فمن يرد الله ان يهديه يشرح صدره للاسلام ومن يرد ان يضله يجعل صدره ضيقا حرجا كانما يصعد في السماء كذلك يجعل الله الرجس على الذين لا يؤمنون

فَمَن يُرِدِ ٱللَّهُ أَن يَهْدِيَهُۥ يَشْرَحْ صَدْرَهُۥ لِلْإِسْلَـٰمِ ۖ وَمَن يُرِدْ أَن يُضِلَّهُۥ يَجْعَلْ صَدْرَهُۥ ضَيِّقًا حَرَجًا كَأَنَّمَا يَصَّعَّدُ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَجْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرِّجْسَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

After experiencing altitude sickness on a recent hike up Rainbow Mountain in Peru (5000m above sea level), I immediately thought about this verse. 

So many people in my group fell ill that we had to quickly retreat to lower ground. The thought that some people feel that kind of aversion to Islam as we did to the altitude is a scary thought. 

May Allah protect us from engaging in actions that result in us becoming of those He causes to go astray. Ameen.

This was shared by a sister who wanted to remain anonymous.......

You would have been watching movies rather than sitting in prayer mat...

You would have been singing all the time, rather than reciting Quran... 

You would have been hurting your mom with your harsh tongue rather than seeking her pleasure... 

You would have been gossiping, backbiting rather than trying hard to avoid it...

You would have been seeking people's attention, people's appreciation, people's love rather than seeking your Creator...

You would have been in the dirty places rather than being with those who remember Allah...
You would have been lost...
You would have been completely completely lost in Darkness... 
Yes, you would have been, Had Allah not guided you.
You know that none of the things that you are doing are perfect.  You know you Fail everyday. You know.....but you could have been the worst. 
You Were. 
But Allah's plan was different.
 He guided that completely lost girl.

May Allah keep us firm on His path and never let us return to darkness after bringing us into light. Ameen. Keep sharing reflections like this—they truly touch hearts.



I almost shed tears on account of reading this Ayah. It truly convinces me that I am responsible only for myself. No matter how much at a loss I feel when I see that my da'wah actions are not gaining any traction, it is no actual loss for me; it is only a loss for those who failed to receive the treasure I try so hard to share; only I cannot because the treasure is not mine; and it did not come from me, nor can I distribute it. Islam is Allah's treasure that He decides who will be enriched by it and who will be deprived of it.

Nevertheless, I will still try to in hopes that Allah will change their hearts. I make so much du'a, and I strive to portray Islam in the best light, for it came from the Light, indeed.

Salam walakum, 

I was talking to my friend this morning and reflecting on what was my steps into Islam. One major thing I realised which really hit today, was the opening of our hearts. So much so, I went instantly on this website to find an ayat and 'not to my surprise anymore' I found these words by Allah. My open heart led me to this point and continues to lead me on my journey to discovering more about Islam and establishing a more secure relationship and foundation of love for Allah. I recognise it is Allah who opened my heart. It was like a sink that just got unblocked almost instantly. Like a lightbulb moment but in my heart! The feeling is indescribable! Islam just one day clicked and resonated with me. SubhanAllah! And Allah guides an open heart. I have a couple people around me now who are drawing closer to Islam, and I feel like I can see how their hearts are being opened and guided by Allah it's truly amazing to experience and witness. SubhanAllah! It's a true true TRUE blessing to be in this amazing position to be chosen servants of  Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala. May Allah keep our hearts open and distant from those whose hearts are sealed shut.

Thank you for your message :) Ameen. Thank you so much for your time in making this platform possible! JazakAllah Khair 

While reading through Surah Al An'aam - i came across this ayah which truly grasped my attention. When we think about the miracles of the Quran there are so many popular examples that come to our minds ~ but this ayah truly made me appreciate the comparison and the truth that Allah ﷻ made visible to us - and especially us - the people who live in this era - because we live in a time where technology has developed to such an extent, which will help to enrich us and make us  understand the depth of this ayah, explicitly because of the examples that we witness in this modern day era.

In this ayah, Allah ﷻ makes the comparison with someone that Allah ﷻ wants to guide - He expands his breast to contain Islam - when we think about this example for a moment - We can come to reason that when Allah ﷻ expands someone's chest - this person will feel a large space in his heart - and space brings many feelings like calmness and tranquility - We could say that the expansion of the chest makes it possible to be able to breath properly - And to be able to breath within a large space - makes breathing even much more easier. So a natural sakeenah will come to this person - and this is the comparison of being guided by Allah ﷻ . When this peaceful station is acquired - Allah ﷻ will open doors to other realms of knowledge, truthfulness, sincerity, and so on - expanding the vastness within you even more through His love.

