The Prophets of Allah: A Beautiful Brief Summary

For Quranic references and tafseer on some of these Prophets, please enter “Tafseer” in the search  and you will get the explanation and background from the Quran, inshallah.

Jazaaik Allah Khair to the one who put this presentation together.

JULY 09 READINGS

WHAT WAS READ A FEW TIMES:

Surah Al Anaam 6:1-24 for……..
78:08 And (have We not) Created You in Pairs
THE HOUSE, MY SANCTUARY
HAJJ Mabrook to the HAjjiis and Eid Mubarak
Ya Ayohan Naas….. O’ Mankind
PREPARATION FOR UMMRAH
What RasoolAllaah (saws) read or emphasized in prayer
BEHAVIORIAL CLUES OF THE HYPOCRITES: 9:5
THE BLESSING….
ABOUT FASTS AND FASTING………
Islamic Perspective on Sex
WORDS………… WHAT YOU READ A LOT OF TIMES GRADUATION……. THE MOST MISQUOTED AYAHS OF THE QURAN SINCE 911 THE CONCEPT OF SABR (PATIENCE) IN ISLAM THE CONCEPT OF ‘EVENTS AT DEATH’ IN ISLAM Does Islam Allow Muslim Men To Marry Non.Muslim Women Hijab a la Syria IN PREPARATION FOR YOUR FRIEND’S WEDDING About SAJDAH- E- TILAWAT: First Sajdah in the Quran SABR IN ADVERSITY: SURAH HUD 11:9-11

ISTIQAMAH AND FACING THE OPPRESSOR: Surah Hud 11: 111-112

وَإِنَّ كُلاًّ لَّمَّا لَيُوَفِّيَنَّہُم رَبُّكَ أَعمَـلَهُم إِنَّهُ  بِمَا يَعمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ (١١١) فَٱستَقِم كَمَآ أُمِرتَ وَمَن تَابَ مَعَكَ وَلَا تَطغَواْ إِنَّهُ  بِمَا تَعمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ (١١٢)
And, of a surety, to all will your Lord pay back (in full the recompense) of their deeds: for He knoweth well all that they do. (111) Therefore stand firm (in the straight path) as thou art commanded― thou and those who with thee turn (unto Allah); and transgress not (from the Path): for He seeth well all that ye do. (112)

SUMMARY OF WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THE TAFSEER (translated from taleem ul Quran by Dr. Farhat Hashmi
When Allah Subhanawataala places a stress one time on a commandment, it is enough for us, but in ayah number 111, Allah Subhanawataala uses seven taqeeds, (stressing the point seven fold) thus drawing our attention to the extreme high level of the importance of the commandment that is coming up.  When it comes we realize that it is the pivot of our life here in this Dunya and our reward and final home in the Hereafter.

The command is istiqamaah!

The translation does not really do justice to the wealth of meaning of Istiqamaah. The Quran provides tafseer of its own words and injuctions and that is what is used in this tafseer.

What is Rasool Allah pbuh being commanded to have istiqamaah in?
The tafseer explains: it is steadfastness in an entire lifestyle, in face of adversity, both inside and outside.

This ayah is very strong and has no flexibility or vagueness, even though it came at a time when Rasool Allah and the few Muslims of Mecca were in the throes of extreme oppression and harassment by the Quraish.

The responsibility that was placed on the shoulders of Rasool Allah pbuh was the reason he said that “Surah Hud aged me well beyond my years”.

What does Istiqamah mean?
To stand straight and sure-footed, with steadfastness in what you have been commanded to do.
Here the dilution or even the hint of dilution or compromise is removed from the life a Muslim has to lead.

Allah Subhanawataala commands Rasool Allah pbuh here:
Do not do things other than the way you have been instructed, this includes finding tawheed in the many varieties of options available, in integrity, ikhlaas (sincerity) aqaid (beliefs) accuracy of ibadaat. Do them exactly as has been instructed.

The lack of flexibility is in the commandments of the obligations and in behavior.

