How to cope with consequences of challenging moral inconsistences

Qur'an in its 31st Chapter "Luqman" mentions a wise man of the earlier times whose wisdom was par excellence. The Chapter is also named as Luqman for it mentions the wisdom of tis wise man and how he is mentioned advising his son about the moral behaviour and how to cope with the consequences for being moral and upright is seldom digested by the bigots and the selfish.

There are many advices of the wise man, but we choose the 17th verse for while it enjoins of a man to be guide people, it also suggests how to bear the negativities of the people:

يٰبُنَىَّ اَقِمِ الصَّلٰوةَ وَاۡمُرۡ بِالۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ وَانۡهَ عَنِ الۡمُنۡكَرِ وَاصۡبِرۡ عَلٰى مَاۤ اَصَابَكَ​ؕ اِنَّ ذٰلِكَ مِنۡ عَزۡمِ الۡاُمُوۡرِ​ۚ ‏ 

(31:17) "O my son! establish regular prayer enjoin what is just and forbid what is wrong: and bear with patient constancy whatever betide thee; for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs.

The above quoted verse has three main directives:

• To establish regular prayer, for prayer brings a man closer to his Lord than any other form of worship.
• To enjoin what is just and forbid what is wrong: Now this part of the verse is the crux of the moral behaviour of a righteous believer, who when sees wrong being done has the courage to forbid it and enjoins what is just. How many people today have the courage to stand before a demagogue or the mafia and challenge their wrong doings and invite them to to be just. More often than not, anyone who tries to do so is subjected to brutalities and unjust behaviour and treatment. That is why it is stressed here that one must make an effort to the best of his ability and strength to block what is wrong and enjoin what is right.
• It is for such upright righteous believers that it is being advised to bear with patient constancy whatever betide them. 

Explaining the verse, famous Muslim exegete fo Qur'an Ibn-Kathir, especially the part (وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَآ أَصَابَكَ and bear with patience whatever befalls you.) note3s that Luqman knew that whoever enjoins what is good and forbids what is evil, will inevitably encounter harm and annoyance from people, so he told him to be patient. And that (إِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الاٍّمُورِ Verily, these are some of the important commandments.) means, being patient when people cause harm or annoyance is one of the most important commandments. 

Another Muslim scholar of present times, Javed Ahmad Ghamidi explains the above said verses as under:

• (Son! Be diligent in the prayer,) The greatest manifestation of showing gratitude to God is the prayer. Thus among all other deeds this is the first deed which he has advised his son.
• (Urge what is good and forbid evil) Ie., he should urge people to adopt things which are regarded as good by human nature and stop people from things which are disliked by human nature and by all mankind. It is evident from other instances in the Qur’ān that this is from among the basic requisites of faith and every person has been made responsible to carry out this duty in his immediate surroundings. This is an expression of gratitude for the guidance God has bestowed on us.
• (And whatever mishap strikes you [in this path], be steadfast on it) This is because this steadfastness is the fountainhead of resolve and determination and the splendour of all facets of character and conduct. It engenders the courage in a person to accept whole-heartedly the unpleasant experiences of life and to greet them regarding them to be from God instead of brooding and complaining. For this, it is required even more in urging others to the right path and stopping them from vice and in treading the path of virtue.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

Having established the faith in man’s conscience and clarified its main essentials, he now speaks about attending to prayer, advocacy of the faith and perseverance in the face of inevitable difficulties. Such is the way of faith: declaring God’s oneness, knowing that He sees all, aspiration to His reward, trust in His justice and fear of His punishment. This is followed by a call to people to maintain the right path, enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. Prior to all this, however, we should ensure that we have the right equipment for the battle against evil: we should worship God alone, address prayers to Him, and remain steadfast despite adversity. Adversity can take many forms from deviation to stubbornness, turning away as well as verbal and physical abuse, loss of property and wealth, as also physical hardship: “These are matters that require strong resolve.” Such strong resolve allows no hesitation after a decision has been firmly taken.

To sum up, it can be said that there is a lesson for all Muslims that they should not be docile in their approach to moral irregularities being practiced around them and must muster strength to stop wrong being done to the utmost of their abilities and call people to the good. It requires extreme guts and strength, though, to bear the consequences of their just stand as the evil doers do not want any stumbling block in their way of evil doings. If in the process any harm comes to the righteous, they are advised to endure with patience whatever affliction befalls them.

