Who are the blessed FORERUNNERS "السّٰبِقُوۡنَۚ" mentioned in Qur’an

There is a mention of people known as the Forerunners - the As Sabiqoon "السّٰبِقُوۡنَۚ" in the 10th verse of Sürah 56. Al Waqi'ah (The Inevitable Event). These have been described by Allah as the best of the people who ever lived. These people have been explained in our earlier post  as under, as explained in "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. :

Sabiqoon (the Foremost) implies the people who excelled others in virtue and love of the truth and in good works and responded to the call of Allah and His Messenger before others. They were also in the forefront in their response to the call for Jihad, for expending their wealth for the sake of the needy and for public services, or for inviting others to virtue and truth, in short, for spreading the good and wiping out evil and making sacrifices and exerting themselves whenever there was need for it. On this very basis, in the Hereafter too, they will be placed in the forefront.

Thus, mankind, so to say, will be ranged in Allah's Court like this: On the right hand, there will be the righteous, on the left the wicked, and in the forefront (nearest in Divine Presence) the Sabiqin (the Foremost in Faith and good deeds). According to a Hadith reported by ,Hadrat `A'ishah the Holy Prophet (upon whom be Allah's peace) asked the people: "Do you know who, on the Day of Resurrection, will he the first to be accommodated under the Divine Shade ?" The people said Allah and His Messenger only had the best knowledge. Thereupon the Holy Prophet replied: "Those who were such that when the Truth was presented before them, they accepted it forthwith; when a right was asked of them, they discharged it gracefully; and their decision in respect of others was the same as in respect of their own selves." (Musnad Ahmad).

Today, we share an enlightening commentary on these blessed people by one of the most eminent scholars of present times, Nouman Ali Khan. In fact this commentary is part of one of the Khutbahs of Jumu'ah prayer. The purpose of sharing this video is two fold:

• To provide a scholarly explanation of the verse and the blessed people known as Sabiqoon,
• And secondly to explain that the language of Khutbah of Jumu'ah does not necessarily be Arabic, as as been the viewpoint of scholars in some of the non Arabic Muslim countries, for unless the audiance listening to the khutbah understand what is being said, there is not point in listening to the khutbah. In this connection, please refer to our earliest post: What should be the language of Khutbah in Jumu'ah Congregational prayer

Now let us listen to the Khutbah and explanation of the people called Sabiqoon:

Nouman Ali Khan, born to a Pakistani family, is an American Muslim speaker and Arabic instructor who founded the Bayyinah Institute for Arabic and Qur’anic Studies, after serving as an instructor of Arabic at Nassau Community College. He has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan.

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 to convey only 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 Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. 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. 

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

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. 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.

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

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, 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

What should be the language of Khutbah in Jumu'ah Congregational prayer (Scholars of Islam answer)

Today, through this post, I touch upon a subject that has been boggling my mind since my childhood. Since I live in a country where Arabic is neither the mother tongue, nor generally spoken either. However, despite this, the Khutbah (The Friday Sermon) in the Jumu'ah congregational prayer, is given in Arabic by the imam leading the prayer. And since he himself is not Arabic speaking, the Khutbah is mostly read out from a collection of many khutbahs given in a small booklet. And the entire audience sits in awe with heads down, understanding nothing what is being said. And I have always wondered the logic of the Khutbah being in Arabic. Therefore, I am venturing into this most important subject and will try to give out what I have known so far from many a ruling given by scholars from around the world.

Before get into details of the language, let us first know what is the purpose of Khutbah, for it will decide its language.

The Friday sermon (khutbah), like all Islamic rituals, has a purpose. It aims to remind the Muslims of their responsibilities, enjoin good and warn against evil. That is it has an educational vale for what is being said in the Khutbah actually aims at educating the Muslims to know their religion better and thus they could implement it easily during their practical life.

 For this purpose the Khutbah should be in the language of the people to whom it is delivered, otherwise it will be a mere formality and fail to achieve its purpose.

Going back to its origin, the Khutbah of Jumu'ah prayer was started by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in Medinah after the establishment of the Islamic State. 

