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Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts

Sunday 18 February 2024

Men of understanding! Know that good and bad cannot be equal, though bad often pleases you

All our life is spent playing the tug of war game - pushing and pulling the bad away and pulling the good. Yet the evil is so powerful that often get pulled away to the evil camp for evil is always pleasing, tempting and inciting. However, state keeps us feeling guilty much too often, for as long as the light of truth keeps burning in our hearts. Those who continue to be pulled away from the righteous path, one day become so burdensome with the evil that it becomes difficult for them to turn back.

And this phenomenon is not restricted to evil and good. This happens in every sphere of life: Deceit remains tempting and a top priority for many, by harming others for own pleasures. No Divine Faith encourages adopting the evil or the bad. Yet we always get carried away for evil  

With this premise, now let us read the 100th verse of Surah 3. Al Maidah, in which Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has been asked to warn the people to sway away from bad and do good, for these two cannot be equated, even though the former looks pleasing:

قُلْ لَّا يَسۡتَوِى الۡخَبِيۡثُ وَالطَّيِّبُ وَلَوۡ اَعۡجَبَكَ كَثۡرَةُ الۡخَبِيۡثِ​ ۚ فَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ يٰۤاُولِى الۡاَ لۡبَابِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُوۡنَ
(5:100) (O Messenger!) Say to them: "The bad things and the good things are not equal, even though the abundance of the bad things might make you pleased with them. Men of understanding, beware of disobeying Allah; then maybe you will attain true success.'

This verse sets up a new standard of values, which is quite different from the standard of those who look only at the outward aspect of things. Such people usually judge things by their quantity and not by their quality. For instance, one hundred rupees are always considered greater in value than five rupees by one who does not attach any value to the means by which these might have been obtained. But contrary to this evaluation, this verse declares that if these one hundred rupees have been obtained by unfair means and those five rupees earned by fair means, then the former are less in worth because of their impurity than the latter because of their purity. According to this standard, it is not the number or the quantity of a thing that increases or decreases its true worth but the question whether it has been obtained by fair means or foul. Obviously, a drop of rose scent has greater value than a heap of filth and a cup of pure water is tar greater in worth than a cistern full of impure urine. Therefore one who is really wise will always remain content with the lawful, though it may appear to be very insignificant and worthless, and will never try to grab the unlawful, though it might appear to be very alluring and grand.

Tafsir Ibn e Kathir: Tayyab and Khabeeth are Not Equal
In this ayah, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala commands the Prophet salAllahu aalyhi wa sallam to convey us that there is no comparison between the pure and the impure. We may be surrounded by the impure but this abundance doesn’t make it lawful for consumption.

He says: (قُل لاَّ يَسْتَوِى الْخَبِيثُ وَالطَّيِّبُ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكَ كَثْرَةُ الْخَبِيثِ فَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ يأُوْلِى الاٌّلْبَـبِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ - “Say: ‘Not equal are the bad things and the good things, even though the abundance of the bad may please you.’ So have Taqwa of Allah, O men of understanding in order that you may be successful.”

The word yastawa يَسْتَوِى is from the root letters seen-wau-ya which means equivalent.

The word tayyab طَّيِّب  refers to that which is pure while khabeeth خَبِيثُ is impure or bad. It is the Law of Allah that decides what is impure and what is pure. For example, apparently a thing may seem clean but it will spiritually impure. Similarly, we may see a dirty object but spiritually it may be clean. So, this includes both spiritual purity and spiritual impurity as well as physically purity and physical impurity.

A spiritually impure person will be one who has hypocrisy in his heart. He does shirk or his akhlaq is awful. He may be physically clean though. On the other hand, there is a person who doesn’t appear physically clean but he is a sincere believer with good akhlaq.

Physical impurity can include an action that’s bad such as yelling at someone, giving someone a dirty look, not doing something in time, disobeying and hurting others.

Remembering Allah, doing dhikr can never be equal to backbiting. Reciting Qur’an and reading that which arouses sexual desire cannot be same. Tayyab food is that which is halal while khabeeth is that which is haram and unclean.

