Up for the Challenge

Bismillah
As salaamu alaikum,

Okay, are you ready? Here's the challenge. I'll call it the Ali 'Imran challenge. For every four ayaat I memorize you have to memorize 1. We have two months, and Ali 'Imran has 200 verses. All you have to do is memorize 61 verses. Yes I know 50 not 61 is 1/4 of 200, but I have to make it challenging. At least a little bit.

61 ayaat in the mushaf (book) is eight pages. So what I'll make sure I do is post up one page at least every three days, inshaAllah (God Willing). That way you'll have a taste of the tafsir (explanation) on the verses. So do you think you can handle it? Are you up for the Challenge? Do you think you can defeat me and win a gazillion million blessings inshaAllah?

Racers to you corners. Drum roll please...

Bismillah
As salaamu alaikum,

I guess I will leave my comments on the last verses of sura Baqara in favor of your personal discovery and simply continue forward with Ali 'Imran, the next chapter. I'll be starting it today or tomorrow inshaAllah. And the excitement is returning. I can hardly wait.

My last moments with Baqara were sweet to my soul. It ends just as it began with hope and faith, and the perfect balance of fear, mercy, and praise. The Qur'an is divided into 30 juz, and Ali Imran is about a juz shorter than suratul-Baqara. I want to finish it in two months so pray for me. I know that Allah can do what he wants. So if He allows me to, and I work hard out of hope and faith in Him, I will finish before May inshaAllah.

And if He wishes me to have a long drawn out bout with my character and my laziness, if He wishes me to struggle and cry, and grow and I don't finish Ali 'Imram for a year, that is okay too. It's not about feelings and empty words and this "God knows what's in my heart so I don't have to obey Him," foolishness. It's about whether or not I do what Allah has commanded. That is all I am responsible for.

If I study Qur'an for 7 hours a day and I still don't know the next juz by the end of the year, then I have done my part and must trust in Allah. But if all I do is hope for the best and don't follow up that hope with hard work, then the blame is mine and the failure as well. So I leave you with the last words of suratul Baqara. Words that have eternally existed and will never fade even as we forget and turn away from them.


[2:284]
Unto God belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. And whether you bring into the open what is in your minds or conceal it, God will call you to account for it; and then He will forgive whom He wills, and will chastise whom He wills: for God has the power to will anything.

[2:285]
THE APOSTLE, and the believers with him, believe in what has been bestowed upon him from on high by his Sustainer: they all believe in God, and His angels, and His revelations, and His apostles, making no distinction between any of His apostles; and they say:
"We have heard, and we pay heed. Grant us Thy forgiveness, O our Sustainer, for with Thee is all journeys’ end!

[2:286]
"God does not burden any human being with more than he is well able to bear: in his favour shall be whatever good he does, and against him whatever evil he does.
"O our Sustainer! Take us not to task if we forget or unwittingly do wrong!
"O our Sustainer! Lay not upon us a burden such as Thou didst lay upon those who lived before us! O our Sustainer! Make us not bear burdens which we have no strength to bear!
"And efface Thou our sins, and grant us forgiveness, and bestow Thy mercy upon us! Thou art our Lord Supreme: succour us, then, against people who deny the truth!"


May Allah grant this to all of us until the Day of Judgement. Ameen

The End is Nearly Close

Bismillah
As salaamu alaikum,

On Thurdsay, February 18, about an hour after 'Isha, I completed the last four ayaat (verses) of Sura Baqara. I reread the page once twice then three times. I closed the Qur'an, then slowly stretched my legs from underneath me. And slowly they moved heavy from immobility. I never thought that I'd actually succeed. Alhamdulillah

Sura Baqara has 286 ayaat which contain 6121 words. So now I am carrying 6121 words that Allah specifically gave to Angel Gibra'il (Gabriel). The same words that travelled down through the seven heavens and were engraved upon the heart of the last messenger. Al-Baqara was revealed in Madinah after the hijrah of the Messenger (S), and it contains everything.

