Surah Ad-Duhaa

وَالضُّحَىٰ

By the morning brightness

وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَىٰ

And the night when it covers with darkness,

مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ

Your Lord has not taken leave of you, nor has He detested [you].

وَلَلْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَّكَ مِنَ الْأُولَىٰ

And the Hereafter is better for you than the first [life].

وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَىٰ

And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied.

أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيمًا فَآوَىٰ

Did He not find you an orphan and give [you] refuge?

وَوَجَدَكَ ضَالًّا فَهَدَىٰ

And He found you lost and guided [you],

وَوَجَدَكَ عَائِلًا فَأَغْنَىٰ

And He found you poor and made [you] self-sufficient.

فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ

So as for the orphan, do not oppress [him].

وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلَا تَنْهَرْ

And as for the petitioner, do not repel [him].

وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ

But as for the favor of your Lord, report [it].

Surah Ad-Duha 93

This Surah has been running through my head all day… Alhamdulillah.

So much better than some pop song or something.

Continue reading “Surah Ad-Duhaa”

Astagfirullah. 

أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ

Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe” and they will not be tried?

وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ

But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars.

Surat Al-`Ankabūt 29:2-3 Continue reading “Astagfirullah. “

Dua of the People of the Cave

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا

Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy from Yourself, and facilitate for us our affair in the right way! Continue reading “Dua of the People of the Cave”

Blessings of Ramadan (1)

Allah azza wa jall has blessed us with this month to focus on Him and to seek his pleasure. And Alhamdulillah we’re able to witness this blessed month: may He make us able to see many more and to make ever-better use of the time to draw closer to Him. 

One thing that I’ve noticed just today: time during the day yawns out, seems very long; time in the evening is compressed. Fajr time is roughly 4:40am here in North Texas; Maghrib time (sunset) is roughly 8:45. That gives us a bit more than 16 hours to pray three of five prayers, make some Nafl (voluntary) prayers, make dhikr and dua, etc.; work 8+ hours; take a long nap; work on personal projects; etc. On the flip side, we have a bit less than 8 hours to pray 2 prayers, go to the masjid for extended night prayers, make qiyam ul layl; eat and drink all that we’re going to; and sleep as much as possible. 

This year, Alhamdulillah, Samie has a job and gets off work about 9, 9:15, so that adds a layer of responsibility to that hour or so between breaking fast and going to the masjid (or bed… Astagfirullah, for me, most nights, it’s bed). 

This makes me intensely grateful for the rest of the year, where I can rush around and rock out chores and then relax in the evening. So far, it’s been the reverse for me very many nights, and the rushrushrush right at the end of the day is difficult. 

Alhamdulillah Allah has guided me to this place, this wife, this family, this job, and He daily gives me the strength and focus to accomplish most of what I need to, and some of what I want to. May He guide me to make better use of the free time during the day, to draw closer to him and spend more time giving thanks, Amin. 

Banana Pudding, Fisabillilah

In Islam, we strive to do things fisabilillah, for the sake of God, without consideration of worldly gain or worldly harm. We give to charity, we pick up garbage in the street, we give our brothers and sisters Salams, not because it makes us feel good or superior or friendly—though it does—but for the sake of God, seeking His pleasure.

So tonight, Hana and I delivered Iftar to some of the neighbors, fisabilillah. In sha’Allah they will enjoy the simple provisions we shared with them, and Ins sha’Allah it will provide some much-needed nourishment after a long, hot day.

And it was a hot one today, Alhamdulillah.

My contribution to the snack was a cup of banana pudding. In sha’Allah it’s a treat for everyone: I expect that the vast majority of the people we delivered to (likely all but 2) have never tasted the delight of this white trash classic.

One small error, though: I forgot the CoolWhip… At least most of them won’t notice.

 

Qad qama tis Salat

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوْمِ ٱلْجُمُعَةِ فَٱسْعَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew!

Surah Al Jumu’ah, 9 Continue reading “Qad qama tis Salat”

Ohne Titel

 يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ (٢١)

21. O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious – see V. 2:2).

ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ فِرَٰشًا وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بِنَآءً وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تَجْعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ (٢٢)

22. Who has made the earth a resting place for you, and the sky as a canopy, and sent down water (rain) from the sky and brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you. Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped).

Al Baqarah, 21-22

  
Oh Allah! Make us among Al Muttaqun, Amin.