Gems from Juzz 'Amma: "The Paradise On Earth"

~ Gems from Juzz 'Amma ~

Day 13 / Gem 13

Surah Balaq, 1: "The Paradise On Earth"

 لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

"No, I swear by this City."

When you go to Makkah, the first feeling you get when you go there is the feeling of 

tranquility (mutma'innah) and your trouble's disappearing.

The last ayah of the previous Surah [Fajr] was, “Oh you tranquil soul (mutma'innah).”

So Allah starts this surah with mentioning one of the most tranquil places on Earth - the city of 

Makkah.

He also says in the previous Surah, Irji'ee il-laa Rabbika Raaddiyatan marddiyah, “Return to your Lord, pleased and well pleased with.”

This is the same when people go to Allah in Hajj and 'Umrah.

Even the clothes we are told to wear  when performing Hajj and 'Umrah signify returning to Allah in death, since the two white cloths are similar to the two white cloths we wear when being buried.

‘Raaddiyah’ - Pleased - they are satisfied, when they see the house of Allah. And when they have completed their Hajj.

‘Marddiyah ‘- well pleased with. If Allah is pleased with your Hajj, part of the pleasure is that your sins will be forgiven.

He also said in the previous Surah:

Fadkhulee fee 'ibadee

“Enter amongst My slaves.”

In Hajj / 'Umrah you enter amongst the slaves of Allah who are also striving to earn His pleasure.

wadkhulee jannatee 

“Enter My garden/paradise.”

The closest thing to Paradise in this world is the Haramain (the 2 Holy Mosques of Makkah and Medinah.) And there is a location there called Rawd al Jannah -  Garden of Paradise.

The above beautiful lessons of the previous surahs are reminded to us in this surah and the parallels between the closest thing to paradise on this earth and paradise in the next world, are highlighted in these verses.

May Allah allow us the opportunity to pray many times on Rawd al Jannah in this world, and make us of those who enter into Jannah without accountability in the next world, ameen!

Gems from Juzz 'Amma: "The Ten Nights"

~ Day 12/ Gem 12 ~

Surah Fajr, ayah 2: "The Ten Nights"

وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ

And I swear by Ten Nights.

By not adding ‘al' (the), the ayah teaches us that it is *not* limited to just one set of 10 nights, it could be more than one set of 10 nights. As we will see. ’10 nights’ are important to ponder over because Allah swore by them, and because they are part of the lesson of the Surah.

What are ‘Ten nights’? 

There several minority opinions (i.e. Some say Muharram) but these are the main two:

1 – The Last 10 Nights of Ramadan (when fasting takes place.)
2 – The First 10 Nights of Dhul Hijjah (the month in which Hajj takes place).

Scientifically speaking, the first or last 10 days of any month are the most visible, as you can see the shifting of the moon. The major changes are known by looking at the sky, just like you look at the sky for Fajr.

Islahi says, 'It means the changing of the nights shows us the inevitable.'

So when you see the Fajr light – you know for sure that the day is going to come. The same way, when you see the moon, you know the month is going to leave and the full moon will appear.

What we learn from this, is that if you want to know the victory of Islam coming, pay attention and ponder over the Fajr dawn, and the moon as it becomes full gradually. This will remind you that light doesn’t come except after the darkest part of the night.

The barakah / blessings are at the highest within these 10 nights, and the rewards are the greatest. This is why fasting, ‘ibaadah (worship), sacrifice [in Dhul Hijjah] etc. are within these nights.

It is also within these nights that  Laylat-al-Qadr is witnessed. It is in these nights that the revelation began and the Qur'an was revealed to the Messenger of Allah. This marks the beginning of victory and light for Muslims.

Later, the Messenger of Allah entered again into Makkah on the Day of Hajj in Dhul Hijjah. This was a sign of the fulfillment of his mission.

In other words, the entire Life of Allah’s Messenger is covered within these sets of 10 nights.

