"O my soul, it is only a few days, bear them patiently.A lifetime seems long but a flitting reverie"

~Imam Shafi~
" “The heart will rest and feel relief if it is settled with Allah and it will worry and be anxious if it is settled with people.” – Ibn al-Qayyim"....Say : "This is my way; I invite unto Allah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me with sure knowledge" (Qur'an - 12:108) "Say: we believe in God and in what has been revealed to us, and what was revealed to Abraham, Isma'il: Isaac, Jacob and The Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus and the Prophets, from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another, among them, and to God do we bow our will (in Islam)." (Qur'an, Al-Imran 3:84) . "And if he (Muhammad SAW) had forged a false saying concerning Us (Allah),We would have seized him by the right hand;And then certainly should have cut off his life artery (Aorta),And none of you could withhold Us from (punishing) him" (Qur'an,Al-Haqqah 69:44-47) "Do they not ponder the Quran! If it were revealed from a source other than Allah,certainly they would have found,many contradictions."[Holy Quran 4:82] " O man! Verily, you are returning towards your Lord with your deeds and actions (good or bad), a sure returning, and you will meet (i.e. the results of your deeds which you did)" [Holy Qur'an, 84:6] Say, "Is it other than Allah I should desire as a lord while He is the Lord of all things? And every soul earns not [blame] except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you concerning that over which you used to differ." ~Holy Quran 6:164 Imam Malik (rh): “Do not look to the sins of people as if you are Lords, but look to your own sins as if you are slaves. Have mercy on the people of affliction and praise Allah for your well-being, and never say, ‘This person is from the people of Hellfire, and this person is from the people of Paradise.’ Do not be arrogant over the sinners, but rather ask Allah to grant them hidayah and rashad (i.e. guidance).” Ibn Kathir (Ra) narrated: كان نقش خاتم عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه : كفى بالموت واعظاً ياعمر “The engraving on ‘Umar ibn al Khataab’s(Ra) ring was: “Sufficient is death as an admonisher O Umar”. ["Al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaaya]. "When you fear the creation, you run away from it, but when you fear the Creator, you feel close to Him,& run towards Him.".Ibn Qayyim . "Allahumma la‘aisha illa‘aish-al-Aakhirah": 'There is no life but the life of the next world' "And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (i.e. death)". (Quran 15:99) “And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways.And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.” [Quran: 29:69] "... And my success is not but through Allah . Upon him I have relied, and to Him I return." ~ Al Quran 11:88
"Nothing in this world is really useful to you unless it has some utility and value for the next world"-Imam Ali(R)

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Fakhr al Din Razi against the Modern day Sufis.

Fakhr al Din Razi against the Modern day Sufis.

Contents

1. Knowledge of the Qiyamah is only known to Allah, not the Prophet peace be upon him.
2. Refuting the notion that Sawad al Adam means follow the majority of the people.
3. Refuting the saying, If you ask the idol then it is shirk, if you ask the Prophets then it is not.
4. Refuting Taqleed e Shakhsi
5. al Razi on Asma wal-Siffat of Allah tala.
6. al Razi on the meaning of "Seeking nearness to Allah".
7. Al Razi against grave worship.
8. al Razi on making waasita in dua.
9. al Razi on Mukhtar e Kul.
10. al Razi on dead can hear or not.
11. al Razi only asked help from Allah even on his death bed.


1. Knowledge of the Qiyamah is only known to Allah, not the Prophet peace be upon him.

Imam al Fakhr ud din al-Razi commented:
والمراد أن العلم بالوقوع غير العلم بوقت الوقوع، فالعلم الأول حاصل عندي، وهو كاف في الإنذار والتحذير، أما العلم الثاني فليس إلا لله، ولا حاجة في كوني نذيراً مبيناً إليه.
Meaning the knowledge of that event (Qiyamah) is different from the knowledge of the time of the event (Qiyamah). First one (i.e. Qiyamah is going to happen) is known to me which is enough to alert and warn you. And second knowledge (The time of Qiyamah)  is known to no one except Allah, For me being a clear warner there is no need for it. [Tafsir al Kabeer under 67:26]  

2. Refuting the notion that Sawad al Adam means follow the majority of the people.

al Razi said:
 وأن ما سواها لا يلتفت إليهم ، وإن امتلأ العالم منهم
No attention should be given to those who follow other than this (Qur`an and Sunnah), even if the world is filled with them. [Tafsir al Kabir al Razi 15/485]