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.

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 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.

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Islam in South Korea

Islam came to the United Korea in the middle to late 7th century. Muslim traders had traversed from the Caliphate to Tang China and established contact with Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. However, the first verifiable presence of Islam in Korea dates back to the 9th century during the Unified Silla period with the arrival of Arab navigators and traders. According to numerous Muslim geographers, including the 9th-century Muslim Persian explorer and geographer Ibn Khordadbeh, many of them settled down permanently in Korea, establishing Muslim villages.

Islam survived in the region in varying numbers of Muslims. But Islam was practically non-existent in Korea by the 16th century and was re-introduced in the 20th century. It is believed that many of the religious practices and teachings did not survive. However, in the 19th century, Korean settlers in Manchuria came into contact with Islam once again.

The reintroduction of Islam in Korea is generally attributed to the Turkish peace keeping force that came to the South Korea during the Korean War. Shortly after the war, some Turks who were stationed in South Korea as UN peacekeepers began preaching Islam to Koreans. Early converts established the Korea Muslim Society (한국이슬람협회) in 1955, at which time the first South Korean Mosque was erected at Imun-dong.[24] The Korea Muslim Society grew large enough to become the Korea Muslim Federation in 1967.

Islam and the Korean Peninsula share a history of mutual fascination and curiosity. From the era of the Silk Road in the 9th century to today’s modern interconnected world, the bonds that were once forged through maritime travel have now been passed on to a new generation of young Muslim Koreans, who try to find a balance between their Korean culture and newfound religion. [2]

Spectacular view of the Seoul Central Masjid in Seoul’s Itaewon neighbourhood

[Photo: Radu Diaconu/Al Jazeera]

Among Muslim communities, there are two distinct groups: Traditional and immigrant Muslims. The "traditional" community of Muslims are usually Korean converts to Islam, while immigrants are people who migrated from Islamic countries to Korea for jobs. Migrant workers from Pakistan and Bangladesh make up a large fraction of the Muslim population. The number of Korean Muslims was reported by The Korea Times in 2002 as 45,000[15] while the Pew Research Center estimated that there were 75,000 South Korean Muslims in 2010, or one in every five hundred people in the country. The first masjid, the Seoul Central Mosque was built in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood in 1976. Today there are also mosques in Busan, Anyang, Gyeonggi, Gwangju, Jeonju, Daegu, and Kaesong. 

In recent times, South Korea is opening its doors to Muslim tourists, trying to fill the vacuum left by the declining number of Chinese tourists following the debacle launched with the deployment of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. Various generations of native Korean Muslims reflect on their double identity as Koreans and Muslims in South Korea. The number of Muslim tourists coming to the country saw a 33 percent increase last year from 2015 and is expected to reach 1,2 million people by the end of 2017, as revealed by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).[2]

Since, one of the major concerns of Muslims of Halal meat, it is available and the Korean Muslim Federation provides halal certificates to restaurants and businesses. Their halal certificate is recognized by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), and there are a total of 14 KMF-halal approved restaurants in South Korea as of January 2018.

A lack of familiarity with Islam, coupled with the headline-grabbing antics of groups like the Islamic State and Al Qaeda, have helped breed a degree of Islamophobia in South Korea. This is often stoked by less inclusive Christian groups and publications, who have come up with alarmist reports overstating the number of Muslims, alleging that Muslims are using tactics like “spreading halal food” and having more children through polygamous families in order to “Islamize” Korea. [4]

In the backdrop of above anti Islam sentiments, let us see how is life of Muslims in South Korea? Well, there have been mixed feelings and expressions:

Living as a Muslim in South Korea has been tough, and is getting tougher due to Islamophobia, said Ahn, who converted to Islam a decade ago after marrying a Pakistani Muslim. “Lots of incidents occur allegedly in connection with Islamist extremists and terror groups, and many Korean people just think all Muslims could be associated with them,” she added. “Hatred and prejudice against Muslims still prevail here.” Ahn, a Korean Muslim, told Arab News.

