mawlid advice from Ustaza Eiman

As Salam Alaykum Sisters,

Alhamdulillah the blessed days of Mawlid Al-Nabi are upon us.

The Mawlid is an important time to rekindle the love we have for the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).

Here are some wonderful tips for this blessed month:

· Renew your Tawbah (Prayer of Repentance)

· Perform more Salawat upon the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.)

· Follow every Sunnah you have learned

· Read Seerah books together as a family

· Perform extra Nawafel (Extra Prayers)

· Give Sadaqah (Charity)

· Get up early to make Tahajjud (Night Prayer)

These are highly praiseworthy practices of the Muslims. May Allah shower us with light and mercy.

We wish you peace and prosperity to your friends and love ones.

Wa Aikum Salam,

Ustadah Eiman Sidky

How to prepare for Ramadhan

Bism Allah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem

How to Prepare for Ramadan

By Ustadha Eiman Sidky

*A Translation from Arabic



1. Tawba/Repentance: Sincerely repent by remembering each sin and making tawba for it.

· A reminder that tawba erases all that precedes it, and that Allah loves those who make tawba.

2. Purification of the heart and entering the month to Allah with humility and broken-ness (inkisar)

3. Pray 2 rak’at (units), asking Allah in sujood (prostration) all that you desire, for He can select you and abundantly show His generosity upon you. (Huwa yistifeeki wu yikrimik)

· A reminder that the servant is the most near to his/her Lord is during prostration.

4. Free yourself and the family for the time of witnessing the Hilal/Crescent, be from amongst the first who see it, and when you do see it, recite the following Dua:

“ALLAAHUMMA AHILLAHOO A'LAYNAA BIL-AMNI WAL EEMAANI WAS SALAAMATI WAL ISLAAM. RABBEE WA RABBUKALLAAHU”
“O Allah! Let this month be a period of peace, faith safety and total submission to your will. My Lord and your Lord is Allah”

5. Purify your home from all that will displease or anger Allah (anything that contains haram/impermissibility).

6. Return the trusts to their owners, and reconcile/end any quarrels.

7. Congregate the pure and sincere intentions and prepare the duas/supplications that you will implore on Allah during Ramadan.

8. Prepare your charity box, for Rasool Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to give charity abundantly during Ramadan. Also prepare a worship/ibada timetable for yourself and the family.

9. Seek to please and give to your family out of sheer joy as a sign of happiness with Ramadan.

10. Prepare to be freed from the Hell-fire; however you must first free yourself from sins, small or great, such as usury, looking at haram, listening to haram, etc.

· A reminder that the one who is freed/protected from the Hell-fire is the best of worshipers and best in manners.

11. Talk to your children to prepare them for suhoor, for this is the time during which Al-Rahman will gaze upon His servants, and Allah and His Angels send blessings upon those who get up for suhoor.

12. Making a plan such that if someone in the family gets lazy in a form of worship, then the rest of the family should encourage them with it.

13. Try to prepare your food before Ramadan (store it in the freezer) so you are not burdened with the length of time to cook during Ramadan. Try to buy the Eid clothes early to be free during the last ten days for worship and not shopping. Do not forget to revive the night before Eid in worship for Allah frees from the Hell-fire servants as many as those He freed one each day from the beginning to the end of the month of Ramadan. Go to the Masjid/Mosque during the night before Eid using one route and returning from another route.



Dua/Supplication When Ramadan Enters:
“Allahumma sallimni bi Ramadan wa sallim Ramadan wa sallimhu minni mutaqabbala”

“Oh Allah! Protect and give me peace with Ramadan, and protect and give peace to Ramadan, and protect and give peace to Ramdan and accept it from me”

Tafsir of surah Al-Fatiha 1

BISMILILAHI RAHMANI RAHIM

Allahuma salli ‘alaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa ‘aali Muhammadin, kamaa sallayta ‘alaa ‘Ibraheema wa ‘alaa ‘aali ‘Ibraheema, ‘innaka Hameedun Majeed. Allahumma baarik ‘alaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa ‘aali Muhammadin, kamaa baarakta ‘alaa ‘Ibraheema wa ‘alaa ‘aali ‘Ibraheema, ‘innaka Hameedun Majeed.


