Surah Al Kahf - Ayah No 14

Assalam o Alaikum. Shab-e-Juma Mubarak. Let's maximise benefits of this blessed day by reciting and understanding part or whole of Al Kahf. This magnificent Surah is loaded with metaphysical content. We are attuned to Hollywood induced Sci-fi concepts but are reluctant to assimilate with Quranic extraterrestrials and time travels. For example,  Kahf Boys slept for exactly 300 years in The Cave and could this be any truer than this because Allah swt told this story. So how they lived for those 300 years? Normally, sleep is soul's leasure time to breakaway from the body and wander about. Would it not be fair to assume that their souls detached from them for three centuries. Did their souls go on time travel? Seems so, because when they woke up, they weren't certain they slept for a few hours or a day or so. Either way, in physical domain how their bodies were nourished? So lots of metaphysical stuff in there. We shall build upon it as we make progress in this story. 

Today's Ayah No 14 is about how Allah swt gave strength to their hearts. I guess we need to drop this chicken and egg argumentation on which comes first freewill ir Allah’s will to help freewill choose correctly. It was and will always be a matter of choice. Kahf Boys chose to stand by Tauheed, hence Allah gave their hearts strength to stand up to the tyrannical ruler and bigoted social order. And see how unequivocally they declared Allah's Oneness and His indisputable dominion over Heavens and earth notwithstanding the fact that they could be persecuted, deprived of their status and material possessions. None of it bothered them. They rose above mundane dependencies and have been immortalised by Allah swt for their sincerity of intent and purity of action. 

In testing tines that we live in, we need a lot of that moral courage which our Heroes, The Kahf Boys possessed. May Allah give us strength to stand up for right cause whenever and wherever. Ameen. 

Surah Al Kahf- Ayah No 15

Assalam o Alaikum Shab-e-Juma Mubarak. Al Kahf Time. A gentle reminder for recitation and understanding of this amazing Surah or part of it.

All praises to Allah swt who taught us speech. Ability to process information and speak is the greatest gift and miracle of Allah. It was so important to Him that He swt took time to teach our Father Adam AS the art of speech. Then to prove superiority of this masterpiece (finest of creatios(Al Teen 4:95)), He swt asked Adam AS to speak infront of Angels and Jinn. Angels submitted, Iblees' ego failed him. Like Iblees, any shade of his sunnah i.e. ego fails us rather relegates us to the lowest of the low (Al Teen 5:95).

Now let's connect dots as to why so much emphasis on importance of speech and its relevance to today's Ayah No 15. We know that The Book was written way before any other creation except pen. Which means this Ayah and these words uttered by our heroes, The Kahf Boys, were written in Loh-e-Mahfooz before the World of Creation (عالم خلق)right after the World of Order(عالم امر). So these words about Oneness of Allah, were taught by Allah swt, uttered by His favourite Boys written in His best and final Book, could not be ordinary speech. It has to be extra special. 

Before we look at Ayah 15, let's see the quality of literature we are discussing. People of literary sense could appreciate fast pace of scenes shifting back and forth. Two Ayahs before, The Boys went to sleep and woke up wondering where they were and how long did they sleep? Scene changes in previous Ayah (14) and we see them standing in the court of polythiest tyrant. But they don't budge. In this Ayah, they are wondering why their people have taken deities as gods. Also feel the compassion they express by asking their people to give evidence of their claims. They seem sincerely poised to do good to their people. They wish to bring them into the fold of Tauheed. They also exclaim in last part of the Ayah by remarks that there was no greater injustice than associating lies with Allah swt.

These finest words were infact taught and registered way before our creation and they trickle down like mountain dew and seamlessly fuse into next line with pearls of logic and wisdom. May we never keep ourselves long from uttering these words. May Allah swt make us speak what He swt would like to hear. Ameen

Surah Al Kahf - Ayah No 13

Assalm o Alaikum

Shab-e-Juma Mubarak on the eve of Milad un Nabi SAW, the day becomes extra special. 

