests The Giver of Faith The Almighty The One who subdues wrong and restores right The One to whom all greatness belongs His is the dominion of the heavens and the earth Grants life and deals de...

Bismillah. Recently a dear friend of mine posed the following question: Why does the Qur’an  specifically state that it is not poetry, while it is rich and affects the heart? “And We have not taught him poetry, nor is it suitable for him. This is only a reminder and a plain Qur’an."  (Surah Yaseen 36:69) When the Quraysh said to Waleed Ibn Mugheerah, “Then we shall say to the people that he is a poet.” Waleed, one of the wisest men of the Quraysh, replied, “But he is not a poet. We know the different kinds of poetry, and his words can’t be compared to any of them. He is therefore, not a poet.” (Mubarakpuri’s  When the Moon Split ) This is part of a much longer Hadith report. Reading tafsirs by different scholars it seems the main reason why Allah says that the verses of the Qur’an is not poetry, is because Arabic poetry has many rules which the Qur’an did not follow. Arabic poetry seems to have a certain way to be recited and composed which, interestingly...

Bismillah. In Surah al- Fatihah we recite in ayah number 5: “It is You we worship and You we ask for help.” The Most Noble of All Actions and the Best Act of Worship is Du’a And this is because Allah said in Surah adh-Dhariyat, “And I have not created jinn and humankind except to worship Me.” (51:56) The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “The best form of worship is du’a.” (al-Hakim (1/491); as-Sahihah, no.1579) The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “There is nothing that is more noble in the sight of Allah than du’a.” (Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, al-Hakim; Sahih al-Jami, no.5392. Allah Only Cares About Us If We Make Du’a to Him Allah says in Surah al-Furqan, “Say O Muhammad, ‘My Lord only pays attention to you because of your du’a to Him.” (25:77) As-Sadi, a commentator of the Qur’an said that this means that Allah cares and loves us only because we make du’a to him. Du’a Repels and Changes Predestination or Qadr The Prophet (sallallahu...