Then Allah ﷻ says in the ayah; ' ..and whoever He wants to misguide - He makes his breast tight and constricted, as though he were climbing into the sky..' - Now i want to focus on the first part of the ayah specifically. Allah ﷻ compares misguidance with ' as if your chest is tight and constricted' - meaning no space - feeling suffocated - not being able to breath properly. Having these symptoms can only mean that this person will face huge discomforts - To give a tangible example; people can remain alive without food and water for a certain amount of days - but oxygen is far more vital than food and water. A regular untrained human being can last without oxygen for a maximum of 2 to 3 minutes - while gasping for air.  In fact, I remember from my classes that after 3 to 4 minutes of oxygen loss - an irreversible brain damage will occur - leading to a life changing disability or even death. Now think of these symptoms - and think of the comparison that Allah ﷻ gave - of having a 'tight and constricted chest' which He ﷻ mentions as an equal to misguidance.

Just like how a physical body can not last without oxygen - and which will cause irreversible damage and even death within minutes - then think what the loss of guidance will cause our souls to become.

So Allah ﷻ says that the misguidance of a person - will lead to a tightness and constriction a person feels in his chest - ' as though he were climbing into the sky..' - Now this last part of the ayah is the one that left me truly mesmerized.

Allah ﷻ is very clear about this ayah - He ﷻ mentions a tightness and a constricted feeling in the chest - and He ﷻ then compares it to climbing into the sky. In the time of the prophet ﷺ - there were a few forms of transportation - mainly by horse, camel, donkey or a boat.

Now think of our modern day times and the forms of transportation that we have now - People in the 7th century never witnessed aircrafts or space ships - and we do know that even if a human being 'tries to climb' up into the sky - his chest will feel tight and constricted - Simply because the higher you rise - just beyond the stratosphere - it becomes impossible to breath. I found this quite remarkable Subhan Allah.

The tafsir of Ibn Kathir mentions about this ayah; 'Just as the Son of Adam cannot climb up to the sky, Tawhid and faith will not be able to enter his heart, until Allah decides to allow it into his heart.' Imam Abu Ja'far bin Jarir commented: 'This is a parable that Allah has given for the heart of the disbeliever, which is completely impassable and closed to faith. Allah says, the example of the disbeliever's inability to accept faith in his heart and that it is too small to accommodate it, is the example of his inability to climb up to the sky, which is beyond his capability and power.'

This ayah amazed me in so many ways - as it carries so much depth - litterally and figuratively. May Allah ﷻ guide us always, grant us knowledge and understanding ~ ameen.

Eid Mubarak Saeed 🌷

Assalamu Alaikum,

Your reflection on the profound comparison in Surah Al-An'am regarding the expansion of the heart for guidance and the constriction for misguidance is truly enlightening. The analogy of space in the heart bringing calmness and tranquility for the guided, while tightness symbolizing suffocation and discomfort for the misguided, offers a powerful insight into the impact of guidance and misguidance on the soul.

The analogy of feeling as if climbing into the sky when experiencing misguidance, leading to tightness and constriction, beautifully illustrates the severity of being disconnected from Allah's guidance. The comparison to the inability to breathe properly at higher altitudes highlights the spiritual suffocation and irreversible damage that misguidance can cause to the soul.

May Allah continuously guide us, expand our hearts with knowledge and understanding, and protect us from the constriction of misguidance. Ameen.

QuranReflect review team member


In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful,

What is one of the greatest blessings of all? It is to recognise Allah and accept Islam as the true religion. 

What is the greatest loss? It is to have all the gifts of health, sustenance, wealth, strength and not recognise the Bestower of every blessing.

But what is scary for the believers? It is to be away from Allah. Those who are committing persecution, tyranny, injustice, fraud, dishonesty, lying, ridiculing and the worst of crimes are being deprived of seeing and preparing for everlasting bliss. Their vision is obscure and hazy. They imagine this life as the only life with no accountability so they rack up further misdeeds that will one day will go through thorough evaluation and punishment.

What is peace for the believers? To walk through the fire and know the fire has been decreed by Allah SWT and that the fire will not last long, the heart has been given insight that this worldly life is temporary, that through every sort of hardship Allah SWT has promised also ease, that this is an opportunity to show they are sincere with Allah and their love for Him transcends outside this world. They have foresaken the world and desire Him being pleased with them.

So they walk upright though they are few in number - but they are light in this world. It is only Allah who enables them to walk back to Him with focus and clarity. 

Isn’t this the greatest gift of all?

So, with the Qur’an we acquire insight and peace against the injustice which is in the world and the understanding that one day there will be justice and not a single injustice or deeed will be missed.

#ReflectingInCrisis

Masha'Allah deep and powerful words. Jazakallahu khair for sharing.