So the Fajr mentioned in the 1st ayah – a reminder of the Ressurection Day connects with the next aayah (Ayah 2) covering the life of Allah’s Messengers beginning of the message, and the end of his message and the upcoming victory of Islam.

May Allah allow us to make the most of the last 10 nights and gift us with the opportunity to witness Laylatul Qadr, ameen.

Gems from Juzz 'Amma: "The Perfect Planner"

~ Gems from Juzz 'Amma ~ 

 وَٱلَّذِى قَدَّرَ فَهَدَىٰ

      And who destined and [then] guided

(87:5)

قَدَّرَ - 'Qaddara' here means, to plan, calculate, to have an exact act plan of action for something and to have percise calculation at hand, ready. Eg - When someone engages in a project of architecture, they have to plan how wide, deep, the kinds of materials, etc. One who doesn’t know what they are doing can do guess work but the one who has an important project they have to do precise planning.

We learn from a hadith that the taqdeer of the entire creation precedes the actual creation 50, 000 years. Allah planned all of this before it was excuted. In human effort we know the more you plan for something and then do it, the better it comes out. When something is not done with a lot of planning it doesn’t come out good. What you see is the final product but not all the planning that came from before.

So from this we learn how Allah planned everything out in its exact nature – what it will be like, its implications, consequences of the creation, what it will do, when it will come to creation, when it will cease to exist..” Meaning all the activities, properties of the creation was planned in advance.  Elsewhere in the Quran, Allah states: And the decision, matter of Allah has already been declared in precise calculation.  In other words, Allah has made a precise calculation for everything.

Allah created, perfected, and planned for everything but that plan is useless unless executed.  For example, if a person says he will show up to work, until you tell  the person to do the work the plan is incomplete. Everything is according to a plan and now that person needs instructions. So this is why Allah says in the word following it:

فَهَدَىٰ - Scholars say there are two types of hidaayah:

1) Cowniyyah- There is the guidance of creation, for example Allah (SWT) created the cow, the sheep, insects, birds, sun and moon, etc and guided them to do whatever they were created for, they perform the functions of their creation.

Human beings we go to school, college, or we get some training to learn certain skills. What training did the child get when it comes out of the womb of his mother that he knows exactly where to go to for milk and what training did the mother get to produce the milk naturally? How does a calf when it comes out know to not eat worms? This is part of the guidance. Allah planned the mechanisms, designed the food for the child in the chest of the mother, He intricately designed and planned for it and it came at the right time, but He guided the child to drink also.

قَالَ رَبُّنَا ٱلَّذِىٓ أَعۡطَىٰ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ خَلۡقَهُ ۥ ثُمَّ هَدَىٰ

He said, “Our Lord is He who gave each thing its form and then guided [it].” [20:50]

Allah (SWT) did not only create but also guided. These creatures know where to get their meals, produces their homes.

For example, an ant knows how to produce their home, where to get their rizq and what to do.

2) Shar’iyyah - Guidance of Islam and the Shari'ah.

Gems from Juzz 'Amma: "Do they not look at the camels?"

~ Gems from Juzz 'Amma ~

Day 11 / Gem 11

Surah Ghashiyah, 17: "Do they not look at the camels?"

أَفَلَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى الْإِبِلِ كَيْفَ خُلِقَتْ 

Then do they not look at the camels – how they are created?

In this ayah, Allah is making us reflect, and He is specifically asking the disbelievers to reflect upon the creation of camels. In Arabic, the word commonly used for camel is, 'jamal' however, 'Ibl' is also used such as in this ayah and is the most general word for camel. Some Arabic teachers joke and say that if you don’t know what a word in arabic means, it probably means camel. Due to so much words being used to describe a camel in the Arabic language.

So why is the camel being referred to?

1 – The disbelievers themselves started their questioning of the camel, i.e. ‘If he (the camel) can eat thorns, we can too (in the hell fire).’  
2 – In the life of the desert, they depended on the camel for their survival.
3 – It’s an incredible creature, and out of the domesticated animals, the camel is the biggest, and even a child can control it. Even though a camel can easily crush a human being, yet alone a child. This child can lead a whole pack of camels just by leading the first one behind him.

