بِسْم الله الرحمن الرحيم
"Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand up for As-Salat (the prayer), they stand with laziness and to be seen of men, and they do not remember Allah but little."
-> The Story of Musa
What should our purpose behind reciting the Qur'an be? To ponder over the Qur'an; focusing on learning about Allah by His Names, Attributes, and Actions, learning what causes His Anger and Pleasure. The result of this is Action - and this action is Purification of the Soul.
Purification of the Soul (تزكية النفس) includes:
1) Purifying yourself from Shirk, Kufr, Bad Manners, Sins, etc.
2) Developing your heart with Faith, Taqwa, Good Deeds, etc.
You will be doing what Allah loves and avoiding what Allah hates. When you do this, you have reached the goal; the purpose behind the revelation of the Qur'an.
Allah mentioned in Surah Aal-Imran [3:164]:
"Certainly did Allah confer [great] favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom, although they had been before in manifest error."
The Verses of the Qur'an should purify our souls.
The Theme of Surah An-Nahl in Purifying our Souls
Every Surah has a Theme and repeated words which draw your attention to the Theme.
E.g. Surah An-Nahl; It emphasizes the Tawheed of Allah by mentioning the favours Allah bestows upon His servants. When they acknowledge His blessings, they will love and magnify Him, and accordingly establish Tawheed. The Scholars call Surah An-Nahl "سورة النعم" (The Surah of Blessings).
If you notice, Allah mentions Tawheed right in the beginning of the Surah:
Verse 1:
"The Event (the Hour or the punishment of disbelievers and polytheists or the Islamic laws or commandments), ordained by Allah will come to pass, so seek not to hasten it. Glorified and Exalted be He above all that they associate as partners with Him."
"سبحانه و تعلى عمّا يشركون"
"Glorified and Exalted be He above all that they associate as partners with Him."
Verse 2:
"He sends down the angels with inspiration of His Command to whom of His slaves He pleases (saying): Warn mankind that La ilaha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I), so fear Me (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds)."
What is the message of the Messengers?
"أن أنذروا أنّه لا إله إِلَّا أنا فَاتَّقُون"
"Warn mankind that La ilaha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I), so fear Me (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds)."
Verse 3:
"He has created the heavens and the earth with truth. High be He Exalted above all they associate as partners with Him."
"تعالى عمّا يشركون"
"High be He Exalted above all they associate as partners with Him."
Then Allah mentions His actions, blessings, favours in detail verse by verse. How can you commit Shirk whilst Allah is bestowing all these favours upon you? How can your heart be attached to someone other than Allah?
In this Surah Allah mentions stories of certain Prophets and Messengers, and this has a relation to the theme as well. For example, in Verse 120-121 Allah mentions Ibrahim عليه السلام:
"Verily, Ibrahim (Abraham) was an Ummah (a leader having all the good righteous qualities), or a nation, obedient to Allah, Hanifa (i.e. to worship none but Allah), and he was not one of those who were Al-Mushrikun (polytheists, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, and those who joined partners with Allah)."
"(He was) thankful for His (Allah's) Graces. He (Allah) chose him (as an intimate friend) and guided him to a Straight Path (Islamic Monotheism, neither Judaism nor Christianity)."
He is the role model. Allah described him as:
1) "حنيفا و لم يك من المشركين"
He practiced Tawheed
2) "شاكر لّأنعمه"
He was grateful for the blessings of Allah.
Allah did not mention this attribute of Ibrahim عليه السلام in any other position of the Qur'an.
Allah created us and gave us a natural disposition. And our natural disposition is to love the Good-Doer. And Allah tells us all His good doing to us in detail, in order for us to love Allah. Allah repeats "لكم", "لكم" (for you), over and over again. We should feel shy to be attached to other than Allah after all these blessings.
If we read Surah An-Nahl as we should, what would we purify ourselves from? Shirk, Ungratefulness (كفر النعمة), denying the favours of Allah, بطر.
Purifying our Souls from the Story of Musa in Surah Al-Qasas
Verse 7:
"And We inspired the mother of Musa (Moses), (saying): "Suckle him [Musa (Moses)], but when you fear for him, then cast him into the river and fear not, nor grieve. Verily! We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of (Our) Messengers."
Allah commanded Musa عليه السلام's mother to throw him in the river when she felt afraid for him.
What does this purify in us? When the Qadar of Allah comes contrary to what you plan and wish for yourself, you should know that there is salvation in what Allah decreed upon you, and there is more good in it for you than what you planned yourself.
