Surah Ash-Shu'ara (The Poets) Review

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Today at Fajr, I completed the reading of Surah Ash-Shu'ara with its translation, mashAllah. I couldn't figure out Allah's Wisdom behind naming the Surah "The Poets" until I got to the very end. Of course, the detailed meaning I will discover when I read the exegesis (Tafseer), inshAllah. The Surah was revealed to Prophet Mohammad, peace and blessings on him and his family (salAllahu alehy wa'aleyhi wasallam - saww) to command him that it is not his duty to grieve over the failure of the disbelievers to embrace the truth i.e. Allah's message and His Book - The Quran, because a prophet's work is only to voice Allah's command and make it clear to all who hear. Allah narrates the fate of various disbelieving nations who ignored the call of their Messengers, sent by Allah, and hence met severe doom.

Prophets Moses and Aaron, peace be upon them (aleyh'salaam - a.s.)

Allah reminds Prophet Mohammad (saww) about how Prophet Moses (a.s.) confronted difficulty in bringing up a revolution against the tyrant Pharaoh. He asked Allah for a brother who would aid his struggle and he was blessed with the companionship of Prophet Aaron (a.s.). A conversation between the arrogant Pharaoh and Prophet Moses (a.s.) follows which reflects how strong a believer needs to be when facing a disbeliever who claims to be God. Then comes the incidence of Prophet Moses' (a.s.) staff (asa'a) turning into a snake when all the magicians of the city were made to confront him with their spells. They all bore witness that it was a miracle of Allah - the One God Who had sent Moses (a.s.) and not the Pharaoh - the self-proclaimed god.

Following the idea that only the brave believers are aided by Allah's miracle, the Surah progresses to revise the incidence of Prophet Moses (a.s.) making an escape from Pharoah's land with his band of followers of the religion of Allah. When confronted by the Red Sea (as historians say) Prophet Moses (a.s.) was commanded by Allah to go ahead and the sea divides into two ... allowing the believers a safe passage while Pharaoh and his men are drowned!

Prophet Abraham (a.s.)'s Story and Signs For Disbelievers

The next that follows is a conversation between Prophet Abraham (a.s.) and the idol-worshipers against whom he was inspired by Allah to revolt. The prophet reasons with the ignorant ones about their foolishness in worshiping statues that could neither harm nor benefit and the people respond with the most illogical of reasoning. 

Prophet Noah (a.s.)'s Story

There is a mention of the story of Prophet Noah (a.s.) and how he, too, as a believer was mocked at and threatened of being stoned when he invited people to the Word of Allah. Once again, Allah wrote doom for the disbelievers and the great flood wiped off their existence, becoming a sign for all who disbelieve to remember.

Story of Prophet Hud (a.s.) and the Disbelievers of Aad

The People of Aad were a prosperous nation. Giant-like they built huge fortresses and lived like tyrants, cruel attackers. They had been blessed by abundant foods and water and thrived prosperously. However, they did the ultimate sin of Shirk as they built idols for worship. Prophet Hud (a.s.), like other prophets, warned these ignorant fools of their folly but to no avail. Ultimately, Allah narrates how He sent a mighty storm to destroy them.

The People of Thamud (Samood), Prophet Saleh (a.s.) and the Earthquake

The People of Thamud are mentioned next. They were those who carved homes and structures in mountains and enjoyed prosperous lives. But they did not follow the Commands of Allah and followed the wrongdoers. Prophet Saleh (a.s.) tried to reason with them and deliver Allah's message but they gave him a deaf ear. Ultimately, they met a terrible end as Allah sent a terrible earthquake that buried them under stone and rock. They were discovered thousands of year later by archaeologists ... as if it was Allah's Will to preserve them for the world to see.

The People of Lut, Prophet Lut (a.s.), and the Deadly Rain

The People of Lut had adopted homosexuality instead of the lawful life partners that Allah had given them. Prophet Lut (a.s.) was another trusted Messenger who tried to beat some sense into them but to no use. Their deadly end was a storm that rained down stones on them, wiping them from the face of the earth. 

