فباي الاء ربكما تكذبان

فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

<div dir="auto">God's embrace is the only refuge
In the storm of life we search for the proverbial "mountain" for refuge. The stable, constant and tangible anchor of resources or social status or people. Noah's son feared the rickety boat in the middle of waves the size of mountains. It looked so rootless and without solidness to trust in. Yet it was the only refuge. The boat is the embrace of God's compassion. This boat is our refuge in the storm. It is the place of submission and trust in what is not tangible or solid under your feet. It requires faith to go into this boat and forsake the sturdy mountain, but it is in fact the only true shelter.</div>

And ˹so˺ the Ark sailed with them through waves like mountains. Noah called out to his son, who stood apart, “O my dear son! Come aboard with us and do not be with the disbelievers.”

He replied, “I will take refuge on a mountain, which will protect me from the water.” Noah cried, “Today no one is protected from Allah’s decree except those to whom He shows mercy!” And the waves came between them, and his son was among the drowned.

Dalia Mogahed's Reflection on Surah Hud:42 - 43

<div dir="auto">This verse shows what Allah does to those who turn away from the guidance that He has given them. Because they turn away from Allah, Allah seals their hearts, ears, and eyes. For guidance from Allah is indeed not something that any individual should turn away from willingly.</div>

Allah has sealed their hearts and their hearing, and their sight is covered. They will suffer a tremendous punishment.

Omar Suleiman's Reflection on Surah Al-Baqara:7

I was with my teacher as we were going over this ayah. She was explaining to me how Adam felt as though he wanted to repent, and Allah helped give him the words to say, so that he has the chance to be forgiven. 

Then she asks me, has there ever been a moment where you’re just going about your day, when suddenly the word astaghfirallah enters your mind, so you start saying it? I nodded my head yes. She then says, Allah subhanna wa taalah put that word in your head. He helped you to remember, so that you could receive the rewards of it. So that you could erase some sins with it. 

When she said, subhannallah I began to cry. It made me recall all the times that’s happened, and it left me feeling so special. Now, I know it’s just a simple astaghfirallah. And yes, it’s not something that happens all the time, but the times that it has happened, it made me realize in those moments, it was as if Allah was remembering me.  When that’s happened to you, it was Allah remembering YOU, reminding YOU. Subhannallah. It’s usually the opposite, where we’re always being told to remember Allah. It’s written so many times in the Quran to remember our Lord, salah is laid out throughout the day as an incentive for us to remember Allah - why, because it’s beneficial for us. But then there are sometimes when Allah helps to reminds us in a special way.  He wants us to do as best the best rewards we can, so that we may be with him in the akhira.  To hear that is such a mercy, such a blessing. Alhamdulilah.

Then Adam was inspired with words ˹of prayer˺ by his Lord, so He accepted his repentance. Surely He is the Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful.

Esma's Reflection on Surah Al-Baqara:37

Every sight, sound and thought that you allow to enter you, is like food for your heart. It can either enrich. Or it can poison. It all depends on the quality. You wouldn't drink poison. And you wouldn't eat mold. In the same way, don't allow poisonous and moldy food to enter your mind, eyes, or ears. Guard your heart, like you guard your body. Remember, even your body is temporary. Your heart and soul are not. They will move on from this fleeting life and will meet God in whatever condition you leave this world in. Keep them healthy. What does that mean? It means that when you get a negative thought (demeaning self-talk, despair, doubt, fear, waswasa), don't indulge it. Don't feed it or allow it to stay in the sanctuary of your mind and heart. When you come across immodesty or anything you shouldn't be looking at on the street *or on the screen*, lower your gaze and protect your heart. When you hear indecency, guard your ears, and protect your heart. Remember Allah has said: "The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children. But only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart." (Quran 26:88-89)

the Day when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit.

Only those who come before Allah with a pure heart ˹will be saved˺.”

Yasmin Mogahed's Reflection on Surah Ash-Shu'araa:88 - 89

Did Yusuf return to his father?
Did Musa return to his mother?
Did Hajar return to Ibrahim?
Did health, wealth and children return to Ayoub?

From these stories we learn a powerful and beautiful lesson: what is taken by Allah is never lost. In fact, it is only what is with Allah that remains.

