Surah Al Kahf - Ayah No 52

Assalam o Alaikum  Shab-e-Juma Mubarak. May this Juma bring joy and happiness your way.

Al Kahf is the refuge from all the evil out there. Today's Ayah No 52 is indicative of yet another evil prevalent in our society i.e  asking help from those who ask/ need help from The One. It is fine till the point we ask pious people to pray for us. But if we develop this fallacious idea that we continue to do every wrongdoing, counting on intercession of pious people beats the logic of Islam. Allah swt has set the bar for Muslims that whosoever is more in Taqwa will have the higher grading in the end. It is important to understand correct definition of Taqwa which is not just fear but respect in love. The case is simple, we avoid committing wrongdoings in the presence of people we love like parents, teachers, elder siblings, mentors etc. Likewise we ought to fear and love Allah swt way above other relations because unlike rest of relations He swt is Omnipresent and knows the intent deep down our hearts. Being aware that He swt is watching everything we do and knows everything we think about and the way we think puts a lot of check on our deeds. This is Taqwa for you. The cancerous disease that pious people when they leave this world still can intercede is addressed in today's Ayah. It is the mercy of Allah swt that He has forewarned about this gross mistake. He swt has pictured The Day of Recompense when He will ask us to call them for help whom we called upon in this life other than Allah swt. And look at the height of ignorance and naivety that some will call upon them only to be embarrassed in The August Court. Last  line is again vivid, loud and clear that Allah swt will create between these reckless people and those pious people a valley of destruction. It is logical that those pious people couldn't/ didn't ask anyone to approach them for intercession, may it be Jesus Christ or Abdul Qadir Jilani, they just did their job i.e feared Allah swt and helped relieve His creatures from any possible strain and got rightly rewarded.

Two Ayahs of Quran may help in good and bad times:

وَمَا تَوْفِيقِي إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ ۚ 

Hud 11:88

and my success (in my task) can only come from Allah. 

وَلَـنَبۡلُوَنَّكُمۡ بِشَىۡءٍ مِّنَ الۡخَـوۡفِ وَالۡجُـوۡعِ وَنَقۡصٍ مِّنَ الۡاَمۡوَالِ وَالۡاَنۡفُسِ وَالثَّمَرٰتِؕ وَبَشِّرِ الصّٰبِرِيۡ155 الَّذِيۡنَ اِذَآ اَصَابَتۡهُمۡ مُّصِيۡبَةٌ  ۙ قَالُوۡٓا اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَاِنَّـآ اِلَيۡهِ رٰجِعُوۡنَؕ156‏

“And we will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and life and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient. Those who when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.”

 Al Baqarah, 2:155/156

May Allah swt help us rely on Him only. Ameen 

Surah Al Kahf- Ayah No 51

Assalam o Alaikum. Shab-e-Juma Mubarak. Al Kahf Time and the time/ day of Al Kahf is Juma; from sunset on Thursday till sunset on Friday. Last week came across a video claiming that every day of the week/month/ year is Mubarak and there is no such direction in Quran and Sunnah to call this day Juma Mubarakah. Agreed that 365 days a year are/ can be Mubarak. However, Juma is special. It is the only day of the week after which Surah 62 of Quran is named. Detailed study of Surah may prove why Juma is put above the rest of the days of the week.

Root of this Arabic word is in 'جمع' i.e. gathering. Other names for Juma in Arabic are:

 سیدالایام (دنوں کا سردار)، خیرالایام (بہترین دن) افضل الایام (زیادہ فضیلت والا دن)، شاھدٌ، (حاضرین کا دن) یوم المزید (نعمتوں کی زیادتی کا دن)، عیدالمومنین (مسلمانوں کی عید)،

Juma has always been a preferred day in Abrahamic religions. However, like so many other deviations, Jews replaced it with Saturday and Christians with Sunday. Islam came to realign humanity to its true course, hence, Juma regained its sanctity.

