Allah promises believers: Do not be fearful, I am with you, hearing and seeing

Man has never been sure footed despite having faith in his Lord. The strength and confidence seems to waver when confronted with a person sitting at a higher pedestal or a man of authority. This often happens and men of intellect and wisdom have cold feet when confronting an authority, may be inferior to them in wisdom and intellect. Not that they are afraid of being beaten intellectually, but by being persecuted for confronting the authority.

The same ws the state of Prophet Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) and his brother Harun (Aaron) when God asked them to go to Pharoah and present them as messenger of Allah. In the 45th verse of Surah Ta Ha, the mindset of the two is reflected: The two said: "Lord! We fear he may commit excesses against us, or transgress all bounds." Sensing their hesitance to appear before a tyrant, Allah reassured them of His being with them and told them not to fear as mentioned in the 46th verse of Surah 20. Ta Ha:

قَالَ لَا تَخَافَآ​ اِنَّنِىۡ مَعَكُمَاۤ اَسۡمَعُ وَاَرٰى‏ 

(20:46) He said: "Have no fear. I am with you, hearing and seeing all."

Ibn-Kathir explains that "Do not fear Pharoah (Fir`awn), for verily, I am with you and I hear your speech and his speech as well. I see your place and I see his place as well. Nothing is hidden from Me of your affair. Know that his forehead is in My Hand, and he does not speak, breathe, or use any force, except by My leave and after My command. I am with you by My protection, My help and My support.'': 

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

At this point they receive God’s decisive answer which leaves no room for fear or worry: “Answered He: Have no fear. I shall be with you. I hear all and see all.” (Verse 46) Thus, God Almighty who has power over all creatures and who creates the universe and all creatures in it, using nothing more than His will to bring them into existence, tells them that He is with them. This should have been sufficient, but God adds to this what increases their certainty of help. This is evidenced by the fact that He hears all and sees all. What could Pharaoh do against the power of the Almighty, whether in a precipitate reaction or a well-considered one?

In the light of the above two explanations of the verse quoted above, let it be said that this promise that Allah made with Prophet Musa and his brother was not specific to them alone. In fact, any man of faith who has firm believe in Allah has been reassured by Allah that He is always with his servants. And that He is in full knowledge of the situation confronted by His servants and He is fully aware of what odds are against them. Having said that, they are reassured not to be fearful of their situation for Allah will find a way-out better than what they think. So, always trust Allah and have firm faith in His wisdom and magnanimity to rescue someone who is being confronted with tyrants and his rights are being usurped. 

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.

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Prophetic Supplication Attributed to Prophet Adam (and Eve) in the Qur’an

Man is too fragile to succumb to the temptations and machinations of the Evil. Even Prophet Adam (and his wife Eve) the very first humans fell into trap of Iblees (Satan) right in the Heavens. This episode is mentioned in Surah 7. Al A'raf (The Heights) in verses 19-25 wherein the Iblees cunningly seduced Adam and Eve to disobey Allah, and the mention of their repentance and Allah's conditional acceptance.

Details of verses 7-25 may be read from our Exegesis/Tafsir of Surah Al A'raf (Part I), already published. Herein under we only share the supplication made by both Adam and Eve after they were enticed and felt deeply remorse of their disobedience of their Lord and cried out for forgiveness.  The purpose of sharing this prophetic supplication is to enlighten our readers as to what should be our course of action should we commit a sin and regret having done so. We must immediately repent our action and invoke the fathomless mercies of Allah for forgiveness with an earnest resolve never to commit a sin again.

The supplication shared below is in fact the best example of the repentance that invoked Allah's mercy and He forgave both Adam and Eve:

قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمۡنَاۤ اَنۡفُسَنَا وَاِنۡ لَّمۡ تَغۡفِرۡ لَـنَا وَتَرۡحَمۡنَا لَـنَكُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الۡخٰسِرِيۡنَ‏ 

(7:23) Both cried out: 'Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You do not forgive us and do not have mercy on us, we shall surely be among the losers.'

