The test of will – Tarawih Reflections 30
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The test of will – Tarawih Reflections 30

Prohibition of alcohol and gambling ‘O you who believe! Wine, gambling, altars and divining arrows are filth, made up by Satan. Therefore, refrain from it, so that you may be successful. Satan wishes only to plant enmity and malice between you through wine and gambling, and to prevent you from the remembrance of Allah and…

Why humans can’t be gods – Tarawih reflections 29

Why humans can’t be gods – Tarawih reflections 29

مَّا ٱلۡمَسِیحُ ٱبۡنُ مَرۡیَمَ إِلَّا رَسُولࣱ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِن قَبۡلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ وَأُمُّهُۥ صِدِّیقَةٌ كَانَا یَأۡكُلَانِ ٱلطَّعَامَۗ ٱنظُرۡ كَیۡفَ نُبَیِّنُ لَهُمُ ٱلۡـَٔایَـٰتِ ثُمَّ ٱنظُرۡ أَنَّىٰ یُؤۡفَكُونَ The Messiah, son of Mary, was not but a messenger; [other] messengers have passed on before him. And his mother was a supporter of truth. They both used to eat…

Islam – a religion of ease – Tarawih reflections 27
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Islam – a religion of ease – Tarawih reflections 27

The last revelation ‘Today, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and chosen Islam as your religion.’ [5:3] This was the last ayah ever to be revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, on Arafah day, which was also Friday, during his Farewell Hajj. Allah says that He has perfected His…

Laylatul Qadr – attain inner and outer purity
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Laylatul Qadr – attain inner and outer purity

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال‏:‏ ‏ “‏من قام ليلة القدر إيمانا واحتسابًا غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه‏”‏‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏ ‏.‏ “Whosoever performs Qiyam during Laylat-ul-Qadr (Night of Decree), with Faith and being…

Believe in Allah for your own sake – Tarawih reflections 26

Believe in Allah for your own sake – Tarawih reflections 26

‘O people, the Messenger has come to you with the truth from your Lord. So, believe. That is good for you. If you disbelieve, then, to Allah belongs what is in the heavens and the earth. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.’ [4:170] In this ayah, Allah is addressing all people, regardless of their race, colour, background…

Do not side with falsehood – Tarawih reflections 25
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Do not side with falsehood – Tarawih reflections 25

Hypocrites who side with the disbelievers بَشِّرِ ٱلۡمُنَـٰفِقِینَ بِأَنَّ لَهُمۡ عَذَابًا أَلِیمًا    ٱلَّذِینَ یَتَّخِذُونَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِینَ أَوۡلِیَاۤءَ مِن دُونِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِینَۚ أَیَبۡتَغُونَ عِندَهُمُ ٱلۡعِزَّةَ فَإِنَّ ٱلۡعِزَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِیعࣰا ‘Give the hypocrites the ‘good’ news that for them there is a painful punishment – those who take the disbelievers for allies instead of the believers. Are they…

Be grateful for Allah’s favours – Tarawih reflections 24
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Be grateful for Allah’s favours – Tarawih reflections 24

Your heart is the receiver of signals from Allah ‘Allah has revealed to you the Book and wisdom, and has taught you what you did not know. Allah’s favour on you is great.’ [4:113] In this ayah, Allah is addressing the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, to whom He revealed the Book. In a similar ayah in…

Draw closer to Allah by loving Him – Tarawih reflections 23
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Draw closer to Allah by loving Him – Tarawih reflections 23

Obeying the Prophet ﷺ = Obeying Allah ‘Whoever obeys the Messenger obeys Allah, and whoever turns away, then, We did not send you as a guardian over them.’ [4:80] In this ayah Allah is talking about obedience to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Scholars of tafseer have commented that this was revealed when some of the…

No faith without amanah – Tarawih Reflections 22

No faith without amanah – Tarawih Reflections 22

The story of the key to the Kaaba ‘Allah commands you to return trusts to those entitled to them, and when you judge between people, judge with justice.’ [4:58] Scholars of tafseer have commented that this ayah was revealed after the Conquest of Makkah, when Prophet Muhammad ﷺ called ‘Uthman bin Talha (may Allah be…

Envy = a lack of trust in Allah – Tarawih Reflections 21
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Envy = a lack of trust in Allah – Tarawih Reflections 21

Allah Almighty said: ‘And do not crave what Allah has given some of you over others.’ [4:32] In this ayah of Surat an-Nisa, Allah is addressing the very common disease of hasad, envy. For example, if someone is not happy with the division of inheritance that was laid out earlier in the surah, this stems…

Allah decides what is fair – Tarawih Reflections 20
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Allah decides what is fair – Tarawih Reflections 20

Surat an-Nisa is a Madani surah, like almost all of the long surahs. Allah has dedicated this surah to women because during Jahiliyya times – and even today – the unfair treatment of women persists. This is a very rich surah, addressing many different kinds of relationships: between a husband and wife, between a man…

Racing towards forgiveness
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Racing towards forgiveness

Allah Almighty says in Surat Ale Imran, وَسَارِعُوۤا۟ إِلَىٰ مَغۡفِرَةࣲ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرۡضُهَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ ٰ⁠تُ وَٱلۡأَرۡضُ أُعِدَّتۡ لِلۡمُتَّقِینَ Rush towards your Lord’s forgiveness and towards Paradise, which is as wide as the Heavens and the Earth, prepared for those who are Al-muttaqeen (mindful of Allah). [Ale-ʿImran, 3:133] Allah is calling us all to hasten towards…

Ultimate success comes from believing in the truth – Tarawih Reflections 19

Ultimate success comes from believing in the truth – Tarawih Reflections 19

Half of Surat Ale Imran is about the People of the Book, mainly the Christians. A delegation of about 70 people from Najran in Yemen came and stayed at the mosque and discussed many things with the Prophet (peace be upon him), especially about the nature of Eesa (peace be upon him). The last pages…

Race towards Jannah – Tarawih Reflections 17
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Race towards Jannah – Tarawih Reflections 17

‘Race with one another towards forgiveness from your Lord and towards a paradise which is as wide as the heavens and the earth. It has been prepared for those mindful of Allah.’ [3:133] In this ayah of Surat Ale ‘Imran, Allah uses the word saari’ – meaning to race or rush. Allah is opening this…