How many times do we go through these situations where we plan to do something and something happens beyond our control? What will you think of Allah? Will you think good about Allah? Will you accept the Qadar of Allah? Or will you be angry and discontent? This is the test.
This particular verse teaches us how to deal with the Qadar of Allah. It comes to us as Allah Wills. And He is testing us by it; What will you do when it comes?
We should purify our hearts from doubting in the promises of Allah. Because Allah promised the Mother of Musa عليه السلام that when she did this, He would return Musa عليه السلام to her and make him one of the messengers.
What will help us strengthen our belief in the promises of Allah so that we accept it with a good heart - not after we complain, cry, and then say we are pleased with Allah. Patience is at the first blow of the calamity. Such that you say: There is more reward in doing this than in what I planned for myself -? By going through the Qur'an, collecting, and studying the promises of Allah.
E.g. In Surah Nahl [16:97]:
"Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)."
And look for the promises which Allah promised in the Dunya. In Surah Ibrahim [14:7]:
"And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: "If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshipping none but Allah), I will give you more (of My Blessings), but if you are thankless (i.e. disbelievers), verily! My Punishment is indeed severe."
Allah did not mention what He would increase you in. He is the Most Generous Lord, so what do you expect if He promised increase you? We have to repeat the promises of Allah in the Qur'an to ourselves.
Lessons from Verse 7:
--> The Qadar of Allah may happen in the form of destruction. It could be an accident, loss of lives, money, etc. You see it as destruction, but since Allah wrote it for you, it is good for you.
-> We should purify our hearts from feeling doubts, dissatisfaction, anger, or discontentment (سخط) from the Qadar of Allah
-> We have to develop trust in Allah.
-> Allah forbade the mother of Musa عليه السلام from feeling grief and sorrow. This shows us that when excessive, it is dispraised, and becomes a sin. You know it is excessive when it cause weakness in the heart, body, and faith, such that it prevents a person from taking any action.
-> If you really believe that whatever Allah decreed for you is good, then why are you sad? Of course this does not include natural grief. Musa عليه السلام was a mother and was sad for the seperation from her son. Ya'qoub عليه السلام was a father and he was sad for Yusuf عليه السلام. No one can blame them for that. You can shed tears, but do not allow the grief to paralyze you from taking actions of good.
-> The means of ridding oneself of grief:
1) Faith
We should have belief in Allah and in the Qadar.
2) Good Deeds
3) Prayer
When the Prophet ﷺ was sad, he would run to prayer.
4) Giving Charity
-> Allah decrees upon His servants hardship for two reasons:
1) In order to make him attain a happiness greater than what he is in now
2) To remove an evil greater than the evil he is in
Allah decreed grief in the heart of Musa عليه السلام in order for her to go look for her son, get him back, and attain a happiness greater than what she was in before. When she got her son, she was happier, because she was breastfeeding him in safety, and even under the supervision of Pharoah.
We have to believe in this.
-> Natural grief and fear does not contradict, negate, nor remove Faith. There are people who are afraid to cry when they go through a distress. They say, "You believe in Allah, you have knowledge, why are you crying?"
We are humans, and Allah created us with these feelings, but it should be to a limit. And Allah permitted us to have natural grief. Do not tell a person not to cry, you are telling him something that is beyond his capacity.
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ دَخَلْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى أَبِي سَيْفٍ الْقَيْنِ ـ وَكَانَ ظِئْرًا لإِبْرَاهِيمَ ـ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ ـ فَأَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِبْرَاهِيمَ فَقَبَّلَهُ وَشَمَّهُ، ثُمَّ دَخَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ، وَإِبْرَاهِيمُ يَجُودُ بِنَفْسِهِ، فَجَعَلَتْ عَيْنَا رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَذْرِفَانِ. فَقَالَ لَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ وَأَنْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ " يَا ابْنَ عَوْفٍ إِنَّهَا رَحْمَةٌ ". ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَهَا بِأُخْرَى فَقَالَ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ الْعَيْنَ تَدْمَعُ، وَالْقَلْبَ يَحْزَنُ، وَلاَ نَقُولُ إِلاَّ مَا يَرْضَى رَبُّنَا، وَإِنَّا بِفِرَاقِكَ يَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ لَمَحْزُونُونَ "
Narrated Anas bin Malik: We went with Allah's Messenger ﷺ to the blacksmith Abu Saif, and he was the husband of the wet-nurse of Ibrahim (the son of the Prophet). Allah's Messenger took Ibrahim and kissed him and smelled him and later we entered Abu Saif's house and at that time Ibrahim was in his last breaths, and the eyes of Allah's Messenger ﷺ started shedding tears. `Abdur Rahman bin `Auf said, "O Allah's Apostle, even you are weeping!" He said, "O Ibn `Auf, this is mercy." Then he wept more and said, "The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Lord, O Ibrahim ! Indeed we are grieved by your separation." [Bukhari #1303]
Verses 8 - 9:
"Then the household of Fir'aun (Pharaoh) picked him up, that he might become for them an enemy and a (cause of) grief. Verily! Fir'aun (Pharaoh), Haman and their hosts were sinners."
