The Spider: A Soldier of God

We often stumble upon the question: "What is the purpose of life?" The answer is a complex yet simple one at the same time. When Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was with his companion, Abu Bakr, in the cave hiding from the enemy, a spider formed a web at the entrance of the cave, making the enemy believe there was no way anyone could have went in without tearing apart the delicate threads of the web, and that the cave must have been long abandoned. So they left. It was this spider that acted as a force of God. A tiny insect that acted out God's command saved a human life, and not just any human, but our beloved Prophet Muhammad(PBUH). As verse 40 in Surah Altawba speaks of this event, it adds: "وأيّده بجنود لم تروها", which translates as “And He(God) aided him(Prophet Muhammad) with soldiers you did not see.” Can you imagine that even a tiny insect's action of building its web can make that spider a soldier of God?! What we deem to be insignificant around us can actually be an agent of God, fulfilling His commandments, as we ourselves on the other hand, at times blindly follow our desires. 

 

There is a famous story of a doctor who was on a plane but could not make it to his destination due to inclement weather. Severe lightning, heavy rain, and gushing winds forced his plane to land in the middle of nowhere. It is in that deserted town where he found a mother and her sick child who had needed to be seen by a doctor for months, but their inaccessible location made it logistically impossible for that child to receive the medical attention needed. However, nothing is impossible for God. He will appoint whomever and whatever He wills to fulfill His command, whether it be a human, an insect, or in this case, inclement weather. The circumstances that exist around us are a function of Divine will and intervention, not a matter of chance or “coincidence.” Everything we see in nature is appointed by God, and not just a mere accident. Had it not been for the intense lightning, rain, and wind, that sick child may have never seen a doctor, but God's forces work in mysterious ways. 

 

Now let us ask ourselves, in what ways are we agents of God? Are we fulfilling His commands as a spider did over 1400 years ago? Are we acting as agents of God’s mercy and benevolence on this earth? Hearing this prayer once struck me: "Oh Allah, use me for Your cause on this earth". It made me question myself, my habits and interactions. Are my actions a reflection of God's command, as are forces in nature around us?

 

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in a beautiful statement: "God has appointed a group of His servants to fulfill the needs of people. People rush to these servants when in need. Verily, these servants will be saved from God's punishment". Know that if God loves you, He will place people's needs in your hands. When you find yourself being that person relied on for so much, know that God is appointing you, as He appointed the spider for Prophet Muhammad and the lightning for that sick child. 

 

Neither one of us wants to leave this earth without having benefited the world around us in some way, shape or form. Asking about an old friend, being there for a person in dire need of companionship, visiting the sick, or carrying the load of a complete stranger are all simple tasks that can change our communities if every one of us acted upon them. Undoubtedly we all have daily tasks, but the question is do these duties qualify us to be agents of God? Are we soldiers of God for ourselves, our friends, families, and communities at large? Are we working for Him, in accordance with His laws and in a way that pleases Him? Because once we do that and just that, then we have fulfilled the very purpose of our existence. 

God's compassion to our Prophet(PBUH)

Surah Alanaam, verse 33:

قَدْ نَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُ لَيَحْزُنُكَ الَّذِي يَقُولُونَ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا يُكَذِّبُونَكَ وَلَٰكِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ يَجْحَدُونَ

"We know indeed the grief which their words cause you (O Muhammad). Yet it is not you that they deny, but it is the Verses (the Quran) of Allah that the wrong-doers deny."

What amazes me about this verse is that God is comforting our beloved prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the most compassionate of ways. He is telling him "don't worry, it's not you they're not believing in, it's My words they're not believing in". As if God is telling him "don't take it personally". Or "don't let it get to you". 

We see reflections of God's mercy to Prophet Muhammad repetitively in the Quran, yet some verses are more obvious than others. 

Read this verse in Surah Ash-shura, verse 48:

فَإِنْ أَعْرَضُوا فَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا إِنْ عَلَيْكَ إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ وَإِنَّا إِذَا أَذَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِنَّا رَحْمَةً فَرِحَ بِهَا وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ فَإِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ كَفُورٌ

"But if they turn away from you (O Muhammad), then We have not sent you as a protector over them. Your duty is to convey the Message. And verily, when We give man a taste of Our Mercy, he rejoices, but when some ill befalls them because of the deeds which their hands have sent forth, then verily, man is ungrateful."

The beginning of this verse is almost subtly comforting Prophet Muhammad(PBUH), but then it starts speaking of how man is ungrateful to God's blessings. 

