Revert Experiences: A journey from street crimes to accepting Islam and engaging in Da'wah

Reverting to Islam is one thing that is happening around the world very frequently. Only in the USA 4000-5000 non Muslims are entering the fold of Islam every passing year. The growth is so rapid that many believe that one day the USA will become United States of Islam. 

Today I came across a revert experience of an American revert which was really amazing. A young boy of merely 18 years of age, who had been engaged in a life of street crimes and drugs and had a very uneasy stay in schools. And then suddenly came the life changer and he reverted to Islam. 

Asked in an interview, as my readers will watch below, he listed down four reasons that attracted him to Islam:

• Tawid (faith in One God) as against the faith in three gods of Trinity
• Purity
• Discipline, and
• The Kalima

After reversion to Islam and undertaking intensive studies in knowing more in Islam, he is now engaged full time in Da'wah and inviting non Muslims to Islam. Interestingly, his first conversion was of his friend who was once his partner in his street crimes life. He then persuaded his grandmother to Islam, which she willingly accepted. From then on, there is no ending in his pursuits to extend Da'wah to so many. What a rewarding life: rising above the life of street crime and carrying on the noble cause of Da'wah.

Without wasting anymore time in writing, please watch the full video of reversion to Islam, which is simply so inviting and logical that many may take a cue form his experience and make up their mind to revert to Islam.:

May Allah (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 have unflinching faith and trust in Divine Wisdom and decisions and should never lament for we do not know that something better has been planned for us by our most caring Lord. 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.

Disclaimer: The data / video for this post has been collected from the references given below or YouTube. 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.

To read personal accounts of many who have reverted to Islam, please visit our page: Embracing Islam: Revert Experiences.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

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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.

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Special supplication for Reverts after embracing Islam (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

Embracing Islam is one of the most blessed things that can ever happen to a man. Certainly, leaving one's faith of birth and taking the Ultimate Decision to enter the fold of Islam is one of the most difficult, yet most rewarding decision that unfolds a life full of blessings of Allah. That is why whenever a non-Muslim embraced Islam, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked him to recite a beautiful supplication as a special gratitude to Allah for having guided him to accept Islam.

This Hadith is quoted in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (The Book (#48) Pertaining to the Remembrance of Allah, Supplication, Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness - كتاب الذكر والدعاء والتوبة والاستغفار   / Chapter # 10 The Virtue of Tahlil (Saying La Ilaha Ill-Allah), Tasbih (Saying Subhan Allah) And (Du'a) Supplication / باب فَضْلِ التَّهْلِيلِ وَالتَّسْبِيحِ وَالدُّعَاءِ ‏‏ ) as Hadith number # 2697a:

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كَامِلٍ الْجَحْدَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ زِيَادٍ - حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَالِكٍ الأَشْجَعِيُّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُعَلِّمُ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي ‏"‏‏.‏

 

Abu Malik Ashaja'i reported on the authority of his father that whenever a person embraced Islam, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) instructed him to recite: " O Allah, grant me pardon, have mercy upon me, direct me to the path of righteousness and provide me sustenance."

Since one's life before embracing Islam was a life lived in the darkness and without any direction, one should thank Allah and beseech Him to forgive his past life and shower upon him His mercy and keep him on the righteous path forever. From now on, one must sustain oneself on Halal means of sustenance and abstain from the lewdness of the past life.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also on another occasion recommended this supplication to a person who had come to the Prophet of Allah and asked him how should he beg his Lord in appropriate words so that his supplication is heard and responded to.

Just ponder over each of the four things mentioned in the supplication: One must begin by confessing his sins and pleading for pardon, and then asking for continued mercy of Allah Almighty. He should then seek protection from all the evils that surround him so that he is not deterred from walking on Sirat e Mustaqeem. And then in the last comes request for means of sustenance. This simple yet very powerful supplication provides us with a format as to plead to our Lord and ask for His countless favours on us.

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.

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

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.

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.

Please refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. 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.

