Solution to Distress

Allah(swt) says in the concluding verses of Surah Al-Hijir, 97-99:

وَلَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ يَضِيقُ صَدْرُكَ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ
Indeed, We know that your heart is distressed at what they say.

فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَكُن مِّنَ السَّاجِدِينَ
So glorify and praise your Lord and be of those who prostrate (to Him).

وَاعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَكَ الْيَقِينُ
And worship your Lord until certainty comes unto you (i.e. death).

Reading these words carefully, look at what is happening. Allah(swt) is telling the Prophet: we know what you are going through; we know your heart is hurting from these people's words. You see sympathy and care in this verse toward our beloved prophet Muhammad(PBUH). Many times, you yourself go through hardships in life and you have companions to support and sympathize with you. But it usually stops there. Looking closely at what Allah tells Prophet Muhammad next, He does not sympathize with him and leave it be. Instead he gives him an actual SOLUTION to his distress. He gives him a command as result of his hurting. It's like saying: I know you're in pain, so do the following in order to heal. What are those steps here? Allah tells him: Glorify God, Praise Him, Prostrate, Pray, and Preoccupy yourself with worship until your very last breath.

Has your heart ever been hurt? Try this. Pray, cry in worship to God, praise Him for the good things you do have, have constant remembrance of Him, live for His sake. There is your solution. Not to just this one problem, but to every problem. Follow these steps to your best and let God handle the rest.

Dua of prophet Ibrahim

Prophet Ibrahim's supplications to God are mentioned in Surah Ibrahim verses 35-41. Take a look:

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ
And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said: "O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah) one of peace and security, and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols.

رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ فَمَن تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
"O my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among mankind. But whoso follows me, he verily is of me. And whoso disobeys me, - still You are indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

رَّبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُم مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ
"O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House (the Ka'bah at Makkah); in order, O our Lord, that they may perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), so fill some hearts among men with love towards them, and (O Allah) provide them with fruits so that they may give thanks.

رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا نُخْفِي وَمَا نُعْلِنُ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ مِن شَيْءٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ
"O our Lord! Certainly, You know what we conceal and what we reveal. Nothing on the earth or in the heaven is hidden from Allah.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي وَهَبَ لِي عَلَى الْكِبَرِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَسَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ
"All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has given me in old age Isma'il (Ishmael) and Ishaque (Isaac). Verily! My Lord is indeed the All-Hearer of invocations.

رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ
"O my Lord! Make me one who performs As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and (also) from my offspring, our Lord! And accept my invocation.

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
"Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established."

Truly these supplications by our dear Prophet Ibrahim are beautiful and touching. Did you notice anything different in his calling upon His lord? One thing is notice how he switches between saying "my lord" or رب and "our lord" or ربنا. It's interesting to see how he uses my lord in one supplication and then our lord in the next. Why do you think that is? After giving it some thought, I personally seemed to notice that when mentioning رب or my lord alone, Ibrahim is specifically asking for something for his own family. Yet when he mentions ربنا or our lord, he is asking for something bigger and intending it for his people and the nation to come after him, the believers, etc. so that is why he mentions "our" lord in those verses. That is what I came up with. If you have another reflection, please share in a comment. I would love to ponder more on it!

Surah al-Rad and Ibrahim

These 2 Surahs that come after each other are quite similar in meaning and flow. The ending of each Aya(verse) almost rhymes with each other in these 2 Surahs. They have a very nice flow to the ear when you hear or read them. In addition to that, both Surahs are spiritually uplifting. They speak of Allah's power, His might, His favors, His creation on earth, in the sky, and all around us. They have extremely deep analogies and parables that one can ponder about for hours, and receive various meanings. The verses in both Surahs describe who will be the winners and who will be the losers on the final day of judgement.

But one interesting note I would like to point out is a verse in Surah Al-rad(which comes before Ibrahim). Allah says in verse 19 of Al-rad:
أَفَمَن يَعْلَمُ أَنَّمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ الْحَقُّ كَمَنْ هُوَ أَعْمَىٰ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
Is he who knows that what has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth like the one who is blind? Only those of understanding will heed.

Here God mentions that only people of understanding will take heed. He refers to them in Arabic as أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ. Who are these people? Well, the next 3 verses describe their honorable characteristics very well. After reading about them, one will give these people a high status. May God make us from أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ. Ameen.

