As-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullah
‘Eid Mubarak brothers and sisters. I apologise for not posting the last segments of the Ramadan Reflections! Here they are…
Day 20/Juz 20:-
“And say, ‘Praise is due to Allah. He will show you His signs, and you will recognize them. And your Lord is not unaware of what you do.'” [al-Naml: 93]
Every day, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala sends us some of His Signs. He shows us different things; in His Verses, in the universe, in ourselves, in incidents that occur in our lives etc. Sometimes the signs are general, sometimes they’re very personal. He alerts us to these things so that we may turn to Him, hearken to His Existence, and worship Him. These signs come to us again and again, like the verse which you keep getting reminded about, but sometimes we’re so busy looking for other things that we miss the little things in our lives that keep coming back. Have you ever wondered at your continuous hardship? The test will keep coming again and again until your learn the lesson you’re supposed to learn. There is no such thing as coincidences in this world; but they are all signs, and signs lead the way to greater meanings and purpose.
When we realise that Allah `azza wa jall is guiding us to Himself, the steps we take at that stage become all the more important. Some of us will listen, and some of us will unfortunately turn away. We know the example of the one who will be raised blind on the Day of Resurrection, and he will cry out, “My Lord, why have you raised me blind while I had sight?” And Allah will simply say, “Thus did Our signs come to you, but you forgot them; and thus will you this Day be forgotten.” [TaHa: 124-126]
When His Signs come to you, take great care not to turn away or to disregard. He knows that you’ve recognised the sign and whatever you do at that point is ever so crucial, because as He says in the end, ‘…Your Lord is not unaware of what you do.’
May Allah grant us insight and understanding, ameen.
Day 21/Juz 21:-
“And whatever you give in interest (riba) to increase (yarbu) within the wealth of people, it will not increase with Allah. But whatever you give in zakah, desiring the countenance of Allah – those shall have manifold increase.” [al-Roum: 39]
Our societies are currently rife with interest (riba). Wherever you turn, people are making money from interest systems, and this is all so that their wealth can increase, even by just pennies. The word ‘riba’ comes from ‘raba’ meaning ‘to grow’, and in this verse, Allah so eloquently tells us that whatever riba we give (or take) in order to increase (yarbu) our wealth, then we need to know that it will never increase (yarbu) with Allah. In fact, it will only decrease our standing with Him. However, were we to purify our wealth by paying out zakat (which means ‘purity’ and not ‘increase’), then even though this might seem like it’s decreasing our wealth in the short term, it will actually result in manifold increase in the end, subhan’Allah. Ask the pious man how his wealth grew and he will tell you it was because it was purified every year.
Let’s use Ramadan to not only purify our hearts & tongues, also to purify our wealth. Disengage from interest altogether. Pay your zakat. Promise yourself that you will never deal with interest again so long as your alive; root it out of your lifestyle and your choices. Seek out alternatives, and don’t settle for interest-based systems. Allah will increase you in multifolds, and purify your wealth – and with that comes barakah (blessing) whereas interest doesn’t bring anything but constrictions in the home, difficulties in life, and darkness in the heart.
Day 22/Juz 22:-
“Whoever desires honour – then to Allah belongs all honour. To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it. But they who plot evil deeds will have a severe punishment, and the plotting of those – it will perish.” [Fatir: 10]
Fascinating verse. The Arabic word here for ‘honour’ is ‘izza, and it’s a type of honour that comes with authority and lofty respect; it’s the kind that golden nations have, and it’s the kind that keeps your enemies silent. Many people seek out ‘izza, but it is the hypocrites in particular who chase after ‘izza on earth. This is what makes them side with the Muslims when the Muslims are winning, but when there are trials and defeats, they turn on their feet and side with the enemy. All because they’re seeking worldly ‘izza. Hence Allah says in Surah al-Munafiqun, “…And to Allah belongs [all] honour, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.” [v. 8] And so you see them running here and there, forever chasing a false image.
Then Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala speaks about the good deeds; how they are ascended to Him. Good deeds do not just remain on the earth, they travel to our Lord, and the name of its doer is mentioned. However, speech remains as speech until our actions raise its worth. This reminds me of one of my favourite quotes by Sayyid Qutb where he said: “Our words remain dead until we die in their cause. Then they become alive to remain amongst the living.” For the hypocrite however, speech is mere speech, nothing more than letters and words, because often there is no sincere action behind it to lift it up, and this is actually a ‘makr’ (an evil plot) because how often have they deceived people by their speech and misled communities. But as it says towards the end of this Surah, “But the evil plot encompasses only him who makes it.” [Fatir: 43] and so it perishes along with its makir (plotter). Allah teaches us in this verse that true ‘izza is in good speech followed by righteous actions, and it does not lie in having nifaq, or having a contradiction between your speech and deeds.
