Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

Five Morals
Al-e-Imran (The House of Imran) Sura 3: Verse 17

"They are the steadfast, the truthful, the humble; they spend in the cause of Allah, and seek forgiveness in the small hours of the morning."

This verse mentions five moral characteristics: sabr, sidq, qunut, infaq and istighfar.

Sabr, in essence, means to stand firm and to pursue the truth steadfastly under all kinds of conditions and circumstances, whether easy or difficult, whether one is afflicted with poverty, disease, or distress and even when faced with bitter hostility. To pursue truth with fortitude and to confront whatever comes one's way patiently — without despairing or losing heart, without regret or complaint and refusing to surrender to falsehood come what may. A major portion of the din — the religion of Islam – is based on sabr or patience and fortitude. In essence, Islam has appropriately been described as half gratitude and half patience. Human experience shows that in the absence of patience one cannot even be truly grateful.

Sidq, in essence, means being in full harmony with reality or facts. It signifies firmness and solidity of substantial nature. A spear with patently strong joints is described as sadiqa-l kuub, which when tested, is actually found to be strong, firm and reliable. Some of the manifestations of sidq are harmony between heart and tongue, words and deeds, the apparent and the internal life of a person, and consistency between one's beliefs and actions.

As to qunut, its essence is humility and self-abasement before Allah, born out of the realisation of a sense of gratitude for the countless blessings of Allah and His limitless power, glory, and majesty. Qunut transforms any blessing received into a form or means of showing our gratitude to Him, while any misfortune or hardship encountered along the way offers yet a fresh opportunity to exercise patience. Qunut is thus the direct opposite of the proud and arrogant attitude born out of the mistaken notion that whatever Divine blessings one receives are one's by right for which no gratitude is due to anyone. Qunut initially denotes humility of mind and heart and it is essentially reflected in one's appearance, speech, gait, and character.

As for infaq, it is obviously the opposite of spending on worldly pleasures for one's selfish gratification. The characteristic of spending on others is a clear proof that in one's eyes the life hereafter and its enduring blessings are more important and worth striving for rather than wasting one's energies on worthless trinkets of this transitory life on earth.

Istighfar means calling upon Allah and supplicating to Him in humility to cover one's lapses, sins, and shortcomings. Such a lament and cry for help is the result of the humility and fear induced in a person on realising the infinite blessings of his Sustainer upon him along with the thought that He is the Lord of impeccable justice and retribution. The addition of the words "who pray for forgiveness in the early hours of the morning" shows that this is the most suitable time for the acceptance of supplications for forgiveness. This time is most secure against the hazards of showing off and most appropriate for concentrating the mind and pondering earnestly over the messages of Allah. It is indeed a great bounty of our Most Generous Sustainer that He has not only directed us to make istighfar but has also at the same time taught us about the most suitable time for its acceptance.

Compiled From:
"Pondering Over The Qur'an: Surah Ali Imran" - Amin Ahsan Islahi

From Issue: 970 [Read original issue]

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Piercing Sight

A believer who is active and has performed some extra acts of worship may feel a certain spiritual awakening. Then, he may think that he is able to feel or see the unseen or have the piercing sight about which the Prophet said: "Beware of the piercing sight of the believer, for he sees with the light of God." [Tabarani] Therefore, Ibn Ata warns us by saying: "Attempting to discover the flaws within you is better than attempting to discover the spiritual worlds hidden from you."

If one thinks that he is free from flaws, then surely there is a problem. Flaws are part of the nature of human beings. Only God has the attributes of perfection, glory to Him. And as much perfection as God has, this is the imperfection we have. God is the Generous, while humans are misers. God is Almighty, while humans are weak creatures. God is always Merciful, while humans can be cruel. God is Most Forbearing, while humans have limited patience. God is All-Forgiving, while humans do not forgive easily. God is All-Wise, while humans are prone to hasty judgments. God is the Knower, while humans have very limited knowledge. God is the Just, while humans are often unjust.

In addition to these imperfections, we should strive to discover specific flaws within ourselves. This is much better than trying to discover the spiritual worlds hidden from us. One cannot have true insight into the spiritual world before purifying himself, in any case. Know that a person can never purify himself completely, but he should do as much as he can. Trying to mend one's inner self eventually helps in realising the quality of humbleness. A certain degree of self-purification and humbleness elevate us and bring about divinely bestowed knowledge and spiritual insights.

Compiled From:
"A Journey to God: Reflections on the Hikam of Ibn Ataillah" - Jasser Auda

From Issue: 967 [Read original issue]

Cool Tips!

Top 5 skills to teach your kids this summer

While we want our kids to relax after a grueling school year, it's important their brains don't turn to mush while school's out.

There are many productive things kids can do, but here is our list of top five skills they should learn to succeed in school and beyond.

1. Learn CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation)

"And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people...." (Quran 5:32)

What could be a more useful skill than one that helps preserves life itself? Check out your local Red Cross to find out where and when the next CPR class is being offered.

2. Writing a letter to the editor

This teaches assertiveness, clarity in thought, and basic writing skills all in one. All it requires is being able to write simple English. Find an article that your child feels strongly about in the local newspaper. Discuss it first, then put your thoughts down on paper. Then help him or her compose a letter to the editor and send it off. If it gets published, post it up on the fridge!

3. Swimming

Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, emphasized teaching children how to swim. It is not only great exercise and fun, but it could also save your life. Check out your local park district or gym for lessons.

4. Managing money

Help your kids avoid problems like debt, impulsive shopping, and overspending by teaching them money management skills this summer. If you already don't, start giving your child a weekly allowance. Then, help him or her draft a budget of how to spend and save. Also, make sure they give to charity.

5. Volunteering for a cause

Giving and not receiving any monetary return is a skill critical in our increasingly materialistic culture. Assess your child's skills, talents, and interests, and find a volunteer opportunity for him or her this summer. Some ideas include: helping peace and justice groups; helping younger kids learn English; making and delivering meals to an elderly person who cannot get out much; writing articles for a non-profit organization's website or helping with its technical aspects; answering phone calls, etc. 

Source:
"Top 10 skills to teach your kids this summer" - Samana Siddiqui

From Issue: 481 [Read original issue]