Prophetic Faith in Allah (attributed to Prophet Ibrahim - Abraham) - a cue for those mulling to revert to Islam

Reverting to Islam is one of the most difficult and ultimate decision in the life of the non-Muslims. Not only they are hesitant to leave the religion adopted by their parents and ancestors, they are also afraid of fear of annoying their friends and families, or even face a strong and hostile backlash This has been so with all those back in the history who embraced the fold of Islam despite stubborn resistance from their families. Even prophets were not spared when they renounced the religion and faith of their ancestors. Yet, once faith in One True God, Allah the Almighty, had permeated in their souls, there was never looking back even at the cost of leaving their families.

Today, we share the 48th verse of Surah Maryam (19:48) which recounts a powerful moment in the life of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham, peace be upon him), reflecting his unwavering faith in Allah and his rejection of polytheism, even if it meant parting ways with his own people and family.

وَ اَعۡتَزِلُـكُمۡ وَمَا تَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِ اللّٰهِ وَاَدۡعُوۡا رَبِّىۡ​ ​ۖ  عَسٰٓى اَلَّاۤ اَكُوۡنَ بِدُعَآءِ رَبِّىۡ شَقِيًّا‏ 

(19:48) I shall withdraw from you and all that you call upon beside Allah. I shall only call upon my Lord. I trust the prayer to my Lord will not go unanswered."

Context and Explanation:

This verse occurs in the narrative where Prophet Ibrahim is addressing his father and his people. He had persistently called them to the worship of Allah alone and warned them against idol worship. When they rejected his message, mocked him, and even threatened him, he declared his disassociation from their practices and affirmed his commitment to worshipping Allah alone.

The Background to the Verse

Abraham’s appeal, made in the most compassionate language, cannot however find its way to his father’s hardened heart. The father retorts with rejection and threats: Are you renouncing my gods, Abraham? If you do not desist, I shall most certainly have you stoned. Now begone from me for good! (Verse 46)

 

His father’s answer was harsh, arrogant and threatening. He considered Abraham’s rejection of idols to be impertinent. It was a crime for which Abraham deserved a cruel punishment: i.e. death by stoning. Hence, he advised him to stay away, or else punishment would be forthcoming.

 

It is with such ignorance and cruelty that the father replies to the son’s passionate and polite appeal. No regard is given for the son’s care and concern for his father. This is indeed the pattern of response that advocates of faith receive from those who are hardened by disbelief and lack of guidance.

 

Abraham, however, does not allow anger to dictate his attitude. He does not lose sight of his dutifulness to his father. Hence, he continues to address him with respect and compassion: Abraham replied: Peace be on you. I shall pray to my Lord to forgive you; for He has always been very kind to me. But I shall withdraw from you all and from whatever you invoke instead of God, and I shall pray to my Lord alone. Perhaps, by my prayer to my Lord I shall not be unblesset. (Verses 47-48)

 

Abraham makes it clear that he will not respond to the threat, nor will he indulge in futile argument. He promises his father to pray to God to forgive him and not to punish him by allowing him to go further astray. He will pray to God to have mercy on his father and guide him to the truth. He tells him that he is used to God’s generous favours, as He answers his prayers. Then he adds that if his own presence and appeal irritate his father, then he will withdraw, leave his father and people, abandoning the deities they invoke instead of God. He will only worship God alone, hoping that by doing so he will avoid being unblesset. Such is a believer’s politeness and humility. Abraham does not feel that he is deserving of favours from God more than being spared misery, unhappiness and withdrawal of blessings.

Scholarly Commentary:

Ibn Kathir explains this verse in his Tafsir by noting that Ibrahim’s abandonment of his people’s idols and his exclusive devotion to Allah were not just symbolic, but also physical—he left them geographically and spiritually. His optimism in prayer shows the hallmark of a believer’s connection with Allah: hope, certainty, and reliance.