May Allah protect us from hypocrisy and protect the Ummah from being fooled by the hypocrites. May He grant our Ummah true ‘izza, in particular the mustadh’afin (weak ones) amongst us, ameen.
Day 23/Juz 23:-
“And had he not been of those who exalt Allah, he would have remained inside its belly until the Day they are resurrected.” [al-Saffat: 143-144]
Surah al-Saffat is similar in some ways to Surah al-Anbiya’ (and also al-Shu’ara) in the sense that they both go through the chronicles of the Prophets. However, where al-Anbiya’ spoke of their trials, al-Saffat speaks more of their strength in calling to the Way of Allah and their piety.
When it comes to Yunus (as), Allah mentions how he ran away from the people that he was sent to. He ran away and boarded a ship in flight, only to be swallowed by a whale. Then remarkably, Allah `azza wa jall draws our attention to one particular trait of his which became the cause of his salvation: he was somebody who did a lot of tasbeeh and dhikr (remembrance of God). Sometimes in life, you can get so caught up with things and feel so surrounded or feel hopeless, and you search for every solution, but you don’t realise that perhaps, your salvation lies within some words of remembrance. If you are in the heart (or ‘belly’) of turmoil and trouble, take time to do tasbeeh, take time to make istighfar (forgiveness), take time to remember Allah, and take time to be grateful because wallahi these are known causes for salvation. These words you utter are armies of Allah, and they are keys from Allah, which can open every locked door.
Aim to be become a ‘musabbih’ in the Sight of Allah; written down by the Angels as someone whose words are golden because they are filled with tasbeeh, istighfar, and shukr (gratitude) etc. As the pious before us used to say: you will then become known by the people of the heavens and hidden amongst the people of the earth; and that’s a great rank indeed.
Hadith: “Glad-tidings for he whose scrolls are found filled with istighfar (seeking forgiveness).” [Ibn Majah, al-Nasa’i]
May Allah help us to remember Him much and may our tongues be moistened with words of remembrance; words of great heights in the Hereafter, ameen.
Day 24/Juz 24:-
On the Day of Judgement, there will be people driven towards Hellfire and just as they reach it, a final testimony will be given against them. Who does this last witness statement come from? It will come from their ears, their eyes, and their skin. Their own bodies will be given a voice to testify, and a seal will be placed over the mouth, so it cannot argue.
“And they will say to their skins, “Why have you testified against us?” They will say, “We have been made to speak by Allah, Who has made everything speak; and He created you the first time, and to Him you are returned.” [Fussilat: 21]
As much as a person will deny their actions on the Day of Judgement, there are certain testimonies you just can’t deny; and your own self is one of them. Subhan’Allah, imagine your own body standing against you! Those feet you used to walk to bad places with will talk. Those eyes which viewed the impermissible, or viewed wrongdoing will be made to speak. The skin and the hair on your head which Allah asked you to cover in hijab will talk because they were not covered. The ears which you purposely used to listen to things that Allah was not pleased with, will also speak.
That Day, your body will not be under your control because it will not be yours. In fact, your body has never been yours to begin with. It is a trust which Allah has told you to govern under His Divine Rule. That Day, all arguments will be futile, and as much as a person rebukes their eyes, ears, and skin for testifying against them, the fact is: Allah created these faculties in the first place, and we are all simply returning to Him with news of how we truly lived. We live through each day filing reports on ourselves, wallahul-Musta’an.
May Allah forgive us for our shortcomings and protect us from being witnesses against our own selves on the Day of true Judgement, ameen.
Day 25/Juz 25:-
“And the heaven and earth wept not for them, nor were they reprieved.” [al-Dukhan: 29]
This verse comes after the tale of Pharaoh’s demise. After him and his army were destroyed in the sea, Allah says that the heavens and the earth did not cry for them. It begs the question, ‘Do the sky and the ground weep?’ The answer is YES. Every living thing has emotions only known to Allah, and they express themselves in ways known only to Allah.
