Returning to the Holy Qur’an in word and practice

More than half of the blessed month of Ramadan has passed and we need to be wary of losing that initial fervor and energy we had at the beginning of Ramadan for reading the Qur’an and praying night prayers at the mosque.

Our pious predecessors used to anticipate Ramadan almost all year long and spend their time in worship and making supplication to ready themselves for Ramadan. For the six months before Ramadan, they would ask Allah to grant them long life so that they could witness Ramadan. And after Ramadan, for the next six months, they would ask Allah to accept their fasting and prayers in Ramadan.

The present-day trials and tribulations demands on our time, and also the temptations around us can detract from our spiritual growth this Ramadan.

The solution to protect our hearts and remain devoted to Allah is to turn to the Holy Qur’an and connect to the Word of Allah, according to the learned scholar, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf.

Have we integrated the Holy Qur’an into our daily lives by reading the Quran, learning it, studying its meanings, listening to its recitation in the home and the car, attending study sessions at the mosque and other learning centers?

In our Islamic tradition, scholars have transmitted that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has said that the Holy Qur’an is the strong, unbreakable rope that connects us to Allah, and it is a clear light and guidance. Its wonders never cease. The scholars will never be satiated from its meanings and the pious people will never tire or bore from reciting it.

In the Qur’an, there is healing, from both physical ailments and ailments of the heart.

As the following verse states, {And We send down of the Qur’an that which is healing and mercy for the believers.} (Chapter 17, verse 82)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) has recommended a number of tools that have medicinal properties which we must not belittle or neglect. Reading the Holy Qur’an while putting your hand on the ailing part of your body can promote healing. Honey, olive oil, and black seeds are also beneficial.

Ramadan is a time to bring back to life the tradition of relying on the Holy Qur’an for guidance, rewards, healing, and for achieving calmness and serenity.

As Allah, Himself has promised in the Qur’an, {Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah's hearts are assured.} (Chapter 13, verse 28)

The goal is not to simply read the Qur’an hastily or to compete in how many times we can read the entire Qur’an in Ramadan. The goal is also to understand and apply what we read, to improve our character, and to cultivate a year-long habit of reading and studying the Qur’an.

Return to the Qur’an and allow a certain amount of time each day to read a portion of the Qur’an. Some chapters are prescribed to be read more regularly than others. For example, it is recommended to read the chapter, Al-Khaf (The Cave) every Friday.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever reads Surah al Kahf on the day of Friday will have a light that will shine from him from one Friday to the next.” (Al-Jaami)

It was the practice of our pious predecessors to read Al-Waqiah (The Inevitable) every night after Maghreb prayers, and Al-Mulk (The Kingdom) every night after Ishaa prayers.

Moreover, if we were to practice in our lives what we read in the verses of the Qur’an, we could really transform our own character, and transform our societies.

Do not just rush over the verses, but apply the verses in your life, such as the following.

{And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and give zakah.} (Chapter 2, verse 83)

How many social problems and friction in families could be avoided if we spoke kind words to one another, prayed our prayers, and helped those in need?

{Eat and drink but be not excessive.} (Chapter 7, verse 31)

If we could implement eating and drinking in moderation how many health problems could we prevent? Health professionals recommend eating and drinking moderately to prevent obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancers.

{And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily [lightly]} (Chapter 25, verse 61)

One way of walking on the earth lightly is to decrease the environmental pollution we are contributing to.

So we can see how Ramadan is actually a school, in which we read the Qur’an and learn and train ourselves to grow spiritually and in other areas of our lives as well.

It may be more difficult for some; it could be a struggle for non-Arabic speakers to read the Holy Qur’an. But there is hope and optimism for those who find hardship in reading the Qur’an.

Aisha, the wife of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) narrated that he said, “Verily the one who recites the Qur’an beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have twice that reward.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

For those who find it challenging to read the Qur’an, I hope they will persevere and they will receive double the rewards from Allah. Now, more than any other time is the season for reading the Qur’an because the good deeds for reading one letter of the Qur’an is not only 10, but can be multiplied to up to 700 times more.