The Khutbah was delivered by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to apprise, and remind, the Muslims of their responsibilities, to enjoin good and warn against evil. This was the reason that  the Friday was chosen to offer the otherwise Dhur (noon) prayer in the form a congregation so that all able bodied and healthy Muslims could get to gather at one place. Since Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to be otherwise busy in receiving people all through the week, the Friday congregation was the best time for him to deliver a sermon mainly intended to explain the commandments of Allah contained in the verses of Qur'an. The Prophet ﷺ used to deliver words of exhortation, instruction, or command at gatherings for worship in the mosque, which consisted of the courtyard of his house in Medina.

Since at that time, the language of Arabs was Arabic, obviously the Khutbah by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ too was delivered in Arabic. 

Now the question arises, should Jumu'ah khutbah only be Arabic, or it can be given in the local language of Muslims on non Arabic speaking countries?

The view of the Maalikis and it is the well-known view of the Hanbalis, is that it is essential that the Khutbah to be in Arabic for the one who is able to do that, even if the listeners do not know Arabic. (See: al-Fawaakih al-Diwaani (1/306) and Kashshaaf al-Qinaa’ (2/34).)  

The second view point is that it is essential for it to be in Arabic for the one who is able to do that, unless none of the listeners know Arabic, in which case he should give the khutbah in their language. This is the correct view according to the Shaafa’is, and it is the view of some of the Hanbalis. (See: al-Majmoo’ by al-Nawawi (4/522).)  

However, the simple answer is that it is mustahabb for the khutbah to be in Arabic but it is not essential, and the imam may deliver the khutbah in his own language instead of Arabic. This is the view of Abu Haneefah and some of the Shaafa’is. (See: Radd al-Muhtaar (1/543) and al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (19/180).)  

Comparing the the three view points stated above, the third view seems logical, and for this reason this interpretation is favoured by a number of contemporary scholars, because there is no clear evidence to say that the khutbah must be in Arabic, and because the purpose of the khutbah is to exhort, benefit and teach, which can only be done by using the language of the people present.  

The Late Sheikh Jad Al-Haqq Ali Jad Al-Haqq, the former Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, states:

The Hanifi school of fiqh (jurisprudence) state that it is permissible to deliver the khutbah in a language other than Arabic whether the audience are Arabs or not.

I see that since the aim of the Friday sermon is to admonish people, then the opinion of Abu Hanifah should take priority. It goes more with the nature and aim of the congregation.

If one likes to follow the opinion of the majority of the jurists, another alternative can be suggested. The imam can give the two parts of the Friday khutbah, followed by a translation for each in the language of the audience.

To sum up, let us read the statement of the Fiqh Council of the Muslim World League:  

The fairest opinion is that using Arabic when giving the khutbah on Friday and at Eid in countries where it is not spoken is not a condition of it being valid, but it is better to say the preliminaries of the khutbah and any Qur’aanic verses quoted in Arabic, so as to get non-Arabs used to hearing Arabic and the Qur’aan, which will make it easier to learn it and read the Qur’aan in the language in which it was revealed. Then the khateeb can follow that with exhortation in their language which they understand. (Qiraaraat al-Majma’ al-Fiqhi (p. 99) (fifth session, fifth statement). )

Now you may watch a video in which eminent Muslim scholar Sheikh Assim Al Hakeem on the subject of language of the khutbah:

Disclaimer: 

The post is written from education point of view to know how scholars think / recommend and what is being practiced. We must know what is correct or close to logic, for sitting in the masjid and listening to the Khutbah without understanding a word of it is useless and uneducated. The substance of the post doe not in any manner meant to undermine the views of followers of different schools of thought. It is also not intended to to set into motion a debate about who is right or otherwise.

The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. 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.

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 to convey only 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 Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. 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. 

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

Reference References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam.

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

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

How to be Grateful

Today, we share a beautiful scholarly lecture on how to be grateful. But before we share the video, let us take a self-appraisal: Are we grateful or ungrateful? While the reasons of being in either of the two states, as we shall enumerate in the post, a simple litmus test shows us in which boat do we sail and that is how many times we say: Alhamdulillah (ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ, al-Ḥamdu lillāh - an Arabic phrase meaning "praise be to God", or simple "thank God").