Now in concluding this Surah and then reading the next, Surah Ibrahim, you can make an interesting connection. The very last verse of Surah Ibrahim then concludes with mentioning these very same people: أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ! As if reminding us of them as a final conclusion. This time Allah says in verse 52 of Ibrahim:
هَٰذَا بَلَاغٌ لِّلنَّاسِ وَلِيُنذَرُوا بِهِ وَلِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ وَلِيَذَّكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
This (Quran) is a Message for mankind, in order that they may be warned by, and that they may know that He is the only One God, and that those of understanding may take heed.

This last verse of Ibrahim helped tie my thoughts to the Surah before it, as if they are one in meaning, because of their profound analogies and spiritual depth. Read these 2 surahs consecutively for yourself and God-willing you will see the same and even more.

Beginning of Surah Ibrahim

In reading the first few verses of Surah Ibrahim, I quickly realized something. Read the first 25 verses alone and see what strikes your mind. This is what got to me:

Look at these verses:

Verse 1:
الر كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَىٰ صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ
Alif-Lam-Ra. (This is) a Book which We have revealed unto you in order that you lead mankind out of darkness into light by their Lord's Permission to the Path of the All-Mighty, the Owner of all Praise.

Verse 11:
قَالَتْ لَهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ إِن نَّحْنُ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَمُنُّ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَمَا كَانَ لَنَا أَن نَّأْتِيَكُم بِسُلْطَانٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
Their Messengers said to them: "We are no more than human beings like you, but Allah bestows His Grace to whom He wills of His slaves. It is not ours to bring you any authority (proof) except by Allah's Permission. And in Allah (Alone) let the believers put their trust.

Verse 23:
وَأُدْخِلَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ تَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَامٌ
And those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah and His Messengers and whatever they brought) and did righteous deeds, will be made to enter Gardens under which rivers flow, - to dwell therein forever, with their Lord's Permission. Their greeting therein will be: Salam (peace!).

Verse 25:
تُؤْتِي أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ
Giving its fruit at all times, by its Lord's Permission, and Allah sets forth parables for mankind in order that they may remember.

Look closely at these 4 verses. What is the commonality between them? They all mention "God's permission". In the first 25 verses alone, God is reminding us over and over again, somewhat discreetly,that NOTHING can happen without His permission. Whether it be people being guided in verse 1, or giving someone proof of God in verse 11, or the believers entering paradise in verse 23, or a tree bearing its fruit in verse 25; NONE of these things happen haphazardly. They are by God's permission alone. God wants us to realize this in the very first verses of this Surah, yet how many people notice and actually deeply look into His signs? May God guide us to open our eyes and notice His signs to us. Ameen.

Stories in Surah Hud

In reading about Surah Yunus and Hud, I learned that these two chapters came down in the late Makkan period, before the hijrah (migration to Medina). Thus, these chapters were addressing the hardship the Prophet was going through at the time. And at the same time, they were preparing him for migration. Interestingly, Surah Hud is mostly compiled of the stories of previous prophets including Noah, Hud, Saleh, Ibrahim, Lut, Shuayb, and Musa. Many of these prophets had to leave their town in order to save their people from corruption. And all of these prophets went through hardship while preaching the message of God to their people. In hearing their stories, this gives Prophet Muhammad hope and comfort that he is not alone. He is on that same path with the same message of the oneness of God. What struck me the most were verses 31 and 93.

Noah told his people in verse 31:
وَلَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ وَلَا أَقُولُ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ
"I tell you not that with me are the treasures of Allah, nor do I know what is hidden, nor claim I to be an angel...''

Towards the end of the Surah, Shuayb tells his people in verse 93:
وَيَا قَوْمِ اعْمَلُوا عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنِّي عَامِلٌ
"And O my people! Do whatever you can: I will do (my part)..."

In reading these verses, they looked and sounded familiar to me. And indeed they were familiar. In Surah Alanaam, God commands the prophet to say these same 2 statements to his people! See below these verses from Surah Alanaam:

50:
قُل لَّا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ وَلَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ إِنِّي مَلَكٌ
Say: "I tell you not that with me are the treasures of Allah, nor do I know what is hidden, nor do I tell you I am an angel...''

135:
قُلْ يَا قَوْمِ اعْمَلُوا عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنِّي عَامِلٌ
Say: "O my people! Do whatever you can: I will do (my part)..."

What does using the same statements as previous prophets do to the Prophet? It provides him with empathy. They were in your same shoes and they had to go through what you are going through. And not only that, they said the same statements to their people as God is commanding you to say right now. It automatically puts him on their same team, their same message. Subhanallah how beautiful is that!

