What does Islam say about terrorism?

Tragic events such as the attack on the twin towers in New York, the bombings of Bali, Madrid and London are assumed to be justified by Islam in the minds of some people. This idea has been fueled further by many media channels which defame Islam by portraying these bombers as ‘Islamists’ or ‘Jihadists’, as though they were sanctioned by Islam, or had any legitimate spokemenship on behalf of Muslims. The actions of a few fanatical individuals who happen to have Muslim names or ascribe themselves to the Muslim faith should not be a yardstick by which Islam is judged. For the same reason, that one would not do justice to Christianity if it where perceived as sanctioning the genocide of the Native Americans, the atrocities of world war II or the bombings of the IRA. To understand Islam’s stance on terrorism, one must refer to its original sources, the Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him,which are explicit in their prohibition of any form of injustice including that of wanton violence which seeks to instill fear, injury or death to civilians. The Quran turns our attention to the high value of human life, whether it is Muslim or Non-Muslim and makes it absolutely forbidden to take an innocent life unjustly. The gravity of such a crime is equated, in the Quran, with the killing of all humanity. “On that account: We ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the land.” ( 5:32 ) Not only is human life sacred in Islam but the property, wealth, family and dignity of all individuals in society are to be respected and protected. Those who transgress these rights and sow fasad (corruption) as the Quran describes it, incur the wrath of Allah. "…and seek not corruption in the earth; lo! Allah loveth not corrupters " (28:77) Likewise in another verse “The blame is only against those who oppress men and wrong-doing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying right and justice: for such there will be a penalty grievous” (42:42) Islam goes further than just prohibiting oppression and safeguarding rights, it commands its faithful to deal kindly and compassionately to all those who seek to live in peace and harmony "Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for your faith, nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: For Allah loves those who are just" (60:8) In times of war and conflict, where enmity can obstruct an individual’s judgement to act morally, Islam commands that justice be upheld even towards one’s enemies. "O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do" (5:8) Centuries before the Geneva Convention was drawn up, Muslims were bound by a code of conduct which the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, set. He forbade the killing of women, children and elderly in war. In an authentic narration the Prophet (pbuh) warned that he who kills anyone who has a covenant of peace with the Muslims will not smell the scent of Paradise. In fact, he taught that justice is not only to humans but must be shown to animals and all living things. In a narration the Prophet (pbuh) informed us about how a lady was sent to hell because of a cat she had locked up until it starved and died. If such is the sanctity which Islam places on the soul of an animal, how much more grave is the killing of hundreds of innocent humans?! Abu Bakr the first Calipha of the Muslims reflected these prophetic teachings when he advised his general Yazid, who was confronting Roman armies, "I advise you ten things, Do not kill women or children or an aged, infirm person. Do not cut down fruit-bearing trees. Do not destroy an inhabited place. Do not slaughter sheep or camels except for food. Do not burn bees and do not scatter them. Do not steal from the booty, and do not be cowardly." The message of the Quran is clear as we have seen, that the sanctity of any human life is to be respected and any violation in that regard is paramount to the worst crime. Mercy is at the heart of the Islamic call, “We sent thee (O Muhammad) not save as a mercy for the peoples” (21:107); a totally different message to what the terrorists are sadly imparting to humanity.

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Islam is Against Terrorism And The Islamic Legal Rulings On Terrorist Acts And Those Who Commit Them

All praise is due to Allaah the Lord of everything He created and the peace and blessings of Allaah upon the best of Messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, whom Allaah sent to mankind as a mercy, and peace and blessings upon the family of the Prophet and his companions, and upon those who follow the guidance of the Prophet until the Day of Judgement.

O my noble brothers, we heard the unfortunate news, which occurred yesterday in the city of London, relating to those explosions which took place which resulted in many people dying and many people being wounded. And there is no doubt that this is an unfortunate and sad affair and it's even worse if these acts have been committed and carried out in the name of Islaam, because Islaam is free and far removed from these types of acts. It does not command with these types of activities, and Islaam is not pleased with the likes of these activities.

Rather, Islaam prohibits the likes of these things. And Islaam is at war with these types of treacherous acts. And likewise, Islaam threatens a heavy punishment to those people who do these acts, in this life and the hereafter. Verily the true Islaam is that which has come in the Qur'aan (The book of Allaah) and in the Sunnah (The guidance of His noble Messenger). And not everything that is said to be Islaam is in actual fact considered part of the religion of Islaam.

