An Attitude of Gratitude!

Posted on May 3, 2020June 17, 2021 by Zahra

“And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.'”
(Surah Ibrahim : 7 )

The English translation doesn’t do justice to the Arabic of this ayah. Allah ﷻ actually uses emphasis 4 times here! This is to remove any doubt about the promise being made.

Someone gives you a gift. Wouldn’t you appreciate it, talk about it and want to return their favour? Every single thing that we have is from Allah ﷻ, whether it’s tangible (like our families, homes, food, transport, etc.) or intangible (knowledge, talent, freedom). How much gratitude does He deserve?

Allah ﷻ is teaching us a simple formula for success here: gratitude leads to increase of blessings. It also preserves the blessing. So whatever blessing you want an increase in, start by being grateful for what you already have. For example, if you want an increase in wealth, be grateful for all that you already have by thanking Allah and spending on others too.

Gratitude isn’t just in words and it’s not one-off, that we thank Allah and that’s it. It’s an attitude. It’s to feel thankful to Allah in the heart, to mention in words, and to express our gratitude with our actions – using the blessing to gain His Pleasure.

Often we become focused on the negatives in our life and complain. We must remember that if gratitude leads to preservation and increase, the opposite of this is also true. Ingratitude may lead to the blessing being taking away! (Bring to mind the story of the man with the two gardens in Surah Kahf)

Remember that there is always good in Allah’s plan for us, even when we can’t see it. Be positive and grateful despite the hardship, and you will definitely see Allah making things easy for you and giving you increase.

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “When a slave is ill, Allah sends two angels to him and says to them, ‘Go and look what my slave says to his visitors’. If he praises Allah and lauds Allah when they come to him, they take that up to Allah, who knows best. Thereupon, Allah He says, ‘If I make my slave die, I will make him enter Paradise. If I heal him, I will replace his flesh with better flesh and his blood with better blood and I will efface his evil actions.'” [Muwatta, Ayn 5, (2; 940)]

Have an attitude of gratitude 💕

Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash

Surah Kahf

Surah Al-Kahf

Posted on October 11, 2019October 12, 2019 by Zahra

Introduction

Revelation : Makki Surah, between the 8^th and 10^th years of Prophethood.

Count : over 6000 letters (atleast 60,000 hasanat)

Virtues

1. Source of Light in Dunya and Akhirah

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever recites Surah al-Kahf on Friday, it will illuminate for him a light between the two Fridays.
[at-Targheeb wat-tarheeb]

The “light” here is referring to spiritual light in the Dunya that illuminates the path between what is good and bad, true and false. This surah teaches many lessons. It guides to what is beneficial and shows how to avoid evil and sins.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Whoever recites Surah al-Kahf as it was revealed, then it will be a light for him on the Day of Judgment from his place to Makkah.”
[al-Tabarani]

The “light” on the Day of Resurrections refers to a physical, visible light! Each person’s spiritual condition in the Dunya will be reflected physically on that Day.

The time for recitation is between the maghrib of Thursday to the maghrib of Friday.

2. Protection from dajjal

The Prophet (ﷺ) “Whoever memorizes ten aayaat from the beginning of Surat Al-Kahf will be protected from the Dajjal.” In another narration, “the last 10 aayaat.”
(Sahih Muslim)

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) mentioned the Dajjal (Antichrist) saying: If he comes forth while I am among you I shall be the one who will dispute with him on your behalf, but if he comes forth when I am not among you, a man must dispute on his own behalf, and Allah will take my place in looking after every Muslim. Those of you who live up to his time should recite over him the opening verses of Surat al – Kahf, for they are your protection from his trial. We asked: How long will he remain on the earth ? He replied : Forty days, one like a year, one like a month, one like a week, and rest of his days like yours. We asked : Messenger of Allah, will one day’s prayer suffice us in this day which will be like a year ? He replied : No, you must make an estimate of its extent. Then Jesus son of Marry will descend at the white minaret to the east of Damascus. He will then catch him up at the date of Ludd and kill him.
(Sunan Abi Dawud)

3. Tranquility descends

Ibn Ishaq reported: I heard al-Bara’ as saying that a man recited al-Kahf when an animal was there in the house and it began to take fright. And as he looked around, he found a cloud overshadowing it. He mentioned that to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Upon this he said: O so and so, recite on (the surah) as- Sakina descends at the (recitation of the Qur’an) or on account (of the recitation) of the Qur’an.
(Sahih Muslim)

4. Rewards!

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise, and that the most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant even if it were little.”
Sahih al-Bukhari

May Allah make it easy for us all to follow the Sunnah and to recite this powerful surah every friday, aameen!

Surah Yusuf

Scene 2 – The Plot

Posted on June 28, 2019 by Zahra

The brothers approached Yaqub عليه السلام. You know how emotional blackmail is a very powerful tool? That’s what they used.

They wondered why their father didn’t trust them with Yusuf. They wanted to take Yusuf out with them the next day to have some fun. They would take care of him.

But Yaqub was hesitant. What if a wolf attacked Yusuf while they were off guard?

They insisted and were eventually able to convince Yaqub عليه السلام.

The brothers took Yusuf away and abandoned him in a dark well.

But in the well, in his loneliness, Allah gave Yusuf عليه السلام hope.

وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ لَتُنَبِّئَنَّهُم بِأَمْرِهِمْ هَٰذَا وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
“But We inspired to him, “You will surely inform them [someday] about this affair of theirs while they do not perceive [your identity].”
( Yusuf : 15 )

That night, the brothers returned to their father crying. They told him about how they had left Yusuf with their belongings while they were racing, and that a wolf had eaten him. They even had a shirt with false blood as “proof”.

Yaqub عليه السلام saw through the lie.

قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
“He [Yaqub] said, “Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. And Allah is the one sought for help against that which you describe.”
( Yusuf : 18 )

Lessons

The danger of jealousy and envy. Protect yourself from it and work to remove it from your heart.

The Prophet ﷺ said, “Beware of envy because envy consumes (destroys) the virtues just as the fire consumes the firewood,” or he said “grass.”
[Abu Dawud]

Your greatest achievements could begin from your greatest pain. There is a reason behind every event that happens in your life. Allah is the Best Planner. He is preparing you for a much greater responsibility.
It doesn’t matter how much you try to predict what will happen and try to stop it from happening, you can’t stop Qadr. If Allah willed something, there is a wisdom and goodness in it for you.
Place your hope only in Allah. Seek only from Him, not from people. Seek His Pleasure, and He will give you success with people too.
The brothers hoped to win their father’s love, but they didn’t. Sometimes we think that doing something bad will solve a problem, but it won’t. It will only make it worse.
The blessings and beauty of patience.

Surah Yusuf

Scene 1 – The Dream

Posted on June 28, 2019 by Zahra

It all began with a dream.

About 1800 years before Isa عليه السلام, in Kan’aan, Palestine, a young Yusuf عليه السلام went to his father and told him about an unusual dream he had. He had seen the sun, the moon and 11 stars prostrating to him.

His father was Yaqub عليه السلام, a Prophet. He understood that this was a true dream and interpreted it. The sun and moon symbolized Yusuf’s parents. The stars were his 11 brothers. Yusuf عليه السلام had 1 full brother, Benyamin, and 10 paternal half-brothers.

Yaqub عليه السلام realized that this dream meant that Allah ﷻ was going to choose Yusuf and take him to great heights. It meant that Yusuf was going to rise to such a level that all these people would become submissive to him.

Parents are aware of their kids’ weaknesses right? So Yaqub warned Yusuf to not mention the dream to his brothers. He feared that the brothers would try to hurt him out of jealousy.

قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُؤْيَاكَ عَلَىٰ إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا لَكَ كَيْدًا إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
“He said, “O my son, do not relate your vision to your brothers or they will contrive against you a plan. Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy.”
( Yusuf : 5 )

And Yaqub was right to fear. Yusuf’s brothers felt that their father loved Yusuf and Benyamin more than them. “Our father is making a mistake.” They felt the solution was to get rid of Yusuf. So they made a plan.

اقْتُلُوا يُوسُفَ أَوِ اطْرَحُوهُ أَرْضًا يَخْلُ لَكُمْ وَجْهُ أَبِيكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا مِن بَعْدِهِ قَوْمًا صَالِحِينَ
“Kill Yusuf (Joseph) or cast him out to [another] land; the countenance of your father will [then] be only for you, and you will be after that a righteous people.”
( Yusuf : 9 )

Lessons

Build a strong connection with your children, so that they will trust you with their concerns. Speak to them with love and kindness.
Only tell your dreams to people you trust.
Don’t make problems for yourself. Avoid boasting about your blessings.

Prophet ﷺ said, “Seek help for fulfilling needs by being discrete [i.e., when you make plans, do not announce it to everyone], for every owner of a blessing is envied.
[Sahih al-Jami’]

Shaytan is a clear and open enemy to you. He wants separation between people. Be on guard from his attacks.
Yaqub was concerned with maintaining peace between his sons. Take an active role to make sure that problems are avoided within family and friendships. Work to resolve conflicts.
The brothers intended to do Tawbah even before committing the sin. People do this to make it easier for them to do the sin. Stay away from this behavior!
The brothers blamed Yusuf for the poor relationship they had with their father. They didn’t stop to think that maybe they were doing something wrong. Maybe it was their own bad behavior. We must reflect on our self before blaming others for our problems.

Surah Yusuf

Surah Yusuf – The Best of Stories

Posted on June 26, 2019June 28, 2019 by Zahra

Allah subahaana wa ta’ala tells us:

We relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur’an although you were, before it, among the unaware.
( Surah Yusuf : 3 )

What makes Surah Yusuf the best of stories? Let’s try to understand:

Who’s telling the story? Allah ﷻ ! Is there any one truer than Him?
It’s a true story based on facts.
It’s in Arabic, which is the most powerful and moving language.
It has everything a good story needs – it’s captivating, persuasive, has a strong theme, an appealing style, unforgettable characters
It’s about one of the best people:

The people said, “O Allah’s Messenger ﷺ ! Who is the most honorable amongst the people (in Allah’s Sight)?” He said, “The most righteous amongst them.” They said, “We do not ask you, about this.” He said, “Then Yusuf, Allah’s Prophet, the son of Allah’s Prophet, the son of Allah’s Prophet the son of Allah’s Khalil (i.e. Ibrahim).”
[al-Bukhari]

It has a purpose, which is to take a lesson.
It covers many important topics including – the prophets, the righteous, sinners, angels, satans, kings, slaves, business, dreams, knowledge, men and women interactions, fiqh, politics, prison, patience, even gossip!