"And the wife of Fir'aun (Pharaoh) said: "A comfort of the eye for me and for you. Kill him not, perhaps he may be of benefit to us, or we may adopt him as a son." And they perceive not (the result of that)."
Allah mentions what happened to Musa عليه السلام - that Pharoah's household picked him up - so he might be an enemy and cause of grief for them in the future.
Verse 10:
"And the heart of the mother of Musa (Moses) became empty [from every thought, except the thought of Musa (Moses)]. She was very near to disclose his (case, i.e. the child is her son), had We not strengthened her heart (with Faith), so that she might remain as one of the believers."
The Action of Allah in this Verse
The heart of the mother of Musa عليه السلام, who lost her baby, became empty - of every thought other than Musa عليه السلام. She was about to disclose his case...
...but Allah رّبط her heart.
يربط means to tie.
How did Allah tie her heart? الثبات + الصبر (Firmness + Patience)
1) الثبات - Allah kept her firm in the religion and on the right path
2) Made her abide to the command of Allah,
She was about to talk, but Allah kept her firm, so she did not speak.
3) Made her patient.
When a person is firm and has patience, you would know that this is the ربط of Allah.
"لتكون"
This is لام صيرورة (from صار - to become). This is like what is mentioned in Verse 8 - "ليكون".
Allah tied her heart so she would become of the believers.
As-Sa'di said in interpretation of this verse:
"فإن العبد إذا أصابته مصيبة فصبر و ثبت، ازداد بذالك إيمانه و دل ذللك، على أن استمرار الجزع مع العبد دليل على ضعف إيمانه"
If the slave was afflicted with a calamity, and was patient and firm (Allah ربط على قلبه) he will increase in faith. But continuous impatience and complaining is an evidence of the weakness of his faith.
What will help you have this ربط على قلب when the calamity descends? We should ask Allah to keep us firm. "اللهم اربط على قلبي"
Sometimes when you go to give condolence to someone, you see they are calm. Many people do not understand this calmness - how can she be calm when she lost someone dear to her? This is the ربط على قلب. They may be more firm and patient than other than them. They may be about to lose themselves, but Allah will keep them firm, and they will not say what displeases Allah.
E.g. A lady's husband got married to another woman. A husband is dear to his wife, and this marriage is not something that women like. Here she needs ربط على قلب. If she asks Allah to tie her heart, Allah as a result of that, will increase her faith. Her husband may get married and she may have been about to lose her mind, but Allah ربط على قلبها. When Allah sends calamity upon His slaves, He will ربط على قلبهم at the same time. He will not send something you cannot bear, especially if you are a believer. - until this calamity passes and goes away.
You should be careful of surrendering to the Shaytan, because he tries his best to untie this binding by whispering in your heart. He tries to make us lose our temper, make us discontent; destroy us.
Out of Allahs Mercy, He created means of increasing in faith. Of these means is الربط على قلب (The binding, making firm, the strengthening of the heart)- to be patient, a believer, and not surrender to the whispers of the Shaytan who tries to lead a person to destruction.
Verse 11:
"And she said to his [Musa's (Moses)] sister: "Follow him." So she (his sister) watched him from a far place secretly, while they perceived not."
The grief of Musa عليه السلام was natural, and this is shown when she took actions;she took the means. After she threw her son in the river, she did not say "Allah promised He will bring him back. I will not take the means". Taking the means does not contradict Tawakkul (Reliance) on Allah.
Trust and reliance of Allah is knowing that Allah created means for everything you want to attain. This is سنة الله في الكون (The way of Allah in the Universe). Even if you want to attain Paradise, you have to take the means. You have to move from your place. When you are hungry will you say if Allah wills He will feed me, without moving from your place? The same thing applies to guidance, knowledge, etc.