And this is to be returned to the Qur'aan and to the Sunnah. We find in both of them a clear warning against every type of transgression. Warning against transgressing against a Muslim and a non-Muslim.

Allaah, the Most High, said:

 And do not kill those souls whom Allaah has prohibited unless [justified by] a due [legal] right 

And those souls that Allaah has prohibited, it is referring to the life of a Muslim. And it is referring to everyone who has an agreement with the Muslims, and likewise those non- Muslims who have been given right of safety by the Muslims.

The Messenger of Allaah said, in an authentic hadeeth reported by imam al-Bukhari,

Whoever kills a non-Muslim who has an agreement with theMuslims then he will not smell the fragrance of Paradise

And this is a severe threat. That the Messenger of Allaah, Muhammad, threatened those people and he promised them; he promised those who kill non-Muslims, after an agreement has reached between them, that they will not enter Paradise on the Day of Judgement. And by this hadeeth we surely understand and get to know, we obtain with certainty, that these bombings, if committed by a Muslim, they have oppose the book of Allaah. And they have opposed the Sunnah of the Messenger.

O my brothers, these types of activities will result in many evils and harmful effects.

The first of them

That transgressing against a person without any due right and taking a life without any right is a great crime.

The Prophet said,

A Muslim person will not cease to be clearly and correctly upon his religion as long as they do not spill blood which is impermissible for them

The second affair

That these types of activities enforce the breaking of a contract. For example the Muslim who has entered into Britain. He has made an agreement and a promise that he will preserve the security and the safety in that land and that he will not transgress against anyone without due cause. So these filthy activities of terrorism involve breaking a contract and an agreement one has made.

And Allaah says in His Noble book,

 O you who believe, fulfil your covenants 

And Allaah said,

 Fulfil the covenant of Allaah 

And the Messenger of Allaah, Muhammad warned against treachery and deception. The Messenger of Allaah said that the one who breaks his covenant or contract and is deceitful that Allaah, the most High, will expose him upon the Day of Judgement. And Allaah will make him known on the Day of Judgement amongst all of the creation, that he was deceitful.

The third issue

That these types of crimes involve great oppression. And oppression is from the greatest of all sins.

In the authentic collections of al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet said,

Oppression is darkness on the Day of Judgement

And in the authentic collection of Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad said,

Allaah, the Most High, said, "O my servants, I have made oppression upon myself something impermissible and I have made it impermissible for you to oppress one another. So do not oppress one another (meaning that some of you should not oppress others)"

Our religion of Islaam prohibits transgression and oppression. It prohibits oppression even if this transgression is against someone that we hate. It is still impermissible. We have to be just when dealing with everyone.

Allaah, the Most High, said,

 And do not let the hatred of a people cause you not to be just. Be just, because it is closer to piety 

And the meaning of this noble verse: If you and another individual hate one another, it is still not permissible to oppress him or transgress against him. And it is not permissible to oppress him; rather it is obligatory that you deal with him justly. It is obligatory upon an individual to still fulfil their covenant or contract that he has with them, even if you hate them.

The fourth affair

That these types of crimes and activities distort the true image of Islaam. And this is in reality oppression. Oppression to Islaam and the Muslims, because the people now, at this point, if it is said to them that these bombings are from Islaam, then it will result in the people hating Islaam. And they will hate the Muslims. And they will run away from Islaam. And they will have a feeling towards Islaam of enmity and rancour. Likewise these crimes involve lying upon Allaah and lying upon the Messenger.

It is obligatory upon the Muslims, all of them, that they honour their agreements, and they honour their contracts, and that they speak truthfully when they speak. The true Muslim is not treacherous, and he is not deceitful, and he does not lie, and he does not oppress. This is what Islaam teaches and this is something this is clear from the religion. As for those activities such as bombing and what is similar, they distort the true religion of Islaam and they ascribe to Islam which in reality is not from it. Because verily the true Muslims, those who understand the reality of the religion of Islaam, in every place, they hate and reject and they criticise these criminal acts and they warn against them. And they warn against those people who call to these acts.

And the Muslims in every place feel sorry and sad when they hear about the affairs of these criminal activities no matter where they occur or happen upon the earth. Whether it takes place in the Muslim world or whether it takes place in other than the Muslim world. And our scholars have clarified and clearly explained, with clear clarifications which are strong and emphatic, that these types of acts are not from Islaam. And the scholars in truth they should be returned to.

