Lessons A Muslim Can Learn From The First Speech Of Allah Almighty With Moses (AS)

In Quran, Allah Almighty has used stories and anecdotes to convey guidelines and message to the followers of Islam. The reason behind the use of stories and narration is that they are far effective in penetrating the heart of a person compared to simple guidelines without any invocation. Moreover, Quran reading enables the reciter to be able to learn the Quranic verses and relate narrations as a result of which the reader gets the message more quickly.

One of the renowned narrations in Quran is that of Prophet Moses (AS) speaking with Allah Almighty for the first time. It is only He who has been able to speak with Allah Almighty directly (He appeared in the form of fire) after Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who spoke with Allah directly on the night of Mairaj. Besides the other details of the conversation, which Moses (AS) had with Allah, the lines below discuss the first ones in which Allah Almighty gave the message for people of Israel. The lines below discuss the important lessons that a Muslim can infer from the conversation of Moses (AS) with Allah Almighty.

Narration From Quran:

In Surah Taha of Quran, Allah Almighty gives the complete narration of the conversation that took place between Allah and Moses (AS) on the Toor mountain. The excerpt from the narration is as follows:

“And has the story of Moses reached you? When he saw fire and said to his family, “Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire; perhaps I can bring you a torch or find at the fire some guidance.” And when he came to it, he was called, “O Moses, Indeed, I am your Lord, so remove your sandals. Indeed, you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa. And I have chosen you, so listen to what is revealed (to you). Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance. Indeed, the Hour is coming – I almost conceal it – so that every soul may be recompensed according to that for which it strives. So do not let one avert you from it who does not believe in it and follows his desire for you (then) would perish.” (20:9-16)

The Need of Guidance:

Although Moses (AS) was in literal dark and he saw literal fire, but on a symbolic level this incident represents the fact that in the world where there is tyranny and people have no way for finding their way through it, there is always a need for guidance. People always require the light of hope and guidance to get through the life of tyranny and sin. Therefore, considering that one is above and beyond guidance, or he or she cannot find guidance is absurd and a Muslim should always keep an eye for the signs of Allah Almighty and the pursuit and  understanding of those signs will definitely lead to truth.

Allah Is Guidance And Light:

From the ayahs another thing that becomes clear is that it is Allah that is the true light of guidance. It is by reaching and following the light of Allah Almighty that a Muslim can find guidance. Whatever Allah Almighty has said in the form of Quran is the ultimate source of light of guidance that a Muslim needs to consult and consider in order to be among the people who are successful.

Allah Selects:

In the contemporary world people have this notion of what they are is due to the efforts they have put in or what they were capable of. A Muslim must realize that whatever good befalls a person whether it is wealth, peace, happiness or status, it is all from Allah Almighty and He is the one who selects to bestow a particular favor to a person. Therefore, it is imperative that a Muslim prays to Allah Almighty for being among the chosen ones instead of boasting of one’s own limited human capabilities.

Allah is One:

In His first speech with Moses (AS), the beginning of the speech of Allah was with the message that Allah is one and there is no other deity worthy of worship. This shows the message of Tauwheed that Islam embodies and makes it clear to a Muslim that the message of Oneness of Allah is not something which only Islam brought, rather it had been there since the first guidance sent by Allah Almighty.

Prayers Are Essential:

Like Islam, in His first speech with Moses (AS) after the message of Tauwheed, Allah Almighty gave the message of prayers. To Moses (AS) also Allah Almighty says that prayers are to be established and they are a means of remembering Allah Almighty. From this again the message becomes clear to a Muslim that prayers is not something new, rather it has been there with earlier nations as well and the imperativeness of it was the same for them as it is for Muslims at present. Hence, the establishing of prayers needs to be ensured.

Judgment Day Is Inevitable:

In the speech with Moses (AS), Allah Almighty speaks of the judgment day and tells him that it is to arriveand its time of arrival is concealed by Allah Almighty. This implies that the concept of Judgment day when a person will be rewarded for whatever deeds he or she has committed. From this it becomes clear to a Muslim that man has been warned about the arrival and inevitability of judgment day as back as the human history goes. Therefore, a Muslim must remain heedful of his or her deeds and try committing the deeds that are weighed in the good counter instead of falling prey to evil deeds, which destroy the life hereafter.

Warning:

Lastly Allah Almighty tells Moses (AS) to warn people about the wrongdoing and the ones who commit wrong deeds and do not follow the path, for them the warning is imminent and that is that they shall all disappear. Therefore, in no narration of Quran Allah Almighty tells that wrongdoing will not be punished, ergo, every Muslim must take his or her actions into consideration and beware of the fact that following the path of evil comes with severe punishment.

Conclusion:

In a nutshell, the first speech of Allah Almighty to Moses (AS) is Islam summarized. Allah told him about His Oneness, the importance of prayer, the inevitability of the judgment day and the fact that evil deeds will result in punishment. From this a Muslim can get an idea about the fact that the path of truth and guidance has always comprised of some basic factors which are the same in all the Abrahamic religions.

Be Mindful of Allah, And Allah will Protect You

It is a common practice among human beings to help one another, mostly in the case if they are being mutually benefited, like coalitions among nations are majorly on the basis of some shared value. Speaking specifically, relationships between two persons in a society are also affected by joint respect and needs, e.g. no one generally helps someone else only because of some kind of interaction, until or unless it is being given some kind of esteem or it receives something in return. That is how the world works.

On the other hands, the system of connection between Allah and His slave is free of any such considerations near the Almighty, Who gives away His blessings without the need of being given anything in return. The return is only one way, and that too is possible by only remembrance of the Gracious God.