Well, in most cases, we would find that whether we confess or not, we are generally ungrateful. Instead of acknowledging what we have, we are mostly worried about what we do not have. We are always comparing our state with others and lamenting look how rich, affluent, well dressed a particular man is. How the other person has a big car and a house that I don't have. In fact, it is the greed that resides in ourselves, something that develops over a period of time since our childhood when we did not have much. Or even if we had much, we still envied others in our schools or neighborhood who had better cellphones, better glittering cars and expensive watches etc.

People who are ungrateful tend to be characterized by an excessive sense of self-importance, arrogance, vanity, and an unquenchable need for admiration and approval. Narcissists reject the ties that bind people into relationships of reciprocity. They expect special favors and feel no need to pay back or pay forward.

And while being self-possessive, we seldom compare others with us. That is the mood point. There are billions of people around the world who do not have what we have. We see people suffer from hunger, shattered by wars and natural calamities, living in make shift shelters in ghettos. This all happens and we see it while we are better placed than them. But instead of feeling the pain and suffering of others and thanking what we have, we still long for more to be better than those who are better than us.

This is the state of ungratefulness and ingratitude, which is known as (Arabic) کُفر النّعمة, kufr al-niʿma), that is not acknowledging the Divine blessings. This is among great sins in Islam. It refers to abusing the blessings and is against being grateful for the blessings. In the Qur'an and hadiths, ingratitude is criticized and considered as a type of disbelief.

And when we are ungrateful, we fail to concentrate on the good aspects of our life, leaving us resentful and even angry. We tend to find what is amiss in our lives. And this state of ingratitude and ungratefulness tend to give us heartburn and cause us to be explosive in our attitudes.

We never care what God has given us. We instead care what God has not given us. Allah says in Qur'an:

“And He has given you whatever you have asked Him; and if you count Allah's blessings, you are unable to number them. Verily, man is very unjust, very ungrateful.” “And if you count Allah's blessings, you are unable to number them.

If we start to take stock of what we have as compared to what people do not have, we will become grateful to God for having made us better than others. And we must make an endeavour to make the lives of others better by giving out whatever is extra to our needs. That is how Islam teaches us to be humble and grateful rather than arrogant and proud for being better than others.

This is just the premise to the very informative lecture by renowned Muslim scholar Nauman Ali Khan which is being shared as under:

Nouman Ali Khan, born to a Pakistani family, is an American Muslim speaker and Arabic instructor who founded the Bayyinah Institute for Arabic and Qur’anic Studies, after serving as an instructor of Arabic at Nassau Community College. He has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan.

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is our duty to convey only 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 Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. 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. 

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

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. 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 | 

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam.

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

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

Lift yourself by sincere repentance if you fall

Man has been created very fragile and weak by Allah so that he is tested and observed whether he recovers if he falls by being lured by Satan or not. Even Prophet Adam (علي السلام) could not resist the temptation of Satan when he was enticed to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree.

“Then they both ate of that tree, and so their private parts appeared to them, and they began to stick on themselves the leaves from Paradise for their covering.  Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, so he went astray.  Then his Lord chose him, and turned to him with forgiveness and gave him guidance.” (Quran 20:121-122)

But should it mean that once a believer falls, he has no means to recover and stand again? Well Allah forgave Adam when he sincerely repented. And so, He would accept true repentance of every believer should they sincerely do so and seek forgiveness of Allah, for Allah is Al-Ghafur (الغفور) - The Forgiving, The Pardoner and Ar-Rahim (الرحيم)-The Most Merciful. Allah promises His servants that so long they keep seeking Allah's forgiveness, He will continue to forgive them till they finally see the angel of death knocking at their door.

(3:133) And hasten to the forgiveness of your Lord and to a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the God-fearing.

So, we must always repent and ask forgiveness when we sin or do something against the Divine commandments, and must not delay in doing so for Devil within may prompt us to delay it for better times and may lure us into more sinful activities. 

* Please read more on forgiveness/Repentance in our post on Selected Verses from Qur'an.

You may now watch an enlightening video below on the subject by one of the most eminent scholars of present times, Mufti Menk:

Ismail ibn Musa Menk (إسماعيل إبن موسى منك), generally known as Mufti Menk (born 27 June 1975), is a Zimbabwean Islamic Scholar. He is widely known internationally. Menk has been named one of The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Jordan in 2013, 2014 and 2017.