Javed Ahmed Ghamidi notes: Besides the affection found in this declaration of acquittal by Abraham (sws), it also shows his immense honour and regard for the truth. Imām Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī writes:

The emphasis, self-confidence and self-sufficiency seen in this declaration of acquittal is evident from every word. In the first place, Abraham (sws) used the plural form وَ اَعْتَزِلُكُمْ which shows that he not only proclaimed acquittal from his father but also from all his companions, associates and members of the family. With it, by uttering the words وَمَا تَدْعُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ (and those also whom you call instead of God) he included all their deities in the declaration. It was as if he rejected them as well. Then he did not merely give a negative statement. He followed it up with a positive one: وَ اَدْعُوْا رَبِّيْ (I will only call my Lord) implying that he did not recognize any other deity. At the end, he expressed his unshakable trust in the Almighty by saying that he had never been deprived after calling his Lord and it was hoped that He would help and guide him in that trial as well. On the one hand, is this softness and, on the other, this sternness. It is in fact this amalgam of soft and stern attitude which distinguishes a preacher of truth from others. Unless a person is soft as wax and hard as a rock, he cannot serve the cause of truth in any way. (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 4, 660)

Key Lessons:

• True faith may require personal sacrifice.
• Ibrahim’s trust in Allah shows the power of dua (supplication).
• Believers should never feel hopeless when making dua to Allah.

A cue for those mulling to revert to Islam

• This verse and the verses before it show a dialogue between a father worshipping idols and a son whose new found faith in one true God. The power of faith Prophet Abraham acquired was so strong that he even dared to stand in front of his father and his people denouncing their worship of idols and calling them to worship Allah alone. When his call was not heeded to to, he took a bold and ultimate decision of his life to follow Allah alone who he truly believed was the only Lord of the World to be worshipped.
• Those non Muslims, who have been living a life of worshipping more than one gods are now finding peace by reverting to Islam for Islam is the only religion which talks of One True God without any associates and partners. 
• There have been many instances where the families turned against the reverts and even cut off from life. But there also many instances that the families, which once showed hostility and utter annoyance of their near and dear one embracing Islam, also started to understand the true reality and reverted to Islam.
• So those mulling to revert to Islam must absorb the true reality that Islam propagates and embrace Islam so that their hearts are put at ease and they find hope as did Prophet Abraham did, In sha Allah

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 verse on Da'wah, please refer to our reference page: Da'wah - The Invitation to Non-Muslims to Islam

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

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You 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 | 

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses 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 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. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

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. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

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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Divine promise that removes the misconception about gender inequality in Islam

Today, in our series of posts on the faith in Allah and reward for those who act righteously for a reason. The reason behind sharing the 97th verse of Surah 16 An Nahal is two fold. In fact this verse was revealed to remove the wrong notions of both the Muslims and the disbelievers who are of the opinion that those who adopt a just honest and pious attitude, are most surely losers in this world, though they might be gainers in the Hereafter. Secondly, many liberals today and many in the West make a lot of hue and cry that Qur'an on mentions glad tidings and rewards for men only and women specifically are never mentioned, thus proponent of gender inequality.

We have already shared many verses from Qur'an which addresses both men and women or where women are mentioned side by side men. Let us explain this verse to clear misconceptions about the gender issue and the reward for the righteous not only in the Hereafter, but also in our earthly world too:

مَنۡ عَمِلَ صَالِحًـا مِّنۡ ذَكَرٍ اَوۡ اُنۡثٰى وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنٌ فَلَـنُحۡيِيَنَّهٗ حَيٰوةً طَيِّبَةً​ ۚ وَلَـنَجۡزِيَـنَّهُمۡ اَجۡرَهُمۡ بِاَحۡسَنِ مَا كَانُوۡا يَعۡمَلُوۡنَ‏  

(16:97) Whosoever acts righteously - whether a man or a woman - and embraces belief, We will surely grant him a good life; and will surely grant such persons their reward according to the best of their deeds.

As mentioned in the premise, in this verse Allah removes the misunderstanding, as if to say: This presumption of yours is wrong. The righteous attitude not only leads to a happy life in the Hereafter, but it also guarantees, by Allah’s grace, a pure and happy life even in this world. And this is a fact that those people who are sincerely righteous, honest, pure and fair in their dealings enjoy a much better life in this world. For they enjoy that confidence and real honor and respect because of their spotless character, which is not enjoyed by those who lack these virtues. They obtain such pure and outstanding success as are denied to those who employ dirty and disgusting ways to win success. Above all, they enjoy, even though they might be living in poor houses, that peace of mind and satisfaction of conscience which is denied to the wicked dwellers of mansions and palaces.

