This surah was revealed in Makkah at a time when the hostility of the Quraysh, and their fear and hatred of Islam and of the Prophet, were at their height. They adopted every measure to stop the Prophet from preaching and the people from listening to him; soon they would plot to kill him: there… Continue reading Surat al-Kahf
How to benefit from the Qur’an
Today I will be talking about different aspects of how we, as believers, can get from the Qur’an the benefit that, by the grace of God, it offers to us. That benefit is guidance. The guidance of the Qur’an is, for Muslims, not just a matter of knowing the list of concrete, particular things we… Continue reading How to benefit from the Qur’an
Informal notes for a tafsir class on Surat al-Qiyamah
The theme of this surah is the raising of the deadfor the Judgement. Its two opening verses forcefully negate the unbelievers’ denial that there is an afterlife. In these notesI reflect ontwo matters: (1) the needand benefit of belief in the hereafter; and (2) the meaning and consequences of the unbelievers’ denial of the afterlife.… Continue reading Informal notes for a tafsir class on Surat al-Qiyamah
Surat al-Insan/al-Dahr
This surah can be paired with the one before it. Al-Qiyamah ended with a brief account of the lowly first stages of a human life, from which one can hardly imagine that there could emerge so complex a creature as a human being capable of knowing right from wrong and therefore self-accusing. Surat al-Insan begins… Continue reading Surat al-Insan/al-Dahr
Authenticating the Ascription of Ṣaḥiḥ al-Bukhārī to its Author
A chance meeting A venerable shaykh had taken residence in a quiet corner of the city, renting a modest apartment after journeying from the environs of Multan. Cloaked in simplicity, pure of heart, discerning of mind, and composed in presence, he bore upon his face the traces of serenity and profound reflection. Every greeting began… Continue reading Authenticating the Ascription of Ṣaḥiḥ al-Bukhārī to its Author
Ibrahim’s Supplication(s) in the Qur’an
The first element is an appeal to Allah for provision and security. In the fuller version, this appeal is combined with an appeal to be protected from worshipping false gods. The reason is in condition of extreme insecurity human beings resort to any means that will help them. So if they think that some lesser… Continue reading Ibrahim’s Supplication(s) in the Qur’an
Hajj
The hajj represents for Muslims all the hopes and aspirations, all the testing and hardships, and all the consolations, of worship. It combines all the major pillars of worship: affirmation of trust in God and His Messenger; detachment, for God’s sake, from one’s wealth and possessions; disciplining of the body’s appetites, weakening their hold on… Continue reading Hajj
Ibrahim, `alayhi al-salam:
This man, whom God Himself has praised in the Qur’an as His ¬khalil, is the exemplar of perfected determination to know God, to be fully in His presence. This determination is expressed in what we may call, figuratively, the opening of various curtains: The cultural curtain Seeing through the world of his father and his… Continue reading Ibrahim, `alayhi al-salam:
Benefiting from our differences
The clear command of God is that when the believers are in dispute over a matter, they should defer it to God and His Messenger, that is to say, the Book and the Wisdom. (Wisdom is that sense and quality of judgement which is given to the Messengers, along with revelation, so that they can… Continue reading Benefiting from our differences
Forty hadith
There is a reason why, when you read a very technical text, you don’t understand it. Even if most of the words used are words you are familiar with, even if the words are arranged in ways that are familiar to you, there are enough technical words in the text to make the matter of… Continue reading Forty hadith