#ramadan2024 - Day-6
Cooperation and Company
ۘ وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ٢
"Cooperate with one another in goodness and righteousness, and do not cooperate in sin and transgression. And be mindful of Allah. Surely Allah is severe in punishment." — Qur’an 5:2
The best of company are those that remind us of God and help us in doing goodness.
That doesn’t need to be an overt reminder but even in their conduct, their actions — they live their beliefs and in that can be an inspiration for us.
This speaks to the power of community, together we are stronger than the sum of our parts. Everyone has their individual strengths and weaknesses, when we come together we can help each other to overcome our weaknesses and support each others strengths.
Conversely it is possible that when we come together we focus on magnifying each other’s vices and weaknesses. We may all slip a little in our own ways, when we come together do we help to stop each other from slipping or do we just become an aggregated mess of all of our sins.
The worst company are those that enjoin sin and transgression and lead you off of the righteous path.
If one person loves driving and another person loves all aspects of food, their coming together is a chance to cook food, drive around and feed the homeless. Conversely they could focus on the hedonistic aspects of their friendship and stay up all night driving fast and gorging on indulgent food.
May we always be with company that elevates us, may we always aim to elevate our company and may we always strive to be in the remembrance and worship of God at all times
#ramadan2024 - Day-7
What Else Equals God
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ وَٱلنُّورَ ۖ ثُمَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ يَعْدِلُونَ ١
"All praise is for Allah Who created the heavens and the earth and made darkness and light. Yet the disbelievers set up equals to their Lord ˹in worship˺." — Qur’an 6:1
People often create "equals" with God. Nowadays these aren’t often statues that people pray to or other deities, but equals that people find in their lives.
Muslims might not knowingly do this or admit, but people’s actions show where their heart lies.
If someone says they believe in God but then take no action on that — do they really believe?
If someone knew a hurricane was coming, or that food was going out of stock or that petrol was going to sell out — would they take action to prepare?
Someone may acknowledge the truth in Islam but may delay in making it a priority in their life, instead focusing on gaining money, or enjoying themselves before worshipping God.
قَدْ خَسِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِلِقَآءِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةًۭ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰحَسْرَتَنَا عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطْنَا فِيهَا وَهُمْ يَحْمِلُونَ أَوْزَارَهُمْ عَلَىٰ ظُهُورِهِمْ ۚ أَلَا سَآءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ ٣١
"Losers indeed are those who deny the meeting with Allah until the Hour takes them by surprise, then they will cry, “Woe to us for having ignored this!” They will bear ˹the burden of˺ their sins on their backs. Evil indeed is their burden!" — Qur’an 6:31
وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا لَعِبٌۭ وَلَهْوٌۭ ۖ وَلَلدَّارُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ ٣٢
"This worldly life is no more than play and amusement, but far better is the ˹eternal˺ Home of the Hereafter for those mindful ˹of Allah˺. Will you not then understand?" — Qur’an 6:32
How can we make sure that throughout our regular life, in our work, our family, our friendly interactions and even our fun we are turning towards God and making right intention?
How can we make sure that we’re not just doing things — but that we’re finding meaning and worshipping God in everything we do.
#ramadan2024 - Day-8
Does Islam Change Over Time?
وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقًۭا وَعَدْلًۭا ۚ لَّا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ١١٥
"The Word of your Lord has been perfected in truth and justice. None can change His Words. And He is the All-Hearing, All- Knowing." — Qur’an 6:115
Islam comes to us as the most perfect way-of-life. More than just a religion, Islam guides us on all aspects of daily life.
From remembrance of God when we wake up, thorough washing and ablution before prayer. Restraint in eating, honesty in business dealings, kindness in interactions — Islam provides us with a clear moral and practical guide to all aspects of life.
Without a clear basis and grounding morality in society changes regularly, defined by consensus at best and indecorous political agendas at worst.
Societal norms that were once forbidden become common-place and practices that were once praised are now considered odious.
We take our moral code from a divine source that is unaltered, unaltering and unfaltering.
The perfect way of life, the path to peace and tranquility.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَآ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ ٤٢
"As for those who believe and do good—We never require of any soul more than what it can afford—it is they who will be the residents of Paradise. They will be there forever." — Qur’an 7:42
#ramadan2024 - Day-9
Did We All Meet God?