Numerous scholars of tafsir such as Ibn ‘Abbas, Mujahid, and Sa’id ibn Jubayr mention that every believer has a doorway located in the heavens through which his provisions descend and his good deeds rise up to. When the believer dies, this door is closed and so the heavens weep because no more deeds will ascend up and the place on earth which he used to pray and prostrate on will weep because it will miss those prayers. Subhan’Allah, these are the witnesses of Allah for us and we don’t even realise! Allah informs us that when Pharaoh was destroyed by the waves, no sky wept and no earth cried – and this is because he neither had any good deed ascending, nor did he ever put his head to the ground in worship. These creations did not cry for him, and in fact the waves and winds came against him, for he who goes against the Creator, the creation will passionately go against him.
Whilst living in this world, it’s easy to forget our surroundings. But subhan’Allah we must remember that we are surrounded by other slaves of Allah who praise Him, love Him, and worship Him much more than most of us. We live in this world, but how arrogant to think that we live here alone. Next time you gaze at the sky, remember it is a loving witness. Next time you pray in your corner, remember it is a loving witness. They will cry when you leave them, and Mujahid (rh) even mentions that the earth will cry for 40 days after the death of the believer who used to pray on it.
‘Ata ibn Rabah mentions in his chain that the weeping of the sky is expressed in its redness along the sides. Ever since the Gaza killings began, I have only been seeing red sunsets subhan’Allah. Allahu a’lam, but coming across this narration sent chills through me. May Allah accept the martyrs, ameen.
May He cause us to fill our doorway with countless good deeds, and may He allow us to pray far and wide across the earth, such that the entire earth and the heavens become beloved witnesses for our good, ameen!
Day 26/Juz 26:-
“…Till when he attains full strength and reaches forty years, he says: “My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds, such as please You, and make my off-spring good. Truly, I have turned to You in repentance, and truly, I am one of the Muslims (submitting to Your Will).” [al-Ahqaf: 15]
The reaching of age 40 is something that numerous people write about and research has even been conducted on it – the middle age crisis and so on. They say that it’s an age where a lot of people make drastic changes in their life; some people have a sudden career change, other become depressed, and I even read one study that found some men began to cheat on their wives around that age!
However, in the above verse, Allah `azza wa jall tells us it’s an age when a person reaches their full strength – that’s physical strength, mental maturity, and emotional capacity etc. It’s the age where the carelessness of youth is no more as the Arabs used to consider anyone under the age of 40 to be ‘youth’, but anyone over that age to be from a mature generation. Forty is when wisdom is supposed to set in, not carelessness. It’s when a person is supposed to recognise their Lord, and begin to draw closer to Him, not fall into the dark pit of disbelief – this is why Allah mentions the supplication above (to show that we go through a moral and religious awakening). It’s an age when a person fully appreciates all their parents did because most likely by the age of 40 they will have children of their own too – who’ll be in their teens or a difficult age.
It’s an age to recognise the blessings of Allah upon you. You have good health, you have a loving spouse, you have amazing children, you have a good home, but more than all that, you have a beautiful religion and a Forgiving God. That’s enough for you to lower your head and raise your palms in du’a and gratitude. The Prophet became a Prophet at the age of forty, and it is the age of Prophethood, wisdom, guidance, and the humbling of the heart – so don’t think you will have a crisis. Insha’Allah you will have a beautiful blossoming of life
May Allah bless our lives, help us reach 40 with piety if we haven’t reached it yet, and if we’ve reached it, then to make us firm upon piety. May He fill our lives with faith, righteous deeds, and all things good, ameen.
Day 27/Juz 27:-
“They will say, “Indeed, we were previously among our people fearful (of disobeying Allah). But Allah has been gracious to us, and has saved us from the torment of the scorching Fire. Verily, we used to supplicate to Him before. Indeed, He is Al-Barr (the Most Subtle, Kind, Courteous, and Generous), the Most Merciful.”” [al-Tur: 26-28]
It is reported that ‘Abbad ibn Hamza once went to ‘Aisha (some reports say it was Asma) and she was reciting the above verse. He left her and then went to the market. When he returned to her, he found that she was still reciting the same verses, contemplating over them, and making lots of du’a. One of the du’as was her saying, “O Allah, bestow Your Grace upon me and save me from the Torment of Hell.”
These verses that we read so quickly were points of deep thought (tadabbur) for those who came before us. Subhan’Allah they would contemplate and recite verses, not even feeling the hours that would go by past them as they delighted in their ‘ibadah.
The other interesting thing about this ayah is that it’s the only place in the Qur’an where the Name of Allah ‘al-Barr’ is mentioned. This Name means ‘the Kind, the Generous, one who is Gentle with His slaves’, etc. How apt that it should come in verses which speak of the family unit, of close relationships, and the nurturing of a family upon piety and the fear of Allah. It’s almost like we are being taught something here: when it comes to your close family, be good to one another; be kind, be generous, and be gentle. They are the most deserving of your kindness and gentleness. Because of this, and because of the fear of disobeying Allah, He in turn will save such a family from the scorching Fire.