3. Refuting the saying, If you ask the idol then it is shirk, if you ask the Prophets then it is not.

Fakhr al din alRazi said:
مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ إِلَّا لِيُقَرِّبُونا إِلَى اللَّهِ زُلْفى عَائِدٌ عَلَى الْأَشْيَاءِ الَّتِي عُبِدَتْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ، وَهِيَ قِسْمَانِ الْعُقَلَاءُ وَغَيْرُ الْعُقَلَاءِ، أَمَّا الْعُقَلَاءُ فهو أن قوما عبدوا المسيح وعزيرا وَالْمَلَائِكَةَ، وَكَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ يَعْبُدُونَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ وَيَعْتَقِدُونَ فِيهَا أَنَّهَا أَحْيَاءٌ عَاقِلَةٌ نَاطِقَةٌ، وَأَمَّا الْأَشْيَاءُ الَّتِي عُبِدَتْ مَعَ أَنَّهَا لَيْسَتْ مَوْصُوفَةً بِالْحَيَاةِ وَالْعَقْلِ فَهِيَ الْأَصْنَامُ، إِذَا عَرَفْتَ هَذَا فَنَقُولُ الْكَلَامُ الَّذِي ذَكَرَهُ الْكُفَّارُ لَائِقٌ بِالْعُقَلَاءِ، أَمَّا بِغَيْرِ الْعُقَلَاءِ فَلَا يَلِيقُ، وَبَيَانُهُ مِنْ وَجْهَيْنِ الْأَوَّلُ: أَنَّ الضَّمِيرَ فِي قَوْلِهِ: مَا نَعْبُدُهُمْ ضَمِيرٌ لِلْعُقَلَاءِ فَلَا يَلِيقُ بِالْأَصْنَامِ
"We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position."... They have two types, those who have aql and those who don't. Those who had aql and who were worshiped were Masih, Uzayr, Angels and Many people worshiped Sun, Moon, stars.. Those who have no aql were idols who were worshiped. And this saying of Kuffar (i.e. "We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position.") is regarding those who have aql (i.e. Eesa aleh salam and Uzayr aleh salam)... [Tafsir al Kabeer 26/421]

4. Refuting Taqleed e Shakhsi

Fakhar ud din al razi said
قال شيخنا ومولانا خاتمة المحققين والمجتهدين رضي الله عنه: قد شاهدت جماعة من مقلدة الفقهاء، قرأت عليهم آيات كثيرة من كتاب الله تعالى في بعض المسائل، وكانت مذاهبهم بخلاف تلك الآيات، فلم يقبلوا تلك الآيات ولم يلتفتوا إليها وبقوا ينظرون إلي كالمتعجب،

Our Teacher and Mawlana who is end of Investigators(Muhaqqiqeen) and Jurists(Mujtahideen) may Allah be please withhim said, i have seen Jam'at from Jurists of blind followers (Muqallideen), i read in front of them many verses of Quran on some issues which were against their (taqleedi) madhab, not only they left to accept the verses they didn't even pay attention to it..[in the commentary of Quran under Sura Tauba verse31]

5. al Razi on Asma wal-Siffat of Allah tala.

According to Imam Ibn Katheer and ad-Dahabi he repented from his old creed as Ibn Kathir said
 وقد ذكرت وصيته عند موته وأنه رجع عن مذهب الكلام فيها إلى طريقة السلف وتسليم ما ورد على وجه المراد اللائق بجلال الله سبحانه.
He returned from the madhab of kalam to the madhab of salaf and this has been recorded in his wasiyyah before his death( البداية و النهاية){68/7}