Musa عليه السلام's sister came out from her house, hid, looked secretly, and at that moment the Qadar of Allah descended - and that was that Musa did not accept any other suckling mothers. If she did not take the means, there would be no benefit in this Qadar. But when she took the means, the means and the Qadar resulted in Musa عليه السلام being returned to his mother.
Apply this to any situation in your life: If you want to attain something, take the means, and see the Qadar of Allah when it comes.
What do purify in yourself from this verse? Abandonment of taking the means, believing that Tawakkul entails not taking the means. Go, proceed, ask this person and that, and see what Allah writes. Allah mentioned that He taught Dawud عليه السلام to make Armor. We need to work hard, and put effort to get what we want.
And this also purifies our hearts from laziness (الكسل). Laziness is lagging behind in doing an act of worship (because taking the means is an act of worship) and weakness in performance of the deed. Giving excuses, slackening. Allah dispraised the hypocrites in the Qur'an, in Surah At-Tawbah, for lagged behind in marching forth. In [9:42]:
"Had it been a near gain (booty in front of them) and an easy journey, they would have followed you, but the distance (Tabuk expedition) was long for them, and they would swear by Allah, "If we only could, we would certainly have come forth with you." They destroy their ownselves, and Allah knows that they are liars."
And He described them as lazy to perform prayers, in Surah An-Nisa [4:142]:
Allah dispraised الكسل (Laziness) in the Qur'an, and the Prophet ﷺ used to seek refuge in Allah from laziness:
There are two kinds of laziness:
1) Laziness of the Intellect - كسل العقل -
This is to not use ones mind in thinking and reflecting over the favours of Allah. And this common amongst many Muslims. They see the signs of Allah and do not want to bother themselves to reflect over it.
2) Laziness of the Body - كسل البدن -
This is laziness in the performance of good deeds; helping others, voluntary acts of worship, etc.
-> Allah made us in need all the time - of food, drink, knowledge, sleep, etc - in order to ask Him to give us the means of the fulfillment of our needs. To ask Allah - الأول - to bring the means into existence and benefit us by it, and ask Him - الآخر - to give us the result.
E.g. You want to come to the class and you have no means of transportation. Ask Allah الأول to create the means to go. Allah answered you, and brought transportation. Ask الأول to benefit you by it. You may have a car but it may not always benefit you. You use the means and attend the class. Ask Allah الآخر to give you the result and benefit of the knowledge, the gathering, etc. Many people come to the class, but leave it without benefitting. The means are ءايات الله - Signs from Allah. But there are people who are blind, and people who see.
Another way Allah deals with His slaves: Sometimes Allah makes it easy for you to learn about a particular thing. For example, you learn that if you catch the last Rak'ah of a congregational prayer, it will be counted that you caught the while prayer.
After two or three days, Qadar Allah, a situation occurred where you are late to a prayer and only catch the last Rak'ah. This is the mercy of Allah. He prepares us; teaches us we go through the situation. If you notice, you go through situations according to what you learn every week. This is out of the Mercy of Allah. He is the One who benefits us by what He teaches us. But many of us are heedless of this. Ask Allah to benefit you by what you learn, and for it to be a plea for you and not against you.
We need to read the Qur'an with Ihsan in order that it reaches our heart and changes us and our way of thinking.
The Theme of Surah Maryam in Purifying our Souls
Every Surah has a Theme. We need to know theme of the Surah we are studying in order to help us purify ourselves.
E.g. Surah Maryam. The Theme is the Mercy of Allah. We know this because the Names الرحمن الرحيم are mentioned repeatedly, and the various derivations of the mercy of Allah are mentioned. This is to show us- if you want the mercy of Allah, look for the means in Surah Maryam, and see how Allah dealt with mercy with His Awliyaa - and of them is Maryam عليها السلام.
Maryam means The Worshipper. She is an example for those who worship Allah. If you do what she did, Allah will deal with you with His Mercy.
And there are others whom Allah mentioned - like Zakariya, Musa, Idrees, etc.
Verse 2:
"This is) a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His slave Zakariya (Zachariah)."
When you read this Surah you will purify your heart by thinking good of Allah and not despairing in His Mercy.
What are some of the means of attaining the Mercy of Allah from Surah Maryam?
-> The Story of Musa
[19:12-14]:
"(It was said to his son): "O Yahya (John)! Hold fast the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah)]." And We gave him wisdom while yet a child."
1) Holding Fast to the Qur'an
We should be diligent in understanding and acting upon the Qur'an
"And (made him) sympathetic to men as a mercy (or a grant) from Us, and pure from sins [i.e. Yahya (John)] and he was righteous,"
2) Taqwa
If you fear Allah in all your affairs, Allah will be Merciful to you.