Tafsir Juz Ammah and Fatiha


Adab (manners) of Studying the Quran :

Ask Allah for Iklhas (sincerity)/have the right niyah (intention)
Doing Wudu before reciting Quran
Facing the Qiblah
Use miswak
Say A’oothoubillah minashaytaneer rajeeb before reciting the Quran
And then start with Bismillah Rahmani Raheem
Think about the Ayat and try to understand it
When you hear an Ayat about punishments and people being punished say « A’oothoubillah »
Ask Allah for Jannah when you hear about Jannah. When you hear the words of Allah, depending on what you are hearing, you respond. (this is from the adab)
Can’t hear the Quran while being distracted. Have your heart present and alive because Allah is talking to us. Presence of the heart and have the words of the Quran touch you. (if cant cry act as if you are crying).
Recite Quran in a beautiful voice/tone (decorate Quran with a beautiful voice as if you are decorating it).
Respect the Quran. Do not stop in the middle of the Ayat. No intteruptions. Give your time with the Quran.
Take time with the Quran. Do not rush.
Read in a peaceful and quiet place so this will bring Khushoo (humility) in your heart.
Recite the Ayat 2-3 times, repeat over until Allah guides you to understand it Insha Allah. Read as if it is directed to you and not anyone else.


Benefits of reading the Quran :
It Purifies the heart,
Intercesssion on Day of Judgement,
You will be among the best of mankind
Defeat your shaitan
Recite/Read Quran and follow it
Quran can be a witness for you or against you
Do not envy anyone except in 2 cases : the first is a man that memorize the Quran, meaning Allah has taught him the Quran and recites the Quran day and night



Sayyiduna ibn Mas'ud [radhiallaahu anhu] narrates that Rasulullah [sallallaahu alayhi wasallam] said, 'There are only two people who are worthy of being imitated; a person to whom Allah gives wealth and guides to spend it in that which pleases Allah, and a person to whom Allah gives wisdom, thereafter he passes judgmment according to it and teaches it (to all of mankind).' (Sahih Bukhari Hadith 73; Sahih Muslim 1896)

Allah will elevate you in Dunya and Akhira
Allah will take us from darkness to lightness
It will bring the Angels (around you)
Ten hassanat will be written for each letter
Will be raised up high in Jannah
Allah will protect you from the worst Fitnah (memorize 10 Ayat’s from Surah Kahf it is a protection from the trial of Ad-Dajjal)
Those who know the meaning, those who strive to know Allah will reward them
Quran will be a protector for you (for anything), such as Ayatul Kursi. Allah will protect you from Fitnah.
Those who follow the Quran will have Kiram ( ?)
Quran will protect you from anything (ex : First 10 ayats of Surah Kahf and Ayatul Kursi)
Quran will give you sakinah
Iman will increase

-


Levels of Hajr Quran (leaving the Quran, abandoning the Quran)
Read an Ayat and believe it, do not doubt it. Every Ayat you recite, you should believe.
Read often (We do not want to be from the people who do not read and recite the Quran)
Follow the teachings of the Qur’an
The Quran is our Judge
We want to understand the Quran. Read and understand the tafsir of the Quran.
When we are sick, the great/best medicine is the Quran





Adab Al Quran

We should first have iklhas and good intention before we read the quran. We read only for Allah’s sake.

Reciting Surat Al Ikhlas will give you rewards as if reading the entire quran. Reaching level of ikhlas is first asking Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala to give you sincerity – we need to beg and cry for it. Always ask that Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala makes us of the ikhlas – allahumma irzikna minal ikhlas fee killee haal.

Always make wudu before tafseer and be seated in a taahir place. Wudu is your weapon against the shaytaan and sins. Die with wudu in order to rise with wudu. Always walk on wudu such as sayyidina Bilal Radianlahu Anhu allahumma irziqnaa min Firdaws al a’alaa. Always walk in purity and cleanliness. Wudu rids one of sins – always make that intention and dua that Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala washes away our sins.

Face the Qiblaa when reading Quran.

Use your miswaak before reading. Can you use Allah’s words if you have leftover food between your teeth? Especially garlic and onions. Think about your wedding day everytime you hold the Quraan.