ad-Dahabi said
وَقَدِ اعترَفَ فِي آخِرِ عُمُرِهِ، حَيْثُ يَقُوْلُ (1) :
لقد تَأَمَّلْتُ الطُّرُقَ الكَلاَمِيَّةَ، وَالمنَاهجَ الفلسفِيَّةَ، فَمَا رَأَيَّتُهَا تشفِي عليلاً، وَلاَ تروِي غليلاً، وَرَأَيْتُ أَقْرَبَ الطُّرُقِ طرِيقَةَ القُرْآنِ، أَقرَأُ فِي الإِثْبَاتِ: {الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى العَرْشِ اسْتوَى (2) } ، {إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الكَلِمُ (3) ... } ، وَأَقرَأُ فِي النَّفْي: {لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ (4) } ، وَمَنْ جَرَّبَ مِثْلَ تَجرِبَتِي عرفَ مِثْلَ مَعْرِفَتِي.
He confessed in the last part of his age he (al Razi) said:
I have seen all the ways of Kalam and Manhaj of Philosophy, I have not seen that it cured the illness of someone or It quenched the thirst of a thirsty, I have seen the ways and the closest way is the way of Quran, I read the affirmation that "The Most Beneficent (Allah) Istawa (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty)." " To Him ascend (all) the goodly words," and I read in negation that "There is nothing like unto Him". Those who will experience like me, he will have its Muarifah like me. [Seyar Ailaam an-Nubala 21/501]

6. al Razi on the meaning of "Seeking nearness to Allah".

He went against the meaning taken by sufis, and accepted the meaning taken by Ahlus sunnah.

Fakhr ud din al-Razi (d 606 h) said
  قد عرفتم كمال جسارة اليهود على المعاصي والذنوب وبعدهم عن الطاعات التي هي الوسائل للعبد إلى الرب، فكونوا يا أيها المؤمنون بالضد من ذلك، وكونوا متقين عن معاصي الله، متوسلين إلى الله بطاعات الله.
الوجه الثاني في النظم: أنه تعالى حكى عنهم أنهم قالوا
{ نَحْنُ أَبْنَاء ٱللَّهِ وَأَحِبَّاؤُهُ }
[المائدة: 18] أي نحن أبناء أنبياء الله، فكان افتخارهم بأعمال آبائهم، فقال تعالى: يا أيها الذين آمنوا ليكن مفاخرتكم بأعمالكم لا بشرف آبائكم وأسلافكم، فاتقوا وابتغوا إليه الوسيلة، والله أعلم.
(O Muslims) Have you seen how the Jews dare to do disobedience and sins and they were far from obedience which is the means to nearness to Allah. So, Be opposite to them O Mominoon Be cautious about transgressions against Allah, seek nearness to Allah through obedience to Allah...
Allah mentioned the saying of (Jews and Christians) they said: "We are the children of Allah and His beloved." [5:18] Meaning we are children of Prophets of Allah They were Proud on the practice of their forefathers, Then Allah said O you who believe, Do not feel proud on the honor of your fathers and predecessors, fear (Allah) and seek means to him. Allah knows best.[Mafateeh al-Gayb under Surah al-Maida verse 35]

7. Al Razi against grave worship.

أنهم وضعوا هذه الأصنام والأوثان على صور أنبيائهم وأكابرهم، وزعموا أنهم متى اشتغلوا بعبادة هذه التماثيل، فإن أولئك الأكابر تكون شفعاء لهم عند الله تعالى، ونظيره في هذا الزمان اشتغال كثير من الخلق بتعظيم قبور الأكابر، على اعتقاد أنهم إذا عظموا قبورهم فإنهم يكونون شفعاء لهم عند الله.
"They built these statues and idols upon the forms of their Prophets and leaders (Akabir), and they believed that when they would worship these idols, then these leaders (Akabir) would become intercessors for them in front of Allah. And what is similar to this in our times is the veneration (ta'zeem) of a lot of people among the creation of the graves of their leaders (Akabir), with the belief that if they venerate their graves, then they (leaders) will be intercessors for them in front of Allah."

8. al Razi on making waasita in dua.

Allama Fakhr al-Din al Razi Rahimullah said:
{ وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنّي فَإِنّي قَرِيبٌ } ولم يقل فقل إني قريب فتدل على تعظيم حال الدعاء من وجوه الأول: كأنه سبحانه وتعالى يقول عبدي أنت إنما تحتاج إلى الواسطة في غير وقت الدعاء أما في مقام الدعاء فلا واسطة بيني وبينك الثاني: أن قوله: { وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنّي } يدل على أن العبد له وقوله: { فَإِنّي قَرِيبٌ } يدل على أن الرب للعبد وثالثها: لم يقل: فالعبد مني قريب، بل قال: أنا منه قريب،
"And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near." HE did not say "Say I am near" following are reasons..
First: It is as if Allah is saying, my slave you are in need of waasitah in other places than dua, but in dua there is NO WAASITAH BETWEEN ME AND YOU.
Second: "And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me" It is evidence that a Man is for Allah and the saying "I am Near" is evidence that Allah is for Man.
Third: Allah did not say the Man is near me, rather He said "I am near" [Tafsir al Kabeer under 2:186]

9. al Razi on Mukhtar e Kul.

