3 conclusions from Surah Al Nisaa

While reading Surah Al Nisa today, I couldn't help but realize 3 things. 

1- لَّا يَسْتَوِي الْقَاعِدُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ غَيْرُ أُولِي الضَّرَرِ وَالْمُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ عَلَى الْقَاعِدِينَ دَرَجَةً وَكُلًّا وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الْحُسْنَىٰ وَفَضَّلَ اللَّهُ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ عَلَى الْقَاعِدِينَ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا

Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah with their goods and their persons. Allah hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home). Unto all (in Faith) Hath Allah promised good: But those who strive and fight Hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward,-

Read the Arabic part if you can of this verse. Allah says that he gave preference to those who strive for him over those who do not. By how much? One step, one degree higher. He says just one daraja. Yet in concluding the verse He repeats that He has preferred those who strive verses those who don't one more time, but now He says by "a grand reward". What does that tell you? That God's one step of elevation is not just one step. One step with God equals a magnificent reward. How kind is our Lord!

2- بَشِّرِ الْمُنَافِقِينَ بِأَنَّ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا

To the Hypocrites give the glad tidings that there is for them (but) a grievous penalty;-

This verse is so full of power. God tells the prophet to tell the hypocrites of their punishment. But God didn't just say tell them. He uses the word "Bashir" which is almost always used with good news. It's a gladtiding. Something to look forward to. But here God uses it with something bad. Why? It's a mockery for them. It's as if he is making a total fool out of them. That is powerful. 

3- I couldn't help but realize the ending of many of the verses in this chapter. This chapter is full of rulings placed by God. And in the end of these verses, He gives himself a characteristic. After setting the rule, He then concludes by saying and God is most forgiving most merciful, or God is all knowing and most wise, or God is all seeing and all hearing. As I was reading this chapter, I was seeing the characteristic of God (All knowing and most wise) over and over repeatedly. And at the same time, God concluded the chapter by saying He knows of all things. That kind of got me wondering. But then again, this is the chapter of rulings, and some times to us people, we cannot fully comprehend why that ruling is set, or what's the wisdom behind it. And maybe, just maybe, that is why God reminds us constantly in this chapter that he is after all, the most wise. There is wisdom behind each and every ruling. And not just that, but God also knows what we know not. Thus, these rulings are there for specific reasons that we at many times do not know why. But because we do know that God is all knowing, we trust that they are there solely for our benefit. Thank you ya Allah. Thank you for teaching us and setting these rules to protect us. 

Giving

A friend asked me about different ways to give charity last week and it made me think of different ideas. We generally think charity is solely monetary, when in fact, it can be much more than just money. 

As I was reading verse 133 in Surah Ali Imran today, it hit me even more. 

الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men;- for Allah loves those who do good. 

This aya really nails this discussion more than anything I would have been able to come up with. It struck me most because typically in the Quran you always see the word Yunfiquoona (spend) followed by the word amwaalahum (money). Not in this verse. God says spend. Spend what? He did not specify subhanallah. It could be your time, your energy, your attention, your smile, yes your money, and the list goes on. This is the kindness of Allah. He did not limit our options for us. There are numerous and infinite ways for us to give. See what you yourself excel in, and give from that. You're a good cook? Invite people for dinner. You're skilled in a sport? Coach a team. You love kids? Offer to babysit. And the list goes on...

It's in your hands

Reading this one verse in Surah Maryam told me something for the first time:

فَلَمَّا اعْتَزَلَهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَكُلًّا جَعَلْنَا نَبِيًّا

So when he had turned away from them and from those whom they worshipped besides Allah, We gave him Ishaque (Isaac) and Ya'qub (Jacob), and each one of them We made a Prophet.

The story is talking about prophet Ibrahim(Abraham) and how he saw his father and his people worshipping idols. It talks about his kind advice to his father, and how he begged him to worship One God rather than these idols that do nothing. But his father did not take heed. So what did Ibrahim do? He left. He left his father and the people that were doing wrong. And because of that, God gave him something better, 2 sons who became prophets. 

