In the Name of Allah, the most Merciful, the Especially Merciful,

If you have a stable job, it might be easier to practice your Islam.
If you have a loving spouse, it might be easier to practice your Islam.
If you have healthy children, it might be easier to practice your Islam.
If you are healthy, it might be easier to practice your Islam.
If you have the companionship of pious friends, if might be easier to practice our Islam.
If you have the guidance, love and affection of your parents, it might be easier to practice your Islam.

But,
If you are sick, it might be challenging to maintain that positivity.
If you have lost your job, it might be difficult to be your usual cheerful self.
If you have lost your parents, it might be difficult to navigate life.
If you are lonely and have no friends, perhaps there is no one to remind you about Allah.
If you have a difficult spouse, perhaps you feel completely alone and lack stability.

The world has faced a great calamity in the loss of the Messenger for humanity (peace and blessings be upon him). We did not see him, but when we read about him, we begin to love him. Even then, the companions were reminded to have faith. 

A true faith is within the times of difficulty, when the heart deeply aches, when things make far less sense, when you are not in your comfort zone. But hold on, for your holding on will bring you into greatness and steadfastness, and you can establish yourself as a true Muslim.

The Creator of all of us and everything is with us in the good times and the difficult times. Endure and trust for the reward of paradise. 

A Siddiqui wa iyyaki  Sr Amrit I always benefit from your reflections.

Ibn Abbas reported: Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, went to the door of the mosque when he heard the news of the passing of the Prophet. Abu Bakr said, 'To proceed: Whoever among you worships Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, then Muhammad has died. Whoever worships Allah, then Allah is alive and cannot die. Allah Almighty said: Muhammad is not but a Messenger. Messengers have passed before him. If he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels?' (3:144) Ibn Abbas said, 'By Allah, it was as if the people had not known that Allah revealed this verse until Abu Bakr recited it.'

Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1241

Allah is Eternal, Allah never dies though we lose the leaders Allah once put in place but our mission to be the best Muslims and follow the prophet’s  peace be upon him example continues. Knowing Allah is with us. 

We worship Allah alone with no partner. Our cause and our reason for worship should only be for Allah Almighty. We submit to the will of Allah, knowing He decrees everything and to Him belongs everything including ourselves.

This verse lingered in my mind throughout the day, and I couldn't help but ponder that  the Quran has succinctly encapsulated the essence of our entire worldly existence, much like a preview of our lives. In times of turmoil, we have a companion, a comforter, and a supportive friend in the form of the Quran. This sacred book is an immense blessing from Allah Almighty, a testament to His boundless mercy, which has bestowed upon us the privilege of being part of the community that upholds this scripture. 

May Allah shower His infinite blessings upon the martyrs and grant us the fortitude to remain steadfast in our devotion to His divine guidance. 
Jazakallah khyr for your comforting reminder sister

As much as we love Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and we are asked to love him, send peace and blessings upon him often, and follow his sunnah, this verse reminds us that even the Prophet peace be upon him, with all the love and regard we hold for him (peace be upon him) is a messenger, and that if he were to die, would that cause one to regress into disbelief?
 
Similarly, you will have people on your path who have delivered an important message - teachers, mentors, friends, whom you hold dear to you and deeply appreciate. Yet, these people were all sent with a specific purpose at a specific time, and perhaps they are no longer available or able to be a part of your faith journey, for now or later, or due to death. Yet, God reminds us, God will reward those who are grateful.
 
God reminds us about gratitude amidst holding grief for potentially losing someone as beloved as the prophet (peace be upon him).  There can be space for both grief and gratitude, and having that gratitude can enable you to navigate that grief. Gratitude for the gift of the messenger and the message He came with (peace be upon him), and gratitude for the people that God facilitated for you to also deliver an important message that can support your journey in drawing closer to Him. 
 
And ultimately, gratitude for the Creator who can continue to provide for you, and replace that which you lost with that which is better for you. 

#grief #gratitude

The Prophet Muḥammad (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said:

'If one of you is afflicted with a calamity, then let him remember his calamity by me (his death); for indeed, it is the greatest of calamities.' -  Ibn Mājah

If there is anything which can prepare you for a loss, it is the loss of someone greater than what you have lost. 