Everything else vanishes. Allah (swt) says,

“What is with you must vanish: what is with Allah will
endure. And We will certainly bestow, on those who
patiently persevere, their reward according to the best of
their actions.” (Quran, 16:96)

So, all that is with Allah, is never lost. In fact the Prophet ﷺ has said:

“You will never give up a thing for the sake of Allah (swt), but that Allah will replace it for you with something that is better for you than it.” (Ahmad)

(Excerpt from my book: Reclaim Your Heart)

Whatever you have will end, but whatever Allah has is everlasting. And We will certainly reward the steadfast according to the best of their deeds.

Yasmin Mogahed's Reflection on Surah An-Nahl:96

When Allah says, "Never lose hope in the mercy of Allah", He is saying that while having full knowledge of ALL the sins you have committed. Allah knows them all and He's still telling you to never lose hope. So why would you ever think that your sins are too big for Allah to forgive? Turn to Allah.

Say, ˹O Prophet, that Allah says,˺ “O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Nouman Ali Khan's Reflection on Surah Az-Zumar:53

One of my all-time favorite quotes, which you'll find as my status in whatsapp and other apps,  was said by Dr. Ahmad AlQadi may Allah, exalted is He, have mercy on his soul and elevate his status, a man that I have never met, a man whom I am told co-founded MAS, and a man whom I've only heard stories of. He said: "It's called trade, not sacrifice". It's a simple statement, but it's deep and profound. When you do something for the sake of Allah, or you give something up for his sake, you are making a #trade not a #sacrifice. So rejoice in the trade you have made with Allah.

Allah has indeed purchased from the believers their lives and wealth in exchange for Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah and kill or are killed. This is a true promise binding on Him in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran. And whose promise is truer than Allah’s? So rejoice in the exchange you have made with Him. That is ˹truly˺ the ultimate triumph.

Amer Abbas's Reflection on Surah At-Tawba:111

Let's talk about the difference between having knowledge and having guidance. We can have a lot of knowledge of the Quran but still not have guidance. Guidance is an ongoing, minute by minute, series of actions. We're going to have to make decisions and we need someone's guidance to make those decisions. Allah tells us that He is willing to give us constant advice on all of our decisions. I can dress like I have a lot of knowledge, stand on a stage in front of people, and have Facebook followers, but it doesn't mean I have Allah's guidance. Guidance is in the hands of Allah and we have to go back to Him to seek it over and over again. This is the difference between knowledge and guidance. Ya Allah, guide us to the straight path, ameen.

You ˹alone˺ we worship and You ˹alone˺ we ask for help.

Nouman Ali Khan's Reflection on Surah Al-Faatiha:5 - 6

I saw a very brief reflection on Twitter: "The Qur'an may seem jumbled, but so do the stars. It is only after you become well acquainted that you begin to recognise the constellations."

That clicked with me straight away, and I started thinking about this passage in Surat al-Waqi'ah. God swears by مواقع النجوم when He declares the nobility of the Qur’an and the purity of the Tablet from which it was sent down in pieces.

Almost all translators went with “stars”, i.e. their positions or setting points on the horizon. As a translator, I would do the same. However, there is another meaning which you can find with Muhammad Asad, for example: "I call to witness the coming-down in parts" - because the word "najm" sometimes means an “instalment” (like part of a payment).

Hence this could refer to the way the Qur’an was coming down piecemeal in response to human needs and questions. The fixity and movements of the stars can also symbolise this transference from the Preserved Tablet to the recited Qur’an.

With this thought process, I am blown away at how mighty this oath truly is - وإنه لقسم لو تعلمون عظيم - as we are led to think about suras as constellations of ayat which now appear together even though they were separated by time/place of revelation.

Taking it further: we now understand that constellations are like that too, not flat planes of star formations as they appear to us from Earth. In a single constellation, some stars are farther away and their light takes longer to reach us. But somehow the formation looks coherent to the eye.

I share this reflection almost on the eve of Ramadan, the festival of the Qur'an - the celebration of revelation! May Allah enlighten our hearts with His words and raise us up in this life and the Next.

So I do swear by the positions of the stars—

and this, if only you knew, is indeed a great oath—

touched by none except the purified ˹angels˺.

