The Benefits of Taqwa and the ‘Forgiving’ Quality of Allah Taala

Excerpts fromRamadaan 1434 Programmes

bismillahh

‎وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يُكَفِّرْ عَنْهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِ وَيُعْظِمْ لَهُ أَجْرًا
And whoever fears Allah – He will remove from him his misdeeds
and make great for him his reward ~Surah Talaq 65:5

Ulema have enumerated numerous benefits of Taqwa.

The most honorable person in the sight of Allah is that person who has most Taqwa.

When a person has Taqwa, Allah gives him the Noor in his heart and the criteria (Furqaan) which will enable him to discern between right and wrong.

The purpose and object of Ramadaan is to strive towards attaining Taqwa…

The word Taqwa is derived from the word “Wiqaayah”. 
Wiqaayah means a ‘shield’…We have armed and protected ourselves with this ‘Shield of Taqwa’ against the onslaughts of Nafs and shaytaan… They prompt us all the time and we have to defend ourselves with this shield ~ Moulana Naeem Motala SB

One who has Taqwa enjoys some of the ffg Benefits / Virtues/ Blessings:

• Kaafara tu Zunoob ~ Allah Ta’ala will wipe out one’s Sins

• Allah Ta’ala will grant one abundant reward (increase in sawaab)

• Allah will make an opening for him from all difficulties

• Allah will grant one sustenance (rizq) from unseen sources

• One becomes Honorable and beloved in the sight of Allah

• Allah will give one the the criteria
to discern between right and wrong (Furqaan)

• Will be granted success in both worlds

• He will be saved from the fire of
Jahannum

• Will remain perpetually in Jannah (Khulood fil Jannah)

• At the time of Death one will get glad tidings of Jannah

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An Explanation of Selected Verses of Surah Ahzaab and Surah Saba

Excerpts from ~ Ramadaan 1434 Programmes

bismillahh

Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. Throughout the Quran-E-Majeed it is mentioned how Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala forgives, overlooks and wipes out sins. All that is required from the Believing ones, is that we demonstrate gratitude to Him, by acknowledging that all bounties are bestowed to us by Him alone, and together with verbal expression of gratitude we are expected to be totally obedient to Him with all our limbs.

The Consequence of Ungratefulness” as in Surah Saba

لَقَدْ كَانَ لِسَبَإٍ فِي مَسْكَنِهِمْ آيَةٌ ۖ جَنَّتَانِ عَن يَمِينٍ وَشِمَالٍ ۖ كُلُوا مِن رِّزْقِ رَبِّكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لَهُ ۚ بَلْدَةٌ طَيِّبَةٌ وَرَبٌّ غَفُورٌفَأَعْرَضُوا فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ سَيْلَ الْعَرِمِ وَبَدَّلْنَاهُم بِجَنَّتَيْهِمْ جَنَّتَيْنِ ذَوَاتَيْ أُكُلٍ خَمْطٍ وَأَثْلٍ وَشَيْءٍ مِّن سِدْرٍ قَلِيلٍذَٰلِكَ جَزَيْنَاهُم بِمَا كَفَرُوا ۖ وَهَلْ نُجَازِي إِلَّا الْكَفُورَ
There was for [the tribe of] Saba’ in their dwelling place a sign: two [fields of] gardens on the right and on the left. [They were told], “Eat from the provisions of your Lord and be grateful to Him. A good land [have you], and a forgiving Lord. But they turned away [refusing], so We sent upon them the flood of the dam, and We replaced their two [fields of] gardens with gardens of bitter fruit, tamarisks and something of sparse lote trees. [By] that We repaid them because they disbelieved. And do We [thus] repay except the ungrateful?
~ Surah Saba 34:15/16/17

In Surah Saba Allah discusses the example of the people of Saba who were blessed with numerous bounties. They were blessed with gardens laden with fruit, rivers, pure air, comfort and their journeys were made easy for them. They had a “pure city” and a  “Most Forgiving Allah” to turn to. They however, were ungrateful and were thus destroyed by floods due to their arrogance and lack of gratitude. ….They were ‘broken’ to pieces….

May ALLAH Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala make us from amongst those who are truly grateful and devout.

Qualities of the Believing Men and Women mentioned in Surah Ahzaab

إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالصَّادِقَاتِ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِينَ وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ وَالْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَافِظَاتِ وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward
~ Surah Ahzaab 33:35

Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala details in Surah Ahzaab that Forgiveness and Great Reward has been prepared for the believing men AND women. 

Allah Rabbul Izzat mentions that the qualities possessed by these believing men and women are that they are: devout/obedient muslims, honest, patient, have humility and fear of ALLAH, give charity, fast and protect their private parts, make Zikr in abundance. We have been exhorted to make Zikrullah in abundance as this is the easiest form of ibaadat which can be made even in an unclean state (eg when requiring wudhu or ghusl), and anytime and anywhere. It does not require much effort and is easy on the tongue.