Nothing is in our control. Even our own control is not in our control. Yes, a downer for our concept of freewill. Let's examine this. Our capacity is limited. So if we submit, the control is completely passed on to the Safest Hands of Allah swt. Realistically speaking, none of us has the capacity to stand any pressure (social, professional and financial), trouble (invited intentionally or inadvertent), illness (physical, psychological and spiritual). But if we insist on keeping the control in our hands, we might exhaust or perish. There is ongoing cat and mouse for ‘control’ in hearts. As much space we give to Allah swt, space of our open enemy shrinks and vice versa. As we know, Allah swt lives in our hearts where he puffed the most beautiful thing i.e from his Rooh. Likewise, the enemy has the permission to run through our blood. It is a serious situation. We tend to take it very lightly. Resultantly, our enemy, plays tricks on us. His eavesdrops work like magic (the wrong type of magic). And straight talk of Allah swt makes us uncomfortable. We tent to avoid it. We avoid paying heed to it. Like a cunning salesman, Iblees sells his merchandise to us on cheap price and we get sucked into his fancy false promises. But Allah swt can't adopt the tactics of sales cadre, He swt is the King of Heavens and Earth. He swt is straight talker. He swt differentiates right from wrong for us. Gives us the choice to submit (what we think is freewill). And being the King that He swt is, also gives us freedom to try our luck, knowledge and tricks. However, in submission lies the salvation. 

Above pretext in mind, Allah swt, while continuing story of our heroes, The Kahf Boys, tells us what distinguishes them from others i.e their sincere submission.

 What our heroes did, they solved the riddle of life. They must be the most intelligent of the lot who identified their Lord in polytheistic society. They stood witness to Oneness of The Only One. Also emphasising that any deviation from Tauheed would tantamount to excessive transgression. In short, if we submit and give control to the King of Heavens and Earth, He swt will definitely make good of us. Look at Kahf Boys, we may not know their exact names (which may be known to many, as their details including name of their dog is given below in a poster), but we still celebrate their act of sincerity today as I write these lines and you read them. They shall be celebrated till the end of times Insha Allah. 

May Allah swt guide us to submission like the way He swt bestowed it upon Al Kahf Boys. Ameen 

Names around circle are of our Heroes. In center, Qitmeer is Dog. 

Surah Al Kahf - Ayah No 12

  Assalam o Alaikum. Juma Mubarak. Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said, 'Friday is the best day of the week and it is the most respected by Allah. (Ibn Majah, Hadith: 1084). Recitation and understanding of Al Kahf adds immense value to this blessed day. 

Today’s Ayah No 12 is linked with the previous Ayah No 11. And centuries old story of Al Kahf (Seven Sleepers in Christian tradition),from start to end, has been told in just four Ayahs (9-12). Note that Al Kahf was the story about which Meccan idolators asked Prophet PBUH as proof of his Prophethood. Guess who tipped them to ask this tricky question, yes, you guessed it, the Jews of Arabia. Jews came to settle in Hijaz in anticipation of arrival of The Prophet whose arrival had been prophesied in Israelite traditions. Ironically, when non- Israelite Prophet PBUH arrived, Jews recognised Him but couldn’t accept him because of his Ismailite lineage. 

In Ayah 11, the Kahf Boys were sent to sleep and in this Ayah they woke up like fast changing scenes in a high octane drama and 309 years passed in a jiffy. If you read the translation carefully, The Sleepers, despite having slept for three centuries woke up uncertain about how long they slept. Allah swt sketches the scene in such precise, real-time and subtle manner that it feels one is sitting in that cave or watching a movie. He swt kind of says let's see which one(s) out of you (The Sleepers) could come close to accurate estimation of the time for which they slept. 

This scene has a parallel with resurrection on The Judgement Day. In Surah Al Zilzal (99) Ayah 3, when the earth after massive qauke will throw out human bodies buried in her womb, "Man says, 'What is with her?'" Note that, even this line is not in future tense, its present indefinite direct quote, as if it is happening right now. It is real and certain.Allah o Akbar.

This story is a refresher course on Oneness of Allah ( Tauheed). And Tauheed shall only make sense if we believe in life after death. How much we avoid thinking about death and how frequently we go through drills of death everyday. Everyday we wake up uncertain of how long we sleep and at times slightly disoriented. Is it not the same as Kahf Boys felt on waking up. 

It is Allah's special mercy that we get back to life each time we go to sleep including this day. And why we don't have actual sense of time because our Rooh is separated from body. Let's beg Allah swt to make it easy for all of us when we wake up in next life like Kahf Boys. Specially, pray that first night in grave is not too hard, after this one night (we don't know how long this would be) things might ease up. Or at least we hope so, keeping firm faith in Alllah’s mercy. 