The language was not a barrier for hundreds and thousands of students of the Qur’an from all countries across the world, who mastered reading and memorizing the Qur’an. Fatih Seferagic is Bosnian but he was born in Germany and moved to the United States when he was four years old. Arabic was not his native tongue, but he managed to memorize the Holy Qur’an and now teaches the Qur’an and leads people in prayer in mosques in the US. And for thousands like him, Allah makes it easy on those who have a sincere intention to pursue their studies of the Holy Qur’an.

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Unraveling wonders in the Holy Qur’an

Ramadan is the month of fasting, and it is also the month of Qur’an. It was during Ramadan that the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

{The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.} (Chapter 2, verse 185 of the Holy Qu’ran)

Eager to gain the rewards in this month, many of us rush to read the entire Qur’an and we compete to complete even more than once before the month is over. While dedicating your time to reading the Qur’an is no doubt praiseworthy, I call upon my Muslim brothers and sisters to take a slightly different approach this Ramadan.

Rather than hastily reading through, why not pick a certain chapter or chapters of the Qur’an and delve deeply into the meanings of the verses, the lessons to be learned, the context in which they were revealed during the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), studying the history, and also the implications the verses carry for our lives today? Rather than simply, we need to work hard to understand the Qur’an. Alternately, you can pick a certain topic and research it in-depth in the Holy Qur’an, for example, stories of the prophets, or the description of Paradise. Another recommendation is to use the Qur’an as a blueprint to develop your character. For example, study the verses which speak about patience or piety or the characteristics of a believer in general.

For a class which I offer the girls in our community, we picked Surah Al-Israa, the Chapter of the Night Journey, to explore the meanings of the verses, and we have learned a lot and greatly enjoyed the classes.

The Qur’an, the word of God, is a book of guidance for humanity. Students of the Qur’an never cease to be amazed by the wonders found in it. Researchers have studied the numbers of times that certain words are repeated in the Qur’an which causes us to appreciate the Qur’an even more.

The word ‘day’ (yawm) is repeated in its singular form 365 times, while the plural and dual forms, ‘days’ (ayyam and yawmayn) together are repeated 30 times. The number of repetitions of the word ‘month’ (Shahar) is 12.

The words ‘Paradise’ and ‘Hellfire’ are each repeated the same number of times, 77 times. The significance I draw from this is that the believer must live his/her life in a balance between fear of Allah and fear of the punishment, but also hope in Allah’s mercy and forgiveness, and the yearning to enter Paradise.

The words, ‘world’ (dunya) and ‘Hereafter’ (akhira) are repeated an equal number of times, 115 times. Although there may not be great importance in the numbers, we should ponder on the importance of mentioning this world and the next world an equal amount of times in the Qur’an.

The ultimate priority in a believer’s life is worshiping Allah, but that does not mean we can neglect our duties and responsibilities of building and protecting this Earth. What comes to mind is the saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), “If the Resurrection were established upon one of you while he has in his hand a sapling, then let him plant it.” (Musnad Ahmad)

At the same time, we must not become so immersed in this world’s pleasures and problems that we neglect our worship. Neither work nor entertainment should blind us from dedicating enough time to the service of others and worshiping Allah.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned us of becoming entranced by worldly affairs; he said, “By Allah, it is not poverty that I fear for you, but I fear that this world will be spread out in front of you as it was spread out in front of those before you, and then you will vie for it as they vied for it, and it will destroy you as it destroyed them” (Riyad as-Salihin by Imam Nawawi)

Another finding in the Qur’an I marveled over is the reference to the land and sea. The word ‘land’ appears 13 times in the Qur’an and the word ‘sea’ 32 times, giving a total of 45 references. The number of total references to land and sea, 45, divided by the number of references to the sea in the Qur’an, 32, and multiplied by 100 is 71.1%. Extraordinarily, these figures represent the exact proportions of land and sea on the Earth.

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Allah is with whom ?

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Allah is with whom ?

It is a saying attributed to Hussain, may Allah be pleased with him: “O Allah, what did he find who lost You, and what did he lose who found You?”

That is what I was looking for. I was searching for the qualities and the propensities of the people who Allah described Himself in the Holy Qur’an, as being with them. Because if Allah is with them, they could face any difficulty in this world with dignity, acceptance, and positivity. Because if Allah is with them, then what have they lost?

