Five Facts many do not know about Islam

Islam is the second largest religion of the world after Christianity, and it is growing at a rapid pace. Many are of the opinion that by 2050 Islam may overtake Christianity and become world's number one religion. And this is evident from the fact that more and more Christians and others are embracing Islam for the truth that it embodies.

Yet there are is a large number of non-Muslims who do not know many things about Islam, yet make it a point to criticize Islam being misled by the social media which aims at downplaying Islam and correlating Islam with terrorism. 

Like many think that Muslims are only Arabs and whenever a Muslim is to be depicted, the photo of an Arab is used. Whereas the reality is that a major portion of Muslim population is non-Arabs that reside in countries away from Arabian Peninsula. 

Many may not know that Maryam (Mary), mother of Prophet Eesa (Jesus, peace be upon him) is the only highly placed woman, mentioned by name, in Qur'an and most revered by Muslims. 

And that Prophet Eesa (Jesus, peace be upon him) is mentioned more in the Qur'an than Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (may peace be upon him)

And that Muslims are more affected by terrorism than the rest of the world. 

I order to shun any misconceptions from the minds of the non-Muslims, we share a very informative video today that lists Five things that many non-Muslims may not know. View the video with an unbiased and objective mindset for after watching the video below, the haziness may be lifted to give you a better perspective about Islam: 

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

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

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

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.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A

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

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The Divine Justice: Allah Wrongs Not Even the Weight of a Speck of Dust

Divine Justice has no parallel as compared to the justice we see being done by our worldly judges. Justice on the Day of Resurrection will be completely impartial and unique. For on that day, the weight of someone's good deed will be multiplied two-fold. But those who have sinned, the mercifulness of Allah will be such a highest order that no one will be wronged even as much as an atom's weight. 

This is said in the 40th verse of Surah 4. An Nisa (The Women) as quoted below:

Note: This verse is also part of our reference post Warning Shots of severe consequences for the Oppressors and dispensers of injustice mentioned in Al Qur'an. Refer to this page to know the other verses on the subjects.

اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَظۡلِمُ مِثۡقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ​ ۚ وَاِنۡ تَكُ حَسَنَةً يُّضٰعِفۡهَا وَيُؤۡتِ مِنۡ لَّدُنۡهُ اَجۡرًا عَظِيۡمًا‏ 

(4:40) Surely! Allah wrongs not even of the weight of a speck of dust, but if there is any good (done), He doubles it, and gives from Him a great reward. .

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: Allah Wrongs Not Even the Weight of a Speck of Dust

Allah states that He does not treat any of His servants with injustice on the Day of Resurrection, be it the weight of a mustard seed or a speck of dust. Rather, Allah shall reward them for this action and multiply it, if it were a good deed. For instance, Allah said: (And We shall set up balances of justice)

 Allah said that Luqman said,

﴿يبُنَىَّ إِنَّهَآ إِن تَكُ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ فَتَكُنْ فِى صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ فِى السَّمَـوَتِ أَوْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ يَأْتِ بِهَا اللَّهُ﴾

(O my son! If it be (anything) equal to the weight of a mustard seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth). 

Allah said, (يَوْمَئِذٍ يَصْدُرُ النَّاسُ أَشْتَاتاً لِّيُرَوْاْ أَعْمَـلَهُمْ - فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْراً يَرَهُ - وَمَن يَعْـمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرّاً يَرَهُ  That Day mankind will proceed in scattered groups that they may be shown their deeds. So whosoever does good equal to the weight of a speck of dust shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of a speck of dust shall see it.) 

The Two Sahihs recorded the long Hadith about the intercession that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri narrated, and in which the Messenger of Allah said,

(Allah then says, "Go back, and take out of the Fire everyone in whose heart you find the weight of a mustard seed of faith'') In another narration, Allah says, وفي لفظ:

("Whosoever had the least, least, least speck of faith, take him out of the Fire,' and they will take out many people.) Abu Sa`id then said, "Read, if you will,

(إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ Surely! Allah wrongs not even of the weight of a speck of dust).'

Will Punishment be Diminished for the Disbelievers: Sa`id bin Jubayr commented about Allah's statement,

(وَإِن تَكُ حَسَنَةً يُضَـعِفْهَا but if there is any good (done), He doubles it,) "As for the disbeliever, his punishment will be lessened for him on the Day of Resurrection, but he will never depart the Fire.' He used as evidence the authentic Hadith in which Al-`Abbas said, "O Messenger of Allah! Your uncle Abu Talib used to protect and support you; did you benefit him at all'' The Messenger said,

(Yes. He is in a shallow area in Hell-fire, and were it not for me, he would have been in the deepest depths of the Fire.) However, this Hadith only applies to Abu Talib, not the rest of the disbelievers.