It details the different types of people that exist in the world and introduces a phenomenon that was not known in Makkah: hypocrites. It contains laws on how Muslims are to live socially, from what foods we should and shouldn't eat, to the meaning of piety, to the punishment for murder, to the rulings for fasting and hajj. It also has rulings for inheritance, fighting in the sacred months, marriage, divorce, breastfeeding, the rights of widows. And much more.

Sura Baqara has 4 names. 1) Al-Baqara: refering to the story during the time of Musa when a man was killed and Musa's people asked him to find out 'who done it.' 2) Suratul-Kursi: because it contains ayatul-Kursi the greatest aya in the Qur'an. 3) Sinam ul-Qur'an: for when the prophet said: "Everything has a Sinam and the sinam of the Qur'an is suratul-Baqara." (Sinam: hump of a camel, where all the good life preserving stuff is contained). 4) Az Zahraa' (flower) because the prophet said: "Read the two Flowers, Al-Baqara and Ali 'Imran." Ali 'Imran is the third sura in the Qur'an.

It is strange. Or perhaps it is simply one of many changes I will notice in my mannerisms as I proceed on this path. I'm not excited. I was a bit thrilled on thursday when it was finally finished but I know it's not over. It will never be over as long as I'm alive. Memorization was perhaps the easiest part. Now I have to completely overhaul my character in alignment with what Allah has taught me.

This second journey, within the first, is the real thing. Instead of excitement I feel the weight of it all pushing at me. But I know I can never turn back. I have too much staked on this accomplishment. I have too many needs that only the Qur'an can fulfill. And I have too much hope that my children will be better aware of the Qur'an than I am.

The deepest impression this sura has written on my thoughts is this: "Allah can do anything." Thinking back to two years ago before I memorized this sura, of course I knew that Allah can do anything. Dah. But I didn't know it then like I know it now. I didn't know about the man who died for 100 years then Allah revived him. His food hadn't aged a bit but his donkey was... Well it was a donkey that was dead for 100 years. Then in front of the mans eyes the bones came back together and Allah clothed them in flesh. The man's knowledge reached its pinnacle and Allah made him a sign for the people.

Some might ask, "Did that really happen? I mean like... seriously???" The answer is, "Of course it did. It's in the Qur'an. Allah is the witness for everything in the Qur'an. And Allah says it's true."

I couldn't imagine such a thing happening nowadays, but if a Michael Jackson came back to life and it was actually him, would you be in denial or mesmerized? Or would you say Allah does what He wants? That's what I would say now that I know it.

When magicians levitate, or fly, or drink a gallon of poison and live why are we amazed or stunned or shaken? Some foolish people go so far as to worship magicians. If anything seeing "miracles" should only reaffirm our faith. If Allah caused a man to die for 100 years then brought him back, surely it is no issue to simply stop poison from killing a person or any other small or great thing.

But when I didn't know sura Baqara I had no guidance informing my thoughts when I saw amazing things. I had no meter whereby to judge what was happening or if it was okay to believe it really happened. Memorizing Qur'an with meanings allows me to have a constant reference guide for all information that comes into my personal sphere. What is your reference guide?

Countdown to the End

Bismillah
As salaamu alaikum!!!

From aya 275 to aya (verse) 286 and I'm finished. I will have completed my memorization of the longest chapter in the Qur'an. I am so excited I could scream and jump around acting a nut. But I'll reserve that for later.

It's three pages in my Mushaf, and the ayaat are quite long. In fact I will finally learn the longest aya in the Qur'an. And what else could it be about but... Hahaha I think I'll just leave you in suspense until I get to it.

The end is in sight and it has only increased my desire to learn. I want to know the Qur'an so well that I can pinpoint every word in it. If someone asks me, "Blackseed where can I find earth mentioned in the Qur'an?" I want to be able to list every aya about it and the explanations of those ayaat (verses).

Ooohhhh, I can't wait. I am such a state of anticipation I might have to learn the whole thing tonight. We'll see. May Allah make our struggles for knowledge easy and fulfilling. And may He shower His mercies upon us without end.