Abdullah bin Abbas (R.A) narrated Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) saying as:

“One day I was behind the Prophet (PBUH) and he said to me, Young man! I shall teach you some words (of advice): Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, ask Allah; if you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that if the nation were to gather to benefit you with anything, it would only benefit you with something that Allah has already prescribed for you, and that if they gather to harm you with anything, they would only harm you with something Allah has already prescribed for you. The pen has been lifted and the pages have dried.” (Tirmidhi)

Ibn Abbas was only 13 year old, when enlightened with such wisdom by the Holy Prophet (PBUH), who later became one of the early Quran scholars, and was well known for his critical interpretation of the Holy Quran. On one hand, this Hadith indicates about teaching the youth right from a very young age about key Islamic instructions so that they would become productive Muslims in the future.

And on the other, it tells about the obedience of Allah SWT, which we will try to elaborate in the following description:

Strengthening Relationship With Allah

The strong sense of faith in the Oneness of the Almighty needs to be accompanied by working for building and fortifying the connection with Him. Majority of us Muslims take this belief as a guarantee to be true believers, when actually it asks for constant remembrance of Allah SWT for being able to receive His safety and guidance. While on the other hand, unfortunately, we strive to cling on to our worldly relationships with a hope to take something in return from our associations, who would only remember us in good times and forget us in bad times. But, Allah considers all His disciples alike and relieves them in tough period. Some of the ways to nurturing this link with the Glorious One are to fulfilling religious matters like offering Salah (prayers) five times a day, supplicating in front of Him, understanding of the Holy Quran, fasting, and giving Zakah (alms) to poor etc.

“And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.” [Quran, 2: 186]

So, when we try to reinforce our relationship with Allah, He always steps forward and responds to our plea. The greater implication of this matter is that one should never ask anyone`s help but only from the Exalted One, for this is the foremost criterion for being able to get closer to the Almighty, and He never forgives Shirk (considering someone as partner with Allah).

Relying On His Preset Destiny

As the saying of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) under discussion clearly indicates towards the fact that no one can ever help us more than what the Great Lord has already stipulated for us, nor someone could do any damage to us, no matter how hard they try, it won`t hurt us more than what the Almighty has predetermined for us. Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S) too had same belief, which is why He opted not to take Jibrael`s (A.S) help, for He knew that Allah would help him eventually, and fire had no effect on him with the Help of Allah. So, there is need to be become agitated in any case, and one should set itself free by taking the Will of the Mighty God as final and decisive

“Indeed, all things We created with predestination…“ [Quran, 54: 49]

It means if we are tested with hardships, it must have great repercussion in our future life, and one should remain steadfast in such instances to be able to get the greater rewards of the Gracious Lord as a result of one`s forbearance.

Fearing, yet Expecting Mercy From Allah

The inference of “Being Mindful of Allah” could be taken in terms of being aware of the presence of the Ultimate Power that holds the whole universe together and Knows everything we do. After having established this sense of faith in the Almighty, when one works righteously and avoids from committing wrongdoings because of fear of punishment of Allah, it should also be followed with a strong belief in the compassion of the Exalted One. Because He does not only penalizes His people on distracting from the right path, but He is even more Pardoning and Generous.

“Know that Allah is severe in penalty and that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.” [Quran, 5: 98]

So, being wary of the most Powerful`s penalty and clemency, we should not only keep away from transgression from the Islamic instructions, but we should also remain optimist and take help from this conviction by asking Him for amnesty on our past sins.

In short, being mindful of Allah includes more than just having self-belief in His Greatness, but it should also be followed by His constant memory to benefit from this relationship, believing in His fixed providence for us, being patient in hardships and praying to Him, and last but not the least, being frightful of His wrath, nonetheless always trust in His compassion, which are some of the ways to get closer to Allah SWT.

How To Best Feed One`s Soul In Islam

The life of a Muslim on earth is not plain and simple as it has to go through a lot of trials and assessments in the shape of Fitnah (committing sins and transgressions from rightful Islamic way). To be able to succeed both in this world and the hereafter, a believer has to achieve much more than just declaring Iman (Faith) and observing obligatory religious actions. Regarding this sensitive matter, Allah SWT says in the Holy Quran:

[Who say], “Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower.” [Quran, 3:8]

In the above mentioned Ayah, the Most Merciful directs His servants to adopt the way of His true disciples who always worry about adhering to right track of righteousness and pray to Him for granting calmness of heart and soul.

“The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children. But only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart.” [Quran, 26: 88-89]

It shows that the mankind is in constant danger of misguidance and wrongdoing which are the resultants of weakening of human spirit. Therefore, one consistently needs to keep a check on its routine to best feed its soul in the manner that would lead to success in the both worlds.

Performing Dhikr and Praying to Allah SWT

The sole purpose of formation of human race by the Creator of the universe is to adore His Name and achieve the due level of uprightness and virtue. As the Almighty Lord says in His Sacred Scripture:

“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” [Quran, 51: 56]

The Exalted One has clearly prescribed humanity the best way to attain His Mercy and Help which lies in His supreme and unparalleled devotion. It means that worshipping God is one of the paramount methods of gaining the suitable degree of one`s purification of soul.

“He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself. And mentions the name of his Lord and prays.” [Quran, 87: 14-15]

These Quranic Verses clearly declare that one has to completely get rid of all sinful impurities present in its soul and return to Allah SWT in a condition of absolute purification of spirit which can be achieved through prayers and His constant memory.

Reading the Holy Quran

The highly blessed Manuscript of Allah SWT, i.e. the Holy Quran is the Final form of revelation that He bestowed upon His Last Messenger, Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ. It contains such teachings and instructions which are great source of enlightenment for the entire world population and not just Muslims. It shows the correct way of living in every aspect of life, thus, leading to ultimate success. The Gracious God says in one the Quranic Ayats:

“Indeed, this Qur’an guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward.” [Quran, 17: 9]

It means that this Consecrated Volume of Quran is the eventual guideline for humanity and the advocates of Islam to know about the equitable way of existence on earth. Its rightful interpretation and acting upon its lessons are the immense means of achieving goodness of soul and receiving countless blessings from the Almighty Lord.

