Responding to attacks on Islam with wisdom
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Responding to attacks on Islam with wisdom

The Quran is protected Allah Almighty promised to protect the Quran. He stated this in the Quran: إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ Surely We revealed the Message, and We will surely preserve it. [15:9] In another verse, Allah Almighty described that though disbelievers wish to eradicate Islam and knowledge of Allah, they will…

Ghazali on contenment (part 2)
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Ghazali on Contentment (part 2)

After Ghazali talked about the topic of mahabba (love) for Allah – the fruits of mahabba and true mahabba, and increasing our love for Allah and His Messenger, He followed it with this topic of contenment (rida), as they are closely linked. Loving Allah and being content with what He destined go together. If you…

Is it wrong to cry when someone passes away?
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Is it wrong to cry when someone passes away?

Is it wrong to cry for the deceased? The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: وَإِنَّ المَيِّتَ يُعَذَّبُ بِبُكَاءِ أَهْلِهِ عَلَيْهِ ‘Indeed the deceased is punished for the crying of his relatives over him.’ [Bukhari] What does this hadith mean? What type of crying is being prohibited here? Misconception There is a misconception that crying…

Ghazali on Contentment with Allah’s Will (part 1)
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Ghazali on Contentment with Allah’s Will (part 1)

Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him In Surat al Maidah, Allah Almighty says: قَالَ ٱللَّهُ هَٰذَا يَوۡمُ يَنفَعُ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ صِدۡقُهُمۡۚ لَهُمۡ جَنَّٰتٞ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدٗاۖ رَّضِيَ ٱللَّهُ عَنۡهُمۡ وَرَضُواْ عَنۡهُۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ Allah will say: “This is a Day on which the truthful will profit…

The truth is always attacked. We must continue to defend it.
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The truth is always attacked. We must continue to defend it.

Asthe community is reeling from the shock, disbelief, disgust and sadness at the killing of veteran journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, at whose funeral innocent mourners were also viciously attacked and beaten, we turn to the Quran for guidance on how to bear such painful wounds, when the old scars are still fresh. It is very…

Peer pressure in this world and the blame game in the hereafter
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Peer pressure in this world and the blame game in the hereafter

In Surat Saba, Allah Almighty talks about oppressors and peer pressure. The verses mention the discussion which takes place in the hereafter between oppressors and evildoers and their followers. وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَن نُّؤْمِنَ بِهَٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ وَلَا بِالَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ ۗ وَلَوْ تَرَىٰ إِذِ الظَّالِمُونَ مَوْقُوفُونَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ يَرْجِعُ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ الْقَوْلَ يَقُولُ الَّذِينَ…

Do your best and leave the rest to Allah
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Do your best and leave the rest to Allah

Lessons in tawakkul In Surat al-Ankabout Allah Almighty mentions that those who do good deeds will receive special treatment in the hereafter and attain a special level in Paradise: وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَنُبَوِّئَنَّهُم مِّنَ الْجَنَّةِ غُرَفًا تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ نِعْمَ أَجْرُ الْعَامِلِينَ Those who believe and work righteousness—We will settle…

When you have Allah’s protection, you have nothing to fear
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When you have Allah’s protection, you have nothing to fear

Surat Al-Qasas means stories and indeed this surah is full of stories. The story of Prophet Musa (peace be on him) is mentioned the most in the Quran. When you put ‘Musa’ in a Quranic search engine, it comes up around 130 times, far more than any other Prophet. The story highlights the challenges he…

Favours and tests – lessons from Prophet Suleman (peace be on him)
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Favours and tests – lessons from Prophet Suleman (peace be on him)

In Surah Naml there are plenty of lessons, particularly in the verses when Allah Almighty describes the kingdom of the ants. One ant tells the other to watch out because Suleman (peace be on him) is coming with his troops and they might get trodden on accidentally. حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَتَوْا عَلَىٰ وَادِ النَّمْلِ قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌ…

How to deal with troublemakers and complainers
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How to deal with troublemakers and complainers

In the first couple of pages of Surat Al Anbiya, we see the complaint in the community against the prophets and messengers Allah sent them. They keep demanding that their prophets produce miracles on demand and at their command. This pattern of behaviour was not exceptional; we see it repeated with Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Eesa…

Put out the fire before it reaches you. The perils of ignoring oppression.
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Put out the fire before it reaches you. The perils of ignoring oppression.

قال الله تعالى: (وَلَا تَرْكَنُوا إِلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا فَتَمَسَّكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاءَ ثُمَّ لَا تُنْصَرُونَ). سورة هود:١١٣. And do not incline towards those who do wrong, or the Fire should touch you; and you will have no protectors besides God, and you will not be helped. (Holy Quran, Surat Hud,…