Prophet Shuya'ab's People

There is also a mention of the wrongdoers towards whom Prophet Shuya'ab (a.s.) was sent. I have yet to read in detail about the people of Prophet Shuay'ab, but the crux of what I read in the Surah is that they were unjust in their financial and routine transactions. They wronged people with abuse and with corruption. Prophet Shuya'ab (a.s.) forewarned them but like all other prophets he too received a deaf ear. Eventually, they too were destroyed by Allah's wrath.

Conclusion

Allah speaks to Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) in this Surah and commands him not to grieve about the fate of the people once he has delivered the true message to them. The Quran is the whole truth, the complete word. If disbelievers turn deaf, dumb, and blind then they should be left to suffer the punishment that Allah has designed for them.

One Atom is All It Takes To Bring You Down

Model of an atom - The basic particle of all creation

So what is the size of an atom, again? A scientific figure with too many decimal points, but in simple comparative language, there are millions of atoms in each grain of sand. Do you get the picture of how mega-tiny microscopic I'm talking about? That's the size, of exactly one atom, of pride that pushes you far away from even smelling the scent of Paradise. That's not me talking. In the words of Prophet Mohammad, Messenger of Allah, RasoolAllah Sal'Allahu alehe wa'alehi wasallam, "No one who has an atom's weight of arrogance in his heart will enter Paradise," (Muslim, 91). 

Let's put pride under our own Islamic electron microscope today and study it in light of Quran and Hadith.

Pride - The Devil's Trait

The first incidence of the display of pride and arrogance is known to all. It was Iblees, the leader of angels, who stood arrogantly before Allah and refused to bow before Prophet Adam (a.s.). "I am better than him," he boasted, "You created me from fire, and him You created from clay." So think again whose footsteps are you following, what status he has been demoted to, and what would be the fate of his followers.

Another proud being was the Pharaoh (Firaun) the ruler of Egypt in the days of Prophet Moses (a.s.). He was boastful of his stature, riches, and lands so much that he rejected the truth i.e. the Oneness of Allah. He rejected Prophet Moses (a.s.) as Allah's prophet and put him to tests and trials in combat with magicians. We all know what happened to him.

Types of Pride
1. Pride of being more knowledgeable or better off
There is a lot of this kind of pride going around these days simply because people are gaining more religious, academic, and professional knowledge. Degrees, diplomas, and certifications at times do more than just pinning a badge of qualification on a person. They also pin a badge of pride. A doctor, having passed through a tenure of several years of hard studies to get to where he or she is, may talk down everyone else who has a medical opinion. A company's chief executive officer may think everyone else is an underachiever. A person who has completed a religious course may look down upon everyone else as a sinner or somebody less in stature than them.
2. Pride of one's ancestors
Another common pride is that which one feels for his or her ancestoral heritage. Some may be proud about belonging to an influential tribe and others may have royal or noble roots. Some may be from a generation of aristocrats and others may have ancestors from a popular township. 

3. Pride of being more beautiful and/or rich
Being rich and beautiful is a blessing that requires utmost offering of gratitude to Allah and service and politeness to His Creation. 
Influences of media have created a major social dysfunction of praising "plastic beauty" and disgracing the rest. Men and women are not comfortable in their own skins because others who have inherited "artificial, make-believe skins" are proud to put themselves up for display.  The rich and famous parade the streets with pompous displays of wealth reflecting from their clothes, the vehicles they drive, and even the food they eat.
Prophet Mohammad (saww) said, "Whilst a man was walking, dragging his garment with pride, with his hair nicely combed, Allah caused the earth to swallow him and he will go on sinking until the Day of Resurrection." (Al-Bukhari, 3297)
This does not imply that one should not dress and look beautiful. Prophet Mohammad (saww) said, "Allah is Beautiful and loves beauty. Arrogance means rejecting the truth and looking down on people." (Muslim, 91)
Modesty is a trait that is required of a Muslim as essentially as that of his or her devotion to Allah.