Photo | Source of Hadith

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

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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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Glad tidings for Reverts (Selected verses from Qur'an)

A life before reverting to Islam is a life lived in ignorance and having done acts which are otherwise unbecoming of a God-fearing person. But upon reverting to Islam, the entire life complexion of a revert changes altogether. It is as if he is born again with a clean slate to start his new life as a Muslim.

The 54th verse of Surah 6 Al Anaam brings glad tidings for reverts and informs them of the Divine promise of forgiveness of their pre-reversion life, provided they sincerely repent of their misdeeds and sins of the past life and wish to start afresh. Although this concession was given to those reverting to Islam. But this is also available to every Muslim at any stage of life. So, if a believer repents his past misdoings and seeks forgiveness of Allah, he is promised to be forgiven.

وَاِذَا جَآءَكَ الَّذِيۡنَ يُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ بِاٰيٰتِنَا فَقُلۡ سَلٰمٌ عَلَيۡكُمۡ​ كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمۡ عَلٰى نَفۡسِهِ الرَّحۡمَةَ​ ۙ اَنَّهٗ مَنۡ عَمِلَ مِنۡكُمۡ سُوۡٓءًۢا بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِهٖ وَاَصۡلَحَۙ فَاَنَّهٗ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِيۡمٌ‏  

(6:54) And when those who believe in Our signs come to you, say to them: 'Peace be upon you. Your Lord has made mercy incumbent upon Himself so that if anyone of you does a bad deed out of ignorance and thereafter repents and makes amends, surely you will find Him All-Forgiving, All Compassionate.'

Allah has told his Messenger to console those of His followers who had committed heinous sins during the days of "ignorance" by inspiring them with the assurance that He forgives and treats leniently those who repent and mend their ways and, therefore, the taunts of the enemies of Islam need not worry them about what they had done in the past.

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: 

(وَإِذَا جَآءَكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِـَايَـتِنَا فَقُلْ سَلَـمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ When those who believe in Our Ayat come to you, say: "Salamun `Alaykum'' (peace be on you) ;) means, honor them by returning the Salam and give them the good news of Allah's exclusive, encompassing mercy for them. So, Allah said;

( كَتَبَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ your Lord has written Mercy for Himself,) meaning, He has obliged His Most Honored Self to grant mercy, as a favor, out of His compassion and beneficence,

(أَنَّهُ مَن عَمِلَ مِنكُمْ سُوءًا بِجَهَالَةٍ So that, if any of you does evil in ignorance...) as every person who disobeys Allah does it in ignorance,

(ثُمَّ تَابَ مِن بَعْدِهِ وَأَصْلَحَ and thereafter repents and does righteous good deeds,) by repenting from the sins that he committed, intending not to repeat the sin in the future, but to perform righteous deeds,

(فَأَنَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ then surely, He is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.) Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

(لَمَّا قَضَى اللهُ الْخَلْقَ كَتَبَ فِي كِتَابٍ فَهُوَ عِنْدَهُ فَوْقَ الْعَرْشِ: إِنَّ رَحْمَتِي غَلَبَتْ غَضَبِي When Allah finished with the creation, He wrote in a Book that He has with Him above the Throne, `My mercy prevails over My anger'.) This Hadith was also recorded in the Two Sahihs.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

It is evident from these glad tidings that to those they were given were not desirous of wealth and status; on the contrary, they were desirous of mercy and forgiveness that is mentioned in the glad tidings. They had no interest in the wealth and resources of this world. Their desire, in fact, was that their sins be forgiven and they become worthy of God’s pleasure.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

God commands His Messenger to be the one who starts by greeting those on whom God has bestowed the grace of being among the early Muslims; the very ones whom the Quraysh chiefs ridiculed. The Prophet is further commanded to give them the happy news that God has committed Himself to grant them His mercy, as He will forgive those among them who mend their ways after having committed any bad deed out of ignorance. 