Avoiding Satanic Influences

Shaitan is considered to be the biggest enemy of a Muslim. It constantly examines and tests the human heart through its misleading whispers forcing one to leave the way of righteousness and indulge in Allah`s insubordination. It tries its level best to misguide believers through showing them many of the worldly pleasures and enjoyments leading to transgression from the Islamic faith.

[Satan] said, “Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You].”[Quran, 7:16-17]

It shows that Allah SWT has given Satan enough power to influence the minds and souls of the disciples of Islam, which in fact is a great means of testing for them in this world. This is the reason why in above stated Verse, the Almighty Lord describes the evil thoughts of Shaitan who has openly challenged to give the servants of God the wrong impression about matters of life through its various tactics. Therefore, one must always keep this grave matter in mind and let the devil not pollute its heart and spirit.

Abandoning Worldly Wishes and Remembering Hereafter

The concept of existence on earth is simple and clear for all the Muslims, i.e. it is a temporary place to live in and that one has to return to the Almighty Lord on the Day of Judgment. Most of the worldly distractions lie in one`s desires to attain more and more assets, money and other such wishes. Allah SWT has described the condition of two kinds of people in the following Quranic Verses:

“ … And among the people is he who says, “Our Lord, give us in this world,” and he will have in the Hereafter no share. But among them is he who says, “Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” [Quran, 2: 200-201]

Those who ask the Exalted One about fulfilling their wants which are related to this world will only benefit from them in this world and will lead to their failure in the hereafter. On the other hand, those who only ask for that is beneficial or Halal in this world and request for success in afterlife will be triumphant in both the worlds. It means that one has to neglect and shun away from all sorts of pleasures and desires while living on earth and always keep in mind the ultimate gains of hereafter in order to maintain the purity of soul and spirit.

In short, the life on earth is full of trials and tests which one has to go through and keep its mind and spirit on the rightful track of the Religion of Peace. To be successful in this endeavor, one has to carry out the above mentioned deeds and many other such actions which would bring it closer to Allah SWT resulting in best feeding its soul.

How To Best Feed One`s Soul In Islam

The life of a Muslim on earth is not plain and simple as it has to go through a lot of trials and assessments in the shape of Fitnah (committing sins and transgressions from rightful Islamic way). To be able to succeed both in this world and the hereafter, a believer has to achieve much more than just declaring Iman (Faith) and observing obligatory religious actions. Regarding this sensitive matter, Allah SWT says in the Holy Quran:

[Who say], “Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower.” [Quran, 3:8]

In the above mentioned Ayah, the Most Merciful directs His servants to adopt the way of His true disciples who always worry about adhering to right track of righteousness and pray to Him for granting calmness of heart and soul.

“The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children. But only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart.” [Quran, 26: 88-89]

It shows that the mankind is in constant danger of misguidance and wrongdoing which are the resultants of weakening of human spirit. Therefore, one consistently needs to keep a check on its routine to best feed its soul in the manner that would lead to success in the both worlds.

Performing Dhikr and Praying to Allah SWT

The sole purpose of formation of human race by the Creator of the universe is to adore His Name and achieve the due level of uprightness and virtue. As the Almighty Lord says in His Sacred Scripture:

“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” [Quran, 51: 56]

The Exalted One has clearly prescribed humanity the best way to attain His Mercy and Help which lies in His supreme and unparalleled devotion. It means that worshipping God is one of the paramount methods of gaining the suitable degree of one`s purification of soul.

“He has certainly succeeded who purifies himself. And mentions the name of his Lord and prays.” [Quran, 87: 14-15]

These Quranic Verses clearly declare that one has to completely get rid of all sinful impurities present in its soul and return to Allah SWT in a condition of absolute purification of spirit which can be achieved through prayers and His constant memory.

Reading the Holy Quran

The highly blessed Manuscript of Allah SWT, i.e. the Holy Quran is the Final form of revelation that He bestowed upon His Last Messenger, Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ. It contains such teachings and instructions which are great source of enlightenment for the entire world population and not just Muslims. It shows the correct way of living in every aspect of life, thus, leading to ultimate success. The Gracious God says in one the Quranic Ayats:

“Indeed, this Qur’an guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward.” [Quran, 17: 9]

It means that this Consecrated Volume of Quran is the eventual guideline for humanity and the advocates of Islam to know about the equitable way of existence on earth. Its rightful interpretation and acting upon its lessons are the immense means of achieving goodness of soul and receiving countless blessings from the Almighty Lord.

Avoiding Satanic Influences

Shaitan is considered to be the biggest enemy of a Muslim. It constantly examines and tests the human heart through its misleading whispers forcing one to leave the way of righteousness and indulge in Allah`s insubordination. It tries its level best to misguide believers through showing them many of the worldly pleasures and enjoyments leading to transgression from the Islamic faith.

[Satan] said, “Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait for them on Your straight path. Then I will come to them from before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You].”[Quran, 7:16-17]

It shows that Allah SWT has given Satan enough power to influence the minds and souls of the disciples of Islam, which in fact is a great means of testing for them in this world. This is the reason why in above stated Verse, the Almighty Lord describes the evil thoughts of Shaitan who has openly challenged to give the servants of God the wrong impression about matters of life through its various tactics. Therefore, one must always keep this grave matter in mind and let the devil not pollute its heart and spirit.

Abandoning Worldly Wishes and Remembering Hereafter

The concept of existence on earth is simple and clear for all the Muslims, i.e. it is a temporary place to live in and that one has to return to the Almighty Lord on the Day of Judgment. Most of the worldly distractions lie in one`s desires to attain more and more assets, money and other such wishes. Allah SWT has described the condition of two kinds of people in the following Quranic Verses:

“ … And among the people is he who says, “Our Lord, give us in this world,” and he will have in the Hereafter no share. But among them is he who says, “Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” [Quran, 2: 200-201]

Those who ask the Exalted One about fulfilling their wants which are related to this world will only benefit from them in this world and will lead to their failure in the hereafter. On the other hand, those who only ask for that is beneficial or Halal in this world and request for success in afterlife will be triumphant in both the worlds. It means that one has to neglect and shun away from all sorts of pleasures and desires while living on earth and always keep in mind the ultimate gains of hereafter in order to maintain the purity of soul and spirit.