Husn al-khuluq (good character) is a cause for salvation, and it doesn’t cost us a thing May Allah develop these noble traits in us and bless us with beautiful families for whom salvation, mercy, and Paradise are written, ameen.
Day 28/Juz 28:-
“Have you not considered that Allah knows what is in the heavens and what is on the earth? There is in no private conversation of three but that He is the fourth of them, nor are there five but that He is the sixth of them – and no less than that and no more except that He is with them [in knowledge] wherever they are. Then He will inform them of what they did, on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed Allah is the All-Knower of all things.” [al-Mujadilah: 7]
This is *the* verse which we should all carry with us whenever we sit and talk with friends, family, and even strangers. If ever we find ourselves getting comfortable and gossip comes up, or it leads to things like back-biting and just generally godless speech, then this is the verse to remember. Subhan’Allah, you are never alone. And this can be the most comforting thing to know, and yet it can also be the most fearful thing to realise; that you are not alone.
The verse doesn’t just talk about normal conversation between people… it specifically mentions the ‘najwah’ – those secretive talks, or emails, or messages which you think no-one will read, or you hide so much from other people. Those very private dialogues, be they with close friends, or be they with people who you really shouldn’t be having that private and personal relationship with. Allah let’s you know that He is part of that conversation and that He’s right there with His knowledge; like ‘bcc’d’ in except that Allah knows even more than just what’s talking place (and to Him belongs the highest example); He knows the intentions, thoughts, and emotions of all those who are present. Hence the verse ends with Him being the All-Knower of *all things*.
Then it all comes back on the Day of Judgement. A report. A file. A Witness. Allahul-Musta’an.
May Allah rectify our speech, our circle of friends, and also rectify our ‘najwahs’ if we ever have anything like it. May He fill it with khayr, islah (goodness), and words of remembrance, ameen.
Day 29 and 30/Juz 29 and 30:-
There are very similar themes that run through the last 2 Juz of the Qur’an, but there is one in particular that strikes me. It’s when people are given their books on the great Day.
In Juz 29 it says:
“So as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he will say, “Here, read my record! Indeed, I was certain that I would be meeting my account.” [al-Haqqah: 19-20]
In Juz 30:
“Then, as for he who will be given his Record in his right hand, he will be judged with an easy account and will return to his family in happiness.” [al-Inshiqaq]
Before a person is given his/her book, they will be in a frightened state; you can imagine the nervousness, fear, and uncertainty that surrounds a person because they don’t know from where they will be given their book. However the moment it enters your right hand, joy will overtake you and the verses above demonstrate what your reaction will be. You’ll scream ‘Look at my book! Look guys! I knew this Day would come.’ And you’ll run to your family in pure happiness and joy. You’ll feel that relief and the burdens will go away.
But then there is the other side:
In Juz 29:
“But as for he who is given his record in his left hand, he will say, “Oh, I wish I had not been given my record and had not known what my account is. I wish my death had been the end.” [al-Haqqah: 25-27]
In Juz 30:
“But as for he who is given his record behind his back, he will cry out for destruction and enter to burn in a Blaze. Verily, he was among his people in happiness! Verily, he thought that he would never come back (to Allah)!” [al-Inshiqaq: 10-14]
These are the ones who receive their book in their left hand from behind their back. Utter regret and despair befalls them because it is a book they did not prepare for, or even acknowledge, or even care for.
So whilst one group runs around in happiness telling others of their joy, another group will be sullen eyed and head hanged in sadness and despair. While one group cries out in laughter, another group will cry out for destruction and death, subhan’Allah. And this is all it comes down to brothers and sisters. Live as you may, but in the end, this is all it comes down to this:
“A party in Paradise and a party in the Blaze.” [al-Shura: 7]
Allah says in Surah Aal-‘Imran:
“And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful.” [Aal-‘Imran: 185]
This is true success, and the scenes above are what success looks like. It doesn’t matter what ‘success’ looks like on earth, the scene of receiving your book in your right hand and you running around in delight and running to your family; that’s what true happiness, joy, and success really look like.
May Allah accept all our worship in this month of Ramadan which has now departed. May He record all the good for us in our books and give them to us in our right hands, ameen. Taqabbal’Allahu minna wa minkum brothers and sisters. I pray these reminders have been of benefit to you, we ask Allah for His continuous Mercy, Love, Guidance, and Acceptance.