Therefore, tayyab and khabeeth can never be same even if there is abundance of evil and impurity. For example, everyone is uttering a bad word, we tell our nafs, “It’s okay to say it because everyone else is doing so.” We are surrounded by alcohol. We see a lot of variety. Yet we cannot opt for it. It is khabeeth for us.

If we have Taqwa of Allah, His fear and consciousness we will stay away from the khabeeth even if everyone is running after it. People of Taqwa have sound minds. They avoid and abandon the impermissible, and let the permissible be sufficient for them.


Yusuf Ali Explanation
People often judge by quantity rather than quality. They are dazzled by numbers: their hearts are captured by what they see everywhere around them. But the man of understanding and discrimination judges by a different standard. He knows that good and bad things are not to be lumped together, and carefully chooses the best, which may be the scarcest, and avoids the bad, though evil may meet him at every step.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:
This style of an admonition after another is meant to explain that God knows everything and people should be aware that none of their deeds are hidden from Him, and just as He is Forgiving and Merciful, He is also stern in retribution. The Prophet of God has explained this fact to them. It is now their responsibility. They should remember that God is absolute good and an embodiment of truth and justice. He cannot deal with good and evil in the same manner. It is possible that the abundance of evil attract people, but this abundance carries no weight before God. He only accepts what is pure, and only those who adopt piety and virtue will succeed before Him. In His sight, contaminated concepts and deeds and impure things will result in nothing but Hell.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:
At the concluding part of this passage God provides us with a standard so that we may give correct judgement of all things. In these scales, only what is good and wholesome is weighty, while that which is foul and evil carries no weight. This prevents a Muslim from being deceived when he finds that the foul is plentiful and the evil too numerous. Evil and good are mentioned here within the context of elaborating which food and game are permissible and which are forbidden. What is forbidden is evil, while everything that is permissible is good. Certainly the good and the evil cannot be equal, even though the evil may come in such plenty that it attracts and tempts people. That which is good provides enjoyment that is not followed by foul consequences, such as regret, waste, pain or disease. The pleasure gained out of evil things cannot be matched even by a modicum of the good things in life. What is more is that with the good things, man enjoys safety in this life and in the life to come. When the human mind is free of the shackles of desire as a result of its being God-fearing and when it has attained a keen watchfulness, it will inevitably prefer good to evil. This is bound to end in success and triumph, both in this world and in the Hereafter: “Have fear of God, you who are endowed with understanding, so that you may triumph.” This verse especially suits the present occasion, but it has a much wider implication. It looks to a broad horizon, encompassing life in its totality.

LESSONS from this verse:
  • Tayyab and Khabeeth are not the same in the Sight of Allah and in the sight of those who have aqal. When people know pure and impure are not the same, only then we are going to stay away from the khabeeth. Otherwise yelling at someone and speaking politely will become equal. We need to develop in ourselves the knowledge that good and bad cannot be equal.
  • Since Tayyab and Khabeeth are not the same, we should like the Tayyab and leave the Khabeeth. Generally, we choose whatever is “in” or famous even if it goes against the Deen. We wear clothing which is in trend even if it doesn’t cover the aura. When it comes to clothing, eating and talking we do that which is common. Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala tells us don’t go for Khabeeth even if you are surrounded by it. Khabeeth makes us negligent of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.
  • We are taught our focus should not be on the “quantity” but the quality. For example, we go to the grocery and we see a box of strawberries which is being offered at a discounted price but has fungus growing over it, are we going to buy it? No. Then why when it comes to the Deen we don’t look at the Tayyab but blindly follow the crowd.
We learn from a hadeeth when a person gives something as small as a date earned from halal income it has more value than a mountain of wealth earned from haram means.
  • When sisters adopt the Hijab they wear it in such a manner that it doesn’t cover the aura. A fancy headscarf with tight-fitted garment is not hijab. Similarly, brothers have invented their own “designs” of beard that is not the Sunnah of the Prophet salAllahu aalyhi wa sallam.
Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says in Surah Sa’d ayah 28, “Or should we treat those who believe and do righteous deeds like corrupters in the land? Or should We treat those who fear Allah like the wicked?”

People of intellect do not follow the crowd. They don’t look at Hijab “models” and see how they are dressed up. They don’t look at different “designs” of beard and adopt them. They study the Shariah and follow it.

