Category: Daily Quran & Hadith

English Translation of Al-Quran

[28].Surah Al-Qasas [The Narration]

Ayat 5. And We wished to do a favor to those who were weak (and oppressed) in the land, and to make them rulers and to make them the inheritors,

Ayat 6. And to establish them in the land, and We let Firaun (Pharaoh) and Haman and their hosts receive from them that which they feared.

Tafseer of Surah Al-Qasas (The Narration) Ayat 5 to 6. And We wished to be Gracious to those who were being depressed on the land. To make them leaders (in Faith) and make them heirs, What Pharaoh wished was to crush them. But Allah’s Plan was to protect them as they were weak, and indeed to make them custodians and leaders in His Faith, and to give them in inheritance a land “flowing with milk and honey”. Here they were established in authority for such time as they followed Allah’s Law. As regards Pharaoh and his ministers and hosts, they were to be shown that they would suffer, at the hands of the Israelites, the very calamities against which they were so confidently taking precautions for themselves. To establish a firm place for them in the land, and to show Pharaoh, Haman, and their hosts, at their hands, the very things against which they were taking precautions. Haman was evidently Pharaoh’s minister, not to be confounded with a Haman who is mentioned in the Old Testament (Esther 3:1), as a minister of Ahasuerus (Xerxes) King of Persia, the same who invaded Greece, and ruled from B.C. 485 to 464. Pharaoh was trying to kill the Israelites. Instead, the Plagues of Egypt, invoked by Moses, killed thousands of Egyptians because “they were steeped in arrogance,-a people given to sin.” In pursuing the Israelites in their flight, Pharaoh and his army were themselves overwhelmed in the sea.

English Translation of Hadith

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) said,  “He who observes optional prayer (Taraweeh prayers) throughout Ramadan, out of sincerity of Faith and in the hope of earning reward will have his past sins pardoned.”

[Al-Bukhari Book 03, Chapter 32, Hadith # 226].

Lesson: May Allah forgives all our sins by his grace in coming month of Ramadan. (Ameen).

English Translation of Al-Quran

[28].Surah Al-Qasas [The Narration]

Ayat 4. Verily, Firaun (Pharaoh) exalted himself in the land and made its people sects, weakening (oppressing) a group (i.e. Children of Israel) among them, killing their sons, and letting their females live. Verily, he was of the Mufsidun (i.e. those who commit great sins and crimes, oppressors, tyrants, etc.).

Tafseer of Surah Al-Qasas (The Narration) Ayat 4. Truly Pharaoh elated himself in the land and broke up its people into sections, depressing a small group among them: their sons he slew, but he kept alive their females: for he was indeed a maker of mischief. For a king or ruler to make invidious distinctions between his subjects, and specially to suppress or oppress any particular class of his subjects, is a dereliction of his kingly duties, for which he is responsible to Allah. Pharaoh and his clique were intoxicated with pride of race and pride of material civilization, and grievously oppressed the Israelites. Pharaoh decreed that all sons born to his Israelite subjects should be killed, and the females kept alive for the pleasure of the Egyptians. Moses was saved in a wonderful way, as related further.

English Translation of Hadith

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) said,  “Allah the Most High says: `From amongst my servants, the quicker the one is in breaking the Saum (fasting), the dearer is he to me.”

[At-Tirmidhi Hadith # 700].

Lesson : The person who breaks the Saum in its early time is best loved by Allah because he is a true follower of the Prophet  [SAWW]( (PBUH).

English Translation of Al-Quran

[27].Surah Al-Naml [The Ants]

Ayat 93. And say [(O Muhammad SAWW (PBUH) to these polytheists and pagans etc.]: “All the praises and thanks be to Allah. He will show you His Ayat (signs, in yourselves, and in the universe or punishments, etc.), and you shall recognize them. And your Lord is not unaware of what you do.”

Tafseer of Surah Al Naml (The Ants) Ayat 93. And say: “Praise be to Allah, Who will soon show you His Signs, so that ye shall know them”; and thy Lord is not unmindful of all that ye do. In a few years after that, many wonderful things happened that removed the doubts of the doubters and confirmed the faith of the Believers. They showed how the logic of events proved the true mission of the holy Prophet. Other things some minds may not be able to grasp. But the logic of events is for all to see. Trials and tribulations, persecution and exile, and the patient endurance and constancy with which they were met by the Believers-all are known to Allah and will be credited to their spiritual account.

