Bismillah
As salaamu alaikum,
Allah is the protector of the faithful. Isn't that a comforting thought. After reading ayatul-Kursi and reflecting on the Attributes of the Lord of us all, and after Him telling that He does not want there to be force in religion, isn't it such a comforting that to that if we choose belief in Our Creator He will protect us. I know I feel good right now. But it doesn't stop there. He takes those protected people out of the darknesses and into the light.
The word used for darkness in this aya(verse) is ظلمات . Thulumaat-darknesses. Why is it significant that Allah would use darknesses in a plural sense? Ok. I know that was an easy question, but sometimes the easy ones need to be written down. Darknesses signifies the numerous means by which people are led astray. Misguidance is as numerous as people on the planet. And why shouldn't it be we're all different, with differing weaknesses and strengths. But...
Truth is one. Light is one. Just as God is One. All misguidance and darkness dissipates in the light of truth. May Allah make us of the faithful and protected.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Lastly
[2:254]
O YOU who have attained to faith! Spend [in Our way] out of what We have granted you as sustenance before there comes a Day when there will be no bargaining, and no friendship, and no intercession. And they who deny the truth – it is they who are evildoers!
All the ayas in the Qur'an blend into each other with a perfection that no human can reinvent or copy. In this aya there is a warning and a mercy. Allah addresses the believers and gives us knowledge of one of the attributes we should strive to attain. He says spend from what we have provided for you. Allah's provision is everything that He has given us. In the previous aya (verse) we are told that Allah gives different bounties to different people, and that's the way He wants it. In this aya Allah tells us what we should do with those bounties. Spend from them for His sake. We don't own anything that Allah didn't give us and when we use these bestowed gifts for His sake He rewards us. (More on that in 2 pages on aya 261)
Here we get a taste of how the ayas (verses) fit together. First Allah tells us what He has given us. Then He tells us why and how we should use those blessings. In order to have a functioning community we need many people with many different skills. This is just another reason not to covet the abilities of any other person. If we were all the same communities wouldn't be able to take care of themselves. There wouldn't be enough skills from within to handle all of our needs.. Hhmmmm.... Isn't that what's happening now. hhhmmm.... I wonder...
The warning in this verse is this: A sign of disbelief is that a person doesn't spend from what Allah has given to him/her. A person who spends for Allah must realize on some level that he will return to Allah. Right? Does that mean that people who don't spend in some sort of charity, those who horde the gifts of God to themselves trying to earn bigger profits for the next quarter, that those people don't believe in God or don't realize the inevitability of the return to Him?
Those people are the ones who only oppress themselves. They have no savings in the bank of deeds. Come to think of it, how much have I saved in that bank? Are we a people who stop ourselves from attaining paradise because we're too ashamed to give a quarter to Allah. Don't be.
Allah is the Lord of the day in which there is no trade, no friendship, and no intercession, except what Allah permits. And with all His might He has given us an easy way to seek His favor, His friendship, and His pleasure. Nothing is too small to give to Allah. if you see a hungry person and you have nothing but and apple, give the apple. Put some money in your bank account before a day comes when that account is sealed and nothing can be added but deeds can be taken out. There is only one Master that day.
[2:255]
GOD – there is no deity save Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsistent Fount of All Being.
Neither slumber overtakes Him, nor sleep. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. Who is there that could intercede with Him, unless it be by His leave?
He knows all that lies open before men and all that is hidden from them, whereas they cannot attain to aught of His knowledge save that which He wills [them to attain].
His eternal power overspreads the heavens and the earth, and their upholding wearies Him not. And He alone is truly exalted, tremendous.
And who is that Master? Allah. Nothing that ever existed has a claim to be worshipped except Him. He is Alive right now and always, and completely free of any need from anyone, but all things are dependent on Him. Nodding off, dozing sleeping becoming tired, needing to rest, these things have no place with Allah. They do not take Him. They do not touch him. Everything belongs to Him. And with that who of us, which of the angels, what being has ever existed that has any weight with Him, or can speak on its own behalf without Allah giving it permission to use the lips that He created. He knows the future the present and the past. He knows everything we have done, want to do, or will do. If a tree falls in the middle of the forest and no person hears, know that it is Allah who caused it to fall in the first place. His throne His might, His power, His will extends over the entire expanse of everything we know about and everything we don't know about. He keeps them. He maintains them and it's no thing. Why? Because He is the Highest the Supreme.
