How do we prepare for the last ten nights of Ramadan, and what is unique about these nights? Our guidance, of course, is the Prophet ﷺ. To understand how he approached these nights, we turn to our mother Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who had access to him in a private capacity and…
Background to Surat al-Kahf Surat al-Kahf was revealed in the fifth year of revelation. The Quraysh wanted to discredit Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, so they went to the Jews in Yathrib to ask them for some difficult questions they could use to challenge him. They were told to ask three questions: about the youngsters who left…
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًۭا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًۭا Wealth and children are the embellishment of the worldly life, and the everlasting virtues are better with your Lord, both in rewards and in creating good hopes. [18:46] The Quran was revealed to change our mindsets Allah’s revelation is intended…
At our Utrujj Iftar, we had a full house, not just full of guests but also full of the mercy of Allah, full of happiness, full of love. Alhamdulillah, as Pakistani, Bengali, Lebanese, Iraqi, Palestinian, French, German guests sat side by side, with all their different languages, different cultures, different histories, they were united by…
Surat al-Kahf is one of most well-known and frequently recited surahs in the Quran. The sunnah is to recite it between sunset (Maghrib) on Thursday and sunset on Friday, and the first 10 ayahs also give you protection from Dajjal. Whoever recites Surat al-Kahf on Friday, a light will shine for him between this Friday…
Surat al Isra was revealed in Makkah and therefore its features are distinct from Madani revelations. Makki revelations are typically about belief, prophethood, the Unseen, resurrection and accountability. From ayah 90 to 97, we see the disbelievers are telling the Prophet that they would not believe unless a long list of their demands was met….
Allah Almighty stated in the Quran that we should be careful what we utter. وَقُل لِّعِبَادِى يَقُولُوا۟ ٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ كَانَ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ عَدُوًّۭا مُّبِينًۭا Tell My servants that they should speak that which is best. Surely, Satan creates discord among them. Indeed, Satan is an open enemy…
Reciprocal reading of the Quran Ten days of Ramadan have flown by and we have two thirds ahead of us. God knows who will witness the rest of Ramadan and who won’t. There are no guarantees that any of us will be here. عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما: (كانَ رَسولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عليه…
In order to understand beauty as Allah describes it, first we should know that the Qur’an does not speak about beauty as something shallow or decorative. When it uses the word jamal, it directs the heart. It teaches us that true beauty is connected to tranquility, purpose, and spiritual growth. I traced the word jamal…
Beauty is mentioned in Qur’an and Sunnah as jamal and husn. It encompasses external beauty, clothes, cleanliness, adornment, as well as internal beauty, character, serenity, patience, forgiveness. When you see something beautiful, do you pause and reflect on it? Do you ask: “Why did Allah create this beauty? What purpose does it serve?” Beauty is…
Beauty in Allah’s creation When you read the Quran, we find that in the core of the Quran, Allah talks about beauty. First, He said He perfected everything He created: ٱلَّذِیۤ أَحۡسَنَ كُلَّ شَیۡءٍ خَلَقَهُۥۖ وَبَدَأَ خَلۡقَ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنِ مِن طِینࣲ who gave everything its perfect form. He first created man from clay (Surah Sajdah, Ayah…
مَّن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلْعَاجِلَةَ عَجَّلْنَا لَهُۥ فِيهَا مَا نَشَآءُ لِمَن نُّرِيدُ ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَا لَهُۥ جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَىٰهَا مَذْمُومًۭا مَّدْحُورًۭا Whoever desires this fleeting world ˹alone˺, We hasten in it whatever We please to whoever We will; then We destine them for Hell, where they will burn, condemned and rejected. [17:18] In this ayah Allah uses word…
۞ يَوْمَ تَأْتِى كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ تُجَـٰدِلُ عَن نَّفْسِهَا وَتُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ مَّا عَمِلَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ ˹Consider˺ the Day ˹when˺ every soul will come pleading for itself, and each will be paid in full for what it did, and none will be wronged. [16:111] This ayah is Allah opening a window for us…
A heart that understands وَٱللَّهُ أَخْرَجَكُم مِّنۢ بُطُونِ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْـًۭٔا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ وَٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةَ ۙ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ Allah has brought you forth from your mothers’ wombs when you knew nothing, and He made for you ears, eyes and hearts, so that you may be grateful. [16:78] We are powerless compared to Allah…
وَٱلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا۟ فِى ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا ظُلِمُوا۟ لَنُبَوِّئَنَّهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةًۭ ۖ وَلَأَجْرُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَكْبَرُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ Those who have migrated for the sake of Allah after they were oppressed, We shall give them a good place in the world, and of course, the reward of the Hereafter is much greater, if…