Surah Al Kahf - Ayah No 48

Assalam o Alaikum . Shab-e-Juma Mubarak. Time to connect with Al Kahf. Let's today talk about death. A philosophical dilemma where entire human credo seems helpless. We are lucky to have been told few relevant details on need to know basis. Best way to deal with enigma of death is to talk about it, read about it and discuss it. Why should we not talk about death because every single day grave remembers us and reminds us of our actual place. State of denial will do us no good. Whereas, conversations on dining table range from food, sports and future plans; discussing about death is also long term future planning. Whereas, conversations at workplace range from work, cars and future promotions; discussing about death is also about promotion from this testing place to that eternal resting place full of bounties and rewards. Whereas, friendly banter range from nailing each other to future gatherings; best gatherings will take place up there. By limiting our discourse to the limited number of years in this world, we limit the scope our life. Separation of Rooh from body is not the end of the road but a transition from this to next life. Unless we talk about it, death will always present itself as an enigmatic quandry which no one could escape. In reality, it is just another phase in our long journey with no ending in sight.

Coming over to today's Ayah No 48, which would not have made any sense without above preamble. The scene is post death assembly of mankind in The Court of Allah swt. We will imagine this scene only if we accept this fact that death is around the corner. We will be made to stand in rows and Allah swt will announce that you look the same as we created you. Underlying message in this line is that nothing has changed in you (us) except deviation from the covenant (عہد الست). Forgetting your early promise made you believe that there would be no meeting again with your Lord. So, here you are standing helpless with your specie. What could be the best disposal of someone who forgets to fulfil his promise? We shall wait for next Ayah to reveal the next scene but it doesn't look too good for those who couldn't keep their promises with Allah swt.

May Allah swt help us keep our promises. Ameen

Surah Al Kahf - Ayah No 47

Assalam o Alaikum. Shab-e-Juma Mubarak. A polite reminder to recite/understand whole or part of Al Kahf this Juma.

Today's Ayah No 47 is sequel to last Ayah wherein Allah swt marked good deeds as millstones on highway to Jannah. This Ayah 47, begins with strong statement that on the Day if Reckoning, 'We' (Allah swt) will remove the mountains. Other translation could be, 'We shall send mountains for a walk'. Root word in نسیر is سیر which means a walk or a stroll.  But mountains taking a walk? Again the conversation is becoming a fictional account unless we make sense out of it all. Gravity is the  bonding gel, holding entire universe together. Everything in universe including universe itself is moving on its prescribed course due to gravity. Btw in mercurial world of Quantum Physics, same gravity is holding subatomic particles together. Whether wave or particle, the cloud of electron continues to move and stays in its orbit due to gravity. So, in theory of everything, gravity plays central role. And just like a grenade, pull the pin of gravity and the entire universe may collapse like a house of cards. 10 kms deep Mariana Trench is balanced by 10 kms high Everst. Once gravity is taken out of this equation, mountains which are pegged for balance, shall start moving like autumn leaves falling down the trees. Billion dollar question still remains to be answered, 'who will pull the pin?'. Allah swt has taken this responsibility upon Himself in the same Ayah. Probably, too sensitive a matter to be dealt by anyone else. In absence of gravity our well rounded earth will also flatten. Every single being from Adam AS to the last human being born on this earth will be gathered for accountability of blessings. There will be no left overs, no sick, no stragglers, no escape and no retreat. All and sundry will be brought to justice. Such is the level of justice of Allah swt.

Allah Karim help us prepare for the Day. Ameen

Surah Al Kahf - Ayah No 46

Assalam o Alaikum. Shab-e-Juma Mubarak.

Few questions raised last week as to why reciting and understanding Al Kahf is emphasised. 

It would be natural reaction of a modern thinking mind how few words could protect us? Why should we believe in this fiction of proportions with characters like Christ, Antichris(dajjal), Al Mehdi & Gog Mgog? Would it not be better we learn sciences that help fight any problem than following centuries old text? One by one short answers are: its about Emaan, if two words(کن) could cause Big Bang and initiate'The Plan' then its ending won't be less than Armageddon and remembering few Ayahs (words of the same Creator) who made it all possible would definitely shield us against the greatest evil i.e. dajjal. Likewise, Christ (Esa AS) was born against scientific contravention of biology and physics. The One who created biology and physics can suspend these laws meaning thereby science is part of the religion and not vice versa.

Today's Ayah No 46 contains thesis of this Surah that good deeds are our take away rest everything may be attractive and  tempting but is temporal and no more than a test. The same subject is also referred to in Ayah No 7, 30 and 104 of Al Kahf. No wonder this Surah is our only hope against onslaught of Shaytan who wants us to get completely absorbed in futile pursuit of this life. Surely, the adornments of life like wealth and numbers in offspring, employees, subjects etc are a test. These blessings are only good for this world and part of on-goingtest. For the next world only the good deeds will come handy. Note the word 'enduring good' and the closing word (خيرا املا) better hope. We often hear people complaining of disappointment in people, things, matters, even God. Lesson to take home is that if you wanna avoid despair, focus on your own righteousness. If you wish to pin your hopes to anything in this world and the next, pin'm with your own good deeds. What a solid advice!!!

May Allah swt help us do good deeds. Ameen

Only Allah knows the whole Truth.

Surah Al Kahf - Ayah No 45

Assalam o Alaikum. Shab-e-Juma Mubarak. After listening & understanding Al Kahf - its stories and relation with eschatology, appearance of Dajjaj (Christ for some and Antichrist for others), birth of Al Mehdi (alive for some and to be born for some), it gets complicated. As if it was not enough, extraterrestrial element: descending of Christ, Esa AS ( Alive for some and crucified for others) & Gog Mgog (sons of Adam AS hidden in earth or skies) further compounds the matter. Above all, every week someone like me starts ringing divine bells and asks everyone to recite or understand this Surah to defend against the fitn of Dajl. A fiction of proportions. Answers to all possible questions on this subject next week Insha Allah.

A quick recap of Al Kahf before we discuss today's Ayah No 45 which is 1st Ayah of 6th Rukuh. Along with endless lessons, so far two stories have been covered. First story about Imaan when faith in Allah is under attack (quite relevant to our times). Second story about growing faith in means (wealth and possessions) than The Creator of means (totally relevant to our times). This Rukuh or should we call it 6th Speech of Allah is counselling session by Allah swt based on lessons drawn from the story concluded in last Rukuh - The Men of Two Gardens. Allah swt used simple analogy for our understanding about life. Life is like rain. Rain water (Rooh) descends down, mingles with clay (marriage of Rooh and body). Seed is nourished like development of fetus. Plants grow like humans. Plants die and scatter on the earth like human body returns to earth. Is it not in the powers of The Lord of Heavens and Earth to grow them up again? Indeed, it is. Plant regrow and humans will also be resurrected on appointed time. 

May Allah help us keep an eye on resurrection and prepare for it before it gets too late. Ameen