For Allah to be with you means that Allah is aware of your situation. He will support you, give you strength to endure, and He will grant you triumph at the end of the tunnel.

I wanted to explore the verses of the Qur’an in which Allah states that He is with certain groups of people. Can these attributes be cultivated and learned, so that I too may fit into this category of people? What traits do I need to acquire so that Allah will be with me?

I found only a few verses in the Qur’an that refer to people as specifically being with Allah.

The first verse I would like to mention is the following:
{Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who are doers of good.} (Chapter 16, verse 128)

Some meanings get lost from the Arabic to English translation. The meaning behind this verse is that Allah is with those people who have taqwah and who have ihsan.

Taqwa is often translated as piety or God-fearing, but it is deeper than that. It is a heightened state of consciousness or being mindful of Allah at all times. Taqwa is the state of hyper-vigilance against falling into sin. It is the idea that a believer is always on guard and is alert of not committing any action that would earn the displeasure of Allah.

To have taqwa means you have an internal compass which directs you to the actions that please Allah and helps you avert the actions that displease Allah.

The companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) understood very well the meaning of having taqwa.

When one of the companions, Kaab, was asked about the meaning of taqwa, he explained it with this analogy; he said that when you walk through a thorny bush path wearing a long cloak, you take your steps very cautiously to avoid the thorns so you do not tear your clothing. That is the same as taqwa, walking carefully on the path to avoid falling into sin.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Fear Allah wherever you may be; follow up an evil deed with a good one which will wipe (the former) out, and behave good-naturedly towards people.” [At-Tirmidhi].

Taqwa and ihsan are two qualities of a true believer.

Ihsan, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us, is to worship Allah as if you see Him because even though you do not see Allah, He sees you.

It is more than just doing good; it is doing the best that you can do. It is attempting to perfect your character and your worship. It is treating others as you would wish them to treat you. It means being an exceptional spouse, parent, student, employee, and neighbor. Ihsan is to perform at the best of your capabilities at work, in school, and even in your car when you’re driving on the road.

In order for Allah to be with us, we need to live by the principle of fulfilling our fullest potential: in family relationships, education, work, and in our spiritual connection with Allah.

Sometimes, ihsan also means that you not only do what is required and expected of you, but that you go above and beyond. Let’s look at some examples. If you are given a task and a deadline from your employer,ihsan is to complete the task outstandingly and to hand it in before the deadline.

In your spiritual life, ihsan can mean that you not only pray the five obligatory prayers, but you also pray the additional voluntary prayers.

Another verse in the Qur’an describes a group of people whom Allah is with.

{O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.} (Chapter 2, verse 153)
Allah is with the patient, and Allah loves those who are patient.

Patience is one of the noblest qualities of the believers. In almost every verse in the Qur’an that describes the traits of the people who will abide in Paradise, Allah mentions patience.

Abu Said al-Khudri relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “None is granted a greater and more comprehensive gift than patience.”

It is not easy to be patient in times of hardship and to refrain from complaining and despairing; that is why the reward for patience is so great. I remind myself and my readers that true patience means being grateful to Allah even when affliction strikes, because afflictions should be viewed as expiation for sins and perhaps the cause for an increase in good deeds.

We believe in the following Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) so our responses to the stressors in life should reflect this belief.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “How amazing are the believer’s affairs; all his affairs are good for him. If something good befalls him, he is grateful and that is good for him, and if he is afflicted by calamity he is patient and that is also good for him.” [Sahih Muslim]

An in-depth reading of the Qur’an highlights the traits that you and I should strive to acquire. Some verses in the Qur’an state that Allah was with Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his friend Abu Bakr when they were hiding in the cave, and Allah was with the believers in battle during the Prophet’s lifetime. And other verses show that Allah is with the believer who is pious, patient, and does good. The key words in Arabic that we are looking for are taqwa, ihsan, and sabr.

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Women in Da’wah

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Women in Da’wah

{You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient.}(Holy Qur’an, Chapter 3, verse 110)

The very purpose of Da’wah is worship of the one true God and negation of the false gods; which has been conveyed through the Prophets and Messengers (peace and blessings be upon them all). This message is clear in the revealed book, the Holy Qur’an.