[2:256]
THERE SHALL BE no coercion in matters of faith.
Distinct has now become the right way from [the way of] error: hence, he who rejects the powers of evil and believes in God has indeed taken hold of a support most unfailing, which shall never give way: for God is all-hearing, all-knowing.
And still after all that He doesn't force us to believe, and He doesn't allow anyone else to either, because He has chosen for there not to be any compulsion in life choice. The truth is plain and everyone can distinguish it clearly from falsehood. And here Allah gives us the choice again, and encourages us in that choice. Believe! Reject falsehood and you will be secure for all eternity.
But the choice is yours and the choice is mine. Allah is merciful. Allah is kind.
O YOU who have attained to faith! Spend [in Our way] out of what We have granted you as sustenance before there comes a Day when there will be no bargaining, and no friendship, and no intercession. And they who deny the truth – it is they who are evildoers!
All the ayas in the Qur'an blend into each other with a perfection that no human can reinvent or copy. In this aya there is a warning and a mercy. Allah addresses the believers and gives us knowledge of one of the attributes we should strive to attain. He says spend from what we have provided for you. Allah's provision is everything that He has given us. In the previous aya (verse) we are told that Allah gives different bounties to different people, and that's the way He wants it. In this aya Allah tells us what we should do with those bounties. Spend from them for His sake. We don't own anything that Allah didn't give us and when we use these bestowed gifts for His sake He rewards us. (More on that in 2 pages on aya 261)
Here we get a taste of how the ayas (verses) fit together. First Allah tells us what He has given us. Then He tells us why and how we should use those blessings. In order to have a functioning community we need many people with many different skills. This is just another reason not to covet the abilities of any other person. If we were all the same communities wouldn't be able to take care of themselves. There wouldn't be enough skills from within to handle all of our needs.. Hhmmmm.... Isn't that what's happening now. hhhmmm.... I wonder...
The warning in this verse is this: A sign of disbelief is that a person doesn't spend from what Allah has given to him/her. A person who spends for Allah must realize on some level that he will return to Allah. Right? Does that mean that people who don't spend in some sort of charity, those who horde the gifts of God to themselves trying to earn bigger profits for the next quarter, that those people don't believe in God or don't realize the inevitability of the return to Him?
Those people are the ones who only oppress themselves. They have no savings in the bank of deeds. Come to think of it, how much have I saved in that bank? Are we a people who stop ourselves from attaining paradise because we're too ashamed to give a quarter to Allah. Don't be.
Allah is the Lord of the day in which there is no trade, no friendship, and no intercession, except what Allah permits. And with all His might He has given us an easy way to seek His favor, His friendship, and His pleasure. Nothing is too small to give to Allah. if you see a hungry person and you have nothing but and apple, give the apple. Put some money in your bank account before a day comes when that account is sealed and nothing can be added but deeds can be taken out. There is only one Master that day.
[2:255]
GOD – there is no deity save Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsistent Fount of All Being.
Neither slumber overtakes Him, nor sleep. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. Who is there that could intercede with Him, unless it be by His leave?
He knows all that lies open before men and all that is hidden from them, whereas they cannot attain to aught of His knowledge save that which He wills [them to attain].
His eternal power overspreads the heavens and the earth, and their upholding wearies Him not. And He alone is truly exalted, tremendous.