Let us expand the meaning of this verse:

• Righteous deeds and belief: The verse begins by emphasizing that both men and women can attain reward from Allah when they combine two essential qualities:
• Iman (Faith): Belief in Allah and the teachings of Islam.
• Amal Saleh (Righteous deeds): Good deeds, which can include acts of worship, kindness, charity, justice, or anything that aligns with Islamic principles.
• Equality between genders: The verse makes a significant point by clearly stating that both men and women are equally rewarded for their righteous actions if they have faith in Allah. This was a revolutionary message in the time the Quran was revealed, as it elevated the status of women in society and highlighted their equal potential for spiritual success and reward.
• A good life in this world: Allah promises that those who believe and do good deeds will be granted a "good life" (Hayatan Tayyibah). This "good life" is interpreted in various ways:
• Physical well-being: A life of peace, security, and provision.
• Spiritual fulfillment: Inner contentment, peace of mind, and tranquility.
• Blessings in this world: A life where a person finds joy, success, and satisfaction, regardless of external circumstances, as long as they remain faithful and righteous.
• Reward in the Hereafter: The verse concludes with the assurance that such individuals will be rewarded in the Hereafter with even greater rewards than they can imagine, commensurate to the best of their deeds. This is a reference to the eternal and perfect rewards in Paradise, which will be given to the believers in accordance with the quality of their actions on earth.

This verse serves as both a motivation and a reminder for believers to consistently strive for righteousness and maintain their faith, knowing that both their earthly and eternal well-being are secured through these efforts. The verse speaks of two rules which we still like to explain and expand:

The First Rule:

The first item in this rule is that the two sexes, male and female, are equal with regard to their actions and the reward they receive for them. They enjoy the same relationship with God and the same standing in His regard. Hence, He rewards them equally, applying one measure to both of them. Although the term, ‘whoever’, with which the verse opens, includes both men and women, the Qur’ānic statement emphasizes this by stating it very clearly: “Whoever does righteous deeds, whether man or woman.” This equality is stressed emphatically in the same sūrah that gives us an image of how Arab jāhiliyyah society looked upon women.

It tells us how society looked down upon women, and the extent of the depression a father felt when he was given the news of the birth of a girl, leading him to hide away from his friends and acquaintances, because of the shame he felt.

The Second Rule:

Another aspect of this general rule is that good action must have a strong foundation, which must be faith. Without it, good action cannot be cemented into a well built structure. It remains haphazard, and it soon becomes like ashes blown in every direction by a strong wind. Faith provides the axis around which all bonds turn. It gives good action a motive and an aim. Thus it gives goodness a strong foundation so that it is not swayed by fleeting desires.

The Third Rule:

The rule also establishes that when good action is coupled with faith, it is rewarded by a goodly life in this world. It need not be a life of affluence and riches. It may be a goodly life with or without plenty of money. There are many things in life, other than money, which provide a goodly feeling and happiness. A strong bond with God and a feeling of trust in Him and His abounding grace make life happy indeed. Life may also be blessed with good health, a peaceful and blessed living, love and compassion. It may have the rejoice generated by good action and its effects on oneself and society. Money is only one aspect, and little of it is sufficient when one looks up to what is more blessed and longer lasting.

This general rule also makes clear that a goodly life in this world will not reduce in any way one’s good reward in the life to come. Indeed the reward is based on the best actions believers do in this world. This implies, as we have stated earlier, that God will forgive them their sins. This is indeed the best reward to which human beings may aspire.

So let believers, whether men or women, be rest assured of the rewards if the act righteously and do not deviate from the path prescribed for them, the Siraat e Mustaqeem or the righteous path. And let those women who have any reservations about being left out of rewards, bounties and blessings of Allah be rest assured as promise of Allah can never go wrong.

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: Faith in Allah and Divine Rewards

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You 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 | Input has also been taken from ChatGPT for expanding the meaning of the verse

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses 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 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. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

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. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

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.

Read More

Believers! Take a Reappraisal of your Faith - much too often

The foundation pillar of any religion hinges on firm and unwavering faith. Though many believers have this resolve embeded into them, yet adulteration injected into one's mind by fortune seeker scholars, imams and pseudo scholars sometimes taints one faith and derail them from the true path as shown in Qur'an and practically demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad sws.  In fact these adulterations in Islam have become so pronounced, specially many Asian countries, that one wonders whether one is truly following the "Original" Islam as practiced during times of Prophet Muhammad sws and the period of first four caliphs of Islam?