English Translation of Hadith

Hazrat Abu Atiyyah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Masruq and I visited Hazrat Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) and said: “O Mother of the Believers! There are two Companions of Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) and neither of them holds back from doing good acts; but one of them hastens to break Saum (fasting) and hastens to perform the Maghreb prayer, while the other delays breaking Saum and delays performing Salat (prayer).” She asked, “Who is the one who hastens to break Saum and perform the Maghreb prayer?” Masruq said, “It is `Abdullah (meaning `Abdullah bin Masud).” She said, “The Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) used to do so.”

[Muslim Book 06, Chapter 09, Hadith # 2420]

Lesson : This Hadith points out the practice of the Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) of breaking the Saum and performing the Maghrib prayer in the early moments of the prescribed time.

English Translation of Al-Quran

[27].Surah Al-Naml [The Ants]

Ayat 91. I (Muhammad  SAWW (PBUH) have been commanded only to worship the Lord of this city (Makkah), Him Who has sanctified it and His is everything. And I am commanded to be from among the Muslims (those who submit to Allah in Islam).

Ayat 92. And to recite the Quran, so whoever receives guidance, receives it for the good of his own self, and whosoever goes astray, say (to him): “I am only one of the warners.”

Tafseer of Surah Al Naml (The Ants) Ayat 91 & 92. For me, I the Messenger of Allah Muhammad  (SAWW) PBUH have been commanded to serve the Lord of this city Makkah, Him Who has sanctified it and to Whom (belong) all things: and I am commanded to be of those who bow in Islam to Allah’s Will,-The Lord of this City. This was spoken in Makkah, say about the 5th year before the Hijrah, when the Holy Prophet PBUH and his adherents were being persecuted as enemies to the cult of Makkah. So far from being against the true spirit of the Holy City of Makkah, it was in furtherance of that spirit, which had been overlaid by the idolatries and abominations of the Pagan Quraish. They are told that the new Teaching is from the Lord of Makkah itself, the One True God, Who had sanctified it in the time of Abraham AS. Lest they should think that it was a local or tribal or narrow cult, it is added that He is not only Lord of this city, but Lord of the Worlds, “to Whom belong all things”. It is a universal message: but how sad would it be if the Makkans, among whom it came first, were to reject it? And to rehearse the Qur´an: and if any accept guidance, they do it for the good of their own souls, and if any stray, say: “I am only a Warner”. The duty of the Prophet and his adherents was, first, to accept Islam and become themselves shining examples of Allah’s grace and mercy, as they in fact were, and secondly to preach that message and spread that Light to all around. It was not for them to force it on unwilling people: for any who rejected it would find their own spiritual loss in such rejection. But they must clearly warn them of the consequences.

English Translation of Hadith

Hazrat Sahl bin Saad (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) said, “People will continue to adhere to good as long as they hasten to break the Saum (fasting).”

[Al-Bukhari Book 04, Chapter 52, Hadith # 210].

Lesson : “Adhere to good” here means welfare of the religion as well as that of this world. Breaking the Saum early does not mean that it is terminated before the prescribed time. What it really means is without any delay after the sunset. One should not delay it for the mere reason that the rigour one has gone through in the Saum should be enhanced further, as is done by some Sufi. There is no merit in such things because the real merit lies in following the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH). Welfare of the Muslims will, therefore, come in the share of the Muslims because of their following the Prophet’s Sunnah of breaking the Saum in the early moments of the prescribed time.

English Translation of Al-Quran

[27].Surah Al-Naml [The Ants]

Ayat 89. Whoever brings a good deed (i.e. Belief in the Oneness of Allah along with every deed of righteousness), will be better than it’s worth, and they will be safe from the terror on that Day.

Ayat 90. And whoever brings an evil (deed) (i.e., Shirk polytheism, disbelief in the Oneness of Allah and every evil sinful deed), they will be cast down (prone) on their faces in the Fire. (And it will be said to them) “Are you being recompensed for anything except what you used to do?”

Tafseer of Surah Al Naml (The Ants) Ayat 89 & 90. If any do good, good will (accrue) to them there from; and they will be secure from terror that Day. And if any do evil, their faces will be thrown headlong into the Fire: “Do ye receive a reward other than that which ye have earned by your deeds?” Headlong: It may be that the very things of which we were proudest, which we considered foremost in our present order of the world, will be the first to go into the Fire, as they are but the window-dressing (i.e., faces) of Evil. There will be no punishment except as has been deserved by actual conduct in the present life of probation.

English Translation of Hadith

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) said, “If any one of you forgetfully eats or drinks (while observing fasting) he should complete his Saum (fasting), for Allah has fed him and given him to drink.”

[Al-Bukhari Book 03, Chapter 31, Hadith # 154].

Lesson : This Hadith tells us of a kindness and convenience of Islam that during the Saum if a person inadvertently does any such thing which destroys his Saum, i.e., eating, drinking, cohabitation with wife, etc., his Saum will remain intact due to forgetfulness, provided one abandons the act as soon as he remembers that he is observing Saum . He needs not make any expiation for such a Saum.