The Right Kind of Pride

Being a Muslim is a matter of pride because you are following the best theological philosophy of One Creator. This pride is the right kind of pride and qualifies as a self-esteem booster, however, if expressed in a wrong way it would again be disqualified as a forbidden aspect of personality. Prophet Mohammad (saww) prescribed various ways to express this pride in one's Creator. He asked the people to exalt Allah and proclaim that there is no God but Him. The chants of Allahu Akbar (Allah is Great) and Laa ilaha illAllah (There is no God but Allah) are expressions of Islamic pride and of rising in honor. Unfortunately, they've been misused so much by hostile elements that they've become restricted in meaning only as war cries. That is not true. 

Don't Nuke Your Destiny
Paradise is our destiny and one atom of pride is enough to become that atom bomb which can nuke our destiny. In simple words, don't blow it up out of sheer arrogance.

Seeking Refuge from Suggestions of Evil Ones

Devils (Shayateen) surround us and they whisper all sorts of evils in our ears and poison our minds. They may be ideas of committing new sins, doubts against other people, evil schemes, and even innovation (bidaah). I found a supplication in Chapter "The Believers" (Surah Al- Mu'minoon) that is a great way to call upon Allah to protect us from such poisons. 

Remember me in your prayers, 

Sisterly Yours.

Al-Kahf recitation by Mishary Rashid for Habibi Halaqas

I hope you enjoy watching this beautiful compilation of gorgeous caves from around the world, mashAllah, that I compiled for Habibi Halaqas for their Surah Al-Kahf video. More videos to come, inshAllah. Mishary, indeed, has a mesmerizing style of recitation. 

Surah Al-Kahf (The Cave): "The Regret Is Not Ours"

As I begin to read the meaning of the introductory verses of Surah Al-Kahf, the foremost instruction I get from Allah is that you should not feel sorry for the idolators i.e. the disbelievers for what they do. This has been instructed to Prophet Mohammad (saww) to convey to his Ummah that was awestruck at the disbelievers of the time. They were saddened, depressed, and often angered because of the idol worship and remarks of disbelief on the Oneness of Allah and the Prophethood of Prophet Mohammad (saww). However, since we know that Islam and the Word of Allah is for all times, we can apply the same instruction on ourselves and know that we are not to regret for the ones who do not believe, our duty is only to convey the message of truth.

فَلَعَلَّكَ بَـخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَى ءَاثَـرِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُواْ بِهَـذَا الْحَدِيثِ

Perhaps, you would kill yourself in grief, over their footsteps, because they believe not in this narration.) meaning the Qur'an.

أَسَفاً

in grief

Some beautiful words of advice from Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 

"Do not feel sorry for them, just convey the Message of Allah to them. Whoever goes the right way, then he goes the right way only for the benefit of himself. And whoever goes astray, then he strays at his own loss, so do not destroy yourself in sorrow for them."

Let's apply that to our daily life. There are so many people around us who fall into the category of disbelievers. We know of the non-Muslims who do not believe and we have read infinitely about them. I talk of the Muslims who are disbelievers!

There are friends and relatives around us who disbelieve in the accountability to Allah on the day of judgement. There are those who indulge in various types of shirk i.e. asking religious deities and spiritual entities for their worldly needs, wearing stones and amulets and believing that they would guard them. 

Furthermore, there are those who are ignorant to the word of Allah and make bold claims. I got to hear from a relative, "Covering the head is nowhere in the Quran," and "Interest is legal".

Then there are instances like backbiting, family politics, professional foul play, and open misdemeanors that consequently put us into the states that Allah mentions in Al-Kahf here. 

We are angered, we feel regret for such people, we grieve, and we mourn. This is exactly what Allah instructs us not to do. Our duty is to make a stern and brief correcting statement and then forget about the misdemeanor. Why? Because our job there is done.

A Few Square Feet

As I offered my Salaam at the end of the Maghrib prayer this evening and sat down to recite a few words of Tasbih (Glorification of God), I pondered over the reality of that moment. I compared how my prayer and its feel has changed over the past couple of years. Alhamdulillah, a wave of satisfaction washed over me. I thought of the few square feet of rug, the prayer mat, that I was sitting on and then the few square feet of the grave that I'd be buried in. These are the two only real places that we are supposed to think about and prepare for while we are alive because they form the foundation of our next life for us. 