Having given them the blessing of adopting the faith, and promised them easy reckoning on the Day of Judgement, God now honours them with His mercy. Indeed, He commits Himself to showing mercy to those who believe in Him. He also commands His Messenger (peace be upon him) to convey to them this commitment. God’s grace is so plentiful that it ensures forgiveness of all bad deeds, once those who commit them repent and mend their ways. The qualification mentioned here, which describes a bad deed as being committed `out of ignorance’, is interpreted by scholars as intrinsic to committing sins. All human sins are committed `out of ignorance’. According to this interpretation, this statement includes every bad deed: once the person who has done it repents and mends his ways, he will be forgiven. Other statements support this interpretation as they describe forgiveness as surely forthcoming upon repentance and doing well. This is the practical exercise of grace, which God has committed Himself to bestow.

Now you may listen to the following short clipped video to explanation of the aforesaid Ayat by eminent Muslim scholar Nouman Ali Khan:

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'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 | 5 | 6 |

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.

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, 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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Glad tidings for the Reverts (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

Blessed are those who being non-Muslims take the most crucial and ultimate decision of their lives to enter the fold of Islam.  The revelation of Qur'an, the last of the Divine Scriptures was the culmination of Godly commandments for the mankind till the end of the world and Allah proclaimed that He had chosen Islam as the final religion for every man, as mentioned in the third verse of Surah 5. Al Maida:

".... This day I have perfected for you your religion, and have bestowed upon you My bounty in full measure, and have been pleased to assign for you Islam as your religion. (Follow, then, the lawful and unlawful bounds enjoined upon you.)"

Thus, those who choose Islam as their faith are among the most blessed and will be rewarded for heeding to the Divine call to embrace Islam.  Prophet Muhammad ﷺ too have conveyed the glad tidings to all the reverts and the Godly promise for forgiving of all their sins and wrong doings which they may have committed in their previous life. 

This saying of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has been mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (Book # 2 Belief كتاب الإيمان / Chapter # 31 (What is said regarding the superiority of) a person who embraces Islam sincerely  باب حُسْنِ إِسْلاَمِ الْمَرْءِ) as Hadith number # 41

Narrated by Abu Sa'id Al Khudri:

قَالَ مَالِكٌ أَخْبَرَنِي زَيْدُ بْنُ أَسْلَمَ، أَنَّ عَطَاءَ بْنَ يَسَارٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ إِذَا أَسْلَمَ الْعَبْدُ فَحَسُنَ إِسْلاَمُهُ يُكَفِّرُ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُلَّ سَيِّئَةٍ كَانَ زَلَفَهَا، وَكَانَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ الْقِصَاصُ، الْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا إِلَى سَبْعِمِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ، وَالسَّيِّئَةُ بِمِثْلِهَا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَتَجَاوَزَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا ‏"‏‏.‏

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If a person embraces Islam sincerely, then Allah shall forgive all his past sins, and after that starts the settlement of accounts, the reward of his good deeds will be ten times to seven hundred times for each good deed and one evil deed will be recorded as it is unless Allah forgives it."

Just imagine the enormity of blessings one will bag after one takes the Shahada and reverts to Islam. May all those who revert to Islam be blessed and forgiven of their past sins and be granted a brand-new life and stay on course of their new found way of life and remain steadfast so as not to commit any more sins and wrongdoings. 

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.

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

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.

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.

Please refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. 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.

Photo | 

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, 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

Who are the Rightly Guided?

Getting into the fold of Islam is one thing but adhering to its code of conduct in the light of the Divine Commandments contained in the Qur'an and Sunnah is the actual litmus test for the reverts. One has lived long adhering to the another faith and its the habits and lifestyle really gets grinded in one's way of living. Therefore when one embraces Islam, it takes time to shed away the older lifestyle and code of conduct of the older religion and adopt the new way of life which imposes many restrictions which become hard to really accept.

One of the habits or mindset is the shirk: Holding someone equal to or an associate of Allah or still following the religious deities and running over to them for their needs. This is specially seen in the Indian subcontinent where people with weak faith / Eeman prefer asking their deities for the fulfillment of their prayers rather than seeking help directly from Allah. It is these believers who get their faith tarnished and inadvertently get lost between the real truth and falsehood.