In short, the life on earth is full of trials and tests which one has to go through and keep its mind and spirit on the rightful track of the Religion of Peace. To be successful in this endeavor, one has to carry out the above mentioned deeds and many other such actions which would bring it closer to Allah SWT resulting in best feeding its soul.

Muslim Husband – Leader of The House

Muslim Husband – Leader of The House

In the recent past, there have been many researches on productivity and efficiency of people, mostly in the workplace, like being proactive, seeking cooperation with others, prioritizing matters, listening carefully, careful planning etc. All of these are good things to keep in mind for one`s success in all walks of life.

Talking about accomplishment in one`s affairs, marriage is a very important concern in a Muslim`s life. It is a great blessing of Allah SWT, which is a relationship of love, understanding and cooperation. But nowadays, many families are facing problems, which could be result of a husband or a wife. As, former is the leader of the house, so it demands greater sense of responsibility from him.

There are certain things which one can adopt in its daily routine to become a highly effective Muslim husband:

Observing Stability Between Work And Religion

Work-life balance has become the hottest issue in today`s organizations. Employees are becoming more and more barren in their occupation because they face serious problems maintaining equilibrium between their private and vocational issues. If they incline towards one side more than what is required, they move towards failure in either issue. So, to avoid this discrepancy, companies have devised systems whereby they ensure that their workers are highly motivated and remain stress free in their work.

Likewise, the head of the Muslim family also has to go through such problems; some have to go on long business tours, while others are stuck in the traumas of their office job deadlines. Such matters result in serious predicaments in one`s marital life. One cannot focus on the needs of its wife and children as it should, mainly because of lack of time to look after them. For perfect remedy of this quandary, one needs to have a proper balance between its work and religion first. Islam is a complete code of life and it contains many religious practices, which in turn helps in leading productive life, like daily prayers teach how to manage one`s time, and Zakah (charity) educates lessening desire for materialistic possessions. Through time management, one could learn how to make it up to one`s family appropriately. And by having lesser wish for earning excessively, one could think about its relations more and fulfill their rights rightfully. So, one should practice its religious obligations as much as it can so that it can benefit from their effectual repercussions.

Keeping Hale And Hearty Through Exercise

Many of the family issues are a result of poor health of the leader of the house. A husband is the heart and brain of the household, who should remain fully efficient so that other affiliates of the home could be happy and satisfied, just like body functions of a man depends on the effective working of one`s soul and mind.

Health problems could easily be solved through regular exercise in the morning and in evening. It does not necessarily means to run for some time in the park. One could also take its wife and children to a nearby recreational area to freshen the mind and body from daily life hassles. This practice also helps in keeping away from carrying diseases like overweight, heart and tissue problems. As, health is wealth, and for any Muslim man, its family should be the utmost priority, so one should always try to remain at the best of its physical condition in order to give its best to family members.

Reading The Holy Quran

The Sacred Scripture of Quran contains all the necessary information for living a successful life, as it not only highlights the great importance of religious duties but also gives much insight about many social and family issues of privileges and duties. A Muslim husband has to set the perfect leading example in one`s home, so by reading and understanding Holy Quran, his children could learn from him and gain inspiration to learn Quran themselves. Moreover, he can also teach his wife about her responsibilities, and learn about his own family obligations to work effectively for their fulfillment.

Maintaining A Good Sense Of Dressing

The modern and Islamic concept of nice clothing does not go along hand in hand. The former is more inclined towards materialism and demands expensive dressing, but the latter just requires a Muslim to remain in complete state of cleanliness with respect to its body and garments no matter how much the dress is simple.

A Muslim husband also needs to act upon the very Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), and keep wearing neat and tidy clothes, so that he can act as the perfect example for his kids and spouse in sanitation.

Helping In The House Work

There is a great misconception in today`s society that the female has to look after all the in-family affairs from cooking meals till taking care of kids. That is not the correct gist of Islamic ideologies, nor is the way of the Prophet Muhammad`s (PBUH) life, Who not only used to do His private tasks Himself, but also was observed greatly involved in carrying out daily household work.

Aisha (Ra) once said about Muhammad (PBUH):

“Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) used to patch his sandals, sew his garment and conduct himself at home as anyone of you does in his house. He was a human being, searching his garment for lice, milking his sheep, and doing his own chores.” (Tirmidhi)

How many men in this day and age mend their worn out dresses and shoes themselves and share the burden of their wives in house job. There is a great parable in the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) for each and every one of us, Who did all the apparently looking pity things Himself and was not burdening them over others` shoulders. So, it’s clear that a Muslim husband should not feel shame in taking part in internal work of family like helping out wife in making meals, and other stuff like that so that his wife could feel comforted and cared.

So, to conclude, we can say that nobody can be ever perfect, and things are not always as pleasant in relations as one wants them to be. But, to be closer to an ideal Muslim husband, one should at least take care of its basic responsibilities like looking after his own affairs and other family members, gaining and spreading the necessary Islamic insight, actively taking part in family matters, and above all, one should act as a role model for others in every respect.

9 Benefits Of Reciting Quran With Translation

The Holy Quran is the 4^th and Last Sacred Book of Allah SWT that He revealed upon His Last Messenger, Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ in the early 7^th century A.D. It not only approves the previous Heavenly Manuscripts of the Almighty and His Prophets, but also provides a complete guideline for living a successful life here and in the hereafter. Muslims all over the world recite and understand this Sanctified Scripture as a religious duty and seek assistance from it. The Creator of the world of the worlds says regarding the matter of understanding the Instructions present in Furqan e Hameed as:

“So when the Qur’an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.” [Quran, 7: 204]

The Holy Quran was first disclosed in the land of Arabia and its official language too is Arabic, but still God, the Exalted has emphasized on listening to its recitation closely in order to comprehend its true connotation. If the native Arabians were directed to do so, it means that those who do not know this mode of communication better, they are even more required to translate its teachings into their local speech to absorb it better.

