Husnul Niyyah

  Birds don’t carry their food                                                          Allah is Al Razzaq, He is the provider  Allah says in surah Ankaboot ayah 60:  “ How many are the creatures that carry not their own food for sustainable? It is Allah who feeds them and you, For He hears and knows all things.” Allah has commanded for every capable individual to put in the right effort in search of provision despite it being pre-determined for everyone. This is also reflected in the way Allah has created birds and animals, their way of life, to survive and to procreate. The Prophet s.a.w. mentioned in a hadith: لَوْ أَنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَوَكَّلُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ حَقَّ تَوَكُّلِهِ لَرُزِقْتُمْ كَمَا يُرْزَقُ الطَّيْرُ تَغْدُو خِمَاصًا وَتَرُوحُ بِطَانًا “If you were to rely upon Allah with the reliance He is due, you would be giv...

     وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ الطُّورَ خُذُوا مَا آتَيْنَاكُمْ بِقُوَّةٍ وَاذْكُرُوا مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ And [recall] when We took your covenant, [O Children of Israel, to abide by the Torah] and We raised over you the mount, [saying], "Take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it that perhaps you may become righteous." (Quran 2:63) Here Allah wants Bani Israel to recall the covenant which they took with Allah. They took an oath that they would follow the Torah which Allah has sent them. Allah raised the mountain at them to show them Allah power, SubhanAllah. They were asked to accept the book or be squished. Allah says hold firmly , accept firmly what I have sent down upon you and wazkuru (abide by the book), remember and read in your heart and with your tongue. Wazkuru also includes presentation the knowledge of the book by actions. At the beginning of surah Baqarah Allah mentions that every soul had ...

  Al-Baqarah 2:269 يُؤْتِى ٱلْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَمَن يُؤْتَ ٱلْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِىَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًاۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّآ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ  He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good. And none will remember except those of understanding.(Ulul Albaab) The Quran mentions several special groups of people. If you’re among any of the  special groups mentioned, you’re worthy of a special award, a special mercy bestowed by Allah (s.w.t.). One of these groups of people is what the Quran terms as “Ulul Albaab” loosely translated as the People of Intellect. Lets first try to understand the meaning of these words linguistically. Ulul means the people who or the possessors of, and the word ‘lub’ which is the singular of ‘albaab’ means the core or pulp of something. In other words, the very essence of something. So ulul albaab are the people who seek out the core or the essence of every matter. They don’t ta...

  إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالنَّصَارَىٰ وَالصَّابِئِينَ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ Those who believe, and those who are Jewish, and the Christians, and the Sabeans any who believe in God and the Last Day, and act righteously—will have their reward with their Lord; they have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve. (Quran 2:62) The reason behind the disobedience of the Children of Israel was that their belief about the Hereafter had gone corrupt. They believed because they are the People of the Book – the Chosen people they are  certainly  going to Paradise. They called themselves the Children of Allah and considered themselves  extra special,  as today some Muslims falsely believe as well. By revealing this  ayah,  Allah clarifies the misconception. No person will enter Jannah solely based on their belief or actio...

"Look at those who are beneath you and do not look at those who are above you, for it is more suitable that you should not consider as less the blessing of Allah."   Book 37, Hadith 43, Vol.  5, Book 37, Hadith 4142 Whenever we go through any difficulty and hardship we must bear is that Allah SWT is in absolute control. And Allah would never leave us alone with no solutions and a path to deal with this difficulty. It is upon us to search for the answers for our problems through the Quran. Whatever we own belongs to Allah SWT. We are taught by Allah SWT that when we are going through trials , the first thing we must do is thank Allah. Allah asks us to increase in goodness by thanking Allah. We might think especially during a financial difficulty that how am I going to get out of this debt or how will I finish this mess , I dont know where I will provide my family from or how I am going to feed myself etc, I have no idea how I am going to survive and my health is deteriorating ...

  إِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَنْ نَصْبِرَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامٍ وَاحِدٍ فَادْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُخْرِجْ لَنَا مِمَّا تُنْبِتُ الْأَرْضُ مِنْ بَقْلِهَا وَقِثَّائِهَا وَفُومِهَا وَعَدَسِهَا وَبَصَلِهَا ۖ قَالَ أَتَسْتَبْدِلُونَ الَّذِي هُوَ أَدْنَىٰ بِالَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ ۚ اهْبِطُوا مِصْرًا فَإِنَّ لَكُمْ مَا سَأَلْتُمْ ۗ وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الذِّلَّةُ وَالْمَسْكَنَةُ وَبَاءُوا بِغَضَبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يَكْفُرُونَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ النَّبِيِّينَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوْا وَكَانُوا يَعْتَدُونَ And recall when you said, “O Moses, we cannot endure one kind of food, so call to your Lord to produce for us of what the earth grows: of its herbs, and its cucumbers, and its garlic, and its lentils, and its onions.” He said, “Would you substitute worse for better? Go down to Egypt, where you will have what you asked for.” They were struck with humiliation and poverty, and incurred wrath from God. That was because they rejected God’s revelations...

  When you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah                                                                     (Surah Al Imran: 159 ) Relying on Allah is one of the most important part of being a Muslim. Just saying I believe in Allah, I am a Muslim or I am obeying all the commands of Allah isn’t enough. Putting your trust in Allah, knowing that he is in control of everything is a must. Now if you see if we lack faith in this matter, when we are stuck in an unexplainable situation or we are afflicted by an adversity where we do not see a way out, we might just give up. What helps us cope with it is the rope of tawakkul that Allah is in control of every thing, he is watching over his patient servant. He knows our capacity, “Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear ” (2:286) That ...