And who is that Master? Allah. Nothing that ever existed has a claim to be worshipped except Him. He is Alive right now and always, and completely free of any need from anyone, but all things are dependent on Him. Nodding off, dozing sleeping becoming tired, needing to rest, these things have no place with Allah. They do not take Him. They do not touch him. Everything belongs to Him. And with that who of us, which of the angels, what being has ever existed that has any weight with Him, or can speak on its own behalf without Allah giving it permission to use the lips that He created. He knows the future the present and the past. He knows everything we have done, want to do, or will do. If a tree falls in the middle of the forest and no person hears, know that it is Allah who caused it to fall in the first place. His throne His might, His power, His will extends over the entire expanse of everything we know about and everything we don't know about. He keeps them. He maintains them and it's no thing. Why? Because He is the Highest the Supreme.
[2:256]
THERE SHALL BE no coercion in matters of faith.
Distinct has now become the right way from [the way of] error: hence, he who rejects the powers of evil and believes in God has indeed taken hold of a support most unfailing, which shall never give way: for God is all-hearing, all-knowing.
And still after all that He doesn't force us to believe, and He doesn't allow anyone else to either, because He has chosen for there not to be any compulsion in life choice. The truth is plain and everyone can distinguish it clearly from falsehood. And here Allah gives us the choice again, and encourages us in that choice. Believe! Reject falsehood and you will be secure for all eternity.
But the choice is yours and the choice is mine. Allah is merciful. Allah is kind.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Ayat-ul-Kursi The verse of the Throne (continued)
Bismillah
As salaamu alaikum,
Ayat-ul-Kursi is aya (verse) 255 of the longest chapter in the Qur'an. Its on page 42 in my Mus-haf (book) along with 3 other verses.
[2:253]
Some of these apostles have We endowed more highly than others: among them were such as were spoken to by God [Himself], and some He has raised yet higher. And We vouchsafed unto Jesus, the son of Mary, all evidence of the truth, and strengthened him with holy inspiration.
And if God had so willed, they who succeeded those [apostles] would not have contended with one another after all evidence of the truth had come to them; but [as it was,] they did take to divergent views, and some of them attained to faith, while some of them came to deny the truth. Yet if God had so willed, they would not have contended with one another: but God does whatever He wills.
There are two main topics discussed in this aya, messengers, and God's will. As for the messengers Allah is telling us His sunnah (established order) in regards to them. Not all messengers are the same. Allah chose specific gifts to give to specific prophets. Allah spoke to Moses. Allah gave Isa (Jesus) clear signs and aided him with the ruuhil-Qudus (holy spirit). (When Ruhil Qudus is mentioned in the Qur'an it is usually means angel Gabriel.)
These examples that all people, Muslims and everyone else know about, are to let us know that Allah did give messengers (peace be upon them all) ranks and levels. His established order in the world is that some people have been given special gifts that no one else has, and have not been given certain gifts that others may have.
And this is fine. It's all good. This is the way its supposed to be. Some people have really good hearing, and they are blind. It's almost as if Allah replaces their eyes with their ears. Others can see, but can't walk. And others have no intellect coupled with no reckoning on the day of judgement. They will go straight to heaven.
It isn't necessary to be dissatisfied when you see a bounty that Allah has given someone else that He hasn't given to you. It may be that Allah will give you something better in the future. Or He has already given you something better than what He gave that other person but you are to ungrateful to notice. May Allah make us grateful, kind, and merciful to our families. ameen.
This post will be continued and reposted later inshaAllah. Until then read the next verses and see what you can take form them before I write my next piece.
[2:254]
O YOU who have attained to faith! Spend [in Our way] out of what We have granted you as sustenance ere there come a Day when there will be no bargaining, and no friendship, and no intercession. And they who deny the truth – it is they who are evildoers!
[2:255]
GOD – there is no deity save Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsistent Fount of All Being.
Neither slumber overtakes Him, nor sleep. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. Who is there that could intercede with Him, unless it be by His leave?
He knows all that lies open before men and all that is hidden from them, whereas they cannot attain to aught of His knowledge save that which He wills [them to attain].
His eternal power overspreads the heavens and the earth, and their upholding wearies Him not. And He alone is truly exalted, tremendous.
[2:256]
THERE SHALL BE no coercion in matters of faith.
Distinct has now become the right way from [the way of] error: hence, he who rejects the powers of evil and believes in God has indeed taken hold of a support most unfailing, which shall never give way: for God is all-hearing, all-knowing.
