Coping mechanisms for stress
What can we do when we are stressed? Four coping mechanisms to dealing with pressure.
Knowing Allah through His beautiful names 4 – Al Ghani, Al Noor, Al Haadi, Al Wahab, Al Kareem
The first principle of Islam is monotheism – to know Allah Almighty, His attributes, His beautiful names and so on and to this end we have been getting acquainted with Allah Almighty through His attributes from a chapter in the book, Shajarat al Maarif by Imam Al-Izz bin Abdus Salam. He talks about how we…
Truth vs Falsehood
Surat Ghafir contains part of the story of Musa and Firaun. This is the most repeated story in the Quran, and when you read it over and over again, from different angles in different surahs, you start to notice a pattern. Truth vs falsehood Allah has repeated this story for many reasons. One of those…
Why do we need good deeds if entry to Jannah is by Allah’s mercy?
One of the ayahs in Surat Az-Zumar is: ‘Every soul will be rewarded according to their actions.’ [39:70] Nothing is wasted, everything is written and recorded. The surah also says: ‘The best reward is for those who work hard.’ [39:74] Notice however, that in the hadith, the Prophet (peace be on him) said: …None of…
Jannah and Jahannam are choices
The word Zumar, from Surat Az-Zumar means ‘the crowds’, because Allah Almighty talks about two groups in this surah. ‘Those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in crowds… And those who were mindful of their Lord will be led to Paradise in crowds.’ [39:71,73] Who are the righteous people? In another of the verses…
Becoming closer to Allah
In Surat Az-Zumar, Allah Almighty talks about those who do qiyam (voluntary night prayers) and supplicate to Allah, and how they are not equal to those who deny Allah and reject the akhirah, and are only concerned with the dunya. Makki vs Madani surahs This is a Makki surah. Like other, similar surahs, it addresses…
How to turn an ordinary fast, into a super-fast
The aim of fasting is to achieve righteousness Allah Almighty said in Surat al Baqarah: يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous – [2:183] Alhamdulillah,…
What is the connection between closeness to Allah, excellence and fasting?
They ask you… My reflection today is on a very beautiful ayah among the 5 verses on fasting in the Quran which are found in Surat al-Baqarah (183-187). Allah Almighty says: وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ If my servants ask you…
Don’t judge based on one side of a story
In the story of Prophet Dawud (peace be upon him), Allah is highlighting the scene from his life, when two people came to him wanting a judge for their dispute. The first one came forward and presented his case, and Dawud gave his verdict without even listening to the second part of the story. So…
Could you sacrifice what you love most for Allah?
Tonight we continued with Surat as-Saffat, and we recited many stories in this surah. One of these is part of the story of Ibrahim. About one quarter of the Quran involves stories which Allah has told us of different nations and prophets and messengers, to teach us different lessons. In this surah we are talking…
All oppression will come to an end one day
Alhamdulillah we are lucky enough to witness another Ramadan. May Allah have mercy on those whom we have lost, who can’t witness Ramadan with us. This is the circle of life: we receive newcomers, and we pay our respects to those who have left us. And we ask Allah to make our ending happy, Ya…
Can I pray out loud so my baby can hear me?
You can pray audibly for Fajr, Maghrib and Isha, but not Dhur and Asr which are not vocalised. Shaykh Haytham Tamim
Ghazali – If you had just one day to live, what would you do?
Munazarat an Nafs – debating with yourself The Forty Principles of the Faith ends with a debate between Ghazali and himself, and he recommends that we do this as well – rather than debating with others, try to convince yourself of the truth, as you try to convince your opponent. Scholars of tasawwuf (self purification)…
Psyching up for Ramadan
Allah Almighty said in the Quran that fasting is an obligation in this famous ayah, but when was this ayah revealed and when was fasting made an obligation? يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was…
Knowing Allah through His beautiful names 3 – Loving Allah, Al Wadud
The first obligation of every human being is to know his Creator. Some people accepted this invitation from Allah Almighty to find out about Him and truly knowing Him can only lead to gratitude towards Him. Allah called them to His message through different prophets and messengers, and a variety of means, yet unfortunately some…