Quran's take on our situation

Assalam o Alaikum. People ask why am I not writing these days? I dont have an answer but a counter question, 'what is there to write?'. We all know that external Dajjali forces are in control with the assistance of local accomplices. IMF is calling the shots. Despite request by the Govt to IMF, no relief in electricity price hike except instalments plan for consumers below 200 units. For four months peoples' daughters have been jailed in a society where four hours of absence becomes four centuries’ wait. No love lost for a political party but they were only political workers and our daughters. Did we not hand over Abhinandan who came in pursuit of our pilot with intent to shoot him down. Why can’t we show fraction of that magnanimity for own people. Mind blowing story by Ryan Grim and its grim consequences. Heartbreaking news of young Ammar's death and painful spindoctoring of media by alleging it to be an old incurable disease. Media-what can we say about it except its serving local dajjals really well. How ruthless are powerful and how cruel are their cohorts in politics, judiciary, business and intelligentsia. How vultures were allowed to scavenge on nearly dead flesh of this nation in past 18 months and now we are supposed to believe there will accountability? How unrest in North, terrorism in the West and economic meltdown all around is being allowed to take roots. How blatantly they are paving the way for another PML (N) stint? Nothing wrong with a political party coming to power but on one hand they claim to be democrats and behind the scenes they make deals. Coming to power with back end deals means status quo. How life has been made hard on the people of this country? How businesses have dried up? How devaluation is rampant? It is so suffocating that just stating objective realities amounts to treason - because the version of patriotism and Islam we are being fed has no room for truth or connect with the realities on ground. Situation would’ve not gone this bad if people's bread wasn't snatched from them remorselessly. If sense doesn’t prevail, people with ‘seeing eyes’ are calling out loud that lava can erupt anytime which may engulf everything.

So, what should be written and told to a well informed audience? There is nothing that they don’t already know. Since, I personally always resort to Quran for guidance, solace and healing, so let’s see how things are in the light of Quranic Verses. 

For a start, if you believe in Allah swt then brace yourselves for the tests: Al Baqarah Ayah 53

أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتۡرَكُوٓاْ أَن يَقُولُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمۡ لَا يُفۡتَنُونَ

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

Those who wish for change. Surah Anfaal, Ayah 53:

ذٰلِكَ بِاَنَّ اللّٰهَ لَمۡ يَكُ مُغَيِّرًا نِّـعۡمَةً اَنۡعَمَهَا عَلٰى قَوۡمٍ حَتّٰى يُغَيِّرُوۡا مَا بِاَنۡفُسِهِمۡ​ۙ وَاَنَّ اللّٰهَ سَمِيۡعٌ عَلِيۡمٌۙ

“That is because Allāh would not change a favor which He had bestowed upon a people until they change what is within themselves. And indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.”

So change within to change the world outside. Are we ready for it? Are we working on it? Can we even change our lifestyles in times of economic crisis.

Rasulullah (SAW) said: “Allah does not punish the individuals for the sins of the community until they see the evil spreading among themselves, and while they have the power to stop it, do not do so.” (Ahmad) Ibn Taimiyyah said: “This is why those who are in authority are of two groups: the scholars and the rulers. If they are upright, the people will be upright; if they are corrupt, the people will be corrupt.”

Looking for causes of our dismal situation. Read Ayahs below. How ironic, we whinge and whine on our sorry conditions, however, in reality we are at war with The One (Allah swt) we worship and The One we claim to love (Nabi SAW)

O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers.

And if you do not, then be informed of a war [against you] from Allah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you may have your principal - [thus] you do no wrong, nor are you wronged.

However, it is greatest mercy of Allah swt that doors of repentance are open whenever we realize our mistake and do Tauba wholeheartedly.

Allah is not unjust, we are:

مَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ ۖ وَمَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِنْ نَفْسِكَ ۚ وَأَرْسَلْنَاكَ لِلنَّاسِ رَسُولًا ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا

“Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allah, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself.” (Surah Nisaa 4:79)

Finally

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنۡ يَّقُوۡلُ اٰمَنَّا بِاللّٰهِ فَاِذَاۤ اُوۡذِىَ فِى اللّٰهِ جَعَلَ فِتۡنَةَ النَّاسِ كَعَذَابِ اللّٰهِؕ وَلَـئِنۡ جَآءَ نَـصۡرٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّكَ لَيَـقُوۡلُنَّ اِنَّا كُنَّا مَعَكُمۡ​ؕ اَوَلَـيۡسَ اللّٰهُ بِاَعۡلَمَ بِمَا فِىۡ صُدُوۡرِ الۡعٰلَمِيۡنَ‏ 

(29:10) Among people there are some who say: “We believe in Allah.” But when such a person is made to endure suffering in Allah's cause, he reckons the persecution he suffers at the hands of people as though it is a chastisement from Allah.But if victory comes from your Lord, the same person will say “We were with you. “Does Allah not know whatever is in the hearts of the people of the world?

