Living The Quran Through The Living Quran

Latest Episodes:

Live free ... or die trying - Ramadhan Reflections 2019 [Day 14] May 19, 2019

Show notes

O Prophet! urge the believers freq uently and strongly to (defensive) fighting. If there be of you twenty steadfast, they shall overcome two hundred and if there be a hundred of you they shall overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because these are a people devoid of understanding. (8:65)

Commentary

NUMBER 20: This verse, which speaks directly about war and the battles which must sometimes be fought in order to safeguard religion, looks at this “necessary evil” in a few interesting ways.

One of the first things which we see from this verse is that even if a country is equipped militarily, however there is still the need to encourage the troops towards the goals and objectives – and this is seen around the world when the leader of a country sends the troops to war that he/she encourages them and puts a sense of ‘hope’ within them about the need for them to go to war and that they have the full support of the country that they are fighting to protect.

In Islam, the true Commander in Chief is an infallible individual such as the Prophet or one of his legitimate successors (either the infallible Imam or one whom he appoints) who is leading the battle by Allah’s permission; they have strong faith and conviction in what they are doing and that it is something approved by the Almighty one; they are reminded of those who came before them, the shuhadāʾ - martyrs – people who sacrificed their lives for the sake of Allah; they are encouraged through the Quranic narratives which speak about the rewards of their actions and what awaits them in heaven, and they are also given insight into what follows their victory for themselves and their citizens back home.

However we should not only limit this verse to the times of a physical war in which guns are in hand and bombs are being dropped, but rather this verse is also applicable in times of the ‘soft wars’ which even today we face by belligerent states and individuals against Islam and specifically those who are working against the followers of the Ahlulbayt.

The verse makes it clear that we must always be ready to counter the enemies – no matter who they are or whatever they may be. However, we must have true faith and conviction in what we are standing up for, and we must pray that Allah grants us the patience and fortitude for with these factors in place, we will be successful.

Point of Reflection

Islam has never been a ‘numbers game’ – regardless of how many are on the side of the Muslims, Allah is looking for the spiritual traits such as true faith and conviction, patience and steadfastness and even if outnumbered and outgunned, as Muslims, we will still be victorious … or at least we will die trying.

The power of God - Ramadhan Reflections 2019 [Day 13] May 19, 2019

Show notes

Over it (the Hell-Fire) are appointed nineteen (wardens). (74:30)

Commentary

NUMBER 19: When we analyze the verses of the Quran and the various topics which are covered within this Living Book, we see that out of the 6,000+ verses, almost 1/3 or over 2,000 of them speak about the Day of Judgement, and the eventual outcomes of Heaven and Hell. This should be a wakeup call for us to take our actions in this life more seriously as there will be a day of accountability.

However, much of what we read in the Quran about that Day and Paradise and Hell seem abstract, and truly much of it is steeped in metaphorical language which Allah has ‘watered down’ for us to better understand – and many times drawing from parallels in our world and how it works.

One such example is the verse in question from Surah al-Muddatthir in which Allah tells us that there are 19 wardens which are appointed to guard over the fire of Hell.

We believe that Allah is All-Powerful and that He can do anything, yet we see that some of His workings, He appoints certain angels do carry out the tasks. For revelation, He relies on Jibrāʾil; for taking the souls of humanity, He tasks ʿIsrāʾīl; when He destroys communities, like he did to the people of Prophet Lūṭ, the Quran says that He employed two angels to carry out this task - but WHY the need for 19 angels to guard Hell – why not 18 or 20 angels to oversee the punishments?

From the commentaries of this verse, it seems that we have no related statements from the Prophet or Imams which explain WHY this specific number was chosen. Ayatullah Makarim Shirazi has given a possibility that it could be that the figure of 19 is made up of two numbers “1” and “9” – and “1” is the smallest number and “9” is the largest number – and from these (obviously apart from “0”) all other numbers are derived. Other scholars have stated that the sources of all negative ethical traits are 19, and since these adverse traits can lead to the punishment of Allah, thus the 19 levels of Hell are the same number and in each level, there is an angel or group of angels who are in charge of carrying out the punishments.