Sohaib Saeed's Reflection on Surah Al-Waaqia:75 - 79

As much as you can, keep dunya (worldly life) in your hand--not in your heart. That means when someone insults you, keep it out of your heart so it doesn't make you bitter or defensive. When someone praises you, also keep it out of your heart, so it doesn't make you arrogant and self-deluded. When you face hardship and stress, don't absorb it in your heart, so you don't become hopeless and overwhelmed. Instead keep it in your hands and realize that everything passes. When you're given a gift by God, don't hold it in your heart. Hold it in your hand so that you don't begin to love the gift more than the Giver. And so that when it is taken away you can truly respond with 'inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon': 'indeed we belong to God, and to God we return.'

who, when faced with a disaster, say, “Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will ˹all˺ return.”

Yasmin Mogahed's Reflection on Surah Al-Baqara:156

There's a simple, but powerful psychological principle: what you focus on grows. 

To demonstrate this principle in many of my classes, I share the example of a photo with two little boys. 
On the top is a picture of a little boy holding one slice of cake and beaming with joy.

Just underneath that photo is another picture of a boy holding an entire cake with 13 slices, but just one slice is missing. So that boy is sad.
 
When you examine this scenario, you recognize that the boy who is sad actually has much more cake than the boy who is happy. How can that be? 

Simply put, the boy who is happy has less, but he is *focused* on what he *has*, so he is full of joy.
The boy on the bottom is focused on what is *missing*, so he is sad. 

When we focus on our blessings, they enlarge and we feel rich and content. And happy. 

When we focus on what's missing in our lives, problems, negativity, we feel poor--no matter how much we actually have.

And ˹remember˺ when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more. But if you are ungrateful, surely My punishment is severe.’”

Yasmin Mogahed's Reflection on Surah Ibrahim:7

Before discussing these two profound ayahs and uncovering some contemplations and highlights, it is important to contextualize their placement in the Qur’an and the surah. Surah Yunus has, in several places, commentary of Allah on how people reacted to His word being sent down. In the second ayah of this surah, Allah says:

أَكَانَ لِلنَّاسِ عَجَبًا أَنۡ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ رَجُلٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ أَنۡ أَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَنَّ لَهُمۡ قَدَمَ صِدۡقٍ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡۗ قَالَ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَسَٰحِرٞ مُّبِينٌ٢

Rough translation/explanation: Has it been altogether too strange for the people that we inspired a single man among them to go and warn people and to give to those who have come to faith (who accepted his call) good news that they’re going to have first priority, and that they’re going to have an honorable place with their Master? The disbelievers said: “Certainly this is an obvious magician.”

Some people who believe that life has no purpose, that there is no God, and that there is no higher purpose or day of Resurrection are unable to believe in the idea that they are chosen and that God will give them priority and show them His great blessings. They think: why you (Messenger of Allah)? Why us? Why would He deem us important? Allah is mentioning the tragedy of their beliefs, as he gave us His word out of His love and care for us, and this is the reaction He gets from us.  Then, in the 7th ayah Allah says: 

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرۡجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا وَرَضُواْ بِٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱطۡمَأَنُّواْ بِهَا وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَنۡ ءَايَٰتِنَا غَٰفِلُونَ٧

Rough translation: Certainly those who have no hopes of ever meeting Us, and are content with this being all there is to life, are those who are heedless of our miraculous signs.

In this ayah we learn that we should have hopes of meeting Allah, and that we should contemplate on His signs, not just the Qur’an but in every aspect of life, and not lose ourselves in material things. However, there are times when these same people – who find it weird that someone would be interested in them, or who think that it is a fantasy that there is a life after this one – do believe in God and turn to him. 

وَإِذَا مَسَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ ٱلضُّرُّ دَعَانَا لِجَنۢبِهِۦٓ أَوۡ قَاعِدًا أَوۡ قَآئِمٗا فَلَمَّا كَشَفۡنَا عَنۡهُ ضُرَّهُۥ مَرَّ كَأَن لَّمۡ يَدۡعُنَآ إِلَىٰ ضُرّٖ مَّسَّهُۥۚ كَذَٰلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلۡمُسۡرِفِينَ مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ١٢

Rough translation/explanation: And when difficulty touches the human being (when it scrapes them), then he starts calling on Us lying down, sitting up or standing, and when We alleviate him, he starts walking on the earth like he never called on Us to begin with, and that is how We beautify it for those who go overboard.