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is our duty to convey only 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 Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. 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. 

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

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. 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.

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

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

Who does Allah help?

I share today part of the 11th verse from Surah 13. Ar Ra'd (The Thunder) which I have been listening to since my childhood. This part of the verse if applicable to everyone, especially the Muslims of today who are dependent more on their supplication to seek Divine help to ease their sufferings or effect a meaningful change in their lives, rather than first striving hard to make their situation change through hard work and resilience. Though the Divine message is crystal clear, I thought to let my viewers know how the verse is interpreted by the scholars for easy understanding the core of the verse.

لَهٗ مُعَقِّبٰتٌ مِّنۡۢ بَيۡنِ يَدَيۡهِ وَمِنۡ خَلۡفِهٖ يَحۡفَظُوۡنَهٗ مِنۡ اَمۡرِ اللّٰهِ​ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوۡمٍ حَتّٰى يُغَيِّرُوۡا مَا بِاَنۡفُسِهِمۡ​ؕ وَاِذَاۤ اَرَادَ اللّٰهُ بِقَوۡمٍ سُوۡۤءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهٗ​ۚ وَمَا لَهُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِهٖ مِنۡ وَّالٍ‏ 

(13:11) There are guardians over everyone, both before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah's command. Verily Allah does not change a people's condition unless they change their inner selves. And when Allah decides to make a people suffer punishment, no one can avert it. Nor can any be of help to such people against Allah.

Muhammad Asad Explanation:

Lit., "that which is in themselves". This statement has both a positive and a negative connotation: i.e., God does not withdraw His blessings from men unless their inner selves become depraved just as He does not bestow His blessings upon willful sinners until they change their inner disposition and become worthy of His grace. (cf. 8:53),

(8:53) This happened because Allah is not one to change the favour which He has bestowed upon a people until they have changed their attitude. Surely Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

In its wider sense, this is an illustration of the divine law of cause and effect (sunnat Allah) which dominates the lives of both individuals and communities, and makes the rise and fall of civilizations dependent on people's moral qualities and the changes in "their inner selves".

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

This is a reference to the established practice of God according to which just as God selects individuals and makes them pass through trials of patience and gratitude, in a similar way, He chooses nations for this purpose. As a result of this selection, when a nation climbs to heights, God does not change His dealing with it unless it itself plunges into lowliness of character and shallowness of knowledge. This is an unalterable practice of God and in accordance with this established practice when He decides to punish and humiliate a nation after repeatedly warning it, no one can ward off this decision and no power in this world can help that nation against God. The annals of mankind bear witness to this pattern of rise and fall of nations.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

Allah sends His angels to watch them all the time, monitoring any changes they may introduce within themselves or in their way of living, and determines what He does with them on that basis. He does not change any grace, luxury or position of respect, or indeed any hardship or position of humiliation or weakness, until people have changed their actions, feelings and conditions. The change then fits what they themselves have changed. But God knows what they do or change even before they do it themselves, but the consequences of their action take place after they have done it.

This lays a great responsibility on human beings. It is God’s will that makes what He does with them dependent on what they themselves do. His laws operate on the basis of how they tackle these laws through their actions. The statement here is very clear, allowing no other interpretation. But it also signifies the position of honour God grants human beings as He has made them and their actions the means to implement God’s will with regard to their own position, status and welfare.

Having established this principle, the Sūrah highlights God’s changing the situation of any particular community for the worse. The gist of the first statement indicates that they have changed for the worse, and as a result God has willed them to MISSING TEXT. In this verse, only the evil alternative is mentioned so as to serve as a warning. If, by their actions, they deserve God’s punishment, then it is inevitable; it will not be averted. No support will rescue them from it.

Now, you may watch the video below by Dr Shabir Ally is a Canadian Islamic preacher. He is best known for his contextual interpretation of the Qur'anic verses, and justification in similar expressions within the Christian Bible. on the subject. The video is in Urdu, but has English subtitles for those who cannot understand Urdu:

* Note: The complete interpretation of the verse which has three parts can be read from our reference page: Selected Verses from Qur'an.

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is our duty to convey only 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 Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. 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. 

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

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. 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.

Qur'an References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam.