Ultimately however, there are some things which are still ambiguous in regards to this number and why Allah chose it, however we must submit that there is a meaning and wisdom behind it – even if we still are not acquainted with it.

Point of Reflection

If one angel has the power to take the souls of all of humanity; and two angels can destroy an entire city and all of its inhabitants; then indeed nineteen angels (or groups of angels) can over-see the punishments of all of those destined for Hell – this is not something challenging for Allah!

The sacred signs of Islam - Ramadhan Reflections 2019 [Day 12] May 17, 2019

Show notes

Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year) according to the law of Allah since the day He created the heavens and the earth. Among these, four (months) are sacred (Muharram, Rajab, Dhul-Qa’dah and Dhul-Hijjah). That is the established law. Do not do injustice to yourselves (by waging wars) during these (sacred months). And fight the polytheists all together (in your defence) just as they fight you all together. And know that Allah is indeed with those who are God conscious. (9:36)

Commentary

NUMBER 12: At first glance, it may seem strange that Allah is just telling people that there are twelve months in the calendar year, however without a doubt, there is wisdom and a deeper meaning to this verse.

Although Muslims tend to use numbers, perhaps hoping to attract benefit, such as having a phone number or a license plate with the number 786 in it, we do not believe in numerology and we do not attribute special powers to numbers. However, some numbers do occur more frequently in the Islamic teachings than others – such as 40 and 12. In fact, the Quran shows us that there are: 12 months in the year, the Tribes of Israel (Banī Isrāʾīl) were 12 in number; the number of springs which gushed out for them as mentioned in Sūrah al-Baqarah was 12; and the number of Imāms after Prophet Muḥammad are also 12.

In any case, this verse shows us that the order of the world is such that 12 months exist, and for the Muslims, Allah has ordained that four of these are ‘sacred’ – ,– and initiating a war or fighting during these months is not permissible – except in matters of self-defence.

At one level, this shows us that Islam is not a religion of war, and in actually it puts in place OFFICIAL guidelines and times of a cease-fire which are religiously mandated, and must be upheld with the goal that in that off-time, negotiations and peace treaties can be enacted.

A glance at the wars which have plagued history show us that in the 20th century alone, over 108 million people have been killed – and it continues today in countries like Central and South America, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and many other places.

May Allah give us all the wisdom to realize and amend our foolish ways, and may He give the oppressors the will to cease and desist their aggressive nature, and if they cannot be persuaded to give up their evil ways, then may they be brought to justice in this world and in the world to come.

Point of Reflection

In Islam there are many ‘sacred’ signs. In this faith, there is a place of safety which is the city of Mecca; there is the inviolable house of Allah in Masjid al-Ḥarām; there are four sacred months; and even a sacred day – Friday – all of which and more must be respected.

-----

Quran audio files courtesy of: http://everyayah.com

-----

SUPPORT out videos by pledging a monthly amount at https://www.patreon.com/TheIPH

FACEBOOK: TheIPH

TWITTER: The_IPH

SHIATV: Islamic_Publishing_House

WEB: www.iph.ca & www.al-mubin.org

God plans and we plan... - Ramadhan Reflections 2019 [Day 11] May 16, 2019

Show notes

On Day 11 of Ramadhan, we review the theme of God planning and we, human beings, also plan, but guess who prevails??

-----

(Remember the time) when Yusuf said to his father, ‘My dear father! I have seen (in a vision) eleven stars and the sun and the moon. I saw them falling down prostrate (before Allah) because of me.’

Commentary

NUMBER 11: The story of Prophet Yūsuf, as the late ʿAllāmah Ṭabāʾṭabāʾī states in Tafsīr al-Mizān is a story that starts with his dream in which he was given the good news of a bright future, and this instilled hope within him such that through this, he was able to forge ahead on the path of Divine training with patience.