When they are agitated and are unable to rest, they turn towards God and ask for His help, and God helps them. However, they soon forget Him as they go into excess. They believe that the struggle ending gives them the liberty to go overboard in their spending and indulgences. 
Then in ayah 14, Allah informs us that we are not the first people to have these ideas; that there were people much before us who thought the same way. Yet, now it is our turn to be tested and see whether we learned from history to live a better life, or are we willing to repeat the tragedies of the past. 

ثُمَّ جَعَلۡنَٰكُمۡ خَلَٰٓئِفَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ لِنَنظُرَ كَيۡفَ تَعۡمَلُونَ١٤

Rough translation: And after that We left you behind on the earth, much after those people that got destroyed, to take a look and see how will you do. And in ayah number 18 Allah describes the state of this group: 

وَيَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُمۡ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمۡ وَيَقُولُونَ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ شُفَعَٰٓؤُنَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِۚ قُلۡ أَتُنَبِّ‍ُٔونَ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا لَا يَعۡلَمُ فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ سُبۡحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ١٨

Rough translation/explanation: And they worship other than Allah that which neither harms nor benefits them, and they believe that those (idols etc.) will make their case before Allah. Are you going to tell Allah something that He does not know about (what is in) the skies and the earth (and you know)? How perfect He is, above all they do ‘shirk’ with.

In the previous ayat we saw that they are contented with worldly life, and that is why they go to idols too; to have their worldly desires met. They do not approach God as He has certain expectations from them, and they do not want to do those. That is why they invent their own versions of religion or new religions entirely which make this life ‘better’. Then, Allah says in ayah 23: 

فَلَمَّآ أَنجَىٰهُمۡ إِذَا هُمۡ يَبۡغُونَ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ بِغَيۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّۗ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّمَا بَغۡيُكُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِكُمۖ مَّتَٰعَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَاۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيۡنَا مَرۡجِعُكُمۡ فَنُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ٢٣

Rough translation: And when He finally does rescue them, they go back to rebellion on the earth without any justification. People! your rebelling hurts only yourselves. These are just temporary worldly things to enjoy, then you’ll have to come back to Us, then We’ll inform you in great detail about the things you used to do.

The evil of those actions does not harm Allah in any way: it only harms the doer of those acts. Earlier, in ayah 15, Allah said:

وَإِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَاتُنَا بَيِّنَٰتٖ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَرۡجُونَ لِقَآءَنَا ٱئۡتِ بِقُرۡءَانٍ غَيۡرِ هَٰذَآ أَوۡ بَدِّلۡهُۚ قُلۡ مَا يَكُونُ لِيٓ أَنۡ أُبَدِّلَهُۥ مِن تِلۡقَآيِٕ نَفۡسِيٓۖ إِنۡ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَيَّۖ إِنِّيٓ أَخَافُ إِنۡ عَصَيۡتُ رَبِّي عَذَابَ يَوۡمٍ عَظِيمٖ١٥

Rough translation: And when Our clear revelations are recited onto them in a way that makes things abundantly clear, those who have no hopes of meeting with us say: “Can you give us a Qur’an other than this one or just replace it completely’. (Messenger) tell them: “it is not up to me to replace it for my own self, I am only following what was revealed to me. I am the one who is terrified of the punishment of a great day - if I were to disobey my Master.”

So far it is obvious that the discussion is about people who do not accept the Qur’an as the word of Allah; about those who do not believe in an Afterlife, those who reject the revelation and ask for a replacement. They clearly demonstrated that they are not interested. However, there are a great number of people who ARE interested in the Qur’an, and want to know more about it, about the kind of relationship they should have with it. The main ayat of our discussion today (57-8) are for them. They are an introduction of the Qur’an by Allah to the people. 