To support this, we mention what Abu Dawud At-Tayalisi recorded in his Musnad that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah said, 

(Allah does not wrong the faithful even concerning one good action, for he will be rewarded for it by provision in this life and awarded for it in the Hereafter. As for the disbeliever, he will be provided provision in this life for his good action, and on the Day of Resurrection, he will not have any good deed.

What Does `Great Reward' Mean: Abu Hurayrah, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Al-Hasan, Qatadah and Ad-Dahhak said that Allah's statement,

( وَيُؤْتِ مِن لَّدُنْهُ أَجْراً عَظِيماً and gives Him a great reward.) refers to Paradise. We ask Allah for His pleasure and Paradise. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Abu `Uthman An-Nahdi said, "No other person accompanied Abu Hurayrah more than I. One year, he went to Hajj before me, and I found the people of Al-Basrah saying that he narrated that he heard the Messenger of Allah saying: (Allah rewards the good deed with a million deeds.) So, I said, `Woe to you! No person accompanied Abu Hurayrah more than I, and I never heard him narrate this Hadith!' When I wanted to meet him, I found that he had left for Hajj so I followed him to Hajj to ask him about this Hadith.'' Ibn Abi Hatim also recorded this Hadith using another chain of narration leading to Abu `Uthman. In this narration, Abu `Uthman said, "I said, `O Abu Hurayrah! I heard my brethren in Al-Basrah claim that you narrated that you heard the Messenger of Allah saying,

(Allah rewards the good deed with a million deeds.) Abu Hurayrah said, `By Allah! I heard the Messenger of Allah saying, (Allah rewards the good deed with two million deeds.) He then recited this Ayah,

فَمَا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا فِى الاٌّخِرَةِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ (But little is the enjoyment of the life of this world as compared to the Hereafter).'

Yusuf Ali Explanation:  

Any little good of our own comes from the purity of our heart. Its results in the world are doubled and multiplied by Allah's grace and mercy; but an even greater reward comes from Him: His good pleasure, which brings us nearer to Him.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

Indeed, what do they have to fear from believing in God and the Last Day and spending of the provisions given to them by God. Since God knows their motives and what they have in their hearts and since He does not deny anyone his due reward for even the slightest of actions, then they cannot fear that their good actions will go unnoticed or that their reward will not be forthcoming. Indeed, they will have an increase and multiplication for their good deeds.

Even in the narrow sense of material loss and gain, faith gives better returns in all eventualities. Why should they, then, fear to believe in God and the Last Day and to spend of God’s provisions? After all, they do not spend on something that they themselves have created. God provides it all for them. He, nevertheless, multiplies their reward to them and gives them an unlimited increase of His provisions. It is the sort of investment that is only rejected by an ignorant loser.

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 | 

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.

Read More

The time of people's reckoning is near: Yet they remain stubbornly heedless

Blessed are those who listen to the Divine Call and shape their lives according to the Divine Commandments and Lawas. But how utterly heedless are many who despite knowing the truth, follow a life shaped by their desires and worldly love. They do not know how close to the day they are when this life will terminate into another life that will be permanent and painful. Every minute of theirs takes them nearer to their doom, and yet they are sadly heedless, and even actively turn away from the Message that would save them.

We share the opening verse of Surah 21. Al Anbiyaa (The Prophets) which warns such heedless people of the wrath that they are not aware of which awaits them. And that day is very near, if they had the iota of wisdom to find it out:

اِقۡتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَابُهُمۡ وَهُمۡ فِىۡ غَفۡلَةٍ مُّعۡرِضُوۡنَ​ۚ‏

(21:1) The time of people's reckoning has drawn near, and yet they turn aside in heedlessness.

The time.... near": the time of Resurrection. This is to warn the people that the time of Resurrection when they will have to appear before their Lord to render their accounts is not far. This was because the coming of the Holy Prophet was a sign and clear evidence of the fact that mankind had entered the last stage of its history. The Holy Prophet himself explained it by holding out two of his adjoining fingers and said, "I have been sent at a time which joins to the time of Resurrection just as these two fingers adjoin". By this he meant to say, "No other Prophet is coming between me and the Resurrection. Therefore, mend your ways now, for after me no guide is coming with good news and warning."

"They do not pay heed to any warning nor reflect on their end nor listen to the admonition of the Messenger." 

