Ramadan Reflections - Juz 12-15
Ramadan 2022 - Juz 12
۞ وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا ۚ كُلٌّۭ فِى كِتَـٰبٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ ٦
“There is no moving creature on earth whose provision is not guaranteed by Allah. And He knows where it lives and where it is laid to rest. All is ˹written˺ in a perfect Record.” — Quran 11:6
Everything that is written will come to pass and everything that happens to us is already written.
We worry about jobs, friends, family, finding a spouse but our provision is already written. It’s natural to worry but we should follow the examples of the prophets in their response to trials.
Musa when in want of work and a wife, couldn’t see a clear path out. He wasn’t sure how he would arrive at either but he trusted that Allah would provide for him from some avenue. He continued to live by his values doing good where he could. He saw some people in need and he did what he could to be of service to them:
وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَآءَ مَدْيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ ٱمْرَأَتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ ۖ قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُمَا ۖ قَالَتَا لَا نَسْقِى حَتَّىٰ يُصْدِرَ ٱلرِّعَآءُ ۖ وَأَبُونَا شَيْخٌۭ كَبِيرٌۭ ٢٣
فَسَقَىٰ لَهُمَا ثُمَّ تَوَلَّىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلظِّلِّ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ فَقِيرٌۭ ٢٤
“When he arrived at the well of Midian, he found a group of people watering ˹their herds˺. Apart from them, he noticed two women holding back ˹their herd˺. He asked ˹them˺, “What is the problem?” They replied, “We cannot water ˹our animals˺ until the ˹other˺ shepherds are done, for our father is a very old man.”
So he watered ˹their herd˺ for them, then withdrew to the shade and prayed, “My Lord! I am truly in ˹desperate˺ need of whatever provision You may have in store for me.” “ — Qur’an 28:23 -24
Ultimately one of these women offered him a job on her father’s land and then later she became his wife.
Musa lived true to his principles and continued to help others even when he was in need himself. He then prayed for goodness and help from Allah.
From this we learn the beautiful Dua:
“رَبِّ إِنِّى لِمَآ أَنزَلْتَ إِلَىَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ فَقِيرٌۭ”
Rabbi inni lima anzalta ilayya min khairin faqir
“My Lord! I am truly in ˹desperate˺ need of whatever provision You may have in store for me.”— Qur’an 28:24
Even in the face of uncertainty the prophets maintained their trust in Allah to provide for them and they continued to do good.
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍۢ وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْمَآءِ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًۭا ۗ وَلَئِن قُلْتَ إِنَّكُم مَّبْعُوثُونَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلْمَوْتِ لَيَقُولَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌۭ مُّبِينٌۭ ٧
“He [Allah] is the One Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days—and His Throne was upon the waters—in order to test which of you is best in deeds. And if you ˹O Prophet˺ say, “Surely you will ˹all˺ be raised up after death,” the disbelievers will certainly say, “That is nothing but pure magic!” ” — Quran 11:7
The only thing that is certain in life is death. We prepare for our account that will be given back to us after death. Are we happy with what our book of deeds says?
Ultimately the purpose of this life is to see which of us do good and remain mindful of Allah. The two go hand in hand throughout our daily lives, doing good while hoping sincerely to please Allah.
Ramadan 2022 - Juz 13
قَالَ ٱجۡعَلۡنِی عَلَىٰ خَزَاۤىِٕنِ ٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ إِنِّی حَفِیظٌ عَلِیمࣱ ٥٥
“Yusuf said, “Put me in charge of the store-houses of the land, for I am truly reliable and adept.”” — Quran 12:55
It can be hard to balance worldly success with humility. How do we show that we’re capable at work and ask for a promotion, without bragging about our achievements and becoming arrogant?
Looking to the lives of the prophets, the story of Yusuf (Joseph) in chapter twelve of the Quran provides a perfect role model.
As a prophet from a noble lineage he found himself going through various tribulations and as a young man he was wrongly imprisoned in jail.
He spoke to the other prisoners with respect and dignity, addressing them as: “O my fellow-prisoners! “يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجْنِ “” — Quran 12:39
He was not haughty, or condescending, he didn’t inflate himself or his noble lineage, he didn’t even draw attention to his wrongful imprisonment. Rather he addressed them as fellow humans and when they came to him with their dreams, he told them that he was skilled in dream interpretation.