Although, the plain recital might well lead to obtaining some benefits in terms of Allah`s Remembrance and seeking His forgiveness, but that is only possible when someone has already read or understood some of the essential teachings of Furqan e Hameed before. In case of new learners, it is only likely to get some advantage out of narration of this Consecrated Paperback when it is done in a language that it can easily understand.

Some of the great benefits of reading the Holy Quran with Translation (Understanding) are as follows:

More Reward For Non Arabic Natives

If this Revered Volume of Allah SWT was just meant for plain recitation without understanding it, then it would not be possible for the rest of the world to realize its actual connotation. There is a great reward for reading the Holy Quran especially in case of Arabic being a foreign language, as it ultimately leads to attainment of Knowledge of the commandments of the Almighty Lord.

Hazrat Abdullah ibn Ma’sood (R.A) narrates that Rasulullah ﷺsaid:

“Those who attempt to read it with difficulty (because of their lack of familiarity with the language) will merit double rewards.” (Tirmidhi and Abu Dawood)

The above mentioned Hadith tells about tremendous amount of returns in the form of blessings of Allah SWT as a result of having difficulty in the Quranic recital. It means that those who do not understand the Arabic language, yet they strive hard to learn about teachings of Furqan e Hameed, it will be considered a bigger effort for sake of pleasing the Gracious God.

In-Depth Reading Leading To More Understanding

It is common observation in any field of studies that comprehensive analysis of things leads to better understanding of the complex matters and concepts involved under consideration. Arabic too is a very intricate and hard to grasp lingo that calls for translation of the Holy Verses of Quran into some native language in order to be aware of them properly.

Hazrat Abu Sa’eed Khudri (R.A) narrates that Rasulullah PBUH said:

‘That person who, due to excessive recitation of the Qur’an is not able to make Allah Ta’ala’s Dhikr and Du’a, Allah Ta’ala will bestow such a person with more blessings and Ni’mat than even those who make Dhikr and Du’a.’ (Tirmidhi)

It means that a person who thoroughly reads Furqan e Hameed so that it could make itself familiar with the Islamic Convictions attains more bounties of Allah SWT as compared to spending that extra time in His Memory. This is so because while doing detailed study of the Quranic Revelations, one comes to know about its true significance which helps a person to put its life on the right track.

Knowing About Matters Concerning Daily Life

The Holy Quran does not just comprise of parables about the past nations, but also encloses life transforming instructions and guidelines from the Gracious God.

“And, We have certainly presented for the people in this Qur’an from every [kind of] example – that they might remember.” [Quran, 39: 27]

The above mentioned Ayah clearly indicates that this Sacred Book consists of such examples which are very crucial for one to remember in order to seek constant guidance.

No! Indeed, the Qur’an is a reminder. Then whoever wills will remember it. [Quran, 74: 54-55]

If Quran is a reminder, then how can one come to know about Warnings and Prompts discussed by Allah SWT if a person does not understand the Arabic language? It increases the significance of translation of the Hallowed Verses so that one can recognize the essential directives and commands of the Almighty Lord.

Fulfillment of a Religious Duty

The demise of the Muslims in this day and age is undeniably down to ignorance of the true understanding of the Holy Quran. The present Muslim World has left this Heavenly Manuscript in the hands of Mullas (Religious Scholars) and rest either just recite it in plain Arabic. Allah SWT has directed every believer to think over the Quranic Verses in order to get enlightened.

“[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.” [Quran, 38: 29]

In this Ayah, the Most Merciful has commanded all the Muslims to reflect on the Quranic Instructions not only to comprehend their implication for it is a Divine Book that leads towards righteousness and morality. The Almighty Lord also mentions about being reminded of what was understood in this world regarding Furqan e Hameed. All of this discussion leads towards one pinnacle point. I.e. reading and understanding the Holy Quran is far better than just reciting it and that is only possible when it is translated into some local or an easily explicable language.

In short, the Holy Quran is a highly Revered Volume of Allah SWT that requires proper understanding, which is possible when it is interpreted in one`s own language.

Learn Basic Beliefs and Concepts of Religion “Islam”

The biggest problem any school of thought or a movement can face is people not knowing about it. When people don’t know about something, they don’t pursue it regardless of how inherently true and bountiful that thing is, therefore, the disseminating of information to amass followers is imperative, especially when it comes to religion.

Concepts of islam

One of the major reasons why people have misconceptions about Islam is the fact that people don’t know about it. This lack of knowledge is partly because of the shallow propaganda against Islam that keeps the people from seeking knowledge about Islam and partly because of Muslims working very little in this era of technology pertaining to spread of information about Islam. The lines below try to fill this void by giving some basic concepts and beliefs of the religion Islam.

The Meaning Of Islam:

The word ‘Islam’ literally means ‘peace’. Those who follow Islam are actually the representatives of peace and safeness. It is the religion that Allah Almighty bestowed upon Muhammad (PBUH) about fourteen hundred years ago and as per Islamic belief system, there will be no other religion send for the guidance of mankind. Therefore, according to Muslims, Islam is the final religion of Allah and if anyone in this world and the times to come is to receive guidance, he or she will be in the circle of Islam.

Key Figures:

There are some key figures in Islam that are pivotal to its existence without the knowledge or recognition of which one cannot understand Islam let alone joining it. The key figures which represent Islam are as follows:

Allah:

In Islam Allah is the supreme Lord and the Creator of this world. All the Godly qualities are associated with Him and He is the provider and sustainer of life in this world. All the worship and praise is for Allah and He will be the one to whom all the people of this world will return once the world ends.

