Verse 16 and 17 in Surah Alhadeed

أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلَا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ
Has not the Time arrived for the Believers that their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembrance of Allah and of the Truth which has been revealed (to them), and that they should not become like those to whom was given Revelation aforetime, but long ages passed over them and their hearts grew hard? For many among them are rebellious
transgressors

اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُحْيِي الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ
الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
Know that Allah gives life to the earth after its death! already have We shown the Signs plainly to you, that you may understand

My dear grandfather explained verse 16 as a calling from Allah addressing the believers. He is reminding them to have spirituality and God consciousness. And more importantly He is telling them in a subtle way: love Me so I will love you. And remember Me so I will remember you.

I also read another great reflection on this verse and the next one by my dear brother who said:

This is a powerful reminder indeed. It's a rhetorical question. Is now not the time? Of course it is the time. If not now then when? When's it's too late? Submit to Allah before it's too late.

Allah(swt) is giving us an example of those before whose hearts turned to stone because they did not remain steadfast in submission to Allah. But the next verse is a reminder as well that Allah is ever-loving and ever-merciful. It's starts with "know"... know with 100% certainty and conviction that Allah gives life to the earth after it's death. Likewise, he can soften your heart after it has turned to stone. So don't fret, don't give up. Return to Allah in complete submission. Allah has made his revelations clear for us so that we may understand, as the verse concludes.

May Allah make us from those who submit to Him in remembrance and love. Ameen.
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Satan refused to prostrate

In Surah Alhijir, we see the story of Satan and how he refused to bow to Adam, the first human God created. Three verses struck me in this story. Look at the following carefully which come repeatedly throughout this story:

Verse 26:
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ
And indeed, We created man from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud.

Verse 28:
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي خَالِقٌ بَشَرًا مِّن صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ
And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels: "I am going to create a man (Adam) from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud.

Verse 33:
قَالَ لَمْ أَكُن لِّأَسْجُدَ لِبَشَرٍ خَلَقْتَهُ مِن صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ
[Iblis (Satan)] said: "I am not the one to prostrate myself to a human being, whom You created from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud."

Read the verses and the whole dialogue between God and satan. What I found most interesting was the fact that these 3 verses all emphasize one thing: the component of which man was created from. God is emphasizing this component 3 different times in this Surah and within just a few verses apart. Why is that do you think?

First of all, it could be emphasizing the insignificance of mankind. How they are literally created from nothing, merely clay or mud. That teaches us to be humble and not so arrogant. We are so small and yet our egos can get so big. When God keeps repeating the component we ourselves were created from, that should humble us down a bit.

Secondly, the repeated component could be showing how arrogantly blind Satan was. All that was preventing him to obey God and prostrate was the simple fact that the human was created from clay and mud. That's it. Nothing else. He even says it himself in the story. It shows you his stubbornness and inability to look past that fact. The component man was crated from is what ultimately built Satan's ego and made him disobey God, leading to his eternal damnation. Doesn't that sound childish? It does. And the fact that the component man was created from was repeated 3 times can prove that. Subhanallah.

Prophet Yusuf (Joseph)

Reflecting on Prophet Yusuf's story from beginning to end really nails the essence of tawakkul, or relying on God. In thinking about it, if Yusuf's brothers had not thrown him in the well, he wouldn't have become such an influential leader in Egypt in the end. His hardship at the beginning of the story is what actually lead to his very own success. Yet, throughout this hardship, Yusuf stayed patient, fully relying on God, not knowing what would happen of him, but at the same time, knowing that his God would never give him a hardship more than he can handle, and that God who is Merciful had a plan for him. That is true tawakkul, or reliance on God: Trusting that He will take care of you amidst your pain and worry. Sometimes we only see the big picture, which is the struggle we are facing, but we forget to trust that there is light at the end of the tunnel. The next time something bad happens to you, rather than looking at it as an obstacle, think of what palace it can lead you to, just as the well lead Yusuf there.

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.