The obligation of spreading Islam is on both the male and female Muslims. Both have to have the same characteristics a da’ee, or a caller to Islam, should possess. The only difference is the means to be used in their propagation.

Even for women who are caretakers of the home, they have a role in giving da’wah as well. In order to achieve a goal, a woman must be very organised and have a routine. This will enable her to allocate time to become involved in da’wah work.

Women of this era are well-educated and many are familiar with information technology. Online da’wah is a boon, and can be done from anywhere in the world. Whether it is sharing authentic information about Islam, holding online classes and seminars, or writing; all these and countless other means are a contribution to the da’wah effort. Establishing an online website or a monthly magazine is also favourable.

One must not neglect the fact that our neighbours have more right to our da’wah and good character than the outsiders.  Hence, women have an important role to play in upholding ties with their neighbours in order to promote the message of Islam. She can host get-togethers, coffee mornings, and classes within her own home to help spread the message of Islam.

As far as the children are concerned, female da’ees can come together and establish a school or curricula or certain activities and programs aiming to inculcate good manners. Even within their own family time, women can educate their children about Islam. After all, mothers are the first teachers. Through play, a child can learn much about Islam, before he is even ready for school. These are some ideas which can be used to make females roles in da’wah moreeffective.

In a remote village of southern India, a woman of three children began to read Islamic books from a city nearby as she would frequently visit. She then gathered her friends to read and study with her. Eventually, this group of 5 to 6 women, in search of true knowledge, moved to the city. After they thought they had acquired enough knowledge to convey to their people, they moved back to their home village and rented a room for teaching women. Gradually, women of stringent customs and traditions became more unbiased and unprejudiced. They began to understand the difference between culture and the true religion of Islam. They now have a higher purpose in their lives. A one room school later changed to a 200 room building with a special facility for the poor and orphan children. This is by the will of Allah and the sincerity of the women in search of light.

Da’wah is not merely limited to face-to-face encounters. In this fast-changing world of technology, da’wah can even be done through social media. However, Islamic principles must be upheld in all situations and circumstances. Similarly, actions speak louder than words, and woman’s modest character can speak volumes about the faith she upholds. Women have an ability to touch hearts and inspire change. No matter what other roles women may play, they are in essence teachers, educators, and da’ees in their own realm.

“You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation.”

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The testimony of women in Islam

The testimony of women in Islam

Much discourse surrounds the verse in the Holy Qur’an which addresses the issue of the testimony of a woman for two parties in loaning money. Although the verse specifically pertains to witnessing a transaction involving debt, many people draw false conclusions that Islam perceives a woman as inferior or incapable of sound judgment and that she is considered equivalent to half of a man in importance; and that is all false.

The verse in question is actually a clause and should not be looked at out of its context which is the longer verse that deals in depth with contracting a debt.

{And bring to witness two witnesses from among your men; and if there are not two men [available], then a man and two women from those whom you accept as witnesses – so that if one of them [i.e. the women] errs, then the other can remind her.} (Chapter 2, verse 282)

If you come to look at the state of the society in Arabia when this verse was revealed, it actually shows Islam’s gradual progression in improving the status of women, not diminishing her.

Dr. Taha Jaber Al-Alwani, President of Cordoba University in Ashburn, Virginia concentrated on fields of Islamic legal theory, jurisprudence, Qur’anic sciences, and general Islamic thought. Dr. Alwani pointed out that, before revelation of the Qur’an, the Arabian society had little or no regard for women and did not allow the inclusion of women in matters considered the domain of men. In fact pre-Islamic Arab society sanctioned female infanticide.

First of all, the Qur’an chastised the immoral act of burying baby daughters alive, and it showed that this was a crime and grave sin. The Qur’an introduced the idea that women had rights and that in faith and belief, women were equal to men.