Using the Miswaak is a Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam.

Before we recite we should say : A’ootho billahi minal shaytaan al rajeem (Al Nahl:98) then we say Bismillah Al Rahmaan al Raheem.

Thinking and pondering and understanding the Ayat then whatever you understand, you change yourself. Be with the people of the haqq (truth), the muttaqeen (the pious).

Jaheem: one of the names of the Fire. When we hear an Ayah like this we say ‘A’ootho billah’ and make dua Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala. protect us from naar jahannam. These Ayat of Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala punishment need to make us shake and make us make dua that Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala protects us from His Subhanahu wa-ta'ala punishment. And say Allahumma make us amongst the people of Jannah. Whatever you hear from Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala words we respond back by saying ‘SubhanAllah’ and Alhamdulillah.

Hearing the Quran without distractions at all – not doing other things at the same time. It should make us cry and shake. When our beloved Rasul Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam made Ibn Masood read the Quran, Rasululah Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam couldn’t take it anymore and cried. If you don’t cry, act as if you are crying (Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihu WaSalaam).

When you recite, recite it in a beautiful tone and voice. It is an order from Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala in a hadith. Decorate the Quran with your beautiful voices because beautiful voices adds beauty to the Quran (Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam). A Sahabah was reading Quran with beautiful voice Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam told him he had the voice of Sayyidina Dawood Alaihi Salaam. Recite it in a nice tone to touch your and others hearts.

When reciting, and something comes up in the middle, do not just stop in middle then come back and finish unless emergency. Don’t allow interruptions and make dua for no interruptions. Teach this to kids – no disruptions when reciting. If children disrupt, continue then teach them the adab.

Don’t rush recitation at all. Why are we rushing? This is dunya compared to recitation. We need to read it with understanding. Even in salah don’t rush recitation. Allahumma make us of those who ponder the meanings of the Quran. Ameen. Allahumma remove these locks in our hearts. Ameen. When reciting, find a quiet place without disruptions. Remove all interruptions from eyes and ears to bring khushoo’ (humility) to the heart.

Recite/repeat the ayat several times until Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala Guides you to the meaning of it. Remember ayah about what would happen if Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala sent down Quran to the mountain. Repeat it until it affects the heart.

Recite Quran as if it was sent down to you – that the messages are to you. Every Ayah is directly sent down to you.

Benefits of Al Quran Al Kareem

Make dua that Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala gives us taqwaa. If we teach our hearts adab, we will be successful. The Quran was sent to Jibril Alaihi Salaam then to the Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam.

Make dua that Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala makes us people of knowledge and adab. Ameen Ya Mujib.

Shaytaan ran away from Sayyidna Umar Radianlahu Anhu because of his toughness. But when he (Umar Radianlahu Anhu) heard the Quraan, he couldn’t control himself and broke down and cried. Abdullah ibn shaddad prayed behind Umar Radianlahu Anhu, in the last line during Fajr, and he used to recite Surat Yusuf – (ashqoo hiznee wa bathe illa allah’ surah) then Umar Radianlahu Anhu repeated this Ayah and he was crying loudly. Sayyidna Umar Radianlahu Anhu cried so much that the last person heard him crying.

Umar Radianlahu Anhu also heard someone in Tahajjud reading Surat At-Toor. Then when he came to that Ayah about torture, Umar Radianlahu Anhu fainted, and was carried back, and then he was sick for a whole month because of one Ayah he heard.

So let’s change ourselves when we hear the Quran, have adab and teach it to others and our kids. Our beloved Rasul, Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam had adab and he learnt this from Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala from the Quran. The best dhikr (remembrance) is Quran – studying it will give us a sound heart (tama’neenah). If you want a pure heart, have this intention first then recite the Quran.

When reciting, make dua that the Quran and Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam will be a shifaa’ah on the Day of Judgement. Try to know the meaning of the Quran.

The best among you are the ones that learn the quran and teach it (Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam).

If you want the shaytaan to shrink as small as an ant, recite Al Falaq, An-Naas, Ayatul Kursi, last ayat of Al Baqarah. We need to squash him and make him at the bottom by reciting the Quran.

