Friday Nasiha

Al Baqarah (The Cow)
Chapter 2: Verse 125

And when We made the House a point of return for the people, and a sanctuary ...

Commentary:

The Kaba: A point of frequent return

The rendering of 'mathabatan' as 'point of frequent return' is based on the opinion of Ibn Abbas, As-Suddi, Said bin Jubayr and others who say that "the people never feel they have had a heart's fill with the holy place and long to return to it as soon as they are back home after a visit to it."

A place of Sanctuary

Even in the days of ignorance if a man encountered the murderer of his father in the Holy House (Kaba), he would not harm him (Ibn Abbas - Ibn Jarir). Also, Mujahid, Ata, As-Suddi, Qatadah and
Ar-Rabi bin Anas were reported have said that the ayah means, 'Whoever enters it shall be safe.'

This ayah indicates that Allah honoured the Sacred House, which Allah made as a safe refuge and safe heaven. Therefore, every year thousands of souls are eager, but never bored, to conduct short visits to the House.

[compiled from "Tafsir Ishraq al-Ma'ani" by Syed Iqbal Zaheer, Vol 1, p. 152, "Tafsir Ibn Kathir", Vol 1, pp. 371-372]

The Space of the Expression of Faith

The Prophet, peace be upon him, has said:
"If the Last Hour is on the point of taking place and one of you has a young shoot in his hands that he wishes to plant before it comes, then let him plant it for he will be rewarded for it."
[Narrated by Ahmad]

Nature is the space of the expression of one's witness, of one's thankfulness and Faith. At the moment of the Last Hour which consecrates the entire meaning of existence, the faithful expresses his faithfulness by a gesture of sympathy towards the universe of signs. It is the same idea that is entailed in the recommendation of economising on water, even of a river which appears never to be wasted, when one makes ablution. The path which leads us to prayer cannot admit a rupture with the natural space.

[Compiled from "Islam, the West and the Challenges of Modernity" by Tariq Ramadan, p. 262 ]

The Need of the Hour

"The need of the hour is that your life should be revolutionized. The revolution should not be an individual one but a collective one. The change should be concerning your belief, your morals, your actions, your dealings, your decisions, and your efforts. Your life in every way should become a beacon of guidance and it should become a means for Dawah."
- Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi (may Allah have mercy on his soul)
(1914 – 31 December, 1999)

Dawah

Propagation of Islam through word and action, calling the people to follow the commandments of Allah and His Messenger Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Deen

The core meaning of deen is obedience. As a Quranic technical term, deen refers to the way of life and the system of conduct based on recognizing God as one's sovereign and committing oneself to obey Him. According to Islam, true deen consists of living in total submission to God, and the way to do so is to accept as binding the guidance communicated through the Prophets. See the following verses of the Quran for reference: 3:83, 12:76, 16:52, and 51:6.

[Taken from SoundVision.com's "Glossary of Islamic Terms"]