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡكُم مَّوۡعِظَةٞ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَشِفَآءٞ لِّمَا فِي ٱلصُّدُورِ وَهُدٗى وَرَحۡمَةٞ لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ٥٧ قُلۡ بِفَضۡلِ ٱللَّهِ وَبِرَحۡمَتِهِۦ فَبِذَٰلِكَ فَلۡيَفۡرَحُواْ هُوَ خَيۡرٞ مِّمَّا يَجۡمَعُونَ٥٨

Rough translation: People! Counsel has come to you from your Master, and healing for whatever lies inside the chest, and guidance, and an act of love and care for those who believe. Say: “Only by the favor of Allah and by His unique love and care (has this Qur’an been revealed) – that should fill them with joy: it is better than whatever else they are collecting.

“Maw’idha” means a word that means that you are trying to change someone’s course for the better; it is good advice that is given, not in a condescending way, to tell people of the benefits of a road, or the harms of the one they’re on. It is advice that keeps one’s heart soft. “Rabb” entails love, care, nurturing of a Master who never abandons you.

Allah is the one that is giving you good advice, and the one who is talking to you. That means that every time you read the Qur’an you are reading the words of someone who wants you to change for the better, the word of someone who means good for you, and is saying this out of love. 

It makes you contemplate each time you recite it; what is the counsel in this ayah that I can use to steer my life for the better? It makes you be on the lookout for advice and counsel. As every heart has troubles – some are emotional troubles, some are different states we are in and some are aspects that we want to change in ourselves such as sadness, agitation, arrogance, loneliness and more – for all of them Allah says that this Qur’an is a healing for whatever is in the chest.

Only after that He mentions guidance. What is generally understood by guidance are acts of worship, what is allowed and forbidden, and so on. However, Allah first mentioned counsel and healing, and then guidance: by this we understand that this guidance is in the light of the first two things. Following guidance steers you in a better direction and it heals you.  That makes us see guidance from a different perspective; it makes us appreciate guidance for what it is: an act of love and care (rahma) for the believers. 

For some people, their relationship with the Qur’an is just recitation, or just tajweed and grammar. Let’s make our relationship with the Qur’an counsel, healing, guidance, love and care.

Allah tells us in ayah 58 that this Qur’an is what should fill our hearts with true joy. He specifically says that it is better than everything you are collecting: people collect followers, shoes, experiences… but collecting the word of Allah and making it our counsel, healing, guidance and love and care is the best thing we can do.

That is how these two ayat help us not fall into the tragedy of the ones who did not believe in it, who wanted it replaced and who were heedless in regards to its teachings. They make us realize the favor Allah is referring to in ayah 58.

#HealingandCounsel #RamadanReflections2021

O humanity! Indeed, there has come to you a warning from your Lord, a cure for what is in the hearts, a guide, and a mercy for the believers.

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “In Allah’s grace and mercy let them rejoice. That is far better than whatever ˹wealth˺ they amass.”

Nouman Ali Khan's Reflection on Surah Yunus:57 - 58

Social psychology teaches us that when human beings sacrifice for the sake of a person or cause, their attachment and loyalty for that person or cause increases. Allah teaches us that when we give up something for His sake, He replaces it with something greater. Often we expect that 'something greater' to be some material thing--and it may be. But the greatest of all gift is not in the material replacement. It is in His nearness. It is in the increased attachment we develop with Him because of the sacrifice itself! Thus our sacrifice for God is not a gift from us to Him. It is a gift from Him to us! Allahu akbar!

You will never achieve righteousness until you donate some of what you cherish. And whatever you give is certainly well known to Allah.

Yasmin Mogahed's Reflection on Surah Aal-i-Imraan:92

“Your soul was hungry”.

These were the words a scholar said to a student when he entered upon him looking really stressed and worried. So the scholar advised him to pray and recite some Quran. 

After the student prayed 2 Rakaat and recited some Quran, his face seemed relaxed and the signs of worry and stress had disappeared.

The Scholar said to him: “your soul was hungry for the word of Allah”.

Try it next time you’re stressed or worried. 

The Prayer and Quran are therapies for the wounded broken soul.

And seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, it is a burden except for the humble—

Abu Bakr Zoud's Reflection on Surah Al-Baqara:45

When I was studying in Cairo, my roommate and I needed to get our visas extended. Having done it before, we knew it was going to be an exhausting experience.

