Surah Al Inshiqaq , 84

your excellency,

a lot of seismic political activities lately.

insyaallah all for the best , we can only pray.

we move on ......

dr nik howk

20th , february, 2019

a zen statement on one of the walls at ryugin temple in kyoto

" when you change, everything change "

.......................................................................................................................

Recitation by qari Mohammad Seddiq al Minshawi ,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3Xd0GYq89M&feature=related

To us , the sky may seem to be a vast blue dome. We know very little of its structure or the life forms that may exist in it. However, God tells us in this surah that, when the Hour comes, the sky will split asunder. The surah says: " When the heaven is split asunder (1) And attentive to her Lord in fear, ..."(2}. We are also told that the earth will be flattened and will throw up all that is buried underneath it.

The Qur'an tells us that at the beginning of creation, God ordered the sky and the earth " to come into existence, willingly  or unwillingly. "[ Fussilat : 11 ] When the end of the world comes, they shall have no option but to obey God's will and command.

Then comes the moment of truth for mankind. The surah says: " O man, art working toward thy Lord a work which thou wilt meet (in His presence)." (6) . This life is a time of hard work, responsibility, and challenge. It is also a time of choice.

Then whoso is given his account in his right hand (7) He truly will receive an easy reckoning (8) And will return unto his folk in joy. (9) But whoso is given his account behind his back, (10) He surely will invoke destruction (11) And be thrown to scorching fire. (12) 

Presenting the wrongdoer with his record from behind his back, forcing him to take it with his left hand, is a sign of derision and humiliation. God turns away from as he had turned away from God in his previous life, denying His existence and rejecting His message. God was aware of his action: "  

 Nay, but lo! his Lord is ever looking on him! "(15)

The surah goes on, in the inimitable Qur'anic style, to draw attention to certain physical phenomena, saying: " 

Oh, I swear by the afterglow of sunset, (16) And by the night and all that it enshroudeth, (17) And by the moon when she is at the full, (18) That ye shall journey on from plane to plane." (19)

My personal interpretation of this passage is that it is a reference to the trials and tribulations of the Muslim experience on this earth; its triumphs and setbacks. I was inspired to come to this conclusion while reading the report of al- Tirmidhi, on the authority of Abu Sa'id Khudri, who reported that one day, having performed the asr' prayer, Prophet  Muhammad stood up to address the congregation. He spoke on a wide variety of subjects relating to the coming of the Hour. At one point he said: " Life is green and sweet. God has put you in charge of it to see how you would fare. Once one knows the truth, one  should not fear any human power in upholding it..." Abu Sa'ad added that people in the congregation started looking at the sun and wondering how long it would be before the day was over, when the Prophet said: " What is left of this life so far is equal to what is left of your day, so far. "

Whatever time is left before the coming of the Hour represents the history of the Muslim nation which has emerged in the world towards the end of time. The crucial question now is: Have Muslims fulfilled their mission towards humanity? Have they made a difference to the quality of life on this earth? Have they learnt all the lessons of history?

On the Day of Judgment, Muslims will be asked how far they have adhered to the Qur'an, and how they have presented its teachings to the rest of the world. The surah asks: " 

What aileth them, then, that they believe not (20) And, when the Qur'an is recited unto them, worship not (Allah)? " (21) 

Muhammad Ghazali al Ghazali,
"A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "

Reflection and commentary by Shaykh Nouman Ali Khan ,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpX26pQMNho
[ 0: 46:30    ' the family to share your good news about jannah'  ]
[ 0: 54: 30   our spouses , our children, oftentimes may feel that we are dragging them into Islam...
  don't shy of making daawah to your own family, especially your own family. ]

Reflection and commentary by Shaykh Navaid Aziz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eTXARfakzc

Shaykh Hamzah Yusoff Hanson on  " Don't Be Depressed .."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPgv5B7Wio8

the good muslim is blessed.
in periods of ease, he is in shukr.
at times of constrictions, he has sabr.
.....in the background always, he has redza...

the peak and the trough, in a good muslim's life is somewhat blunted.
there is profound wisdom in this blunting.