Although for us, dreams do not impose any duty that we must fulfill – meaning that Allah does not instruct us through our dreams – however for the Prophets and the Awliyāʾ of Allah, the dreams are ONE WAY for them to be given guidance or instructions, and we see this numerous times in the Quran – for example:

[Remember, O Muḥammad], when Allah showed them to you in your dream as few; and if He had shown them to you as many, you [believers] would have lost courage and would have disputed in the matter [about whether to fight], but Allah saved [you from that]. Indeed, He is Knowing of that which is within the chests. (7:43)

In addition, the Quran tells us:

And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, “O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think.” He said, “O my father, do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah wills, among the steadfast. (37:102)

Although dreams which we see may actually come true in our lives, however we must be careful not to over interpret them, or run to just anyone and ask them to elucidate what we have seen.

What Prophet Yūsuf saw in this vision of eleven stars, the sun and the moon entering into submission (sajdah) before him or because of him is something unique - since celestial bodies such as these do not engage in prayers and certainly can not go into a state of sajdah like we do; so commentators of the Quran state that this indicates their total humility and submission to the decree of Almighty became manifest.

In any case, the actual interpretation of the dream of Yūsuf became clear to him many years later when he took over the reins of Egypt and his brothers and family journeyed to Egypt to see him. As the Quran tells us:

And he raised his parents upon the throne, and they bowed to him in prostration. And he said, “O my father, this is the explanation of my vision of before. My Lord has made it reality. And He was certainly good to me when He took me out of prison, and brought you [here] from the bedouin life after Shaytan had induced [estrangement] between me and my brothers. Indeed, my Lord is Subtle in what He wills. Indeed, it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise. (12:100)

Point of Reflection

Allah has a plan for everyone, and sometimes He makes that plan known to us in unique ways, however the aim in life should be to continuously work for His pleasure and do things which will get us closer to Him, and leave it up to Allah to do what is best for each and every one of us.

-----

Quran audio files courtesy of: http://everyayah.com

-----

SUPPORT out videos by pledging a monthly amount at https://www.patreon.com/TheIPH

FACEBOOK: TheIPH

TWITTER: The_IPH

WEB: www.iph.ca & www.al-mubin.org

The miraculous nature of the Quran - Ramadhan Reflections 2019 [Day 10] May 16, 2019

Show notes

Do they say, ‘He has forged this (Quran)?’ Say (to them in reply), ‘If you are truthful (in your objection then) bring ten forged chapters like it, calling upon whom you can (for your help) apart from Allah.’ (5:89)

Commentary

NUMBER 10: When Muslims say that the Quran is a miracle, is it not only from the point of view of the eloquence and beauty of its composition – this is only one aspect of the miraculous nature of this Book. In addition, because of the profundity of the teachings, the beauty in its admonitions, the logical and scientific proofs which it brings forth, the knowledge of ‘the unseen’ which it recounts to us, and the amazing usage of the rules of Arabic grammar, plus so much more - all make this Book truly stand out from anything else.

Since the beginning of its revelation to the heart of the Prophet ] - until today, although a few people have tried, they all failed miserably in creating something “like” the Quran.

The Quran even challenges humanity and jinn to work with one another to bring something “like” it, but still 1,453 years have passed and this challenge has remained unanswered.