This story has been related here mainly to teach the lesson that the right course for the offspring of Adam is to follow His way and not that of Satan. The Satan's way has been clearly made distinct from Adam's way. It is to turn away from Allah's obedience and to adopt the way of rebellion against Him and to persist in it with pride in spite of warning, and to beguile into disobedience those who are treading the path of obedience. Therefore, the Right Way for man is to fight against satanic deceptions and to understand and counteract his cunning devices and to be ever on the guard to protect himself from his evil designs, and to repent, if, in spite of all his precautions; he sometimes falls a victim to Satan and disobeys his Allah. He should, then, confess it, feel sorry for it and be ashamed of it and turn to Allah and make amends for it.

It also meant to warn the people who were opposing the Holy Prophet, as if to say, "The way you are following is the way of Satan, who has made you swerve from the Right Way. The very fact that you have made the Satan from among the jinns and mankind your patrons and that you are persisting in your error, in spite of repeated warnings, shows that you have fallen a victim to your open and permanent enemy. As you are going to be utterly ruined by him and meeting with the same consequences that are in store for Satan, if you are not your own enemies, and if you have any common-sense left in you, you should take a warning and turn to the way of your first parents., Adam and Eve, and repent. " 

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

With this address from on high, the other side of man’s nature is revealed. He is liable to forget and to err. He has a weakness which gives Satan the opportunity to delude him. He does not always maintain the right path. However, he recognizes his mistake and regrets it, and seeks God’s help and forgiveness. He is ready to turn back to God. He does not insist on his disobedience as Satan did, nor does he request his Lord to help him sink deeper into error: “Said they: ‘Our Lord.’ We have wronged ourselves; and unless You grant us forgiveness and bestow Your mercy upon us, we shall certainly be lost.’” (Verse 23) This is one of man’s main characteristics, establishing his bond with his Lord. This opening of the doors leading to his Lord involves recognition of his error, repentance, seeking forgiveness, feeling his own weakness, seeking God’s help and mercy. He is all the time certain that his own power is of no avail unless God helps him and bestows His mercy on him. Otherwise, he is lost.   

Therefore, if one is ever prompted by a provocation by Satan to commit a sin, one must immediately seek refuge with Allah. This is also the theme of verse 36 of Surah 41 Ha Meem, already posted. Viewers may also like to read its explanation by clicking 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. 

You may now like to listen to the explanation of the above referred verse / prophetic supplication from eminent Muslim scholar Nouman Ali Khan:

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 Invocations / Dua " دُعا " from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully.

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the 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 following sources: 

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

In addition, 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

Beware of Four major sins (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

Man was crated to bea faithful servant of God, the unchallengeable Lord of the Universe. For him, the Divine guidance has been conveyed through prophets and messengers of Allah and he was warned never ever to fall prey to the satanic machinations. Yet man being so fragile, has always fallen prey to the Satanic ways and drifted away from the straight path free of lewdness and sins.

While smaller sins could be forgiven, Allah strictly forbids man to commit some of the major sins. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ too has forewarned his followers in the light of the Divine Commandments to beware of all major sins, specially the four ones which have been mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī  (Book 87 - Blood Money (Ad-Diyat) كتاب الديات / Chapter 2: “And if anyone saved a life….” باب قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى ‏{‏وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا‏}‏ ) as Hadith 6871, given herein under:

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرٍ، سَمِعَ أَنَسًا ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ الْكَبَائِرُ ‏"‏‏.‏ وَحَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ أَكْبَرُ الْكَبَائِرِ الإِشْرَاكُ بِاللَّهِ وَقَتْلُ النَّفْسِ، وَعُقُوقُ الْوَالِدَيْنِ، وَقَوْلُ الزُّورِ ‏"‏‏.‏ أَوْ قَالَ ‏"‏ وَشَهَادَةُ الزُّورِ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated by Anas bin Malik:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The biggest of Al-Ka`ba'ir (the great sins) are (1) to join others as partners in worship with Allah, (2) to murder a human being, (3) to be undutiful to one's parents (4) and to make a false statement," or said, "to give a false witness."