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: The Hour is at hand but People are heedless.

This is a warning from Allah of the approach of the Hour, and that people are heedless of it, i.e., they are not working for it or preparing for it. 

An-Nasa'i recorded that Abu Sa`id reported from the Prophet: (فِى غَفْلَةٍ مُّعْرِضُونَ while they turn away in heedlessness), he said, (in this world.)

Allah says: 

(The Event ordained by Allah will come to pass, so seek not to hasten it)

(The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has been cleft asunder. And if they see a sign, they turn away.) [54:1,2] 

Then Allah states that they do not listen to the revelation (Wahy) that He sends down to His Messenger , which is addressed to the Quraysh and all disbelievers like them.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

 Ie., for the Idolaters of Arabia who after conclusive communication of the truth from the Prophet (sws) could face torment any time. This was in accordance with God’s established practice. Earlier, at the end of Sūrah Ṭāhā, they were told to wait for it. Here these words mention its proximity. The sūrah starts with these words without any formal beginning. Since these people had shown aversion to God’s reminders, the Almighty has mentioned them by the general word النَّاس by actually turning His face away from them.

Two words are used in the verse: negligence and evasion. Imām Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī writes:

... Negligence, which means showing indifference to the realities of life, shows a person’s misfortune and is a very grave wrong. However, this wrong becomes much graver when a servant of God is trying his best to jolt them and awaken them from their slumber but people are so deep in their negligence that they are not prepared to listen to him. (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 5, 122)

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

This is a picture of hearts that know no seriousness, jesting when the situation is most serious, and trifling with what is sacred. The reminder given to them here originates with ‘their Lord’, yet they are playful as they listen to it, showing no respect whatsoever. A soul that knows no seriousness, respect or sacredness ends up in a condition of barren triviality which makes it unsuitable for the fulfilment of any task of merit. Its life seems devoid of respect, cheap. A spirit which cares little or nothing for what is held as sacred is sick. Carelessness is the opposite of endurance. The latter is a serious effort indicating strength, while the former indicates insensitivity.

It is the Sūrah that starts with, “Closer to people draw their reckoning, yet they continue to blithely turn away.’” This is the marked difference between a living heart which interacts with what it receives and a dead one which covers its lifelessness in a shroud of jest and play. The latter type does not respond to reminders because it is devoid of the elements of life.

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 |

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.

Read More

Islam in Macau

Macau, located in the western Pearl River Delta by the South China Sea. With a population of about 680,000, is a special administrative region of China, with executive, legislative, and judicial powers devolved from the national government. 

Islam has been present in Macau since the Yuan Dynasty. It is generally accepted that Islam were brought to Macau by traders from Middle East and Persia during that time until Qing Dynasty era. There around 10,000 Muslims in Macau, of which 400 are the local Macau Muslims, while others include workers from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Pakistan. The local Muslims call themselves as The Macau Islamic Society.

Macau Mosque [Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons / Author: Chongkian]

There is only one masjid in the city, located at 4 Ramal Dos Moros in Our Lady of Fatima Parish, which can accommodate about 100 people at a time. The mosque was built in the 1980s. It is mostly visited on Sundays as a holiday. There is also a cemetery in the vicinity for Muslims, which was built in 1854. It has about 120 graves. 

Muslim Cemetry [Photo credit: Yusof Husin/Facebook]

In view the growing needs of the Muslims, plan area foot to build a bigger mosque which could accommodate approximately 600 worshippers. The planned mosque will also house a hostel, halal restaurants, classrooms for religious instruction. Aside from the mosque, there are some hotels and establishments that maintain prayer rooms Muslims can use.

Halal food has recently been allowed to be sold in Macau. This not only makes it easier for the local Muslims to purchase Halal food or go to eateries that serve Halal food, this will greatly assist the Muslim tourists that visit the city.

There are many Pakistani families in Macau, Adnan Nasim is one of them (Pictured above with his family). Adnan Nasim moved to Macau 28 years ago to pursue university studies and now works for the University of Macau. He is making his best to expose lies about Islamophobia and presents spreads the peaceful message that Islam carries in his circles. They follow the religion’s main precepts, such as praying five times a day; not eating pork; not drinking alcohol; eating only ‘halal’ (the Muslim way of cutting) meat. They skip the noon prayer while they’re working but try to compensate once they get home. The couple says they do not face any hurdles daily and feel welcome here.

The Muslim community is growing steadily, believes the Islamic associations in Macau and Hong Kong, mainly due to an increase in the number of migrant workers coming from Indonesia. “It’s increasing. There are more and more people going to the mosque on Friday,” said imam Uthman Yang, who is part of the Islamic Union of Hong Kong but comes to Macau often to conduct religious rituals.