Like adulteration in the food or drugs by adding sub standard material making these of poor quality, the same is true for the religions. Opportunity seekers fabricate the original Divine text and give them misleading meaning and putting across cleverly to those illiterate followers, illiterate here also include otherwise well educated who have never tried to understand the religion by personal research and following some of the authenticated research work and exegesis of Qur'an.

Hereinunder are some simple questions one must keep asking oneself off and on and ascertain whether any adulteration has not entered in his mind and pulling him away from the straight path - the Siraat al Mustaqeem?

• Do I only follow the Qur'an and authentic sunnah?
• Many of us will answer in affirmative. But would it be really true since our actions and way of life is mostly tangent to commandments of Allah as contained in Qur'an and Sunnah. Many of us, specially the born Muslims, are still enslaved to following customs and traditions of bygone days that persisted before the advent of Islam.
• Do I practice Islam the way Prophet practiced?
• I feel ashamed when I watch videos that have no relevance to Islam and nor were practiced or recommended to be followed.
• The fake religious mentors indulge into practices which even non Muslims do not. These fake people dress like unmanly attire, their followers pour on them rice, chocolates, flowers or even loads of money while these recite verses from Qur'an with twisted meaning. There are these fake people who say they have currents filled in their bodies and anyone who touches them will have these holy currents transformed in to them and they will be filled with Islamic light.
• These unholy and un-Islamic teachings mostly happen in Asian countries and beside mostly illiterates, even some very well read also join in these rituals and think they have been blessed.
• Do I avoid fabricated and false Hadith (story telling)?
• Islam is a straight forward religion with clear commandments, easy to understand and follow. Yet there are people who fabricate Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad sws and turn these into stories to attract their followers. 
• Do I avoid worshipping the dead saints?
• This is one of the most dreaded menace that has crept into way of life of many countries of Asia. So called devotees flock the graves of holy men and even prostrate in front of their grave with the hope of having their wishes answered since they believe that these holy men are still alive in their graves and act as an intermediary to convey their requests to Allah.
• These shrines in fact are means of thriving business by the managers of these shrines as poor people donate their hard earned money money boxes, which amount to hundreds of thousands each day.
• Do I seek help from Allah alone as only Allah can grant us our wishes?
• Following the last point above, many believe that they cannot communicate to Allah directly and thus find intermediaries to route their requests through the mockers and fake holy men.
• Many followers of such fake holy men believe that what they are blessed with is due to their mentors who are a means of communication with Allah. 
• Those who do it, in fact step into domain of shirk as only Allah can listen to us without any intermediary as it is said in Qur'an: Allah is closer to your jugular vein, so ask me and I will answer your wishes.
• Do I practice Tawheed in its purest form and avoid shirk?
• Tawheed is the central tenet of Islamic belief, which means the oneness and uniqueness of Allah in all aspects—His Lordship, His names and attributes, and His right to be worshiped alone. To practice Tawheed in its purest form means to ensure that your belief and actions reflect complete devotion to Allah without associating partners with Him.
• The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever dies while still invoking anything other than Allah as a rival to Allah, will enter Hell." (Sahih Bukhari)
• This hadith emphasizes the seriousness of Shirk and the need to avoid it in all forms.
• Whereas Shirk is the opposite of Tawheed and is considered the gravest sin in Islam. It means associating partners with Allah or attributing to others the rights that belong solely to Allah.
• Shirk involves openly associating others with Allah in worship or believing in multiple gods. For example, praying to idols, saints, or other beings besides Allah.
• Therefore, I must ask myself do I commit shirk by praying or sacrificing for anyone besides Allah, such as dead saints or other deities?
• Do I REALLY Trust in Allah instead of Taweez / Amulets?
• Hidden Shirk is even more subtle, like relying on charms, amulets, or good luck symbols, believing they have power apart from Allah.
• Do I believe in the power of charms, superstitions, or people’s influence instead of trusting only in Allah?
• Am I performing my prayers regularly and with sincerity? 
• Prayer / As Salat is obligatory five times a day on all adult, sane and healthy man and woman in Islam. It is to be ascertained whether we pray to Allah to please Him or do we offer prayer as a show off so that people consider us a pious and devoted man?