The scholars in truth they should be returned to and they are those people to whom we should always turn back. We should return back to them to understand the rulings of Allaah, the One who is free from all imperfections. Because the scholars possess knowledge. Knowledge which allows them to differentiate between that which is truth and that which is falsehood. And they can distinguish between that which is from the religion of Islaam and that which is not. And we are delighted and happy with what occurred today, when we heard from the mufti of Saudi Arabia, his eminence the Shaykh Abdul Azeez Aal ash-shaykh (May Allaah the Most High who is free from all imperfections preserve him). The Shaykh issued a clarification which has been spread through the media, through the media outlets here in Saudi Arabia.

The Shaykh, his eminence, criticised and detested those explosions which occurred in London. And the Shaykh explained that Islaam is free of these of these activities. So may Allaah reward the Shaykh, the mufti of Saudi Arabia, with good. And we ask Allaah, the Most High, that He grants all of the Muslims success to understand the Book of Allaah, and to understand the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah. And that Allaah grants them success and allows them to implement the religion of Islaam in the correct manner, how it should be implemented.

Far away and distant from extremism and far away from fanaticism, the true religion of Islaam is a religion of mercy, a religion of justice and a religion that commands that the contracts be fulfilled and kept. The religion of Islaam is not a religion that allows lies, it is not a religion that is barbaric and it is not a religion of treachery.

So my brothers, this is the real Islaam that we have explained to you today. And we say that those who did these crimes and took part in these explosions and these people who have caused Islaam to carry the burden of their crimes, in reality they have not harmed anyone but themselves. Because the religion of Allaah and the true Muslims are free from these actions, from these barbaric crimes. And I ask Allaah, the Most High, that He preserves the security and safety, and that Allaah preserves the state of contentment. I would suffice with what I have said. And the salaat and the salaam of Allaah upon our Prophet Muhammad.

Questions and Answers

Question. What is the Islaamic punishment for those who take part in these crimes?

Answer. Allaah, the Most High, said,

 Those who are at war with Allaah and His Messenger and spread corruption in the earth; they will be killed, or they will be hung, or their hands and their legs will be cut off, or they will be exiled from the land 

Those people who are caught or take part in these activities, like bombings, which take innocent lives their punishment is death. Because they are individuals who spread corruption in the society. They are not allowed to remain. That is why Allaah commanded that the people who do these types of acts be killed. And if they do not repent from these types of acts then in the hereafter is waiting for them a severe torment.

Question. How do we act with those people who rejoiced at yesterdays events?

Answer. No-one would be happy with these occurrences except one who is severely ignorant. The one who is ignorant of the true understanding of Islaam, he is the only one who would be pleased with the likes of these activities. Allaah does not like oppression and the Messenger Muhammad did not like oppression. Likewise the believers from theMuslims, they hate any type of oppression and they do not rejoice when it appears.

What right does anyone have to kill innocent people who are in a state of security? And what right do the people have to kill innocent women who likewise believe they are in a state of security? And what right do the people have to kill innocent children who are likewise in a state of security? Those who board the car or that which is similar, and the trains, and these people walk in the streets, and they seek their daily needs. These people, what right does anyone have to kill them.

They haven't committed any crime that warrants this type of atrocity. So the one who is happy at the like of this occurrence either they are extremely ignorant or they are people who love transgression are oppression. And they love barbaric acts. And we ask Allaah that he guides them and he rectifies their state. And Allaah knows best

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PROPHECIES OF THE QURAN ADDRESSED TO MUHAMMAD

Entering Mecca’s Grand Mosque (al-Masjid al-Haram)

In the sixth year after the Prophet was forced to migrate from Mecca to Medina, he saw himself visiting Mecca and performing pilgrimage in a vision mentioned in the Quran:

"Certainly has God showed to His Messenger the vision (i.e. dream) in truth.  You will surely enter al-Harammosque, if God wills, in safety, with your heads shaved and [hair] shortened[1], not fearing [anyone].  He knew what you did not know and has arranged before that a conquest near [at hand]." (Quran 48:27)

God made three promises:

(a)  Muhammad would enter into Mecca’s Grand Mosque.

(b)  Muhammad would enter in a state of security.

(c)  Muhammad and his companions would get to perform pilgrimage and fulfill its rituals.