As salaamu alaikum,
Ayat-ul-Kursi is aya (verse) 255 of the longest chapter in the Qur'an. Its on page 42 in my Mus-haf (book) along with 3 other verses.
[2:253]
Some of these apostles have We endowed more highly than others: among them were such as were spoken to by God [Himself], and some He has raised yet higher. And We vouchsafed unto Jesus, the son of Mary, all evidence of the truth, and strengthened him with holy inspiration.
And if God had so willed, they who succeeded those [apostles] would not have contended with one another after all evidence of the truth had come to them; but [as it was,] they did take to divergent views, and some of them attained to faith, while some of them came to deny the truth. Yet if God had so willed, they would not have contended with one another: but God does whatever He wills.
There are two main topics discussed in this aya, messengers, and God's will. As for the messengers Allah is telling us His sunnah (established order) in regards to them. Not all messengers are the same. Allah chose specific gifts to give to specific prophets. Allah spoke to Moses. Allah gave Isa (Jesus) clear signs and aided him with the ruuhil-Qudus (holy spirit). (When Ruhil Qudus is mentioned in the Qur'an it is usually means angel Gabriel.)
These examples that all people, Muslims and everyone else know about, are to let us know that Allah did give messengers (peace be upon them all) ranks and levels. His established order in the world is that some people have been given special gifts that no one else has, and have not been given certain gifts that others may have.
And this is fine. It's all good. This is the way its supposed to be. Some people have really good hearing, and they are blind. It's almost as if Allah replaces their eyes with their ears. Others can see, but can't walk. And others have no intellect coupled with no reckoning on the day of judgement. They will go straight to heaven.
It isn't necessary to be dissatisfied when you see a bounty that Allah has given someone else that He hasn't given to you. It may be that Allah will give you something better in the future. Or He has already given you something better than what He gave that other person but you are to ungrateful to notice. May Allah make us grateful, kind, and merciful to our families. ameen.
This post will be continued and reposted later inshaAllah. Until then read the next verses and see what you can take form them before I write my next piece.
[2:254]
O YOU who have attained to faith! Spend [in Our way] out of what We have granted you as sustenance ere there come a Day when there will be no bargaining, and no friendship, and no intercession. And they who deny the truth – it is they who are evildoers!
[2:255]
GOD – there is no deity save Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsistent Fount of All Being.
Neither slumber overtakes Him, nor sleep. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. Who is there that could intercede with Him, unless it be by His leave?
He knows all that lies open before men and all that is hidden from them, whereas they cannot attain to aught of His knowledge save that which He wills [them to attain].
His eternal power overspreads the heavens and the earth, and their upholding wearies Him not. And He alone is truly exalted, tremendous.
[2:256]
THERE SHALL BE no coercion in matters of faith.
Distinct has now become the right way from [the way of] error: hence, he who rejects the powers of evil and believes in God has indeed taken hold of a support most unfailing, which shall never give way: for God is all-hearing, all-knowing.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Ayat-ul-Kursi The verse of the Throne
Bismillah
As salaamu alaikum,
The Last Messenger of God, sent to all mankind said what is translated as:
"The master of Humanity is Adam, And the master of the Arabs is Muhammad and it is no boast. And the master of speech is the Qur'an. And the master of the Qur'an is Al-Baqara. And the master of Al-Baqara is Ayat-ul-Kursi."
Ayat-ul-Kursi is the bomb! You know it's true. The prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said so many wonderful things about this ayat like, 'Whoever reads Ayatul-Kursi consistently, there is nothing between that person and paradise except death." And, "Whoever reads ayatul Kursi when he [she] lies down Allah will secure him, his neighbors, his neighbors neighbors, and all the houses around him. So here we go.
As salaamu alaikum,
The Last Messenger of God, sent to all mankind said what is translated as:
"The master of Humanity is Adam, And the master of the Arabs is Muhammad and it is no boast. And the master of speech is the Qur'an. And the master of the Qur'an is Al-Baqara. And the master of Al-Baqara is Ayat-ul-Kursi."