In view of the above, every Muslim must take a reappraisal of his or her faith through a process of deep reflection, self-examination, and spiritual growth. Reappraising faith means taking a sincere look at one's beliefs, actions, and connection with Allah, and striving for improvement in light of Islamic teachings. Here are some steps and ways to undertake a meaningful reappraisal of one's faith:

Reflect on the Purpose of Life (Tafakkur)

Islam emphasizes constant reflection on the purpose of life, the hereafter, and the role of faith in guiding daily decisions. A Muslim should ask themselves, "Why am I here? What is my ultimate purpose?"

• Quranic Reflection: 
• Surah Al-Mulk (67:2): “He who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed…”
• Reflecting on these questions helps Muslims realign their actions and intentions with the ultimate goal of pleasing Allah and preparing for the hereafter.

Evaluate Your Connection with Allah (Taqwa)

Taqwa (God-consciousness) is the cornerstone of a believer's relationship with Allah. A Muslim should assess how conscious they are of Allah’s presence in their life. This can be done by evaluating one's worship (such as prayer, fasting, and charity) and reflecting on the sincerity of one's intentions.

• Questions for reflection:
• How often do I remember Allah (through dhikr and prayer)?
• Am I performing my prayers regularly and with sincerity?
• Am I conscious of Allah in my private and public life?
• Quranic Reflection: Surah Al-Baqarah (2:2): "This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah."

Reassess Your Deeds (Muhasabah)

Muhasabah refers to self-accountability or taking oneself to account. This means regularly reflecting on one’s actions and deeds to determine whether they align with Islamic teachings.

• Hadith Reflection: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The wise person is the one who holds himself accountable and works for what comes after death.” (Tirmidhi)
• Regularly asking oneself:
• Am I fulfilling my obligations to Allah, such as prayer, fasting, and charity (zakat)?
• Am I being kind, just, and merciful in my dealings with others?
• Am I seeking to avoid sins, both major and minor?

This form of daily self-reflection allows a Muslim to stay on the path of righteousness and constantly improve their character and actions.

Seek Knowledge (Tafaqquh)

To take a meaningful reappraisal of faith, a Muslim should seek knowledge of the Quran, Sunnah, and Islamic teachings. The more one understands the depth of the religion, the easier it becomes to practice it with conviction.

• Hadith Reflection: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim." (Ibn Majah)
• Seeking knowledge can involve:
• Studying the Quran and reflecting on its meanings.
• Learning about the life and example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
• Reading about Islamic ethics, morality, and spiritual development.

Renew Intentions (Niyyah)

Islam places great emphasis on the intention (niyyah) behind actions. A Muslim should regularly reassess their intentions to ensure they are seeking Allah’s pleasure in everything they do.

• Hadith Reflection: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Actions are but by intentions, and every man shall have only that which he intended.” (Sahih Bukhari)
• Evaluate whether daily actions, work, and worship are being done purely for Allah's sake, or whether there are worldly distractions. Correcting one’s intentions can renew one’s faith and bring them closer to Allah.

Strengthen Acts of Worship (Ibadah)

Acts of worship are the pillars of faith. A Muslim should reassess the quality and consistency of their worship:

• Prayer (Salah): Are my prayers focused, and am I performing them on time?
• Fasting (Sawm): Am I observing fasts beyond Ramadan for spiritual growth?
• Charity (Zakat and Sadaqah): Am I giving in charity, and am I conscious of the needs of others?
• Supplication (Dua): How often do I turn to Allah for guidance and help?
• Quranic Reflection: "And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me." Surah Al-Baqarah (2:186):

Correct and Purify the Heart

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the condition of the heart in relation to faith. A Muslim should take time to cleanse their heart of pride, jealousy, anger, and arrogance. Faith resides in the heart, and its purification is critical for sincere belief.

• Hadith Reflection: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Verily in the body is a piece of flesh which, if sound, the whole body is sound, and if corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Truly it is the heart.” (Sahih Bukhari)
• Reappraising faith requires checking for spiritual diseases in the heart and striving to fill the heart with love for Allah, gratitude, humility, and sincerity.

Repent and Seek Forgiveness (Tawbah)

Islam emphasizes the importance of continuous repentance (tawbah). A Muslim must regularly seek Allah’s forgiveness for past sins and make sincere efforts to avoid repeating them.

• Quranic Reflection: "Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'" Surah Az-Zumar (39:53)
• True repentance involves recognizing one’s mistakes, feeling genuine regret, and making a firm intention not to return to those sins.