Abdullah ibn Mubarak said, “Keeping myself clean from consuming a doubtful dirham is more charitable to me than giving 100,000 dirhams in charity.” 
  • The abundance and variety of the Khabeeth is also a test. We see haram everywhere and we become desensitize. People are not particular about what they are watching on TV or the Internet, what kind of books or literature they are reading, what kind of food they are consuming. This is a test from Allah to determine who fears Him without seeing Him.
  • Fear of Allah is in our hearts. A person cannot stay away from the evil unless he has dislike for it in his heart. If he likes something he will accept it even if it means going against the commands of Allah. Are we that impressed with the Khabeeth?
  • People who have intellect they will differentiate between the Tayyab and Khabeeth that is the key to their success.
In the light of the above quoted verse, let us be armed with adequate wisdom and understanding to fight back when evil seems to be overpower us or when worldly things start to please us more than the life of the Hereafter. Those who have form faith, do not let their hearts waver and continue to follow the Siraat al Mustaqeem.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Compiled verses from Qur'an on specific subjects: Life

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'anYou may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 23 | 4
Read details of this verse in Part IV of the Tafsir of Surah Al Maidah

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  
In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from the following sources: 
  • Tafsir Ibn Khatir
  • Muhammad Asad Translation
  • Yusuf Ali Translation
  • Translation Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
  • Qur'an Wiki
  • Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
  • Towards Understanding the Quran
In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Friday 16 February 2024

How to be Ungrateful

The caption of the post today may surprise many for we always talk of positivities, and not negativities. But if we look around, we often find people ungrateful, people who instead of being grateful and thanking for what they have, keep lamenting for what they don't have.

He is ungrateful who denies that he has received a kindness which has been bestowed upon him; he is ungrateful who conceals it; he is ungrateful who makes no return for it; most ungrateful of all is he who forgets it.”

In fact, it is lot easier to be ungrateful than being grateful. We come across such who are always complaining and seldom appreciate the efforts of others and fail to express gratitude for the things they receive. Such individuals can exhibit toxic behaviour and drain the positivity out of any situation, and at times it falls on us whether we want to preserve our sanity or deal with them. And when it comes to being ungrateful to our Creator, things get serious. We have atheists who despite knowing the truth of a Divine Deity,  deny it and express no thankfulness for the means of sustenance provided for our living. The ungrateful have never visited places where people do not have access to even one small meal a day or clean drinking water. While the people suffer, there are people who live a thriving lie yet remain ungrateful. Instead they are always seen criticizing and not showing thanks or for being unkind to someone who has helped them or done them a favor. Such are the ungrateful!!

Instead of going to explaining our viewpoint further, let us share the 23rd verse of Chapter / Surah 67. Surah Al Mulk (The Kingdom), in which our Creator, the unchallenged Lord of the World, exactly points towards those who despite being blessed with the best of the blessings, remain ungrateful and often complaining and lamenting for not having enough.

But before you scroll down for the verse being discussed, let me quote here a personal example. I have been blessed by Allah all along my life so profusely and abundantly. Yet I was had not been truly grateful to Allah for His blessings. I realized the hard way for being ungrateful. A few years back, I started to feel that I could not understand people around me when in a conversation, meaning by I was losing my hearing.  Slowing and gradually the hearing loss became intense and it was then I realised how ungrateful I have been all along my life for not thanking Allah enough for the blessings I had. And then I bought a hearing aid. And suddenly my life changed. For the first time in years I heard the birds chirping around and even buzzing of a bee. Now without my hearing device, I cannot hear anything. This loss teaches me how easy it was to be ungrateful when I had every system of my body working perfectly. It is the loss of my hearing that made me grateful to Allah for His countless blessings that we otherwise do not notice and take these for granted.

