Extracted from a Tafseer Lesson ~ An explanation of Ayat 18:46 ~ Surah Al Kahf

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الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا

Wealth and children are the embellishment of the worldly life and the everlasting virtues are better with your Lord in respect of reward and better to hope for  ~ Surah Al Kahf 18:46

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Al Baaqiyaatus Sawlehaat

The wealth and children that a person possesses, are but a ‘Zeenat’ (decoration/adornment) of this worldly life. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala  has ‘decorated’ this Dunya by giving man a wealth of material treasures and also blessings of beautiful children. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala says : These are embellishments of this world and reminds us that all that we possess, ultimately turns towards Fana (annihilation), towards Zawaal (termination). We should not become deceived by the Zeenat (glitter and glamour) of this world. Everything comes to an end.

But, what remains is “Al Baaqiyaatus Sawlehaat“. These are the good righteous, remaining deeds (A’maal Sawlehaat) whose blessings will be perpetual. The effects of these deeds will continue in the Hereafter. That is Khayrun inda Rabbik (better by Allah), and Sawaaban (full of reward). Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala says : In respect of reward and having hopes and aspirations, we should have Al Baaqiyaatus Sawlehaat in our lives. These deeds will remain forever and all other deeds will come to an end when we die.

It is mentioned in a Hadith : Rasulullah Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam said: “The dead person is followed (to his grave) by three: His family, his wealth and his actions. Two of them return and only one remains. His family and wealth return, but his actions remain.” ~ Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim. The only thing man can take in his Qabr (Grave) with him, are his ‘deeds’. If it was good it will benefit him. If it was evil it will cause him harm in his grave.

So, if we want to be rewarded by Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala, then we have to bring good deeds into our lives. Whatever good actions a person does : Salaat, Zakaat, Hajj, Umrah, I’tikaaf, Roza, Akhlaaq, Zikr, Tilawat of the Quraan, Duas, Charity, Kindness, Generosity, Affection, Hospitality are all Al Baaqiyaatus Sawlehaat.

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Accumulate Everlasting Virtues

Reciting Tasbeeh (SubhanAllah), Tahmeed (Alhumdulilah), Takbeer (Allahu Akbar),  Tahleel (La illaha illAllah) are also known as Al Baaqiyaatus Sawlehaat (good remaining deeds). When we recite them, we are Glorifying and Praising Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala. We are turning towards His Qudrat. We are not looking towards our own strength or power. We are weak. The source of all strength is Allah. 

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سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ ، والْحَمْدُللّهِ ، وَ لا اِلهَ اِلَّا اللّهُ ، وَ اللّهُ اَكْبَرُ ، وَ لا حَوْلَ وَ لا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّهِ

SubhanAllah, walHamdulillah, wa La illaha illAllahu, waAllahu Akbar, wa la Hawla wa la quwwata illa billa

(Glory be to Allah, All Praise is for Allah, There is No Deity but Allah, Allah is the Greatest, There is no might or any power Except with Allah)

Hazrat Abu Sa`id Radiyallahu Anhu narrated that Rasulullah Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam said, “Perform the enduring goods deeds (Al Baaqiyaatus Sawlehaat) more frequently.” They asked, “What are these enduring good deeds?” Rasulullah Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam replied: Takbir [Allahu Akbar], Tahlil [La ilaha illallah], Tasbih [Subhan’Allah], Alhamdulillah, and La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah ~ Haakim

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لا حول ولاقوة إلا بالله

 La Hawla Wa la Quwwata illaah Billaah
 ~ There is no Might nor Power except with Allah

لا حَوْلَ وَ لا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّهِ -
La Hawla wa  la Quwatta illa Billah (There is no Might or Power except with Allah) is a treasure from the treasures of Paradise ~ 
Bukhari

Hazrat Jabir Radiyallahu Anhu narrated that that Rasulullah Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam said , “Recite:  (La haula wa laquwwata illa bil-lah: There is no power and there is no strength except with Allah) a lot, because it removes ninety nine types of ailments out of which anxiety is the least painful.” 
~ Tabraani

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Hazrat Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu Anhu reported:
Rasulullah Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam said : “There are two statements that are light on the tongue,
heavy on the Scales, and are most dear to the Most Merciful :
 سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ   SubhaanAllahi Wa Bihamdihi, SubhaanAllahil-Azeem ~ Bukhari and Muslim

Excerpts from ~ Ramadaan 1434 Programmes  

~ We, the Ummah of Rasulullah Sallallaahu alayhi wa salam have been given Ramadaan. It has been the experience of many of the Ahlullah and Mashaaikh that Lailatul Qadr happened on the 27th night of this Mubarak month. As the exact date is known Only to ALLAH Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala (and it could be any of the odd nights of the last 10 days of  Ramadaan) … Tonight we may have reached the climax of Ramadaan wherein lies ‘a night better than a  thousand months’ Allah knows best!