The camel is a very high ride, and is well designed with having minimal water for days on end. It can feed itself off shrubs alone, which other animals cannot survive off. It is loyal to the human being, and even when tired – it continues to do its work. Along with this, it has incredible seating which can be comfortable to sit on top of. It has milk, when there is no liquid available elsewhere. It can store its own food (through storage of fat in its hump). Its meat benefits you. When it becomes old and dies – its skin benefits because it can be used for clothing.

Do they not look at the camels, how they were created?

عن مكحول رحمه الله قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: المومنون هينون لينون كالجمل الآنف إن قيد انقاد، وإن أنيخ على صخرةٍ استناخ.

 (رواه الترمذ&#1610)

Makhul (ra) narrates that the Prophet (sal Allah alayhi wasalam) said: The believers are gentle and soft like the obedient camel. If he is driven, obeys and if he is ordered to sit on a rock, he sits thereon. (Tirmidhi: 5086)

We can learn much from this massive creature. He is so huge and powerful, but when his master (the humans) tells him to sit down, he sits – even if he has been told to sit on harsh rocks.
This is how the believer should be with Allah, he obeys Allah even though Allah has given him the power to do many things. But when he is told to do something, he submits – even if there is pain involved. Didn’t they look to this camel, how it was created?

Gem: Allah has shown you His favours through that camel, He has shown you obedience to the Master through such a camel. He has shown us the miracle of His design through that camel. There are so many ways we can learn and reflect from the camel, how it was created for us.

The Leap Of Faith

"1... 2..... 3.... JUUUMP!" I cheered to my baby cousin as she lunged off the high place she was standing on.

I caught her in my embrace and brought her close to me in a tight cuddle.

She giggled.

"That was fun wasn't it!"

She smiled widely. The gap between the cluster of her tiny teeth made her facial expression look that much cuter.

I always find it strange how babies (well toddlers) display such euphoric behaviours when they're about to jump from high places. They have this brave and fearless, a kind of 'I'm not afraid of anything' attitude. With this added surety that when they jump off, their parent or guardian will without doubt catch them in their flight towards the ground.

Usually, this sort of attitude is only displayed with someone they deeply trust, love and comfortable with. Normally, the mother.

It reminded me of Allah's names, Al-Wakil (The Trustee), Al Karim (The Generous), but specically Al-Wadud (The All-Loving).

Many of us fear taking the plunge. We fear the jump from evil to good, the step towards redemption or the leap of faith that is required when pursuing our dreams. We are afraid, fearful and anxious to follow the path of truth, to let go of the evil things we are attached to, to separate from our addictions. Yet, if we truly understood that our Lord was the All-Loving, and if we had trust that He would catch us in our leap and take care of us, would we be afraid to traverse the challenges, the experiences, the struggles that come with earning His pleasure? No.

For just like a child, we would trust Allah to catch us. We would smile knowing that if were to leave a sin or evil for His sake, He would compensate us with so much better. We would be content in trusting that He is taking care of our matters with precision and full knowledge.

A child trusts it's mother and close ones, for it acknowledges the qualities of love, concern and care. Your Lord is More Merciful than a mother is to her child, so think good of Him, for He is without doubt, perfectly handling our every affair.

Gems from Juzz 'Amma: "Let Go, Let God"

~ Gems from Juzz 'Amma ~

Surah Tariq, 17: "Let Go, Let God"

فَمَهِّلِ الْكَافِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًا
"So allow time for the disbelievers. Leave them awhile." (86:17)

Surah Tariq is a Makki Surah, which means it was revealed at a time when the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasallam) and his followers had been undergoing great hardship and oppression at the hands of the disbelieving people.

If we reflect on this point, we are able to deduce that it is the Muslims in this scenario who are 

being oppressed. Yet in this ayah, Allah is telling them, "So allow time for the disbelievers..."