Muhammad (PBUH):

Muhammad (PBUH) is the Prophet of Islam and He is the last Prophet that Allah Almighty has sent for the guidance of mankind. Muhammad (PBUH) was born in Makka about 1400 years ago and He received the first revelation when He was forty years old. After that He spent the rest of 23 years of His life in preaching Islam. To Muslims Muhammad (PBUH) was the height of good character and the best of all the people. His traditions are recorded in the form of Hadith and Muslims try to follow and implement His traditions in their life.

Quran:

Quran is the Divine Book of guidance, which Muslims follow. It is the word of Allah that was revealed on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) over a period of twenty three years. It is the canonical law, which Muslims follow, and anything that contradicts Quran is not accepted by Muslims. All over the world millions of Muslims recite and learn Quran. Moreover, there is also a great number of people who memorize Quran as well, thus helping preserve Quran in the same word in which it was revealed and not even a single word has changed since then.

Muslim:

The follower of Islam is called ‘Muslim’. One becomes a Muslim by entering into the circle of Islam and from that point forward, a Muslim believes in all the core beliefs of Islam and tries level best to implement all those in his or her life.

Pillars of Islam:

There are five pillars of Islam upon which the whole faith stands. These five pillars are obligatory upon every Muslim to observe and follow. Any negligence in fulfilling and practicing these pillars results in great punishment that a Muslim would either receive in this world in some form or in the world hereafter. The lines below briefly discuss the pillars and what they entail, although the information listed below can also be found in a compact form in the two smartphone applications developed by QuranReading.com called, ‘Learn Islam’ and ‘Five Pillars of Islam’.

Shahadah:

The first pillar of Islam is Shahadah. It is the proclaimation which a Muslim makes when he or she enters Islam. This statement entails that a Muslim attests to the fact that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad (PBUH) is His Prophet. Without agreeing to this statement in word and in heart, a person cannot enter Islam and if after entering, there rises a doubt in the mind of a person regarding it then he or she has a corrupt faith.

Salah:

Salah is the obligatory prayer which Muslims perform every day. It is the second and one of the most important pillars of Islam which is why all Muslims are ordered to learn namaz correctly  and then perform it 5 times a day.. In addition to being a means of worshipping and praising Allah Almighty, Salah also stands as one of the best invocations that a Muslim can use in order to ask Allah Almighty of anything. Moreover, Salah is one of the first things that will be asked about on the Jjudgement Day.

Seyam:

Seyam which refers to ‘Fasting’ is the obligatory fast which Muslims keep I n the month of Ramadan. Every years Muslims fast for a month every fast in which lasts from dawn till dusk. During the fasting period Muslims refrain from any kind of eating, drinking and sexual intercourse. The purpose of fasting is to purify the soul and feel the hunger and depravity that the less fortunate people of the world face. Fasting invests the spirit of empathy in the Muslims and makes them more sensitive and sympathetic towards others.

Zakah:

Zakah is the Muslim form of obligatory charity. It is other than the voluntary charity and it entails that when the wealth of a Muslim goes beyond a certain level, he or she is to give s certain percentage of it to other people. Zakah is obligatory for every one who fulfills the criteria and Quran has told of the people who deserve Zakah. In addition to making people share wealth with the less fortunate people, Zakah has far reaching effects on the economy of a society as well. Those who do not pay Zakah whilst being eligible for paying are deemed to receive punishment for this act of theirs.

Hajj:

Hajj is the pilgrimage that Muslims undertake in the month of Zul-Hijjah. During this pilgrimage Muslims pay homage to the house of Allah in Makkah and perform a variety of religious rituals for great reward. Hajj is also an obligatory act that is mandatory for every Muslim who is financially and physically able to undertake it. The Complete Hajj Guide by QuranReading.com is also a smartphone app that can help in giving complete information about Hajj to a Muslim.

Conclusion:

In short, Islam is a religion of peace that was brought by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The religion has Quran as the Holy Book there are five pillars that are pivotal to becoming a Muslim and staying on the path of righteousness.

How To Daily Get Up Early For Fajr Prayer (Salah)

Saying prayers five times a day are mandatory upon every Muslim. The offering of prayers is a sign that a Muslim remembers Allah Almighty and worships Him throughout the day in the daily life. The five prayers are to be offered at specific times distributed throughout the day starting from dawn till night. among these prayers, the Fajr prayer is the first one.

Fajr is the first prayer of the day, which is to be offered at dawn. The prayer of Fajr marks the beginning of the day for a good and practicing Muslim and ensures that the first thing that a Muslim does after waking up is worship and praise Allah Almighty. Besides the prayer being mandatory, Quran has also emphasized heavily on establishing Fajr prayer.

In Quran, Allah Almighty says:

“So establish the Prayer after the declining of the sun (from its zenith, for Duhr and then Asr) to the dusk of night (Maghrib and then Isha) and the (Quranic) recitation of Fajr (prayer). Indeed, the (Quranic) recitation of Fajr is witnessed.” (17:78)

From this ayah of Quran it is clear that Fajr is given prominence over the other mandatory prayers, moreover, the recitation of Quran is also accompanied with Fajr prayer. Therefore, offering Fajr prayer is more than imperative for a Muslim.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in His hadith:

“Whoever performs the Prayer before the rising of the sun (Fajr) and before its setting (Asr), will not enter the Hell.” (Muslim)

From this hadith also, the imperativeness of Fajr prayer becomes clear and every Muslim must say Fajr prayer on time regularly.

The Problem:

The greatest problem that Muslims face all across the world pertaining to offering Fajr prayer is the waking up in the morning. People have abrupt sleeping routines and a tiresome routine which makes it difficult for them to wake-up in the morning to offer the prayer on time. The lines below discuss the solutions to this problem of waking up for Fajr prayers on two levels, first is the spiritual preparations for waking up, while the other is the general or apparent preparations that one can make to ensure waking up at the time of Fajr and saying prayer on time.