Ayat-ul-Kursi is the bomb! You know it's true. The prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said so many wonderful things about this ayat like, 'Whoever reads Ayatul-Kursi consistently, there is nothing between that person and paradise except death." And, "Whoever reads ayatul Kursi when he [she] lies down Allah will secure him, his neighbors, his neighbors neighbors, and all the houses around him. So here we go.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Saying of the day/week/month/year/beyond
Bismillah
As salaamu alaikum,
"Al Inaa'u yakhruju maa feehee."
"What comes out of a vessel is what's in it"
Master Yoda just dropped this bit of knowledge on my mind and I had to share. "What comes out of a vessel is what's in it." Or, "What's in a vessel is what comes out of it." What do you think that means? Post some comments and let me know. I'll be back in a day or a week to tell you what it means to me.
As salaamu alaikum,
"Al Inaa'u yakhruju maa feehee."
"What comes out of a vessel is what's in it"
Master Yoda just dropped this bit of knowledge on my mind and I had to share. "What comes out of a vessel is what's in it." Or, "What's in a vessel is what comes out of it." What do you think that means? Post some comments and let me know. I'll be back in a day or a week to tell you what it means to me.
Al Baqara
Bismillah
As salaamu alaikum,
What does sura (chapter) Baqara mean to you? Have you even been asked that question? I know I never thought of the Qur'an in terms of what it means to me until several months ago. Which goes into a bit of a problem I sense in having real discussions about the Qur'an. But that's a topic for another time.
Baqara means cow in arabic. And what a befitting title it is for the longest sura in the Qur'an. Name that part of a cow that no one can use... As soon as you find it let me know, I've given up looking for it. I just did a search on cow eye recipes and got over 17 millions hits. I couldn't even think of one reason to use a cows eyes, but there's at least 17 million, so there you go.
In the same way, and so much greater, sura Baqara has endless uses and meanings. I remember when I was learning ayah 17:
Their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in utter darkness. So they could not see.
This verse reminded me of a particular memory I have from when I was 5. Whenever I recall it, this memory appears dark, although I am no longer frightened. My family at the time was living in an apartment complex. Forget cats and dogs, it was storming buckets and waves outside. The thunder hammered so loudly that the building shook. I was so frightened I couldn't even cry. I went to the bathroom and turned the light on, knowing that if the thunder scared the pee out of me and onto someone's lap I'd be in trouble. No sooner did I sit down than the great hammer struck the apartment building again and the power failed. I was in the bathroom. I was in the dark. and the pee was scared out of me.
That moment of darkness is what this verse reminds me of. But imagine if it wasn't the lights of the building that turned off, but the light in my heart the light in your heart. When I was in that bathroom I knew the lights were off. But what about all the people who don't know they are wandering through the world in darkness. What about three years ago when I didn't know this verse and a certain darkness had settled upon me too. Is this the ultimate end of not knowing the Qur'an? To be left in darkness?
The difference between visible darkness and spiritual darkness, in my opinion, is that one is obvious to all and the other is only obvious to the poeple who have light. Perhaps reading the Qur'an is the proactive way to be enlightened. Why wait until someone tells you what you don't want to hear anyway. And that is what I got out of ayah 17 of sura 2. And yes every ayah is like this and even beyond.
That's just one idea for why Baqara is the cow. So much benefit in one part of it or the whole thing.
If you want to know the verses leading up to ayah 17 here's a link to a Qur'anic interpretation by Yusuf Ali.
http://www.harunyahya.com/Quran_translation/Quran_translation2.php
Just thought I'd end with a passage Master Yoda gave me. I can't wait till I get there in memorization.
O People of the Scripture! Now hath Our messenger come unto you, expounding unto you much of that which ye used to hide in the Scripture, and forgiving much. now hath come unto you light from Allah and plain Scripture,
Whereby Allah guideth him who seeketh His good pleasure unto paths of peace. He bringeth them out of darkness unto light by His decree, and guideth them unto a straight path. Qur'an 5:15
As salaamu alaikum,
What does sura (chapter) Baqara mean to you? Have you even been asked that question? I know I never thought of the Qur'an in terms of what it means to me until several months ago. Which goes into a bit of a problem I sense in having real discussions about the Qur'an. But that's a topic for another time.