Bora, a revert explains her experience of being a Muslim in SOuth Korea: "Some people would yell at me and tell me to go back to my country, while others would say that I have a bomb in my jacket," she says. "For them, being a foreigner who is Muslim is acceptable, but not a Korean Muslim. Most Koreans have a stereotypical image of Islam that is wrongly portrayed in Korean media." She works at the Seoul Mosque and gives lectures to many South Korean Christians who want to know more about Islam. She tries to answer all their questions to avoid any misunderstandings. "I was once a non-Muslim and I understand their misconceptions, which is why I want to give them all the information they need to understand what Islam really is, that [it] is, a religion of peace and respect." [3]

However, despite challenges and indifferent attitude towards Muslims, many young Muslims have become flag-bearers of Islam in South Korea via social media. Umar (Daesik) Choi, is part of the new wave of young Korean Muslims who are trying to spread awareness on Islam in South Korea through social media. He promotes Muslim-friendly restaurants in Seoul in collaboration with the Seoul Tourism Organization as part of a video series called "From Kebab to Kebab" on YouTube. And he is not alone in his mission to promote Islam. He is joined in by many other young Muslims and social abound in their efforts.

Muslims awaiting to break fast [Photo]

Despite being a small community, the Muslims as a community is peaceful and vibrant, and they love the country as much as anyone. Ramadan occupies a special month on the Islamic calendar as one of the most significant holidays in the religion. Though not all locals know about Ramadan, they respect the values, beliefs, rituals and customs of Islam. While I attended university, my professor always gave me a break during Ramadan so that I could offer prayers. My working friend said he is always allowed time to pray during working hours, says Majid Mushtaq from Pakistan. [5] 

You may like to watch a short video clip on Dramatic Rise of Islam in South Korea:

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 - Flag | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |

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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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An incredible Revert Experience of a young Teenager

Revert experiences of non-Muslims are plenty and each has its uniqueness. I have shared many such experiences, but today I share an incredible revert experience of a young man, hardly eighteen years of age who shares his journey from being a Catholic to atheist and finally jumping into the bandwagon of Islam.

In an age when most teenagers are involved in the worldly amusement, lewdness and drugs, there are young men who think that the life and the faith they are following is not the one that answers their queries or gives them peace of mind. The video I am sharing today is the self-told story of a teenager who found himself utterly dissatisfied with his faith of birth and endeavoured to find answers and solace that could put him at ease and look forward with a clear and concise mindset and true faith.

I would not say more for the video is really a narration of an incredible run down of one's growth from a child to a teenager and finally choosing Islam for according to him Islam made him to understand the why of life and how to live a life a on a path that took him to a straight path shown to him by One True God. I am sure experience of this teenager will move many young and growing men and make them think how to clearly define their future life.

May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us have unflinching faith and trust in Divine Wisdom and decisions and should never lament for we do not know that something better has been planned for us by our most caring Lord. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

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

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

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

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

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

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

To read personal accounts of many who have reverted to Islam, please visit our page: Embracing Islam: Revert Experiences. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

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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Islam in Gabon

Gabon, officially the Gabonese Republic, is one of the smallest countries of the continent located in Western Africa. Its population is estimated at 2.3 million people. The High Council of Islamic Affairs estimates approximately 12 percent of the population is Muslim, including many noncitizen residents with origins in West Africa as of Jun 2020 estimates. The presence of non-Gabonese Muslims is due to the fact that Gabon attracted a large foreign labor force and investors, especially after the 1970s when oil was discovered in the area.

Despite being an overwhelming Christian country, Gabon has been a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) since 1974. This is mainly due to desired economic relations with rich Arabic countries on the one hand, and the then president Omar Bongo’s adoption of Islam in 1973 on the other. Following Omar Bongo's death, the office of the presidency is held by his son Ali Bongo Ondimba, also a Muslim. These relations developed along economic lines have borne fruit in the political arena as well, and Gabon has sided with Islamic countries in numerous matters, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The High Council of Islamic Affairs of Gabon, which represents the country’s Muslims, helps to bring different groups together, as well as engender relations between the state and the Muslim minority community. There is also a general secretariat which acts under the remit of the president as an adviser regarding policies relating to the Muslims. This general secretariat has direct power over the council. 

The socioeconomic situation of Muslims in the country presents a very inconsistent case. Muslims who belong to the civil and military elite have a high economic status along with their social status. However, Muslims living in the slums as unskilled workers or in rural areas live in very poor conditions.