These verses are the words which Allāh chose to reveal; are that of Musāb Ibn Umair which he uttered when there was a rumour the Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam)  had been killed, only for this very verse to be used by one of his closest companion to steer the Muslims from loosing control when the Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) eventually did slip away. 

What’s remarkable about this event, is how moments before Abu Bakr (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) had uttered these verses, his words were:

 'Let my mother and father be sacrificed for you, (O Allāh’s Messenger (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam).' 

This is the type of love they had for the Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) and to experience this kind of loss and to remember Allāh during these exact moments, is where I find comfort and relief in my own loss. 

Know that the companions who once grieved the loss of their Beloved (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) are now reunited with him through the Mercy of Allāh and their obedience to Him.

Allāh's Messenger (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said, 'Allāh says, 'I have nothing to give but Paradise as a reward to my believer slave, who, if I cause his dear friend (or relative) to die, remains patient (and hopes for Allāh’s Reward). - Bukhari. 

May our losses be a means of a permanent reunion and may we be granted the best of unions, with the Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) and Allāh Himself.

Adhering to the Sunnah
The Prophet’s third advice was 'observe my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly-principled and rightly-guided successors.' The Prophet (SAS) informed his companions of that which was to occur after him of differences and the spreading of evil. Not only he warned them about these evils but he also gave them advice on how to face them. Following the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAS) is the key to facing all evils. When the prophet says follow my Sunnah, he is saying follow my way, and his way is how the Qur’an should be applied in real life.

The Prophet's (SAS) actions may be classified as follows:

Those that are specific to the Prophet (SAS), such as continuous fasting.
Actions that are related to the culture of his time, such as the turban, keeping long hair, or using a walking stick.
Actions resulting from spontaneous or haphazard actions. For example, the Prophet, (SAS), used to stop at particular places during a journey or take a certain route for a journey.
Actions that the Prophet, (SAS) performed intentionally for the purpose of ibadah.
Scholars state that Muslims are only obliged to follow the last type of action. Note:

An act is considered an ibadah if there are authentic hadiths mentioning that the act is an ibadah, or that it will be rewarded, or that the one who does it is praised, or that the one who does not perform it is blamed or cursed or will be punished.

The Prophet (SAS) also ordered his companions to hold on to the Sunnah of the rightly-principled and rightly-guided that will come after him (SAS). The Prophet (SAS) asked us to follow them because he (SAS) knows that there are new issues and situations that will arise. That is why we have to seek guidance from people who are known to be righteous, people who are known to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet, and people who are able to give sound Fatwas in light of the Qur’an and Sunnah.

Dear Muhammad, a couple of suggestions if you don't mind:
1. Since our primary activity on this site is reflecting on the Qur'an, could you share what you got from the ayah itself, and how it relates to the other points you want to share?
2. If you're listing scholarly categories and terminology, please provide a source for those.

Imagine waking up to the day that the prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم  was no longer alive, the closest feeling to that is the death of a parent. 
at least that's what I think, because the prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم is like a father/older brother figure to me. 

The death of the prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم was so severe to the Muslims that we still are hurt today thinking about it. So when it happened, the companions were all over the place in their grief, and yet some of them rose to the occasion and lead their brothers to continue the mission of the beloved prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم 

and yet somehow the grief of the prophets صلى الله عليه و سلم death always overcomes the grief of my mothers death. الله يرحمها
in fact the only thing that is allowing me to move forward are the teachings of the prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم and the hope that he gave us  in the forms of duas

In the end the mother and the prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم are just two manifestations of Allah's Mercy. 

Allah's mercy still exist and it still engulfs everything. 

اللهم ادخلنا في رحمتك

#Ramadan2021
#Night4
#InRememberanceOfMyMother

MashaAllah so beautiful '... the mother and the prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم are just two manifestations of Allah's Mercy.'

Bismillāh.

Īmān rises… and it falls.
Life pricks us with its thorns.
And in our hearts, we carry dreams —
dreams of sacrificing for the sake of Allah ﷻ.
Of giving up comfort. Of choosing Him over the world.

But then…
We brush those thoughts aside.
We barricade our resolve with excuses.
'Later.'
'One day.'
'When things settle.'
And we scroll on.

But something struck me deeply —
Āyāt 143–148 of Sūrat Āli ʿImrān.