Baqara means cow in arabic. And what a befitting title it is for the longest sura in the Qur'an. Name that part of a cow that no one can use... As soon as you find it let me know, I've given up looking for it. I just did a search on cow eye recipes and got over 17 millions hits. I couldn't even think of one reason to use a cows eyes, but there's at least 17 million, so there you go.
In the same way, and so much greater, sura Baqara has endless uses and meanings. I remember when I was learning ayah 17:
Their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in utter darkness. So they could not see.
This verse reminded me of a particular memory I have from when I was 5. Whenever I recall it, this memory appears dark, although I am no longer frightened. My family at the time was living in an apartment complex. Forget cats and dogs, it was storming buckets and waves outside. The thunder hammered so loudly that the building shook. I was so frightened I couldn't even cry. I went to the bathroom and turned the light on, knowing that if the thunder scared the pee out of me and onto someone's lap I'd be in trouble. No sooner did I sit down than the great hammer struck the apartment building again and the power failed. I was in the bathroom. I was in the dark. and the pee was scared out of me.
That moment of darkness is what this verse reminds me of. But imagine if it wasn't the lights of the building that turned off, but the light in my heart the light in your heart. When I was in that bathroom I knew the lights were off. But what about all the people who don't know they are wandering through the world in darkness. What about three years ago when I didn't know this verse and a certain darkness had settled upon me too. Is this the ultimate end of not knowing the Qur'an? To be left in darkness?
The difference between visible darkness and spiritual darkness, in my opinion, is that one is obvious to all and the other is only obvious to the poeple who have light. Perhaps reading the Qur'an is the proactive way to be enlightened. Why wait until someone tells you what you don't want to hear anyway. And that is what I got out of ayah 17 of sura 2. And yes every ayah is like this and even beyond.
That's just one idea for why Baqara is the cow. So much benefit in one part of it or the whole thing.
If you want to know the verses leading up to ayah 17 here's a link to a Qur'anic interpretation by Yusuf Ali.
http://www.harunyahya.com/Quran_translation/Quran_translation2.php
Just thought I'd end with a passage Master Yoda gave me. I can't wait till I get there in memorization.
O People of the Scripture! Now hath Our messenger come unto you, expounding unto you much of that which ye used to hide in the Scripture, and forgiving much. now hath come unto you light from Allah and plain Scripture,
Whereby Allah guideth him who seeketh His good pleasure unto paths of peace. He bringeth them out of darkness unto light by His decree, and guideth them unto a straight path. Qur'an 5:15
Sunday, January 10, 2010
A Few Lines
Bismillah
As salaamu alaikum,
From time to time I hope to post Short messages about previous ayaat that I've already memorized. And if a particular page is taking me a long time we'll just have a blast from the past.
As salaamu alaikum,
From time to time I hope to post Short messages about previous ayaat that I've already memorized. And if a particular page is taking me a long time we'll just have a blast from the past.
Two Down 28 To Go
Bismillah
As salaamu alaikum,
YAAAY! Allahu Akbar. I have just completed the second juz. I am so Happy. Thank you Allah. Wooohooooooo!!! On this latest page I did there were four verses. Here is an interpretation of these verses by Yusuf Ali.
249. When Talut set forth with the armies, he said: "(Allah) will test you at the stream: if any drinks of its water, He goes not with my army: Only those who taste not of it go with me: A mere sip out of the hand is excused." but they all drank of it, except a few. When they crossed the river,- He and the faithful ones with him,- they said: "This day We cannot cope with Goliath and his forces." but those who were convinced that they must meet Allah, said: "How oft, by Allah.s will, Hath a small force vanquished a big one? Allah is with those who steadfastly persevere."
250. When they advanced to meet Goliath and his forces, they prayed: "Our Lord! Pour out constancy on us and make our steps firm: Help us against those that reject faith."
