Lawh Wal Qalam

In Surah An Najm, Allah says So turn away from whoever turns his back on Our message and desires not except the worldly life. That is their sum of knowledge. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who strays from His way, and He is most knowing of who is guided. It is often worldly knowledge and achievements that give us honor, status, and prestige in the community. We become people of influence who make decisions. We are sought after for advice and financial support. This situation might be a trap if we are not careful. We may become complacent about our shortcomings and deficiencies. When we "make it" in the world, it does not mean that we know everything there is to know. It does not give us a license to become an authority in every subject. This is especially true for the deen. People who have expertise in the dunya, as well as the deen, are exceedingly rare. There are many fields of study in which they ask us to leave the deen at the lecture room door. It is advisable to n...

  Surah An Najm describes the Prophet's manners when he approached the limits of the holy perimeter in the 7th heaven during the Meraaj. He exerted utmost focus, attention and adab to learn whatever her was being shown of the wonders of the heavens.  The ˹Prophet’s˺ sight never wandered, nor did it overreach. His sight was not distracted by attractions around him, nor did it exceed the object of focus that he was made to see. When he learned from Gibraeel (AS) he did so sitting right in front of him, neither to the right of him, nor to the left. He took the Quran directly and with full attention form him so that there were no mistakes or forgetfulness in his acquisition of its knowledge. Focus is an essential element of learning that is so elusive in our lives. In an age of distraction filled with media, smartphones, gadgets, appointments, intrusions and responsibilities, it is very difficult to focus. Yet focus is an essential ingredient of learning. We need to simplify our l...

Surah An-Najm is a powerful late-Makki surah, which the Prophet (SWAS) recited publicly to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. It confirms the Prophet (SWAS) as a Messenger of Allah, his travel during the Meraaj as well as the false worship of the Makkans. The surah is characterized by its eloquent verses which shock and awe the audience.  It builds up to a crescendo and end in a climax - a prostration to Allah - which was the first one that was revealed in the Quran. When the Prophet (SWAS) concluded the surah, all the audience - Muslim and non-Muslim - prostrated at the sajdah tilawah (except one man) due to the power of words of Surah An-Najam on them.

  We are supposed to praise Allah with a certain statement on 5 different occasions based on authentic hadiths.  1. At the end of gathering of dhikr, it preserves the reward 2. At the end of a gathering of lawgh, it is a kafara  3. At the end of performing ablution (wudhu), its reward will be preserved 4. After the 5 prayers 5. After reciting the Quran, instead of sadak Allahul Azeem  The special statement praise is "Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika ashadu an la ilaha illa Anta astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk" (O Allah! Glory is for You and Praise is for You. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except You. I ask Your forgiveness and I repent to You).

Those who lived awake, alert and conscious lives in the world will be in delightful gardens in the hereafter.  Among the guilt and worry-free partaking of the best food and drink, they will recline on comfortable and spacious couches lined up together with good company.   If their family members were believers, they would be reunited in the level of Jannah that was highest among them. They will not talk of any idle, vulgar or sinful topics. Rather they will ask each other about what were their challenges in the word.   They would say that they used to be fearful about their family’s eemaan that they are not corrupted by evil and are rightly guided. In that state, they used to supplicate to Allah pouring out to Him, until He guided them all. How extensively good and merciful is He.

By its very nature, creation is deficient and dependent on others. Are not the plants dependent on the insects for pollination? Are not babies dependent on their mothers for protection, love and sustenance? Was not the Best of Creation (SWAS) dependent on revelation for guidance? Rather than seeking support from other creatures who themselves are weak and dependent we are asked to seek help from our Strong and Ever Living Sustainer who is perfect in all attributes and characteristics. Unlike our worldly masters, He does not need us, whereas we are in perpetual need of Him. We sense the deficiencies in us and try to compensate our weaknesses by becoming obsessed in accumulating power, wealth, influential company, food, degrees, honors, social prestige, entertainment, etc. Nevertheless, we need to realize that to really complete ourselves we need to sincerely flee to Ar-Razzaq, our total Sustainer.

 From our father, Ibrahim's (AS) hosting on the angels, we learn best practices for hosting respected guests. 1. Give salaams foremost when guests arrive at our door. 2. Do not complain about unannounced visitors. 3. Honor guests. 4. Do not demand an introduction in order to serve them. 5. Take care of their needs before engaging in conversation. 6. Serve them with the best of what we have. 7. Expect them to partake of the food. 8. Do not force them to partake. 9. Serve guests for the pleasure of Allah. 10. Ask them about their visit once they are comfortable.

  Whatever is to be given to us / held back from us has already been preordained in the skies. When we used to visit Pakistan in summer vacations, our paternal aunt was very fond of bathing in the monsoon rain showers. We used to wait for the heavens to pour down the blessings so that we me become wet in the privacy of our courtyard. Indeed, the skies open up with blessings that are a source of our joy, sustenance and growth for mankind.  Prophet Ayob (AS) was sent a swarm of locusts, from Allah, made of gold when he recovered from his illness, which he eagerly collected as wealth. Allah asked him about this eagerness and he replied that should be not gather all the bounty from his Lord eagerly? In Abu Dhabi, I moved away from the department I had worked in for 8 years, but was officially tied to them. The next year, I received a salary increment due to my performance at the new position. The old department manager called me to his office and told me "Rizq min Allah" (provisi...

  Surah Ad Dhariyaat is a Makki surah with characteristic short powerful verses emphasizing the Quran's message of the might of Allah, the consequence of disbelief, the reward of belief and the reality of the hereafter. Nevertheless what we find interesting in this surah is the emphasis of Allah as Ar-Razzaq - The Provider. So many Muslim men, become more practicing when they lose their source of provision. They study the scriptures and improve their practice. The tafsir of this Surah is a bounty as it reminds us of the real factors behind the source of sustenance in creation from the beginning of Surah Ad Dhariyaat till its end. The Surah begins characteristically with a series of short oaths by Allah to emphasize the veracity of the reality of there divine reckoning. Allah takes the first oath on the winnowing winds. These are winds that swirl up sand, leaves, pollen, debris and other such matter with them when they blow. Then he goes on to take an oath on clouds heavy with rain ...