While in other beliefs, women were considered to be by nature more sinful than men, that notion was eradicated in Islam. Men and women who believe and do good deeds will be equally rewarded by their Lord, as is mentioned repeatedly in the Qur’an.
{Whoever does good, whether male or female, and is a believer, We shall certainly make him live a good life, and We shall certainly give them their reward for the best of what they did.} (Chapter 16, verse 97)

The value that the new religion of Islam placed on women was a revolution no less significant than Islam’s condemnation of idolatry. In the case of early Muslim society, given the long established customs, attitudes, and mores of pre-Islamic Arabia, it was necessary to implement such changes in stages and to make allowances for society’s capacity to adjust itself accordingly.

Dr. Alwani explains that it appears that the Qur’an sought gradual change via prudent and judicious means, rather than all at once, in which case the possibility of rejection and negative reactions might have been greater.

Whereas women had no say whatsoever in judicial or public circles before Islam, the Qur’an, in its own subtle manner, places the reclassification of women as fully participating members of society on its agenda for reform. By establishing a role for woman in the witnessing of transactions, even if it was two women in comparison to one man, the Qur’an seeks to give concrete form to the idea of a woman as participant. It is a viable and big step.

The objective is to end the traditional perception of women and to include them as acceptable partners in society by means of this recognition of women as legal witnesses. In this way, the Qur’an seeks to overcome the psychological impediments of men that prevent them from accepting women as their equals in society.

Giving women the authority to witness served as a practical way of establishing the concept of women taking active roles in society and in commerce as well.

Bringing in two women as witnesses over a contract of debt was a reflection of the norm at the time; meaning that women did not have the expertise in such financial transactions. Men in Arabia on the other had much more experience in business and commerce and therefore their knowledge on such matters was broader than the women of that time. According to that reality, it was required to have two men as witnesses or one man and two women as witnesses in the debt transaction.

In conclusion, Dr. Alwani states that “there is no difference between men and women in terms of their abilities, their propensity to forget, in the possibility of their colluding to present false witness, or in their ability to speak either the truth or fabrication. Moreover, the objectives of the Qur’an do not include anything that would indicate otherwise.”

Dr. Zakir Naik also commented on this topic. He brings to the attention that there are several verses in the Qur’an which speak about witnesses without specifying man or woman.

In Islam, there are many situations in which female witnesses are preferred over male witnesses. Midwives were considered witnesses for the birth of a child; in essence they served as a spoken birth certificate for the born child. Women also witnessed the breastfeeding of infants because boys and girls who have been breastfeed by the same woman become brothers and sisters and cannot marry.

Many jurists agree that one witness of a woman is sufficient for the sighting of the crescent moon which marks the first day and last day of the holy month of Ramadan. One woman witness is sufficient for determining one of the pillars of Islam, fasting. The whole Muslim community should agree and accept her testimony. Some jurists say that one witness is required at the beginning of Ramadan and two witnesses at the end of Ramadan. It makes no difference whether the witnesses are men or women.

All men and women in the Muslim community have accepted the testimonies presented to us by Aisha, the wife of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Aisha transmitted accounts of the Prophet’s traditions, habits, manners, worship, and sayings. Muslims attest to her authenticity and reliability as a witness and a transmitter of knowledge. She has narrated approximately 2,220 Hadiths.

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The greatest chapter in the Qur’an

The greatest chapter in the Qur’an

The greatest chapter in the Holy Qur’an is the one that we recite every day in our five daily prayers; it is Al-Fatiha or The Opening. Studying its meanings will help us appreciate the value of this chapter and will be the key that opens the door to a heightened level of mental awareness and nearness to our Lord in prayer as we recite it.

Al-Fatiha is the opening to the Holy Book and it is the chapter with which we begin our prayers. Other titles that refer to Al-Fatiha include Umm ul-Kitab and Umm ul-Qur’an, which mean the mother of the Book or the mother of the Qur’an. It is also called Saba’ Al-Mathani, or the seven repeated verses, and Al-Shifaa (The Healing), Al-Hamd (The Praise), As-Salat (The Prayer), and Al-Kanz (The Treasure).      

In the following narration, the Prophet (peace be upon him) informed us that Al-Fatiha is indeed the greatest chapter of the Holy Qur’an.

Ahmad records on the authority of Abu Sa’ad ibn Al-Mu’alla who said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,“…I will teach you a Surah which is the greatest Surah in the Qur’an before you leave the masjid.’”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) told his companion, “It is [the Surah commencing with], {All praise and thanks are due to Allah.} It is the Seven Oft-Repeated verses and the Great Qur’an that has been given to me.”

