Living The Quran Through The Living Quran

On the first day of Ramadan 2023/1444, we introduce the theme of "Not Like the Other: Women in the Quran. In the Quran, when speaking about the lead-up to the birth of Maryam binte Imran we are told that her parents had made an oath to dedicate their child, whom they were expecting would be a boy, to be a servant in the temple. In Sūrah Ale Imran (3), Verse 36, Allah says: "Then when she...

In this Ramadan series of lectures, Shaykh Saleem reviews Surah al-Fath (48) - The Chapter of the Victory. In part 7, he goes over the tenth verse: "Those of the Bedouins, the dwellers of the desert, who did not respond to your call to participate in the Minor Pilgrimage Campaign and stayed behind will say to you by way of excuse: “Our possessions and families kept us busy and so we could not...

In this Ramadan series of lectures, Shaykh Saleem reviews Surah al-Fath (48) - The Chapter of the Victory. In part 6, he goes over the seventh, eighth and ninth verses: "To Allah belong the hosts of the heavens and the earth. Allah is All-Glorious, All-Wise. Surely We, Allah, have sent you, Muḥammad, as a witness to the truth of Islam and the falsehood of other ways, and as a witness in both...

In this Ramadan series of lectures, Shaykh Saleem reviews Surah al-Fath (48) - The Chapter of the Victory. In part 5, he goes over the sixth verse: "And that He, Allah, will punish the hypocritical men and the hypocritical women, and the polytheistic men and the polytheistic women - those who associate partners with Allah – those people who always entertain negative thoughts about Allah. Thei...

In this Ramadan series of lectures, Shaykh Saleem reviews Surah al-Fath (48) - The Chapter of the Victory. In part 4, he goes over the fifth verse: "And that He, Allāh, may admit the believing men and believing women into Gardens through which rivers flow, therein to abide forever, and may blot out from them their evil deeds. That is a supreme triumph in the sight of Allāh."

In this Ramadan series of lectures, Shaykh Saleem reviews Surah al-Fath (48) - The Chapter of the Victory. In part 3, he goes over the fourth verse: "He, Allah, it is Who sent down His gift of inner peace and reassurance (sakeena) into the hearts of the believers, so that they might add faith (iman)to their faith (iman); and to Allah belong the armies of the heavens and the earth; and Allah i...

In this Ramadan series of lectures, Shaykh Saleem reviews Surah al-Fath (48) - The Chapter of the Victory. In part 2, he goes over the second and third verses: "That God may forgive you (O Messenger) your lapses of the past and those to follow, and complete His favor on you, and guide you (to steadfastness) on a straight path (leading to God’s being pleased with You and eternal happiness. And...

In this Ramadan series of lectures, Shaykh Saleem reviews Surah al-Fath (48) - The Chapter of the Victory. In part 1, he goes over the introduction to the chapter as well as the first verse: "We have surely granted you a manifest victory (which is a door to further victories)."

Allah has guaranteed His final Prophet to have the highest rank in this  world and also the next. Not only does he enjoy his own status which  Allah grants him, but he is also given the right to intercede.  Companions of the Prophet longed to be by his side in this life and  craved his company in the world to come. Can we get to a position where  we are his neighbours in P...

The Quran makes it clear to Muslims that we are not a cult of  personalities. We do not worship people – neither Prophets, Messengers,  Imams, nor scholars. We worship Allah. However, as Prophet Muhammad  plays such a prominent role in Islam, some people felt that it would be  hard to continue on without him – however Allah would remind the Muslims  that we must continue –...

Commentary  of Surah Muhammad (47) - Summary and Points to Learn Per Verse. In Part  Two, we review verses nineteen (19) to thirty-eight (38).

The Prophet worked hard for 23-years – in Mecca and Medina – and brought  a faith to the Quraysh and the world a ‘new religion’ which would  feature teachings such as: Monotheism, Prophethood, and the Day of  Resurrection. In addition, he brought the practical rulings of praying,  fasting, pilgrimage, charity and many more. Was Islam “complete” and  “perfect” with these te...