Since Allah alone is the Creator of the Universe, He does not want man to create parallels or make someone His associate or bring him on a pedestal at par with Him. Thus, there innumerous verses in Qur'an which caution me from committing Shirk, that is making someone His associate ot worshipping anyone but He. While we have shared many verses from Qur'an in which warns men not to commit shirk (which can be read from our reference page: Selected verses from Qur'an), we share herein under just a few as information:

وَاِلٰهُكُمۡ اِلٰهٌ وَّاحِدٌ  ۚ لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ الرَّحۡمٰنُ الرَّحِيۡمُ

(2:163) Your God is One God, there is no god but He; the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.

قُلِ اللّٰهُ يُنَجِّيۡكُمۡ مِّنۡهَا وَمِنۡ كُلِّ كَرۡبٍ ثُمَّ اَنۡـتُمۡ تُشۡرِكُوۡنَ‏  

(6:64) Say: "It is Allah alone Who delivers you from this and from every distress, and yet you associate others with Allah in His divinity."

اَفَمَنۡ هُوَ قَآئِمٌ عَلٰى كُلِّ نَفۡسٍۢ بِمَا كَسَبَتۡ​ۚ وَجَعَلُوۡالِلّٰهِ شُرَكَآءَ ؕ قُلۡ سَمُّوۡهُمۡ​ؕ اَمۡ تُنَـبِّـئُـوْنَهٗ بِمَا لَا يَعۡلَمُ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ اَمۡ بِظَاهِرٍ مِّنَ الۡقَوۡلِؕ بَلۡ زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا مَكۡرُهُمۡ وَصُدُّوۡا عَنِ السَّبِيۡلِ​ؕ وَمَنۡ يُّضۡلِلِ اللّٰهُ فَمَا لَهٗ مِنۡ هَادٍ‏ 

"Is it, then, in regard to Him Who watches over the deeds of every person that they are acting blasphemously by setting up His associates? Tell them: "Name those associates (if Allah Himself has made them His associates)! Or are you informing Allah of something the existence of which He does not even know?" Or do people arbitrarily utter empty words? Indeed, their foul contriving has been made to seem fair to the unbelievers and they have been barred from finding the Right Way. Whomsoever Allah lets go astray will have none to guide him."

Other three sins in order of priority follow next to shirk: (1) Murder of an innocent man (if someone commits a crime, he is to be tried by a judge and not by men), (2) to be undutiful to one's parents (Anyone among men who is to be placed on a higher pedestal than the rest are one's parents, and those who degrade their parents and do not look after them, commit a great sin for which will be strictly dealt with on the Day of Resurrection (4) and to make a false statement," or said, "to give a false witness.

The Islamic social system is based on justice and equal justice for everyone with complete disregard to one's status in the society or wealth. Man has been warned many a times in Qur'an never to make false statements or be a false witness to save someone. Those who do, will bear the brunt of their sin not only in this world but in the Hereafter as well.

Do not use your property as bait for the JUDGES with intent that ye may eat up wrongfully (other) people's property (Surah 2. Al-Baqara:188)

Believers! Uphold the Justice and Be upright bearers of witness for Allah (Surah 5. Al-Maida:8)

Beware of what you say: It will be recorded (Surah 50, Qaaf: 18)

So, believers stand firmly for justice even though it be against the rich or poor. And be weary of committing above quoted major sins lest you pay a very heavy price not only in this world but on the Day of Judgement. 

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.

Source of Hadith

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

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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The reward of attending a funeral

Death is a stark reality of our earthly life. While many believe that life ends when one dies, Muslims have firm faith in the reality of death which is mere cessation of our earthly life and the burial of the dead is just a transitory phase for an eternal life waits for every dead in the life of the Hereafter.