251. By Allah.s will they routed them; and David slew Goliath; and Allah gave him power and wisdom and taught him whatever (else) He willed. And did not Allah Check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief: But Allah is full of bounty to all the worlds.
252. These are the Signs of Allah. we rehearse them to thee in truth: verily Thou art one of the apostles.
When I receive a new page from my teacher (whom I will be referring to as master Yoda for the purposes of this blog) we go through the tafsirs (Qur'anic explanation) of Jalalain and/or Fakhr-ud-Deen ar-Razi. So I will be summarizing their explanations along with the added insights of Master Yoda.
In the first aya Talut has left the limits of the city with his army and they are headed off to meet the enemy. It's a hot day and they are about to come upon a river. What is about to happen is that the believers will be separated from the disbelievers. Those who believe show their belief through obedience and those who disbelieve do not obey the laws of God. In Aya 250 we are shown what to do when faced with difficult situations. Pray. The specific Qur'anic words used in this prayer are afrigh which means empty, empty out patience on us, and thabbit aqdaamana, root our feet so we don't run. Together they mean something like give us the perseverance to outlast the enemy and the strength to stay on the battlefield.
The aya that really struck me from this page was 251. The first half of the aya states how the enemy was vanquished. But the second half really emphasizes an issue that many poeple have these days. Dont judge me!!! The nature that Allah has given the world is to have one group fight another if the first group is oppressive. We see this balance in every layer or creation. Plants, animals, everything. There is always a predator and a prey. Even lions, tigers and bears, animals who may not have natural predators, get sick and die. And if that is the nature God gave the world why do so many people say "mind your own business and leave me alone." I guess its for the same reason that oppressors oppress. People get comfortable in their sins and don't want to change. Which is probably why it was so difficult for me to get serious about memorizing Qur'an. I sure didn't want to be told that I was procrastinating and preventing myself from attaining my goals. But I realized that being unwilling to change for the better would only oppress me. I would be the one harmed. It would be me who didn't have any knowledge of the Qur'an. Master Yoda told me this many times I guess it just took a while for me to believe it in my being. If we are unwilling to correct others the world will fall into corruption. And if we don't obey God we will be left behind at the river while the troops of God rush forward to victory.
The last aya leaves us with this thought. These words are true. These people are real and a part of the story of this world. Take heed and practice the lessons, or be left behind.
As salaamu alaikum,
YAAAY! Allahu Akbar. I have just completed the second juz. I am so Happy. Thank you Allah. Wooohooooooo!!! On this latest page I did there were four verses. Here is an interpretation of these verses by Yusuf Ali.
249. When Talut set forth with the armies, he said: "(Allah) will test you at the stream: if any drinks of its water, He goes not with my army: Only those who taste not of it go with me: A mere sip out of the hand is excused." but they all drank of it, except a few. When they crossed the river,- He and the faithful ones with him,- they said: "This day We cannot cope with Goliath and his forces." but those who were convinced that they must meet Allah, said: "How oft, by Allah.s will, Hath a small force vanquished a big one? Allah is with those who steadfastly persevere."
250. When they advanced to meet Goliath and his forces, they prayed: "Our Lord! Pour out constancy on us and make our steps firm: Help us against those that reject faith."
251. By Allah.s will they routed them; and David slew Goliath; and Allah gave him power and wisdom and taught him whatever (else) He willed. And did not Allah Check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief: But Allah is full of bounty to all the worlds.
252. These are the Signs of Allah. we rehearse them to thee in truth: verily Thou art one of the apostles.
When I receive a new page from my teacher (whom I will be referring to as master Yoda for the purposes of this blog) we go through the tafsirs (Qur'anic explanation) of Jalalain and/or Fakhr-ud-Deen ar-Razi. So I will be summarizing their explanations along with the added insights of Master Yoda.
