As Allah stated in the Quran in Surat Anfal: وَإِذۡ يَمۡكُرُ بِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِيُثۡبِتُوكَ أَوۡ يَقۡتُلُوكَ أَوۡ يُخۡرِجُوكَۚ وَيَمۡكُرُونَ وَيَمۡكُرُ ٱللَّهُۖ وَٱللَّهُ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡمَٰكِرِينَ And ˹remember, O Prophet,˺ when the disbelievers conspired to capture, kill, or exile you. They planned, but Allah also planned. And Allah is the best of planners. (8:30) This ayah…
Racism rears its ugly head It is sadly ironic that the marches protesting the killing of innocent civilians in Gaza, which have been ongoing for the last 10 months were dubbed “hate marches” by a certain British politician. Ironic firstly because they were marches of compassion, highlighting the tragic loss of lives, dreams and futures,…
In Surat al Zukhruf, Allah Almighty mentions the story of Musa and Firaun, which is one of the most repeated stories in the Quran. It is a Makki surah, which means it has the characteristics of the revelations that came during the period in the Prophet’s life (peace be upon him) when he was being…
In Surat al-Isra, Allah Almighty says: كُلّٗا نُّمِدُّ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ وَهَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ مِنۡ عَطَآءِ رَبِّكَۚ وَمَا كَانَ عَطَآءُ رَبِّكَ مَحۡظُورًا To each [category] We extend – to these and to those – from the gift of your Lord. And never has the gift of your Lord been restricted. (17:20) This verse expresses the continuous help and support…
What is ihsan? To break it down, the majority of the Arabic words are derived from three to four root letters. The The word “Ihsan” is derived from the root word “Hasan” (حسن), which consists of the letters Ha, Seen, and Nun (ح س ن). “Hasan” means something nice, something beautiful, or something good. “Ihsan”…
In Surat At-Tawbah, Allah described the episode when the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) were in the cave while they were migrating from Makkah to Madinah. Close to being assassinated, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) felt scared, but Allah sent consolation, saying: “إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ…
If you do not help him, God has already helped him, when those who disbelieved expelled him, and he was the second of two in the cave. He said to his friend, ‘Do not worry, God is with us.’ And God made His tranquility descend upon him, and supported him with forces you did not…
يَـٰٓأَهۡلَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ قَدۡ جَآءَكُمۡ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمۡ كَثِيرٗا مِّمَّا كُنتُمۡ تُخۡفُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ وَيَعۡفُواْ عَن كَثِيرٖۚ قَدۡ جَآءَكُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ نُورٞ وَكِتَٰبٞ مُّبِينٞ يَهۡدِي بِهِ ٱللَّهُ مَنِ ٱتَّبَعَ رِضۡوَٰنَهُۥ سُبُلَ ٱلسَّلَٰمِ وَيُخۡرِجُهُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذۡنِهِۦ وَيَهۡدِيهِمۡ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٖ مُّسۡتَقِي O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear…
Allah Almighty said in Surat Ale Imran, the very beautiful verse about our Ummah, the final Ummah, the Ummah of goodness. He said: كُنتُمۡ خَیۡرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخۡرِجَتۡ لِلنَّاسِ تَأۡمُرُونَ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِ وَتَنۡهَوۡنَ عَنِ ٱلۡمُنكَرِ وَتُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِۗ وَلَوۡ ءَامَنَ أَهۡلُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ لَكَانَ خَیۡرࣰا لَّهُمۚ مِّنۡهُمُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ وَأَكۡثَرُهُمُ ٱلۡفَـٰسِقُونَ You are the best ‘Ummah ever raised for mankind….
In the opening of Surat Al-Anbiya, Allah Almighty says: ٱقۡتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَابُهُمۡ وَهُمۡ فِی غَفۡلَةࣲ مُّعۡرِضُونَ The time of their reckoning has approached for the people, while they are in heedlessness turning away. (Al-Anbiyāʾ, Ayah 1) This is a Makki surah, and a common feature of Makki surahs is that they address the challenges faced…
It is the Sunnah to recite Surat al-A’la and Surat al-Ghashiyah during the Eid salah. These surahs are Makki surahs, and as typical of Makki surahs, they dwell on themes of monotheism, belief in the akhirah, and renewing our covenant with Allah. We praise Him and are reminded to consider the outcome of our actions…
In the opening of Surat al-Baqarah, Allah mentions three types of people: the believers, the disbelievers, and the hypocrites. Verses 8 onwards focus on the hypocrites (munafiqeen), who are discussed in thirteen verses. I will highlight some of these verses to provide a deeper understanding: وَمِنَ النّاسِ مَنْ يَقُولُ آمَنّا بِاللهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَما هُمْ…
In Surat Ali Imran, Allah Almighty talks about the obligation of Hajj: إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَیۡتࣲ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِی بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكࣰا وَهُدࣰى لِّلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ The first house set up for the people is surely the one in Makkah, blessed and a guidance for all the worlds. [Ali Imran, 3:96] فِیهِ ءَایَـٰتُۢ بَیِّنَـٰتࣱ مَّقَامُ إِبۡرَ ٰهِیمَۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُۥ كَانَ…
The name Al-Ba’ith is one of Allah Almighty’s names, although some scholars disagree, they are in a minority. The majority of scholars consider the name Al-Ba’ith as one of Allah Almighty’s names. Al-Ba’ith is the Resurrector, from the verb, “ba’atha”, “yabba’athu”, meaning to resurrect and raise from the dead or from sleep. The One who raises…
Allah mentioned trials and tribulations (ikhtilaf) in the Quran many times. In Surat al Baqarah, He said: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ O you who believe, seek help through patience and prayer. Surely, Allah is with those who are patient. [Al-Baqarah, 2:153] وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ لِمَن یُقۡتَلُ فِی…