Imam Razi writes under the verse: “Say, I do not possess for myself harm…” 

قُل لاَّ أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي نَفْعاً وَلاَ ضَرّاً إِلاَّ مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ
والمراد ان انزال العذاب على الاعدأ واظهارالنصرة للاوليأ لاا يقدر عليه احد الا اللّه سبحانه

“And the meaning of this is that the descending of punishment upon the enemies and the appearance of help for the friends, none has the ability for this except Allah.” [translation taken from external link]

10. al Razi on dead can hear or not.

Fakhr al din al Razi said:
"وَمَآ أَنتَ بِمُسْمِعٍ مَّن فِي ٱلْقُبُورِ" هو ان الغرض من سياق الآية تشبيه الكفرة بالموتى ونحن نعترف بأن الذين فى القبور لا يسمعون حين ما يكون موتى.
"But you cannot make those who are in the graves to hear"[35:22] .The context of this verse shows that Kuffar are likened to the dead And we know that the dead in the graves can not hear.
[Nihaya tul Uqool lil Razi 4/165]

11. al Razi only asked help from Allah even on his death bed.

al Razi said:

إليك إله الخلق وجهي ووجهتي ** وأنت الذي أدعوه في السر والجهر
وأنت غياثي عند كل ملمة ** وأنت ملاذي في حياتي وفي قبري
O ILAH of creation my face and my Tawajjuh is towards you, you are the one to whom I ask silently and loudly.  You are my helper in all of the calamities, In my life and after my death you are my shelter  [al Bidaya wal Nihaya vol 13 page 81]




Monday, February 15, 2016

Imam ash-Shafi'i on his death bed


Al-Muzni who is Abu lbrahim Isma`il ibn Yahya said:

"I entered upon ash-Shafi'i during his illness which resulted in his death, so I said to him: 'What is your condition?'
He replied: "I am journeying from this world, and departing from my brothers, drinking from the cup of death, and upon Allaah - Exalted is His remembrance - arriving.
And no! By Allaah, I do not know if my soul is travelling towards Paradise or the Fire!"

Then he started to weep, and he said:

'In You, the Creator, I raise my longing, And even if I am, O possessor of kindness and generosity, an evildoer, a criminal,

When my heart became constricted and my paths became narrow,

I took my hope in Your pardon and forgiveness as an opening and an escape,

My sins seemed very great to me but when I compared them to Your forgiveness,

I found Your forgiveness to be greater,

You are and still remain the only One who can forgive sins,

You grant and forgive out of Your benevolence and generosity,

Perhaps the One who is the source of all goodness will forgive and overlook my mistakes,

And will hide the sins and burden that I accumulated,

My sins seemed very great to me, so I turned (to You) in humility,

Were it not for my contentment in you, I wouldn't, O my Lord, have seen any comfort at all,

So if You forgive me, You would have forgiven a sinner, A rebellious, oppressive tyrant still sinning,

So my crime is very great, past and present, But Your forgiveness that embraces Your servant is greater and higher,


So whomsoever holds fast to Allaah is truly saved from mankind, And whomsoever's hopes are in Him, will be far removed from any regrets.'

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

SECRETS OF SURAH AL-KAHF

✦════✦SECRETS OF SURAH AL-KAHF✦════✦═

"Surat Al-Kahf :This surah has four stories in it, having some morals, lets see them and understand what they are saying to us:
1) The people of the cave
It's  the story of young men who lived in a disbelieving town, so they  decided to migrate for the sake of Allah and run away. Allah rewards  them with mercy in the cave and protection from the sun - they woke up  and found the entire village believers.
Moral: trial of faith
2) The owner of two gardens
A  story of a man whom Allah blessed with two beautiful gardens, but the  man forgot to thank the one who blessed him with everything and he even  dared to doubt Allah regarding the afterlife. So his garden was  destroyed - he regretted ,but was too late and his regret did not benet  him.
Moral: trial of wealth
3) Musa(as) and Khidr(as)
When  musa(as) was asked-“who’s the most knowledgeable of the people of  earth?”” Musa(as) said: me…,but Allah revealed to him that there’s  someone who knows more than him. Musa(as) traveled to the man and  learned how the divine wisdom can sometimes be hidden in matters which  we perceive as bad.
Moral: trial of knowledge
4) Dhul-qarnayn
It's  a story of the great king that was given knowledge and power and was  going around the world,helping people and spreading all that’s good. He  was able to overcome the problem of Yajooj-Majooj and build a massive  dam with the help of people whom he could not even understand.
Moral: trial of power