{In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.}
The Surah starts with mentioning the name of Allah, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Raheem, which are two names of Allah derived from the word mercy. In Arabic grammar, both are intensive forms of merciful. Rahman is an attribute of Allah alone, above the human level, it means intensely merciful.

{All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds} 

You start your prayer by offering praise, deep gratitude, and boundless thanks to Allah for the blessings that He has bestowed upon us that we cannot even enumerate. We rarely pause to think about how grateful we should be to Allah. Each breath, each heartbeat, each muscle movement, and each blink of an eye is a blessing that we should be thankful for. 
 
When referring to Allah, the Arabic term “Rabb” translated as “Lord” includes all of the following meanings: owner, master, ruler, controller, sustainer, provider, guardian, and caretaker.

{The Most Beneficent,
the Most Merciful}

The believer must keep in mind that Allah is the Lord and the Master and Sustainer, which is awe inspiring, but we must also keep in mind that Allah is also merciful and forgiving. A sound heart resonates with both fear of Allah, and also love and hope for Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.

{Sovereign of the Day of Recompense}

Allah will bring us to account on that day for whatever we earned of good or evil during life on this earth. Each person will be given rewards for the good, and punishment for the bad, except for that which Allah forgives.

{It is You we worship and You we ask for help}

It is Allah alone that we worship, associating no partners with Him, and Allah alone that we turn to for help. We must purify our acts of worship from any desire to impress people; the intention behind our prayers, supplication, fasting, and reading the Qur’an should be to please Allah alone.

After establishing our obedience and submission to Allah, we ask Allah to give us what we desire, and the greatest gift we can receive from Allah is guidance.

{Guide us to the straight path}  

These verses teach us the proper decorum with our Creator, first we mention the names of Allah, we praise our Lord and establish that we worship only Allah and depend on Him. Then we ask for what we need; to be guided to the correct path, which is Islam. The final destination and goal for staying on this straight path is Paradise.

{The path of those upon You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned [Your] anger or of those who are astray} 

Making supplication to Allah is actually a form of worship. When we repeat this verse in our prayers every day, we urge Allah to keep us on the path of those whom Allah has bestowed upon them the blessing of firm faith. We aspire to be on the same path as the prophets, the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the righteous, and the truthful and faithful people. 

The most beautiful aspect about this chapter is that when we read it in our prayers, we are engaging in a private conversation between ourselves and our Lord. If we keep this in mind, we will be able to focus more during our prayers and it will be a soothing, calming, and spiritually healing experience.

Allah responds to the believers when they recite this chapter.

Sahih Muslim records on the authority of Abu Hurayrah who said that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Allah, the Glorious and Exalted said, “I have divided the prayer between Myself and my servant equally and My servant shall be granted what he asked for.” Therefore, when the servant says, ‘All praises and thanks are due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds’, Allah says, ‘My servant has praised Me.’ When he says, ‘The All-Merciful, the Most Merciful,’ Allah says, ‘My servant has extolled Me.’ When he says, ‘Master of the Day of Judgment,’ Allah says, ‘My servant has glorified Me.’

When he says, ‘You Alone we worship and Your aid alone do we seek,’ Allah says, ‘This is between Me and My servant and My servant shall have what he requested.’ When he says, ‘Guide us to the Straight Path, the Path of those whom You have favored, not [the path] of those who have earned [Your] anger, nor of those who have gone astray,’ Allah says, ‘This is for My servant and My servant shall have what he asked for.’”

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The blessings of water

The blessings of water

Water is the most important liquid for human survival. Water has been on earth since its beginning. Without water there would be no life on earth. Water makes up about 71% of the Earth’s surface, while the other 29% consists of continents and islands. Did you know that that 96.5 per cent of all the earth’s water is salt water in oceans and seas? The remaining 3.5% is fresh water from rivers and lakes and frozen water in the polar ice tops. And, 69% of the 3.5% fresh water is in the form of ice. If we could melt all that ice, and the earth’s surface was perfectly smooth, the sea levels would rise to an altitude of 2.7 km. The human body consists of 75% water.