Muslims religiously observe the month of Ramadan, followed by the Eid festivities. Eid al-Fitr, which is the major festival of Muslims, is celebrated with great pomp and show at the mosque. Likewise, the Eid al-Adha is celebrated with fervour by the Muslim community of Macau. The celebrations are marked with prayers and animal slaughter for the poor and needy.

There are few Indian restaurants that serve Halal food. But if you’re not in the mood for Indian food, you’ll have more choices at Café Panorama at the Grand Coloane Resort. At Senado Square, there’s Loulan Islam Restaurant, which serves halal Chinese food. Loulan Islam restaurant serves halal food and you’ll notice the abundance of lamb included in their dishes, which is the cuisine’s signature meat.

For lovers of Naan (a specialty of Pakistani and Turkish cuisines) served at Loulan Islam Restaurant

You can also find Xinjiang’s elaborate hand-pulled noodles on their menu. Xinjiang is home to a unique culture. With so many influences from neighbouring countries like Russia, Pakistan and others, Xinjiang cuisine is distinct because of the large Muslim population in the region. 

You may like to watch a short video clip on Islam in Macau:

Disclaimer: The data for this post has been collected from the references 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.

To know more about life of Muslims in other non-Muslim countries, please visit our Reference Page: Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries

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

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 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

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.

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Understanding Islam: Difference between Islam and Iman

We have written a number of posts to clear many a doubt about Islam and how to better understand it. Today we take on a subject which is mostly misunderstood by many non-Muslims, and even Muslims. But perhaps we are too shy to clear our doubts and understand various terminologies related to Islam. The theme thus being discussed in this post is The Difference between Islam and īmān (إِيمَان ).

To start with, many believe that by taking Shahadah, one has become a Muslim and that is all about it. But those who ponder over religious matters know for sure that by taking Shahadah, they have only taken the first step on a long and arduous journey that lies ahead after entering the fold of Islam.

Here we would like to quote the 14th verse of Surah 49 Al Hujaraat (The Private Chambers) which set forth a ground to clarify the difference between Islam and Iman (Faith):

قَالَتِ الۡاَعۡرَابُ اٰمَنَّا​ ؕ قُلْ لَّمۡ تُؤۡمِنُوۡا وَلٰـكِنۡ قُوۡلُوۡۤا اَسۡلَمۡنَا وَلَمَّا يَدۡخُلِ الۡاِيۡمَانُ فِىۡ قُلُوۡبِكُمۡ​ ۚ وَاِنۡ تُطِيۡعُوا اللّٰهَ وَرَسُوۡلَهٗ لَا يَلِتۡكُمۡ مِّنۡ اَعۡمَالِكُمۡ شَيۡـئًـا​ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِيۡمٌ‏

(49:14) The Bedouins say: "We believe.'' Say: "You do not believe. But say, `We have submitted,' for Faith has not yet entered your hearts. But if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not decrease anything in reward for your deeds. Verily, Allah is Forgiving, Most Merciful.'

In very simple explanation, Islam is the submission to enter the religion we call Islam. A newly reverted Muslim may outwardly pray five times, pay Zakat, keep fats during the month of Ramadan and also perform Hajj, if his pocket allows to embark upon the journey. But we do not know what goes into his heart: Whether his decision to enter the fold of Islam is really engrained into his heart and he is ready to embark upon a journey based on the commandments of Allah as mentioned in Qur'an and Hadith and Sunnah of the last of the prophets, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ? Or in other words, as the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had said that " الإسلام علانية والإيمان سريرة " - Al-Islam is the apparent (declaration) and al-Iman is the hidden (belief). That is, one's true conviction in Allah is the hallmark of Islam. Unless one's heart is not filled up with love for his Creator and is willing to undertake a journey as commanded for his, he may continue to be in the fold of Islam but with weak Iman.  For, from now onward, he is to accept the will of Allah without an iota of doubt and hesitation.

The more a Muslim is tested, encountered with tests and trials, more his faith gains. In fact, those who choose to obey are tested more than others for Allah knows they will succeed and will accordingly raise their status, both in this world and in the Hereafter.

Differentiation between faith (Iman) and Islam is best answered by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ when one day Angel Jibraeel (Gabriel) came and asked, "What is faith?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, 'Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, (the) meeting with Him, His Apostles, and to believe in Resurrection." Then he further asked, "What is Islam?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "Islam is to worship Allah Alone and none else, to offer prayers perfectly to pay the compulsory charity (Zakat) and to observe fasts during the month of Ramadan." (Read full hadith here). 