The Hassan II Mosque in the city of Libreville, located behind the presidential palace of the Republic of Gabon (when viewed from the sea). This Moroccan-style mosque was indeed built by the Kingdom of Morocco in 1983. It is the largest mosque in Gabon with a capacity of up to 5000 worshipers at once. King of Morocco Muhammad VI once stopped to perform prayers at this mosque during his official visit to the Republic of Gabon, Burkina Faso and Senegal in 2005. [3] (Photo from panorama)

The state does not interfere in religious matters, rather it helps the minorities to live as per their faith and celebrate religious festivals. In fact, religious life in Gabon is quite good. The government gives freedom to its people to embrace their respective religions and beliefs. The first days of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are official holidays in the country. 

Muslims of Gabon offering prayer [Photo]

The Muslim minority has the right to make religious broadcasts once a week on state television. This usually happens in the form of broadcasting the Friday khutbah (public preaching) from a mosque. There are no obstacles in the country to Muslims establishing their own educational institutions. One of the most important conditions that applies to Islamic schools is that the education they offer must not be below the standard of a public school. [2]

You may like to watch a short video clip in which Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba is seen attending the prayer of the Muslim feast of Tabaski (Eid) at the Hassan II Mosque in Libreville:

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.

Resource 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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Lift yourself by sincere repentance if you fall

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

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

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

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

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

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

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

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

Follow @IslamUltimate

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

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Compare not Thee with those who abound in blessings but with the Have NOTs so as to be grateful

Man has ever been ungrateful to his Lord. No matter how much blessing he has been bestowed upon, he is always vying for more. And if things do not turn up in his favour, he starts to envy those who have been blessed more than he. In doing so he completely forgets the plight of those who are blessed lesser than him - the children of the lesser god.  By doing so he in fact is showing his disparagement of his Lord.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has warned such attitude and has cautioned such men to compare them with the Have NOTS and thank their Lord for being on a upper level of pedestal, rather than feeling being at a lower pedestal when comparing with those whom Allah has blessed more than he.

This Hadith is quoted in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: The Book (#55) The Book of Zuhd and Softening of Hearts كتاب الزهد والرقائق  / ) as Hadith number # 2963c as under:

وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كُرَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، وَوَكِيعٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ انْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ وَلاَ تَنْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ فَوْقَكُمْ فَهُوَ أَجْدَرُ أَنْ لاَ تَزْدَرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ ‏"‏ عَلَيْكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

Look at those who stand at a lower level than you but don't look at those who stand at a higher level than you, for that is better-suited that you do not disparage Allah's favors.

In the chain narrated by Abu Mu'awiya's he said: Upon you.

Let us learn to be content with what has been given to us and help the Have NOTs from what we have more than our needs, rather than living in misery envying those who have more than us. However, this should not mean that one should not strive for a better life by working hard, for by working more brings us blessings, and not by envying others. Because then it would be tantamount to disparagement of favours of our Lord.

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

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo | Source of Hadith

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

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

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Rules of the Divine Court: Scale set for the Day will account for Deeds even of weight of a grain of mustard seed

In our series of posts on the Rules of the Divine Court, we share yet another important verse from Qur'an which mentions that even if the deed of a man is equivalent to the weight of a mustard seed will be accounted for. This warning is for those who think that their small sins and wrongdoings will go unnoticed and continue to ignore these and let these happen. But unknown to them, each deed no matter how small is being noticed and written in the scroll of deeds and shall be presented for dispensation of unbiased Divine Justice.

This warning is mentioned in verse 47 of Surah 21. Al Anbiya (The Prophets). In fact, this verse is part of set of verses 42-47 which warns man that invented gods cannot even defend themselves, how they will defend them against Allah and Scale of justice shall be set up on the Day of Judgement (scroll down to watch a lecture which sums up these set of verses).

وَنَضَعُ الۡمَوَازِيۡنَ الۡقِسۡطَ لِيَوۡمِ الۡقِيٰمَةِ فَلَا تُظۡلَمُ نَـفۡسٌ شَيۡـئًـا​ ؕ وَاِنۡ كَانَ مِثۡقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنۡ خَرۡدَلٍ اَتَيۡنَا بِهَا​ ؕ وَكَفٰى بِنَا حٰسِبِيۡنَ‏ 

(21:47) We shall set up just scales on the Day of Resurrection so that no one will be wronged in the least. (We shall bring forth the acts of everyone), even if it be the weight of a grain of mustard seed. We shall suffice as Reckoners.