Likewise when he was released from prison and had an audience with the king, he informed him of the coming famine, and proposed himself as a reliable vizier to watch over the kingdom’s food stores.
He wasn’t showing off about his skills or lineage, but when relevant he clearly and respectfully put forward his credentials and how he could be of service.
We do good where we can and try to keep our intention pure. We make sure not to be boastful or arrogant and rely only on Allah.
Ultimately our success is always from Allah — and if we look into our past we see it was only Him that gave us the strength to achieve anything. The whole gestalt of our success is greater than anything we could attribute to our own selves.
Success is only from Allah and we owe all our sustenance and wins to Him, even when they come through means and openings in this world.
وَكَذَٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَتَبَوَّأُ مِنْهَا حَيْثُ يَشَآءُ ۚ نُصِيبُ بِرَحْمَتِنَا مَن نَّشَآءُ ۖ وَلَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ٥٦
وَلَأَجْرُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ خَيْرٌۭ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ ٥٧
This is how We established Joseph in the land to settle wherever he pleased. We shower Our mercy on whoever We will, and We never discount the reward of the good-doers.
And the reward of the Hereafter is far better for those who are faithful and are mindful ˹of Allah˺.
— Quran 12:56-57
Ramadan 2022 - Juz 14
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى خَـٰلِقٌۢ بَشَرًۭا مِّن صَلْصَـٰلٍۢ مِّنْ حَمَإٍۢ مَّسْنُونٍۢ ٢٨
فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُۥ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِى فَقَعُوا۟ لَهُۥ سَـٰجِدِينَ ٢٩
فَسَجَدَ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ كُلُّهُمْ أَجْمَعُونَ ٣٠
إِلَّآ إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونَ مَعَ ٱلسَّـٰجِدِينَ ٣١
قَالَ يَـٰٓإِبْلِيسُ مَا لَكَ أَلَّا تَكُونَ مَعَ ٱلسَّـٰجِدِينَ ٣٢
قَالَ لَمْ أَكُن لِّأَسْجُدَ لِبَشَرٍ خَلَقْتَهُۥ مِن صَلْصَـٰلٍۢ مِّنْ حَمَإٍۢ مَّسْنُونٍۢ ٣٣
قَالَ فَٱخْرُجْ مِنْهَا فَإِنَّكَ رَجِيمٌۭ ٣٤
“˹Remember, O Prophet˺ when your Lord said to the angels, “I am going to create a human being from sounding clay moulded from black mud. So when I have fashioned him and had a spirit of My Own ˹creation˺ breathed into him, fall down in prostration to him.”
So the angels prostrated all together— but not Iblîs, who refused to prostrate with the others.
Allah asked, “O Iblîs! What is the matter with you that you did not join others in prostration?”
He replied, “It is not for me to prostrate to a human You created from sounding clay moulded from black mud.”
Allah commanded, “Then get out of Paradise, for you are truly cursed.”
— Quran 15:28-34
In this chapter about the creation of Adam, the first of mankind, Shaytan (satan) is thrown out of Heaven and cursed by Allah.
The interesting thing about this exchange is that Shaytan is in the presence of Allah. Shaytan doesn’t deny or disbelieve in Allah, he isn’t an “atheist”, in fact he is fully cognisant of Allah and he is even having an exchange with Him.
Shaytan fully accepts that God exists and believes in him without doubt.
Shaytan is cast out of heaven however for his defiance. His refusal to prostrate. It’s not disbelief in Allah that gets him thrown out of heaven — but rather his disobedience.
Similarly for us on Earth, belief in God is the first step, the crucial next step however is that belief entails good actions.
It is not enough for us to simply believe in Allah and then assume that everything is settled. Rather belief in Allah also entails belief in his books, his Messenger and the commandments he sends.
In Hadith jibreel (one of the foundational Hadith) we see that:
A man comes to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and asks him:“O Muhammad! Inform me about Islam."
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "Islam is that you should testify that there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, that you should perform salah, pay the Zakah, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj to the House (Mecca), if you are able to do so."
The man then asks "Inform me about iman."
The Messenger of Allah answered, "It is that you believe in Allah and His angels and His Books and His Messengers and in the Last Day, and in qadar (fate), both in its good and in its evil aspects."
Then the man said, "Inform me about Ihsan."
The Messenger of Allah answered, "It is that you should worship Allah as though you see Him, and if you do not see Him (then know that) surely He sees you.”