You may scroll down to listen to a short yet enlightening commentary on the subject by eminent Muslim scholar Mufti Menk.

The very next verse, Allah clarifies:

اِنَّمَا الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا بِاللّٰهِ وَرَسُوۡلِهٖ ثُمَّ لَمۡ يَرۡتَابُوۡا وَجَاهَدُوۡا بِاَمۡوَالِهِمۡ وَاَنۡفُسِهِمۡ فِىۡ سَبِيۡلِ اللّٰهِ​ ؕ اُولٰٓـئِكَ هُمُ الصّٰدِقُوۡنَ‏ 

(49:15) Indeed the ones possessed of true faith are those who believed in Allah and His Messenger and then they did not entertain any doubt and strove hard in the Way of Allah with their lives and their possessions. These are the truthful ones.

Skipping out the commentary by eminent Muslim scholar Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, Mouddi in his explanation of the verse 14 mentioned above, which explains the background which shows the behavior of some of the newly reverted Muslims who had only outwardly accepted Islam with their hollow hearts, lets focus on the actual substance that differentiates between the terms Islam and Faith, that is Iman:

Another translation of the words qulu aslamna can be; Say: We have become Muslims. From these words some people have concluded that in the language of the Quran, Mumin and Muslim are two opposite terms. A Mumin is he who has believed sincerely and a Muslim he who might have accepted Islam only verbally without true faith. But, in fact, this is an absolutely wrong idea. No doubt the word iman here has been used for sincere affirmation by the heart and the word Islam for only outward and external submission but to understand them as two independent and mutually contradictory terms of the Quran is not correct. A study of the Quranic verses in which the words Islam and Muslim have been used, shows that in the Quranic terminology of Islam is the name of the Faith, which Allah has sent down for mankind. It comprehends the faith and obedience both, and a Muslim is he who believes with a sincere heart and obeys the commands practically. This is borne out by the following verses:

Indeed, Islam is the only right way of life in the sight of Allah. (Surah Aal-Imran, Ayat 19).

And whoever adopts any other than this way of submission (Islam), that way shall not be accepted from him. (Surah Aal-Imran, Ayat 85).

And I have approved Islam as the way of life for you. (Surah Al-Maidah, Ayat 3).

Whomever Allah wills to guide aright, He makes his breast wide open to Islam. (Surah Al-Anaam, Ayat 125).

Obviously, in these verses Islam does not imply obedience without the faith. Here are some other verses: Say (O Prophet): I have been enjoined to be the first one to affirm (faith in) Islam. (Surah Al-Anaam, Ayat 14).

If they have surrendered (to Islam), they are rightly guided. (Surah Aal-Imran, Ayat 20).

All the Prophets, who were Muslims, judged the cases according to the Torah. (Surah Al-Maidah, Ayat 44).

Here, and at scores of other places, acceptance of Islam cannot mean adopting obedience without the faith. Likewise, here are a few verses in which the word Muslim has occurred signifying the meaning in which it has been used repeatedly in the Quran: O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should truly be feared and see that you do not die save as true Muslim. (Surah Aal-Imran, Ayat 102).

Allah had called you Muslims before this and has called you (by the same name) in this Quran, too. (Surah Al-Hajj, Ayat 78).

Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a Muslim, sound in the faith. (Surah Aal-Imran, Ayat 67).

And remember that when Abraham and Ishmael were raising the walls of this House, they prayed: Lord, make us Thy Muslims and also raise from our offspring a community which should be Muslim. (Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayat 128).

(The Prophet Jacob’s will for his children): O my children, Allah has chosen the same way of life for you, hence remain Muslims up to your last breath. (Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayat 132).

After a study of these verses who can say that in these the word Muslim implies a person who does not believe sincerely but has accepted Islam only outwardly? Therefore, to make the claim that in the Quranic terminology Islam implies obedience without the faith and the Muslim in the language of the Quran is he who accepts Islam only outwardly is absolutely wrong. Likewise, this claim also is wrong that the words iman and mumin have been used in the Quran necessarily in the sense of believing sincerely. No doubt, at most places these words have occurred to express the same meaning, but there are many places where these words have also been used for outward affirmation of the faith, and all those who might have entered the Muslim community with verbal profession have been addressed with, “O you who have believed”, no matter whether they are the true believers, or people with a weak faith, or mere hypocrites. For a few instances of this, see (Surah Aal-Imran, Ayat 156); (Surah An-Nisa, Ayat 135); (Surah Al-Maidah, Ayat 54); (Surah Al-Anfaal, Ayats 20-27); (Surah At-Taubah, Ayat 38), (Surah Al-Hadid, Ayat 28); (Surah As-Saff, Ayat 2).