When a believer dies, it is incumbent upon his relatives, family and friends to bid him farewell with honour from home till he is buried in his grave. While the dear and near ones have a responsibility for the burial of their dead, believers around also have a duty as part of the faith to accompany a funeral and stay in the graveyard till the burial is over. It is even said that when one sees a funeral procession, one must walk at least ten paces as an obligation.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has emphasized on the need of attendance of funerals and has promised big reward for those who do. This Hadith is mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī  (Book 2 - Belief كتاب الإيمان / Chapter 35: To accompany the funeral processions (up to the place of burial) is a part of faith باب اتِّبَاعُ الْجَنَائِزِ مِنَ الإِيمَانِ ) as Hadith 47, given herein under:

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْمَنْجُوفِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَوْفٌ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، وَمُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ جَنَازَةَ مُسْلِمٍ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا، وَكَانَ مَعَهُ حَتَّى يُصَلَّى عَلَيْهَا، وَيَفْرُغَ مِنْ دَفْنِهَا، فَإِنَّهُ يَرْجِعُ مِنَ الأَجْرِ بِقِيرَاطَيْنِ، كُلُّ قِيرَاطٍ مِثْلُ أُحُدٍ، وَمَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ رَجَعَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُدْفَنَ فَإِنَّهُ يَرْجِعُ بِقِيرَاطٍ ‏"‏‏.‏ تَابَعَهُ عُثْمَانُ الْمُؤَذِّنُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَوْفٌ عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَهُ‏.‏

Narrated by Abu Huraira: 

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "(A believer) who accompanies the funeral procession of a Muslim out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's reward and remains with it till the funeral prayer is offered and the burial ceremonies are over, he will return with a reward of two Qirats. Each Qirat is like the size of the (Mount) Uhud. He who offers the funeral prayer only and returns before the burial, will return with the reward of one Qirat only."

Let us from now leave no funeral procession go by unattended and try to be there with the family of the dead till the final rituals of burial are completed in the graveyard. We should do it not to seek reward, but as duty imposed on us by our faith and to bid farewell to a brother.

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.

This post is part of series of posts on the subject of: Are you among the best Muslims, as mentioned by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?

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

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

Photo | Source of Hadith

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

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

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Why Latinos are Reverting to Islam in the USA?

Reading revert experiences is both educative and reassuring: Educative in the sense that these experiences give an insight into the mindset of the non-Muslims that finally leads them to reverting to Islam, and Reassuring for despite a n immense number of negativities being shown on social media and labeling Muslims as terrorists and unsuitable for "civilized' societies, thousands enter into the fold of Islam every day around the world.

AS for the USA, it is one single country were ratio of those accepting Islam is much more than in any country otherwise. As per estimates, 25,000 Americans convert to Islam per year. The conversion rate of Americans has become 4 times more since September 11. As of now, the Latino Muslim community is estimated to be between 40,000 and 200,000.

Of those reverting to Islam, there is measurable number of Latinos and Hispanic Americans who are willingly attracted to Islam for they believe that Islamic values harmonize with the traditional values of Latino culture. Converts have cited such similarities as respect for social solidarity, the family, the importance of religion, and education. Some Latino Muslims claim conversion to Islam as a return to their true heritage. 

Another imposing factor is that most Latinos who revert to Islam are Catholics, who find an intrinsic closeness to Islam, leaving aside concept of Jesus being God or son of God.  Similarities like the belief in Monotheism, reverence of Mary, mother of Prophet Eesa (Jesus, peace be upon him), pilgrimage, praying (Salat for Muslims), fasting and charity, attract Latinos to Islam for the concept of all these factors is clearer in Islam than Christianity.

In one of the revert experiences of a Catholic Latino, the one-to-one connection between God and the Muslims, was the deciding factor for they have been approaching God with priests acting as mediators. There is a relative simplicity within Islam with structure and theology in this respect.

Many Latino converts come from Catholic backgrounds and the similarities between Catholicism and Islam give them a sense of familiarity with their new religion. However, some Latino Muslims had difficulty with the Church, believing in original sin, and in the Holy Trinity. Islam solves the problems many Latinos have with the Catholic Church. Fathi Osman, resident scholar at the Omar Foundation, says "in their own countries Hispanics did not see the Church supporting the rights of the poor. Rather it sided with the rich and the influential." This, he argues, has contributed to some Latinos converting to Islam. [1] 

Twenty-year-old Gabby Gonzalez. like other converts, found the Catholic Church too bureaucratic and too impersonal. She also had a hard time with certain aspects of the faith, like the hierarchy of the church, belief in the Trinity and original sin. She remembers going to mass weekly with her grandmother and cousins, and just feeling lost.