We said to one of our teachers, "Pray God makes it easy for us!" She responded, "Make istighfar. Just keep saying, 'Astaghfirullah- God, I seek Your forgiveness.'"

She continued, "Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him] taught us, "If anyone constantly seeks pardon (from God), God will appoint for him/her a way out of every distress and a relief from every anxiety, and will provide sustenance for him/her from where he/she expects not" [Abu Dawud].

We thanked her for the reminder and headed out, making istighfar. We found a taxi with such ease. We particularly upped our istighfar as we got closer to the building. Instead of crazy waits and disarray, our experience was shockingly smooth, easy, accommodating. It was actually enjoyable.

Not only were doors opened for us that we didn't expect- the moments that were usually filled with exhaustion and angst were instead filled with remembering God, seeking His forgiveness, drawing nearer and nearer to Him.

When you've been up all night with insomnia and have an important presentation the next morning, when you're so worried about your children that your tears never seem to dry, when you're stressed and sick and frustrated and annoyed- make istighfar.

It doesn't mean everything is necessarily going to change immediately. But we've been promised that it will be our aid. It's a lifeline. It's a light. It's a relief. It's a means of doors and provision opening for us from places we would never expect.

And isn't all of that - and so much more- an easy habit worth creating? Astaghfirullah- oh Allah, I seek Your forgiveness!

And O  my people! Seek your Lord’s forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance. He will shower you with rain in abundance, and add strength to your strength. So do not turn away, persisting in wickedness.”

Maryam Amir's Reflection on Surah Hud:52

When I was younger - in my late teens and early twenties - the duas that I found myself making most sincerely centered around my needs. My health, my faith, my wealth, etc.

Now that I am double that age, and have a family, I find that my most sincere duas involve not me, but my children. Their faith, their wellbeing, their future, etc.

This made me reflect on the amazing love of parents. No one loves you more than your parents. In fact, they are more concerned about you than they are about themselves. And the only time you will truly appreciate this fact of life is when you yourself become a parent.

But even if you won't fully appreciate it until you're a parent, try your best to at least understand it, and then act according to it.

Take advantage of your parents and do whatever you can to earn their blessings. And if they are gone from this world, continue to repay them back with duas and good deeds.

'O my lord! Have mercy on them, even as they took care of me when I was young!'

And be humble with them out of mercy, and pray, “My Lord! Be merciful to them as they raised me when I was young.”

Yasir Qadhi's Reflection on Surah Al-Israa:24

We live in a world where we want things immediately. But, all around us, Allah teaches us a profound lesson, again and again: everything is a process and takes time. Allah could have made a baby in a moment, but He designed it to take 9 months. A seed could have become a massive Oak in a day, but He designed it to take hundreds of years. The Prophet's mission could have been completed in a year or two. But, God designed it to take twenty three.

You will not always see the fruits of your labor right away. Maybe not even in your lifetime. Don't get discouraged. All things take time. And to all things is a process you cannot speed up. Therefore, success is dependent upon patience

O believers! Patiently endure, persevere, stand on guard, and be mindful of Allah, so you may be successful.

Yasmin Mogahed's Reflection on Surah Aal-i-Imraan:200

There will come a time in your life where you may regret a sacrifice you've made. You may look at the "result" of that sacrifice and think it wasn't worth it. Or it was a total waste. Or maybe it even backfired.

For example, maybe you went out of your way to be good to someone or help someone in need, and they showed no appreciation or even reciprocated by hurting you. So you start to believe it was all in vain.

But there's a secret, hidden in sacrifices done for the sake of Allah: The "result" or "reward" of those sacrifices sometimes come in a totally different--seemingly unrelated--part of your life.

Allah promises us: "Is the reward of ihsan (goodness) anything but ihsan (goodness)?” (Quran 55:60). But that ihsan may not always come directly from the same source we invested in.

Perhaps, for example, the one you sacrificed for didn't appreciate or reciprocate the goodness. But Allah blessed/rewarded you in another aspect of your life. Perhaps it was because of that goodness and sacrifice, that Allah gifted you with deen, or a righteous healthy child, or a strong marriage, or good health, or wealth.

So, never regret any goodness you put forth for the sake of Allah.

What is given to Allah is never, ever lost.