'You certainly wished for martyrdom before facing it — now you have seen it with your own eyes.' (3:143)

How many times do we say:
'If I had more money, I’d give more in charity.'
'If I could, I’d go to Ḥajj. I’d help. I’d change.'

But when the door opens, we pause.
We stay sitting.
We say: 'Maybe next year.'
And the moment passes.

Then, Allah ﷻ reminds us —

'Muḥammad is only a messenger; messengers have passed before him. If he were to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels? Whoever turns back does no harm to Allah whatsoever. And Allah will reward the grateful.' (3:144)

This isn’t about the people around you.
Not about what’s trending.
Not about validation or emotion.

This is about Allah.
If your heart is tied to Him —
You'll stand firm when others break.
You’ll keep walking, even when the world walks away.

'Whoever desires the reward of this world — We give it. And whoever desires the reward of the Hereafter — We grant it. And We will reward those who are grateful.' (3:145)

The dunya offers its glitter.
But those who want Allah —
They get Jannah.
And they get Him.

Then Allah paints for us the legacy of the sincere:

'How many devoted ones fought alongside their prophets — they never lost heart despite what they endured in the path of Allah, nor did they weaken, nor surrender. And Allah loves those who persevere.' (3:146)

SubḥānAllāh.
They were tested — harder than us.
They bled.
They buried their loved ones.
They stared death in the face.
Yet they never gave in.
Not because they were stronger —
but because they were truer.

They chose the Akhirah.
They saw the dunya’s appeal…
but they saw through it.
And what did Allah give them?

'So Allah gave them the reward of this world, and the finest reward of the Hereafter. And Allah loves the doers of good.' (3:148)

Two rewards.
Dunya and Ākhirah.
Because they lived for Him — not for ease.
Not for show.
Not for later.

—

O Allah,
There is no power nor might except through You.
We are Your servants —
And though we are weak - We long to live for You,
We dream of sacrificing everything… for Your sake alone.

O Allah,
When the moment of truth arrives —
Help our feet stay firm.
Secure our hearts in Your nearness, O Allah, unshaken by what pulls us away.
Let us be ready, not hesitant.
Willing, not waiting.
Always turning back to You — without delay, without doubt.

O Allah,
In every trial You place along our path —
Bless us with hearts that hold onto ḥusn al-ẓann — trusting You even in the unseen.
Grant us eyes that see the Dunya for what it is —
And souls that choose the Everlasting… over the fading.

Ameen

Wa Iyakka, 

Alhamdulilah, I ask Allah swt to continue to make those on Quran Reflect (Including us), a means to get closer to him,
A means of fixing our ways, shaping our views, and striving to Jannah.

JazakAllah Khair.

Qualities of Believers: The Keys to Eternal Success

Surat Al-Imran ends with reminding us of qualities needed to be successful, as a type of continuation from the first page of Surat Al-Baqara. In fact, the entire Surah is filled with reminders about the qualities needed to be successful and in alignment with Surat Al-Baqara, taqwa, to be mindful of God or to adopt a God-centered lifestyle, is mentioned often throughout Surat Al-Imran. 

Additional qualities to nurture and embody our faith mentioned throughout these verses include:

*Patience
*Sincerity
*Devotion to Allah through extended worship
*Love for Allah and following the Prophet (peace be upon him) 
*Spending from what we love and being charitable and generous
*Dying in a state of full submission to Allah
*Unity and cultivating strong ties of brotherhood and sisterhood
*Racing to and seeking forgiveness, particularly before dawn, which is known to be a blessed time
*Control their anger and pardon others
*Grateful
*Rely on Allah alone and seek His aid
*Humble
*Those who show ihsan - moral and spiritual excellence

One may observe such a list of qualities and ponder about how to 'do it all' - and this is the beauty of faith, it can be nurtured like a seed, with sincerity, love for God through knowing Him and acknowledging His endless blessings, as well as with time, patience, effort, a faith support network, and asking God for His support and aid. Just like any goal we hope to achieve, these #lifegoals can be achieved through God’s grace.

In a world that pushes us to only seek external indicators of success through career, status, wealth, etc., God reminds us of the eternal indicators of success which are largely based on an internal process of tazkiya or purification and moral elevation. By strengthening our relationship with God, we can embody these qualities which enable us to actualize our purpose, find peace, success and contentment in this world, as well as in an eternal heaven. 

