Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

God's Way
Hud (Hud) Chapter 11: Verse 19

"Those who would hinder (men) from the path of God and would seek in it something crooked: these were they who denied the Hereafter!"

God's way is a straight path that has been established by Him. What human beings must do is to know this path well in all its aspects and principles, and to infer new rules in the secondary matters of law, which are subject to change in parallel with the change of time and place, according to the main, unchangeable principles of this path. But those who do not believe in it, and the hypocrites, have always wished that this path were crooked, in accordance with their desires, and in order to serve their interests. So, to attempt to make changes in this path (Islam) or to make it appear different from what it really is so that its enemies may approve of it - such attempts, however intensive or extensive, have always been in vain - amounts only to a betrayal of the path.

Compiled From:
"The Quran: Annotated Interpretation in Modern English" - Ali Unal, p. 450

From Issue: 594 [Read original issue]

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Conscious Effort

Ramadan comes every year. One comes after another, and has been coming for centuries. Quran is the most recited book, its one reading is followed by another and this is an unending endeavour. Every Ramadan, Quran is recited, fasting is observed, prayers are offered and nights are spent in supplications. Yet, we remain where we were before Ramadan. We remain devoid of piety (taqwa) just as we were without Ramadan. Neither our personal matters change, nor do our individual manners improve; neither do our national circumstances and conditions change, nor the clouds of slavery and bondage, insult and subjugation hovering over us move away. Why is it so?

First of all, this is because we cannot achieve without deliberate and conscious effort that great amount of good of Ramadan with which it comes every year. We are either devoid of this conscious effort or simply oblivious of its need and importance.

More than this, our condition is more like the condition of the person about whom the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "when a person does not stop telling lies and following falsehood, Allah is in no way obliged to accept his hunger and thirst." [Bukhari] We declare Allah our Lord, accept Muhammad as our Prophet, believe in Quran as the book of Allah, yet we do not try to understand what they all say to us, nor do we obey what they say. If this is not falsehood and acting upon it, then what is?

Compiled From:
"Making the Most of Ramadhan" - Khurram Murad, p. 28

From Issue: 1002 [Read original issue]

Cool Tips!

Here are some tips of things we can do on the Night of Power and the time before and after it.

1. Do Itikaf

It was a practice of the Prophet to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in the masjid for Itikaf.

Those in Itikaf stay in the masjid all this time, performing various forms of zikr (the remembrance of Allah), like doing extra Salat, recitation and study of the Quran. They do not go outside the masjid except in case of emergencies, therefore, they sleep in the masjid. Their families or the masjid administration takes care of their food needs.

Itikaf of a shorter period of time, like one night, a day or a couple of days is encouraged as well.

2. Make this special Dua

Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.' "(Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).

The transliteration of this Dua is "Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee"

3. Reflect on the meaning of the Quran

Choose the latest Surah or Surahs you've heard in Tarawih and read their translation and Tafseer. Then think deeply about their meaning and how it affects you on a personal level.

4. Make a personal Dua list.

Ask yourself what you really want from Allah. Make a list of each and everything, no matter how small or how big it is, whether it deals with this world or not. Allah loves to hear from us. Once this list is ready, you can do three things:

• Ask Allah to give you those things
• Think about what actions you have taken to get those things
• Develop a work plan to get those things in future.

5. Evaluate yourself.

Ask yourself those questions that need to be asked. Do an evaluation of where you are and where you are going. Let this evaluation lead you to feel happiness for the good you have done and remorse for the bad you have done. This latter feeling should make it easier to seek Allah's sincere forgiveness when making the Dua mentioned in tip number one above.

6. Have Iftar with the family

If you've spent Iftar time on weekdays in your cubicle at work alone with a couple of dates, now is the last few days you'll have this Ramadan to spend with your family. Use it wisely.

7. Finish reading a book on the Prophet

Read about the Prophet's life, which can increase your love for him and Islam by seeing how much he struggled for Allah's sake. It may inspire you to push yourself even harder during these last ten nights. This community is built on sacrifice.

Compiled From:
"16 things you can do on the Night of Power" - Abdul Malik Mujahid

From Issue: 546 [Read original issue]