The following verse from  Surah 6. Al-An’am ( verse 82) points towards this direction and is of special significance for the reverts who may across believers who are tainting their faith by indulging into shirk: 

اَلَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَلَمۡ يَلۡبِسُوۡۤا اِيۡمَانَهُمۡ بِظُلۡمٍ اُولٰۤـئِكَ لَهُمُ الۡاَمۡنُ وَهُمۡ مُّهۡتَدُوۡنَ

Those who believe and did not tarnish their faith with wrong-doing for them there is security, and it is they who have been guided to the right way.'

The expression 'and did not tarnish their faith with wrong-doing' led some Companions to the misapprehension that perhaps this 'wrong-doing' signified 'disobedience'. But the Prophet (peace be on him) has made it clear that this wrong-doing signifies shirk (associating others with God in His divinity). The verse means, therefore, that they alone are fully secure and rightly-guided who believe in God and do not mix their faith with any polytheistic belief and practice.

Prophet Ibrahim Abraham, peace be upon him) was the first of the prophets who found out who the real God was and his journey to the truth began with the sun and then proceeded by way of the stars to his discovery of the One True God. Initially, he not only held the sun to be his Lord but even worshipped it, and that the same happened in connection with the moon. But when the truth had reveled unto him, he did not care for the consequences and even thrown into the fire but did not budge. 

It is interesting to learn that this incident, which is the starting-point of Abraham's prophetic career, has found no place in the Bible. It is mentioned only in the Talmud. The Talmudic version, however, is different from the Qur'anic version in two ways. First, in the Talmudic version Abraham's quest for the Truth begins with the sun and then proceeds by way of the stars to his discovery of the One True God. Second. it states that Abraham not only held the sun to be his Lord but even worshipped it, and that the same happened in connection with the moon.

Ibn Kathir Explanation:

Those who worship Allah alone without partners, will acquire safety on the Day of Resurrection, and they are the guided ones in this life and the Hereafter.

Al-Bukhari recorded that `Abdullah said, "When the Ayah, (and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong).) was revealed, the Companions of the Prophet said, `And who among us did not commit Zulm against himself' The Ayah, (Verily! Joining others in worship with Allah is a great Zulm (wrong) indeed.) [31:13], was later revealed.'' 

Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah said, "When this Ayah was revealed, (It is those who believe and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong),) it was hard on the people. They said, `O Allah's Messenger! Who among us did not commit Zulm against himself' He said, (It is not what you understood from it. Did you not hear what the righteous servant (Luqman) said, (O my son! Join not in worship others with Allah. Verily! Shirk is a great Zulm (wrong) indeed.)) [31:13]. Therefore, it is about Shirk. 

Therefore, the sense of the ayah is that one who enters the bliss of emaan and then does not associate anyone with the Being and the Attributes of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala shall remain safe from punishment and considered guided.

We must therefore guard ourselves against everything, specially the shirk, which may tarnish our good deeds and get us excluded from the rightly guided believers. 

Only those who believe in Allah and then do not go on to mix up their faith with injustice shall be the people who can hope to be safe against punishment. They are the guided ones in this life and the Hereafter. Here, Zulm [injustice] refers to Shirk [associating partners with Allah].

May Allah help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. Aameen.

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

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

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.

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 plain translation has been taken from the Qur'ān officially published by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. [1]
• 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. [2]  

In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided by [2], additional input has been interjected from following sources: 

• Towards Understanding the Quran
• Tafsir Ibn Khatir
• Muhammad Asad Translation
• Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
• Al-Quran, Yusuf Ali Translation
• Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle

In addition the 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.

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Step by Step Guide to Fasting in Ramadan

Alhamdolillah, the month of Ramadan has finally come for those newly reverted brothers and sisters who will be experiencing their first Ramadan of their lives. It is indeed  great blessing of Allah that you will be fasting for the first time in your lives as Muslims. May Allah accept your fasts / saum (Arabic of fasting) and all your supplications you make this month and hereafter. Aameen.

Remember, fasting is mandatory for male and female who are health, is sane and pubescent.