Ignoring the hostility of Meccans, Prophet Muhammad gathered his companions and embarked on a peaceful journey to Mecca.  But the Meccans continued to be hostile and he was forced to return to Medina.  The vision remained unfulfilled; however, an important treaty was signed between the Prophet and the Meccans, which would prove of great significance.  It is due to this treaty that Muhammad performed a peaceful pilgrimage with his companions the very next year.  The vision had found its fulfillment.[2]

The Quranic Prophecy; ‘The Unbelievers Will Lose’

Muslims were subject to severe persecution in Mecca at the hand of pagans.  At one time they were boycotted for three years, and the perpetual shortage of food sometimes bordered on famine.[3]  Any talk of victory was unimaginable.  Despite all odds, God prophesized in Mecca:

"[The pagans’] assembly will be defeated, and they shall turn their backs [in flight]!." (Quran 54:45)

The Arabic verb yuhzamu is preceded by sa (an Arabic prefix denoting the future tense), making it a distinct prophecy awaiting fulfillment in future.  And so it was in the holy month of Ramadan, two years after the Prophet’s migration from Mecca to Medina that the Meccans were defeated in the Battle of Badr and forced to retreat.[4]  Umar, the second caliph of the Muslims after the Prophet, used to say that they did not know how the Quranic prophecy would be fulfilled until they themselves witnessed it coming true at the famous battle of Badr! (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

The Quranic Prophecy; ‘Believers Will Get Political Authority’

Despite severe oppression at the hands of Meccans, Muslims were given good news from God:

"God has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me.  But whoever disbelieves after that - then those are the defiantly disobedient." (Quran 24:55)

How such a promise from Almighty God would be fulfilled to the oppressed, brutalized Muslims in Mecca was impossible to imagine at the time it was made.  It was  fulfilled, nevertheless.  Indeed, God made Muslims secure and gave them political sway in a matter of years.

"And Our word [decree] has already preceded for Our slaves, the messengers, [that] indeed, they would be those given victory." (Quran 37:171-172)

At first, the Muslims established their own state, by the invitation of the people of Medina, when God commanded they migrate there from Mecca.  Then, within the lifetime of the Prophet, that state expanded to hold sway over the whole of the Arabian Peninsula, from the Gulf of Aqaba and the Arabian Gulf to the Arabian Sea in the south, including the place from whence the Muslims had been driven out (Mecca itself).  This decree was ongoing, for the expansion of the Muslim political and religious dominion did not stop at the Arabian Peninsula.  History gives a living testimony that the Muslims addressed by these verses ruled the lands of the former Persian and Roman empires, an expansion that amazed and won admiration of world historians.  In the words of Encyclopedia Britannica:

"Within 12 years after Muhammad’s death, the armies of Islam took possession of Syria, Iraq, Persia, Armenia, Egypt, and Cyrenaica (in modern Libya)."[5]

The Quran’s Prophecy Regarding the Hypocrites and the Tribe of Banu Nadhir

God says in the Quran:

"Surely, if they are expelled, never will they (hypocrites) go out with them, and if they are attacked, they will never help them.  And if they do help them, they (hypocrites) will turn their backs, so they will not be victorious." (Quran 59:12)

Pickthall

(For) indeed if they are driven out they go not out with them, and indeed if they are attacked they help them not, and indeed if they had helped them they would have turned and fled, and then they would not have been victorious.

"Have you not observed how those who are hypocrites, tell their brothers (i.e. associates) among the People of the Scripture who disbelieved, ‘If you are expelled, we will surely also leave with you, and we will never anyone against you; and if you are attacked (i.e. by the Muslim militia), we will surely aid you.’  But God bears witness that they are liars.  If they (i.e. the Jews) are expelled, they (i.e. the hypocrites) will not leave with them, and if they are fought, they will not aid them.  And [even] if they were to aid them, they will surely turn their backs; then they will not be aided." (Quran 59:11-12)

The prophecy was fulfilled when the Banu Nadhir were expelled in August 625 CE from Medina; the hypocrites did not accompany them or come to their aid.[6]

The Quranic Prophecies concerning Future Confrontations

"They will not harm you except for [some] annoyance.  And if they fight you, they will show you their backs (i.e., flee); then they will not be aided." (Quran 3:111)

"And if those (Meccans) who disbelieve were to fight you, they would certainly turn their backs(i.e., flee).  Then they would not find a protector or a helper." (Quran 48:22)

Historically, after these verses were revealed, the unbelievers in the Arabian Peninsula were never able to withstand the Muslims again.[7]

We see from the prophecies discussed in these articles that the claim many detractors of Muhammad’s Prophethood are utterly unfounded.  They have based their criticism on the challenge to show that what Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, foretold, if anything, and what came true of his foretelling.[8]  Demonstrably, he did prophesize, with God’s guidance, and demonstrably, what he was directed to tell us did actually occur.  Therefore, by the criterion of the detractors, Muhammad was the Messenger of God, and the last of the prophets to be sent, by both his statements in the Sunnah (narrations from his life) and the word of the Quran.