We learn the Quran through the Sunnah, the Sahabah.

Everyone will benefit from reading the Quran. The one that recites has a good smell and a good taste. Even the munaffiq will benefit. We need to read it AND practice it. What type of people are we and where are we? The Quran could either help you towards Jannah, a light in your grave, make your scale heavy or it could be the opposite leading people to naar if he teaches it, learning it just for showing off (riyya’). Make dua it’s not for riyya’(showing off to others).

If you feel like your misguided recite Surat Al Fatihah (ihdinaa sirat al mustaqeem) several times.

Do not wish for anything but to memorise the Quran like the haafithoon (Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam (not in exact words) ). Envy and desire a person who recites the Quran day and night.

Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) said, "Envy is permitted only in two cases: A man whom Alah gives wealth, and he disposes of it rightfully, and a man to whom Allah gives knowledge which he applies and teaches it.’’· [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala said to Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam in Al Isra: 79, to recite at night as an extra. Our beloved Rasul Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam used to recite it so much at night it made his legs swell (as He Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam did in prayer)–

Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala will take us from darkness to light (Quran Ibrahim:1). Reading the Quran will guide us towards the light, it will bring down the Angels (hadith by Muslim). A man explained to the Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam what happened when he read the Quran – the Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam said it was the Angels listening to you (Muslim).

Each letter = 10 hasanat (tirmidhi hadith).

In Jannah you will be very high = the people of the Quran. Recite in order to climb higher and higher. (rattil al quranaa tarteela ?)

Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala will protect from all fitna – of Massih Ad-Dajjal. This is the time of fitna. Blood on streets, muslims against muslim. Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam opposes this in his ummah – this is the fitna he warned us of. When he Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam saw two men arguing loud, he Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam was shocked because they were doing this in front of him.

Read surat Al Kahf to protect us from the fitna of Ad- Dajjal (fitna of today – memorise the 10 Ayat)

Those who know the meaning of the Quran, practice, follow it and have adab of Quran and struggle with it– Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala will reward them double.

Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala will protect you, if you feel down, lazy, sick - read the Quran for shifaa.

Recite, know the tafseer and make dua for sakeenah

Make the dua that Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala gives you Jannah, shows you His Glorious face and protects your from jahannam. Ameen Ya Rabb.

One’s imaan should increase – i twill make the imaan stronger with more knowledge and recitation. Al Anfaal:2 and Al Furqaan: 32 this Surah talks about increase of imaan.

Quran gives us shifaa and mercy (Rahmah).

Ask Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala to cure our hearts from all diseases, shower us with His Mercy, to make us all enter Jannah behind our beloved Rasul Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam shoulders and the sahabah, that we be amongst these noble people. Ameen Ya Mujib. That He Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala accept our dua, make us have adab. Ameen Ya Mujib.


Levels of hajr Al Quran :

Do not question any Ayah– believe it.

Don’t be of those who d not recite or listen to the Quran – this should be our lives

Practice what you learn and read in the Quran

The Quran is our judge

Reading – we need to understand tafseer and meaning

Make dua for taqwaa through the Quran – when you recite you will understand Allah Subhanahu wa-ta'ala message

The medicine is (The Quran) when we are sick


Summary once again :

1) Ikhlas
2) wudhu
3) facing Qibla
4) miswak
5) Say A’oothoubillah minashaytaneer rajeeb before reciting the Quran
6) Basmala
7) think and try to practise
8) say istiadza (A’oothoubillah) when reading about punishment and say Allahumma j’alna minhum when reading about Jannah - respond to Ayaat
9) istihdaril qalb (presence of the heart) that make you cry but if youu can’t cry, act as if you crying
10) recite in beautiful voice
11) do not stop in the middle of Ayaat
12) do not rush
13) find somewhere quite and no distraction in front of eyes
14) repeat words a few times until the meaning gets in your heart
15) Recite and feel every Ayah as if it is meant for you, be it good or bad
16) cover your hair