The prayer cited in the text of this Hadith is one of them.

English Translation of Al-Quran

[27].Surah Al-Naml [The Ants]

Ayat 88. And you will see the mountains and think them solid, but they shall pass away as the passing away of the clouds (on the Day of Resurrection). The Work of Allah, Who perfected all things, verily! He is Well-Acquainted with what you do.

Tafseer of Surah Al Naml (The Ants) Ayat 88. Thou sees the mountains and thinkest them firmly fixed: but they shall pass away as the clouds pass away: (such is) the artistry of Allah, who disposes of all things in perfect order: for he is well acquainted with all that ye do. This is so in the present phase of phenomenal things, both literally and figuratively. There seems nothing more firm or fixed or permanent than the “eternal hills”: yet when the new order of things comes and the new World is brought into being, they will be as flimsy and insubstantial as clouds. So, in the revelation of things in the spiritual World, persons or things or ideas that seem so great and so firmly established now will pass away like mere fancies and give way to the Reality of Allah. Atqana. to arrange or dispose of things with art, or so as to obtain the most perfect results. The present phenomenal world and the Future that is to be, all have a definite object and purpose in the Plan of Allah, Who knows perfectly what we are, what we do, what we think, and what we need. Who can praise His artistry enough?

English Translation of Hadith

Hazrat Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) came to visit Saad bin Ubadah (May Allah be pleased with him) who presented bread and olive oil to him. The Prophet  [SAWW](PBUH) ate it and said, “The observers of fast have broken their fast with you (this is the literal translation, but the meaning is: `May Allah reward you for providing a fasting people with food to break their fast’); the pious people have eaten your food and the angels invoked blessings on you.”

[Abu Dawud Hadith # 3854].

Lesson: The word “Aftara” is informative in nature, but it is used in the sense of a prayer. Thus, what it denotes is “May Allah give you the reward of one who arranges for the Iftar (breaking the Saum) of somebody.” Thus, it induces one to hospitality according to his means.

English Translation of Al-Quran

[27].Surah Al-Naml [The Ants]

Ayat 87. And (remember) the Day on which the Trumpet will be blown and all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth, will be terrified except him whom Allah will (exempt). And all shall come to Him humbled.

Tafseer of Surah Al Naml (The Ants) Ayat 87. And the Day that the Trumpet will be sounded – then will be smitten with terror those who are in the heavens, and those who are on earth, except such as Allah will please (to exempt): and all shall come to His (Presence) as beings conscious of their lowliness. Arrogance will flee with Ignorance, and Self will see itself in its true place that of humility and lowliness-when the scales of ignorance fall from its eyes.

English Translation of Hadith

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) said, ”If one does not eschew lies and false conduct, Allah has no need that he should abstain from his food and his drink.”

[Al-Bukhari Book 03, Chapter 31, Hadith # 127].

Lesson: This Hadith exhorts those observing Saum to fulfill all the requirements of fasting. One should not conduct himself in such a manner that on the one side he observes Saum and on the other he is fearless of Allah. To save himself from Allah’s Wrath and to get the reward of the fasts, one must abstain from all sorts of vices, such as cheating, lying, backbiting, and using obscene language. The threat held against such people in this Hadith should make them fear that their Saum will go waste and they would be deprived of its reward. It does not mean that such people should start eating and drinking during Saum but what is intended is that they should save themselves from all kinds of sins so that they may earn the reward of Saum.

English Translation of Al-Quran

[02] Surah Al-Baqarah [The Cow]

Ayat 187. It is made lawful for you to have sexual relations with your wives on the night of As-Saum (the fasts). They are Libas [i.e. body cover, or screen, or Sakan, (i.e. you enjoy the pleasure of living with her – as in Verse 7:189), for you and you are the same for them. Allah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He turned to you (accepted your repentance) and forgave you. So now have sexual relations with them and seek that which Allah has ordained for you (offspring), and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your Saum (fast) till the nightfall. And do not have sexual relations with them (your wives) while you are in Itikaf (i.e. confining oneself in a mosque for prayers and invocations leaving the worldly activities) in the mosques. These are the limits (set) by Allah, so approach them not. Thus does Allah make clear His Ayat (proofs, evidence, lessons, signs, revelations, verses, laws, legal and illegal things, Allah’s set limits, orders, etc.) to mankind that they may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).