In other words, don't get busy avenging them. The word, 'Mahal' (tamheel) means to extend a deadline. So the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi wasallam) is being advised to give them extra time and to not pray against them.

Allah is also reminding His Messenger that He is encompassing the disbelievers (i.e. ready to punish them), but He tells His Messenger to be relaxed on the disbelievers and give them abit of extra time. And that he shouldn’t make du’a against them (i.e. for their destruction like Prophet Nuh and Musa did). 

We learn here the power of Du’aa. For if the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) was to pray against them, Allah would accept his Du’aa, and the population of disbelievers would be destroyed.

The word Amhil (if’aal) means ‘completion.' This is repeated for emphasis, and means ‘let it go entirely’, don’t worry about it at all.’

So when small things happen, let it go. Just let it go, because Allah has made His plot.

But Allah doesn’t keep this permanent letting go a permanent thing, He says ‘Ruwayda‘ at the end. Give them a ‘little bit more time (the letter Ya between the Rawd signifies “little” i.e. Umayr is used for a ‘little‘ 
Umar)’ . So give them a ‘ [ruwayd] ‘little’ extra time…

Because Allah has already designed the plan for Hijrah (migration to Medinah), and the battles of Badr, Uhud, Ahzab etc. in the future.

Gem: However weak you think you are, the true believers are always in a situation of power. The power of the du’a of Allah’s Messenger would have been sufficient to wipe the Quraysh out, but Allah told His Messenger to be patient for a while because of His future planning. Sometimes you have to accept your absence of control in certain situations and ‘let go’ and ‘let God’…

Gems from Juzz 'Amma: “The Grip of your Master”

~ Gems from Juzz ‘Amma ~

Surah Buruj, 12-14: “The Grip of your Master”

إِنَّ بَطْشَ رَبِّكَ لَشَدِيدٌ

“Surely the grip of your Master (O Muhammad) is severe.”

In this ayah, Allah is talking to His Messenger to strengthen him and the believers’ trust in Allah.
 He is also scaring those who oppress the believers, showing them that the Master of Allah’s Messenger and his followers has a Lord who is severe in Grip.

- To Seize/grip someone who is weaker than you, and to continuously grip them tighter and tighter. And the weaker one cannot escape from the grip.

- Comes from the word shidda – (shaddul wathaaq – to knot something over and over again and then pull forcefully to tighten it severely).

The seizing of your Lord is extremely tight and intense. Your Lord is extremely severe and intense when it comes to punishing the oppressors.

The disbelievers would grab the believers and physically harm them (they even did this to Allah’s Messenger and they were about to choke him to death until Abu Bakr stopped them.). So Allah is telling His Messenger (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) that the gripping of your Master is extremely intense. There seizing of you is nothing compared to the severe grip of Allah.

Rabbi-ka – *your *Rabb – Allah is reminding the oppressed. He is the One who gives you favors, who takes care of you, who look after you. His grip is extremely severe against those who oppose you. Allah is telling His Messenger that Allah is watching and He has the power to do something now if He wants.

إِنَّهُ هُوَ يُبْدِئُ وَيُعِيدُ   وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الْوَدُودُ

“Surely He,  He is the originator and repeats it (the creation). He is Ghafoor ul Wadood”

In other words, that same Master who has a severe grip, and originates the creation repeatedly – He is Most Forgiving and Most Loving.

This surah is about recognizing the next life through Allah’s names and power.

So those who wonder if God allows oppression, we learn;

-       That the oppressed will gain help and forgiveness for the hardship they face.
– The oppressors will be severely gripped by Allah for their oppression.


-       The oppressors who haven’t died and regret – Allah is still willing to forgive them.

al Ghafoor – Forgiving.

al Wadood – one who loves intensely and passionately, an enflaming love.
al

This Name is mentioned in a surah where there is extreme oppression and hardship being faced by the believers. When you’re going through a hard time, you get doubts. You might think ‘God doesn’t love me, He loves others more than me.’

But Allah is comforting the oppressed and us all when were in difficulty, reminding us, that He is full of extreme love for His believing slaves.