From this we take that we start our journey to Allah with our actions; the five pillars: (1) testifying our faith, (2) prayer, (3) zakat-charity, (4) fasting during ramadan, (5) Hajj.
We build on them with our belief in Allah, His angels, the Qur’an, the prophets, the coming day of judgement as well as trust and belief in the fate that is written for us.
Finally we seek ihsan (excellence): to attain consciousness and taqwa (mindfulness) of Allah at all times. Not just when praying, but throughout our days.
Aiming to be the best possible version of ourselves and live in a way that is pleasing to Allah and aligned with his commandments.
Ramadan 2022 - Juz 15
مَّنِ ٱهْتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِى لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌۭ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبْعَثَ رَسُولًۭا ١٥
Whoever chooses to be guided, it is only for their own good. And whoever chooses to stray, it is only to their own loss. No soul burdened with sin will bear the burden of another. And We would never punish ˹a people˺ until We have sent a messenger ˹to warn them˺. — Quran 17:15
Whoever chooses disbelief only harms their own self. Islam is an unlocking force for the mysteries of the soul, allowing us to understand our true purpose and find our path back to goodness, our path back to God.
God guides those that want to be guided. If we make the effort to walk the path to Him, He makes it easy for us. From His love and mercy He will facilitate openings for us.
In a hadith qudsi God says of mankind:
“if he (a servant) comes to Me walking, I go to him running.”
Whatever effort we put into drawing closer to God — He will increase it and make it even easier for us to draw near to Him. Whoever seeks guidance, it is only for their own benefit, in this life and the next.
In the life before this life, before being born, all the souls were near to God. Witnessing Him and being in His presence. Torn away from that, this dunya, this life, takes us far away from God and we setup veils between ourselves and Him.
In reality everything in this world is a sign pointing back to Him. We just need to attune our hearts to know how to see and feel the signs.
سَنُرِيهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فِى ٱلْـَٔافَاقِ وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۗ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ شَهِيدٌ ٥٣
“We will show them Our signs in the universe and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that this ˹Quran˺ is the truth. Is it not sufficient in regard to your Lord that He is over all things a Witness?” — Quran 41:53
Things are known by their contrasts. Through living in an imperfect world, it enables us to better understand the perfection of God.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ ۖ لَّكُم مِّنْهُ شَرَابٌۭ وَمِنْهُ شَجَرٌۭ فِيهِ تُسِيمُونَ ١٠
يُنۢبِتُ لَكُم بِهِ ٱلزَّرْعَ وَٱلزَّيْتُونَ وَٱلنَّخِيلَ وَٱلْأَعْنَـٰبَ وَمِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ١١
وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ ۖ وَٱلنُّجُومُ مُسَخَّرَٰتٌۢ بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَعْقِلُونَ ١٢
وَمَا ذَرَأَ لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهُۥٓ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَذَّكَّرُونَ ١٣
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ ٱلْبَحْرَ لِتَأْكُلُوا۟ مِنْهُ لَحْمًۭا طَرِيًّۭا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُوا۟ مِنْهُ حِلْيَةًۭ تَلْبَسُونَهَا وَتَرَى ٱلْفُلْكَ مَوَاخِرَ فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ١٤
وَأَلْقَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ رَوَٰسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ وَأَنْهَـٰرًۭا وَسُبُلًۭا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ ١٥
وَعَلَـٰمَـٰتٍۢ ۚ وَبِٱلنَّجْمِ هُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ ١٦
أَفَمَن يَخْلُقُ كَمَن لَّا يَخْلُقُ ۗ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ ١٧
"He is the One Who sends down rain from the sky, from which you drink and by which plants grow for your cattle to graze.
With it He produces for you ˹various˺ crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and every type of fruit. Surely in this is a sign for those who reflect.
And He has subjected for your benefit the day and the night, the sun and the moon. And the stars have been subjected by His command. Surely in this are signs for those who understand.
And ˹He subjected˺ for you whatever He has created on earth of varying colours. Surely in this is a sign for those who are mindful.
And He is the One Who has subjected the sea, so from it you may eat tender seafood and extract ornaments to wear. And you see the ships ploughing their way through it, so you may seek His bounty and give thanks ˹to Him˺.
He has placed into the earth firm mountains, so it does not shake with you, as well as rivers, and pathways so you may find your way.
Also by landmarks and stars do people find their way.
Can the One Who creates be equal to those who do not? Will you not then be mindful?" -- Qur'an 16:10-17
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