At first, I could not relate those two issues together. What does the second part of the verse have to do with the first part? What does man's nature of rejecting God's blessing have to do with people rejecting Prophet Muhammad's message?

And then there is the correlation! God is as if saying to our beloved Prophet : "Don't be upset when they turn away from your message, because look how often people reject my blessings". What a beautiful way to comfort and support the final messenger! 

We see similar verses in the Quran showing God's mercy and support to Prophet Muhammad(PBUH). And each have a beauty of their own. 

Surah Ash-Shura verse 25

وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَعْفُو عَنِ السَّيِّئَاتِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ

"And He it is Who accepts repentance from His servants, and forgives sins, and He knows what you do". 

What I love so much about this verse is actually the last statement before this verse that ties their meaning so well together. It says:  إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ

"He is well aware of the secrets of all hearts."

First, God is telling us that He knows everything. Not just what's on the surface, but what's on the inside. No one knows you like God does. Not your parents, spouse, children, or best of friends. 

One would worry after hearing this at times, because we know how many faults we have on the inside. So how befitting is it that God now tells us that although He knows us and our past, our current mistakes, and our darkest secrets, that He is the one who accepts repentance. So knowing us on the inside doesn't give God a reason not to accept us, but the exact opposite; it's even a more reason for Him to want to forgive us <3

4 verses that can cure our communities

Too often we hear how a city is so nice to live in, but "if only its Muslim community was more united." Many of the main problems Muslims face today are: racism, prejudice, sexism, backbiting, rumors, and other diseases that cause communities to be disunited. 

 

How can we save our communities? The Quran always has answers to our problems. What can our community learn from God's book to be strong and united as one?

 

These 4 verses in Surah Al Hujurat explain how, individually, we each can help unite the Muslim community.

 

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

“The believers are a single brotherhood, so make reconciliation between your brothers, and be mindful of God so you can receive mercy.”

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰ أَن 

يَكُونُوا خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا نِسَاءٌ مِّن نِّسَاءٍ عَسَىٰ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُنَّ وَلَا تَلْمِزُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا بِالْأَلْقَابِ بِئْسَ الِاسْمُ الْفُسُوقُ بَعْدَ الْإِيمَانِ وَمَن لَّمْ يَتُبْ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

“O you who believe! Don’t let some men among you make fun of other men, for it may be that the (ones who are being made fun of) are better than the (ones making fun of them). And don’t let some women among you make fun of other women, either, for it may be that the (ones who are being made fun of) are better than the (ones making fun of them). Don’t damage each other’s reputations nor be sarcastic with each other, and don’t call each other by cruel nicknames. It’s terrible to use an insulting nickname for someone after he’s become a believer. Whoever doesn’t stop this practice is doing wrong.”

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِيمٌ

“O you who believe! Avoid being overly suspicious (of your fellow believers) for suspicion in some cases is a sin. Don’t spy on each other nor speak badly about each other behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? In fact, you would loath it! Be mindful of God, for God accepts repentance and is Merciful.”

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ

“O people! We created you from a single pair of a male and a female and made you into different races and tribes so you can come to know one another. The noblest among you in the sight of God is the one who is the most mindful (of his duty to Him). Truly, God knows and is aware.”

These verses were revealed during the time of the Prophet (PBUH) and his companions, so what does this mean? That although their time represents the epitome of Islam and unity, they also had similar problems. No community will ever be perfect, but it can strive to be. 

 

In these verses, God gives a list of rules to live by in our every day interactions; things we should do and things we should not do. In the end of these verses, He says, “and be mindful of God”. We should obey Him if we want to achieve mercy and unity within our communities, our families, and ourselves. As He concludes these rules to live by and after telling us we were created differently, He says, “Verily the most noble of you is the most mindful”. So how can we be mindful? By following the steps He gave us in these 4 verses. No one is favored because of the color of their skin or the gender of their body. God only favors you when you follow Him in the best of ways, and that means dealing with your fellow brothers and sisters in humanity in the best of ways.

 

Moreover, these verses address almost every major problem our communities have today: backbiting, spreading rumors, name-calling, making fun of others, suspicion, sexism, and racism. You see every single one of these important issues being addressed in these verses. Imagine if every one of our communities didn't have any of these issues; What kind of communities would we have? Our unity and brotherhood / sisterhood would take a drastic turn forward.