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SALVATION FROM HELLFIRE

God has said in the Quran:

“Those who have disbelieved and died in disbelief, the earth full of gold would not be accepted from any of them if one offered it as a ransom. They will have a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers.” (Quran 3:91)

So, this life is our only chance to win Paradise and to escape from Hellfire, because if someone dies in disbelief, he will not have another chance to come back to this world to believe.  As God has said in the Quran about what is going to happen for the unbelievers on the Day of Judgment:

“If you could but see when they are set before the Fire (Hell) and say, “Would that we might return (to the world)!  Then we would not reject the verses of our Lord, but we would be of the believers!” (Quran 6:27)

But no one will have this second opportunity.

The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said: “The happiest man in the world of those doomed to the Fire (Hell) on the Day of Judgment will be dipped in the Fire once.  Then he will be asked, ‘Son of Adam, did you ever see any good?  Did you ever experience any blessing?’  So he will say, ‘No, by God, O Lord!’”[1]

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THE PLEASURES OF PARADISE

The reality of Paradise is something which people will never be able to understand until they actually enter it, but God has shown us glimpses of it in the Quran.  He has described it as a place essentially different to the life of this world, both in the very nature and purpose of life, as well as the types of delights which people will enjoy therein.  The Quran tells people about Paradise, which God offers to them, describes its great blessings, and proclaims its beauties to everyone.  It informs people that Paradise is one of two ways of life prepared for them in the afterworld, and that every good thing will be theirs in Paradise to a degree that surpasses our present ability to imagine.  It also shows that Paradise is a place where all blessings have been created perfectly and where people will be offered everything their souls and hearts will desire, and that people will be far removed from want and need, anxiety or sadness, sorrow and regret.  Every kind of beauty and blessing exists in Paradise and will be revealed with a perfection never seen or known before.  God has prepared such blessings there as a gift, and these will be offered only to people with whom He is pleased.

But what is the nature of these delights in Paradise, and how will it be different from the delights of this world?  We will try to highlight a few of these differences.

Pure delight without pain and suffering

While people in this world experience some delight, they also face much toil and suffering.  If one was to scrutinize the life which they live, they will find that the amount of hardship they face is much more than the ease and comfort.  As for the life of the Hereafter, there will be neither hardship nor suffering in it, and people will live therein in pure joy and delight.  All the causes of sorrow, pain and suffering which people experience in this life will be absent in the Hereafter.  Let’s take a look at some of these causes.

Wealth

When one thinks of success in this life, they usually conjure the image of big houses, fine jewelry and clothing, and expensive cars; financial stability is seen to be the key to a happy life.  To most people, success is inseparably related to wealth, even though this is the furthest from the truth.  How many times have we seen the wealthiest of people living such miserable lives, that it sometimes even leads them to commit suicide!  Wealth is something which humans in their very nature desire at any cost, and this desire has been created for a great and wise purpose.  When this desire is not satiated, it causes some extent of grief in a person.  For this reason, God has promised the inhabitants of Paradise that they will have all that they imagined as far as wealth and belongings are concerned, both for those who were extremely poor, experiencing even hunger and thirst, to those well-to-do but who desired even more.  God gives us a glimpse of this when he says:

“... there will be there all that the souls could desire, all that the eyes could delight in …” (Quran 43:71)

“Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent forth (good deeds) in days past!” (Quran 69:24)

“… They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade.  They will recline therein on raised thrones.  How good [is] the recompense!  How beautiful a couch [is there] to recline on!” (Quran 18:31)

Disease and Death

Another cause of pain and suffering in this life is the death of a loved one or disease, which are both non-existent in Paradise.  None will feel any sickness or pain in Paradise.  The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said about the people of Paradise:

“They will never fall ill, blow their noses or spit.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

None will die in Paradise.  All shall live eternally enjoying the pleasures therein.  The Prophet Muhammad said that a caller will call out in Paradise when people enter it:

“Indeed may you be healthy and never be sick again, may you live and never die again, may you be young and never grow feeble again, may you enjoy, and never feel sorrow and regret again.” (Saheeh Muslim)

