The Sleepers of the Cave
Tafsīr Sūrah al-Kahf – part 3 Verses 9-15 Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْكَهْفِ وَالرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا مِنْ آيَاتِنَا عَجَبًا ﴿٩﴾ إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا ﴿١٠﴾ فَضَرَبْنَا عَلَىٰ آذَانِهِمْ فِي الْكَهْفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدًا ﴿١١﴾ ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِنَعْلَمَ أَيُّ الْحِزْبَيْنِ أَحْصَىٰ لِمَا لَبِثُوا أَمَدًا 9) Or do you think that the Companions of the Cave and the Inscription were one of Our wonderful signs? When the youths took refuge in the cave and said, “Our Lord, grant us Your mercy,…
Don’t worry yourself to death
Tafsīr Sūrah al-Kahf – part 3 Verses 4-8 Part 1 | Part 2 وَيُنذِرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا اتَّخَذَ اللَّـهُ وَلَدًا مَّا لَهُم بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ وَلَا لِآبَائِهِمْ ۚ كَبُرَتْ كَلِمَةً تَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ ۚ إِن يَقُولُونَ إِلَّا كَذِبًا ﴿٥﴾ فَلَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَـٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا ﴿٦﴾ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ﴿٧﴾ وَإِنَّا لَجَاعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًا جُرُزًا ﴿٨﴾ And that he may warn those who say, “Allāh has taken a son.” They have no knowledge of this, nor had their fathers; a monstrous assertion it is, issuing out of their mouths; they…
Journey Through The Cave
Tafsīr Sūrah al-Kahf – part 2 Verses 1-3 Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ الْكِتَابَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُ عِوَجًا ۜ ﴿١﴾ قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا ﴿٢﴾ مَّاكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًا ﴿٣﴾ All praise (and thanks) are due to Allāh who revealed the Book to His servant and did not make it crooked in any way, (instead making it) unerringly straight, that he might give warning of severe punishment from Him and give good news to the believers who work righteous…
The Cave
Tafsīr Sūrah al-Kahf – part 1 Introduction Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 Journey Through The Cave Sūrah al-Kahf is an amazing sūrah – full of many fawāʾid (points of benefit). It was revealed in Mecca and it is one of those Sūrahs that was revealed all in one go. Daylamī records that Anas said, ‘Sūrah al-Kahf was revealed in one go and with it came 70000 angels.’ Many authorities state that is was revealed after al-Ghāshiyah and before al-Shūra. Ibn Masʿūd said, ‘Sūrah Banī Isrāʾil, al-Kahf, Maryam, Ṭa Ha, and al-Anbiyāʾ are amongst the very…
As the Moon Illuminates the Night
The Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said: “None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, his child and all the people.” In this series we embark on a journey to increase our knowledge of the Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam), to view him as the Sahāba viewed him, and to love him as we should. Last week, we learnt of how the Messenger of Allāh (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) captivated hearts through his impeccable character, qualities and virtues. This week, be awed by his modesty but also his imposing dignity, his strength…
Captivating Hearts with Character
The Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said: “None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, his child and all the people.” In this series we embark on a journey to increase our knowledge of the Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam), to view him as the Sahāba viewed him, and to love him as we should. Last week, we began with an exploration of the stature and physical characteristics of the Messenger of Allāh (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam). This week we learn of some of the qualities and virtues he was…
Ibn Rajab on Shyness
Aḥmad and ibn Ḥibbān record on the authority of ʿAbdullāh b. al-Mughaffal (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) that a man met a woman who used to be a prostitute in the Days of Ignorance. While flirting with her, he extended his hand towards her upon which she said, 'Stop, Allāh has removed shirk and brought Islām,' so he removed his hand and left. He kept looking back at her, and while doing so walked into a wall. With blood pouring down his face, he came to the Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) and informed him of what had happened. He (sall…
Prophetic Beauty; the likes of Musk and Silk
The Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said: “None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, his child and all the people.” In this series we embark on a journey to increase our knowledge of the Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam), to view him as the Sahāba viewed him, and to love him as we should. Last week, we began with an exploration of the stature and physical characteristics of the Messenger of Allāh (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam). This shall be continued this week, inshāAllāh. Click to read: Part 1 | Part…
Ibn Rajab on ‘Moderation’
The Prophet (sallAllāhu ‘alayhī wasallam) said, “Moderation, moderation! Through this will you attain your goal!” This statement encourages us to be moderate in worship in a way that avoids both extremes of excess and deficiency. It is for this reason that he (sallAllāhu ‘alayhī wasallam) repeated it twice. Al-Bazzār records the ḥadīth on the authority of Ḥudhayfah (radiyAllāu ‘anhu) that the Prophet (sallAllāhu ‘alayhī wasallam) said, “Excellent indeed is moderation in poverty. Excellent indeed is moderation in affluence. Excellent indeed is moderation in worship.” Muṭarraf b. ʿAbdullāh b. Shikhkhīr had a son who would perform a great deal of worship,…
Ibn Rajab on the Sound Heart
The only person who will be successful tomorrow is one who meets Allāh with a sound heart, containing none save Him, “…the Day when neither wealth nor sons will be of any use – except for he who comes to Allāh with a sound and flawless heart.” The sound heart is that heart which is safe from the filth of opposition. The heart sullied with ignominy does not deserve to live near the Holy (al-Quddūs) except after being purified by the bellows of the Fire. It is only after being purged of its stains that it becomes worthy of residing in…