 

You may read these verses and say, "If only my community could put these verses into practice", but that's not where change will come from. Change will come when every single one of us individually struggles to practice these verses and implement them in our daily lives. These verses don't automatically become a societal struggle. They must first start as an individual endeavor. 

Some of these habits are quite basic, yet because they occur so frequently, they have become destructive to our communities. When did it become okay to talk behind each other's backs and spread news that was never verified from its source? This "he said she said" deal has become much too common. This statement of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is what we each need to master individually: "It is enough for a man to be considered a liar when he narrates whatever he hears" (Sahih Muslim). How many times have you heard others speaking about things of which they have no knowledge? We have all fallen into this trap, but we must end it today. 

 

The Quran teaches us how to live our lives in the best of ways. It gives us the tools we need to become the best of communities. Yet it is up to us to put those tools into practice and embark on the path of true brotherhood and sisterhood together. 

 

The next time your tongue is about to fool you, stop right there and let these verses echo through your mind. Remind your brothers and sisters in Islam that Islam teaches us to respect each other and only speak the best of words. If you do not have anything good to say, then say nothing at all. If we can master and nail these verses on our own and within our families, then our communities will slowly but surely become more of what we want them to be. 

May Allah allow these verses to trigger through our minds and create the necessary change we need to become true brothers and sisters in this beautiful way of life, Islam. Ameen. 

 

70,000 Angels: 1 Surah

Years ago when I was in high school, an older friend passed away, leaving behind 4 beautiful children, a family that loved her, and a community that admired her. Her sudden death had a huge impact on my life, to the point where I began questioning my life and doubting my faith. With a load of unanswered questions and a weak spirit, I turned to advice from my local Imam, who was also a teacher and a mentor. As our conversations continued in the upcoming weeks, his one practical advice was to read surah Alanaam, over and over again. And I did. 

It is only this surah in the Quran that prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told us was sent down with 70,000 Angels. Can you imagine? How much treasure is in this chapter that it needed not one, not hundreds, not a few thousand, but 70,000 Angels to bring it down?! 

Reading the chapter repetitively, dwelling on its meaning, and speaking with my Imam about it gradually took me out of the hole I was sinking in. It is this surah that I am truly indebted to for opening my eyes to a whole new world. 

Today, reading its verses penetrates through my heart and lifts my spirit. Whether you need something to lift your spirit, help you out of hardship, heal your doubt, or strengthen your faith, then this is your key. Listen to this chapter Alanaam, read it, understand it, and explore. 

I have listed below some of the verses (and there are too many to choose from) that have served as eye-openers to me and brought healing to my unsettled heart. Notice the wordings of these verses and the amount of spirit they bring back into a shattered heart. 

وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُ إِلَّا هُوَ وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

"And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it but He, and if He touches you with good, then He is Able to do all things." (17)

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ سَمْعَكُمْ وَأَبْصَارَكُمْ وَخَتَمَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِكُم مَّنْ إِلَٰهٌ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُم بِهِ انظُرْ كَيْفَ نُصَرِّفُ الْآيَاتِ ثُمَّ هُمْ يَصْدِفُونَ

"Say, "Tell me, if Allah took away your hearing and your sight, and sealed up your hearts, who is there - a god other than Allah who could restore them to you?" See how We explain the proofs, yet they turn away." (46)

وَعِندَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا هُوَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعْلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْأَرْضِ وَلَا رَطْبٍ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

"And with Him are the keys of the unknown, none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in the earth and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record. (59)

قُلْ مَن يُنَجِّيكُم مِّن ظُلُمَاتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ تَدْعُونَهُ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً لَّئِنْ أَنجَانَا مِنْ هَٰذِهِ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ

"Say, "Who rescues you from the darkness/dangers of the land and the sea, when you call upon Him in humility and in secret (saying): If He only saves us from this (danger), we shall truly be grateful"."

قُلِ اللَّهُ يُنَجِّيكُم مِّنْهَا وَمِن كُلِّ كَرْبٍ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تُشْرِكُونَ

"Say, "Allah rescues you from it and from every other hardship, and yet you worship others besides Allah." (63-64)

أَوَمَن كَانَ مَيْتًا فَأَحْيَيْنَاهُ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُ نُورًا يَمْشِي بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ كَمَن مَّثَلُهُ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ لَيْسَ بِخَارِجٍ مِّنْهَا 

"Is he who was dead (without Faith by ignorance and disbelief) and We gave him life (by knowledge and Faith) and set for him a light (of Belief) whereby he can walk amongst men, like him who is in the darkness (of disbelief, polytheism and hypocrisy) from which he can never come out?"(Beginning of 122)

قُلْ أَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْغِي رَبًّا وَهُوَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ 

"Say, "Shall I seek a lord other than Allah, when He is the Lord of all things?" 

