Advice from the Quran

The final testament or the Glorious Quran as we know it, is a book unlike any other.

We revere it as we know it to be a direct communication from Allah SWT to us via the Prophet Muhammad SAWS.

And within this book, to set it apart from any other are characteristics that make it unique. There are miracles of which we are still learning its magnitude. There are also miracles in the application of the Quran in that it is still only a single version without deviation after fourteen centuries or that somewhere at any given time there is someone reciting its words.

But the khutba today is focused on the advice that is found in the Quran or the inherent wisdom that can be attained from the Quran. This is the focus of this weeks khutba.

And to just demonstrate this point by an example, we know that there is the Ten Commandments that are followed by Christians. But scholars in Islam also speak of the so-called Ten Commandments of the Quran. But do most of us know where these are in the Quran or what they are?

Before we analyse them, let’s recap where they are found. In Sura Al-Anam, ayat 151 to 153, we recite the words of Allah SWT which are translated as saying:

Say, ‘Come! I will tell you what your Lord has really forbidden you. Do not ascribe anything as a partner to Him; be good to your parents; do not kill your children in fear of poverty’— We will provide for you and for them— stay well away from committing obscenities, whether openly or in secret; do not take the life God has made sacred, except by right. This is what He commands you to do: perhaps you will use your reason.

 

Stay well away from the property of orphans, except with the best [intentions], until they come of age; give full measure and weight, according to justice— We do not burden any soul with more than it can bear— when you speak, be just, even if it concerns a relative; keep any promises you make in God’s name. This is what He commands you to do, so that you may take heed

 

This is My path, leading straight, so follow it, and do not follow other ways: they will lead you away from it— This is what He commands you to do, so that you may refrain from wrongdoing.’

 

Dear brothers and sisters, for those of you who were counting, those three verses just constituted ten commandments passed over to us by Allah SWT.

And how did the scholars reach the conclusion on them being commandments? Each verse ends with the word command in the context of Allah SWT commanding us to follow what preceded it in the verse.

Dear brothers and sisters, this is just a drop in the ocean when it comes to the advice that is offered in the Quran to each and every one of us. However, for many, Arabic is not a native language and therefore it can prove to be difficult to gain the benefit from the book of Allah SWT.

Therefore what follows are 5 things that we can each do in order to reap the benefits of being of the book of Allah SWT.

  1. Learn Quranic Arabic – We have lessons in this masjid for all ages and capabilities. Just ask for more information.
  2. Follow the commentary of the Quran. Just google Tafsir of the Quran and you can get access to a wealth of knowledge on the Quran and the lessons within.
  3. Use the advice in the Quran in it’s context. By this we mean that it is not enough that you take the literal translation of the Quran and stop there. We need to understand that the content of this book is from Allah SWT who made the mind-boggling vastness of the universe or the complexity of the human brain.

Therefore to read a translation (or even just the Arabic) and think that you have understood the wisdom of the quran is not doing it or yourself justice.

The word Ayat of the Quran is actually better translated as Sign (s-i-g-n) and not verse and therefore each ayat is a sign for those who reflect and ponder and fully digest what Allah SWT is saying.

This action requires help for most but now, thanks to the internet, can be delivered in the form of lectures from scholars in video, audio or text format.

This is the best course of action for those of us who wish for a greater understanding of the book of Allah SWT.

Dear brothers and sisters, we need to understand that the only tangible connection to Allah SWT and the Prophet SAWS is the book of Allah SWT. It is from Him to us for us. In other words, there are words within this book that apply to the lives of each and every one of us in this day and age.

Therefore doesn’t it make sense to begin the journey today to unlocking the guidance within this book?

May Allah SWT enable us to understand the Quran. May Allah SWT enable us to gain wisdom from the Quran and may Allah SWT reward us for our efforts in understanding the Quran.

Ameen Walhamdullilahi Rabilalameen.

 

 

Read More

Asking for Guidance

Dear brothers, good guidance is the greatest gift that we can receive from Allah SWT. It is something that we cannot do without. To be guided by Allah SWT to worship him and to follow the path of our beloved Prophet SAWS is the ultimate goal of every Muslim.

Our lives would be absolutely devoid of any meaning unless we acknowledge Allah SWT and worship Him as He alone deserves to be worshipped.

As Muslims we need to be aware of the underlying fact of existence in this life and that is that we can do without other so-called essentials of life. We can do without wealth and without good health and without other things. Although life would be quite hard and quite challenging without these things, as long as we have the right guidance, we would still be victorious in front of Allah SWT.

As Muslims, we are so very lucky because we don’t even have to hunt and search for the right guidance. As Muslims, we have through the Glorious Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet SAWS, all the guidance we need to be successful.

However, by being Muslim it does not guarantee one to be guided. In fact, our behaviour can work against us from being guided. One example of poor behaviour that of injustice to others, is highlighted in the Quran as a barrier to guidance.

Allah SWT says in Sura Al-Anam:

They who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice – those will have security, and they are rightly guided.

Dear brothers, we need to be aware of our own weaknesses becoming a barrier to the greatest gift of Allah SWT. Injustice is mentioned and so is disobedience to Allah SWT.

We cannot expect guidance if we are not following in the ways taught to us by Allah SWT and by our Prophet SAWS.

Allah SWT says in Sura As-Saf:

And [mention, O Muhammed], when Moses said to his people, “O my people, who do you harm me while you certainly know that I am the messenger of Allah to you?” And when they deviated, Allah caused their hearts to deviate. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.