Study Qur’an
1- tatma’ina qulub (rest/peace in the heart)
2- syafa’a (intercession) in Day of Judgement
3- Will be among the best
4- find all the answers in Qur’an and defeat syaitan
5- smell of misk, even munafiq smell like rihana (a plant that produce nice smell but rotten)
6- special group
7- The Quran can be a witness for or against you
8 - beg for Allah using His ayaat
9- (la hasd illa) no envy except for two.. someone who Allah teaches Qur’an and recites it day and night
10- elevation in this world and the next
11- take from zulm to noor (darkness to light)
12 - brings angels
13. every letter has 10 hasanah
14, high level in jannah
15, protect from fitnah especially from dajjal
16. maqam bil kiram albararah (A place with Al-Kiram - kiram is Saidatina Fatimah and Sayidina Ali RadhiyaAllahu ‘anhuma and al-bararah means those who do goodness) in the Day of Judgemnet
17. protection and sakinah (tranquility)
18. make our iman stronger
29. syifa and rahmah (healing and mercy)

Levels of Hajr Quran (leaving the Quran, abandoning the Quran)
Read an Ayat and believe it, do not doubt it. Every Ayat you recite, you should believe.
Read often (We do not want to be from the people who do not read and recite the Quran)
Follow the teachings of the Qur’an
The Quran is our Judge
We want to understand the Quran. Read and understand the tafsir of the Quran.
When we are sick, the great/best medicine is the Quran

Akhlaq

SEERAH WITH USTAZA EIMAN SIDKY (15/01/11)

On the chapter of sifat khuluquhu, Wasa’il al-Wusul ila Shama’il ar-Rasul by Sh. Yusuf an-Nabhani

- Sifat Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam : Innama bu'ithtu li makarimal akhlaq
- The book of Syifa Qadi 'Iyad: He read 71 books and found in all books, Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam is the wisest man and has the best opinion on any decisions. We can't compare the whole creations to Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam. All the goodness have 99 parts in Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam and only 1 part in creation.
- The companions changed a lot by the teaching of Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam for example Sayidina 'Umar RadhiyaAllahu 'anhu. He used to be the most fierce of the Quraisy that some people just avoid him but by the time he became khalifa, he was the gentlest person. He used to worry about everything in the community including sheeps and goats. Once, when he was patrolling Madina, he heard some children crying and a voice of a woman saying 'Allah! Allah!'. Sayidina Umar went to ask her what was wrong and she replied that she was cooking stone in a pot as they have absolutely nothing to eat. Sayidina Umar immediately went to Baitul Mal and took food, butter and honey and brought it back to their house. His servant saw him and asked to carry things for him as it was a very cold night and the weight of the things was heavy. He refused saying that the servant will not be carrying his sins on the Day of Judgement. The lady was so happy and she said that this man should be their Khalifa and not 'Umar. Sayidina 'Umar RadhiyaAllahu 'anhu cooked the food himself and feed the kids. He wanted to see them smiling as he already heard them crying. He said to the lady to come tomorrow and he will speak to 'Umar about her condition. On the next day, she was shocked to find that the man was Sayidina 'Umar himself. Sayidina 'Umar RadhiyaAllahu 'anhu has prepared a letter for her to sign agreeing that she has forgiven 'Umar. He gave some money to the lady as an exchange to the signature and he said to Sayidina 'Ali KaramaAllahu wajha that this is the proof that she has forgiven me. He was so afraid of the Day of Judgement that he said 'if Allah asked me about the ocean, what will I tell Him?'
- Sayidina Abu Bakar RadhiyaAllahu 'anhu read Basmala and cried. We can see how much Rasul 'alayhi salatu wasallam affected his friends, even their words changed, in the presence of Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam, no one shouts because of the love in their heart towards Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam.

- Someone visited Sayidatina 'A'eesyah RadhiyaAllahu 'anha and asked about akhlaq Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam. She asked 'Don't you read Qur'an?' 'Bala''Kana Khuluquhu Qr'an' (His behaviour is the Qur'an) ~ One word means a lot.

- When Rasul sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam's mother died, the angles cried but Allah said 'you don't know what I am preparing for him'. (Allah taught him Al-Qur'an - 'ataadabani Rabbi, fa ahsana ta'dibi'

- Ustaza gave us some revisions to do: Find out these verses and find out what it meant and asbaban nuzul (the reason for it's revelation) and try to practise it:
1) Surah Al-A'raf 7:199
خُذِ الْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْجَاهِلِينَ
(Asad) MAKE due allowance for man's nature, and enjoin the doing of what is right; and leave alone all those who choose to remain ignorant.