Commentary of Surah Muhammad (47) - Summary and Points to Learn Per Verse. In Part One, we review verses one (1) to eighteen (18).

The Prophet was able to attract people to the message of Allāh based on  numerous factors – yes, Allāh ‘changes’ the heart, but at the same time,  the character of the Prophet played a huge role in the promotion and  progress of Islam. The Messenger had the best morals and etiquette – and  how is that not possible when he had the best teacher and nurturer –  Allāh. What di...

Commentary of Verse 37-38 37. If He, Allah , should ask it, your wealth, of you and that you give it in His way , you would definitely covetand withhold it , and He would bring out your suppressed resentments. 38. You are surely those called upon to spend of your wealth in Allah’s cause; yet among you are some who are miserly. But whoever is miserly is miserly only to the depriving of his own soul...

We all commit sins – against ourselves, against others and against  Allāh. What is the remedy to remove the effects of the sin and its  potential punishment in this life or the next? Simply put it is to turn  in repentance to Allāh. But, is repentance ONLY to go to Allāh and ask  Him or has Allāh told us to go to His Final Prophet, Muḥammad, and  implore him to ask Allāh o...

Commentary of Verse 36 36. The present, worldly life is nothing but a play and a pastime. If you truly believe and have God-consciousness (taqwā), He will grant you your rewards, and will not ask of you your wealth.

One of the most important acts of worship is not only spoken about in  the Quran, but there is an entire chapter named after it – Jumuah – the  Friday Prayers. This prayer is unique in that it is an obligation to  deliver TWO distinct sermons before the prayer. The form of the prayer  also differs from the five daily prayers and so it is meant to be the  focal-point for th...

Commentary of Verses 34-35 34. Those who disbelieve and block people from Allāh’s way, and then die unbelievers, Allāh will never forgive them. 35. So when in warfare with the enemy do not be faint of heart and cry out for peace which will bring you humiliation when you have the upper hand. Always bear in mind that Allāh is with you, and He will never diminish the reward of your good deeds.

Allāh does not do “acts of worship”, however there is an instance in the Quran in which it seems that Allāh engages in an act which He orders His Angels to perform as well as those who believe – and that is evoking prayers of peace upon Prophet Muḥammad. In reality, when Allāh engages in this act, He is sending down mercy and peace; when He orders the Angels as well as the believers to do this act...

Prophets of Allāh play multiple roles in society – they are not just messengers. Given that the Muslims had left Ethiopia and arrived in Medina, they needed to further develop their theology and one part of that is to know what role Prophet Muḥammad was playing in the religion. For this reason, Allāh gave the Muslims clear guidance as to what Prophets do – and he stated their difficult responsibil...

Commentary of Verse 33 [Please note that there were some technical issues for the first few minutes of this talk, however these were resolved] 33: O you who believe! Obey God (in all His commandments) and obey the  Messenger (in his execution of God’s commandments and in his own  directives), and do not let your deeds go to waste.

Commentary of Verses 31 and 32 31. And  We will most certainly try you so that We may mark out those among you  who strive hard (in God’s cause with their persons and their wealth),  and those who are steadfast (on His Path and patient through  adversities), and try your accounts (of deeds). 32. Those  who disbelieve and bar (people) from God’s way, and defy the Messenger...

As the first contingent of Muslims that had left Mecca and settled in  Ethiopia were able to move to Medina, one of the first things that the  women of the community began to ask was if anything of the Quran had  been revealed specifically addressing women. Being away for so many  years, they were genuinely wondering how far had Islam progressed and  what had been revealed...

Islam looks at the previous Prophets and their messages as being ONE message from the ONE God. Thus, groups such as the Jewish community, Christian community and to an extent others like the Sabians and Zoroastrians were considered as “People of the Book” – having been given messages from Allāh. Whereas they were original messages from Allāh, however, with the coming of the Quran and Prophet Muḥam...