قُلۡ هُوَ الَّذِىۡۤ اَنۡشَاَكُمۡ وَجَعَلَ لَـكُمُ السَّمۡعَ وَالۡاَبۡصَارَ وَ الۡاَفۡـئِدَةَ ​ ؕ قَلِيۡلًا مَّا تَشۡكُرُوۡنَ‏ 
( 23 )   Say, "It is He who has produced you and made for you hearing and vision and hearts; little are you grateful."
That is, Allah had made you men, not cattle. You were not meant to follow blindly whatever error and deviation you found prevailing in the world, without considering for a moment whether the way you had adopted was right or wrong. You have not been given these ears that you may refuse to listen to the one who tries to distinguish the right from the wrong for you, and may persist in whatever false notions you already had in your mind. You have not been given these eyes that you may follow others like the blind and may not bother to see whether the signs scattered around you in the world testified to the unity of God, which the Messenger (peace be upon him) of God is preaching, or whether the system of the universe is Godless, or is being run by many gods simultaneously. 

Likewise, you have also not been given this knowledge and intelligence that you may give up thinking and understanding to others and may adopt every crooked way that was enforced by somebody in the world, and may not use your own intellect to see whether it was right or wrong. Allah has blessed you with knowledge and intelligence, sight and hearing, so that you may recognize the truth, but you are being ungrateful to Him in that you are employing these faculties for every other object than the one for which these had been granted. (For further information, see explanation of verses (59-60 of Surah An- Naml); (80 of Surah Al-Mominoon); (9 of Surah As-Sajdah); (26 of Surah Al-Ahqaf).

Yusuf Ali  Explanation: The Prophet is asked to draw constant attention to Allah, the source of all growth and development, the Giver of the faculties by which we can judge and attain to higher and higher spiritual dignity. And yet, such is our self-will, we use our faculties for wrong purposes and thus show our ingratitude to Allah.

For anshaa " اَنۡشَاَ " please read its explanation as given in explanation to vi. 98. Reproduced below:
Produced: ansha-a= made you grow, increase, develop, reach maturity: another of the processes of creation. This supplements ii. 916 and vi. 94. It is one of the wonders of God's Creation, that from one person we have grown to be so many, and each individual has so many faculties and capacities, and yet we are all one. In the next verse we have the allegory of grapes and other fruits: all grapes may be similar to look at, yet each variety has a distinctive flavour and other distinctive qualities, and each individual grape may have its own special qualities. So for man.

Muhammad Asad Explanation: I.e., with the faculty of feeling as well as of rational thinking.

Explanation Qur'an Wiki:

The truth that man was originated by God presses hard on the human mind. It affirms itself in a way that is hard to refute. Man exists in a world in which he is the highest and noblest species known to him. Among all creatures, mankind are equipped with the highest knowledge and the most extensive abilities. Man has not created himself. There must be, then, someone higher, nobler, more able and more knowledgeable than him who brought him into existence. Man must inevitably acknowledge this truth: his very existence puts it before his eyes. To continue trying to deny it is both unworthy and futile.

Hearing and sight are two great miracles about which we have learnt some remarkable aspects. 'Heart' is often used in the Qur'an in reference to the faculty of knowledge acquisition and understanding. This is an even greater and more remarkable miracle about which we only know very little. It is one of God's secrets in man's creation.

`Heart', which is often used in the Qur'an interchangeably with `mind', is the quality that makes man what he is. It denotes the faculty of understanding, distinction and knowledge which qualifies man to take charge of the earth and to shoulder the great trust. This is the trust that the heavens, the earth and the mountains feared to bear. It is to believe by choice and to discern guidance by self motivation. It signifies the diligent observance, by will and choice, of the code God has laid down. No one knows the nature of this faculty, or its centre, or whether it is inside or outside the human body. It is a secret God has not given anyone.

Man should feel ashamed of himself when he is thus reminded. He does not thank God for all the blessings He has favoured him with. Had man devoted all his life to expressing gratitude to God, it still would not thank Him enough.

Verse By Verse Quran Study Circle Explanation: meaning He initiated your creation and endowed you with intellect and power of reasoning. How little you use these abilities that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has blessed you with to obey Him, to act according to His commandments, and avoid His prohibitions.