The world is a very attractive illusion that offers all forms of fortune and entertainment. It seeks to pull us away from preparing for these two places that we are to remember always: prayer and the grave. Shopping, food, events, shows, and the big show that the world puts up blind us to the extent of forgetting that the real deal of being alive is to bow down to the One who gifted us all this to begin with.

We prepare, in fact over prepare, for the most common of worldly things: a dinner party, a job interview, an assignment, an exam, and even before receiving a phone call we brace ourselves to face it. The real preparation is that for offering one's prayer and to prepare for one's death. 

Preparing for prayer is underestimated to be only the performing of Wudu (ablution). You need to ask yourself, "Am I worthy of facing my Creator?" and the very answer would suffice to bring you down on your knees.

Al Kahf Tales

Each Friday there is a great emphasis on the recitation of Surah Al-Kahf i.e. the chapter from the Quran, called "The Cave". It would only be foolish to miss out the brilliant opportunity that Allah (swt) has blessed us with in form of Surah Al-Kahf. It is the very gift that illuminates our lives and allows us to have our sins from the past Friday forgiven. Of course, this cannot be misinterpreted as a ticket to clearing the record of bad deeds so you could commit them again. Al-Kahf contains some very valuable morals through 4 great stories from the past times. There is a message about "Time," conveyed through the story of the People of the Cave, a message of "Knowledge," conveyed through the story of Prophets Moses and Khizr (peace be on them), and a message of "Power," conveyed through the tale of the great warrior ZulQarnayn.

The Importance of Surah Al-Kahf
Besides the gift of our past week's sins being forgiven, Al-Kahf is a shield of protection from the Dajjal, Anti Christ as known to the world. The first ten and last ten ayahs (verses) of Al-Kahf secure a person from the evil of Dajjal.

Why Was Surah Al-Kahf Revealed?
When Prophet Mohammad (saww) announced prophethood and began conveying the Word of Allah to the people, several doubt arose about his authenticity and credibility. This was because they were the dark ages of Arabia and also there had been several accounts of false prophets. 
The Quraysh (the tribe of the prophet) sent 2 men, An-Nadr bin Al-Harith and `Uqbah bin Abi Mu`it, to the Jewish rabbis in Al-Madinah, to ask them about Prophet Mohammad (saww) while describing the Prophet to them and conveying his message to them. The Jews were considered the people of the first Book (Tawrah) and their knowledge about the chain of prophets from Prophet Adam (a.s.) right down to Prophet Moses (a.s.) was considered authentic. They knew what prophets had been like and what knowledge they were to possess when Allah chose them as men of knowledge.
So they set out and when they reached Al-Madinah, they asked the Jewish rabbis about the Messenger of Allah . They described him to them and told them some of what he had said. They said, `You are the people of the Tawrah and we have come to you so that you can tell us about this companion of ours.' 
They (the rabbis) said, `Ask him about three things which we will tell you to ask, and if he answers them then he is a Prophet who has been sent (by Allah); if he does not, then he is saying things that are not true, in which case how you will deal with him will be up to you. Ask him about some young men in ancient times, what was their story For theirs is a strange and wondrous tale. Ask him about a man who travelled a great deal and reached the east and the west of the earth. What was his story And ask him about the Ruh (soul or spirit) -- what is it If he tells you about these things, then he is a Prophet, so follow him, but if he does not tell you, then he is a man who is making things up, so deal with him as you see fit.' 
So An-Nadr and `Uqbah left and came back to the Quraysh, and said: `O people of Quraysh, we have come to you with a decisive solution which will put an end to the problem between you and Muhammad. The Jewish rabbis told us to ask him about some matters,' and they told the Quraysh what they were. Then they came to the Messenger of Allah and said, `O Muhammad, tell us,' and they asked him about the things they had been told to ask.
The Surah was revealed  for the purpose of blessing Prophet Mohammad (saww) with the knowledge of the 3 questions that the Jewish rabbis had put forward and also to console him and the Believers that they shouldn't waste themselves in regret over the disbelief of the idolators and non-believers.

Source:
http://www.theholybook.org/content/category/1/134/2/