"And dutiful towards his parents, and he was neither an arrogant nor disobedient (to Allah or to his parents)."
3) Dutifulness to your Parents
Do not be arrogant, stubborn; be obedient and obey your parents, and Allah will send His Mercy upon you.
-> In the Story of Ibrahim عليه السلام
In Verses 42-45:
"When he said to his father: "O my father! Why do you worship that which hears not, sees not and cannot avail you in anything?"
"O my father! Verily! There has come to me of knowledge that which came not unto you. So follow me. I will guide you to a Straight Path."
"O my father! Worship not Shaitan (Satan). Verily! Shaitan (Satan) has been a rebel against the Most Beneficent (Allah)."
"O my father! Verily! I fear lest a torment from the Most Beneficent (Allah) overtake you, so that you become a companion of Shaitan (Satan) (in the Hell-fire)."
4) Making Da'wah
When you make Da'wah you will attain the mercy of Allah.
-> Ismaeel عليه السلام;
In Verse 54-55:
"And mention in the Book (the Quran) Isma'il (Ishmael). Verily! He was true to what he promised, and he was a Messenger, (and) a Prophet."
5) Truthfulnesss
"And he used to enjoin on his family and his people As-Salat (the prayers) and the Zakat, and his Lord was pleased with him."
6) Enjoining Goodness on your Family
And the Story of Maryam عليها السلام herself is full of means of attaining the mercy of Allah, especially at times of distress.
Surah Al-Anbiya (Chapter 21) Part 1
One word is repeated 11 times in this Surah - الذكر.
#1 - Verse 2:
"Comes not unto them an admonition (a chapter of the Quran) from their Lord as a recent revelation but they listen to it while they play,"
#2 - Verse 7:
"And We sent not before you (O Muhammad ﷺ) but men to whom We inspired, so ask the people of the Reminder [Scriptures - the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel)] if you do not know."
#3 - Verse 10:
"Indeed, We have sent down for you (O mankind) a Book, (the Quran) in which there is Dhikrukum, (your Reminder or an honour for you i.e. honour for the one who follows the teaching of the Quran and acts on its orders). Will you not then understand?"
#4 - Verse 24:
"Or have they taken for worship (other) aliha (gods) besides Him? Say: "Bring your proof:" This (the Quran) is the Reminder for those with me and the Reminder for those before me. But most of them know not the Truth, so they are averse."
#5 - Verse 36:
"And when those who disbelieve (in the Oneness of Allah) see you (O Muhammad ﷺ), they take you not except for mockery (saying): "Is this the one who talks (badly) about your gods?" While they disbelieve at the mention of the Most Beneficent (Allah)."
#6 - Verse 42:
"Say: "Who can guard and protect you in the night or in the day from the (punishment of the) Most Beneficent (Allah)?" Nay, but they turn away from the remembrance of their Lord."
#7 - Verse 48:
"And indeed We granted to Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron) the criterion (of right and wrong), and a shining light [i.e. the Taurat (Torah)] and a Reminder for Al-Muttaqun"
#8 - Verse 50:
"And this is a blessed Reminder (the Quran) which We have sent down, will you then (dare to) deny it?"
#9 - Verse 60:
"They said: "We heard a young man talking (against) them who is called Ibrahim (Abraham)."
#10 - Verse 84:
"So We answered his call, and We removed the distress that was on him, and We restored his family to him (that he had lost), and the like thereof along with them, as a mercy from Ourselves and a Reminder for all who worship Us."
#11 - Verse 105:
"And indeed We have written in Zabur (Psalms) [i.e. all the revealed Holy Books the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), the Quran] after (We have already written in) Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz (the Book, that is in the heaven with Allah), that My righteous slaves shall inherit the land (i.e. the land of Paradise)."
What is the connection between this repeated word and the title of the Surah? The Prophets were sent with a Reminder - and this reminder is Tawheed. This Surah mentions Tawheed and the Affirmation of the Resurrection. This was the reminder of all the Prophets.
And of the types of ذكر which Allah particularly mentioned in this Surah is the دعاء (Supplication) of the Prophets during calamity and affliction.
Homework:
-> Read Surah Al-Anbiya
-> In the Qur'an Dictionary look for the word تزكية and derivations. The root is زكى. Which Surahs are they mentioned in? Make a Table. [Surah - Verse - and what the Verse is.]
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