Although, by now you would acquainted yourselves with the procedure to fast, let us here give you a step by step guide of how to go about fasting during this most sacred month of Islamic calendar. 

Allah has commanded us to fast during the month of Ramadan in verse 183 of Surah ii Al Baqarah:

يٰٓـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا كُتِبَ عَلَيۡکُمُ الصِّيَامُ کَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِيۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِکُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُوۡنَۙ‏ 

“Believers! Fasting is enjoined upon you, as it was enjoined upon those before you, that you become God-fearing.” [2:183]

Fasting is obligatory for all healthy adult male and female:

اَيَّامًا مَّعۡدُوۡدٰتٍؕ فَمَنۡ كَانَ مِنۡكُمۡ مَّرِيۡضًا اَوۡ عَلٰى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنۡ اَيَّامٍ اُخَرَ​ؕ وَعَلَى الَّذِيۡنَ يُطِيۡقُوۡنَهٗ فِدۡيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسۡكِيۡنٍؕ فَمَنۡ تَطَوَّعَ خَيۡرًا فَهُوَ خَيۡرٌ لَّهٗ ؕ وَاَنۡ تَصُوۡمُوۡا خَيۡرٌ لَّـکُمۡ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ‏ 

"Fasting is for a fixed number of days, and if one of you be sick, or if one of you be on a journey, you will fast the same number of other days later on. For those who are capable of fasting (but still do not fast) there is a redemption: feeding a needy man for each day missed. Whoever voluntarily does more good than is required, will find it better for him;and that you should fast is better for you, if you only know." (2:184) 

However there are special instructions for the women:

Those under Menstruation & Post-Natal bleeding: If the period begins before sunset, the woman’s fast is invalidated and she has to make up that day later when she is clean. During the rest of her period she cannot fast. If she becomes pure before Fajr then she should fast, even if she does not bathe until after the time of Fajr starts. All the missed days have to be made up after Ramadan. 

Both nursing and pregnant women are required to fast in Ramadan. You should not fast if you fear harm for yourself or your child, or if it is too physically difficult.All the missed days have to be made up after Ramadan . On the other hand, if fasting does not result in hardship or harm, then a pregnant or nursing mother must fast.

So when the moon for first of Ramadan is sighted after the month of Rajab, the believers are ordained to fast from the coming morning. So  intend in your heart the night before that you will fast the next day based on what the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: There is no fast for the person who did not intend to fast from the night before.” (An-Nasa’i).

Taraweeh Prayers: One of the four hallmarks of Ramadan besides fasting, the Night better than a thousand night and Aitikaf is Taraweeh Prayers which are often offered after the obligatory cycles of the Isha prayer. Please read more about Taraweeh Prayers in one our earlier posts: Taraweeh Prayers - Salāt al-Tarāwīḥ

Sehr / Suhoor - The Pre-Dawn Meal specific to Ramadan: after performing your prayers, one may go to sleep but get up much more than the time for the Fajr / Pre Dawn prayer for one of the recommended ritual of Sehr / Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal specific to Ramadan. Since one has to remain without food and water, therefore one must take a adequate meal before the time for Fajr prayer commences. If you have exact time of Fajr prayer available, even then it is recommended to stop eating a few minutes before that time to be the safe side. However, if you sleep over the Fajr time and could not get up for this pre-dawn meal, and wake up after sunrise, you must fast for the remainder of the day, and the fast is still valid.

 وَكُلُوۡا وَاشۡرَبُوۡا حَتّٰى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَـكُمُ الۡخَـيۡطُ الۡاَبۡيَضُ مِنَ الۡخَـيۡطِ الۡاَسۡوَدِ مِنَ الۡفَجۡرِ​ؕ

"and eat and drink at night until you can discern the white streak of dawn against the blackness of the night" (2:187)

In this connection, too, there was a misapprehension at first. Some thought that eating and drinking were absolutely prohibited after the performance of the 'Isha' (Night) Prayer. Others thought that one could eat and drink so long as one had not fallen asleep, but that if one had it was not permissible to eat on reawakening. These were people's own fancies and often caused great inconvenience. This verse seeks to remove all such misconceptions. It clearly lays down the duration of the fast: from dawn until sunset. Between sunset and dawn it is permissible to eat, to drink, and to indulge in the legitimate gratification of sexual desires.