(Beginning of 164)

Allah is reminding us in these verses that He is the only One worthy of relying on when alone and in distress.  He, the One who put us in certain situations, is the One who can take us out of those same situations. Just as no leaf falls from the tree but He knows it, no tear sheds from your cheek except that He knows of it. Allah shows us His power in our surroundings in order to remember that all things go back to Him, including ourselves. 

My friend was once here, walking on the same ground I walk on and breathing the same air I breathe, yet her passing was a sudden reminder that we will all return to Him.  Her leaving caused me to dig deep into Surah Alanaam and to the Quran, which in turn brought back a light that was once turned off in my life. I pray that Allah lights her grave with His light and reunites her with her loved ones in never-ending bliss. 

In this chapter of Alanaam lie the keys to a broken heart. I like to call it the chapter of healing. It is no wonder that it was sent down to our beloved Prophet with the aid of 70,000 angels. I pray that Allah guides us to turn to this surah and to the Quran when we are in doubt or in pain. May the same Creator who created our spirits uplift them and allow them to shine as beacons of light to those around us. Ameen. 

2 reflections from surah Al-ahqaaf:

1- Many times, as parents and as mothers especially, we lose focus on why we are raising children, and more specifically, why we are struggling so hard with them while not directly seeing the fruit of our labor. Listen to this verse:

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًا حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ كُرْهًا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًا وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَاثُونَ شَهْرًا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً قَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

"And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bears him with hardship and she brings him forth with hardship, and the bearing of him, and the weaning of him is thirty (30) months, till when he attains full strength and reaches forty years, he says: "My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds, such as please You, and make my off-spring good. Truly, I have turned to You in repentance, and truly, I am one of the Muslims (submitting to Your Will)."

After going through so much hardship, the woman in this verse is described to have raised a child who does something simple yet grand. This child as growing up realizes that all favors are from God, and the He alone is the source of all his/her blessings, including the blessing of parents, which in turn causes that person to do good and stay on the path of submitting all affairs to God.

Isn't that what we want? If going through this struggle to raise our children today will one day make them turn to God in this same fashion, recognizing all favors are from Him and striving to be righteous people, then all the pain is worth it. Know you have done something right then. 

2- On another topic, verse 27 says:

وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا مَا حَوْلَكُم مِّنَ الْقُرَىٰ وَصَرَّفْنَا الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

"And indeed We have destroyed towns (populations) around you, and We have repeatedly shown the proofs/signs in various ways that they might return (to the truth and believe in the Oneness of God)."

Sometimes we question why bad things happen in many places around us. Here, God is linking the destruction of a town to a sign that turns people back to Him. At times, we as people are so lost that we need something to literally shake us up to snap out of the lost state we are in. So instead of saying where is God when we see destructions around us, know that this is God. Signs come in different ways for people to wake up and realize that this world is not what we want. It's the next world we are all striving for. 

Reflection on Surah Alqamar, chapter 54

The chapter speaks of stories of the prophets, one after the other, from Muhammad (PBUH) to Noah to Hud to Saleh to Lot to Moses, and how their people belittled their message. Their people would clearly see the signs of truth yet still would not believe and submit to God's command. What's interesting is that though the whole chapter is about these stories, in between every prophet's story is one verse that is repetitive in this chapter. It is as if serving as a transition between each story. The one verse is:

وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ

"And indeed, We have made the Quran easy to understand and remember, yet is there any that will take heed?" 

This is so interesting to me because here is God showing us how clear His signs were to these people, and they still disbelieved. Now we must not fall into the same trap. We have our own signs of God's existence and of His true message. And one of the clearest signs is His book, the Quran. So how appropriate is it that for us who are reading these stories today, that He reminds us of "our sign", the Quran, in every transition?! Those people had their signs and now they are gone. But we are here alive and breathing. What are we doing with our "sign". Allah is asking me and you repetitively in this chapter between each story: What have you done with the Quran? Are you utilizing His words and His book to your advantage? Will the Quran be proof for you or against you on That Day? The question at the end of this verse hits deep every time. 

 فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ

"Is there anyone that will take heed?"

Oh Allah, make us from those who do take heed, and who do understand Your words, and ponder, and whose hearts are attached to our sign, Your Noble Book, the Quran. Ameen.