Since we are discussing creation in current Rukuh so know that Adam AS was created on this day, entered Jannah on this day, descended to earth on this day and last but not the least final gathering Qiyamah shall take place on Juma. As per Hadith, there is a moment in every Juma when Allah swt grants any prayer which is Halal and within the bounds of Islam.

Moving over to today's Ayah No 51, Allah swt didn't take any misguiding creations witness to creation Heavens and Earth, likewise, while creating these creatures. It is obvious that those who are inclined to mislead others would've continued doing the same despite knowing the Truth. Case at hand is of Juma Mubarakah. Quran is witness to its importance and Hadith is laden with such accounts, yet, some of the devil's associates would do anything they could to water down its value.

May Allah protect us against from misleading humans and jinns. Ameen

Surah Al Kahf - Ayah No 50

Assalam o Alaikum. Shab-e-Juma Mubarak. Let us seek refuge of Allah from every evil that is out there. Surah Al Kahf is one of the defensive layers against eternal war against the evil.

Today's Ayah No 50 is beginning of new Rukuh No 5. The speech (Rukuh) begins with the most important story of creation and relevant info about it. 

Firstly, if angels complied, it didn't make them lesser creatures rather they justified their superior make and type. It also leaves an important lesson for us that real strength of a creation is in its submission not rebellion. Iblis failed to understand the logic of it all because of his short temper, lack of wisdom and envious nature. He was eyeing the most prized possession in the universe i.e. Al Ard (The Earth). He not only felt deprived of his dream land, he was denied vicegerency. His limited intellect was deceived by the clay part of this new creation. He couldn't see the divine part of this new creation: 

فَاِذَا سَوَّیْتُهٗ وَ نَفَخْتُ فِیْهِ مِنْ رُّوْحِیْ فَقَعُوْا لَهٗ سٰجِدِیْنَ(١٥:۲۹)

Funny thing is that majority of this creation (not new anymore) still doesn't know itself about that divine part.

Secondly, despite his open declaration of war on this creation (humans), they continue to be deceived by Iblis and his accomplices. Again funny thing is that the enemy is very clear in his objectives but majority of this ignoramus creation fails to identify its enemy.

May Allah protect us against this enemy, Ameen

Surah Al Kahf - Ayah No 49

Assalam o Alaikum. Shab-e-Juma Mubarak. A soft reminder to recite or understand some of Al Kahf, the wonder script in relation with end of times. End of times is around the corner. No matter how old are you, think about your life, how fast the time flew! Just like that caption in movies, 'The End' is in sight, its a matter of time.

Today's Ayah No 49 is about recompense. The Book of deeds (good/ bad) shall be wide open. And we normally are well aware of what is written in there. Likewise, criminals will be in tantrums to see irrefutable evidence of their every single deed. Our own tongues, legs, hands and even earth will record their testimonials. No where to hide and no where to run.

But what can we do avoid facing such circumstances? Firstly, we need to believe that just like Hollywood movie, 'The Truman Show', our lives are like reality shows. We are being watched. Angels and party are just taking down notes. Real problem is with the other side, the devil and party. They are also watching. That is why Allah swt emphasised on living a dignified life. If we lack dignity, our acts when not being observed, shall fall way below dignity. Besides the fact that visible creatires may not be watching us but invisible must be keenly interested in those dark activities in hours of darkness. If Allah swt stops us from committing wrongdoings even behind the curtains, He swt wants to keep our dignity and respect in this world and the next. But those who shun away any possibility of accountability shall be shown everything with visual and vocal evidences. 

Finally, Allah swt took a lot of pride in His best creation. He swt asked other creatures to accept superiority of humans. Iblis couldn't take it. But when he and his comrades see us doing indignities, they must derive a lot of pleasure in trying to prove The Creator wrong. Just imagine how big are the stakes with our indecency which ostensibly we commit being unseen but truth of the matter is that all of us are going through our own reality show like, 'The Truman Show'.

May Allah help us remain احسن التقویم۔ Ameen

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.