Knowledge = Responsibility

Verse 93 in Surah Yunus:
وَلَقَدْ بَوَّأْنَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ مُبَوَّأَ صِدْقٍ وَرَزَقْنَاهُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ فَمَا اخْتَلَفُوا حَتَّىٰ جَاءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَقْضِي بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
And indeed We settled the Children of Israel in an honourable dwelling place, and provided them with good things, and they only differed after the knowledge came to them. Verily, Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection in that in which they used to differ.

It was interesting reading this verse because God speaks of a people who He had favored with so many blessings, but then it says they differed and began having disputes among each other. But why? Well, what does the verse say? Only after the knowledge came to them. So after they raised their own scholars, gained knowledge, and became learned, after all that, they began to differ. Because when someone becomes educated, he begins to form his own ideas, and many times only see his ideas, and nothing else. This may have been the case for these people. Knowledge became their pride and ego, so it split them. How many times do we see this in our world today? Knowledge has become something you gain in order to justify your own beliefs, rather than to intelligently share it with others and feel responsible with the information you have. This verse makes you think twice honestly. Knowledge isn't something people should brag about. It is a privilege and responsibility at the same time. It's their duty to help unite people with that knowledge rather than doing the exact opposite as this verse states.

This brings me to another verse in Surah Yunus where Allah says that this nation was one nation until people differed:
Verse 19, Surah Yunus:
وَمَا كَانَ النَّاسُ إِلَّا أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً فَاخْتَلَفُوا وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِن رَّبِّكَ لَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ فِيمَا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
Mankind were but one community, then they differed (later), and had not it been for a Word that went forth before from your Lord, it would have been settled between them regarding what they differ.

Here it speaks of people differing after they were originally one nation. But what fascinated me the most here in relation to the first verse we spoke about is the ending of this verse. The previous verse ended saying that God will judge between them in what they USED TO differ about. However, here when speaking in general to the whole nation that was once one and now it is scattered, God says in what they ARE (still) DIFFERING. He doesn't use the past tense in referring to their disputes. As if people are still disputing today and continuing to split this one nation, our ummah. How true is this today? We are still differing in opinions and beliefs and ideas! These disputes are ongoing unfortunately, and as long as people stay in their own limited way of thinking, they will STILL differ.

Aya's 94 and 104 in Surah Yunus

Verse 94:
فَإِن كُنتَ فِي شَكٍّ مِّمَّا أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ فَاسْأَلِ الَّذِينَ يَقْرَءُونَ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكَ لَقَدْ جَاءَكَ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ فَلَا تَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْمُمْتَرِين
So if you (O Muhammad SAW) are in doubt concerning that which We have revealed unto you, then ask those who are reading the Book [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] before you. Verily, the truth has come to you from your Lord. So be not of those who doubt it.

Verse 104:
قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمْ فِي شَكٍّ مِّن دِينِي فَلَا أَعْبُدُ الَّذِينَ تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلَٰكِنْ أَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي يَتَوَفَّاكُمْ وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Say: "O you mankind! If you are in doubt of my religion, (behold!) I worship not what you worship, other than Allah! But I worship Allah - Who will take your souls (at death): And I am commanded to be of the Believers.

Look closely at these 2 verses that are 10 verses apart in Surah Yunus. They speak of doubt. Interestingly, God almighty addresses the prophet's own doubt before commanding him to clear other people of their doubt. He heals him before the prophet can go heal others. Imagine if a salesperson were to sell a product they them self were not convinced of. They would not succeed in promoting that product to the fullest. When someone has 100% conviction in their product, then and only then will they get to their full potential success in promoting it. With God's wisdom, he did not command the prophet to promote this faith until he himself was 100% convinced of its message. Look at verse 94, Allah tells the prophet that if you are in doubt of what we have sent you, then ask those before you who read the Torah and Gospel. This Quran is but a continuation and final completion of these previous books of God. The prophet was only human, and seeing others around him questioning what he brought at first could have weakened him or gave him some uncertainty. God wanted to replace this doubt with conviction and complete faith. Only after doing that did God then command the prophet in verse 104 to address his own people's doubt and uncertainties. Now the prophet is certain, so he can clear the people's doubts in the faith. This was not just a product he had to convince them of, but rather this was their religion, their faith, their way of life. No doubt God had to prepare him for that, and that is exactly what God the Most-Wise did.