Under Allah's Guidance: 2:258

Bismillah
As salaamu alaikum,

So we left off at the beginning of page 43, with aya (verse) 257, "Allah is the protector of those who have faith..." What an awesome comforting verse. But at the same time it was a strict warning and reminder. And afterwards Allah gives us three examples that illustrate its meanings and so many more. But to fully understand the coming examples/ayaat (verses) we'll need a quick recap of the page before and even the first verse on this page.

Remember on the page before we talked about ayas 253-256. We went into how Allah gives different people different gifts. Then came Allah's command to spend from what He has given us. Then Allah explained to us who He is, and some of His characteristics and attributes. The page ended with Allah telling us His established order in the world: There is to be no forcing in matters of faith. The signs are clear. Everyone knows who Allah is and they get to choose for themselves.

Then we have the first aya on the current page 257, 'Allah is the protector of the faithful. From the depth of darkness he leads them forth into the light...' So with all this in mind we continue, remembering all the main points of what we read before, and that Allah gives us sequence and order for a reason. So on with the blessings.

ART THOU NOT aware of that [king] who argued with Abraham about his Sustainer, [simply] because God had granted him kingship?
Lo! Abraham said: "My Sustainer is He who grants life and deals death."
[The king] replied: "I [too] grant life and deal death!"
Said Abraham: "Verily, God causes the sun to rise in the east; cause it, then, to rise in the west!"
Thereupon he who was bent on denying the truth remained dumbfounded: for God does not guide people who [deliberately] do wrong. 2:258

So the aya starts. Keep in mind I'm talking about the arabic. The english interpretations, even my minor word translations, can only be used as a guide, not the real thing. It begins: "...الم تر الى" Meaning, 'Have you seen,' or, 'Have you turned your sight toward,' the one who argued with Ibrahim (peace and blessings upon him) about his Lord.

From this point we are introduced to a new character. Allah doesn't mention a name, therefore the man's name and identity are unimportant. What we need to focus on is what he says and what he is doing. He is debating a prophet concerning Allah. Ibrahim says, 'My Lord gives life and death.' And the mans says, 'I give life and death.' The man doesn't deny the power of Ibrahim's Lord. The mans problem is that he thinks he has as much power as Ibrahims Lord.

In the aya (verse) Allah says that He gave the man a kingdom. There are a few things going on with that point. Firstly, the man has a kingdom, so he's not an average person. Secondly he foolishly attributes his status to his own doing instead of realizing that it is from Allah. And thirdly he wrongly assumes the powers of that position originate from him instead of knowing that Allah is only allowing him to act.

Remember in aya 253, Allah tells us that He gives blessings to some that He doesn't give to others. Here is an example of a blessing that Allah gave, but the man attributes it to himself. So when Ibrahim (pbuh) says, 'My Lord gives life and death,' the man basically says, 'me too.' His folly is that he equates himself with God.

So Ibrahim uses an example that will dispel any illusions this man has. He says, 'Allah raises the sun from the east. You rise it from the west.' The man is بهت speechless, gripping for a reply and finding none. Why doesn't he have a reply? It's simple. He knows he can't make the sun come up from the west. And he knows that whoever in the vicinity is watching knows he can't do that either. One of the Qur'an exegetists says that this debate happened after Ibrahim (pbuh) was thrown in the fire. So whoever is questioning Ibrahim (pbuh) knows that he is no ordinary man.

Debating 101. Don't get lured into tangents. Stay on topic. Ibrahim could have directly crushed the mans delusions in thinking that he could originate life and death, but that was not the point. Ibrahim (pbuh) listened and correctly analyzed and pinpointed the man's problem. The man thought he could do what Allah does. So Ibrahim used a clear obvious example that the man couldn't get around no matter what contortions or acrobatics his mind went through.

And that was the end of that

The aya (verse) ends, 'Allah does not guide the wrongdoing folk.' This doesn't mean if you sin you will not be guided. This means: if you refuse to accept the truth you will not be guided. If you actively and deliberately persist in sinful behavior, that behavior acts as a barrier between you and Allah's guidance. Only when you desist in your wring actions and actively seek light is Allah's guidance reopened to you. And Allah is all-Forgiving, Wise.