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

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

Divine Warning!! Indeed, the man is in loss (The reality of human beings)

Surah 103 Al Asr "The Time" is a short surah  of just three verses, yet it carries very meaningful insight into the importance of time and a stern warning for the man for "Indeed Man is in Loss." We have already written three posts on the explanation of this seurah. But today, in our series of posts on Scholars' Viewpoint, we present a extremely lecture by Nouman Ali Khan, one of the eminent Muslim scholars of present times, who concentrates on the subject of why man is in loss and why.

The verse under discussion is: إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ‌ Indeed man is in loss (103:2) That is there has been no worthwhile and trustworthy path, except the path of Allah. But man has always been pursing paths that  lead only to loss and ruin. He has always been provided opportunities to listen to the Divine Calls, yet he listened to calls that are lucrative and inticing.  And thus has been in loss.

Let us watch the video below and see how Nouman Ali Khan explains what this meanigful verse actually mean and how  and why man is in loss:

Nouman Ali Khan, born to a Pakistani family, is an American Muslim speaker and Arabic instructor who founded the Bayyinah Institute for Arabic and Qur’anic Studies, after serving as an instructor of Arabic at Nassau Community College. He has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan.

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is our duty to convey only 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 Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. 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. 

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

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. 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.

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam.

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

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, 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

Unique Correlation between Surah As Sajda and Surah Al Insān (The Surahs Prophet Muhammad ﷺ recited in Fajr prayer on Fridays)

In one of our recent posts on Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, we mentioned that the revered Prophet of Allah used to recite Surah 32. As Sajda and Surah 76. Al Insān in the first and second rakat of pre-dawn prayer Fajr on Fridays. Both these surahs are rather long and one wonders why would Prophet Muhammad ﷺ choose these long surahs for Fajr prayer. Even once some companion asked Prophet Muhammad ﷺ the why and he shrugged him off for there cannot be an explanation for everything, but only Prophets of Allah know the wisdom behind.

While we cannot fathom the realities and wisdom of such acts of prophets, we can find correlation between these two far apart placed surahs. But before we do that do that, let us recapitulate the themes of the two surahs:

Here let us briefly know the two surahs before drawing the correlation between the two:

Surah 32. As Sajda:

• Basic Information: Surah As Sajdah السجدة is the 32nd surah with 30 ayahs with three rukus and one Sajdah, part of the 21st Juzʼ of the Holy Qur'an. The Surah appears to have been sent down during the middle Makkah period, more particularly in its initial stage. 
• Theme: The Surah aims at removing the doubts of the people concerning Tauhid, the Hereafter and the Prophethood, and to invite them to all these three realities. The surah also answers to many doubts of the disbelievers of Makkah when the Prophet extended them invitation to Islam. And the disbelievers have been told: "Most certainly it is Allah's Word, which has been sent down in order to arouse a people who are sunk in heedlessness, being deprived of the bounties and blessings of Prophethood. How can you call it a fabrication when its having been sent down from Allah is manifest and self-evident?"

Surah 76. Al Insān (Man) / also called Surah Al Dahr (The Endless Time):

• Sūrah Al-Insān (The Man) is the 76th surah / chapter of the Holy Qur'an with 31 verses and two rukuh. 
• Theme: The surah has three distinct parts: The opener that briefly touches upon the creation of man from a very humble beginning, the Main which is full of news of bounties for those who lived the life as was expected of them in this life and the plentiful rewards that would be bestowed upon to them in the life in the hereafter, and the Concluding part that is addressed to the Prophet of Allah and is told that Allah sent this Quran gradually according to the issues faced by mankind Allah, the all-powerful, will show mercy only to those who seek mercy, and for those who are proud and arrogant, there will be utter punishment awaiting in the hereafter.

Now we share herein under an enlightening video below on the unique relationship between Surah As Sajda and Surah Al Insān by one of the most eminent scholars of present times, Nouman Ali Khan:

Nouman Ali Khan, born to a Pakistani family, is an American Muslim speaker and Arabic instructor who founded the Bayyinah Institute for Arabic and Qur’anic Studies, after serving as an instructor of Arabic at Nassau Community College. He has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan.

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is our duty to convey only 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 Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. 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. 

