In the name of God, the Lord of Grace, the Ever Merciful
Ha. Mim. By the Book that makes things clear! We have made the Qur’an a discourse in Arabic so that you may understand. It originates in the source of revelation kept with Us; it is indeed sublime, full of wisdom.
(Gold; Al-Zukhruf: 43: 1-4)
In the name of God, the Lord of Grace, the Ever Merciful
It is not granted to any human being that God should speak to him except through revelation or from behind a veil, or by sending a messenger to reveal by His command what He will. He is exalted, wise. Thus have We revealed a spirit to you (Muhammad) by Our command. You knew neither revelation nor faith, but We made it a light, guiding with it whoever We will of Our servants. You most certainly give guidance to the straight path, the path of God, to whom belongs all that is in the heavens and earth. Most certainly, to God all things shall in the end return. (Consultation, Al-Shura, 42: 51-53)
In the name of God, the Lord of Grace, the Ever Merciful
Respond to your Lord before there comes, by God’s will, a day that cannot be put off. There shall be no refuge for you on that day, nor shall you be able to deny your sins. If they turn away, We have not sent you to be their keeper. Your only duty is to deliver the message [entrusted to you]. When We give man a taste of Our grace, he rejoices in it, but if misfortune befalls him on account of what he has done with his own hands, he is bereft of gratitude. To God belongs sovereignty over the heavens and the earth. He creates what He will. He grants female offspring to whomever He will, and male to whomever He will; Or gives both male and female to whomever He will, and causes whomever He will to be barren. He is all-knowing, infinite in His power.
(Consultation, Al-Shura, 42: 47-50))
In the name of God, the Lord of Grace, the Ever Merciful
And who, when oppressed, defend themselves. An evil deed is requited by an evil like it, but the one who forgives and puts things right will have his reward with God. He does not love wrongdoers.
(Consultation, Al-Shura, 42: 39-40)
In the name of God, the Lord of Grace, the Ever Merciful
Whatever you are given is but for the enjoyment of life in this world, but that which is with God is much better and more enduring. (It shall be given) to those who believe and place their trust in their Lord.
(Consultation, Al-Shura, 42: 36)
In the name of God, the Lord of Grace, the Ever Merciful
No blame attaches to those who defend themselves after having been wronged. Blame attaches only to those who oppress other people and transgress in the land against all right. For such, there is painful suffering in store. As for the one who is patient in adversity and forgives; this requires the exercise of truly strong resolve.
He whom God lets go astray will have no one else to protect him. When the wrongdoers come face to face with the suffering [awaiting them], you will see them exclaiming, ‘Is there any way of return?’ You shall see them brought before the fire, disgraced and humiliated, looking with a furtive glance. The believers will then say: ‘The true losers are the ones who have forfeited themselves and their kindred on this Day of Resurrection.’ Indeed the wrongdoers will fall into long-lasting suffering. No protector whatever will they have to help them against God. He whom God lets go astray shall find no way forward.
(Consultation, Al-Shura, 42: 41-46)
When Madinah opened up for Islam, where it found broad acceptance among its people, the Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed his companions in Makkah to immigrate to Madinah. He had been preaching the message of Islam in Makkah for 13 years, gaining only about 300 followers. The leading Arabian tribe in Makkah, the Quraysh, largely rejected Islam, and was able to impose a state of siege against its followers.
Some people are very reluctant to give away anything to charity. Even when it comes to paying zakat, which is an incumbent duty on every Muslim who owns more than the threshold of zakat, they find it hard to pay it, trying to find ways to evade it. They feel that it is a tax that reduces what they have for themselves. Such people are often looking at their bank account balance and trying to explore ways of increasing it in whatever way they can. When the love of money becomes so keen, it is just like unquenchable thirst. Such people are oblivious of the fact that it is God who gives us whatever we have, and that He can give us from sources that we could not have ever thought available to us. People of genuine faith, on the other hand, realize this and discover that whatever they spend to help others is not merely rewarded in the hereafter, but also compensated for them. They end up increasing their money through spending it on others.
Selimiye Mosque in Konya, Turkey.
A view of a mosque in Tugaya, Lanao del Sur, in the southern Philippines. (AN photo)