Thus the command of the obligations e.g. salah cannot be changed in time, format or frequency, and it is to be presented to Allah with the behavior of ikhlaas (sincerity) and focus. i.e. one is not allowed to modify it to fit the ever-changing scene of ones own inclinations and desires

Who are these commandments for?

These commandments are not only for our Rasool pbuh but also every person who has turned to Allah and wishes to be on His path (in repentance).

WHO IS A DHALIM (OPRESSOR) AND HOW SHOULD WE BEHAVE TOWARDS HIM OR HER?
Allah SWT strictly prohibits even” inclining” towards the Dhalim (oppressor): previously defined in the Quran as someone or something that takes away the right of someone, or is excessive in gathering things for himself or herself and usurps other peoples rights over and beyond what are his or hers) as it dissolves istiqamah.

End tafseer summary

MY TAKE:

In my humble opinion perhaps all those people who dilute Allah’s commandments with their own interpretations or create new gods and prophets and give them the same status as Allah Subhanawataala and Prophet Muhammad pbuh most likely fall under the category of dhalims (opressors)

Allah knows best.

Why are they dhalims? Because they are taking away the rights of people.  Every human being has been endowed with fitra (an inner core of purity) and every child of Adam forever to come has taken the covenant with Allah accepting Him as his or her Lord. (Quran)

Thus people who may be innocent or ignorant and the dhalim (oppressor) knowingly entices them by making the process sweet and enticing, or by the use of force is not only not to be supported, but we are instructed not to even show an “inclination”

The Quraish had also sweetened the pot for RasoolAllah pbuh by asking him to compromise. They asked him that if he would just touch their gods with his hand fleetingly and then they (the Quraish) would become agreeable to his (pbuh) God. Rasool Allah pbuh refused (surah Al Kafiroon)

Many times one can fall into this enticement at the interfaith meetings where one can think “what harm can come from listening to someone proclaim Jesus Christ as your Lord and God, I am not that weak” and many times we even take our children who are at an impressionable age to go with us to listen to these talks and we do so with the excuse that we are being flexible and “tolerant”.

Allah SWT states that istiqamah which is an order from Him, dissolves in the face of even “inclining” towards a Dhalim.

Allah Subhanawataala states in this ayah and it is a very hard ayah,  that one cannot remain Mustaqim if we incline ourselves towards the Dhalim. and he also reminds us that we will be exactly rewarded for each of our actions, their content, intent and their level of sincerity, because he is Just and All Knowing.

Other kinds of Dhalim are those who modify Islam, (defined as the submission to Allah Subhanawataala to attain Peace) to fit their own criteria for the sake of personal ease, inclinations or desires, and or invent other Messengers of God after Prophet Muhammad pbuh).

Such people are clearly disobeying the words of Allah who states many times in the Quran:  “Obey me and the Rasool” and thus they disobey Allah by not obeying the Rasool (PBUH) who said in his last khutbah “No other prophet will come after me”………………

In the final analysis Allah Subhanawataala reminds us that in happiness and in health, in adversity and in calamity each one of us is responsible for our own actions and will be accountable and rewarded for each one of them accordingly.

Thus when I incline toward a Dhalim (God forbid) what has Allah Subhanawataala promised me (God forbid that this may happen) He has promised that I will be touched by the Fire of Jahannum, and there are no other protectors other than Allah and no one other than Him can help me.

Istiqamah has been ordered not only for our Rasool (pbuh) but also for all of those who have turned or wish to turn to the path of Allah Subhanawataala (in repentance).