At the same time the Prophet introduced the pre-fasting repast, recommending a good meal just before dawn.

In fixing the time of obligatory rites, Islam has been mindful that these timings should be so clear and simple that people, at all stages of development, should be able to follow them. This is why Islam bases its timing on conspicuous natural phenomena and not on the clock.

Some people object that this principle of timing is untenable in areas close to the poles, where night and day each last for about six months. This objection is based on a very superficial knowledge of geography. In point of fact neither day nor night lasts for six months in those areas - not in the sense in which people living near the Equator conceive of night and day. The signs of morning and evening appear at the poles with unfailing regularity and it is on this basis that people time their sleeping and waking, their professional work, their play and recreation. Even in the days before watches were common, the people of countries like Finland, Norway and Greenland used to fix the hours of the day and night by means of various signs that appeared on the horizon. Just as those signs helped them to determine their schedules in other matters, so they should enable them to time their various Prayers, the pre-fast meal and the breaking of the fast.

Some people have adopted an attitude of extreme caution with regard to the time of both the end and start of fasting. The Law has not fixed these schedules with rigid precision. If a person wakes up just at the crack of dawn it is proper for him to eat and drink hastily. According to a Tradition the Prophet said: 'If anyone of you hears the call for [the morning] Prayer while he is eating he should not stop immediately, but should finish eating to the extent of his bare need.' (Abu Da'ud. Siyam', 14 - Ed.) 

After one has stopped eating, he must make the intention of keeping the fast by saying
:

 وَبِصَوْمِ غَدٍ نَّوَيْتُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ

(Wa bisawmi ghadinn nawaiytu min shahri ramadan)

I intend to keep the fast for tomorrow in the month of Ramadan

The Prophet of Allah has recommended the eating of pre-dawn meal as he is quoted as saying: "Take suhoor as there is a blessing in it." He is also quoted as saying that eat even it be  simple date and a glass of water.

Thereafter, after commencement of the Fajr prayer time, your fast begins and will continue to be in place till the sunset next evening that is up to the Maghrab prayer.

Now the test commences from the pre-dawn prayer (Fajr) till the Maghrab prayer for those who are fasting. Here is a list of things that you are not allowed to do during the time under fasting:

• No drinking or eating during the day. This also includes taking any oral medicines.
• Smoking, prohibited at all times, also invalidates the fast.
• If one by mistake eats and drinks, he should immediately repent, but continue to fast. The fast will be valid. The Prophet of Mercy, may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:If he forgets, and eats and drinks, then let him complete his fast, for Allah has fed him and given him to drink.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
• One has to abstain from marital relations with one's spouse during the fast time, whether one ejaculates or not, for it invalidates the fast However There are no restrictions at night.
• By extension, masturbation also invalidates fasting.
• Self-induced vomiting ruins the fast as the Prophet said:Whoever vomits unintentionally does not have to make up the fast later, but whoever vomits on purpose does have to make up the fast.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

Breaking the Fast: Finally the time comes for breaking the fast. Fourth, the time for Maghrib or evening sunset prayer begins when the sun sets. That’s also when you ‘break’ your fast and can resume eating and drinking. This meal is called ‘iftar’.  

'Complete your fasting until night sets in' means that the time of fasting ends with nightfall, i.e. sunset marks the breaking of the fast. The precise time of the end of the pre-dawn repast is when a lean strip of aurora appears at the eastern end of the horizon and begins to grow. The time to break one's fast starts when the darkness of night seems to have begun to appear over the eastern horizon.

One need not wait for the light of day to disappear fully before breaking the fast. The Prophet, for instance, used to ask Bilal to bring him something to drink as soon as the sun had set. Bilal expressed his astonishment, pointing out that the light of day could still be observed. To this the Prophet replied that the time of fasting came to an end when the darkness of night began to rise from the east.