Dear brothers, this ayat mentions the defiantly disobedient and we need to ensure that we do not fall into this category in our words and our behaviour.

We need to constantly seek guidance from our Lord. Our beloved Prophet taught us this practice through his actions and his supplications. It is narrated in hadith that if he woke up for night prayers and at the start of the prayer he would say:

Oh Lord of Jibreel and Mikael and Israfel, creator of the Heavens and Earth, knowledge of the Unseen, you decide between your slaves regarding their differences. Guide me to any doubts of the truth with your permission, you guide whoever you wish to the correct path.

Dear brothers, this is an important Hadith to ponder upon. If the greatest of all creation SAWS was praying for guidance then who are we to omit such a supplication from our prayers?

That being said, this khutba concludes with 3 tips that can be implemented to increase ones chances of being rightly guided:

  1. Sincerity in actions. This relates to the khutba given a few weeks ago on intention. If we are to achieve guidance from our Lord then we need to have the right intention. And this is dependent upon the sincerity with which we worship to our Lord and the sincerity with which we ask for guidance from our Lord.
  2. Increase remembrance and worship of Allah SWT. This is an obvious point but the hadith highlights how important our supplication is for receiving guidance. On top of the supplication given here, the one of Istikhara is a very potent one that we should all aim to learn and utilize.
  3. And lastly, humble yourself. Arrogance about our lives, our possessions, our talents etc. can be a barrier to receiving guidance. We need to be careful that we don’t think that we deserve more than others – even if we appear more steadfast in our worship than them. We need to always be mindful of the fact that everything is through the divine will of Allah SWT and so be grateful for all that we do have.

Dear brothers, we are living in times where misguidance and misinformation is the key weapon of those against the path of Islam. Therefore we need all the help and guidance we can get from Allah SWT to carry us through these times and back to Him in victory. Let us add this request from Him in our supplications so that we are of the rightly guided on the Day of Judgement.

May Allah SWT enable us to carry out actions that warrant his guidance. May Allah SWT deliver us guidance towards His path and may Allah SWT reward us for the effort of receiving his guidance.

Walhamdullilahi RabilAlameen.

Read More

Asking for help from Allah

Dear brothers, it is natural for mankind to want to get what benefits him or her.

Whether it is in worldly matters or matters relating to the hereafter, we are all striving to attain more from our existence.

We also find that people struggle to accept the situation when their desires are not met. Some blame other people when they aren’t successful – a sense of paranoia begins to set in with these people.

Others end up blaming things like ‘the evil eye’ and claiming black magic, jinn involvement and the likes.

Although as Muslims, we believe in the existence of these concepts, often it is not the cause of their problems and the danger here is that the individual can end up becoming delusional and believing that every bad outcome is supernatural.

This in effect causes further stress as the individual is then exposed to those people who benefit from taking money to cure the individual of this magic etc.

The individual is misguided and is in need of the correct guidance and this comes from only one source.

The following hadith demonstrates this well as narrated by Ibn Abbas  (may Allah be pleased with him). The Prophet SAWS said:

O young man, I will teach you some words. Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him before you. If you ask, ask from Allah. If you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that if the nations gathered together to benefit you, they cannot benefit you unless Allah has written it for you, and if the nations gathered together to harm you, they cannot harm you unless Allah has written it for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages dried.

Dear brothers, if we ponder over this hadith we see that our beloved Prophet SAWS has clearly freed us from the worries of misguidance. It is clear for those who analyse that Allah SWT is telling us that He is there for us.

However, it is not easy in an existence where Shaytaan has made it his ultimate goal to distract us from the truth mentioned.

So as muslims, we need to be aware of this plot and set ourselves clear objectives to help us stick to the only guidance and help we need in this life. Achieving these objectives will enable us to achieve greater productivity, confidence in our actions and satisfaction and joy from what we do.

What follows are 3 objectives that we can aim for in order to seek guidance from the correct source and to not feel misguided in our lives.

1. Dua’a (Supplication)

This is the key. We need to ask Him for help. And there is an etiquette to this also. But the most important point to note here is that we need to have our prayers in order as well so that we can benefit from this point.

Allah SWT says in Sura Al-Baqarah:

Maintain with care the (obligatory) prayers and (in particular) the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.

On top of this, get to know the 99 names of Allah SWT and ask of Him in relation to those.

2. Patience.

Dear brothers, patience is so important to note. It is a defining characteristic of a muslim and so we have no excuses if we don’t demonstrate this. Also, it is worthy to note that Allah SWT will accept your supplication but you may not see it as He will only do what is good for you even if you do not know it.

3. Consistency.

And lastly, the realisation that we are His slaves and He is our master. To make a dua’a to Him is not like ordering something from Amazon. Just because we ask once from Him does not entitle us to be demanding from Him. Ask from Him often and in a consistent manner and recognize the blessing that is the ability we have to make the supplication of Him.

Dear brothers, guidance comes from knowing and loving Allah SWT. The more you get closer to Him, the more He will get closer to you. Let’s all aim to revert back to the only guidance we need in this life.

May Allah SWT guide us to the path that takes us closer to Him. May Allah SWT enable us to seek help only from Him. And may Allah SWT reward us for the efforts we make to seek guidance from Him.

Ameen wal hamdullilahi rabilalameen.

Read More