These ayats about the sun in Surah Al-Kahf remind me of the hadith about Allah's shade on the Day of Judgement (quoted in comments below). 

I once heard a Shaykh describe this shade like air conditioning.  Hearing this analogy made me imagine a large group of people standing in a sweltering hot, humid place with the sun beating down on them. And then some people from that group were selected to enter into a beautiful, cool, air-conditioned building.

These ayat remind us that some people get sheltered from the sun, and others do not.
May Allah make us of those who are granted His shade on the Day of Judgement!

Ameen and may Allah reward you infinitely for your efforts! 

AL KAHF SERIES
Victory In The Land Of The OliveTree🌳
Ayat 83 - 94
Dzulqarnayn ~ Leader Of the East & West 

🎯Ayat 83
'Dzulqarnayn' - the owner of the 2 'horns'; may also be referring to the ruler of 2 vast empires stretching from the eats to the west. Contemporary scholars have said that Dzulqarnayn is Cyrus The Great, The Father of Justice for his  missions to uphold justice. This may not be important as the Quran focuses more on lessons rather than historical details. The emphasis on 'zikra' or reminders, lessons to guide humanity.

🎯Ayat 84
'Sa ba ban' - the causes; the reasons for something to happen. Dzulqarnayn puts importance to the causes that will lead to a strong empire. One of them is travelling. He travels to educate himself, thus making him a better ruler. The story of Dzulqarnayn completes Surah Al Kahf. It emphasizes that good deeds can take many forms; fleeing to a cave to save one's Faith or searching for knowledge as the case is with Musa AS; or having a powerful personality and military strength. All good deeds and honourable pursuits complete the character of a faithful believer.

🎯Ayat 85
'Fa atba'a sababan'
This short kalimah is repeated several times. It indicates Dzulqarnayn's efforts to search for knowledge or any good that he can implement to improve himself and to strengthen his empire.

🎯Ayat 86
The reference to the sun setting indicates that Dzulqarnayn will not stop searching till the sun sets;  he will keep on 'working' as long as the sun is shining. This passion and determination in his work ethics is something we can emulate. The imagery of the sun setting and the dark waters of the land he approaches can also indicate the 'darkness' of kufr that is widespread in the land; a land that may be rich but is faithless is bereft of light. Taking a modern take on this lesson : what if the most powerful weapons are in the hands of a faithless evil regime? Dzulqarnayn is a portrayal of the just ruler who has the might and power to stop the regime. Because of his sincere mission, Allah SWT guides him with divine inspiration by giving him choices on how to deal with injustice.

🎯Ayat 87
When injustices happen around us we have to find out the truth so that we are not swayed by false narratives. Only then can we take responsible actions to stop the real perpetrators. The Quran has given us stories where the situations is not what it seems; for example when Musa AS hit and accidentally killed the Copti policeman while it was the Israelite that was the troublemaker. We learn that Dzulqarnayn investigates the situation before he takes appropriate action. This teaches us to consider all factors before we judge and take actions. False narratives allowed the Zionist regime to carry out heinous crimes against the Palestinians for decades.

🎯Ayat 88
When he finds someone who shows signs of a believer,  Dzulqarnayn does not reward him with material wealth  but guides him towards the ultimate goodness 'husna'; Jannah in the next world. As a ruler, he opens the channels of communication to his citizens; guides them towards good deeds through his policies. This approach led to a strong, stable and efficient government. This is a powerful lesson for leaders and governments to cut the bureaucratic obstacles and to keep communication channels open for the citizenry to have access to the ruler. It is also a strong statement against money politics.

🎯Ayat 89
After a while, Dzulqarnayn went on another journey in a different location where the sun was rising. It is highly encouraged in Islam to meet many different people in our daily lives; thus the need to change our routes ; taking different roads; to travel to unfamiliar places ; create different challenges  to grow. More lessons for us to take while living our lives. To be strong we need to constantly move; to leave our comfort zones so we can grow and be of service to the people around us and to the Ummah at large. We see this now in action in the brave people on the Global Sumud Flotilla who left their safe homes to sail to break the siege on Gaza. They became a catalyst for some countries to take bolder action towards a free Palestine. Alhamdulillah!

🎯Ayat 90
Allah SWT mentions another of His Creation, the Sun, to link Dzulqarnayn's efforts and achievements. Between a sunset and a sunrise,  Dzulqarnayn hardly had time to rest before he set out for another mission. Dzulqarnayn is gone but the Sun still lives to bear witness to his efforts. The Sun is our point of reference for our daily solahs so it not only stands to bear witness to our solah it also signifies that our worship is not only limited to our solah; we should also be called to fight injustices around us; just like Dzulqarnayn. If every single one of us takes on this responsibility , Gaza can soon be free, bi idznillaah.

