Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

Initiative
Al-Imran (House of Imran) - Chapter 3: Verse 133

"Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Garden whose width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous."

There is a big difference between production speed and productivity. Hastiness is blameworthy. We can hardly find the word used in the Quran without a negative connotation attached to it. However, being quick to act is not the same as hastiness. Allah praises those who show initiative in the above verse.

Being quick here refers to taking initiative and getting things done instead of dragging your feet and procrastinating. This is not to be confused with hastiness, which is to try and get too many things done in too little time, which is the inevitable result of poor planning and procrastination.

Compiled From:
"Appealing to 'Patience' to Deny People’s Rights" - Salman al-Oadah

From Issue: 751 [Read original issue]

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Reason to Live

We were not created only to eat, drink, and reproduce; these are natural facts of our life and natural needs. Our main purpose is to recognize and serve God. All Prophets were sent to show us how to do this.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had been sent to open the way to the guidance of humanity and jinn, and for all time. Once this had been done, there would be no reason for him to live, for he would have nothing more to do. This implies that believers should never neglect their essential duties in this world, and should pray, as instructed by God's Messenger (peace be upon him): "O God, make me die if death is good for me; or else, make me live long as long as living is good for me!" [Bukhari]

Compiled From:
"The Messenger of God: Muhammad" - Fethullah Gulen, pp. 25, 26

From Issue: 771 [Read original issue]

Cool Tips!

Understanding the Quran

Your understanding of the Qur'an may have various levels and take different forms.

Firstly, that you comprehend its simple, literal meaning, as when you read a book in a language you know, or as an Arabic-knowing person would understand the Qur'an.

Such comprehension must be the bare minimum requirement, the key to all other stages, but it is not enough.

Secondly, that you find out how the learned have understood it, either by hearing their expositions or reading their exegeses and other sources.

Thirdly, that you study and ponder, on your own, to discover and absorb its meaning.

Fourthly, that you discover its meaning by obeying its messages and by fulfilling the duties and mission that it entrusts to you.

Compiled From:
"Way To the Quran" - Khurram Murad

From Issue: 643 [Read original issue]