Social Relationships

As for the remorse felt due to a rift in personal relationships, people will never hear any evil or hurting comments or speech in Paradise.  They will only hear good words and words of peace.  God says:

“They will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin.  But only the saying of: Peace! Peace!” (Quran 56:25-26)

There will be no enmity between people nor ill-feelings:

“And We shall remove from their breasts any (mutual) hatred or sense of injury (which they had, if at all, in the life of this world)…” (Quran 7:43)

The Prophet said:

“There will be no hatred or resentment among them, their hearts will be as one, and they will glorify God, morning and evening.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

People will have the best of companions in the Hereafter, who were also the best people in the world:

“And whoever obeys God and the Messenger – those will be with the ones upon whom God has bestowed favor – of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous.  And excellent are those as companions!” (Quran 4:69)

The hearts of the people of Paradise will be pure, their speech will be good, their deeds righteous.  There will be no hurtful, upsetting, offensive or provocative talk there, for Paradise is free of all worthless words and deeds. If we were to discuss all the causes for anguish in this life, we would surely find its absence or opposite to be true in Paradise.

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Calling on Allah in the Quran

“Call on me, I will answer you. (40:60)”

The verse above is a powerful one for when Allah asks us to call onto him, He in the same phrase says that He WILL respond to us. He WILL answer us. He WILL help us out. That is the power in the belief of dua and that is what Allah means when he says this in the Quran.

No dua is ever meaningless. Allah has asked us to keep asking Him for what we desire for it is only He who can provide to us, no one else. That is why for Allah the best thing is for his creation to keep asking him for blessings and never get tired of doing so.

There is a saying that when you want to talk to Allah, you should pray Salah and recite dua and when you want Allah to talk to you, you should read the Quran.  And the Quran very clearly tells all of us to call on Allah at all times.

Calling on Allah does not only mean reciting dua when we are in need and miseries. Calling on Allah also means to do so when we have been given a blessing. If Allah has made us happy we should call on Allah and tell Him Subhanawataala how immensely grateful we are. For Allah has asked us to be grateful of all that we have and not to be arrogant. In the same way when we are afflicted with a misery Allah has asked us to call on him so that He may help. Allah says in the Quran “Remember me and I will remember you.” How many of us remember Allah till we have are surrounded by a problem? Hardly any. Yet Allah is all forgiving and All merciful. He yet again asks us to call on Him

In the Quran Allah has given us proof of Him answering to us when we call on him. He has told us how immensely close He is to us. Allah says: “And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein” (50:16). Allah has said he is closer than a man’s jugular vein because that is the vein that is in the neck and hence closer to a human but Allah is closer to us than even that, then why do we not call on Him, make dua to Him and ask him for what we desire?

It is only when we have complete faith in the Being of Allah is when we will believe that He can do anything.  When we believe that what Allah gives us is for our benefit and what he does not give us is ALSO for our benefit, that is when our faith is actually complete. What Allah has given to us NOONE can take away and what Allah has chosen NOT to give us no one can give us that. He is the Planner. He is the allocator and He is the Sustainer. So call out to Him and see your prayers being answered. See the magic that you will experience when you call out to Him. And disappointment will never touch your life. This is Allah’s promise and He subhanwataala keeps His promises.

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Allah as the Guardian of the Quran

(We have, without doubt, sent down the Reminder [i.e., the Quran]; and We will assuredly guard it [from corruption].) (Al-Hijr 15:9)

The above verse represents the promise of Allah to protect the Quran.  The protection of the Quran is important because it is the word of Allah and the proof for humanity that Islam is the complete religion, Islam is Allah’s religion. Allah has promised to take care of His word so that the people of the faith of Islam have complete confidence and trust in Him. Surely the Quran is the complete code of life and Allah intends for all to learn it and follow it.

The verse also explains that Allah will guard the Quran in all circumstances inspite of the changes that people made in it for their own (political, social) means.  Allah ensured that the Quran is protected in its complete form.

There are a number of ways of the protection of Allah for the Quran which we have seen over 1500 years. One of the ways to protect the Quran is to inform His creation to learn it by heart. Allah has mentioned in the Quran:

(And in truth We have made the Qur’an easy to remember; but is there any that remembereth?) (Al-Qamar 54:17).