We are human beings and not cattle. We were not meant to follow blindly whatever error and deviation we found prevailing in the world, without considering for a moment whether the way we have adopted was right or wrong. We had not been given the sense of hearing that we may refuse to listen to the one who tries to distinguish the right from the wrong, and may persist in whatever false notions we already have in our mind. We had not been given eyesight that we may follow others like the blind and may not bother to see whether the signs scattered around us testified to the Unity of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, which the Messenger of God preached about, or whether the system of the universe is Godless, or is being run by many, gods simultaneously. Likewise, we had also not been given this knowledge and intelligence that we may give up thinking and understanding to others and may adopt every crooked way that was enforced by somebody in the world, and may not use our own intellect to see whether it was right or wrong. Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has blessed us with knowledge and intelligence, sight and hearing, so that we may recognize the truth, but we are being ungrateful to Him in that we are employing these faculties for every other object than the one for which these had been granted.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'anYou may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Photo | Tafsir References1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  
In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from the following sources: 
  • Tafsir Ibn Khatir
  • Muhammad Asad Translation
  • Yusuf Ali Translation
  • Translation Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
  • Qur'an Wiki
  • Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
  • Towards Understanding the Quran
In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Tuesday 30 January 2024

Abundance of evil cannot override the good even if scarce

We live in a world where a many people follow the majority even if the latter is not following the otherwise practiced norms of the society. This is specially true when it comes to the pleasures of the world which are mostly enticed by the evil. But following the majority engrossed into a life of lewdness and worldly charms does not mean that following evil should be the adopted approach. In other words, majority does not necessarily means the yard stick of truth and righteousness.

The believers are thus being warned in the 100th verse of Surah 5 Al Maidah that the little permissible is better than the abundant evil:

قُلْ لَّا يَسۡتَوِى الۡخَبِيۡثُ وَالطَّيِّبُ وَلَوۡ اَعۡجَبَكَ كَثۡرَةُ الۡخَبِيۡثِ​ ۚ فَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ يٰۤاُولِى الۡاَ لۡبَابِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُوۡنَ
(5:100) (O Messenger!) Say to them: "The bad things and the good things are not equal, even though the abundance of the bad things might make you pleased with them. Men of understanding, beware of disobeying Allah; then maybe you will attain true success.'

This verse sets up a new standard of values, which is quite different from the standard of those who look only at the outward aspect of things. Such people usually judge things by their quantity and not by their quality. For instance, one hundred rupees are always considered greater in value than five rupees by one who does not attach any value to the means by which these might have been obtained. But contrary to this evaluation, this verse declares that if these one hundred rupees have been obtained by unfair means and those five rupees earned by fair means, then the former are less in worth because of their impurity than the latter because of their purity. According to this standard, it is not the number or the quantity of a thing that increases or decreases its true worth but the question whether it has been obtained by fair means or foul. Obviously, a drop of rose scent has greater value than a heap of filth and a cup of pure water is tar greater in worth than a cistern full of impure urine. Therefore one who is really wise will always remain content with the lawful, though it may appear to be very insignificant and worthless, and will never try to grab the unlawful, though it might appear to be very alluring and grand.

Yusuf Ali Explanation
People often judge by quantity rather than quality. They are dazzled by numbers: their hearts are captured by what they see everywhere around them. But the man of understanding and discrimination judges by a different standard. He knows that good and bad things are not to be lumped together, and carefully chooses the best, which may be the scarcest, and avoids the bad, though evil may meet him at every step.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:
This style of an admonition after another is meant to explain that God knows everything and people should be aware that none of their deeds are hidden from Him, and just as He is Forgiving and Merciful, He is also stern in retribution. The Prophet of God has explained this fact to them. It is now their responsibility. They should remember that God is absolute good and an embodiment of truth and justice. He cannot deal with good and evil in the same manner. It is possible that the abundance of evil attract people, but this abundance carries no weight before God. He only accepts what is pure, and only those who adopt piety and virtue will succeed before Him. In His sight, contaminated concepts and deeds and impure things will result in nothing but Hell.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:
God provides us with a standard so that we may give correct judgement of all things. In these scales, only what is good and wholesome is weighty, while that which is foul and evil carries no weight. This prevents a Muslim from being deceived when he finds that the foul is plentiful and the evil too numerous. Evil and good are mentioned here within the context of elaborating which food and game are permissible and which are forbidden. What is forbidden is evil, while everything that is permissible is good. Certainly the good and the evil cannot be equal, even though the evil may come in such plenty that it attracts and tempts people. That which is good provides enjoyment that is not followed by foul consequences, such as regret, waste, pain or disease. The pleasure gained out of evil things cannot be matched even by a modicum of the good things in life. What is more is that with the good things, man enjoys safety in this life and in the life to come. When the human mind is free of the shackles of desire as a result of its being God-fearing and when it has attained a keen watchfulness, it will inevitably prefer good to evil. This is bound to end in success and triumph, both in this world and in the Hereafter: “Have fear of God, you who are endowed with understanding, so that you may triumph.” This verse especially suits the present occasion, but it has a much wider implication. It looks to a broad horizon, encompassing life in its totality.