Tafseer of Surah Al-Baqarah Ayat 187. Permitted to you, on the night of the fasts, is the approach to your wives. They are your garments and ye are their garments. Allah knoweth what ye used to do secretly among yourselves; but He turned to you and forgave you; so now associate with them, and seek what Allah Hath ordained for you, and eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appear to you distinct from its black thread; then complete your fast Till the night appears; but do not associate with your wives while ye are in retreat in the mosques. Those are Limits (set by) Allah. Approach not nigh thereto. Thus, doth Allah make clear His Signs to men: that they may learn self-restraint. Men and women are each other’s garments: i.e., they are for mutual support, mutual comfort, and mutual protection, fitting into each other as a garment fits the body. A garment also is both for show and concealment. The question of sex is always delicate to handle here. We are told that even in such matters a clear, open, and honest course is better than fraud or self-deception. The sex instinct is classed with eating and drinking, an animal thing to be restrained, but not to be ashamed of. The three things are prohibited during the fast by day, but permitted after the fast is broken at night till the next fast commences.. There is a difference of opinion as to the exact meaning of this. I would connect this as a parallel clause with the clause “eat and drink”, which follows, all three being governed by “until the white thread”, etc. That is, all three things must stop when the fast begins again in the early morning. Or it may mean: What is permitted is well enough, but seek the higher things ordained for you. Those in touch with Nature know the beautiful effects of early dawn. First appear thin white indefinable streaks of light in the east; then a dark zone supervenes; followed by a beautiful pinkish white zone clearly defined from the dark; after that the fast begins. Till the night appears: From the actual practice of the Holy Prophet, this is rightly interpreted to mean: “Till sunset”. This verse refers to the known Islamic practice called Itikaf which means retreating to mosques for devotion and worship. The Prophet (peace be on him) used to retreat to the mosque during the last ten days of Ramadan. I construe these limits as applying to the whole of the regulations about fasts.

English Translation of Hadith

Hazrat Talha bin Ubaidullah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: At the sight of the new moon (of the lunar month), the Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) used to supplicate: “Allahumma ahillahu `alaina bil-amni wal-iman, was-salamati wal-Islam, Rabbi wa Rabbuk-Allah, Hilalu rushdin wa khairin (O Allah, let this moon appear on us with security and Iman; with safety and Islam. (O moon!) Your Rubb and mine is Allah. May this moon be bringing guidance and good).”

[At-Tirmidhi Hadith # 3451].

Lesson : After sighting the moon, one should recite the prayer which was recited by the Prophet  [SAWW](PBUH). The prayer cited in the text of this Hadith is one of them.

English Translation of Al-Quran

[27].Surah Al-Naml [The Ants]

Ayat 85. And the Word (of torment) will be fulfilled against them because they have done wrong, and they will be unable to speak (in order to defend themselves).

Ayat 86. See they not that We have made the night for them to rest therein, and the day sight-giving? Verily, in this are Ayat (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) for the people who believe.

Tafseer of Surah Al Naml (The Ants) Ayat 85 & 86. And the Word will be fulfilled against them, because of their wrong-doing, and they will be unable to speak (in plea). There will be no plea because the charge will be only too true. The Decree will be passed and executed. See they not that We have made the Night for them to rest in and the Day to give them light? Verily in this are Signs for any people that believe! Night, Day, Rest, and Light: both in the literal and the symbolic sense. Anyone with a scrap of faith or spiritual insight could see that the Night is a blessing when used for rest and a curse when used to cover ignorance or sin; and that the Day is for work and enlightenment, and its misuse is gross ingratitude to Allah. Or understand Truth and practice Righteousness while it is yet Light, and the Message of Allah is here to guide you: for there comes the Night when Endeavour will cease and there will be no room for Repentance.

English Translation of Hadith

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) used to urge (the people) to perform (optional Taraweeh) prayer at night during the month of Ramadan. He did not order them or make it obligatory on them. He  (SAWW)(PBUH) said, “Whosoever performs (optional Taraweeh) prayers at night during the month of Ramadan, with Faith and in the hope of receiving Allah’s reward, will have his past sins forgiven.”

[Muslim Book 04, Chapter 52, Hadith # 210].

Lesson: This Hadith highlights the following points: 1. Qiyam in the month of Ramadan is a much-stressed act and has great importance from the viewpoint of reward and award.  2. The sins which are pardoned through it are minor sins because major sins are not forgiven unless one makes sincere repentance and compensates those whom he has wronged. 3. That Qiyam during the month of Ramadan was the practice of the Prophet  [SAWW]((PBUH). During the course of a Ramadan, he made Qiyam for three nights consecutively, that is, he performed this Nafl Salat in congregation with his Companions. On the fourth night, when his Companions gathered for this purpose he said to them, “I am afraid it will be made obligatory for you.” So, despite their desire to join him in this prayer, he did not lead the Salat that night.