🎯Ayat 91
The Sun was last mentioned in this surah in the story of the People of the Cave; the sunshine benefitted them while they were asleep. In this ayat, the Sun is benefitting Dzulqarnayn while he is awake. 'Ka dza lik' ... that is Dzulqarnayn; how he is committed to his mission of upholding justice wherever he is. It is a call for us to rise while we are awake and in full sight of the sufferings of our brothers in Gaza. Time for action with full knowledge is NOW.

🎯Ayat 92
Dzulqarnayn is never satisfied with his acheivements. He is always planning the next mission; and aiming for the next objectives. This character in a ruler helps build a strong empire This should also spur us, as individuals, to gain knowledge and expertise to dispel our ignorance. We may need to travel and seek new knowledge that we may not get by staying where we are. Stagnant water can turn dirty and murky but a flowing spring never does. Keep moving!

🎯Ayat 93
Dzulqarnayn's journey to seek knowledge brought him to a land so far away that the language was almost foreign to him. We need to remind ourselves that travel during those times are not the same as modern travelling where we can cross the world in a day or less. This emphasized the dedication of Dzulqarnayn as mentioned in the previous ayat. He wasn't satisfied even after conquering the West and the East; he now approaches a land between 2 Mountains to face a violent evil race of humans.

🎯Ayat 94
Ya'juj wa Majuj are Creations of Allah SWT that are causing evil and destruction across the lands. They are a sign of the End of Times. Even Dzulqarnayn, a ruler with a mighty army, realizes that he is not able to overpower them but he still did what he could to save the people by building a wall. The deep lesson here is to be realistic and to have the humility to acknowledge the limits to our capabilities. However, it should not stop us from doing the best we can to help. 

In retrospect, we need to remind ourselves that this story reached Rasulullah SAW before us. He SAW needed the safety of The Cave he SAW needed the story of Dzulqarnayn to carry on with the mission of spreading Islam. With this, we take the same inspiration to spur us forward in our private du'aas and open public declaration of solidarity to the Palestinian cause, in sha Allah.

#Gaza




As a mom who  is more or less focused on raising kids, this verse gives me long pause. 
I know that wealth is a zeenah, an adornment, but children too? As my usra of moms reflected on this verse, we had some insights.

1.  Our value is ultimately not in our children (or our money). Being a parent and mother is not a pass out of doing good deeds and living for a mission. Similarly, not having children is not missing out on the most important goals in life, since they are accessories and not goals in themselves.   Having children does not automatically make us better people, and sometimes it makes us worse. 

2. Like money, children can be the source of tremendous good. Just as money can be dedicated for the sake of Allah, children can be dedicated for the sake of Allah.  Both money and children can be tools in creating the 'baqiyat Salihat' , the everlasting good deeds, described in the verse. 

3. We put so much hope in our children. We worry about them, we want them to turn out a certain way, we fear they will lose their faith, we bask in pride when they are successful, we  try to live a better life through them. They can become a distraction. But Allah says good deeds, rather, are better in hope than children and money. Both money and children cannot be tied down, they can never be completely secure-we can lose them, figuratively and physically, at any time. They can preoccupy us from greater things. Set your hopes and invest instead in the account of good deeds-generate good deeds through our raising of children, as well as through other means.  Our children are not good deeds in themselves. 

There's an endless series of reflections here. 
How else are children like money, like adornment? 
How are good deeds kind of like, or different, from children?






Muslim American Society

The story of Surah Kahf from the beginning until the end is about happiness - الحمد الله
 
This phrase الحمد الله, you say it when there is a blessing. يعني, the idea of the first آيَة illustrates that someone is holding the قران or he is hugging the قران and saying الحمد الله! What is the reason? ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ۥ ‘All praise is for Allah Who has revealed the Book to His servant’. HE الله عزوجل has sent down the book on to mankind / HIS servants and نبي صلى الله عليه وسلم. As aforesaid, the very beginning of the Surah begins with a theme of happiness. For instance, someone is screaming from happiness because he / she has the قران. To embed this concept, think of someone who is drowning in the middle of an ocean on a stormy windy day. Eventually, a helicopter arrives and throws down life jackets. How tightly is that person going to hold onto the life jacket? الحمد الله! It is important to examine the relevance of this to the قرلن? To clarify, the قران is also like a lifesaver /saviour but of the highest calibre which came down from the sky. The one who holds on to it with excitement and happiness – it will save that individual from such storms. 
 