On a deeper note, look at the verse closely, it says فلما "only after" Ibrahim left the wrong environment did God grant him 2 sons. It's as if it's saying: because he left that bad environment, God then answered his call and gave him a righteous offspring. 

Think about this for a second. How many times have we called on God for something but we did not get it? What should you do? Look at yourself. Look around you. Look at what environments you are in. Who are your friends? How do you use your time? If there is wrong or lack of God in your life, then change that. Get out of that environment. Change your state of mind. Go back to God and leave what is wrong. Then see how God will give and give in abundance, as he did with Ibrahim peace be upon him. It's in your hands to take that initial step. 

Prayer and Paradise

Chapter 23 in the Quran- Surah Al muminoon (the Believers) starts off by describing the believers' traits:

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ

Successful indeed are the believers 

الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ

Those who humble themselves in their prayers;

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ

Who avoid vain talk;

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَاةِ فَاعِلُونَ

Who are active in deeds of charity;

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ

Who guard their private parts,

إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ

Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or whom their right hands possess,- for (in their case) they are free from blame,

فَمَنِ ابْتَغَىٰ وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُونَ

But those whose desires exceed those limits are transgressors;-

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ

Those who faithfully observe their trusts and their covenants;

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ

And who guard their prayers(observe the daily prayers on time);-

أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْوَارِثُونَ

These will be the heirs,

الَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

Who will inherit Paradise: they will dwell therein (for ever).

The very beginning of the Surah tells us about successful people, or believers. The next 8 verses then describe these successful people's characteristics. And then verses 10 and 11 tell us their prize. Which is what? Paradise forever. 

Paradise is at our feet here! Take a look and examine these traits. After you do that, go back and notice something unique. The very first characteristic given to these successful believers is that they PRAY with khushoo', or humility and humbleness and sincerity. Now go to the last trait. What is it? Those who guard and keep timing of their PRAYERS on schedule. Allah described them through their prayers both in the beginning and the end. The first one is how they actually pray and the last one is when they actually pray and how they prioritize their prayers. What does that tell us? Well, two things essentially. 

1- Prayer is more important than we think. It's the essence of a believer. It IS what distinguishes u from others, what helps you succeed.  

2- It's not just about how you pray, it is when you pray. And at the same time, it's not enough to prioritize your prayers and pray them all on time. It also involves the way you pray each prayer and the amount of sincerity you give it. These two go hand in hand. A successful prayer thus is one prayed on time continuously and prayed with khushoo' and sincerity. 

We ask Allah to help us balance both of these traits, and embody the characteristics of these successful believers. Ameen. 

If God wills

I have been reading Surah Al-Kahf about every Friday for God knows the past how many years. But for the first time I noticed something I had never noticed before all those years!

Look at this verse #24:

إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَىٰ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَٰذَا رَشَدًا

Except (with the saying), "If Allah wills!" And remember your Lord when you forget and say: "It may be that my Lord guides me unto a nearer way of truth than this."

This well-known verse teaches us to always say "inshallah" or "God willing" before ever committing to doing something. And almost everyone knows that this command is in this Surah. 

Yet as I was reading the rest of the Surah last Friday, I saw this word "inshallah" again. I had never noticed before or paid any attention to it! When Musa tells the khader in Aya 69 that he will be patient with him on his journey, Musa uses this word:

قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّهُ صَابِرًا وَلَا أَعْصِي لَكَ أَمْرًا

Musa (Moses) said: "If Allah wills, you will find me patient, and I will not disobey you".

Thus, not only did God command us to say inshallah in this Surah, but he also gave us an example of someone putting the word to use in a story. And not just any someone. A prophet. Prophet Musa. And what better way to learn something than learning it from a prophet. Subhanallah. We see God's wisdom throughout the Quran. But sometimes it can be so subtle, and that's where the importance of deep pondering and understanding comes. May we always be of those who reflect and ponder. Ameen.