As per a report, "Latinas Choosing Islam over Catholicism", published by NPR, at the North Hudson Islamic Education Center, weekly classes on what it means to be a Muslim cater to the mosque's growing Hispanic population. Mosque leaders say 10 years ago there were only a handful of Hispanics at Friday prayers, and today there are roughly 150. On this night a couple dozen new Spanish-speaking converts gather in a small classroom next to the main prayer room. [3]

The concept of repentance and forgiveness of sins by God is one of the major contributing for criminals and prisoners reverting to Islam. This perhaps is a major breakthrough in the reformation of criminals who otherwise do not find a respectful place in society. But once in the fold of Islam, they not only are reassured that whatever sins they had committed as non-Muslims will be washed away and their life starts as if they are born afresh. Not only this, their lives as Muslims are a complete transformation from their previous life and they become very useful part of society. 

Islam allows those convicted of crimes to recover from the stigma of being a "criminal".[9] By following the teachings of Islam, people who are convicted of a crime have a moral framework for rehabilitation and recovery as well as providing prisoners with a more positive way to cope with the harsh environment in prison, which in turn lessens their likelihood to have to turn to violence and aggression.[13] Spalek and El-Hassan suggest that the work of prison Imams is vital and needs to have greater support, especially during the transition period when individuals and adjusting to life after being released from prison.[13] Studies also show that rates of recidivism are lower for Muslim converts. [1]

The Latino and Hispanic reverts, like elsewhere in the world, draw a severe reaction from their friends and families. Specially women, who when start wearing Hijab, become instant target of fury of their relatives. But it is very reassuring to know that most of the reverts are getting along with the negative outburst by their near and dear ones, and are continue to cling to their new found faith and are even helping others reverts who take these negativities rather seriously and need counseling. Although, Islam may restrict freedom of women while wearing Hijab, yet women feel they are now more respectful than before.

We may go on and on to talk on the subject as the experiences of Latinos and Hispanic American are never ending. But the purpose of this post is only to share how the Latino and Hispanic feel about Islam and how their grievances with the Church and concepts of Trinity, Jesus being God are leading them to find a soothing solace as Muslims.

To sum up, please watch the video below which says it all about reversion of Latinos to Islam in USA:

a

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

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

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

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

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

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, 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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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.

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When does a servant come nearest to his Lord

Man, and Jinns, have been created to worship Allah, and no one else. Nor they are to associate anyone with Him or to have share his powers for He alone is the Master and the Lord of he universe. Those who obey Allah as One True God and walk on the straight path shown by Him (as ordained in the Qur'an and augmented by Hadiths of His last Prophet Muhammad ﷺ).

Of those who walk His way, He loves and is always asking Him for help are the ones who will succeed not in this world, but in the life of the Hereafter in Paradise. Therefore, all believers must supplicate to him and move His countless mercies so that they are blessed and rewarded for their sincerity and obedience. 

While there is no format to be adopted to supplicate to Allah to invoke His unlimited mercies, Allah loves when His servants prostrate, which is the ultimate expression of showing humility and humbleness. This has been told to us by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which has been mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim the Book (#4) of Prayers - كتاب الصلاة   / Chapter # 42 What Is to Be Said While Bowing and Prostrating / باب باب مَا يُقَالُ فِي الرُّكُوعِ وَالسُّجُودِ ‏) as Hadith number # 482 as under:

وَحَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ مَعْرُوفٍ، وَعَمْرُو بْنُ سَوَّادٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ غَزِيَّةَ، عَنْ سُمَىٍّ، مَوْلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا صَالِحٍ، ذَكْوَانَ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ أَقْرَبُ مَا يَكُونُ الْعَبْدُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَهُوَ سَاجِدٌ فَأَكْثِرُوا الدُّعَاءَ ‏"‏‏.‏

Abu by Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication (in this state).