This is Allah telling us specifically how easy it is to learn the Quran and follow it. By learning the book of Allah you are undoubtedly becoming the guardian of the word of Allah which shall forever stay in your heart and mind and will also eventually take you to Jannah. Also, when other people recite the Quran in front of them they become a source of correcting them if they make a mistake.

Allah ensured the protection of the Quran also through the Holy Prophet (PBUH)’s companions. The companions of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) made numerous copies of the complete scripture of the Quran which were distributed to all Muslims. Over time these copies multiplied into thousands and millions which protected the script of the Quran even today 1500 years later.

However, we as the ummah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) must understand that although Allah has promised to protect the Quran from all corruption it does not mean that Allah made the world perfect. This dunya was and will always be imperfect because Allah intended it to be so. We must follow the teachings of the Quran and lead a straight path towards Jannah IA through our good deeds.

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The Quran is Allah’s protection towards mankind

Allah is Al-Hafiz, The Protector of everything. It is said in the Quran by Allah,“Lo! My Lord is Protector over all things.” [Sūrah al-Hūd: 57]. When Allah Himself says that he is the protector over all things and He alone can save us from anything bad, that means that it is HIS power ONLY to protect us and save us.

When Allah says that He is the protector of mankind, what does that mean? What is Allah protecting us from? The answer is Hell-Fire. Allah has made mankind and asked them to follow the straight path of following all the principles of Islam which include Believing in Allah and the Prophet, Salah, Roza, Haj and Zakat. When we follow these principles of Islam we are automatically protected from the hell fire. And where is the information about the principles of Islam found? It is found in the Quran.

So Allah subhanwatallah, in His extreme mercy for mankind, that mankind that He created, has given us the book Quran so that it can protect us. He has worded his commandments in the Quran and sent them down through the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) because He wants us to follow them and attain Jannah.

Allah understands that this worldly life may distract us,that is why He has ordered us to pray to Him 5 times a day and has said so in the Quran. Salah is mentioned abundant times in the Quran! Allah wants us to understand the poverty of the people who have no food which in turn makes us humble and a good human being THAT is why He has mentioned in the Quran to let the Muslims fast (ramazan). Again, Allah is protecting us! This goes on and on and we can see the same example for all the principles of Islam

Hence the entire word of Allah presented to us in the form of the Quran is protecting us. When we follow its commandments we are protected, when we read it we are protected, when we hear it we are protected and when we learn it we are protected. It is a complete circle where this one book, these verses of the word of Allah is actually becoming our savior!

Allah says in the Quran: Say, “Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector.” And upon Allah let the believers rely.” ‪Quran: Surat At-Tawbah [9:51]

So let’s read and understand the Quran and let it be our protector from the Hell fire. Ameen.

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“Lord of the Worlds” in the Quran

The Quran is a book of many miracles. It is also a book in which Allah foretells events. One of the most amazing events that Allah has mentioned is that He is the Lord of the Worlds; “worlds”, the plural. This is a fascinating revelation by Allah for the humans who only know the world that they live in. However, Allah places great emphasis on telling us in his Divine word that there is more than one world.

As Muslims, we are ofcourse, required to believe that there is one other world which is called Jannah (heaven) where the believers will go when they do good things, and one other world called Jahannum (hell) where the disbelievers will go when they do bad. In Jannah the believers will get all the happiness and good things that are beyond the human imagination, though Allah has mentioned some of them which include fruits of all kinds, dates and rivers of milk. However in Jahannam, the disbelievers will burn in hell.

Allah says in the Quran “Know that the life (of) the world (is) play and amusement and adornment and boasting among you and competition in increase of the wealth and the children, like (the) example (of) a rain, pleases the tillers its growth; then it dries and you see it turning yellow; then becomes debris. And in the Hereafter (is) a punishment severe and forgiveness from Allah and Pleasure. But not (is) the life (of) the world except (the) enjoyment (of) delusion.” (57:20) So let us not be deluded by this world, let us live in this world but aim for the REAL world, the Hereafter made of Jannah!

The word LORD occurs 975 times in the Quran and lord of the worlds occurs 73 times in the Quran. The Quran is that amazing miracle which explains the concept of Allah being the Lord of the Worlds so vividly so that we all understand. And Allah did this more than 1500 years ago, when human invention and technological advances were not present. Today everyone knows that there are more planets than Earth but Allah had told us in His book 73 times that He alone is Lord of the worlds! Allah had ingrained this knowledge in the Prophet (PBUH) long before telescopes were invented, long before scientific breakthroughs took place.