In some places in the Quran, the world of creation is challenged to bring the like of this Heavenly Book:

قُلْ لَئِنِ اجْتَمَعَتِ الْإِنْسُ وَالْجِنُّ عَلَى أَنْ يَأْتُوا بِمِثْلِ هَذَا الْقُرْآنِ لَا يَأْتُونَ بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَوْ كَانَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ ظَهِيرًا٨٨

Say, “If mankind and jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Quran, they can not produce the like of it, even if they were to be each others’ assistants.” (17:88)

The challenge is then reduced and we are asked to bring ten chapters like that which are in the Quran:

أَمْ يَقُولُونَ افْتَرَاهُ قُلْ فَأْتُوا بِعَشْرِ سُوَرٍ مِثْلِهِ مُفْتَرَيَاتٍ وَادْعُوا مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ١٣

Or do they say, “He invented it”? Say, “Then bring ten surahs like it that have been invented and call upon [for assistance] whomsoever you can besides Allah, if you should be truthful.” (11:13)

Even this is further lessened and we are told to bring one chapter like the Quran:

وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوا بِسُورَةٍ مِنْ مِثْلِهِ وَادْعُوا شُهَدَاءَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ٢٣

And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Muḥammad], then produce a surah the like thereof, and call upon your witnesses other than Allah, if you are truthful. (2:23)

Keeping in mind the shortest chapters of the Quran such as al-Kawthar or al-Naṣr have no more than 3 verses and only a handful or words, it should not be hard to take Allah up on His challenge, but until today, no one has managed to do this…

Point of Reflection

If this Quran was the work of a ‘regular human being’ and the Prophet “copied it” from previous scriptures, then why is it that for the past 1,453 years - NONE of the opponents of Islam have been able to produce even ONE chapter “like” the Quran to respond to its challenge?

Drowning in a sea of corruption - Ramadhan Reflections 2019 [Day 9] May 16, 2019

Show notes

And there were in the city, a gang of nine (persons) who had upset the stability and peace in the country and would not reform (themselves). (Quran, Sūrah al-Naḥl (27), Verse 48)

Commentary

NUMBER 9: This verse speaks about the event which transpired during the time of Prophet Ṣāliḥ with respect to his community and the plots of his people, including that of the plan of the disbelievers and hypocrites to assassinate him.

History tells us that in his city, Wādī al-Qurām, there were nine groups who were busy spreading corruption on the earth – destroying the balance of peace and societal order. Although they were a small group of people, each of them had their own corrupt ways and were working towards one goal – societal corruption. They sought to corrupt the beliefs and pollute the morality of the communities which they resided in.

The fact that Allah uses the phrase ‘و لا يصلحون’ shows us that this is something that they were intentionally doing. Sometimes, a person may commit a sin or perform some act of mischief in the society, but they feel remorse and try to mend their ways; however those who actually sow the seeds of corruption never feel remorse for their actions and definitely do not want to reform themselves or humanity.

In this verse, we also see that Allah uses the present tense verb by saying ‘يفسدون’ and this points to the fact that they were engaged in this wicked behaviour on a continuous basis.

The story continues in the verses which follow, but to summarize, they ended up planning to carry out their nefarious deeds and even did so by taking the name of God! This is something that we see even today when the terrorists – whatever religion they profess – who carry out their evil actions, and use the name of God to justify their actions – but the fruit does not fall far from the tree!

Eventually they tried to assassinate Prophet Ṣāliḥ @, however Allah blocked their evil plans and rather than him and his family being killed in the darkness of the night, the tables were turned and the enemies of Allah ended up being crushed to death by large boulders. Allah says in the Quran in several places: “People plan and Allah too plans,” and as we know, “Allah’s plans are always the ones which reach to fruition because He is the BEST of planners!”

Point of Reflection

We must realize that corruption is all around us and sometimes, those who spread the seeds of evil may claim to be within the fold of the teachings of a certain faith, however they NEVER reflect the truth of the message. Allah may give some people respite, but eventually their evil fate will catch up to them.

Thanking God for all He has given us - Ramadhan Reflections 2019 [Day 8] May 13, 2019

Show notes

Commentary

NUMBER 8: This passage speaks about the multiple blessings which Allah has showered upon humanity, and although many of the points in this verse have been repeated elsewhere in the Quran, however repetition is needed and a good thing as it refreshes our memories and gets us to constantly think.

Allah starts off by reminding us that He created us from a ‘single soul’ and that our spouse has been created from the same material so we have compatibility with one another.