Body postures serve as an important way to communicate nonverbally with God or other higher power. and of all postures, Prostration is the ultimate that a man can go to please Allah for he touches his forehead on the ground wherein he glorifies and humbles himself in front of Allah (The God). 

The mark known as the “trace of prostration” (sīmā) that is mentioned in the Quran is well established in Islam as being a physical blemish on the forehead. 

It is the same position which was adopted by the angels when God asked them to bow in from of Adam, which they readily did. And it was the same prostration that Satan, the Iblees, refused out of sheer arrogance and self-pride, for which he was expelled from Paradise. Since then, prostration has become a vital part of the five obligatory prayers performed daily. 

Although, the followers of other Divine religions were ordained to prostrate too in front of God when praying, slowly and gradually it vanished from their prayers. 

Deuteronomy 9:18-20, 25-27 (Moses lay prostrate before God for 40 days and nights); 1 Chronicles 21:16-17; Matthew 26:39.

"And he (Jesus) went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." - New Testament (Matthew 26:39)  

Today, prostration is a forgotten posture of prayer for many Christians. Rather, prostrations are forbidden on the Lord's Day (Sunday) and during Paschaltide (Easter season) in honour of the Resurrection and are traditionally discouraged on Great Feasts of the Lord.

We Muslims are fortunate that till date we prostrate in front of Allah as did all the prophets of Allah including the last of them: Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.  Let us be near to Allah for He loves His servants in this state and by doing so, one gets the inner feeling of being nearer to Allah.

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

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

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

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

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: | Caption | Prostration | Source of Hadith Other Sources of References: | 1 |

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

Explanation of Each Phrase

• اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي (Allahumma ighfir li) - "O Allah, grant me pardon"
• Meaning: This is a plea for Allah’s forgiveness for one’s sins. It reflects a recognition of human fallibility and a desire for spiritual purification.
• Quranic Reference:

Surah Al-Imran (3:135): "And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins—and who can forgive sins except Allah?—and [who] do not persist in what they have done while they know."

• وَارْحَمْنِي (warhamni) - "Have mercy upon me"
• Meaning: This is a request for Allah's mercy, encompassing all forms of compassion and grace from Allah, both in this life and the hereafter.
• Quranic Reference:

Surah Al-A'raf (7:151): "Moses said, 'My Lord, forgive me and my brother and admit us into Your mercy, for You are the most merciful of the merciful.'"

• وَاهْدِنِي (wahdini) - "Direct me to the path of righteousness"
• Meaning: This is a supplication for guidance to the right path, asking Allah to show the way of truth, righteousness, and virtue.
• Quranic Reference: Surah Al-Fatihah (1:6): "Guide us to the straight path."
• وَارْزُقْنِي (warzuqni) - "Provide me sustenance"
• Meaning: This is a prayer for provision and sustenance, asking Allah to grant what is needed to live and sustain oneself, including both material and spiritual sustenance.
• Quranic Reference:

Surah Al-Baqarah (2:201): "But among them is he who says, 'Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.'"

Significance of the Supplication: This supplication comprehensively covers the essential needs of a believer:

• Forgiveness: Seeking forgiveness is central to a Muslim’s relationship with Allah. It acknowledges human imperfection and the need for divine pardon.
• Mercy: Asking for mercy encompasses a broad spectrum of Allah's blessings and protection from harm.
• Guidance: Seeking guidance is a fundamental aspect of Islamic life, reflecting a desire to remain on the path of righteousness.
• Sustenance: Praying for sustenance includes both the physical needs necessary for survival and spiritual provisions needed for inner peace and faith.

This supplication, as taught by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), is a profound and comprehensive prayer encapsulating key aspects of a believer’s needs: forgiveness, mercy, guidance, and sustenance. Each phrase is deeply rooted in Quranic teachings, reflecting the holistic approach of Islam towards a balanced and righteous life. By reciting this supplication, a believer seeks to align their life with the divine will, ensuring both worldly well-being and spiritual success.

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

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

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo | Source of Hadith

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