In the middle of the surah Allah mentions iblees as the one who stirs these trials:
Behold!  we said to the angels “bow down to adam”: they bowed down except iblis.  he was one of the jinns, and he broke the command of his lord. will ye  then take him and his progeny as protectors rather than me? and they are  enemies to you! evil would be the exchange for the wrongdoers!

Now let us see what’s the relationship between surat al-kahf and the dajjal (anti-christ)?
Dajjal will appear before day of judgement with the 4 trials:
He’ll ask people to worship him and not Allah: trial of faith.
He’ll be given powers to start/stop rain and tempt people with his wealth: trial of with his wealth.
He’ll trial people with the “knowledge” and news he gives them: trial of knowledge.
He’ll control huge parts of the earth: trial of power.

How to survive these trials? The answers are in Surat Al-Kahf:
Survival kit 1: Good companionship
“and  keep thy soul content with those who call on their lord morning and  evening, seeking his face; and let not thine eyes pass beyond them,  seeking the pomp and glitter of this life; no obey any whose heart we  have permitted to neglect the remembrance of us, one who follows his own  desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds.” (Surat al-kahf, verse  28)
Survival kit 2: Knowing the truth of this world
“set  forth to them the similitude of the life of this world: it is like the  rain which we send down from the skies: the earth’s vegetation absorbs  it, but soon it becomes dry stubble, which the winds do scatter: it is  (only) Allah who prevails over all things”  (Surat al-kahf, verse 45)
Survival kit 3: Humbleness.
[Moses] said, "You will find me, if Allah wills, patient, and I will not disobey you in [any] order." (Surat al-kahf, verse 69)
Survival kit 4: Sincerity.
“say:  “i am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me,  that your Allah is one Allah  whoever expects to meet his lord, let him  work righteousness, and, in the worship of his lord, admit no one as  partner.” (Surat al- kahf, verse 110)
Survival kit 5: Calling to Allah.
“and  recite (and teach) what has been revealed to thee of the book of thy  lord: none can change his words, and none wilt thou nd as a refuge  other than him.” (surat al-kahf, verse 27)
Survival kit 6: Remembering the Hereafter.

“  One day we shall remove the mountains, and thou wilt see the earth as a  level stretch, and we shall gather them, all together, nor shall we  leave out any one of them. and they will be marshaled before thy lord  in ranks, (with the announcement), “now have ye come to us (bare) as we  created you rst: aye, ye thought we shall not full the appointment  made to you to meet (us)!”: and the book (of deeds) will be placed  (before you); and thou wilt see the sinful in great terror because of  what is (recorded) therein; they will say, “ah! woe to us! what a book  is this! it leaves out nothing small or great,but takes account thereof  !” they will nd all that they did, placed before them: and not one will  thy lord treat with injustice.” (surat al-kahf, verses 47-49)"

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

How Sura Ad-Duha Can Change Our life

How Sura Ad-Duha Can Change Our life

Many of us know surah ad-duha off by heart and have probably read its meaning many times as well, which seems quite straightforward. How many of us, though, have actually gone into the reason behind its revelation and derived the lessons and implications this surah has in our lives?

This surah was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (saw) at a time when he had not received any revelation for six months, not even in the form of a dream! The Prophet (saw) was in a very disturbed state of mind, feeling negative and depressed and believing that Allah was displeased with him, had forgotten him, and did not want him as a Nabi anymore.

Don’t we have similar feelings in our lives? Times when our level of imaan is low, our khushoo insalah wavers and we feel a drop in our connection with Allah? We feel like our duas are not being answered, our salah is not having a positive impact on our hearts, and worst of all the feeling that we’re horrible human beings, that Allah doesn’t love us or doesn’t care about us anymore.

Surah Ad-Duha was revealed to the Prophet (saw) to relieve him of these negative feelings and to give him hope, positivity, and the assurance that Allah is with him no matter what. From it we too can find peace, hope, and a renewed faith in Allah when we go through similar states of depression, sadness, and hopelessness.

So what does this surah say?