~ All Praise is Only for ALLAH who has permitted us to fast, to
engage in Ibaadat, to listen to the  ilaawat of the Quran Sharief in Taraaweeh. Although, khatam of Quran-e-Majeed was completed today, recitation of the next khatam was initiated immediately because this is our Guide till the Day of Qiyamah and we must ‘hold fast to ‘The Rope of ALLAH’. We need to demonstrate sincerity and gratitude for all with which we have been blessed.

~ This most honorable Kitaab (Ashraful Kutub) was revealed upon the heart of Hazrat Muhammad Sallallahu alayhi wa salam – The most Honorable of the Ambiyaa, brought by the most Honorable Angel (Jibraeel AS), in the most Honorable of Cities (Makkah Mukarramah) in the most Honourable night -Lailatul Qadr (The Night of Power).

~ Once again, in the 30th Juz, ALLAH Rabbul Izzat directs our attention to the “Aakhirah” which is our final destination. In most of our recent talks we have highlighted the importance of gratitude and turning our attention towards ALLAH Ta’aala, the Rabb of The Universe.  ALLAH is the One who Nurtures, Nourishes, Cares for and Loves us all. HE has made us in the Best of Forms and most beautiful. All HE wants is for us to have firm belief in His Oneness (Tauheed) and to do righteous deeds. When we slip and oppress ourselves by sinning, HE desires that we turn to Him and repent.

Whilst the following is not a Tafseer of all the surahs we heard tonight ie : from Surah Dhuha till Naas, but we see in each Surah a verse drawing our attention to the same theme we have been explaining the past few nights :

Allahs supremacy, His Oneness, preparing for Aakhirah, not amassing wealth, the Day of Reckoning, weighing of our deeds, the importance of time, doing righteous deeds etc …

We are informed, advised, admonished:

In Surah Dhuha Verse 4….that the Akhirah is better than the Dunya,

In Surah Inshiraah Verse 8….to turn towards our Rabb

In Surah Teen Verse 6….the importance of Imaan and righteous deeds

In Surah Alaq Verse 1….reading in the name of our Rabb

In Surah Qadar Verse 1.…the importance of Quraan and the Night of power

In Surah Bayyinah Verse 8….Jannat is for the one fearing Allah

In Surah Zilzaal Verse 7….All our actions will be presented to us on the Day of Qiyaamah

In Surah Al-Aadiyaat Verse 6….being loyal and grateful to Allah.

In Surah Al-Qaari’ah Verse 8….the weighing of our deeds

In Suah At takaathur Verse 1….obsession of wealth causes negligence of the Hereafter

In Surah Asr Verse 1….the value and importance  of time

In Surah Humaza Verse 2….the harms of amassing wealth

In Surah Feel….the might and power of Allah

In Surah Quraish…..the ease & comfort we enjoy, and we should worship only Allah

In Surah Kauthar…..the reward of drinking from the fountain of Kauthar from the hands of Rasulullah salalahu alayhi wasalam.

In Surah Kaafiroon….not compromising our Deen

In Surah Nasr…..the importance of Istighfaar

In Surah Lahab…..the consequence of rejecting Deen

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~ In the final three Surahs of Quran-e-Majeed (Surah Ahad, Surah Falaq, Surah Naas) … The Oneness and Power of Allah

* During Ramadaan we focussed extensively on :
Tilawat, Taqwa and Taubah. (3 T’s)

As a result of these, we have accumulated Noor in our hearts. The way forward, after the moon of Shawaal is sighted, is to preserve and add to this Noor. We should not be foolish and fail to nurture it.

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Excerpts from ~ Ramadaan 1434 Programmes  

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 : An Explanation of Selected Verses of Surahs of the 30th Juz

  : The Central Theme Throughout

The 30th Juz of Quraan-e-Majeed is the Tauheed (Oneness) of ALLAH Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala, His Supremacy, Grandeur which is manifest in His creation, and also resurrection of mankind and the reality of Qiyaamah.

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~ The Day of Qiyaamah is mentioned throughout the entire Quran Sharief by various descriptions: The Day of Catastrophe, The Day of the Deafening sound, The Overwhelming Event.

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The Horrors of Qiyaamah are Evident in these Verses :

The Surahs of the 30th Juz of the Quran-e-Majeed are short and abound with stern warnings. Mufassireen say it is like the sharp wrapping at the door of one who is in a deep slumber … In order to jolt him into an awake and alert state to take heed of the Reality that EVERY SINGLE BEING will have to present himself and account for his deeds to ALLAH, LORD and MASTER of the UNIVERSE

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Allah Ta’ala says:…

يَا أَيُّهَا الْإِنسَانُ مَا غَرَّكَ بِرَبِّكَ الْكَرِيمِ

O mankind, what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous,

الَّذِي خَلَقَكَ فَسَوَّاكَ فَعَدَلَكَ

Who created you, proportioned you, and balanced you?