In the first aya Talut has left the limits of the city with his army and they are headed off to meet the enemy. It's a hot day and they are about to come upon a river. What is about to happen is that the believers will be separated from the disbelievers. Those who believe show their belief through obedience and those who disbelieve do not obey the laws of God. In Aya 250 we are shown what to do when faced with difficult situations. Pray. The specific Qur'anic words used in this prayer are afrigh which means empty, empty out patience on us, and thabbit aqdaamana, root our feet so we don't run. Together they mean something like give us the perseverance to outlast the enemy and the strength to stay on the battlefield.
The aya that really struck me from this page was 251. The first half of the aya states how the enemy was vanquished. But the second half really emphasizes an issue that many poeple have these days. Dont judge me!!! The nature that Allah has given the world is to have one group fight another if the first group is oppressive. We see this balance in every layer or creation. Plants, animals, everything. There is always a predator and a prey. Even lions, tigers and bears, animals who may not have natural predators, get sick and die. And if that is the nature God gave the world why do so many people say "mind your own business and leave me alone." I guess its for the same reason that oppressors oppress. People get comfortable in their sins and don't want to change. Which is probably why it was so difficult for me to get serious about memorizing Qur'an. I sure didn't want to be told that I was procrastinating and preventing myself from attaining my goals. But I realized that being unwilling to change for the better would only oppress me. I would be the one harmed. It would be me who didn't have any knowledge of the Qur'an. Master Yoda told me this many times I guess it just took a while for me to believe it in my being. If we are unwilling to correct others the world will fall into corruption. And if we don't obey God we will be left behind at the river while the troops of God rush forward to victory.
The last aya leaves us with this thought. These words are true. These people are real and a part of the story of this world. Take heed and practice the lessons, or be left behind.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Where to begin
Bismillah
As salaamu alaikum (May the peace of paradise be upon you)
With the name of the Most Gracious, Most Merciful Allah. Where to begin? I first learned to read arabic when I was 6. My parents made sure to give us good Islamic education and good academics. So I definitely never went to public school. My relationship with the Qur'an has been an up and down battle, with more mountains that hills, and more hills than valleys. But through all the Qur'an summer camps and spending weeks on the same three lines of one sura (chapter), I never quite gave up the dream. I always imagined that one day I would be hafiz (preserver of Qur'an). I always hoped that I could teach Qur'an to my children and the children of whatever community I would be a part of. But as I got older and entered my late teens I put my dreams in a safe place somewhere in the back of my mind. I took them out every now and then and imagined all the things I could do if those dreams were realities. And when I was finished looking at them and dreaming about them I returned them to that same safe place not knowing if they would ever be fulfilled.
Well, as you could have guessed, my dream for being hafiz didn't stay in the safety box. But that doesn't mean the dream floated down a passive stream and I just scooped it out as it passed me either. It took two years and about a quart of tears before I reached a point of commitment and contentment that could not be shaken. When it gets hard I no longer want to give up. I just take a break and restart later. I've got two juz (section) down and 28 to go. So Bismillah...
As salaamu alaikum (May the peace of paradise be upon you)
With the name of the Most Gracious, Most Merciful Allah. Where to begin? I first learned to read arabic when I was 6. My parents made sure to give us good Islamic education and good academics. So I definitely never went to public school. My relationship with the Qur'an has been an up and down battle, with more mountains that hills, and more hills than valleys. But through all the Qur'an summer camps and spending weeks on the same three lines of one sura (chapter), I never quite gave up the dream. I always imagined that one day I would be hafiz (preserver of Qur'an). I always hoped that I could teach Qur'an to my children and the children of whatever community I would be a part of. But as I got older and entered my late teens I put my dreams in a safe place somewhere in the back of my mind. I took them out every now and then and imagined all the things I could do if those dreams were realities. And when I was finished looking at them and dreaming about them I returned them to that same safe place not knowing if they would ever be fulfilled.
Well, as you could have guessed, my dream for being hafiz didn't stay in the safety box. But that doesn't mean the dream floated down a passive stream and I just scooped it out as it passed me either. It took two years and about a quart of tears before I reached a point of commitment and contentment that could not be shaken. When it gets hard I no longer want to give up. I just take a break and restart later. I've got two juz (section) down and 28 to go. So Bismillah...
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