As-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullah!
We’re back with the Juz-a-day Ramadan reflections 🙂 Day 1 through to 5 are collated below:
“They said, “Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise.”” [2: 32]
Knowledge (‘ilm) is sacred primarily because Allah taught it to our father, Adam. Throughout Islamic history, knowledge and all its avenues were esteemed, respected, and sought. The scholars used to say that the most beneficial type of ‘ilm for the human is ‘ilm al-Deen (religious/spiritual knowledge) and ‘ilm al-Tibb (Medicine) because one nourishes the soul and the other takes care of the body; and what is Man except a soul encapsulated in a body?
All that we know of language and the universe, of science and arts, of ourselves and lessons learnt, of knowledge in the past, and knowledge that’s developing, we were taught by the One Who knows it all. Yet Man chooses to use the knowledge given to him to deny the One Who gave it to him. Like one who bites the hand that feeds it. Utterly ungrateful and arrogant without remorse, a person throws himself into destruction, and darkens his heart via a path that was meant to enlighten him inside and out.
O Allah teach us that which benefits us and benefit us with what You’ve taught us, indeed You are the All-Knowing and Most Wise.
Each of us is on different path and we go places in life because that’s where our gaze is set. If you don’t like where you’re going or you’re not happy with your direction in life, then turn your gaze. Face elsewhere, because you will only follow the path (wijhah) that your face (wajh) is aligned with.
Generations before us have raced along the timelines of their life either in pursuit of this world or in pursuit of the Next. There is hardly a moment when we are not seeking out our goals and pleasures. But death seeks us all, and it only comes at an appointed time and location. So work all that you have, and seek the righteous life, so that when death comes you can smile at its descent, knowing that you’ve tried. And it does no good to flee…
It is mentioned in the books that a man came to visit Sulayman (AS) one day at Dhuha time (mid-morning) whilst he was with a high ranking minister of his. The man greeted Sulayman and began to converse with him while sharpening his gaze at the minister, who became frightful. When the man left, the minister asked Sulayman, “O Prophet of Allah! Who was this man who just left you? His appearance has frightened me!” Sulayman said, “That was the Angel of Death who came in the form of a man in order to see me.” The minister wept and said, “O Prophet of Allah, I ask you by Allah to command the wind to take me to the furthest place in al-Hind (India).” So Sulayman ordered the wind to take him. The next day, the Angel of Death came to Sulayman and greeted him as he did before, and Sulayman said to him, “You frightened my friend yesterday, why did you look at him like that?” He said, “O Prophet of Allah, I came to you mid-morning (Dhuha) and Allah had commanded me to take his soul after Dhuhr (noon) in al-Hind. So I was surprised that he was with you!” Sulayman said, “So what did you do?” He said, “I went to the place that I was commanded to take his soul from and I found him waiting for me, so I took his soul.” [Mentioned by Ibn Abi Dunya his Musannaf, Imam Ahmad in al-Zuhd, and Abu Nu’aym in his Hilyah]
Subhan’Allah, as Allah said, ‘Wherever you may be, Allah will bring you forth’. This is not to bring your day down or frighten you into the abyss, but just to highlight that death will only be once, so work away and do all the khayr that you can do. For if you work righteousness, then in righteousness shall be your death, and upon you shall be no sadness or grief insha’Allah.
“And remember when Abraham said, “My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead.” Allah said, “Have you not believed?” He said, “Yes, but to make my heart tranquil.” [2: 260]
Iman (faith) is a vast ocean with its deep as well as shallow waters. It can be peaceful and calm at times, and yet it has its turbulent days. It doesn’t remain constant or upon a plateau.
Allah tells us in the Qur’an that Ibrahim (AS) was an Ummah; he was a nation by himself because of how strong his faith was and the fact that he worshipped Allah at a time and in a place where that was seldom the practice. But here we have him, with his unwavering belief, asking Allah to show him a Sign in order to stabilise his faith, to bring peace and assurance to his heart, and to strengthen it. Never think that there is a fault with your Iman if ever you’re in need of assurances or to settle your heart. If you are confused, ask. If you are wavering, reach out for an anchor to hold on to. If you are doubtful, seek knowledge. But don’t despair of attaining strong faith and don’t think that your questions indicate a lack of faith on your part. Do what you must to be a stronger believer and put your trust in Allah.
In another verse in Juz 3, Allah says, “Say, “Whether you conceal what is in your chests or reveal it, Allah knows it. And He knows what is in the heavens and what is on the earth. And Allah has power over all things.” [3: 29]
The heart is a burial ground, but it is also a safety box. Concealed with layers and layers of flesh both physical and metaphorical, only Allah knows of its real contents. Some people use the heart to hide their biggest truths whilst others use its layers to deflect and show a different reality. Neither escape the watchful gaze of Allah `azza wa jall. On the other hand, never think that you’ve fully sussed a person out because most people don’t even know themselves. Take care, because to assume or presume the intention’s of a person, or to give your own meaning to their words and actions, or to think that your perception of them is a godly truth is a foul wrong. Tread carefully because the days have a volatile nature and a tendency to hand out bitter fruits to those who eat into the hearts of others.
The ending of the verse is powerful and very telling. Allah says that He encompasses all that they do/plot. He uses His Name ‘al-Muheet’ (the Encompasser) which means here to ‘surround’, ‘engulf’, and ‘encircle’ such that it closes in from all sides. Subhan’Allah, this is also the exact description and end result of the plots of those who intend evil; their plots eventually surround them, engulf them, and close in on them from all sides. As Allah says in another Surah, “…But the evil plot does not encompass except its own people.” [35: 43]
Leave things with Allah. With Him is safety and delivery, and once you do that, you can focus on the more important things in your life insha’Allah. May Allah protect us all from the plots of Shaytan and those who he has deceived.
“And also prohibited to you (for marriage) are married women…” [4: 24]
The whole of Juz 5 is nestled within Surah al-Nisa – the Chapter of Women, and interestingly, it begins with 1 word: Al-Muhsanat (married women). Now Allah `azza wa jall could’ve used many words to describe married women, but instead he used the term ‘Muhsanah’. Why? Does it have any meaning beyond just being married? Well, the answer is yes, it does 🙂 I found it intriguing because it also means to be ‘fortified’ and ‘well-protected’. Like a fortress is called ‘Hisn’ (same root word) – because it protects its people and it is a position of strength.
See, marriage is supposed to be a fortress for us. A safe haven, and a position of strength. Spouses are thus supposed to protect and support each other, and the woman once married becomes muhsana – fortified, dignified, and strengthened through marriage. This is not to say that outside of marriage she’s not, but it just highlights one of the many roles that the sacred constitution of marriage has in society.
It’s no secret that when us single women look for a husband, we are inherently looking for someone that we feel safe with. After all, we are women and we love to express our feelings as well as to just feel. Hence, one of the worst betrayals and wrongdoings in the Sight of Allah is when a muhsanah (a married woman) suffers abuse, oppression, and fear at the hands of the man whom Allah has tasked to keep her safe – from people, from danger, and from himself even. For when the fortress is damaged, there is no safety, and when the woman is no longer safe, there is no real marriage.
May Allah grant kind and righteous spouses to all the singletons (make a special du’a for me too lol), and may He bless the marriages of those already married, ameen!