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

The actual word is: اَسْلَمْنَا. Here it refers to outward obedience. It occurs in the Arabic language in this meaning also. The implication is that it is not befitting for them to lay claim to faith; what they can say is that when they saw that Islam had become a political force, they submitted to its authority. This too is a form of subservience and how can they term it as a favour?

True faith, which when entering a person, grasps the mind and heart in such a way that nothing from his thinking and deeds remains unaffected and uninfluenced by it.

(God shall not make any reduction in your deeds.) He will fully reward them. Hence this obedience will be of benefit to them; nothing of these has any benefit for God.

([So, reform your selves.] God certainly is Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.) This is an invitation to reform one’s self. Most of these people were naive. Thus, besides warning them, they are invited at various instances to turn towards God and seek forgiveness; their Lord’s mercy awaits them; He is very forgiving.

Yusuf Ali Explanation: 

The desert Arabs were somewhat shaky in their faith. Their hearts and minds were petty, and they thought of petty things, while Islam requires the complete submission of one's being to Allah. See next verse. Some of the failings of the desert Arabs are described in xlviii. 11-15. But the reference here is said to be to the Banu Asad, who came to profess Islam in order to get charity during a famine.

'This is what ye ought to prove if your faith has any meaning, but ye only say it with your tongues.'

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

As the Surah draws to its end, it fittingly explains the truth of faith in reply to those Bedouins who claimed to be believers when they did not even understand the nature of faith. This also serves as a reply to those who tried to press their acceptance of Islam as a favour they thought they did for the Prophet. In essence, they do not appreciate that it is only through God's favour that people believe.

The first of these verses is said to have been revealed in relation to the Bedouins of the Asad tribe who, as soon as they accepted Islam, boasted saying, 'We have attained to faith.' They even counted this as a favour they performed for the Prophet. They said to him: "Messenger of God! We have become Muslims. Other Arabs have fought you, but we have not." God wanted to show them the truth of what was in their hearts when they said this, stating that they only embraced Islam in submission while the truth of faith had not touched their hearts or souls. "Say [to them]: 'Believers you are not. Rather say, "We have submitted ourselves', for true faith has not entered your hearts." (Verse 14)

Nevertheless, God's grace has dictated that they will be rewarded for every good action they do, letting nothing go to waste. Even the outward manifestation of Islam, which has not yet penetrated into people's hearts to become genuine faith, is sufficient to make their good deeds count and be recorded. Thus, their deeds are not wasted like those of unbelievers. No part of their reward is wasted as long as they continue to obey: " If you truly pay heed to God and His Messenger, He will let nothing of your deeds go to waste." (Verse 14) This is because God is quick to grant forgiveness and bestow His mercy. He accepts from His servant the first step and rewards him for submission and obedience while waiting until faith settles in his heart: "God is indeed much-forgiving, merciful." (Verse 14)

For explanation of the aforesaid verse by Ibn e Kathir, please click here.

You may like to listen to a short but crystal-clear delineation by Islam and Iman by Mufti Menk:

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.

Photo | references: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A

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Be fully equipped and ready to defend yourself at all times (Selected verses from Qur'an)

Islam has always been under aggression since its earlier days. And this state still continues. Every man, irrespective of his religion, faith and aspirations, has the right to live peacefully and honourably. Yet Muslims have always been targeted for being threat to non-Muslims. Therefore, they have been cautioned about the machinations of their adversaries and asked in clear words to keep them ready for any eventuality that more often than not props up to threaten their way of life and beliefs.

The following verse from Surah 8. Al Anfal (The Battle Spoils) is one such Divine commandment for Muslims to be ready to take on enemies that threaten their religious ideology.

وَاَعِدُّوۡا لَهُمۡ مَّا اسۡتَطَعۡتُمۡ مِّنۡ قُوَّةٍ وَّمِنۡ رِّبَاطِ الۡخَـيۡلِ تُرۡهِبُوۡنَ بِهٖ عَدُوَّ اللّٰهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمۡ وَاٰخَرِيۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِهِمۡ​ ۚ لَا تَعۡلَمُوۡنَهُمُ​ ۚ اَللّٰهُ يَعۡلَمُهُمۡ​ؕ وَمَا تُـنۡفِقُوۡا مِنۡ شَىۡءٍ فِىۡ سَبِيۡلِ اللّٰهِ يُوَفَّ اِلَيۡكُمۡ وَاَنۡـتُمۡ لَا تُظۡلَمُوۡنَ‏ 

(8:60) And make ready your strength, to the utmost of your power including sinews of war, to strike terror into the hearts of enemies of Allah, and others besides them, whom you know not but Allah does know. And whatever you expend in the cause of Allah shall be repaid onto you and you shall not be treated unjustly.