Let us not, thus, be overawed by those who are enjoying and merrymaking at the cost of their faith and leaving the permissible even though in far lesser in ratio and proportion to the evil.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Compiled verses from Qur'an on specific subjects: Life

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'anYou may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Photo | Tafsir References: | 12 | 3 | 4
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  
In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from the following sources: 
  • Tafsir Ibn Khatir
  • Muhammad Asad Translation
  • Yusuf Ali Translation
  • Translation Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
  • Qur'an Wiki
  • Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
  • Towards Understanding the Quran
In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Monday 1 January 2024

The Command to remember Allah during Spare Time

Today, we share a set of two very meaningful verses taken from Surah 94. Al Sharh, also spelt as Al Inshirah (The Opening Up) which though was a command from Allah to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to remember Allah in his spare time, this is equally applicable to all believers even today.

We can well imagine how much tiring the pre-occupation of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ were every day  to disseminate the Divine Commandments as revealed to him to spread Islam and also attend to delegations visiting him from other places to know about the new found religion. And yet, he was commanded by Allah to remember Him in his spare time. And he did too, for except for a few hours sleep at night, he would get for Tahajjad prayers and spend the later part of the night inn remembrance of Allah till it was time for the pre-dawn prayer, the Fajr.

The purpose of sharing these verses is to impress upon the need to remember Allah when we are free from our daily chores and do not let go Tahajjad prayer at night.

فَإِذَا فَرَغۡتَ فَٱنصَبۡ • وَإِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَٱرۡغَب
(94: 7-8) So, whenever you are free, strive in devotion,  turn to your Lord with longing
When you are free,” When you are free from other occupations, whether occupations in connection with the preaching of Divine message, or teaching and training of the new converts, or domestic occupations of mundane nature." The commandment means: "When you are no more occupied, you should spend your time in the labor and toil of Allah's worship and turn all your attention exclusively to your Lord." 

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir
( So when you have finished, devote yourself to Allah's worship. And to your Lord turn intentions and hopes. )

Meaning, 'when you have completed your worldly affairs and its tasks, and you have broken away from its routine, then get up to perform the worship, and stand for it with zeal, complete devotion and purify your intention and desire for your lord.' 

Similar to this is the Prophet's statement in a hadith that is agreed-upon to be authentic, "There is no prayer when the food is served, nor when the two foul things (excrement and urine) are pressing a person."

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) also said, "When the prayer has started and the dinner has been served, then begin with dinner."

Mujahid said concerning this Ayah, "When you are free from the worldly affairs, and you have stood to pray, then stand up for your Lord."

Yusuf Ali Explanation
(Therefore when thou art free (from thine immediate task) still labor hard) When thou art free: or when thou art relieved. The words understood may be: from thy immediate task, that of preaching to men, denouncing sin, and encouraging righteousness; or, from the difficulties that confronted thee. When that happens, that does not finish the labours of the man of Allah. It is only one step to them. He has constantly and insistently to go on. When there is rest from the task of instructing the world, the contact with the spiritual kingdom continues, and indeed it becomes more intimate and concentrated.

(And to thy Lord turn (all) thy attention) The kingdom of Allah is everything. Other things are incidental, and really do not matter. Worldly greatness or success may be a means to an end, but it may also be a hindrance to true spiritual greatness. Allah is the goal of the righteous man's whole attention and desire.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:
(So, when you are free from this task,  labour hard in worship) Ie., once he is free from the duties of the mission assigned to him. It is evident from other verses of the Qur’ān that this mission was to bring about a worldly reward and retribution in Arabia for its inhabitants and as a result achieve the sovereignty of the truth in this land. Found in the word فَرَغْتَ are the glad tidings that he would be able to successfully complete this mission after surmounting all the impediments that came his way.