Wad duhaa— By the morning brightness

This is the first thing you need to hear when you’re depressed: Wake up, look at the sunshine! Everything in life is not doom and gloom– you just have to look up!

Wal laili iza sajaa— And [by] the night when it covers with darkness,

Why is this aayah immediately talking about darkness? As a reminder to us that the night is meant to cover and give us comfort and rest.

Generally when we’re depressed, we tend to get into a very bad sleep pattern by staying up at night and sleeping all day, thereby worsening our state of mind. This aayah reminds us to use the night as a comfort to ease our distress.

Ma wad da’aka rabbuka wa ma qalaa— Your Lord has not taken leave of you, [O Muhammad], nor has He detested [you].

This is a very powerful verse from Allah telling us that He doesn’t hate us and hasn’t forgotten us– reminding the depressed person that He is always by his or her side!

Walal-aakhiratu khairul laka minal-oola— And the Hereafter is better for you than the first [life].

Many times when we’re depressed we think: Is this all my life is going to be? Is it never going to get better?

This aayah serves as a perfect answer to those questions, reminding us that life in this world is temporary and that Aakhira is certainly a better, more permanent place for us than this world could ever be.

This makes us look forward to attaining our place in Jannah and helps us look at any problems in our lives as temporary tests of our faith from Allah.

Wa la sawfa y’uteeka rabbuka fatarda— And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied.

A promise from Allah that very soon he will give us a massive reward (Jannah) and we will be happy! Subhanallah!

Isn’t this the best thing to hear when you’re depressed and fed up with this worldly life and the problems you’re facing?

Alam ya jidka yateeman fa aawaa – Did He not find you an orphan and give [you] refuge?

From this verse onwards, Allah gives us reason to believe His declarations and promises in the first half of the surah.

Now many of us may think:  how would this aayah about orphans relate to the majority of us?Think about it– weren’t there many times in your life when you were sick or lonely and felt like you had nobody who cared about you? Who was the only one by your side at that time? Allah! It was He who took care of you and guided you out of that stage in life.

Wa wa jadaka daal lan fahada— And He found you lost and guided [you].

How many of us, despite being born Muslims, have found ourselves misguided and straying away from Islam in the past? It was Allah who gave us that hidaya and brought us back to the straight path and to Him and made us practicing Muslims. Alhamdulillah!

Wa wa jadaka ‘aa-ilan fa aghnaa— And He found you poor and made [you] self-sufficient.

Many of us have probably gone through many periods in our lives when we have been short of money and wealth. Now when we look back we realize that it was only Allah who gave us thatrizq in some form and got us through those tough financial times.

When a person is depressed, giving him or her examples of how Allah has helped them in the past will strengthen their conviction and belief in the promises Allah makes in this surah for their future.

Fa am mal yateema fala taqhar — So as for the orphan, do not oppress [him].

This aayah is the ultimate antidote to depression!

Depressed people are mostly consumed with their situation and feel that nobody could possibly be in a worse situation.

This aayah reminds us to look at people who are in far worse situations than ourselves when we’re feeling hopeless and depressed— Look at the orphans, who have no family or loved ones and nobody to care for them. We have families and parents who love us, a roof over our heads and food on the table and we still think we’re in a bad situation? Subhanallah!

Wa am mas saa-ila fala tanhar— And as for the petitioner, do not repel [him].

Another example is of the beggar – to once again remind us of the many material blessings that Allah has given us that we take for granted – food, clothing and shelter. How many of us have ever gone to sleep hungry? How many of us don’t have clothes to wear? Or don’t have a home to go to?

These examples of the orphan and the beggar are ones we should constantly remind ourselves of to be thankful for the numerous blessings Allah has given us, get over our depression and feel connected to Allah again, out of gratitude.

Wa amma bi ne’mati rabbika fahad dith – But as for the favor of your Lord, report [it].

This final aayah is about maintaining that renewed faith and bond with Allah – by pondering, glorifying and talking about the blessings of Allah! Either in terms of halaqas, discussions with family and friends or even da’wah! Dhikr, reading quran and listening to lectures are also great ways to keep the remembrance of Allah close to your heart!

So the next time you feel disconnected, disheartened or depressed with your level of Imaan and your connection with Allah – read Surah Ad Duha and ponder over its meanings – Inshallah it will restore your faith and increase your belief in the greatness and power of Allah.

by Amani Iqbal
http://understandquran.com/

Followers