Water is one of the key elements responsible for life on earth. Water circulates through the land just as it does through the human body, transporting, dissolving, and replenishing nutrients and organic matter, while carrying away waste material. It also regulates the activities of fluids, tissues, cells, lymph, blood, and glandular secretions.

An average adult body contains 42 liters of water and with just a small loss of 2.7 liters a person can suffer from dehydration, dizziness, weakness, and headaches. The role of water is vital role in our health and essential for cell function.

The 75% of water in our body helps us swallow and digest food. Without water, all chemical reactions in our body would not take place, including carryingaway the substances that we do not need any more. Water regulates our body temperature and without water, we would be unable to live for a few days.

In our every day life we use water in our houses, to grow plants for food, in industries and factories, to produce energy and electricity, in transportation and trade. Whatever we think of to continue living, water is always there.

In the history of humanity, water has been the center of civilizations. Communities were established close to fresh drinking water sources such as wells, or in a region known of rain as a source of fresh water.

Traditional and modern medicine has been making use of the psychological and physiological diverse properties of water. Since early centuries and up until today, numerous healing springs located all around the world have been recognized for their benefits with historical records of how the water springs had curative properties.

Of the scientific marvels in the Holy Qur’an, water was mentioned as the source of all life.
“Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?” (21:30)

Fourteen centuries ago, the Holy Qur’an has revealed that water is a part of every living organism. Centuries later after the invention of the microscope, scientists discovered that the cytoplasm and the basic substance of the cell is made up of 80% water.

There are facts that mankind had not been aware of before the twentieth century yet they were mentioned in the Holy Qur’an.

Water in the seas and oceans regulates the temperature of the Earth, and it maintains marine life. The combination of hot and cold sea currents, the absorption of a great amount of sunlight and energy from the activities of the various marine life forms are all regulated by water.

When we study facts about water, we can see the amazing creative power that gave water a number of physical and chemical characteristics that are not found in other elements.

The low density of frozen water enables it to float on the surface of seas and oceans, otherwise if it sunk to the bottom of oceans and seas, it would interfere with underwater life. Moreover, the molecular structure of water with its double pole and resistance to dissolution and ionization, its freezing and boiling points and the high specific and latent heat, impressive viscosity and surface tension, its great ability in the processes of oxidation and reduction and to react with many chemical compounds help to crack the soil to facilitate the germination of plants. Water carries out a major role in all plants, animals and people. It is considered to be one of the great miracles of Allah.

Humans have been exploiting and abusing the sources of fresh water such as rivers, lakes, and also oceans and seas by contamination and pollution.
Water is a blessing from Allah, essential to all our bodily functions and life. We must conserve water and preserve it for ourselves and for the generations to come.

Abdullah ibn Amr reported that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) passed by Saad while he was performing ablution. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “What is this extravagance?” Saad said, “Is there extravagance with water in ablution?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Yes, even if you were on the banks of a flowing river.” Source: Sunan ibn Majah 425

Muslims should avoid wasting water.

Article by: saudigazette.com.sa

Messages from the Holy Qur’an: Taqwah

Messages from the Holy Qur’an: Taqwah

The Holy Qur’an is a book of guidance for all of humanity. Some verses of the Holy Qur’an were revealed to address a particular issue that occurred in the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Some verses of the Holy Qur’an serve as a direct message from Allah to the believing Muslims, regardless of their time in history or geographical place. Muslims should pay great attention to these verses. In several instances in the Holy Qur’an, Allah, glorified is He, explicitly calls out to the believers, {O you who have believed}.


Seven times in the Holy Qur’an, Allah instructs the believers to have taqwah.

Taqwah is one of those Arabic words that cannot be translated exactly into English. To have taqwah means to fear Allah; it means to have piety. A believer who has taqwah is constantly aware of the presence of Allah. A pious believer looks not to what the people would think or say about him/her, but this believer cares more of how he/she acts and behaves in the sight of Allah.