OUTCOME OF DISOBEDIENCE IN TRADE Surah Hud 11: 94-95

وَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمرُنَا نَجَّينَا شُعَيبًا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَعَهُ  بِرَحمَةٍ مِّنَّا وَأَخَذَتِ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُواْ ٱلصَّيحَةُ فَأَصبَحُواْ فِى دِيَـرِهِم جَـثِمِينَ (٩٤)

And when Our commandment came to pass We saved Shu’eyb and those who believed with him by a mercy from Us; and the (Awful) Cry seized those who did injustice, and morning found them prostrate in their dwellings, (94)

كَأَن لَّم يَغنَواْ فِيہَآ أَلَا بُعدًا لِّمَديَنَ كَمَا بَعِدَت ثَمُودُ (٩٥)

As though they had not dwelt there. A far removal for Midian, even as Thamud had been removed afar! (95)

BACKGROUND:
The people of Midyan were affluent, excelling in trade. However they were dishonest in their weights and measures and cheated others regarding what they said and what they actually weighed out to give them and yet they were flourishing.
Saleh (AS) was sent to warn them, and to teach them Allah’s command to stop the dishonesty in trade………….
The people of Midyan said the same things that others had before them ranging from “how can we give up how our ancestors practiced trade, you (Saleh AS) are nothing and we would wipe you off the face of the earth if it was not because of your family” etc etc.

Tafseer translated from Dr. Farhat Hashmi
Midayn and Thamud were cursed by Allah Subhanawataala……..they had all the excellence of worldly technology but nothing could save them when Allah Subhanawataala sent destruction in the form of a shrill sound that killed them and they were thrown on their faces.

Midyan was thrown away as if they never existed, all the power structure of money, material and affluence dissolved in the face of punishment for disobedience of Allah.

The example is that Allah SWT threw out the entire nation of Midyan like a small piece of trash into the revolving back of a trash truck,(my example) crushed into oblivion with not a remnant left over to even show their power and affluence…………..mixed in and buried with the trash never to be identified again, their houses left behind as an example for nations to come……………….What was their sin? Cheating in trade in measuring and weighing what they sold!

MY TAKE
We as human beings are no judge of what is right and what is wrong. Once we begin doing a wrong act and do it enough times without being objected to, or do it secretly as the nation of Midyan did,then it starts to feel all right. Especially when there is no one to see it, stop it or advise us. We may be lulled into comfort especially if we overtly appear to flourish in our trade materially.
REMINDERS
The Cry………..we must remember the cry……….we must also remember the twig in the trash, the huge, affluent, powerful nation of Midyan thrown by Allah Subhanawataala like a twig in the trash crushed into oblivion for its disobedience of Allah in trade.

TIME TO CHECK
How are our businesses? It is time to evaluate them? Do we charge for goods or services we do not deliver or deliver less than what we have contracted for?

FEAR AND FAITH: PART THREE :TAQWA

For part one click here

For Part two click here

Fear is an essential part of TAQWA.

TAQWA is a complex term describing a life filled with love, fear and obedience to Allah Subhanawataala and instilled with a constant awareness that He Subhanawataala is with us every waking and sleeping moment, and that He subhanawataala is protecting us and watching us, and that nothing escapes him whether it is overt in action or covertly residing in the recesses of our mind.

This awareness modulates our behavior inside salah and outside salah.

Taqwa is the ultimate goal of every sincere Muslim.

Allah Subhanawataala gives us the prescription to overcome fear and grief by following His guidance.
For that we need an understanding of His words, their meaning, the context in which they were revealed and the method of practice as demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him.

He Subhanawataala gives us a choice……………an option of overcoming FEAR and GRIEF. It is now upto us if we choose to seek the cure.
“““““`

An finally sages and scholars tell us that it is best to learn from History as history repeats itself, again and yet again.

