Eid – The time to renew your covenant with Allah
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Eid – The time to renew your covenant with Allah

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…

Dimensions of deceit

Dimensions of deceit

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…

Hajj: how the pillars of Islam create unity and strength
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Hajj: how the pillars of Islam create unity and strength

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…

Knowing Allah through His Beautiful Names: Al Ba’ith
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Knowing Allah through His Beautiful Names: Al Ba’ith

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…

The law of trials
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The law of trials

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…

Knowing Allah through His Beautiful names: Al Haleem
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Knowing Allah through His Beautiful names: Al Haleem

It’s very beautiful to explore the names of Allah Almighty, His attributes and the sweetness of the meanings. It is even better to translate the understanding of the names into implementing them in our lives as much as possible. The name Al-Haleem is one of the beautiful names of Allah Almighty. It has been repeated…

The law of alternation. What goes up must come down
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The law of alternation. What goes up must come down

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) had a she-camel, whose name was al ‘Adba, who never lost a race. He said: عَنْ أَنَسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَاقَةٌ تُسَمَّى الْعَضْبَاءَ لاَ تُسْبَقُ ـ  أَوْ لاَ تَكَادُ تُسْبَقُ ـ…

The law of replacement in the Quran

The law of replacement in the Quran

In Surat at-Tawbah, which was the last surah to be revealed and considered by most scholars to have been revealed in one go, Allah mentions the law of replacement, sunnat al-istibdaal (سُنَّةُ الاستبدال). یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَا لَكُمۡ إِذَا قِیلَ لَكُمُ ٱنفِرُوا۟ فِی سَبِیلِ ٱللَّهِ ٱثَّاقَلۡتُمۡ إِلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ أَرَضِیتُم بِٱلۡحَیَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡیَا مِنَ ٱلۡـَٔاخِرَةِۚ فَمَا مَتَـٰعُ…

The Ummah Upgrade
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The Ummah Upgrade

Smashing the idols Allah Almighty said towards the end of Surat Zumar, أَلَيۡسَ ٱللَّهُ بِكَافٍ عَبۡدَهُۥۖ وَيُخَوِّفُونَكَ بِٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦۚ وَمَن يُضۡلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِنۡ هَادٖ Is not Allah sufficient for His Servant [Prophet Muhammad]? And [yet], they threaten you with those [they worship] other than Him. And whoever Allah leaves astray – for…

The consequences of harming Awliyaullah
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The consequences of harming Awliyaullah

Allah’s love for those who are committed to Him إِنَّ ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ سَیَجۡعَلُ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ وُدࣰّا Surely, those who believe and do righteous deeds, for them the All-Merciful (Allah) will give love. [Maryam, 19:96] This ayah is a very unique ayah in the Quran in which Allah talks about His love (mawaddah) for…

The forces of Allah and the fate of the falsifiers
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The forces of Allah and the fate of the falsifiers

The story of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) is mentioned many times in the Quran, as is the story of Musa (peace be upon him). In Surat Maryam, Allah recounts the the conversation between Ibrahim and his father, when Ibrahim invites him to worship Allah, the true and only God instead of the idols. He…

Why should you follow up one good action with another one?
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Why should you follow up one good action with another one?

Start another act of worship as soon as you have completed one And to complete the number of days and to glorify God for what He has guided you and may you be guided by Him. So that you might be grateful. (2:185) Allah Almighty commanded His servants to thank Him for His favours for…

Don’t be a Ramadani person – Be a Rabbani person.
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Don’t be a Ramadani person – Be a Rabbani person.

Alhamdulilah we witnessed Ramadan. Alhamdulilah we witnessed Eid. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said in 2AH when Ramadan became an obligation for the Ummah and Eid was celebrated for the first time in Madinah, For every nation there is an Eid to celebrate and this is our Eid. [Bukhari] From this hadith we see…

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…