(and remain attached to your Lord with all fervour) Ie., when the phase of divine support and victory arrived and he fulfilled his responsibility, he should fully devote himself to worshipping the Almighty because it is only this effort and devotion which would reap rewards for him when he meets his Lord. 

Imām Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī writes: In complying with this final directive, the Prophet (sws) began to spend more and more time in worship. Such was the extent of his involvement that some people even inquired from him the reason for taking so many pains in worship when all his sins had been forgiven. The Prophet (sws) is said to have replied: افلا اكون عبدا شكورا  (Should not I become a grateful servant of my Lord.) (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 9, 429)

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:
Seek Him alone and let nothing whatsoever distract you. Do not ever think of the people you call on to believe in Him. A traveller must have his food with him, and this is the real food for your journey. A fighter for a cause needs to have his equipment, and this is the equipment necessary for you. This will provide you with ease in every difficulty you may encounter, and with comfort against every kind of affliction you may suffer.

The surah ends on the same note as the preceding surah, The Morning Hours. It leaves us with two intertwined feelings. The first is a realisation of the great affection shown to the Prophet, which overwhelmed him because it was the love of his Lord, the Compassionate, the Merciful. The other feeling is one of sympathy shown to his noble self. We can almost feel what was going on in his blessed heart at that time which required this reminder of delightful affection. It is this mission of Islam: a grave trust and a burden which weighs him down. It is nevertheless the rising of the divine light, the link between mortality and eternity, existence and non-existence.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Compiled verses from Qur'an on specific subjects: Life

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'anYou may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  
In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from the following sources: 
  • Tafsir Ibn Khatir
  • Muhammad Asad Translation
  • Yusuf Ali Translation
  • Translation Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
  • Qur'an Wiki
  • Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
  • Towards Understanding the Quran
In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Saturday 9 December 2023

Remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with exclusive devotion

Surah Al Muzzammil, the 73rd chapter of Qur'an is exclusively themed at remembrance and worship of Allah. In this Surah, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has been instructed to offer Tahajjad prayer in the last quarter of the night "Arise during the night and worship Allah" when one is  free from worldly affairs and concentrate on his worship. Besides, a Command has been given to read the Qur'an in the Tahajjud Prayer. when one reaches such level of devotion that one forgoes part of one's sleep to the worship of Allah, one moves closer and closer to one's Creator to know Him more and learns to rely on the Creator of the universe, rather than being afraid of the worldly lords and demagogues.

The direction to devote oneself to Allah and remembering Him as much as one can is the theme of the 8th verse of Surah Al Muzzammil being shared today in our series of posts on selected verses from Qur'an. Although, this entire Surah is exclusively addressed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, yet it is equally applicable to all Muslims to follow what has been commanded to be close to Allah and to express our exclusive devotion to Allah.

وَاذۡكُرِ اسۡمَ رَبِّكَ وَتَبَتَّلۡ اِلَيۡهِ تَبۡتِيۡلًا ؕ‏ 
(73:8) So remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with exclusive devotion.
After making mention of the occupation of the daytime, the exhortation to remember the name of your Lord by itself gives the meaning: Never be heedless of the remembrance of your Lord even when you are deeply involved in your worldly occupations, and continue to commemorate His name in one way or another at all times. 

Same is the theme of the last part of the 35th verse / ayat of Surah Al Ahzab wherein Allah promises great reward for those who remember Allah much and that Allah has prepared forgiveness and mighty reward:

وَالذّٰكِرِيۡنَ اللّٰهَ كَثِيۡرًا وَّ الذّٰكِرٰتِ ۙ اَعَدَّ اللّٰهُ لَهُمۡ مَّغۡفِرَةً وَّاَجۡرًا عَظِيۡمًا‏
(33:35) ... the men who remember Allah much and the women who remember Allah much: for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and a mighty reward.
"Remember Allah much" means that one should mention Allah's name in one way or other at all times in every business of life. Man cannot develop such a state of the mind unless the thought of God becomes deeply embedded in his heart. When this idea has passed beyond his conscious mind and settled deep in his subconscious and unconscious mind, then only he will remember and mention God's name in whatever he does and in whatever he says. 
  • He will begin with bismillah (Bi-smi llāh; بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ, "In the name of Allah") when he eats and say al-hamdu lillah (Arabic: ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ, al-Ḥamdu lillāh) when he finishes; 
  • He will remember Allah when he goes to bed, and mention Allah's name when he gets up. 
One of the supplication as has been the practice of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is appended below:
"الْحَمْدُ للهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا بَعْدَ مَا أَمَاتَنَا وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ".
(Alhamdu lillaahil-lathee 'ahyaanaa ba'da maa 'amaatanaa wa'ilayhin-nushoor.)
Praise is to Allah Who gives us life after He has caused us to die and to Him is the return.
  • In his conversation also he will again and again pronounce bismillah, al-hamdu-lillalh, in sha-Allah (Arabic: إِنْ شَاءَ ٱللَّٰهُ, meaning if Allah wills), ma sha Allah (Arabic: مَا شَاءَ ٱللَّٰهُ, 'God has willed it'), etc. 
  • And ask for Allah's help in every matter, and thank Him for every blessing. 
  • He will seek His mercy in every affliction, and turn to Him in every trouble. 
  • He will fear Him on encountering every evil, and ask for His forgiveness when he happens to have committed an error and will pray to Him for fulfillment of every need. 
In short, in every state and in every business of life his function will be to remember Allah.

This. In fact, is the essence of the Islamic life. For all other acts of worship there is a prescribed time when they are performed, and one is free when one has performed them. But this is the worship which has no special time; it has to be performed constantly so that it links up the man's life with Allah and His service permanently. The other worships and religious acts themselves also become meaningful only when the heart of man remains inclined to Allah not only at the time when the act is actually being carried out but at all times when the tongue is uttering Allah's name constantly. In such a state as this worship and religious acts develop and flourish in a man's life precisely in the same manner as a plant grows in a congenial climate and environment. Contrary to this, the example of the religious services and worships which are carried out only on special times and occasions in the life which is devoid of this constant remembrance of Allah is of the plant which has been planted in an un-congenial climate, and which is growing only due to the special attention and care of the gardener. This very thing has been explained by the Holy Prophet in a Hadith, thus:

"Mu'adh bin Anas Juhani relates that a person asked the Holy Prophet of Allah. who among those who fight in the way of Allah will get the highest reward? He replied: The one who remembers Allah the most. The man asked: Who among the observers of the fast will get the highest reward? He replied: The one who remembers Allah the most. The man then asked the same question about the offerer of the Prayer, the payer of the Zakat and charities and the performer of Hajj and the Holy Prophet in every case gave the same answer, saying: He who remembers Allah the most." (Musnad Ahmad)

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:
It has been commanded that the Prophet (sws) must always bear in mind God’s attributes while remembering Him in abundance in his heart and submerging his tongue in celebrating His praises and extolling Him. This is because all the names of God actually signify His attributes. These attributes are the basis of our faith and religion. It is this remembrance of God by him which will protect his faith and determination to meet the demands of his exacting mission. Imām Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī writes:

… Just as for the material life of man, breathing is essential, for his spiritual life, remembering God is essential. The body dies if breathing stops. Similarly, if a person becomes indifferent to God, his soul becomes lifeless. It is God’s remembrance that keeps it fresh and alive, and the life of the heart is real life. (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 9, 27)

And that he should disassociate himself from everything and devote all his attention to God alone and spend his time in remembering Him. Evident from this is the importance of the tahajjud prayer, the recital of the Qur’ān in it and remembering God in order to acquire steadfastness and perseverance in the effort to preach the religion of God.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:
Remembering God's name does not mean repeating His honoured name verbally, counting with a bead of one hundred or a thousand pieces. Rather, this is a heart-felt remembrance along with verbal mention, or it means prayer and reading the Qur'an while praying. Wholehearted devotion means concentrating all one's attention on God, addressing one's worship to Him, discarding all thoughts and feelings other than the bond with Him.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Compiled verses from Qur'an on specific subjects: Life

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'anYou may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  
In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from the following sources: 
  • Tafsir Ibn Khatir
  • Muhammad Asad Translation
  • Yusuf Ali Translation
  • Translation Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
  • Qur'an Wiki
  • Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
  • Towards Understanding the Quran
In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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