2) An-Nahl 16:90
إِنَّ اللّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاء ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاء وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
(Asad) BEHOLD, God enjoins justice, and the doing of good, and generosity towards [one's] fellow-men; and He forbids all that is shameful and all that runs counter to reason, as well as envy; [and] He exhorts you [repeatedly] so that you might bear [all this] in mind
( ya'muroo - order to be 'adl wal ihsaan - give extra eg maid extra £300)

3) Luqman 31:17
ا بُنَيَّ أَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ وَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَاصْبِرْ عَلَى مَا أَصَابَكَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ
(Asad) “O my dear son! Be constant in prayer, and enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong, and bear in patience whatever [ill] may befall thee: this, behold, is something to set one’s heart upon!

4) Ash-Shura 42:43
وَلَمَن صَبَرَ وَغَفَرَ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَمِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ
(Asad) But withal, if one is patient in adversity and forgives - this, behold, is indeed something to set one’s heart upon!

5) Al-Ma'idah 5:13
فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَاقَهُمْ لَعنَّاهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا قُلُوبَهُمْ قَاسِيَةً يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِ وَنَسُواْ حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهِ وَلاَ تَزَالُ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَىَ خَآئِنَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً مِّنْهُمُ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاصْفَحْ إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
(Asad) Then, for having broken their solemn pledge, We rejected them and caused their hearts to harden-[so that now] they distort the meaning of the [re-vealed] words, taking them out of their context; and they have forgotten much of what they had been told to bear in mind; and from all but a few of them thou wilt always experience treachery. But pardon them, and forbear: verily, God loves the doers of good.

6) Al-Hujurat 49:12
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِيمٌ
(Asad) O you who have attained to faith! Avoid most guesswork [about one another] for, behold, some of [such] guesswork is [in itself] a sin; and do not spy upon one another, and neither allow your­selves to speak ill of one another behind your backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, you would loathe it! And be conscious of God. Verily, God is an accep­tor of repentance, a dispenser of grace!

In every Surah in the Qur'an, we can find that Allah is teaching us.
Allah teaches Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam through the Qur'an, from him Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam it spreads to everyone. We have to check ourselves, which type are we in?

When a group of people travelled a long way to give bai'ah to Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam through the dessert, they came straight to meet Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam. A man called Siwan, cleaned his horse and fed it, take a ghusl, put on a nice perfume and change to a new clothe, prayed 2 rak'at and then came to Rasul Sallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam. Rasul Sallalllahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam smiled (meant he's happy -redha with the man) and said 'you have two things that Allah and Rasul loved: al-hilm and ana'' (Al-Hilm: Halim is the name of Allah; even when we make sins, Allah didn't punish us straightaway. Halim means patience and do not take revenge quickly) (Ana': opposite of doing something fast; he did things with ihsan).
The man asked 'Ya Rasul, did I work hard to have these things or was I born like that?'. 'No, Allah give you as a gift.'
We have to find our good traits and thank Allah for that.

