Living The Quran Through The Living Quran

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11 - Commentary on Surah al-Fath (48) - Review of Verse 15 Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

In this Ramadan series of lectures, Shaykh Saleem reviews Surah al-Fath (48) - The Chapter of the Victory.

In part 11, he goes over the fifteenth verse: "When soon, you, Muḥammad and the Muslims that took part in the Peace treaty of Ḥudaybiyyah, will travel towards Khaybar and will be victorious so that you can take the spoils of war, those Aʿrab Bedouins who were left behind, and did not accompany you in the Umrah and the Peace Treat of Ḥudaybiyyah, will soon say, “Allow us to follow you to also benefit from the spoils of war.” They, those Aʿrab Bedouins, seek to change the decision of Allāh which was that other than those present at Ḥudaybiyyah, no others are allowed to come and share in the spoils of war of Khaybar. Say to them O Muḥammad: “You shall never be allowed to follow us in the expedition to conquer the fortress of Khaybar and have a share of the spoils of war; this is what Allāh had said earlier about all of you.” Then they, the Aʿrab that did not accompany you at Ḥudaybiyyah, will soon say: “You are jealous of us and you don’t want us to also have a share in the spoils of war and your not wanting to share the wealth with us has nothing to do with a command from Allah.” However this is not the case as inreality, indeed they, the Aʿrab, were not capable of understanding except a little due to their own spiritual state - as if they had understood your status, Muḥammad they would not talk in this way.”

12 - "Not Like the Other: Women in the Quran" - Ramadan Reflections 2023 Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

Women: Right to be Defended against False Accusations taking inspiration from Surah 24 Verse 4-5

10 - Commentary on Surah al-Fath (48) - Review of Verses 13 & 14 Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

In this Ramadan series of lectures, Shaykh Saleem reviews Surah al-Fath (48) - The Chapter of the Victory.

In part 10, he goes over the thirteenth and fourteenth verses: "Whoever does not believe in Allah and His Messenger, Prophet Muḥammad, then surely We, Allah, have prepared a Blaze for the unbelievers. To Allah belongs the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth: He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills; and Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Compassionate."

11 - "Not Like the Other: Women in the Quran" - Ramadan Reflections 2023 Apr 02, 2023

Show notes

Women: Right to Encourage Good and Forbid Evil taking inspiration from Surah 9 Verse 71-72

10 - Women: Right to Choose when it Comes to Marriage - Ramadan Reflections 2023 Apr 01, 2023

Show notes

On the tenth day of Ramadan 2023/1444, we review the theme of "Women: Right to Choose when it Comes to Marriage." When we look at the private and personal lives of Muslims, we see that there are many issues which come into play. As much as we are individuals, we also seek to lead communal lives – and one of the most interesting relationships which Allah has given is that of marriage. A bond in which two people of perhaps completely opposite backgrounds, from two different parts of the world, two complete strangers, can meet and then live together for the rest of their lives. Marriage, between a man and a woman, and the creation of a family with, if Allah permits, children, is so important that Allah considers it as one of His signs. In this area, history shows us that in pre-Islamic Arabia, to an extent, women did not have freedom of choice of who to marry.

In fact, in the minds of some of tribal groups, a woman was ‘inherited’ from the time of her death to then be the property/wife of another person – against her will! However, the Quran brought forth revolutionary teachings and ingrained in its verses, and Prophet Muḥammad showed us all practically – through his own personal example and that of his daughter, Fatima az-Zahra that women are free to choose their husband. Today, we review verse 232 of Sūrah al-Baqarah, although there are multiple verses of the Quran in regard to marriage: "When you divorce women and they have reached the end of their waiting term, (then, you judges, and you who are guardians of either party,) do not debar them from marrying their (former) husbands, (and O former husbands of them), from marrying other men, if they have come to an agreement between them on equitable terms. This is an admonition to whoever among you truly believes in Allah and the Last Day; that is a cleaner and purer way for you. And Allah knows, and you do not know."

09 - Commentary on Surah al-Fath (48) - Review of Verse 12 Apr 01, 2023

Show notes

In this Ramadan series of lectures, Shaykh Saleem reviews Surah al-Fath (48) - The Chapter of the Victory.

In part 9, he goes over the twelfth verse: "Indeed you, the Bedouin Arabs, thought that the Messenger, Muḥammad, and the believers would never return to their families from the Campaign, and this thought was decked out to be appealing in your hearts, and you entertained an evil thought that Allah would not help the believers and they would be defeated. You - in thinking so have proved yourselves to be and you truly are a people useless and doomed to perish."

08 - Commentary on Surah al-Fath (48) - Review of Verse 11 Apr 01, 2023

Show notes

In this Ramadan series of lectures, Shaykh Saleem reviews Surah al-Fath (48) - The Chapter of the Victory.

In part 8, he goes over the eleventh verse: "Those of the Bedouins, the dwellers of the desert who did not respond to your call to participate in the Minor Pilgrimage Campaign and stayed behind will say to you by way of excuse: “Our possessions and families kept us busy and so we could not join you so ask Allāh for our forgiveness They speak with their tongues that which is not in their hearts Say to them O Muhammad: “Who is there that can intervene on your behalf with Allāh if He wills harm for you or if He wills a benefit for you? Whatever excuse you offer, bear in mind that Allāh is fully aware of all that you do."

