وجعل القمر فيهن نورا وجعل الشمس سراجا

وَجَعَلَ ٱلْقَمَرَ فِيهِنَّ نُورًا وَجَعَلَ ٱلشَّمْسَ سِرَاجًا

Profound Sign  from Sun & Moon.

To see sun and moon at the same time is not something new. It happens in the early hours of day when the sun starts rising. The same moon which was ruling the night with its majestic beauty looks fade and feeble,not mesmerizing anymore.

What is the sign in it?

As I begin to think why Allah says there's sign in them.
NAK's brief explanation of  surah Shams helped me understand better.
In surah Shams Allah swears by sun and moon,day and night and then swears by the human self and how it has been instilled with the ability to sense right and wrong.

It's interconnected  to the concept of  using 'dramas' and 'movies'  to  promote islam today.

 I am not against the use of media (the concept of illustrating the ayahs are very cool! small videos that really keep you intact ,short reminders and all that)

Let's take the example of  Ertugrul- the  Turkish drama very much praised by many muslims and non muslims for the fact how it portrayed the bravery , manners and some islamic concept)

Getting back to Surah Shams
 وشمس وضہھا
' By the sun and its light with which it  illuminates the world.'

Here Allah is talking about the sun ,moon ,day andnight and then He swears by himself and by the Nafs,saying He inspired the Nafs with the علم of right and wrong.

There must be a relatiom.
The guidance of Allah i.e  Quran is metaphorically called the sun. It has come down to illuminate  the world. As Quran Says itself that its  ھدی الناس 
 Guidance for the people.
والقمر  اذا تلہا
And by the moon when it follows it.
Moon is dependent at Sun to appear as majestic beauty. But the moon is somehow dodging the poets and lovers.
Its a piece of rock ,illuminated by the sun.
Why the general inclination of  emotions is towards the moon and not the sun? The  idea of life without sun.

Because sun is an indication  for collecting yourself for a long day and Quran is an alarm to wake up and work for the hereafter.
 
The moon though it gets the light from sun ,still can't provide that  which Allah has commanded  the sun to.
Similarly,
The dramas and movies labelled as an approach to 'promote islam' can never serve the real purpose.
In fact, they are wastage of time
I cant make my Iman grow high by watching such dramas. 


The Islam presented in these dramas is equal to the light of moon. While the sun illuminates even darkest of the rooms ,the full moon cant even reach the corners.
That's the difference.

Someone who develops an approach to understand islam through movies and dramas is actually conveying,
'Why cant moonlight make the plants  grow? Doesnt it gets  the light from  sun?'


Reflecting on The quran, sitting with the people of  Quran and practicing it is what gives life to heart.

May Allah make us اہل القرآن
May Quran becomes a witness  for us at
یوم القیامة

#reflections

Ameen. JazakAllah Khair sis for sharing this amazing reflection.

Ever since the pandemic hit, my roof and I have become great companions. I try to make it a habit to go upthere at least once a day, whether that’s during the day or night. I found it to be one of my favorite places to read Quran, reflect, and usually to just breathe. 

Lately, I’ve enjoyed going at night. The cool summer night breeze and the moon were something I always looked forward to alhamdulilah. Catching the moon and just staring at it. On some nights it’s noor would be so bright that I could read from my mushaf from it alone. But these past few new nights I was a little saddened to find that because of the weather, I was hardly able to see the moon. In fact, last night, the sky was so crowded with clouds Subhannallah, I was convinced the moon wouldn’t show up at all. But Subhannallah, after some time the clouds disappeared and the moon appeared, full and beaming in all its glory. It was the best reunion I could’ve hope for. 

The way it reflects its light so boldly and mercifully in the dark night, how can one look at it, and deny the signs of Allah?

Subhanallah. And just imagine Prophet pbuh’s beauty was compared to the moon. How much joy and mercy would we feel to see him pbuh. I always end up thinking that when I see the moon.

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Some verses of the Qur'an are so 'literal' and it is so obvious. We can see the moon, we can see the sun, but we choose to be oblivious to what Allah has created. We do not ponder in amazement at the beauty and all that Allah has subdued for us in the world. We do not become amazed when our children are born and see how Allah fashions, creates from a sperm drop and indeed like a plant how we grow in stages.

When we step outside our homes, outside our cities and explore Allah's earth, why do we feel such exhilaration and peace? We start to realise the bigger picture, that we are tiny specks in Allah's universe and kingdom. We are subjective in nature, looking at small things we are mesmerised by the latest phone or gadget. Yet, we do not look objectively at the world and our purpose from a bird's eye view. We are too busy, too preoccupied by a great deal of meaninglessness. 

If your heart feels heavy, go outside and look at Allah's Creation and realise everything has been created for a purpose and contains His wisdom.  Be in awe of Allah, the Creator, the only God.

Taking walks, travelling are all wonderful ways of 'self care' because we learn and it places things into perspective.

We need to remind ourselves constantly, until we leave our spiritual confinement. Confinement(s) of what is meaningless and insignificant, so that our hearts can see more than even our eyes.

Before, we return back into the ground may we focus upon the larger and bigger picture: our purpose. Leaving what will not benefit us and redirecting ourselves with what will benefit us. May Allah only return us back to Him when He is pleased with us ameen.

#creation #Majesty #purpose #ItsAboutTime

Omodara. Mashaallah.  Our Lord manifests His Greatness in all things. Subhannallah! The sky! Recently I watched a tiny golden leaf falling slowly to the ground in a twirl, spinning fashion.  In those few seconds I remembered the ayyat of falling leaves and then just before it touched the ground,  it flew up and away. A tiny golden butterfly.  It was an amazing feeling.  Subhannallah. 

If we didn't know anything about astrophysics and we looked up at the night sky, we might assume the moon is glowing from within, just like the other small stars that glow at night. It would be hard to believe that it is reflecting light - particularly while it is surrounded by darkness.

Sometimes human beings, when surrounded by the darkness of misguidance, will assume the same about themselves. That every good thing, or every good quality they have is from within their own selves.

Ayahs 6-7 of surah Al-Alaq tell us, 'Most certainly, one exceeds all bounds once they think they are self-sufficient.' 

Thinking we are self-sufficient is as foolish as the moon thinking that it glows with it's own light. But popular culture really pushes this idea that we are self-sufficient.

Aknowledging that we belong to God and will return to Him goes against this popular notion. It's interesting that both of these ayahs are soon followed by humbling reminders that we return to the earth and return to Him. 

Someone who believes they are fully self-sufficient has a hard time acknowledging that they belong to God, and not to themselves. They want to believe that they are fully independant and that the highest level of goodness is simply being 'true' to their own selves. (A great reflection by Mahaezz on this topic: https://quranreflect.com/posts/1431  )

May Allah protect us from ever thinking that we are self-sufficient and may He allow us to always be grateful for the blessings that He has given us.

Reflections: Nuh 71:16