Allah Subhanawataala says in the Quran that the only reason he relates stories of people from the past, is to teach us not to repeat the mistakes they made and to learn of the consequences of those mistakes………….
Thus be guided by the moral of these stories in the Quran and change our behavior before punishment descends or Time runs out for us individually or collectively.

~~~~~~~~~

May I share with you the story of THE STRONGEST NATION IN THE WORLD?

Sandstorm…………..Surah Hud 11:50-60

An entire nation buried in the sand for their continuous disobedience (Major i.e. SHIRK)

of Allah Subhanawataala

courtesy http://www.marshu.com/collection-pictures-iraq-sand-storm.php

Listen to the story from the Quran:

surah_hud.mp3

Prophet (SAW)’s Supplication

Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him would make this dua when he would feel wind coming his way:

At the time of heavy winds

Recite:

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهَا رَحْمَةً وَلَا تَجْعَلْهَا عَذَابَاً اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهَا رِيَاحَاً وَلَا تَجْعَلْهَا رِيحَاً

When there is a heavy wind, sit in the position of attahiyat and recite:

“O Allah, let it be a mercy and not a punishment. O Allah make it a beneficial and not a destructive wind”. (Mishkat)

If there is a darkness with the heavy wind, recite Surah Falaq and Surah Naas. (Mishkat)

DISOBEDIENCE OF ALLAH BY THE STRONGEST NATION IN THE WORLD: SURAH HUD 11:50-60

TAFSEER EXCERPTED FROM DR. FARHAT HASHMI

Once upon a time…………………….. there lived in the desert of the Middle East a nation stronger than every nation known to the face of man in those times.
It was a nation of men that were tall, strong and intelligent and refined in their art and science of architecture.
They had armies of able bodied, large men. The numbers in the army were so many that they occupied several miles of terrain.

The common people were ruled by a group of very strong and very intelligent leaders whose faith revolved around several hundred idols to whom they prayed for benefits and to whom they attributed the power of their nation.

THE MESSAGE
In that nation was a man named HUD (AS) who brought them the message of the oneness of God and that He the one God was Almighty and Powerful and had created everything and had power over everything”
The leaders of the nation discussed with him, and argued against his message. most of their reasoning  was laced with the arrogance of their power and their confidence in their what seemed to them,  impregnable strength
THE STALEMATE
When the discussions between HUD (AS) and the leaders stalemated, they accused him of keeping company with the abject and the poor and asked him to get rid of them, then they would consider his message. Hud AS refused as these were also the people of Allah and had accepted his message.
Finally they said that their gods had encircled him and that he was going insane. They then threatened him with their strength and power to which he said that “do what you may but you cannot hurt me, as Allah is my protector, and he has power over everyone” This level of tawakul in Allah in face of the powerful leaders enraged them.

REJECTION OF THE MESSAGE BY THE LEADERS
Despite HUD (AS’s) continued presentations of tawheed replete with proofs, the leaders of Ad turned him away with haughty arrogance of their strength and complete confidence in their own numerous gods. They completely discounted his warnings of the horror that awaited them if they continued to disobey Allah and join partners with Him.

WHAT ABOUT THE COMMON MAN?
When one lives in a nation of disobedient leaders and does not do anything to oppose the disobedience then they become party to acceptance of what their leaders believe, and whatever is the fate of the leaders is also that of the common man.
Thus when Allah Subhanawataala sent his azaab, it came upon each and every member of the nation of Ad including the leaders and the common man.

THE FINAL WARNING
HUD (AS) said, “If you turn your face away and do not want to listen to me, I have completed my duty and my mission, I have given you the message and Allah Subhanawataala will replace your nation with another people”

PROTECTING THOSE WHO HAD REJECTED SHIRK
HUD AS was instructed to leave with the few believers who were disenfranchised, poor and abject members of the nation of Ad, who had accepted the message of Tawheed.

an example of a tornado illuminated by the lightning