09 - "Not Like the Other: Women in the Quran" - Ramadan Reflections 2023 Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

On the ninth day of Ramadan 2023/1444, we review the theme of "Men and Women: Similar Punishments in the World to Come." In the eighth discussion, we saw ten qualities of MEN AND WOMEN and that they would BOTH be entitled to a reward from Allah. However, what about the sinners that DO NOT ask repentance and have not cleansed themselves of the sins and are not liable for intercession? Will they get different punishments in the world to come for their sins or does Allah deal with them with justice? Well, in Sūrah al-Fath (48), Verse 6, The Quran notes the following: "And that He may punish the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women, and the men and the women who associate partners with Allah, who always entertain evil thoughts about Allah. Theirs will be the evil turn of fate. Allah has destined them to a severe punishment, eternally excluded them from His Mercy, and prepared Hell for them. How evil a destination to arrive at!" As for the verses under review for today, we look at the fact that Allah does not discriminate in the world to come when it relates to punishments that the sinners do – those who sinned and did not ask repentance in the life of this world.

If a man sins, he is liable for a punishment in the world to come; and similar for a woman, if she sins, she is also liable for punishment by Allah. This is made clear in the verse for today which begins by highlighting that Allah will punish the hypocrites – both men and women; and the polytheists – both men and women. In addition, Allah also notes that those which house bad intentions about Allah will also have a price to pay in the world to come. The verse continues in which Allah notes that there were men and women that pretended to be Muslims, in the city of Medina, but they continuously entertained evil thoughts about Allah.

08 - Men and Women: Similar Spiritual Traits and Rewards - Ramadan Reflections 2023 Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

On the eighth day of Ramadan 2023/1444, we review the theme of "Men and Women: Similar Spiritual Traits and Rewards." One of the beauties of Islam is that it provides answers to lives questions – especially at the time of when the revelation was coming to Prophet Muḥammad. In essence, the Quran is Revelation and the Word of Allah with a timeless appeal, however it was coming to the Muslims when they needed assistance and guidance from the Most High. Consider the verse we are going to review today. When Asmāʾ binte Umays, the wife of Jafar ibn Abi Talib had both returned from Habasha and arrived in Medina, she went to meet some of the wives of Prophet Muḥammad. One of the first questions she asked was in regard to the revelation coming to Prophet Muḥammad and if anything had come down specifically regarding women. Although the Quran is gender-neutral, in some cases, there were verses specially for men or dealt with issues which had a direct implication for men. Up until that point, there were no verses specific to women. Upon hearing this, Asmāʾ went to Prophet Muḥammad and said to him, O Prophet! The women are in loss. The Prophet replied, How so? She replied, There are no virtues for women in Islam or the Quran as there are for men – presumably she was referring to verses about jihad and other such topics which were male-specific. It was at this point that the verse for today was revealed – showing that men and women share in the same rewards as long as they have certain qualities: "Surely all men and women who submit to Allah (whose submission is attested by their words and deeds), and all truly believing men and truly believing women, and all devoutly obedient men and devoutly obedient women, and all men and women honest and truthful in their speech (and true to their words in their actions), and all men and women who persevere (in obedience to Allah through all adversity), and all men and women humble (in mind and heart before Allah), and all men and women who give in alms (and in Allah’s cause), and all men and women who fast (as an obligatory or commended act of devotion), and all men and women who guard their chastity (and avoid exposing their private parts), and all men and women who remember and mention Allah much – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness (to bring unforeseen blessings) and a tremendous reward." (33:35)

07 - Adam and Hawwa BOTH Repent to Allah - Ramadan Reflections 2023 Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

On the seventh day of Ramadan 2023/1444, we review the theme of "Adam and Hawwa BOTH Repent to Allah." Previously, we reviewed the episode which took place in the Garden in which Adam and Hawwa fell for the temptation of Satan and had to recognize that they went against the spiritual guidance of Allah. However, as we know, there is NEVER a dead-end with Allah. Allah has told us that we will make mistakes, we will sin, we will falter, but that He can forgive us – we just need to turn back to Him in tawbah and ask for His forgiveness – istighfār. In Sūrah al-Araf (7), Verses 23-25, we are told that once they realized their situation, Adam and Eve BOTH turned in repentance to Allah and made a sincere appeal for His forgiveness and said: "They said (straightaway): “Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and do not have mercy on us, we will surely be among those who have lost!” He said: “Go down, (all of you,) (and henceforth you will live a life,) some of you being the enemies of the others. There shall be for you on the earth a habitation and provision until an appointed time.” He said: “You will live there, and there you will die, and from it you will be brought forth (on the Day of Resurrection).” These verses for today is not only a historical narrative but also a lesson for us – it teaches us how to engage with Allah when we commit sins. Thus, the first step in turning back to Allah is to acknowledge when we have done wrong.

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