He then changes the discussion to focus on the fact that He has given us animals – in this case, he speaks about 4 pairs of the male and female – and as some commentators of the ran opine, He is referring to the sheep, goat, cow and camel.

Why does He single out “4 pairs” and why do the commentators only speak about these ones - does this mean that there are no other animals that we are permitted to eat and make use of? No - however, perhaps these animals were best known to the people at that time of revelation so they were alluded to. In addition, these are the most commonly used animals in our daily lives – whether it be to ride upon, assist us in our manual labour, to consume, to use their hides for clothing, and also for other requirements.

Allah then switches the discussion back to our creation and talks about our creation in the wombs of our mothers in the ‘three layers’ of darkness. Research has shown that the uterus or womb which is part of the female reproductive system in which a baby grows, is a hollow, muscular organ that is shaped like an inverted pear, and that it has 3 parts, and the thick wall of the uterus has 3 layers: the endometrium; the myometrium and the perimetrium.

Allah was teaching us the human body structure well before science was able to discover this! This is definitely something to reflect upon and study.

In closing, Allah reminds us that THIS is our Lord – the All-Powerful Creator to whom belongs the dominion! There is truly no god other than Him, so how then, with all of these miracles in plain sight, can the majority of humanity be deluded from Him?!

Point of Reflection

If we take the time to reflect on our lives – where we came from, the blessings which we have been given in life, and everything that He has gifted us with, then we would truly begin to thank Allah for everything – and not only that is He our Creator, but He sustains us and continues to bless us always.

How to Help the Needy - Ramadhan Reflections 2019 [Day 7] May 13, 2019

Show notes

Seven Ears of Corn

مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنْبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنْبُلَةٍ مِائَةُ حَبَّةٍ وَاللَّهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ٢٦١

The attribute of those who spend their wealth in the cause (way) of Allah is like the attribute of a grain (of corn) which sprouts seven ears, each ear bearing a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies further for whomsoever He pleases, for Allah is Bountiful, All-Knowing.[1]

Commentary

NUMBER 7: Islam is a religion which is as concerned about our relationship with the Almighty, as it is with our relationships to one another – and so we have ṣalāt AND zakāt – and you can not have one without the other.

The Quran seeks to encourage us to do good deeds, as some people require inspiration and reassurance that what they are doing is worthwhile, and that it will “give them” something back – more than just a tax receipt from their Federal government!

In this beautiful verse – which in actuality is a part of a collection of verses spanning from verses 261 to 268, Allah offers one of the most poignant examples of the importance of charity in our lives, and lays down many requirements for this generous act of giving.

Allah begins by giving us a parable of those who spend their property in the way of Allah as being like growing a seed in the earth which then sprouts a plant which has seven ears, and in each ear there are 100 grains – and by doing the math Allah promises us a 700x reward – however He does not stop there and goes on to confirm that He multiplies and gives even more to whom He pleases – therefore, in actuality the rewards are endless!

In the passages which follow this verse, Allah lays down some strict conditions for charity, including the following:

1. A person must not humiliate or insult the ones that they have helped;

2. One must not give charity to show off or for any other ulterior motive;

3. Charity given must be done only to seek the pleasure of Allah and to confirm one’s belief in Him;

4. One must not focus on the quantity – rather, focus on the quality of the gift.

5. Give as much as possible – do not be miserly nor overly generous.

If we follow these and other the traits of donors, then we can await our grand rewards from Allah!

Point of Reflection

Charity does not only grant its contributor a reward in the world to come, but even in this world, they will gain benefits – AS LONG AS they have maintained the requirements of giving – and it is up to us to learn “how” to donate and then make it a habit of being generous to those who are in need around us.

[1] Quran, Sūrah al-Baqara (2), Verse 261.