Muadzh bin Jabbal RadhiyaAllahu 'anh 'Allah surrounded Islam with great behaviours and good deeds.' According to Imam Al-Ghazali RahmatuLlahi 'alayh, good behaviours consist of:
1) Husnul mu'asyara: good companionship. When we live with someone, how we deal with them. Did we prefer them over ourselves? Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam had two miswak, one is crooked and one is straight. He gave the straight one to the person travelling with him. Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam.
2) How generous you are - kareema. Allah is Al-Karim. In the Day of Judgement, He hide the sins for you and grants you jannah. If it's according to us, we will not go to janna.
3) Gentleness, soft, not tough, no harsh language - liinil janib
4) Badlul Ma'roof: try to give; deal with ma'aruf and the best of way. We give as much as we can.
5) It'amul ta'am: feeding the hungry. Some poor people in Egypt brought bread to Masjid on Friday to give to others.
6) Ifsya'ee salaam: level of ihsan on giving salam.
7) Visit someone sick: make du'a and leave (birran aw fajiran : those who do good or a sinful person)
8) walk with janaza of a muslim, for men. Sayidatina Aisya RadhiyaAllahu 'anha said that the reward is bigger than Mountain of Uhud.
9) Husn jarr : good neighbour to muslim and non-muslim
10) respect syaiba (white-haired) of muslim. Take her hand to cross the road and treat them nicely
11) Ijaba da'watu ta'am wa du'a alayh - respond to invitation for food and pray for the host. Once, a man came to Rasul sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam and invited him for food, and Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam said 'how about her?' (pointing at Sayidatina A'eesya) The man said no, so Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam said no. (Some scholars said, there was no food in his house at that time). On the next day, the man invited Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam again and he said no again after the man did not want to invite Sayidatina A'eesya. On the third day, the man invited again, and when Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam asked 'wa hazizhi? (And her?)' and the man said yes. Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam walked shoulder to shoulder with Sayidatina A'eesya out of the door.
12) Al-Afwu: forgive. Sayidina Yusuf Alayhi Salam forgave his brothers after all that they did to him. La thariba; never mind. Forgive when you have the chance to punish is a great behaviour. 'Ya Rabb, Ana samihtu man azaani.' The man who said this will enter Paradise. If we want Allah to forgive us in the Day of Judgement, we should forgive others.
13) Islah bayna nas - fixing relationship. Rasul Salllallahu 'alahi wa alihi wasallam was once walking and his face looked so sad. He went to Sayidina Ali and Sayidatina Fatimah's house (RadhiyaAllahu 'anhuma) and stayed for a long time. When he came out from the house, his face was happy and smiling. A companion asked him why did he looked so sad when you step inside the house and now you were happy. He said that there was a problem between them and now he solved it. On another occasion, Sayidina Abu Bakar RadhiyaAllahu 'anhu went to Rasul sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam and said 'there is something between me and Umar'. Sayidina Umar RadhiyaAllahu 'anhu looked at Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam's face and said immediately 'Ya Rasul, forgive me.' Rasul Sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wasallam said 'why did you do this to my friend?' Sayidina Abu Bakar RadhiyaAllahu 'anhu immediately sad 'It's not Umar, it's me'.
14) Al-jood: more than karam; always giving - Rasul sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam was jood in Ramadhan.
15) Karam

Tafseer Al-Fatiha

TAFSEER CLASS (Al-Fatiha) BY USTAZA EIMAN ON 31/10/10

Ustaza Eiman (May Allah bless her, increase her and make us benefit from her) begins teaching by asking us to think why we are studying tafseer.
1) From the hadith '“The best of you are the ones who learn the Qur’an and teach it to others” [Al-Bukhari]
2) We learn the name of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala from the Qur'an, to be closer to Him. ~ sometime one Name is use, sometimes two Names (Ghafoorur Raheem), sometimes three Names are used (Allahi Rahmanir Raheem), in other surah Al-Hasyr 59:24
هُوَ اللَّهُ الْخَالِقُ الْبَارِئُ الْمُصَوِّرُ لَهُ الْأَسْمَاء الْحُسْنَى يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
six names in one ayaat, in 59:23 nine Names of Allah in an Ayaat:

هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْمَلِكُ الْقُدُّوسُ السَّلَامُ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْمُهَيْمِنُ الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ الْمُتَكَبِّرُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
The Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “ Whoever when he wakes in the morning says ‘I seek refuge with Allah against Satan’ and recites three verses from the last of surah al Hashr then 70,000 angels will pray for him until the evening and should he die that day he would have died a martyr.” [ Ibn Ahmad, Darimi, Tirmidhi 5/182] (end of surah Al-Hasyr verse no 22, 23 and 24)
3) Allah is teaching us
4) loving Him; al-Qur`an 5:54, “yuhibbuhum wayuhibboonahu”. Allahuma inni uhibbuka (O Allah, indeed I love you). The more we understand the Qur'an, the more we love Him.
5) to know why Allah has created me : وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
51:56 I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me.
6) to know the sunnah: قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
3:31 Say: "if ye do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
7) to know halal and haram for eg
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَوْفُواْ بِالْعُقُودِ أُحِلَّتْ لَكُم بَهِيمَةُ الأَنْعَامِ إِلاَّ مَا يُتْلَى عَلَيْكُمْ غَيْرَ مُحِلِّي الصَّيْدِ وَأَنتُمْ حُرُمٌ إِنَّ اللّهَ يَحْكُمُ مَا يُرِيدُ O ye who believe! fulfill (all) obligations. Lawful unto you (for food) are all four-footed animals, with the exceptions named: But animals of the chase are forbidden while ye are in the sacred precincts or in pilgrim garb: for Allah doth command according to His will and plan. 5:1
8) To study the type of people who will be in the Garden and the Fire eg: وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا 25:63 And the servants of ((Allah)) Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, "Peace!";