Before breaking the fast one must say:

 اللَّهُمَّ اِنِّى لَكَ صُمْتُ وَبِكَ امنْتُ وَعَليْكَ تَوَكّلتُ وَ عَلى رِزْقِكَ اَفْطَرْتُ

(Allahumma inni laka sumtu wa bika aamantu wa alayka tawakkaltu wa ala rizq-ika-aftartu)

O Allah! I fasted for You and I believe in You and I put my trust in You and I break my fast with Your sustenance

The Prophet would first break his fast, even if only with a sip of water, and then pray the dusk or Maghrib prayer. You are totally free to have your dinner at this time or later,however, you should not miss the Maghrib prayer because you are busy eating!

And from here on, the cycle repeats till the month of Ramadan comes to en end with the siting of the moon of Shawal, the first of which shall be celebrated as Eid ul Fitr.

There are yet two other hallmarks of Ramadan left: The Night better than Thousand Nights and the Aitikaf, that fall during the last ten days of the Ramadan. We shall write about Aitikaf when the last ten days of month of Ramadan near, while you may click on the link to know more about the Night better than Thousand Nights, a unique night that falls once in a year during this sacred month..

May Allah help us to understand the simple and most practical religion of all - Islam and allow us to take advantage of the month of Ramadan and concessions given to us in fasting when traveling or being sick. Aameen.

To know more about fasting and importance of month of Ramadan, please consult our reference page: Ramadan - A month of fasting and Blessings. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

May Allah show us the right path so that we do not go astray due to what man has interpreted verses of religious scriptures to suit their own religions and faith. Aameen.

Photo | Reference: Surah ii Al Baqarah

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Revert Experience of a Paranormal Activity Investigator

The word Islam means voluntary “submission” or “surrender” to the Will of of one and only One Allah, without attributing anyone else with Him. This is the monotheistic concept we the Muslims believe in. 

Islam derives from the root word “salam,” meaning peace. Islam is in nutshell is about man since eternity to eternity. It is about how a man should follow a path that guides him to live a life of truth as spelt out very clearly by the Master of the Universe in His Divine scripture The Holy Qur'an. And that is the reason, every day more and more people who ponder over the real meaning of life are turning towards Islam and reverting to the very true meaning of life.

The main purpose of my blog, when I started it, was to know, and in the process tell others, why people of other faith revert to Islam. I have been sharing the revert experience every now and then, and the experiences are really revealing. And today's experience is one of the very special for a brother found an answer in the Holy Quran which he could not otherwise.

Today's revert experience is an amazing story of the known Paranormal Activity Investigator Brother Michael Hallowell who spent years investigating the paranormal activities and he worked with the police on cases related to these things. 

One day he came across a case where he witnessed an invisible being stalking a family in their home and couldn't solve the case. It was then a Muslim friend of his son recommended him to read about the "Jinn" beings from the Noble Qur'an. Hit against the corner, he thought to give it a try. And when he started the relevant portions of the Holy Qur'an, specifically the Surah Jinn the 72nd chapter of Islam. he was amazed to find how the Noble Qur'an perfectly explained all his questions about those paranormal activities he's been wondering about for long time.

This made him realize that none except Allah could unveil the secret behind these otherwise invisible beings called Jinn.  This was enough to convince about the truth he has always been looking for and converted to Islam. His reversion sat in a chain reaction in his family where members of his family started converting one after another, his father of 73 being the first one.

Watch the video below in which brother Michael Hallowell explains his revert experience:

I am sure such sharing of revert experience would provide a cue to others who are half way in deciding and taking their ultimate decision to accept Islam. Please read all such revert experiences I have already shared and find the truth yourself. I assure you in Islam you will find the peace of mind that no other faith can provide.

Give it a try!!