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

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. 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 | Read more: Surah As Sajda: | Overview | Exegesis | Surah Al Insān: | Summary | Exegesis |

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam.

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

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

Believers! Let your intention be pure when giving charity

Charity, whether obligatory (Zakat) or voluntary (Sadqat) is the one of the main pillars of Islam to establish balance in the society. If every person shares a little after meeting his bare minimum needs and helps those to make their ends meet, the entire community can prosper and no one will need to beg or ask someone for help.

However, those giving charity should have a pure heart to give charity. If the charity is being given to favour someone or as a show off, the entire reward will be wasted away and nullified, for charity is to be made only to please Allah as a show of gratefulness. How can we be charitable if we do not acknowledge our Lord for having given us enough to help others? Unless we acknowledge this blessing of Allah, we can never be hopeful for acceptance of our good deeds and acts to help others. 

We have already written a number of posts on importance of charity and the act of thankfulness to Allah in our series of posts on Importance of Charity in Islam. To add on to whatever has already been written and shared, we share a befitting scholarly thought by eminent scholars of present times,  Wahiduddin Khan:

Wahiduddin Khan (1 January 1925 – 21 April 2021) was an Islamic scholar and peace activist known for having written a commentary on the Quran and having translated it into contemporary English and talking on issues related to Islam

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is our duty to convey only 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 Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. 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. 

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

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. 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 | 

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

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

Why all Prophets were MEN? (Scholars' Viewpoint)

Our Lord, the Creator of the Universe, has sent His specially chosen men as His prophets and messengers to different nations since Adm descended on earth. The sole purpose of sending prophets and messengers was to spread His Divine Commands to the people so that they follow the path He has chosen for us. As per historians and estimates, some 124,000 prophets were sent by our Lord. 

Interestingly, all prophets were men and there is record available if the prophetesses too were sent. Why is it that God only chose men, is His prerogative and we do not have to comment or raise our eye brows for many today think it was against the so-called gender equality. Yet, this question is more often than not raised and asked from scholars. And obviously they do not have a rationale for this query.

In fact, such queries are raised when we tend to compare things or try to find a scientific answer to everything. We know that men and women are biologically different. Each one of them is has a specific task to do within their own sphere keeping in view their physical and mental abilities. No matter how much a woman undergoes a strenous gym session, she can never be at par with men physicaly. Secondly women by nature are emotionally chrged while men are more prone to logical reasoning. 

This has been said in the 4th verse of Surah 4. An Nisa (The Women):

وَلَا تَتَمَنَّوۡا مَا فَضَّلَ اللّٰهُ بِهٖ بَعۡضَكُمۡ عَلٰى بَعۡضٍ​ ؕ لِلرِّجَالِ نَصِيۡبٌ مِّمَّا اكۡتَسَبُوۡا ؕ​ وَلِلنِّسَآءِ نَصِيۡبٌ مِّمَّا اكۡتَسَبۡنَ​ ؕ وَسۡئَـلُوا اللّٰهَ مِنۡ فَضۡلِهٖ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عَلِيۡمًا‏  

(4:32) Do not covet what Allah has conferred more abundantly on some of you than others. Men shall have a share according to what they have earned, and women shall have a share according to what they have earned. Do ask of Allah His bounty. Allah has full knowledge of everything.

Eminent Muslim scholars Yusuf Ali says while explaining this verse: 

Men and women have gifts from Allah-some greater than others. They seem unequal, but we are assured that Allah has allotted them by a scheme by which people receive what they earn. If this does not appear clear in our sight, let us remember that we have no full knowledge but Allah has. We must not be jealous if other people have more than we have-in wealth or position or strength or honour or talent or happiness. Probably things are equalized in aggregate or in the long run, or equated to needs and merits on a scale which we cannot appraise. If we want more, instead of being jealous or covetous, we should pray to Allah and place before Him our needs. Though He knows all, and has no need of our prayer, our prayer may reveal to ourselves our shortcomings and enable us to deserve more of Allah's bounty or make ourselves fit for it.

Explaining this verse, revered exegete of Qur'an Ibn-Kathir quotes Imam Ahmad who recorded that Umm Salamah said, "O Messenger of Allah! Men go to battle, but we do not go to battle, and we earn one-half of the inheritance (that men get).'' Allah sent down, (And wish not for the things in which Allah has made some of you to excel others). 