Spiritual Preparation:

If a person does not will to offer Fajr prayer or is not spiritually motivated enough to offer the prayer, then no matter how much preparations a person makes, he or she would never be able to wakeup on time. Therefore, it is of grave importance that one prepares him or herself spiritually to be able to wakeup on time for Fajr prayer. In this regard, the following tools can help:

Remember It Is For Allah – The first spiritual thought that can help in waking up on time for Fajr is the thought that all you are doing is for Allah Almighty. The prayers are for Allah Almighty, therefore, when it comes to waking up one must realize that Allah is the Creator, Sustainer and Provider of this world, therefore, cant you sacrifice a little sleep for Him? He who provides you with everything and every blessing, cant you face a little disturbance for Him? These and all such other thoughts can help in preparing you mentally and spiritually for waking up in morning, thus, when the next time your eyes open during the sleep, the first thing that comes to your mind is how much time is left for Fajr.

Sincerity – The second spiritual tool that can be used to prepare yourself for waking up at the time of Fajr is sincerity. Although it seem trivial that a Muslim is sincere with Fajr prayer, however, it is the fluctuations in the level of sincerity that causes a Muslim to sometimes skip the prayer or wakeup late for it. Therefore, it is imperative that you are sincere from the core of your heart about saying the prayer, if there is even a single doubt where you think that you wouldn’t be able to wake up on time, then you won’t. Therefore, be sincere about your intention of waking up.

Pray To Allah – The third spiritual tool that a Muslim can use to wakeup for prayer on time is to pray to Allah for help and support before going to sleep. When the heart and mind rest with such a prayer, then their chances of waking up at the time of Fajr definitely increase.

General Preparations:

In addition to preparing the soul for waking up at the time of Fajr, it is imperative that one does the general apparent preparations as well to ensure that the time never skips from the hands. In this regard, one can use the following tips for preparation:

Set The Right Alarm – Pertaining to setting of Fajr alarm, the biggest mistake that people commit is that they set alarm for such a time where they hardly have enough time left to prepare for the Salah and offer it on time, thus, when they occasionally get up slow, the result is the time of Fajr past. Therefore, it is imperative that you set the alarm half an hour before the time of Fajr so that you have ample time available to perform Wudu and offer the prayer even if you are slow in waking up.

Sleep On Time – Some people find it hard to even wakeup on the noise of alarm. They just turn off the alarm and go back to sleep and when they wakeup, it is late for Fajr prayer. This usually happens because of poor sleeping habits, where there is no fixed time for sleeping. When there is no proper and regular time for sleeping, the ultimate result is the eye not opening despite the alarm. Therefore, in order to make sure that alarm works for you, you need to sleep on time, so that by the time of Fajr your sleep hours are complete.

Seek Assistance – If the alarm does not work for you and you cant have sufficient sleep because of your routine, then the best option left for you is to seek assistance from peer or parents. You can ask them to wake you up at the time of Fajr so that you are able to offer prayer on time. This method of waking up for Fajr is the most effective compared to all the methods, however, it requires depending on other people.

Conclusion:

In a nutshell, the Fajr prayer marks the start of the day with the name of Allah. Therefore, it is more than imperative that every Muslim must try adopting as much ways as possible to ensure that he or she wakes up on time to offer the Fajr prayer with humility and sincerity.

Avoidance Of Taking Sins Lightly In Islam

he religion of Islam is a complete code of life which devises guidelines for its followers in every walk of life. Allah SWT sent His Last Heavenly Book, the Holy Quran on His Final Messenger, Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ which contains useful instructions for Muslims. it clearly informs them about forbiddance of wrongdoings and sins like the nations before them so that they could be successful in both the worlds. Every person has the conscious to differentiate between right and wrong, which calls for taking even a minor transgression as a great means of destruction.

Hazrat Anas (R.A) reported the Messenger ﷺ of the Almighty saying as:

“Beware of the minor sins which are often thought of as insignificant, for they are like a group of people who stopped in the bottom of a valley. One of them brought a stick, and another brought a stick, until they had gathered enough to cook their food. These minor sins, if a person is called to account for them, will destroy him.” (Ahmad)

The above mentioned Hadith clearly indicates that one should not belittle its slight proportion of sins as they eventually mount up to become eventual failure just like drops of water ultimately form an ocean. The act of not weighing minor wrongdoings in importance leads to making habit of committing them in daily life which is the cause of being unsuccessful in front of the Creator of the universe.

sins in islam
“When you received it with your tongues and said with your mouths that of which you had no knowledge and thought it was insignificant while it was, in the sight of Allah, tremendous.” [Quran, 24: 15]

This Quranic verse magnifies the degree of significance of small things that we do not normally care about doing. The Exalted One informs about the great importance of minor sins that are committed by us one way or the other and that they do have some serious repercussions.

avoid of taking sins lightly

Now let us discuss the importance of avoiding minor sins and how one can rectify them:

Sign of a True Believer

An actual disciple of the Religion of Peace knows the amount of harm a single act of crime does to it. A staunch advocate of Islamic teachings takes each sin as a black spot on its heart which adds up to blackening of the entire heart eventually.

Narrated by Ibn Masud (R.A):

“A believer treats a sin as if it is a mountain over his head that may fall on him any moment. Whereas a regular violator looks at them as a fly that perked on his nose and he waived it away with his hand.” (Bukhari)

It shows that a true believer has the realization about detrimental effects of even a slight action of thought of evil. On the other hands, a wicked person keeps on enjoying the actions of immorality and its heart is unaware of its rightful responsibilities.

Reading the Holy Quran

The Sacred Book of Allah SWT sent down His Last and Final Book, Quran Majeed in order to give His servants true meaning and purpose of life. It clearly tells its readers about rewards for good and noble deeds done as well as chastisement as a result of disobeying His Commands.

sins lightly in islam
And that it is My punishment which is the painful punishment. [Quran, 15: 50]

Thus, by reading the Holy Quran, one would come to know about grave results and punishment of one`s sins done in this life.