It is taqwah that stands between the believer and sin. A four-year old girl spilled a platter of food on to the kitchen floor; there is grease and tomato sauce everywhere. Her mother rushes in. None is in the house except mother and child. If her in-laws were present, the mother would have calmly wiped it up and reassured her frightened daughter. But now, they are alone in the house. The mother is so angry because it took hours of work to prepare that meal and now it’s splattered on the floor. The mother’s taqwah is what prevents her from hitting her daughter or even scolding her. Because of taqwah, the mother rushes over to hug her daughter, and she says, “It’s OK. It was an accident. Will you help me clean it up?”

Muslims should pay close attention to the messages in the Holy Qur’an that were meant for them. Each time Allah calls on the believers to develop taqwah, Allah also couples taqwah with another command in the same verse. Which are the seven verses in which Allah reminds the Muslims to have taqwah? What other lessons did Allah teach the Muslims in those verses? We will review the verses that have the same beginning: {O you have believed, fear Allah}.

The first verse:
{O you have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should believe.} (Chapter 2, verse 278)

Interest is prohibited in Islam. An economic system based on interest increases the gap between rich and the poor; it makes the rich richer and the poor poorer. According to an article in The Guardian, “The richest 62 people are as wealthy as half the world’s population.”

“In Islam, a person has to earn what he seeks to obtain. The lender of money does nothing thereby to entitle him to anything other than the money lent. In interest transactions there is no division of profit between the two parties on the basis of equality. A person lends his money to someone as a loan on the condition that the borrower has to pay a certain amount of money in addition to the principal within the given time period,” wrote Zahid Zamir, faculty member with the Department of Business and Accounting at York College of the City University of New York.

The second verse:
{O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him]} (Chapter 3, verse 102)

It is very important to be sincere and to remain steadfast in our faith no matter what tribulations we may face. Whatever comes our way, we pray to Allah to keep us in the fold of Islam. The scholars say that in our last moments, as death nears, a Muslim may experience a final test. Shaytan whispers evil to the dying Muslim and tries to trick him/her into abandoning the religion of Islam.

That is why it is recommended to repeat this supplication, “Oh Allah! Turner of the hearts, turn my heart towards your deen.”

The third verse:
{O you who have believed, fear Allah and seek the means [of nearness] to Him and strive in His cause that you may succeed.} (Chapter 5, verse 35)

So fearing Allah or having taqwah, guarantees success for the believer.

The fourth verse:
{O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true.} (Chapter 9, verse 119)

Honesty and truthfulness are admirable qualities of a good, pious Muslim. Not only should I strive to be honest under all circumstances, but I should also look for the company of those who are honest and truthful. The traits of friends rub off on one another.

As the great scholar Imam Al-Shafi’e said in his poem:
“I love the righteous, although I’m not of them
Perhaps I shall receive intercession through them
And I hate he who trades in sins
Although we are both dealing in the same trade.”

The fifth verse
{O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice.}(Chapter 33, verse 70)

Again, having taqwah is equated with speaking the truth and dealing with people fairly and justly. How many of us have truly tried to incorporate honesty and justice in our lives?

The sixth verse
{O you who have believed, fear Allah and believe in His Messenger; He will [then] give you a double portion of the His mercy and make for you a light by which you will walk and forgive you; and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.} (Chapter 57, verse 28)

In this verse having taqwah and fearing Allah is coupled with believing in Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This verse is very promising to the Muslims. If Muslims filled their hearts and consciousness with taqwah or piety, the rewards are mercy and forgiveness from Allah, and a light and radiance in the life of the believer.

The seventh verse
{O you who have believed, fear Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow – and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Aware of what you do.}  (Chapter 59, verse 18)

What have we prepared for tomorrow? The tomorrow in this verse does not mean the future in this world or our retirement plan. The tomorrow in this verse means the Day of Judgment.

How we can prepare for this tomorrow? We can prepare through acts of worship and acts of goodness: prayer, fasting, reading the Holy Qur’an, defending the weak, helping the poor, giving to orphans, speaking kindly, being good to our neighbor, visiting the sick.

The richness and depth of the meaning of the world taqwah as used in the Qur’an amazes me. Read those verses again and again, and reflect on the messages in the Holy Qur’an which state, {O you who have believed, fear Allah [have taqwah].}

Article by: saudigazette.com.sa