9) At-ta'aroof (to get to know) of anbiya' (the prophets) and their stories, for example sayidina Moosa 'Alayhi salaam was mentioned more than 73 times in the Qur'an. The more we read, it will increase yaqeen (certainty) and eeman in our heart.
10) help us to be patient
- in 'ibadah: when we read on how Rasool sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam worship and how sayidina Dawood 'alayhi salaam fast.
- in ma'siya: the story of Sayidina Yusuf 'alayhi salaam when he said Ma'azaAllah 12:23, we learned that when we are tempted with ma'siyat (wrong-doings) we can say ma'azaAllah.
11) teaches us 'amal ma'roof wa nahi 'anil munkar (enjoin good and forbid evil) for eg
وَأَقِيمُواْ الصَّلاَةَ وَآتُواْ الزَّكَاةَ وَمَا تُقَدِّمُواْ لأَنفُسِكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِندَ اللّهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ 2:110 (And be steadfast in prayer and regular in charity: And whatever good ye send forth for your souls before you, ye shall find it with Allah. for Allah sees Well all that ye do.)
and example of forbidding evil: وَلاَ تَقْرَبُواْ الزِّنَى إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاء سَبِيلاً 17:32 Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils).

12) we get to know the ghaybiyaat (the unseen) for example the Day of Judgement, Jannah and Naar
13)
14) teaches us adab, (7:199 Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; But turn away from the ignorant.)
15) It answers all our questions, the more we read, the more we know.
16) It explains everything: past, present and future.(tibyanan li kulli shayy) 16:89 ...and We have sent down to thee the Book explaining all things, a Guide, a Mercy, and Glad Tidings to Muslims

Sayidina Abdullah ibnu Mas'ood radhyiaAllahu 'anhu knew the Qur'an more than he knows his own children. Rasul sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam used to ask him to read the Qur'an and upon hearing it, his tears will come streaming down on his cheek (sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam) and wetting his beards.
According to sayidina Ibnu Abbas RadhiyaAllahu 'anh: it contains all knowledge including future knowledge (fi amrihi wa khalqihi).

How did the scholars give tafseer?
- with another ayat for example:
فَتَلَقَّى آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ Al-Baqara 2:37 (Then learnt Adam from his Lord words of inspiration, and his Lord Turned towards him; for He is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.) What is the word (kalimaat) used? It was explained in verse 7:23
قَالاَ رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِين
The two replied: "O our Sustainer! We have sinned against ourselves -and unless Thou grant us forgiveness and bestow Thy mercy upon us, we shall most certainly be lost!
Tafseer of qur'an with qur'an is the highest level of tafseer
- The meaning can be zahir and batin. The unseen meanings is for the people of knowledge for exmple on the revealation of Surah An-nasr. sayidina Ibnu Abbas radhiyaAllahu 'anh explained that Rasul sallallahu 'alayhi wa alihi wassalam is going to pass away soon. This is tafsir batin.
What is the goal? Ibnu ajiba produced six great big books - tarbiyatul yaqeen (to teach yaqin) , adda'na lil maqamil ihsan

The surahs can be either makki (revealed in Makkah) or Madani (in Madinah). In the beginning, the surahs were revealed to teach tauhid.


Other names for Al-Fatiha:
-Al-wafiya : summarised in al-fatiha (wafy means enough)
- Al-Kafiyah : enough for any solat
- Al-syafiya