Furthermore, imagine if there is someone stranded in the desert and he is about to die. However, he then finds a road map that leads to the closest town where there is a waterwell. That person will surely be elated because he holds on to the relief that will manifest. The entirety of the قران is the same concept! القران !سبحان الله is a road map that directs you to الله عزوجل and to the eternal happiness and success that الله عزوجل has laid out and promised for the believers.

In summary, the beginning of the surah is about happiness and excitement. It is someone who is screaming from this happiness that they have this book (القران).

The end of the surah explains that those who did good deeds and believed - for them is جنۃ الفردوس (the highest level of paradise) permanent residence.

Consequently, the beginning of the surah is about embracing القران with all your might, whereas the end of the surah explains the outcome of this action such as جنۃ الفردوس. To clarify, the one who holds on to القران with happiness, excitement and follows its guidance and teachings – It will lead him / her to جنۃ الفردوس - God willing (ان شاء الله). 

It is also important to discuss what it means to express happiness and excitement! There is a difference when someone says, 'I have no choice but to follow the قران so what can I do?!' – This is one type of attitude. This is clearly someone who is not expressing happiness with what الله عزوجل has given to him. In order to reach to جنۃ الفردوس, one must express happiness and understand the analogy of that it’s my life jacket that came down to save me! This should be extremely exciting! If you have this kind of excitement with القران, then الله عزوجل will give you an excitement of the day of judgement. Subsequently, الله عزوجل will admit you to جنۃ الفردوس (highest heaven) سبحان الله! This means you are supposed to have a meaningful relationship with the entire قران so you can reach جنۃ الفردوس.

These notes are taken from Abu Bakr Zoud lecture on stories and lessons from Surah Al-Kahf

Ma shaa Allah thats so beautiful and motivating. Jazaak Allahu Khairan for sharing this! 🤍

One of the best ways to practice Tadabbur of the Quran (deep reflection) is to approach each Surah with questions.
The more you come to the table of the Quran with questions, the more ready you are to quench your thirst from its oceans, and to fill your mind and heart with its wisdom. Otherwise, there is a risk of being a passive reader who is letting all these wonders from Allah go past him. More on this will be announced very soon by the QuranReflect team this Ramadan inshaAllah. 

For today, I would like to invite you to experiment with this #TadabborTool ​s, by approaching Surah Al Kahf with two questions in mind: 

QUESTION 1: Surah Al Kahf narrates a story of a man who was proud after achieving some level of worldly achievement, and this pride led him to believe that such achievement will remain for eternity. What Ayah mentions this?

QUESTION 2: Another man's story is narrated in Surah Al Kahf, who also had a worldly achievement; however, he was humble about it and realized that such achievement will be gone one day.  What Ayah mentions this?

To make it fun, appreciate if you can reply to this post with a *Private* Reply, just to ensure that others who read this post can get their fair share of the experience. I will make my answer to this public tomorrow inshaAllah.

BONUS: please feel free to share a reflection with your *private* answer on why you chose the Ayah that you chose. This would be نور على نور  - Light Upon Light inshaAllah

PS: If these reflections resonated with you, there is more at HekmahOS.com, where I provide online courses that explore how Quranic wisdom can shape the way we live and think.

#qachallenge ​

Why did Musa peace be upon him question kadhr why he broke the ship, when his own mother put him in the river when he was a baby. When it didn't make sense to do so

Why did Musa question why kadhr killed the young boy who was oppressive to his parents , when Musa  himself accidentally killed a man who was innocent. 

Why did Musa question kadhr why he helped the orphans securing thier inheritance without hesitation. when Musa himself helped the two women in need, in madyan without hesitation as well. 

Sometimes we may go through the most eye opening experience, and we say to ourselves how can I ever disbelief or even doubt Allah after this. Yet if we don't constantly remind ourselves, we may become oblivious to the blessings upon us and there may come a time we question that which was already made clear to us. 