The above quoted verse was revealed more than 1400 years ago when horses were considered to be superior game changers. Now these have been replaced by tanks and many other modern gadgetries and equipment that need to be acquired and kept ready to challenge the enemy. Besides, the 5th generation warfare, which has added yet another dimension to the art of warfare, should never be lost sight of. Now it is the cumulative effect of a high state of motivation, armies well equipped, superior strategy and all means that are force multiplier should be made use of to thwart enemy designs much before battles are fought.

It may also be kept in mind that amassing weapons and war fighting machines only is not the answer. The men must be trained well to handle these when time comes. Men who have superior intellect, well versant with strategies to fight war and be also proficient in making use of non-military means and intelligence to forestall any misadventure by the enemy before battle drums start to sound. 

It may be clarified here that there are non-Muslims who single out these verses from Qur'an and then label Muslims as war mongers. But quite the opposite is true. Muslims are never encouraged to wage wars. But they are asked to defend themselves with full might when war is waged on them.  

Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi Explanation:

This means, "You should always keep in readiness the necessary military equipment and an organized standing army so that you may be able to take military action immediately without the least delay, should the enemy attack you suddenly. These precautionary measures should be taken so that there should be no confusion and no hurry to urge you to enlist half-trained and ill-equipped volunteers; nor would there be any fear that the enemy would take you unawares and inflict irreparable losses on you before you could get ready for the defense".

Muhammad Asad Explanation:

(Hence, make ready against them whatever force and war mounts) Lit., "tethering of horses" (ribat al-khayl): an expression which signifies "holding in readiness mounted troupes at all points open to enemy invasion (thughur)"; hence, tropically, the over-all maintenance of military preparedness. 

(You are able to muster, so that you might deter thereby the enemies of God, who are your enemies as well,) Lit., "God's enemy and your enemy" - implying that every "enemy of God" (i.e., everyone who deliberately opposes and seeks to undermine the moral laws laid down by God) is, eo ipso, an enemy of those who believe in Him. 

(And others besides them of whom you may be unaware, [but] of whom God is aware; and whatever you may expend) I.e., of resources, efforts and sacrifice of life.

Yusuf Ali Explanation: 

The immediate occasion of this injunction was the weakness of cavalry and appointments of war in the early fights of Islam. But the general meaning follows. In every fight, physical, moral, or spiritual, arm yourself with the best weapons and the best arms against your enemy, so as to instill wholesome respect into him for you and the Cause you stand for.

There are always lurking enemies whom you may not know, but whom Allah knows. It is your duty to be ready against all, for the sacred Cause under whose banner you are fighting.

Be always ready and put all your resources into your Cause. You do not do so in vain. Allah's reward will come in various forms. He knows all, and His reward will always be more generous than you can possibly think of.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

(As much as you can, prepare against them an army) The actual word is: قوة. It is evident from other instances in the Qur’ān that it is also used for numerical power. The implication is that now they must have an organized force of warriors at their disposal at all times so that it may be used against the disbelievers when needed. It should not be the case that whenever an attack is to be launched a call for volunteers is given. Now believers should have an organized army as far as they are capable of and it should also be in large numbers as far as possible.

(And trained horses) This refers to horses which have been trained for this very purpose. This has been said because in those times horses had the same status as tanks and fighter planes have today. 

(At your disposal so that you can strike awe into the enemies of God and of yours and others beside them too who you do not know. God knows them.) This is a reference to those elements and forces which hitherto had not come to the fore but God knew that soon or late they will manifest themselves in some form or the other. For example, Jews and hypocrites with whom the Prophet (sws) had made treaties of remaining impartial. Similarly, the Romans, the Ghassanids and the Persians too had become concerned with what was happening in Arabia and were looking at it with apprehension.