Evaluate Relationships with Others

Islam places great emphasis on the rights of others, such as family, friends, and society. A Muslim should reassess their relationships with others to ensure they are fulfilling their obligations.

• Hadith Reflection: "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." (Sahih Bukhari)
• Are you treating others with kindness, fairness, and respect? Are you maintaining ties of kinship (silat ar-rahm)? Taking stock of relationships helps in spiritual growth.

Engage in Community Service

Part of reappraising one’s faith is looking at one’s role in the broader Muslim community and society. Serving others and being an active member of the community is highly encouraged in Islam.

• Hadith Reflection: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The best of people are those who are most beneficial to others." (Tabarani)
• Engaging in acts of charity and service not only helps others but also strengthens personal faith by acting on Islamic values.

Set Spiritual Goals and Plan for Improvement

Once a reappraisal of faith is complete, it’s essential to set practical spiritual goals for improvement. This could include:

• Increasing the amount of Quran read daily.
• Performing voluntary prayers (Sunnah and Nafl).
• Engaging more in remembrance of Allah (dhikr).
• Improving character by being more patient, forgiving, or charitable.
• Setting achievable goals and striving to improve consistently helps deepen faith and maintain closeness to Allah.

You may like to listen to a very informative lecture by eminent scholar Dr. Omar Suleiman on the subject of How To Practice Daily Self Accountability:

Reappraising one’s faith in Islam is a continual process of self-reflection, worship, and spiritual growth. It involves evaluating one’s relationship with Allah, reassessing deeds, improving intentions, and ensuring that actions align with Islamic principles. Through sincere reflection, repentance, and striving to improve, a Muslim can renew their faith and strengthen their bond with Allah, ultimately fulfilling the purpose of life in a more meaningful and dedicated way.

So when do we start our reappraisal, brothers and sisters in Islam?

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: Faith in Allah 

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses 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 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. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

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. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

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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Islam and Other Faiths (Reference Page)

Many non-Muslims believe that Islam is a rather new religion which came into existence with the revelation of the Holy Qur'an unto Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) some fourteen hundred years ago. And for this reason, they subject the religion of Islam to undue criticism to uphold the banner of the faith they practice. Many others also see Islam as a threat to their faith, especially the Christians, as more and more Christians are embracing Islam or "reverting' to the ultimate truth and way of life. In fact, many researchers believe that by 2050 Islam will be the dominant religion in many non-Muslims countries of today.

Scroll down for list of topics related to Islam and Other Faiths

Thus, a very unhealthy state of criticism has been unleashed to strike out Islam from the world scene which is mostly based on misinformation being spread by the Church or due to mere reading of Qur'an from one's own perspective of defending one's faith and keeping it supreme. This tainted view of Islam many a times create unhealthy discussions and arguments with no end in sight.

In order to present the true perspective, we at Islam: My Ultimate Decision, have already shared a number of posts giving comparison between Islam and all other faiths, based on the truth contained in the Qur'an, the last Divine Scripture after the Psalms, Torah and the Bible. Please read our posts with an objective mind with a view to find the truth and not to shoot down Islam for the sake of it or to defense your own religion. For after all, those reverting to Islam or embracing Islam, mainly Christians, Hindus and Atheists, are not small in number and their ratio is increasing with the passage of time. In fact, these are the blessed people who read Islam objectively, and compared it with their own faith and found out that Islam is not only continuation of all previous Divine Faiths, but is also the last Divine Faith and that the message of Islam is to the entire mankind till the Day of Resurrection.

The subjects discussed under this head, that is Islam and Other Faiths, so far posted are as under:

• What is Islam
• How Islam differs from other religions - Part I
• How Islam differs from other religions - Part II
• Jews' perception of Islam as Idolaters
• Misleading concept of Moon god Allah
• Contradictions: Qur'an and Bible
• Contradictions: The Original Sin
• Contradictions: The Trinity
• Contradictions: Calcification of Prophet Eesa (Jesus)
• Contradictions: Concept of Vicarious Atonement
• Disinformation about Islam

You may also refer to Reference Pages to know more about Islam and Quran.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the reference material contained in Islam: My Ultimate Decision are that of the Islamic scholars / websites. We have shared this view as added information for better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the views owing to their own perception / school of thought being followed. If anyone differs with the material contained in this blog, 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 our posts all-encompassing / comprehensive.

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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

Follow @IslamUltimate

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

Read More