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ ۛ شَهِدْنَآ ۛ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَـٰذَا غَـٰفِلِينَ ١٧٢
"˹Remember˺ when your Lord brought forth from the loins of the children of Adam their descendants and had them testify regarding themselves. ˹Allah asked,˺ “Am I not your Lord?” They replied, “Yes, You are! We testify.” ˹He cautioned,˺ “Now you have no right to say on Judgment Day, ‘We were not aware of this.’" — Qur’an 7:172
Before we were born, all of our souls took an oath to bear witness to God. In this primordial state all of our souls were present with God and His majesty. We felt the tranquility of being near to Him.
In our worldly life we are one step removed from God and this beatific vision. Our souls yearn to be reunited with the divine.
There is a deep longing we all feel and a hinting at something greater in the cosmos…
We can however still see His signs, and witness Him in our current life.
وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ فَٱدْعُوهُ بِهَا ۖ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِىٓ أَسْمَـٰٓئِهِۦ ۚ سَيُجْزَوْنَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ١٨٠
"God has the Most Beautiful Names. So call upon Him by them, and keep away from those who abuse His Names. They will be punished for what they used to do." — Qur’an 7:180
We know God through his attributes and His names. Each name is a reminder of his essence.
For example God is The Creator "Al-Khaaliq" — all creation is a manifestation of His will and points back to Him.
Likewise God is The Source of Goodness "Al-Barr" — so any goodness we see in the world is a manifestation of God bestowing His goodness. Any goodness we see from ourselves even, we thank God for giving us the abilitiy and inclination to do good.
A human can love God but they can also choose to turn away from God. In our choosing to turn to God we enlighten ourselves with the knowledge and light of God, in contrast to the darkness of heedlessness.
#ramadan2024 - Day-10
History Repeats Itself
أَلَمْ يَأْتِهِمْ نَبَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ قَوْمِ نُوحٍۢ وَعَادٍۢ وَثَمُودَ وَقَوْمِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَأَصْحَـٰبِ مَدْيَنَ وَٱلْمُؤْتَفِكَـٰتِ ۚ أَتَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ۖ فَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَـٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ ٧٠
“Have they never heard the stories about their predecessors, the peoples of Noah, Ad, Thamud, Abraham, Midian, and the ruined cities? Their messengers came to them with clear evidence of the truth: God would not deceive them; they deceived themselves.” — Qur’an 9:70
Some ancient civilisations are forgotten completely, we see mere fragments of them. Many nations have come before us and passed away. They had buildings, they had achievements, they had injustices — and now all of that is buried.
Their actions are gone, recorded in an eternal register to be re-assessed on the Day of Judgement — which of them oppressed one another? Which of them sought truth justice and upheld piety?
كَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ كَانُوٓا۟ أَشَدَّ مِنكُمْ قُوَّةًۭ وَأَكْثَرَ أَمْوَٰلًۭا وَأَوْلَـٰدًۭا فَٱسْتَمْتَعُوا۟ بِخَلَـٰقِهِمْ فَٱسْتَمْتَعْتُم بِخَلَـٰقِكُمْ كَمَا ٱسْتَمْتَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُم بِخَلَـٰقِهِمْ وَخُضْتُمْ كَٱلَّذِى خَاضُوٓا۟ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ ٦٩
"‘You are like those who lived before you: they were even stronger than you, with more wealth and children; they enjoyed their share in this life as you have enjoyed yours; like them, you have indulged in idle talk.’ Their deeds go to waste in this world and the next; it is they who will lose all in the life to come." —Qur’an 9:69
People in previous societies often lived wild hedonistic lives, richer than we live in today; with greater decadence and luxury.
Looking at past societies is a reminder for us — hedonistic pleasures do not last. Even within our own lifetimes we will get accustomed to a certain level of luxury until it no longer feels luxurious and becomes routine.
We look ahead to a day of recompense and what justice we will see for ourselves and our society’s actions.
Piety and good action is all that lasts. We are always aspiring to be like the society of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his companions. They represent the epitome of spiritual success and goodness — that we always strive to emulate.
وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍۢ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌۭ ٧١
"The believers, both men and women, are guardians of one another. They encourage good and forbid evil, establish prayer and pay alms-tax, and obey Allah and His Messenger. It is they who will be shown Allah’s mercy. Surely Allah is Almighty, All-Wise." — Qur’an 9:71