([For this purpose,] whatever you spend for the cause of God shall be fully repaid to you.) Ie., repaid to them in accordance with the principal God has prescribed for the reward of virtue.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

Islam, however, sets out to make real preparations that are within the capability of the Muslims so that victory becomes achievable. It does not raise the sights of the Muslim community towards that sublime horizon without making sure that it has firm ground on which it can stand. Islam also takes every practical step which has been proven through experience to be of immense value in the achievement of victory. Islam also makes sure that the Muslim community is well prepared for its practical tasks that serve its sublime objectives: The verse gives a clear order to prepare all forces and power within the means of the Muslim community. It makes special mention of cavalry because that was then the main equipment in war. Had the Qur’ān ordered them to prepare equipment that was unknown to them, they would have found these a complete mystery. Far be it from God to address anyone with mysteries. What is most important to remember here is that the directive is of a very broad nature. 

There is nothing to be ashamed of in the nature of the Islamic approach. Islam does not have a man-made system, and does not seek to establish the authority of a leader, a state, a class, or a race. It does not try to enslave serfs so that they cultivate the plantations of the aristocracy, like the Romans used to do. Nor does it try to exploit markets and raw materials, as Western capitalism has been doing. It is not the aim of Islam to impose a human system devised by a shortsighted, narrow-minded and ignorant human being, as Communism was keen to do. Islam has a system devised by God whose knowledge and wisdom are absolute. It aims to establish God’s absolute sovereignty in order that all mankind be free from subjugation to any worldly authority.

Thus, right at the outset, Islam rules out any war undertaken for the glory of individuals and states. It rejects all campaigns that seek to exploit resources and open markets, or to subjugate and humiliate other communities. Islam has nothing to do with any war that tries to establish the superiority of one class, race, nation, or state over another. The only type of campaign which Islam approves of is one undertaken for God’s cause. Needless to say, God does not wish to grant supremacy to any one race, nation, class, or individual. He only wants His own sovereignty and authority to be recognized by all people. God is in no need of anyone or any community. The recognition of His sovereignty and submission to Him alone brings honour, freedom, goodness and blessings to all mankind.

For interpretation of the above quoted verse by Ibn e Kathir, please go to the link here.

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 Credit: Zaffar Bhatti Artist | 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 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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Phrases, to Glorify Allah, that are heavier on Scale of Deeds

We owe our everything to Allah, the Creator and the Lord of the universe. Thus, we should be glorifying Him day and night for what all He has blessed on us and made our lives comfortable. There are many a Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ wherein the revered Prophet of Allah has taught us phrases and supplications to glorify Allah and submit ourselves totally to His pleasure.

Today, we share one of such praises that glorify Allah in a befitting manner, phrases that are said to be heavier on scales of deeds, as mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (Book # 48 The Book Pertaining to the Remembrance of Allah, Supplication, Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness كتاب الذكر والدعاء والتوبة والاستغفار / Chapter # 19 The Tasbih at the Beginning of the Day and When Going to Sleep باب التَّسْبِيحِ أَوَّلَ النَّهَارِ وَعِنْدَ النَّوْمِ) as Hadith number # 2726 a

Juwairiya reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came out from (her apartment) in the morning as she was busy in observing her dawn prayer in her place of worship. He came back in the fore-noon and she was still sitting there. He (the Holy Prophet) said to her:

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ أَبِي عُمَرَ - قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، مَوْلَى آلِ طَلْحَةَ عَنْ كُرَيْبٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنْ جُوَيْرِيَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَرَجَ مِنْ عِنْدِهَا بُكْرَةً حِينَ صَلَّى الصُّبْحَ وَهِيَ فِي مَسْجِدِهَا ثُمَّ رَجَعَ بَعْدَ أَنْ أَضْحَى وَهِيَ جَالِسَةٌ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ مَا زِلْتِ عَلَى الْحَالِ الَّتِي فَارَقْتُكِ عَلَيْهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ لَقَدْ قُلْتُ بَعْدَكِ أَرْبَعَ كَلِمَاتٍ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ لَوْ وُزِنَتْ بِمَا قُلْتِ مُنْذُ الْيَوْمِ لَوَزَنَتْهُنَّ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ عَدَدَ خَلْقِهِ وَرِضَا نَفْسِهِ وَزِنَةَ عَرْشِهِ وَمِدَادَ كَلِمَاتِهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

You have been in the same seat since I left you. She said: Yes. Thereupon Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) said: I recited four words three times after I left you and if these are to be weighed against what you have recited since morning these would outweigh them and (these words) are:" Hallowed be Allah and praise is due to Him according to the number of His creation and according to the pleasure of His Self and according to the weight of His Throne and according to the ink (used in recording) words (for His Praise)."

Just imagine how these small phrases, easy to remember, if spoken three times before going to sleep at night and upon getting up in the morning can add to our deeds that outweigh many other supplications, we make otherwise.

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 | References: | 1 | 2 |

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