Alhamdulilah we are blessed that we could witness Ramadan. Many people departed from this world to the akhirah, some passed away just before it started and some will not make it to the end. We are fortunate therefore, that we have been given the opportunity to fast, to pray and to recite the Quran. Life itself is an opportunity from Allah. For everyone who has been given this gift, we have done nothing to deserve this gift. He gave life as a gift and He takes life. Look at how many opportunities......

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Ayahs 142-144 of Surat al-Baqarah, at the start of the second juz, talk about the change in the qibla from Jerusalem to the Kaba. The original qibla The angel Jibril came down and taught the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ how to perform salah in the second year after the revelation. This was before the five daily prayers were made obligatory, so he would pray in the morning and evening. Zaid bin Haritha (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: عن زيد بن حارثة......

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Spread good news In ayah 119 of Surat al-Baqarah, Allah says ‘Surely, We have sent you with the truth, as a bearer of good tidings, and a warner, and you will not be asked about the people of Hell.’ Allah is referring to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, one of whose names is al-Bashir, the one who carries good news. He used to tell his Companions, ‘Give glad tidings, and do not scare people away. Make things easy, and do not make things difficult.’ Your style of delivery can be what......

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Allah challenges Bani Israil In ayah 94 of Surat al-Baqarah, Allah challenges Bani Israil, after they repeatedly betrayed their Messenger, Musa (peace be upon him) and reneged on their covenants with Him. Feeling a sense of superiority, they claim that Jannah is exclusively for them, and Allah asks them, ‘If the Home of the Hereafter with Allah is exclusively for you out of all humanity, then wish for death if you are truthful.’ If they truly believe that they are certain to go to Jannah, why are they suffering in the......

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Tonight we recited the central story of Surat al-Baqarah – the story of the cow, from which the surah takes its name. The story of the cow We know from historical narrations that a very rich man from Bani Israil was killed one night by his nephew, who was his only heir. In the morning, his body was found somewhere far away, and the tribe accused the people around that area. A big argument followed, and they decided to go to Musa (peace be upon him) for advice. Musa told them that......

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Surat al-Baqarah contains so much wisdom that it’s difficult to know where to start talking about it! As well as being the longest surah, it also contains the longest ayah in the Quran (Ayat ad-Dayn, which is about debt) and the best ayah, which is the Ayat al-Kursi. Bani Israil There are 115 ayahs about Bani Israil, which is 40% of the surah. Even though there is a whole surah called Surah Bani Israil (another name for Surat al-Isra). Surat al-Baqarah says more about them than that whole surah. The name of......

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We are lucky to be witnessing Ramadan and to be able to pray in a mosque where we have a roof above our heads. The people of Gaza have no place to pray; food to eat; water to drink. Inshallah Allah will give them relief soon. We are starting with Surat al-Baqarah. Of course, this is the longest surah of the Quran, which was revealed in Madinah. Scholars have mentioned that this surah alone has 1000 rulings. We could take two weeks to reflect on just the opening verses we have recited......

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Ramadan is the month of patience and the month of resilience. The Battle of Badr, the first battle, took place in Ramadan. The Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged his companions to endure challenges with patience and strength. We all face our own challenges and as an Ummah we are witnessing an extremely challenging time – the most challenging time which we have witnessed in living memory. Not only are we seeing a tragedy unfold, we are shocked and aghast that so many have lost their morals and the goodness but basic......

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In Surat Tawbah, Allah summarised the story of the Battle of Tabouk, which took place in the ninth year after the migration. The Prophet (peace be upon him) mobilised an army of 30,000 soldiers which was the largest Muslim military campaign in his lifetime against the formidable Roman army, who were 100,000 troops. The believers lacked military equipment, funds and provisions. Allah called this battle the Battle of Usrah (9:117), as it was a time of hardship and difficulty. It was the challenging time for the Muslims due to their lack of......

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The fortunate amongst us will live to receive Ramadan – due to illness or death. We ask Allah to enable us to receive Ramadan with good health and high imaan. Every year we have Ramadan, so what is the best way to receive it. This year I want to reflect on the state of our hearts when we enter Ramadan. Our faculties Allah created everything with a purpose. Allah created each of our faculties for a reason, like our eyes, they see truth, beauty and the magnificence of Allah’s creation. Our ears......

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  الَّذِينَ يُبَلِّغُونَ رِسَالَاتِ اللَّهِ وَيَخْشَوْنَهُ وَلَا يَخْشَوْنَ أَحَدًا إِلَّا اللَّهَ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ حَسِيبًا ‪Those who deliver the messages of Allah, and fear Him, and fear no one except Allah. Allah suffices as a Reckoner. (33:39)‪ In this ayah Allah is explaining the importance of delivering the truth. Nothing should prevent you from delivering the truth and the Prophet (peace be upon him) set an example for all of us. He was  the best of those who carried the truth and the flag of truth. Allah selected the prophets and messengers to......

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In Surat az-Zukhruf, Allah Almighty says: لَقَدۡ جِئۡنَـٰكُم بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَكُمۡ لِلۡحَقِّ كَـٰرِهُونَ أَمۡ أَبۡرَمُوۤا۟ أَمۡراً فَإِنَّا مُبۡرِمُونَ أَمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّا لَا نَسْمَعُ سِرَّهُمْ وَنَجْوَىٰهُم ۚ بَلَىٰ وَرُسُلُنَا لَدَيْهِمْ يَكْتُبُونَ ٨٠ Indeed We have brought the truth (the Qur’an) to you, but most of you hate the truth. Or have they plotted some plan (against you O Muhammad)? Then We too are planning (to destroy them). Or do they think that We don’t hear their secrets and their private counsel? Of course Our Messengers (angels) are recording by them. Scholars have......

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As each day brings news of fresh horrors and our hearts reel at the atrocities taking place in Gaza, we look to the Quran to guide us in these troubled times. When we open up Surat al-Kahf every Friday, the story of Musa and al-Khidr gives us hope. Musa (peace be upon him), who quite reasonably presumed he was the most knowledgeable man at the time, was informed by Allah Almighty that there was someone else endowed with special knowledge he did not have. Musa, humbled by this discovery, embarked on a......

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As we continue to seethe with anger at the hypocrisy and the silence over the appalling genocide in Gaza, we are seeing people who are blind, deaf, and dumb just as the Quran described. Their hearts are so shrouded with darkness that they watch the horrors devoid of empathy. صُمُّۢ بُكۡمٌ عُمۡیࣱ فَهُمۡ لَا یَرۡجِعُونَ  Deaf, dumb, blind. They will not return. (2:18) The Quran warns us of hearts that become hardened like stones, or even harder, the more they move away from God. They become indifferent to what is right and......

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