Which of these qualities would you like to nurture today? We can choose to focus on 1 or 2 at a time and keep nurturing them until we believe we can move on to the next one, while maintaining the qualities we have endeavoured to develop and remembering that we are not perfect human beings - that there will be shortcomings, and that is where the racing to and seeking forgiveness often comes in. We understand this is an ongoing journey of walking to God, with love, and with all of our humanness, and all of our hopes to be among those who can embody the qualities of eternal success in sha Allah. May we be among them, Ameen.

#Ramadanreflections
#Eternalsuccess
#qualitiesofbelievers
#ihsan #taqwa #sabr #love #lifegoals #success

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful,

The Greatest blessing to face the earth was the sending of our beloved Prophet peace and blessings be upon him and the perhaps the greatest pain to endure was also losing him. 

The ummah has experienced many losses before and it has also gained many victories. Do our tests bring us towards greater belief or does it cause us to give up?

What is our goal? This fleeting and temporary world or the everlasting abode in which there is no more departure from loved ones, there is the ability to be with even the loved ones we did not even meet in the world and above all to see the face of our Lord! 

As we witness daily injustice, persecution  and massacre of parts of our ummah but are surprised and find their faith something to aspire to, we must note although their martyrdom is painful, it  is a personal victory and not a loss. 
For the blessed prophet of Allah peace and blessings be upon him said at the beginning of the battle of Badr and encouraged his companions and said 'Stand up and charge towards a paradise whose width is like the Heavens and the Earth' it was Umayr Ibn  Al Humam RadiyaAllah anho who scoffed, and when the Prophet peace be upon asked why he scoffed he said 'If this is true (regarding the width of one level of Patadsie equating the entirety of the Heavens and Earth), then what use it is to remain living on this Earth? I want to be of those people! The Prophet peace be upon him replies 'you are one of them' Umayr then threw away the dates in his hand and said 'If I live long enough to finish these dates, I would have lived too long a life!' He charged towards the enemy and met his martyrdom. (Pg 201 The Sirah of the Prophet peace be upon him by Sh Yasir Qadhi) 

There are many examples in Islamic history of martyrdom Umar RadiyaAllah anho was slain, Uthman Ibn Affan RA and Ali Ibn Talib RA were slain and their lives ended without the fear of anything else but Allah and their desire was meeting Allah and attaining His paradise. 

Exiting the worldly abode in a state of full faith should be our goal. 

#ReflectingInCrisis

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious the Most Kind,

El hamdulillah I am recovering from surgery. Just before my surgery I was informed despite taking a prolonged course of anti-biotics that I was still MRSA positive before my operation. So to prevent permanent disability the surgeon decided to proceed with my surgery but I was the last patient and I was kept in isolation on the ward.

Allah by His grace sent down sakeenah in my heart and I was hugely happy because I was happy with Islam as my religion and that the person I was a few years ago is now a different person all because of the book of Allah. So I told myself, if I will come out of this ok, the test does not end here. I am going to be tested again, more than likely differently. So be on guard. Like you need Allah now, you will need Him always, for every second and for every breath. 

The believer comes to understand everything is a test, the ease is a test, the hardship is a test, family is a test, children are a test, everything is a test. 

Now, not all of us are on a physical battlefield, but we are all on a spiritual battlefield. It’s tough sometimes, but Allah is always a dua away. The believer finds Him very close knowing that all is falling upon them is the decree of Allah. Allah is never ever unjust. Trials are great opportunities for coming back even closer to Him, ease should be expressed with gratitude and everyday is only opportune for doing as much good as we can.

We are always rolling from one test into other, but with firm belief we find ease in our hearts thanks to Allah. For Allah is with those who are with Him.

In a Hadith the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him said:

'Whoever wants to know the standing he has with Allah, let him look to himself and the standing that Allah has with him. Allah grants a person the same standing as Allah has with that person.' (Tabarani al Aswat 2501).

May despite whatever is befalling us we try to see the bigger picture and come even more closer to Allah. One of the key ways of coming closer to Allah is thinking good of Him, despite the difficulty of the situation.

(Allahumma ameen).

Jazak Allah khayran brother for I believe this is a Hadith too. May Allah also keep you and your family safe and blessed for both worlds ameen!