    وَإِذِ اسْتَسْقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ فَقُلْنَا اضْرِبْ بِعَصَاكَ الْحَجَرَ ۖ فَانْفَجَرَتْ مِنْهُ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا ۖ قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَشْرَبَهُمْ ۖ كُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا مِنْ رِزْقِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ And recall when Moses prayed for water for his people. We said, “Strike the rock with your staff.” Thereupon twelve springs gushed out from it, and each tribe recognized its drinking-place. “Eat and drink from God’s provision, and do not corrupt the earth with disobedience. (Quran 2:60) Allah then mentions another favour of Allah for the Bani Israel. When Musa AS asked Allah for water the word Istiska is used and the words istighfar, istiska is specifically used only when we ask Allah, in arabic literature. If we are seeking forgiveness from others then other words are used. So when Musa AS asked for water or rain for his nation, Allah asks him to strike his staff and the staff which Musa AS has is a special staff which All...

 Ayyub As is the ideal example of an afflicted believer who remained patient and faithful to his lord. He was an extremely wealthy man. He possessed treasures of gold and silver, he owned farms , lands , fields and cattle. He also had many children. Scholars say that he illness overtook him when he was 70 years old, his illness was so severe that not a single part of his body was free from the disease except his tongue and his heart, which he used for the remembrance of Allah. He lost his children and his whole family except his wife who stood by him devotedly. He was ill for almost 18 years but never did Ayyub as lament, grow angry, or reject the fate which Allah had decreed on him. Both Ayyub as and his wife were very patient. She took care of her husband and took care of him single handedly and worked in the village to earn livelihood to feed herself and her husband. One day, she asked her husband – Why don’t you supplicate to Allah to relieve you of your illness? He replied, “I...

    وَ إِذْ قُلْنَا ادْخُلُوا هَٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةَ فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ رَغَدًا وَادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُولُوا حِطَّةٌ نَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطَايَاكُمْ ۚ وَسَنَزِيدُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ And recall that We said, “Enter this town, and eat plentifully from it whatever you wish; but enter the gate humbly, and say, 'Pardon.' We will forgive your sins, and give increase to the virtuous.” (Quran 2:58) فَبَدَّلَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا قَوْلًا غَيْرَ الَّذِي قِيلَ لَهُمْ فَأَنْزَلْنَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا رِجْزًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ But the wrongdoers among them substituted words other than those given to them, so We sent down on the wrongdoers a plague from heaven, because of their wicked behavior. (Quran 2:59) Allah says in this ayah and remember when I commanded you (the people of Bani Israel) to go to this town, eat and drink in it freely and enter it with sujood (prostration), humbling yourselves and seek forgiveness. Here the word used for seekin...

  وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَنْ نُؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ نَرَى اللَّهَ جَهْرَةً فَأَخَذَتْكُمُ الصَّاعِقَةُ وَأَنْتُمْ تَنْظُرُونَ And recall that you said, “O Moses, we will not believe in you unless we see God plainly.” Thereupon the thunderbolt struck you, as you looked on. (2:55) ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَوْتِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ   Then We revived you after your death, so that you may be appreciative.(2:56) وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ الْغَمَامَ وَأَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَنَّ وَالسَّلْوَىٰ ۖ كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ ۖ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَٰكِنْ كَانُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ And We shaded you with clouds, and We sent down to you manna and quails: “Eat of the good things We have provided for you.” They did not wrong Us, but they used to wrong their own souls.(2:57)   Then Musa A.S brought the Torah from Mount Tur (Sinai) and presented it to the Israelites as the book of Allah, some of them were insolent enough to say that they could n...

  وَإ   ذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ ۚ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ اللَّهُ ۖ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ When the disbelievers plotted against you, to imprison you, or kill you, or expel you. They planned, and God planned, but God is the Best of planners.                                                       (Surah Anfal Ayah 30 ) Sometimes we really want things to work out and we plan many things and we do not really get to fulfill our plans. There are a lot of plans everyone had especially this year but it did not work out. We also feel entitled when we our plans don’t work out. The  covid  19 pandemic and lockdown has taught us many lessons. We can spend all our lives planning and at the end of the day its Allah’s plan that finally works. This kind of thought process frightens ...

  ثُمَّ   عَفَوْنَا   عَنْكُمْ   مِنْ   بَعْدِ   ذَٰلِكَ   لَعَلَّكُمْ   تَشْكُرُونَ   Then We pardoned you after that, so that you might be grateful.   (Quran 2:52)   وَإِذْ   آتَيْنَا   مُوسَى   الْكِتَابَ   وَالْفُرْقَانَ   لَعَلَّكُمْ   تَهْتَدُونَ   And recall that We gave Moses the Scripture and the Criterion, so that you may be guided.   (Quran 2: 53)   وَإِذْ   قَالَ   مُوسَىٰ   لِقَوْمِهِ   يَا   قَوْمِ   إِنَّكُمْ   ظَلَمْتُمْ   أَنْفُسَكُمْ   بِاتِّخَاذِكُمُ   الْعِجْلَ   فَتُوبُوا   إِلَىٰ   بَارِئِكُمْ   فَاقْتُلُوا   أَنْفُسَكُمْ   ذَٰلِكُمْ   خَيْرٌ   لَكُمْ   عِنْدَ   بَارِئِكُمْ   فَتَابَ   عَلَيْكُمْ  ۚ  إِنَّهُ   هُوَ   التَّوَّابُ   الرَّحِيمُ   And recall that Moses said to his people, “O my people, you have done wrong to yourselv...