Is there any reward for goodness except goodness?

Yasmin Mogahed's Reflection on Surah Ar-Rahmaan:60

Years ago, a relative of mine was trying to memorize the Qur'an. I was so jealous. I would hear him reciting from the other room and I would sit and wish I could memorize too. I would sit around, festering in my frustration, feeling sorry for myself, knowing I would never get to his level of recitation or memorization or review. 

You know why I would never get there at that point? Because I would never try. I would wish it could happen. But I did absolutely nothing about it other than feel sorry for myself. People made it sound like if you were going to memorize the Qur'an, it needed to be done within a super fast timespan where you stopped doing everything else but memorize. So I made excuses; I didn't have a teacher, I couldn't recite well, I was slow in pronouncing the words, I didn't have enough time as a working student. 

And one day I realized that I was the only person who must take responsibility for my own actions. So even though I started slowly, I began. 

I memorized while working, while going to school, while being massively involved in community organizations, while going through trials and tribulations. It took me seven years to complete my memorization. I had to take breaks, I had to start all over with a new teacher multiple times. 

But if I decided I would never begin because I would never finish in a year- if I had allowed my 'wishing' it to happen to take over my actual will to try- I would still be sitting here, talking about my one relative who finished years and years and years ago, wishing I could have done the same, recounting all the reasons why I haven't been able to try. But I did try, by God's blessings. And by God, it was a sweet journey and it's only getting sweeter.  

What's your story?

Don't just wish to achieve your goals. Work to achieve them. Pray God opens your heart and the path for you. And undoubtedly, He will.

"And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, God is with the doers of good." (Qur'an, 29:69)

As for those who struggle in Our cause, We will surely guide them along Our Way. And Allah is certainly with the good-doers.

Maryam Amir's Reflection on Surah Al-Ankaboot:69

In a recent post, Imam <a href='/SuleimanHani'>@SuleimanHani</a> said something that really made me think:

"You were not made for the Battle of Uhud in 625, for the passing of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in 632, for the sacking of Baghdad in 1258, or the black plague in the 14th century."

You and I were made for this very time in history. We are perfectly capable and equipped to take on the challenges of today. We must rise to the occasion and strive with every fiber of our being to leave our mark in this world before we depart.  

We can't place the responsibility on others and assume things will just get taken care of by someone else somehow. The Prophet ﷺ tells us: 

“'Verily, the believers are like a structure, each part strengthening the other,” and the Prophet clasped his fingers together." 

The beleivers are like one structure, one body! And guess what? YOU are a part of this structure. YOU are a part of this body. 

NO! It's not ok to be the missing brick.

NO! It's not ok to be the missing/inactive limb.

NO! It's not ok to be the weakest link. 

We need YOU!
YOU Matter! 
YOU have a role to play! 

Your personal choices impact more than just yourself. They impact the entire Ummah.

Allah tells us, "You are the best nation (Ummah) raised up for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and you believe in Allah." Quran 3:110

You are an important part of the Ummah. Sometimes we get discouraged or paralyzed by the behavior of other Muslims. We get so caught up in criticizing others that we become immobile ourselves. We cannot fall into that trap. That is like the knee giving up because the elbow is injured. That is like the foot refusing to move because the hand is diseased. 

The best thing we can do is to use our talents, skills, health and wealth to benefit the Ummah, and thereby benefit the world insha'Allah.

If you don't know where to start - start somewhere - ANYWHERE! Say "Bismillah" and be sincere in your desire to be the best brick you can be. Strive to be the healthy part of the body that plays a role in it moving forward.  Allah will guide you to that which is best, insha'Allah.

Remember that we will be held accountable for our passiveness if we fail to put our talents, health, wealth, and skills to good use. And we will be rewarded for every difficulty we face for the sake of Allah on this journey.

We were placed on this Earth and this specific time in History for a reason. May Allah allow us to maximize the positive impact we make before our time is up and grant us a great reward for our efforts!

You are the best community ever raised for humanity—you encourage good, forbid evil, and believe in Allah. Had the People of the Book believed, it would have been better for them. Some of them are faithful, but most are rebellious.

Surely Allah loves those who fight in His cause in ˹solid˺ ranks as if they were one concrete structure.