It is difficult for us to understand the exact nature of the "Balance". Anyhow it is clear that the "Balance" will weigh accurately all the human moral deeds instead of material things, and will help judge whether a man is virtuous or wicked and how much. The Qur'an has used this word to make mankind understand that every deed, good or bad, will be weighed and judged according to merit.

Also see also vv. 8-9 explanation of Al-A'araf (Vll) - produced herein under.

 (7:8) The weighing on that Day will be the true weighing: those whose scales are heavy will prosper.

(7:9) and those whose scales are light will be the losers, for they are the ones who have been unjust to Our signs.

This means that when the Balance is fixed on the Day of Judgement, 'truth' and weight will be identical. The more truth one has to one's credit, the more truth one has to one's credit, the more the weight in one's scale; and vice versa. One will be judged solely on the basis of this weight. In other words, no consideration other than truth will enter into the calculation. A life of falsehood, however long it lasted, and however full of worldly achievements, will carry no weight at all. Weighed in the Balance, the devotees of falsehood will discover that their life-long deeds do not even weigh so much as a bird's feather. The same point has been expatiated upon in (al-Kahf 18:103-5): 'Shall We tell you of those who are greatest losers in respect of their deeds? It is those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they kept believing that they were acquiring good by their deeds. They are those who deny the Signs of their Lord and the fact of their having to meet Him (in the Hereafter). So, their works are in vain and we shall attach no weight to them on the Day of Judgement.'

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: 

(وَنَضَعُ الْمَوَزِينَ الْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ الْقِيَـمَةِ فَلاَ تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئاً And We shall set up Balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything.) meaning, "We shall set up the Balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection.' The majority of scholars state that it is one Balance, and the plural form is used here to reflect the large number of deeds which will be weighed therein.

(فَلاَ تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئاً وَإِن كَانَ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ أَتَيْنَا بِهَا وَكَفَى بِنَا حَـسِبِينَ then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And sufficient are We to take account.) 

This is like the Ayat: 

(And your Lord treats no one with injustice) [18:49]

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

("O my son! If it be equal to the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Verily, Allah is Subtle, Well-Aware.') [31:16]

In the Two Sahihs it was recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said:

(Two words which are light on the tongue, heavy in the Balance and beloved to Ar-Rahman: "Subhan Allahi wa bi hamdihi, Subhan Allahil `Azim (Glory and praise be to Allah, Glory be to Allah the Almighty).')

 Imam Ahmad also recorded that `A'ishah said that one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah sat down before him and said, "O Messenger of Allah, I have two slaves who lie to me, betray me and disobey me, and I hit them and insult them. How do I stand with regard to them'' The Messenger of Allah said:

(The extent to which they betrayed you, disobeyed you and lied to you will be measured against the punishment you meted out to them. If your punishment was commensurate with their misconduct, then you will be equal and you will not have anything counted for you or against you. If your punishment of them was less than what they deserved for their misconduct, then this will count in your favor. If your punishment of them was more than what they deserved for their misconduct, then Allah will take what is due to them from you.)

 Then the man started to weep before the Messenger of Allah, and the Messenger of Allah asked,

(What is the matter with him Has he not read the words of Allah, (And We shall set up Balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And sufficient are We to take account.)) The man said, "O Messenger of Allah, I think there is nothing better than keeping away from these people -- meaning his slaves -- I call upon you to bear witness that they are all free.''

Yusuf Ali Explanation:

Not the smallest action, word, thought, motive, or predilection but must come into the account of Allah. Cf. Browning (in Rabbi Ben Ezra): "But all, the world's coarse thumb and finger failed to plumb, so passed in making up the main account; All instincts immature. All purposes unsure. That weighed not as his work, yet swelled the man's account; Thoughts hardly to be packed into a narrow act. Fancies that broke through language and escaped; All I could never be, All, men ignored in me, This, I was worth to God, whose wheel the pitcher shaped."

The literalism of Sale has here excelled itself: he translates, "and there will be sufficient accountants with us"! What is meant is that when Allah takes account, His accounting will be perfect: there will be no flaw in it, as there may be in earthly accountants, who require other people's help in some matters of account which they do not understand for want of knowledge of that particular department they are dealing with. Allah's knowledge is perfect, and therefore His justice will be perfect also; for He will not fail to take into account all the most intangible things that determine conduct and character. See last note. There is no contradiction between this and xviii. 104-105, where it is said that men of vain works, i.e., shallow hypocritical deeds, will have no weight attached to their deeds, in fact the two correspond.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

The present passage concludes with a final scene from the Day of Reckoning. The mustard seed here represents the smallest and lightest thing our eyes can see. Yet not even a mustard seed is overlooked or ignored. The scales that are used are so accurate that a single mustard seed makes a difference.