DESCRIPTION OF THE AZAAB
One morning when the people from the nation of Ad awoke, they saw a cloud, and were happy that perhaps it would bring rain for the crops.

Then came a wind so severe, with a very loud sound and a severe chill. It encircled the nation of Ad (sort of like a tornado) and picked up the people of Ad who were tall and strong like trees and slapped them to the ground. For seven days and seven nights this wind wrecked devastation on the nation of Ad and when it died down the tall strong humans who were so arrogant of the supremacy of their strength lay around like hollow tree trunks. Not a thing remained, the fields of crops lay waste and everything was destroyed!

ALLAH SUBHANAWATAALA SAYS:
These were the people of Ad! Disobedient to Allah and his messengers (if one is disobedient to the messenger then he is being disobedient to all the messengers as they all bring the same message of Tawheed from Allah Subhanawataala)

They were guilty of arrogance and in insisting on committing the worst of the disobediences of Allah Subhanawataala: SHIRK, and thus they were destroyed!

END TAFSEER

Itta KulAllah……FEAR ALLAH!

EXCLUSIVITY AND DESIGNER GOODS… Surah HUD 25-30

وَلَقَد اَرسَلنَا نُوحًا اِلى قَومِه اِنِّى لَـكُم نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ‏﴿۲۵

اَن لَّا تَعبُدُوا اِلَّا اللّهَ‌ اِنِّى اَخَافُ عَلَيكُم عَذَابَ يَومٍ اَلِيمٍ‏﴿۲۶

فَقَالَ المَلَاُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن قَومِه مَا نَركَ اِلَّا بَشَرًا مِّثلَنَا وَمَا نَركَ اتَّبَعَكَ اِلَّا الَّذِينَ هُم اَرَاذِلُــنَا بَادِىَ الرَّاىِ‌ وَمَا نَرى لَـكُم عَلَينَا مِن فَضلٍ بَلۡ نَظُنُّكُمۡ كذِبِينَ‏﴿۲۷

قَالَ يقَومِ اَرَءَيتُمْ اِن كُنتُ عَلى بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى وَاتنِى رَحمَةً مِّن عِندِه فَعُمِّيَت عَلَيكُم اَنُلزِمُكُمُوهَا وَاَنـتُم لَـهَا كرِهُونَ‏﴿۲۸

وَيقَومِ لَا اَســَٔلُكُم عَلَيهِ مَالاً‌ اِن اَجرِىَ اِلَّا عَلَى اللّهِ‌ وَمَا اَنَا بِطَارِدِ الَّذِينَ امَنُوا‌ اِنَّهُم مُّلقُوا رَبِّهِم وَلـكِنِّى اَركُم قَومًا تَجهَلُونَ‏﴿۲۹

وَيقَومِ مَن يَّـنصُرُنِى مِنَ اللّهِ اِنطَرَدتُّهُم اَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ‏﴿۳۰

And We sent Noah unto his folk (and he said): Lo! I am a plain warner unto you. (25)

That ye serve none, save Allah. Lo! I fear for you the retribution of a painful Day. (26)

The chieftains of his folk, who disbelieved, said: We see thee but a mortal like us, and we see not that any follow thee save the most abject among us, without reflection. We behold in you no merit above us – nay, we deem you liars. (27)

He said: O my people! Bethink you, if I rely on a clear proof from my Lord and there hath come unto me a mercy from His presence, and it hath been made obscure to you, can we compel you to accept it when ye are averse thereto? (28)

And O my people! I ask of you no wealth therefore. My reward is the concern only of Allah, and I am not going to thrust away those who believe – Lo! they have to meet their Lord! – but I see you a folk that are ignorant. (29)

And, O my people! Who would deliver me from Allah if I thrust them away? Will ye not then reflect? (30)

Background:
In current day, the status of a person is judged by the exclusivity of his overt material manifestation, his clothes, his car, his house, her jewelry etc etc.

The exclusivity of the designer is based on the wallet, the more expensive it becomes the less people have access to it, and therefore it becomes even more exclusive.

People thus get sucked into the cycle of wanting to be exclusive based on their external material possessions.

Are you COOL?

They use it as criteria whether the other person is cool or not. In the western world and now via satellite even the eastern societies are taught via media blitz as to what to wear, how to walk, what to buy for the house, how to do your hair and nails, and what colors are in.

If you are not with what the media blitz is telling you, you are certainly not cool! Or “sophisticated” you may be a “nerd” or just plain old fashioned.

courtesy of:http://www.flickr.com/photos/kansunkea/3462563554/

Tafseer translated from Dr. Farhat Hashmi
In the history of the Prophets from the time of Abraham, the first people to accept God as their one Creator and embrace the monotheistic faith have been the poor, the downtrodden and the oppressed.

Why is that?

Dr. FH explains that it is because layer-by-layer as their material goods are peeled off, they become more in tune to their heart and the connection to Allah Subhanawataala is faster.