فِي أَيِّ صُورَةٍ مَّا شَاءَ رَكَّبَكَ

In whatever form He willed has He assembled you.

 Surah Al Infitaar 82: 6/7/8

~ Despite all of us being totally unworthy, ALLAH has bestowed upon us so many favours (our Imaan, our health, our wealth, our intelligence, our beauty, being from the Ummat of His Greatest Creation and Beloved … To enumerate only a few)

~ ALLAH is FULL of Justice and will reward everybody according to what they used to do. The Believer will be rewarded with Jannah and the obstinate disbelievers will be admitted to Jahannum to reside there permanently.

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أَفَلَا يَنظُرُونَ إِلَى الْإِبِلِ كَيْفَ خُلِقَتْ

Then do they not look at the camels – how they are created?

وَإِلَى السَّمَاءِ كَيْفَ رُفِعَتْ

And at the sky – how it is raised?

وَإِلَى الْجِبَالِ كَيْفَ نُصِبَتْ

And at the mountains – how they are erected?

وَإِلَى الْأَرْضِ كَيْفَ سُطِحَتْ

And at the earth – how it is spread out?

Surah Al Ghaashiyah 88: 17-20

~ ALLAH exhorts mankind to look at the creation of ALLAH AND TAKE HEED? ….Do they not look at the camel (their conveyance). Do they not look up at the sky and reflect … Are there any defects (fissure/ flaws/ cracks) in the sky which has been raised up above them? Do the disbelievers think that they are stronger than the sky? If they have not seen clearly, they are advised to look again. What of the land and scenery (mountains)… Do they not reflect?

~ Indeed the sky is beautiful and fortified and the land levelled and the mountains firmly erected by ONE RABB!

~ These warnings apply to us as Believers too, for our condition is such that we believe in The Day of Qiyaamah but our behaviour is contrary to our belief. On That Day when there will be NO interpreter between us and ALLAH, and each of us will have to come alone and account for every deed … Have we prepared?

~ A Believer who prepares for That Day of Horror, by obeying the commands of ALLAH and Rasulullaah Sallallaahu alayhi wa salam, ALLAH expands his heart and fills it with Noor. A sign of this (as mentioned in Hadith Sharief) is that the person detaches himself from the World and its Deception and focuses on Aakhirat.

~ When death occurs, it is as if Qiyamah has already begun for the deceased because he has to answer the questions of the Qabr and remain in Aalam e Barzakh until the Day of Ressurection. That Day, when the trumpet is blown and everyone proceeds for Reckoning, is Horrifying indeed.

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فَأَمَّا مَن طَغَىٰ

So as for he who transgressed

وَآثَرَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا

And preferred the life of the world,

فَإِنَّ الْجَحِيمَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ

Then indeed, Hellfire will be [his] refuge.

وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ

But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination,

فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ

Then indeed, Paradise will be [his] refuge.

Surah An Naziaat 79: 37-41

~  ALLAH says that for the one who transgresses and prefers Dunya over Aakhirat, his abode will be Jahannum. For the one fears ALLAH and restrains himself (not submitting to his base desires), Jannat will be his abode.

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No person is perfect!

But, when Allah wishes to select a person and draws him towards Himself, and wishes to grant him Hidaayat, then nobody can stop that …

A transformation had taken place in the lives of many sinners when they pondered and reflected over this verse from Surah Al-Hadid …

 

Allah says : 

أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ

Has the time not come for those who have believed, that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah ~ Surah Al Hadid 57:16  

 

Therefore, people of Imaan should devote themselves to the Zikr of Allah and the recitation of Quraan. One’s Imaan becomes strengthened when the heart submits to Allah. That heart which is void of Allah’s Zikr will begin to harden. As the heart hardens, a person becomes more inclined towards the World and the concern for the Hereafter is then lost… 

So many people are just caught up in ‘leisure and pleasure’ and are totally heedless in their lives. They may be Muslim by name, but their is no Ibadat (worship) found in their lives, there is no Taubah (repentance), there is no Khauf (fear) of Allah Ta’ala … So for them, their hearts become very hard and to live a life filled with Haraam, means nothing! Such a person, will then move towards Dunya and have no fikr for Aakhirat. Such a person will be dis-inclined towards Ibadat, Salaah and the Zikr of Allah…

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PONDER! 

 

We are all believers with the Mercy of Allah, but if we make an introspection of our lives … 

• How are we spending our lives? 