Remember, if you believe in Allah swt, this burden we bear today is not more than what we can’t handle:

لَا یُكَلِّفُ اللّٰهُ نَفْسًا اِلَّا وُسْعَهَاؕ-

Allah burdens not anyone beyond his or her capacity.'

For us, who have been unjust to ourselves and our brethren. There is still hope. 

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِىَ الَّـذِيْنَ اَسْرَفُوْا عَلٰٓى اَنْفُسِهِـمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوْا مِنْ رَّحْـمَةِ اللّـٰهِ ۚ اِنَّ اللّـٰهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُـوْبَ جَـمِيْعًا ۚ اِنَّهٝ هُوَ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِـيْمُ (53)

Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Finally, remain steadfast, repent, remember Allah swt with patience and Salah because:

فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ٥ إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًۭا ٦

So, surely with hardship comes ease.

Surely with ˹that˺ hardship comes ˹more˺ ease.

Surah Al Kahf - Ayah No 11

Assalam o Alaikum. Juma Mubarak. We are going through tough times. So many in numbers and least effective in impacting the world around us. As we edge closer to the end of times, things are only going to get tougher for the Ummah. Let's not get too embroiled into routine life. Let’s not exhaust ourselves in relentless pursuit of bread and assets. Let’s keep stark realities of our world in view and play our roles accordingly. For now, on this blessed day, please find time to recite Al Kahf anytime as much as you can. Now let's focus on today's Ayah No 11 which is sequel to previous Ayah wherein our heroes, The Kahf Boys go in total submission of Allah swt by seeking His guidance in their affairs. It was a brilliant move based on strong faith and supreme intelligence. An unwavering faith undeterred by needs and desires resulting in metaphysical journey. So, He swt sends them to sleep. Sleep itself is an amazing phenomena. Each time we sleep our souls take a flight and each time we wake up it’s like returning to life. It actually demonstrates concept of death and life after death but we tend to forget or ignore it. Besides, firm belief in resurrection is among the most difficult tests of faith. Brace yourself because from this Ayah, Al Kahf takes off to newer heights beyond physical realm. Questions must arise what did He swt struck on their ears? How were they sent to sleep for three Centuries (309 years)? Naturally, the laws of physics were suspended and metaphysical phenomena overtook the matter. What and how - next week Insha Allah. May Allah give us a fraction of faith from Kahf Boys, as we need it ever so much now and in times to come. Ameen

Surah Al Kahf - Ayah No 10

Assalam o Alaikum. Juma Mubarak. A polite reminder for reciting Al Kahf or at least first and last Rukuh.

Today, we reach the landmark of 10^thAyah up to which weekly Juma recitation is recommended. This Ayah contains one of the most powerful prayers gifted by Allah swt to us through Jibrael Ameen via Heart of Our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon Him) in the Glorious Quran. Look at the enormous strands of The Rope (Al Quran) connecting us to Allah swt.

If we recall Ayah No 7, Allah swt claimed to have adorned this world for a test. Al Kahf Boys were young and hailed from nobility. Even today, irrespective of their social status, when youth (other than Zombie Scrollers) get together we may expect party, banter or at best sports. But this was a special lot who stood up for Oneness of Allah in a polytheist society. Roman tyrant Daqyanus gave them time (few days) to reconsider their monotheistic faith or be killed. Instead of caving in, they retreated to the cave. Their imperishable resolve not to budge on Tauheed and incomparable sincerity made this story worthy enough to be told by the King of Heavens and earth. And this is the reason that even today without knowing their names, we refresh memory of Kahf Boys every week.

And the prayer, what a prayer? An amazing way of showing true love and reverence to Allah swt. Those young men left every comfort of life behind including their homes, families and friends. They didn’t know what to do and where to go. Yet their faith was ever so strong. They simply submit to their Lord. The King who would always fulfil his promise. And what did they ask in this awesome prayer, special mercy and guidance of Allah swt in their affairs. And see the mercy of Allah. They attain status of Heroes till eternity. For guidance, Allah swt protected them, sent them to sleep, fed them, nourished them and made their precious act of sincerity enduring till the end of times.

Today, Tauheed is under attack once again. We can’t be like people of cave. Yet, we can recall their heroics every week and take strength from it. Secondly, we are lucky that we have our Kahf i.e. Al Quran. If we retreat to it every now and then, may Allah bestow His special mercy and guidance and we might get through this test. Because without His mercy and guidance nothing is possible. But remember, it was sincerity of heart of the Kahf Boys which set Allah's mercy and guidance in motion.

May Allah give us the sincerity of heart like that of  the Men of Al Kahf. Ameen.