When one is not occupied with obtaining and retaining the material trappings of exclusivity, access to Allah Subhanawataala’s message is unimpeded.

The vicious circle of exclusivity

photo courtesy:http://www.flickr.com/photos/7994394@N03/473811434/in/photostream/

Material trappings bought for exclusivity rather than utility, whether that is a car, house, clothes, makeup or jewelry, are time burners.
The time spent in figuring out what is “in” earning the money to buy what is “in”, burning up the time to remain” in” the game of exclusivity is a drain on intellect, time and focus.

Even when one does not have the money, to be exclusive people will struggle by going to sales and taking out loans or buying things in installments, this leaves neither energy, time or the spiritual purity of the heart and mind to connect with Allah Subhanawataala.

Modernizing scriptures and Human Nature
It is ironic to note that though we want to be called “modern” and we want to modernize the Scriptures because they are considered out of date being 1400 years old, it is evident that human nature has not changed as is shown by the response to Noah (AS) by his people.

Exclusion of the poor and oppressed
When Noah (AS) brings the message of Allah to his community, they object to the kinds of people who have accepted his message. They mostly being poor, oppressed, or leading a simple life.
The elite people of the community of Noah actually ask him to cut those people from his circle and only then would they deem it fit to accept his message and sit in his circle.

Who is the Elite with Allah?
He (Noah (AS) of course refuses as he says that I am not asking you for a reward in exchange of your emaan. The elite in the eyes of Allah are those who have emaan in their hearts and those whose hearts are pure from the diseases of the heart such as greed, ostentation, and arrogance.
Surah Shuraa; 26:109: “No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of the Worlds:
Surah Al Furqan: 25:57: Say: “No reward do I ask of you for it but this: that each one who will may take a (straight) Path to his Lord.”

“These people with emaan whom you want me (Noah AS) to get rid off from my companionship, have a very special position with Allah Subhanawataala.”

Those who are the slaves of ones own desires and ones own opinions dictated by their Nafs they have a barrier against submitting to the One Creator, They find it difficult to let go of ones own desires.
End Tafseer

ACTION POINTS:
1.    Refrain from buying into the media blitz of designer products.

2.    Limit time or better yet turn of the TV which brings you the elite products

3.    Seek the company of diversity based on Taqwa

4.    Pare down time for activities of daily living

5.    Get rid of things, people and hobbies that are high maintenance

6.    Look inside your heart and remove built in biases against poverty, oppression, and color by being with them.

7.    Evaluate your attitude with people who do not have material goods but have taqwa

8.    Evaluate your attitude with people who boast exclusivity of material things

9.    People are attracted to like-minded people, so you will know where you stand by the results of #7 and #8.

10.    Make dua that Allah helps us cleanse our hearts.

Please keep me in your prayers.

UMMAH: Surah HUD 11:8

Ummat e Muslimah in tawaf

Surah Hud 11:8

وَلَن أَخَّرنَا عَنہُمُ ٱلعَذَابَ إِلَى أُمَّةٍ مَّعدُودَةٍ لَّيَقُولُنَّ مَا يَحبِسُهُ  أَلَا يَومَ يَأتِيهِم لَيسَ مَصرُوفًا عَنہُم وَحَاقَ بِہِم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِ يَستَہزِءُونَ

YusufAli’s English translation:

If We delay the Penalty for them for a definite term, they are sure to say “What keeps it back?” Ah! on the day it (actually) reaches them, nothing will turn it away from them, and they will be completely encircled by that which they used to mock at! (8)

Ummah is used to define many concepts: (Translated from the tafseer of Dr. Farhat Hashmi)

The word Ummah comes from Um which means mother (children of the same mother, though not literally)
1.    a group who shares the same ideology,.
2.    A Jamaat (a group of similar minded people, birds or animals) eg. Ummah e  muslimah.
3.    It is also used for a person with many qualities eg. Ibrahim (AS) (kana ummatan)
4.    People from a certain era.
5.    A prescribed term (used in this ayah)
6.    A Millat or Deen

End tafseer