Thanking God for all He has given us - Ramadhan Reflections 2019 [Day 6] May 11, 2019

Show notes

Commentary

NUMBER 6: This verse introduces Allah to us in a unique fashion and tells us that our Lord is Allah – the One who created the skies and the earth in six periods – however we must note that this does not mean that Allah could not create it instantaneously or in the ‘blink of an eye.’

From this point, Allah reminds us that He maintains and controls everything, and this is the meaning of ‘establishing Himself on the Throne of Authority.’ It is not that Allah creates and then forgets about us, and then things just run on their own like a machine – of course not! He is ever present in our lives and in the workings of the worlds; and that is why at the end of the verse He confirms that to Him belongs the khalq – meaning the creations - and also the amr – that is, the command or the continuous oversight of the workings of what He put together.

The fact that the system has been running for thousands of years and continues to function in this way, and that these celestial bodies - the sun, the moon and the stars which we all benefit from every second of our lives have been made ‘subservient’ to us is also something for us to reflect upon – and not only reflect, but to thank and praise Allah for putting such a process in place for His creations.

One of the outcomes of our study of astronomy and the order which we see in the celestial plains is not simply to be amazed by it, but rather, once we have witnessed His glory in creation, we must then thank Allah and praise Him for putting together such a world for us, and that this planet contains everything that we need to live a prosperous life.

Point of Reflection

The creator of the universe, Allah, is the same One who also manages everything – they are one and the same – He did not just create everything and then leave it alone. He is continuously showering us with His blessings and benedictions – but do we continuously praise and thank Him?!

Humility and Humbleness: Traits of the Righteous - Ramadhan Reflections 2019 [Day 5] May 10, 2019

Show notes

On Day 5 of Ramadhan, we review the theme of humility and humbleness - traits of the righteous people.

-----

Commentary

NUMBER 5: The story of the People of the Cave is perhaps one of the most mysterious and at the same time, fascinating ones in the Quran.

A relatively short narrative about a group of young men who fled from the corruption and sins of their society and sought refuge high in the mountains, they are presented as the archetype of what ends a person must go to in order to seek Allah and not be influenced by a deviant society.

Although they experienced a miracle by Allah in that they secluded themselves in a cave, and fell asleep for hundreds of years - to the extent that later on their clothes and currency gave away the fact that they were not from that generation, however we can still learn lessons from their story about how we should live in contemporary secular societies.

We understand when we read their narrative, that they were believers living in a non-believing country and environment. When they found that their faith was being threatened, they decided to leave their city and go into the caves to preserve their faith.

Allah put them to sleep and when they woke up hundreds of years later, they found that the people of their previous city had become believers, and although they may have wished to go back home, they knew that they could not, and so they ended up secluding themselves back in the cave, and according to some narrations they are still there and will awaken to be with Imam al-Mahdi.

The significance of this story is that when a person puts their belief and trust in Allah and strives to please Him, then Allah will come to their assistance and help them in times of difficulty.

We see that in our era, our faith is put to test on a daily basis and although our responsibility is NOT to run away to some mountain, however we should always try and make a spiritual migration away from our sins – and remove ourselves from a bad situation that we find ourselves in – whether it be a gathering of impermissible music, mixing of the genders, consumption of alcohol, etc… we must not ever be in such places.

Point of Reflection

There are times when we should engage in debate, but there are times when we should just humble ourselves and recognize the fact that we do not know. Rather than trying to nitpick at certain things, it is sometimes better to look at the bigger picture and the greater good, and focus on that and move forward.

-----

Quran audio files courtesy of: http://everyayah.com

-----

SUPPORT out videos by pledging a monthly amount at https://www.patreon.com/TheIPH

FACEBOOK: TheIPH

TWITTER: The_IPH

WEB: www.iph.ca & www.al-mubin.org

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Living The Quran Through The Living Quran

Commentary

Point of Reflection

Point of Reflection

Commentary

Point of Reflection

Commentary

Point of Reflection

Point of Reflection

Commentary

Point of Reflection

Point of Reflection

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected