As-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullah

Insha’Allah, to keep myself motivated and also benefit others, I’m going to post personal reflections from the Qur’an. This will be posted on a daily basis on Facebook (so one reflection a day over a Juz), and collated here every 5 days. May Allah accept, ameen.

Day 1/Juz 1:-

“And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed it is difficult except upon the Khashi’een (the humble, fearful, and submissive). Those who are certain that they will meet their Lord and that to Him they will return.” [2:45-46]

Khushoo’ (humility) and an internal state of wakefulness and submission is a sought-after characteristic that we seek to have in our prayers and our lives. But it can be hard to achieve at times! However, Allah tells us in the next verse the ingredient which will help us develop khushoo’:

– Envisioning you meeting your Lord
– Remembering that you are on your way back to Him

This is what initially creates and drives khushoo’. May Allah make us from the Khashi’een, ameen.

Day 2/Juz 2:-

“And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is Taqwa (fear and consciousness) of Allah. And fear Me, O people of understanding.” [2: 197]

This verse comes bang in the middle of the verses regarding Hajj. When a person performs Hajj, it’s easy for us to assume that they’re on a spiritual journey with little distractions (and indeed they are), but it can also be a very testing time. Sadly, due to the mass congregation of people, there might be some whose intentions are wrong and only wish to take advantage of the scene. So Allah warns them, and also reminds everyone else to remember that Allah is the Watcher.

In fact, we’re sometimes so busy thinking of what to take on our journey, that we forget the most important aspect of our luggage – to take taqwa with us as well as good character. It’s interesting that the very next verse, Allah says “There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord [during Hajj].” [2: 198] The word ‘Fadhl’ in the Qur’an can mean a few things, but when Allah addresses Mankind and says ‘seeking bounty’ it usually means the worldly blessings that we seek, i.e. trading and business (see also Surah al-Jumu’ah: 10). So after having taqwa, there’s no harm in trading because you will then be fair and just.

When I was younger, whenever I saw people doing business on Hajj I used to frown and say ‘How can they engage in the Dunya whilst on such a spiritual journey’ etc, but through tafseer I’ve come to realise that this is very much permissible and is considered a blessing from Allah for the Ummah. A lot of scholars from our great history were successful businessmen, and their business flourished because their relationship with Allah had flourished in their lives.

Naturally, in the end, after all has been said and done in both Hajj and trade, and the people begin to leave, Allah reminds us to: “…ask forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” [2: 199]

Because forgiveness seals a good end to everything, including our lives.

Day 3/Juz 3:-

“(Remember) when the wife of ‘Imran said: “O my Lord! I have vowed to You what is in my womb to be dedicated for Your services, so accept this from me. Verily, You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knowing.” [Aal ‘Imran: 35]

Before Maryam was even born, her mother did something incredible. She dedicated her unborn child to be in the worship of Allah `azza wa jall. She had a vision to give birth to a child who will lead, guard, and be the custodian of the holy places of worship. And if you recall, these lofty and responsible positions were only held by men at that time. But Allah wanted to teach a powerful lesson to the whole of Mankind; a lesson which He previously taught the Angels when He created Adam and they commented on the nature of Man to cause corruption (see 2:30). A lesson that can be summed up in just a few words: that indeed, Allah knows what is best, and we simply don’t.

So He gave her a girl, and she was consequently named ‘Maryam’ (meaning ‘devout worshipper of God’).

Despite her cry of surprise (‘O Lord, I have given birth to a girl!’), her mother stuck to her promise, and indeed Maryam went on to became from the few (if not, only) women who held a lofty position in the church at that time. And so Allah fulfilled His Promise, and He blessed not just her, but her offspring too (‘Isa), and used them to bring forth a miracle into the world and lead the masses under a Messenger.

One last thing that’s interesting about this, is that Maryam’s mother discovered a secret that many of us still fail to grasp… Whenever you do a good deed, or whenever you wish for something to be made good, ask Allah to firstly accept it. Ask for acceptance because when Allah accepts something, He makes it blessed and He makes it good. Because you see, Allah is al-Tayyib; He only accepts what is good.

Taqabbal’Allahu minna wa minkum salih al-a’mal (May Allah accept our and your good deeds) ameen!

Day 4/Juz 4:-

“If Allah helps you, none can overcome you; and if He should forsake you, who is there after Him that can help you? And in Allah let believers put their trust.” [Aal ‘Imran: 160]

A very powerful verse. But what places such force behind it is the word Allah uses when he says ‘none can overcome you’. He `azza wa jall says, ‘Fa-La ghaliba lakum’ – in Arabic grammar this is known as ‘lam al-nafiya lil-jins’; meaning that the ‘la’ (none) indicates *a complete and total negation*. And the word ‘ghalib’ means *anything which overcomes a person*. So the verse comes to mean: There is nothing (that has the power to overcome a person) that will overcome that person if he were to be helped by Allah.

It’s very interesting, because Allah didn’t specify and say ‘human being’ for example, or ‘enemy’, or even ‘animal/beast’. He simply said ‘ghalib’. Because you see, our tests are all different. For some, they are overcome and challenged by trials with regards to people, others with wealth, others with health, and yet others with themselves! Your ‘ghalib’ might be different to my ‘ghalib’ and so on. A hundred and one things could overwhelm a person and Allah knows this, hence it is reflected in His Choice of Words in this particular ayah.

So for the believing Mutawakkil (who relies on Allah), everything is rendered powerless when the Help of Allah comes. So seek help in Allah.

Day 5/Juz 5:-

“When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally. Certainly, Allah is Ever a Careful Account Taker of all things.” [al-Nisa: 86]

It’s part of our akhlaq to consider the positive actions of others upon us. When someone does you good, it’s actually from your Iman (faith) to remember it and try to return that good one day. In this verse, Allah `azza wa jall takes one of the smallest deeds that perhaps is from the human nature to do – the expression of greeting – and He uses it to teach us how to treat people around us and how to effectively live in society.

When someone greets you, try to go a step further in your return greet and add words of goodness (e.g. if they say ‘As-salamu `alaykum’, do your best to say, ‘Wa `alaykum salaam wa rahmatullah’ and even add ‘wa barakatuh’). If someone smiles at you, smile back. If someone defends you one day, then defend them back when they have right to that. If they help you out, then always be aware of their situation so you can help them too. Be alert to the positive actions of others around you, and be a person filled with life. Do not be a dead person walking amongst the living.

It’s very interesting that in the verse above, Allah says, ‘When you are greeted (huyyitum) with a greeting (tahiyyatin), greet in return (fa-hayyu)…’ – the words for ‘greet‘ actually come from the same root as ‘Hayy‘ and ‘Hayat‘ which means ‘life‘… So you get the feeling that the implication here goes far beyond just greeting. It’s actions which bring about life in the life of a person… Whenever someone does something which adds to your life (hayat) in a positive manner, then add something positive to their life too, whatever it may be. And returning good for good is indeed one of the greatest ways of putting life into the lives of others because it sets off a circle of positivity, appreciation, and goodness not just in that individual but in the whole of society.

“Is the reward for good [anything] but good?” [al-Rahman: 60]

Wallahu a’lam, wa billahi-tawfiq.