Asking for Pardon from Allah SWT

Majority of us do not pay much attention to our little deeds which also involve minor sins. The need of the hour is to realize that one has to ask the Most Merciful for Mercy for all wrong actions committed either voluntary or involuntary. As the Almighty Lord says:

avoidance of sins 
Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” [Quran, 39: 54]

The above mentioned Ayah shows that one has to keep asking the Most Beneficent for granting forgiveness over all mistakes. One should also believe in the fact that Allah SWT listens to our requests and fulfills them when asked with rightful approach of sincerity and honesty.

sins avoidance in islam
Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. [Quran, 25: 70]

It means that the Gracious God forgives all our wrongdoings when some of us face times of difficulties because He is the Most Merciful and never lets His servants` good deeds and patience go in vain.

In short, minor acts of transgression from Allah`s commandments should not be taken lightly rather as a Muslim, every one of us must try to avoid them and ask for the Almighty`s Clemency for committed crimes.

Prevention of Boasting (Showing Off) in Islam

Islam promotes morality and goodness in its followers. It is a clear guidance for the entire world population. The Religion of Peace comprises of two main sources of supervision, i.e. Quran Majeed and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet ﷺ. Both of them instruct the believers to adopt righteousness and abstain from wrongdoings. Abu Hurrairah (R.A) narrated the Holy Prophet ﷺ saying as:

“Hasten to do good deeds before you are overtaken by one of the seven afflictions.” Then (giving a warning) he said, “Are you waiting for such poverty which will make you unmindful of devotion; or prosperity which will make you corrupt, or disease as will disable you, or such senility as will make you mentally unstable, or sudden death, or Ad-Dajjal who is the worst expected absent, or the Hour, and the Hour will be most grievous and most bitter”. (Tirmidhi)

It means one should enthusiastically opt for performing noble actions without any delay as there might be lack of willingness with passage of time for one reason or another. But there is also a great deal of emphasis not publicizing either of the deeds when committed. Making sins not known to others is easily understood but keeping one`s good acts also secret is somewhat not realized by many. Regarding this matter, Allah SWT says in His Sacred Book:

boasting in islam
“Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and then do not follow up what they have spent with reminders [of it] or [other] injury will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. [Quran, 2: 262]

The above mentioned Ayah tells that while carrying out dignified deeds like Zakah (charity), one should not announce about it to the masses because it leads to decrease in Ajar (Good Return). Those who act like this are highly beloved near the Almighty Lord Who has kept their recompense with Him from whom they will greatly benefit eventually.

Avoidance of Showing Off in Islam

Actions are by Intentions

In Islam, there is a straightforward instruction about keeping one`s purpose of carrying out every action clear. One must have comprehensible idea of why it is performing a certain act and for whom.

 “Actions are but by intentions, and every person will only get what he intended. (Bukhari)

The above stated Hadith indicates that every deed comes with an outcome as a result of a certain intention that one has before and while performing it. Therefore, every believer must have clear conscious of carrying out noble actions for sake of Allah`s pleasure alone.

Secrecy of Righteous Deeds

Salah is made obligatory upon all the Muslims five times a day with strict timing in the mosque. However, there are some non compulsory prayers which are purely Prophetic Traditions. For this matter, Rasulullah ﷺ has advised the believers to accomplish them privately at their homes as He (PBUH) Himself used to pray.

“O people! Pray in your homes, for truly the best prayers are those that a person prays at home, with the exception of the prescribed prayers.” (Bukhari)

It means that the Messenger ﷺ of God has regarded the non obligatory Namaz which is carried out alone better which is of course not the case in mandatory Salah. It serves as a great means of saving one from showing off in religious matters. Moreover, it also helps in developing a good environment within house.

Emphasis on Avoiding Boasting

Riya (boaster) is greatly forbidden in the Religion of Peace. But unfortunately, most of us, knowingly or unknowingly, fall for this crime in our lives when we make informal conversations with others. We tend to forget that while we are doing something to acquire Allah`s pleasure, we are also wasting our efforts by making them public for sake of self-esteem.

“There are three (types of) people to whom Allah will neither speak on the Day of Resurrection nor look at them nor purify them, and they will have a painful chastisement.” The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) repeated it three times. Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) remarked: “They are ruined. Who are they, O Messenger of Allah?” Upon this, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “One who lets down his lower garments (below his ankels) out of arrogance, one who boasts of his favours done to another; and who sells his goods by taking a false oath.” (Muslim)

This Saying of Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ plainly explains the destruction of one`s all good deeds done if and when someone has made them known to others in order to attain their appreciation. This shows that there is a great virtue in hiding one`s noble actions from public as they are solely done for pleasing Allah SWT and not His creations. On another account, Rasulullah ﷺ is reported to have said:

“If anyone wants to have his deeds widely publicized, Allah will publicize (his humiliation). And if anyone makes a hypocritical display (of his deeds) Allah will make a display of him.”

It shows that both believers who try to appease fellow Muslim brothers by doing good and hypocrites who obviously do not believe in Islamic commandments but act to show off, are worthy of Allah`s punishment in this world and hereafter. Thus, it is obvious that boasting finishes the significance of noble acts as fire damages the wood. Therefore, every one of us should try its best not to perform good deeds to receive praise from others but only do them for pleasing the Almighty Lord.

Seeking Allah`s Help for Avoiding Show Off

The solution to this problem of boasting lies in taking assistance from Allah SWT. After realizing one`s weakness for pleasing the public in noble deeds, one should sincerely ask the Most Merciful for His guidance in prayers. In this regard, Surah Fatiha is considered to be one of the most effective Duas (Supplications) to the Almighty Lord, which is also an essential part of Daily Prayers.

[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds – The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, sovereign of the Day of Recompense. It is You we worship and You we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path – The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray. [Quran, 1: 1-7]

In this way, one would surely be able to cope with its difficulty of accomplishing good actions without showing off about them as the above Quranic lines are great means of requesting the God for granting rightful path.

In short, although good actions have positive effect on people around, but it is more advisable to perform them privately as it might lead one to become boastful if it carries them out in public. May Allah SWT save us all from the sin of showing off in religious and noble deeds! Aameen!