• How much of Ibadat are we making in our lives? 

• How much of Zikrullah do we make daily?

• What type of Tilawat of Quraan do we make? 

• What type of Roza’s do we keep?

• What type of Ta’alluq(bond) do we have with Allah Ta’ala?

• How much of Durood and Salaam do we send upon Rasullulah Sallalahu alayhi Wa Sallam?

• What type of Akhlaaq and character do we have?

  • How do we behave at home with our wives, children, parents, neighbours, on the road, in public, in privacy, in our factories, with our workers, with fellow human beings?

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Has the time not come to submit and surrender to the Shariah of Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala?

 Has the time not come to surrender to the commands of Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala and follow His rules and regulations?

Has the time not come for the believers that they should humble themselves before Allah Ta’ala?

  

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 Excerpts from ~ Ramadaan 1434 Programmes  

:An Explanation of Verses of Surah Al Qalam

إِنَّا بَلَوْنَاهُمْ كَمَا بَلَوْنَا أَصْحَابَ الْجَنَّةِ إِذْ أَقْسَمُوا لَيَصْرِمُنَّهَا مُصْبِحِينَ

Indeed, We have tried them as We tried the companions of the garden, when they swore to cut its fruit in the [early] morning

وَلَا يَسْتَثْنُونَ

 Without making exception.

فَطَافَ عَلَيْهَا طَائِفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ وَهُمْ نَائِمُونَ

So there came upon the garden an affliction from your Lord while they were asleep.

فَأَصْبَحَتْ كَالصَّرِيمِ

And it became as though reaped.

فَتَنَادَوْا مُصْبِحِينَ

And they called one another at morning,

أَنِ اغْدُوا عَلَىٰ حَرْثِكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَارِمِينَ

[Saying], “Go early to your crop if you would cut the fruit.”

فَانطَلَقُوا وَهُمْ يَتَخَافَتُونَ

So they set out, while lowering their voices,

أَن لَّا يَدْخُلَنَّهَا الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكُم مِّسْكِينٌ

[Saying], “There will surely not enter it today upon you [any] poor person.”

وَغَدَوْا عَلَىٰ حَرْدٍ قَادِرِينَ

And they went early in determination, [assuming themselves] able.

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهَا قَالُوا إِنَّا لَضَالُّونَ

But when they saw it, they said, “Indeed, we are lost;

بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ

Rather, we have been deprived.”

قَالَ أَوْسَطُهُمْ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكُمْ لَوْلَا تُسَبِّحُونَ

The most moderate of them said, “Did I not say to you, ‘Why do you not exalt [ Allah ]?’ “

Surah Al Qalam ~ 68:17 – 68:28

~ ALLAH Ta’aala informs us of how HE tested the Disbelievers of Makka as HE had tested the people of the “Orchard”. He makes mention of an incident of the past.

 ~ There was an extremely wealthy old man of Yemen who was blessed with abundant plantations filled with copious fruit and crops. He was a very generous man and he used to share his produce with the poor and the needy even permitting them to take whatever fell to the ground. After his demise, his three sons decided and agreed that their father was a fool to have been so generous and since their families had become larger, they resolved to harvest and keep all the produce exclusively for themselves. They pledged to harvest their plantations at the break of Dawn, before anybody else was around, but forgot their Lord and did not say “INSHA ALLAH”.

~ Indeed their plan was not good as they intended to deprive the poor. They planned, but ALLAH also Planned and ALLAH is The Best of Planners … As they slept unaware of their surroundings, ALLAH sent a forceful wind to completely destroy their plantations. They awoke early as planned and went out to fulfill their intent, proceeding secretly and swiftly. When they reached their plantations and saw the ravaged land, they thought that they had come to the wrong area and retraced their steps. When they finally realized their folly they lamented that they were ‘deprived totally’. The middle brother reminded them that he had said that they should Glorify ALLAH, but because he himself participated in the act of attempting to deprive the needy, he too was punished. 

~ After initially blaming one another, they then repented over their blunder and admitted that they had been their own oppressors. They then made sincere Taubah (Taubatun Nasooha) and made dua that ALLAH give them something in lieu of their huge loss. (Commentators write that ALLAH Azza wa Jal blessed them with even more than what they had lost, for they repented sincerely.) 

~ As human beings we are similar to the brothers above, ie : we make mistakes and upon realization thereof quickly blame others. What is important is that full acknowledgement and admission of our sins accompany our penitence. By feeling truly remorseful one resolves never to return to the sin again. THIS is Taubatun Nasooha.

 ~ By making abundant Taubah and istighfaar, ALLAH Rabbul Izzat blesses HIS makhlooq with rain, abundance in wealth and children….

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