To read personal accounts of many a celebrity who have reverted to Islam, please visit our page: Embracing Islam: Revert Experiences.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo 

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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 Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Which Branch (Sect) of Islam to Follow: A Dilemma for the Reverts

Difference of opinion among men has always existed since time immemorial which has often caused wars, mistrust, disunity, discord, dissension and divisions in clans, societies, tribes and even religions. The three monotheistic Abrahamic faiths; Jewish, Christianity and Islam being no exception. While in all cases the main branch tree remains the same, the branches have grown out due to difference of interpretations of the Divine commandments and even due to political reasons as well.

I will not go into details of dissensions in other monotheistic faiths, but would suffice to say that like Christianity which is divided into Orthodox Roman Catholic and Protestant branches, Islam too has been divided in two branches; Sunni and Shia Sects. While majority of Muslims around the world, some 75-80% follow the Sunni Branch / Sect, the remaining follow the Shia Branch / Sect.

In fact by dividing us into segments is strictly in tangent to commandments of Allah:

 “And hold fast all together by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you) and be not divided among yourselves, and remember with gratitude Allah’s favor on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love so that by His grace ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of fire and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make his signs clear to you: that ye may be guided” (Quran, 3:103)

And divided we did as against the commandment of Allah. By the dissensions, we have weakened ourselves which is providing a ripe cue for the powers against Islam to take advantage of and harm the cause of Islam. It is worthwhile to mention here that when it comes to dealing the Muslims, all sects of other faiths gather under the flagship faith, while despite being threatened we continue to keep carrying different flags and never trying to shed our differences and be one.

The difference between the two branches is the discord over a religio-political leadership dispute about the rightful successor to Muhammad. While the former believe in the teachings of the Holy Qur'an and Hadiths and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the four caliphs that succeeded the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), the Shia Branch disputes the succession and consider Ali, the fourth caliph and cousin/son in law of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) as the rightful heir of the Prophet of Allah (ﷺ)and follow the Holy Qur'an, Hadiths and Sunnah of the Prophet of Allah (ﷺ), besides sayings of Twelve Imams and equate their sayings at par with that of the Prophet of Allah.

There are sub branches in both the main branches which basically differ on the interpretations of the commandments of Allah in the Holy Qur'an and sayings of the Prophet of Allah.

Now this poses a dilemma for the newly reverts as to which branch / sect of Islam to follow. Those who embrace Islam at the hands of clerics of either of the sects, generally follow the teachings believed by that particular sect. However, to many this poses a dilemma as to which branch is "The" right branch of Islam to follow. A revert is justified in getting puzzled  knowing that there are so many versions of Islam and how to make a decision?

The answer is both simple and complicated. Going by the simpler approach, one may only ask one question: Which sect the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) belonged to? Naturally the answer is very simple: There were no sects or divisions of Islam in the time of Prophet. All Muslims were equal and everyone proudly proclaimed the Shahada: So one should follow the path shown in the Holy Qur'an, which was practically demonstrated by the way the Prophet of Allah lived his life and said to explain many complex commandments of the Holy Qur'an. 

The Quran reminds us that, originally, humankind was one Ummah, but this unity was broken by various differences which the human beings created among themselves:

“The people were but one nation, then they differed. And had it not been for a previous command from your Lord, the matter would have been immediately judged between them for what they differed.”  [Holy Qur'an 10:19 ]

“And, (moreover), this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow (other) ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.” [Al-Anana’am 6:153]

And by dividing ourselves, we have exactly done which was feared for us.

As for the more complex approach, one can read and consult thousands of books written is support of each sect and remain confused forever. We will drift too far if we start to get into the nitty gritties of these differences. But listening to Muslim scholars can ease our dilemma for they sum up the most complex of the problems in just few simple words.

Watch an enlightening video below by one of the most learned scholar of Islam today Dr Zakir A Naik explaining what a true Muslim should follow:

I hope by watching the video above, one may get to follow a common source of enlightenment: The Holy Qur'an and the authenticated Hadith and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). What came thereafter is all innovations, deviations from the true path as was observed and shown by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).

To read personal accounts those who have reverted to Islam, please visit our page: Embracing Islam: Revert Experiences. You may also visit our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues related to Islam to knw more Islam as eminent scholars answer some of the most asked question about Islam

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |

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

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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 Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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