So read the word of Allah and be amazed by the knowledge that Allah imparted to us before we even existed. The more you delve in the Quran in all faith and sincerity, the more you will learn about something new. Get that knowledge and keep it in store. IA it will help in your hereafter!

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Quran, the Healer of Hearts

Allah has made the human heart as a very important organ but its survival is a very complicated question. That is because Allah has made the heart as the centre of all feeling and emotion and it is through the heart that a person’s personality and everything else in their life is judged and comprehended. The Quran mentions the heart in numerous places in the Quran because Allah has asked His believers to turn to the Quran to give the heart its REAL nourishment.

In this world, this life, everyone goes through troubles and joy. When we are in trouble we feel that our heart has broken. But that is not true. What has happened is not that our heart has broken, rather it has not received that nourishment which it requires, which Allah made it to GET, and which we have failed to provide it; the remembrance of Allah, the recitation of the Quran, the understanding of the book of Allah. For it is the QURAN that has the power to let all problems go away, to mend hearts to heal hearts.

Allah has mentioned this phenomenon in various places in the Quran. He says “We have sent down in the Quran that which is healing and a mercy to those who believe” (Surat Al-Isra: 17:82). What more proof do we need from Allah that the Quran is one of the most important sources of fulfilling the heart?

So accept it, heal your heart with the Quran! There are a number of different healings that Quran can provide; the healing from problems, the spiritual healing and reminder of your Islamic faith and the physical healing as a medicine for illnesses. Here we talk about all those sorts of healing. Surely Allah has testified in the Quran “If God touches thee with an affliction, no one can remove it but He” (Surat Al-‘An`am: 6:17).

Noone! How beautiful is this world of Allah that He tells us to remember Him for He alone can help us out of the affliction. How beautiful is Allah who is telling us in the Quran to feed the heart with faith, the word of Allah so that it gets it complete nourishment and gives you joy, happiness, patience, love, hence strengthening it beyond measure? Just as a child is fed with healthy foods when he is young and that strengthens their bones, in the same way Allah is asking us to read the Quran, learn it, understand it so that it strengthens and in turn heals the heart, brings it back to its actual state, the one that was before worldly things plagued it. The Quran is, in other words, the perfect medicine, that which doesn’t have an expiry date and that which can cure the biggest of illnesses,

The Prophet Mohammad too, said about the remembrance of Allah in this regard “There is a polish for everything that removes the rust and the polish for the rust-of- heart is the dhikr (remembrance) of God.”(PBUH).

So embrace the Quran as a healer of your heart and watch it make miracles in your life!

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Understand the Quran

The Quran is a sea of information which contains guidance on all the areas of the world and the Hereafter. You understand the Quran and you understand your existence, that’s how important the Quran is in every Muslim’s life.  However, it is a challenge to do so and proper guidance must be followed in order to achieve the ultimate guidance of the word of Allah. There are a few steps that one must follow to gain an insight into the teachings of the Holy Book. Those are explained below

Purify your intentions: The first and foremost step to reading and understanding the Quran is to purify your inner soul and rid it from all negativity and evil. That is when the word of Allah will hit you like none other. When you have purified your intentions and completely focused on the content and getting that feeling that Allah is speaking to you, that is when you know your soul has been purified and Allah has invited you to understand his word.

Use a reliable translation: The next step is to use the translation of a language that you understand fully. Be it English, Urdu, Spanish or any other language in the world, (if you don’t read Arabic) pick one that you have the greatest command on. When you read the Quran in the language that you have grown up with and spoken fluently, you will be able to understand the Quran very well.

Study consolidated hadiths and ayahs: Allah has given the Quran as a complete guidance so we must use and study all the ayahs of the Quran as well as Hadiths narrated. If you study the Quranic ayahs in isolation there is a chance that you will not understand the complete scope of what Allah wants to say to you.

Think and contemplate:  When you’re reading the Quran, read it as though you are reading a message that Allah has sent for you. Think about it and try to delve on the meaning of what Allah is saying to you. And then mould your life according to the message that you have understood. The result will only make you a spiritual, kind person and following the commandments of Islam.

Understand the science of the Quran: You must also try to understand the science of the Quran and its vast history, how and when it was revealed, WHY it was revealed, why it is called the complete source of guidance etc. Understand the life of the person to whom it was revealed, our Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)

Doing all of the above will help you tremendously in understanding the Quran to a level that satisfies you and makes you feel closer to Allah.

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