Let people, then, reflect on what they put forward for that day. Let hearts be attentive to the warnings, and let those who turn their backs or indulge in ridicule be warned. They may be able to evade punishment in this life, but on Judgement Day the reckoning takes every little thing into account. The scales then are so accurate that even a tiny seed can make all the difference.

Thus, the accurate scales of the hereafter, the unfailing laws of the universe, the rules applicable to advocates of the faith and the laws of human nature converge in perfect harmony, operated by the hand of the Almighty. This testifies to the truth of God’s oneness, the theme that pervades this whole sūrah.

You may like to listen to Tafseer of verses 47-49, with special reference to set of verses 42-47 of Surah Al-Anbiya by Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda, A specialist in Sīrah & Hanafi Fiqh:

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.

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 pages: Rules of the Divine Court on day of Judgement and 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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Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Specific to Rights of Workers

International Workers' Day, also known as Labour Day celebrated to protect the rights of the workers throughout the world on 1s day of May. Held since 1889, the day highlights the plight of workers, their working conditions. The necessity was felt to protect the rights of the workers as in most cases they were under paid and under priveleged.

But would you believe that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ talked of the rights of the workers more than fourteen centuries ago? The Hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ shows how Islam encompasses laws to protect the rights of the workers and emphasized the need to pay their wages in time.

This short Hadith is mentioned in Sunan Ibn Majah (The Chapters on Pawning كتاب الرهون / Chapter # 4 Wages of Workers باب أَجْرِ الأُجَرَاءِ ) as Hadith number # 2443, shared herein under:

حَدَّثَنَا الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ سَعِيدِ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ السُّلَمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ أَعْطُوا الأَجِيرَ أَجْرَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجِفَّ عَرَقُهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.”

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

Islam lays emphasis on rights of every individual, be a it workers, teacher, or even someone's wife. None should be treated miserably and harshly and be paid what is due to them.

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

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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Revert Experiences: How reading Qur'an melts hearts to enter fold of Islam

Ignorance always leads to misunderstandings, mistrust or even hatred. This is especially true in case of understanding religions. Although, Christianity is the leading religion of the world, Islam is growing more rapidly and winning hearts of those who venture to read and understand Qur'an and Sunnah of last of the prophets Muhammad ﷺ.

The rapid growth of Islam is despite the fact that disinformation is spread about Islam with full throttle and Muslims are more often than not portrayed as terrorists and miscreants whenever an untoward incident takes places anywhere in the world. The term Islamophobia is just one of the latest efforts to discredit Islam and Qur'an. There have been many incidents of tearing and burning of copies of Qur'an in the West and beating and slashing Muslims in India, forcing them to drink urine of cow and compelling them to proclaim Hindu slogans.

There have been priests and monks who are seen uttering blatant lies about Islam and twisting meanings of verses of Qur'an to portray Islam as a brutal religion. But such efforts to belittle Islam and discredit the Muslims are proving to have positive impact on non-Muslims and more and more people, who instead of giving in to biased and deceitful propaganda, are trying to read and understand Qur'an to know the truth. There have been many who started reading Qur'an to find faults in it, ended up entering in the fold of Islam.

Today in our series of revert Experiences, we share a personal account, wherein a born Christian who just took Islam as her research topic and found it to be the truth rather than a lie as has been so portrayed. And when she read the opening verses of Surah Al-ʻAlaq or The Clot, is the 96th chapter of the Qur'an, which in fact were the first verses of revelations to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, she was flabbergasted to read the formation of human embryo. Reading something that science has only discovered in the last two centuries, she was amazed to find that no one except our Creator could have it revealed. The truth made her cry and was the final step to proclaim Shahadah and enter the fold of Islam.

Please watch the full video of a revert experience below and see how reading Qur'an melts hearts and lets non-Muslims enter the fold of Islam:

May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us have unflinching faith and trust in Divine Wisdom and decisions and should never lament for we do not know that something better has been planned for us by our most caring Lord. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo |

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

Follow @IslamUltimate

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

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