When Master Yoda. First gave me this verse I was kind of blown away. I am (hopefully was) most definitely a stubborn person. And this verse silenced me. There was nothing I could say. What can a person say in response to Allah's words? I really had to have an intimate conversation with myself about how this verse revealed a particular bad aspect of my character.

It's not just that Allah said He doesn't guide the people who refuse to be guided. But it was the fact that I plainly saw my character reflected in the arrogance of the man who contended with Ibrahim, peace be upon him. And then I read the last phrase, and the lowliness of my existence became clear. I wanted to hide. But where could I go that Allah wouldn't see me and know me. May Allah forgive me now and always.

I'm only on sura Baqara, the second of 114 chapters. If one aya in Baqara can give me this kind of slap, God only knows what is in store in the next thousand verses. I hope I can handle it. And I pray that we all grow. Especially me. I need it.

Five Words But Endless Meanings

Bismillah
As salaamu alaikum,

Alhamdu leellaahi rabbeel 'aalameen

I begin today with the second Aya of surat-ul-Fatiha. It is commonly interpreted as 'Praise be to Allah the Lord of the worlds.' But this is only part of what it means, which is why I say it is commonly interpreted as, instead of it is commonly translated as. Because the word interpretation means 'one of many meanings', whereas a translation is a written or spoken rendering of the meaning of a word, speech, book, or other text, in another language. Which simply cannot be done with the Qur'an. The meanings are limitless, even down to the arabic letters used to make the sounds of the words.

So what else does it mean? Alhamdu leellaahi rabbeel 'aalameen, Jalalain says that "Alhamdu leellaahi" is an informative sentence meaning 'all praise belongs to Allah.' So the essence of praise for a thing or gratitude for a thing is that Allah owns that praise and gratitude.

And what in the heavens or the earth is not owned by Allah? What blessing befalls us but that Allah allowed it to happen? What exists but that Allah created it? What amazingly delicious meal does your mother make for you, but that Allah gave her the ability to make it?

But even with that the choice is still there. Aya 256 Baqara: "There is no forcing in matters of faith." Allah has shown us the truth. It is clear. We either accept it and believe in it. Or we reject it and disbelieve in it. And those who disbelieve only oppress themselves, aya 254 Baqara.

Those who disbelieve in the meeting with Allah and who don't take death seriously will inevitably oppress themselves. Why? Because everything we have belongs to Allah and is owned by Allah. So how can we use what Allah has given us to disobey Him, or to disbelieve in Him?

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said what is interpreted as: "A small deed performed consistently is more beloved to Allah than a grand deed that is not consistent." It is easy to see at least one reason why this is so. Small acts of worship- easy acts of worship- build up our defenses against Shaitan (satan), who has to break down our outer defenses in order to make us disobey our Maker. If we don't have any outer defenses, small deeds, we will regularly fall into major sins.

So lets build up those defenses. Let us all commit to consistently never doing a small sin again. Just one small thing that is easy to let go of. Some people call others names, some curse, some gossip, and some do other sins/things that they may think insignificant, but when it comes to behavior that Allah does not like, nothing is insignificant. You know the bad things you do and so do the people closest to you. If you can't think of any small sin that you are willing to give up for the sake of your Creator, Who sustains your life, then ask that person who loves you the most to help you.

I know what I am going to let go of for Allah's sake, and that is enough. I know that Allah has seen me do wrong, and He will see me when as I try to do right. He is the Helper and the Protector of the faithful. He will help me and He will help you. As long as you are willing to help yourself.

Promise yourself that you will be a better person today than you were yesterday and better person tomorrow than you were today. Don't be one of those Allah describes in the Qur'an as "the oppressors." Those who deny good for themselves because they use what Allah has given them to commit sins. Allah gave you feet. Don't walk to haram (illegal actions). Allah gave you a tongue and a voice. Don't say bad things. and above all remember that He sees you, He is watching you, and He will help you be better. For He is your Lord and my Lord: "The Lord of the worlds."