Etiquette’s When Invited at Someone’s Home for a Meal

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَدْخُلُوا بُيُوتَ النَّبِيِّ إِلَّا أَن يُؤْذَنَ لَكُمْ إِلَىٰ طَعَامٍ غَيْرَ نَاظِرِينَ إِنَاهُ وَلَٰكِنْ إِذَا دُعِيتُمْ فَادْخُلُوا فَإِذَا طَعِمْتُمْ فَانتَشِرُوا وَلَا مُسْتَأْنِسِينَ لِحَدِيثٍ 
O you who have believed, do not enter the houses of the Prophet except when you are permitted for a meal, without awaiting its readiness. But when you are invited, then enter; and when you have eaten, disperse without seeking to remain for conversation
~ Surah Ahzaab 33:53

Amongst many other important issues, reference is made to the incident of Hazrat Zainab bint Jahsh (RA) walima when Rasulullaah Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam was married to her and the Believers were instructed to adopt consideration and not to cause any takleef to Rasulullah Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam by remaining in his house after meals and not dispersing. 

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The Noor of a Believer

Excerpts from ~ Ramadaan 1434 Programmes
bismillahh
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The Parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: the Lamp enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: Lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil is well-nigh luminous, though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light! Allah doth guide whom He will to His Light: Allah doth set forth Parables for men: and Allah doth know all things ~ Surah An Noor 24:35.

In Surah Noor, Allah Subhaanahu Wa Ta’ala mentions His Manifestation of Noor, which brightens up the skies and earth and extends to all His creation…

According to some Mufassireen, the verse refers to The Noor of a Believer which is bestowed to him by Allah Taala.

It is similar to a niche, in which there is a lantern. The oil used to burn the lantern is from the olive tree (olive oil), on which the sun rays have been shining on perpetually.  This lantern is placed in a very bright, illuminated, crystal clear glass case, throwing out radiant rays of light that brightens up everything surrounding it. This is the “Noor of a Believer”!

In contrast to that, Allah talks about the condition of the disbeliever who’s deeds and actions are devoid of Noor. He looks for Guidance but does not take the path of Guidance. The disbelievers deeds and actions are like a mirage’. When a person travels on a road on a hot day, he sees a reflection of water in the distance. The faster he tries to approach it, the further and further it goes away… Similarly, the disbeliever thinks he is doing good but he does not see the effect of the deeds… In reality they are all disappearing, leaving him in darkness…

Or like the darknesses in the depth of an ocean, with waves upon waves (absolutely dark), to such an extent that one caught in this dark sea is unable to see his own hand even. The disbeliever is trapped in the darkness of his kufr – devoid of Noor…. He has no sense of direction.


May Allah grant us the Noor of Imaan, the Noor of Quraan and Hadeeth and may Allah make us Lanterns that will spread this Noor to the four corners of the Globe….

  

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Hidaayat is in the Hands of Allah

Excerpts from ~ Ramadaan 1434 Programmes
bismillahh
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ 
Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided ~ Surah Al Qasas 28:56

Imaan and Hidayat are in the Hands of Allah and Allah guides whomsoever He wishes…

We must make so much of Shukr that Allah made us Muslims. Today, the challenges are such that it takes just a few seconds, and a person can lose his Imaan… 

What does Allah expect from us? 

We have to preserve this Imaan and surrender and submit to Allah Ta’ala’s laws and commandments all the time.

Pride and arrogance, can lead a believing person to utter blasphemous statements and make him lose his Imaan… 

Therefore :

1. Adopt humility

2. Be grateful for the bounties of Allah

3. Sit in gatherings of Imaan and stay in the company of the Pious

In doing so, we will be able to safeguard this Imaan we have been blessed with…

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The Advices of Luqmaan AS to his Son

Excerpts from ~ Ramadaan 1434 Programmes 
bismillahh
وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا لُقْمَانَ الْحِكْمَةَ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِلَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَشْكُرْ فَإِنَّمَا يَشْكُرُ لِنَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٌ
 And We had certainly given Luqman wisdom [and said], “Be grateful to Allah .” And whoever is grateful is grateful for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever denies [His favor] – then indeed, Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.
 وَإِذْ قَالَ لُقْمَانُ لِابْنِهِ وَهُوَ يَعِظُهُ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تُشْرِكْ بِاللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ لَظُلْمٌ عَظِيمٌ
 And [mention, O Muhammad], when Luqman said to his son while he was instructing him, “O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allah . Indeed, association [with him] is great injustice.”
Surah Luqman 31:12~13
 

The majority of the Mufasireen are unanimous that Luqmaan AS was a sage imbued with ‘hikmah’ or wisdom by Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. The statements  of one imbued with ‘hikmah’ are precise, accurate and beneficial i.e: full of guidance, meaning and light. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala states in the Quran that a person bestowed with ‘hikmah’ has been given ‘abundance’. The verses outline the wise advices Luqmaan AS imparts to his son in the most compassionate manner.

 

The Advices of Luqmaan AS to his Son :

• Not to associate partners with ALLAH Subhana wa Ta’ala. It is a great zulm to associate partners with ALLAH Subhanahu wa Ta’ala as none can match HIM. 

 • The importance of gratitude and obedience to ones parents in all matters except if they force one to commit shirk, but even then kindness and compassion toward them must remain. 

 • ALLAH IS aware of EVERYTHING, be it in the heavens or the earth and even if ones deed is the minute size of a mustard seed, Allah will bring it forth and one will be shown his deed.

 • The importance of establishing salaah and consistency therein. Salaah done correctly, serves as a barrier to committing evil deeds. 

• Enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil.  

• Do not walk with pomp and arrogance upon the surface of the earth. Walk moderately! 

• Do not raise the voice and speak. This is likened to a donkey braying which is the ugliest of sounds.

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