يا مقلب القلوب ثبت قلبي على دينك
حتى ليست رمضان

#ProphetMusa
#KhafReflections

The wisdom behind the recommendation to read surat Al kahf every Friday is truly amazing when we learn about how the surah summarizes some of the greatest trials we can encounter and their remedy or antidote:

1. Trial of faith:  Youth seeking refuge in the cave to protect their faith and the three antidotes for this trial listed in the surah are 1) Good friends 2) Remember Akhirah 3) To recite the Quran and reflect on it (verses 27,28,29)

2. The trial of wealth: Owner of 2 gardens - Antidote: 1) Remember that the truth of this world is fleeting and occupy yourself with working for the akhira (verses 45,46) (our worldly responsibilities can be a form of worship when intended for Allah)

3. The trial of knowledge - Khidr & Musa AS - Antidote: Be humble if blessed with a lot of knowledge and be vigilant of pride or arrogance (verse 69)

4. Trial of power: Dhur Qarnayn - the remedy/example given is to Work sincerely for the sake of Allah, remember the Akhirah (verses 103 and 104)

These notes were extracted/translated from the Arabic book ‘first time I reflect on the Quran’.

that's beautiful jazakallah Khair, I've been trying to get hold of that book 🙂

Surah Al Kahf starts with the people of the cave...

Rahma and mercy is mentioned often...

We have the story of Prophet Musa with khidr which mentions people at sea...loss of a child ... Hidden treasure.

The surah ends mentioning the sea again.

Being in the cave or sea physically or metaphorically, dealing with grief, or awaiting a 'hidden treasure' can all be moments of fear, isolation, uncertainty, etc.

Yet the theme of Rahma and mercy runs throughout all of them.

Surat Al Kahf is followed by Surat Maryam - in a course with Samia Mubarak, she beautifully taught us how Surat Maryam mentions Rahma or mercy over 16 times and the theme of mercy in the unknown is evident in the surah.

J_Yousef  also shared a beautiful reflection recently about awaiting your hidden treasure and the Rahma in Allah's timing.

If you feel alone or scared navigating the caves and seas of life know that Arrahman is with you. He's carrying you through. He's watching over you with His Grace and Love.  Be with Him and He is with you. 

#mercy #rahma #grief

Reciting surah Kahf on Fridays must have so many wisdoms, that I don't even know. 

But upon Reflecting over the surah as a whole, 
A common them is the youth, and the stages of life that the youth may go through. 

1) the young men in the beginning don't have much wealth or power in the land, but they are blessed with guidance and that is enough for them to raise their concerns in their society and thus they are forced to flee.  Some of us don't have much influence in our societies because we are still developing, during this stage being guided is one of the greatest blessings a young man or woman can have. Because society will pull you to one thing and we have to push the other way.  
اهدنا الصراط المستقيم

 2) Being United and having strong leadership , when they woke up they didn't spend time arguing , they formed a plan and went along with it and sought that which was pure.  
 يا مقلب القلوب ثبت قلوبنا على دينك

3) The two men of the gardens, yes one was wealthier than the other, but he had a companion who told him where he messed up. We need to find companions that can hold us accountable when we start to show arrogance. Some of are at this stage where we begin working and we begin to accumulate and suddenly we begin to feel as if we are untouchable. 
لا حول ولا قوه الا بالله 

4) Musa  peace be upon him and his two companions, the first was the young lad، who forgot to tell Musa of the incident with the fish and Musa had to be patient with him. And the other was more knowledgeable in certain aspects than Musa and he had to be patient with Musa. Knowledge is something Allah can give anyone but patience is something everyone must do 

رب اشرح لنا صدورنا و يسر لنا امورنا 

 5)  one of the rare stages , Dhul Qarnayn had power, youth, knowledge, influence and guidance. And he used it for good. He found different kinds of people and dealt with them with wisdom. 

اللهم اجعلنا من الراشدين

Allah knows best.

Muslim Student Organization & Women in Islam  CCNY

I went through a time where I got extremely sick—not just physically, but mentally. I was under so much stress that everything felt like it was falling apart. Even in my sleep, I would wake up gasping for air, unable to breathe. Every day felt like a punishment. At home, I became harsh and overwhelmed by even small things.
Then, Allah guided me. I began to pray. I still clearly remember the day I was on my way to Jumu‘ah prayer, listening to Surah Al-Kahf. From that moment, things slowly started to feel lighter. I began going to the masjid and made it a habit to pray Fajr every single day—and I’m still doing it till today.
Most importantly, I started reciting Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah Al-Falaq, Surah An-Nas, and Ayat-ul-Kursi. Wallahi, everything became lighter and easier. My heart feels at peace. I feel light again.

Alhamdulillah 

MashaAllah I'm so happy for you, Alhamdullilah. May Allah bless you abundantly and reward you for sharing this with us. May He give you the best of physical and mental health and grant you everlasting peace. Ameen 