At-Tirmidhi also recorded this Hadith. Allah's statement, (For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned,) indicates, according to Ibn Jarir, that each person will earn his wages for his works, a reward if his deeds are good, and punishment if his deeds are evil. It was also reported that this Ayah is talking about inheritance, indicating the fact that each person will get his due share of the inheritance, as Al-Walibi reported from Ibn `Abbas. 

Allah then directed the servants to what benefits them, (and ask Allah of His Bounty.) Therefore, the Ayah states, "Do not wish for what other people were endowed with over you, for this is a decision that will come to pass, and wishing does not change its decree. However, ask Me of My favor and I will grant it to you, for I Am Most Generous and Most Giving.'' 

Allah then said, (Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything.) meaning, Allah knows who deserves this life, and so He gives him riches, and whoever deserves poverty, He makes him poor. He also knows who deserves the Hereafter, and He directs him to perform the deeds that will help him to be successful in it, and whoever deserves failure, He prevents him from achieving righteousness and what leads to it. 

Hence, Allah said, (Surely, Allah is Ever All-Knower of everything).

The verse quoted above, and its interpretation by the exegetes, should clear all doubts existing in the minds of many, especially women, who think that they have been treated UNJUSTLY by not having being chosen as prophetesses. Men were preferred over women to be prophet for they could endure the hardships better than women. And we have seen how prophets were maltreated, abused and physically and mentally harmed when they tried to put across the word of God to their people. Many prophets wee killed in cold blood while many others were stoned and put in seclusion so that they could be persuaded not to act like prophets. Yet, we see that they remained steadfast and continued to spread the word of God and ultimately in the end they were successful. Quite obviosly, women may not have endured these physical and mental torture at the hands to rough and tough men of the deserts.

The respect that women enjoy today was nt there in the times of prophets. In fact baby girls born were buried alive and women were treated like animals and third rate humans. Under such hostile conditions. preferring men over woman makes sense.

Please watch an enlightening video on the subject below by one of the most eminent scholars of present times, Nouman Ali Khan:

Nouman Ali Khan, born to a Pakistani family, is an American Muslim speaker and Arabic instructor who founded the Bayyinah Institute for Arabic and Qur’anic Studies, after serving as an instructor of Arabic at Nassau Community College. He has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan.

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is our duty to convey only 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 Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. 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. 

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

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. 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.

References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam.

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

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

What to ask Allah (Scholars' Viewpoint)

Today, we at Islam: My Ultimate Decision, touch upon a subject which may seem very easy and simple on the face of it. But in fact, the topic today is seldom answered correctly by many believers when they are asked what they should ask from Allah.

We often have lists of things to ask from Allah and when we sit down at the end of our obligatory or even voluntary prayers, we start reading our lists as stored in our mind. These include every array of our lives, like money, position, children, good spouse, a comfortable house and a means of transportation and ending up with good health. We may also include grant of Paradise, Jannah, and escape from Hell, Jahanam.

But while doing so, we forget one thing: Seek forgiveness of our sins, wrongdoings and misguided life. If we ponder over the very meaning of forgiveness, the reality would start to dawn on us that unless we seek forgiveness from Allah and really feel ashamed of the dark part of our lives, the doors of heaven will never open for us. and rightly so, why should Allah grant us all blessings that we spell ot, if we have not been faithful to him and ashamed of our misdeed.

The theme of forgiveness is the topic of our post today and we have selected a very informative, enlightening and educative video lecture by one of the most eminent scholars of present times, Nouman Ali Khan. And we are very sure that if listen very patiently to this lecture in silence, preferably alone, so that each word of wisdom that oozes out of Nouman Ali Khan pierce into our hearts and move us to establish a one-to-one communication with Allah and seek forgiveness - and nothing else.

Nouman Ali Khan, born to a Pakistani family, is an American Muslim speaker and Arabic instructor who founded the Bayyinah Institute for Arabic and Qur’anic Studies, after serving as an instructor of Arabic at Nassau Community College. He has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan.

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is our duty to convey only 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 Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. 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. 

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

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. 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.

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam.

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

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