Prophets in the Qur'an: Practical Lessons from the Qur'anic Stories

Start your year with reflecting on how to see things around you for what they are. Start to look at things differently with the eye of faith, cognizant of divine manifestations in all their ways. Know the three keys of beginning your year right in this inspiring reminder from Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.

".. So we ask Allah, Most Sublime, that we enter this new year, reminding ourselves of the call of the beloved of Allah, the embodiment, of what it means to know Allah, to behold Allah, to love Allah--such as he is known as the beloved of Allah--who said, Allah’s peace and blessing be upon him: “Renew your faith”. How do we renew our faith? Make everything we do an act of turning to Allah.”

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In this Friday khutba Dr. Asim Yusuf begins by giving a brief history how the adhan came about to be the call to prayer for the Muslims. The companions dreamt the words of the adhan. One should reflect on the significance of the adhan. Nothing in our religion came about randomly. Rather, our religion come from the Hakim (The Wise), and is never bereft of wisdom. Men should be giving the adhan and the iqama before praying. Adhan is a form of dhikr (remembrance) that should be done five times a day. Reflect on the symbolism of the adhan. The adhan is recommended outside of the performance of the prayer one of these times is when a baby is born. The adhan is a call to prayer, but to which prayer is the baby being called to? It’s a call to their own janaza prayer, which is a prayer performed without adhan. Adhan is a remembrance of death and what follows it. Instinctively we know that there is something after death. Every human has some belief about the afterlife. Even those who don’t believe in God. Remembering death frequently is not a negative thing. The adhan is a remembrance for the stages of the afterlife. The adhan is direct sequential reminder in the moments after death. Religion is here to remind us there is a dawn coming, and you need to prepare for the day after which there are no more days. Worship at its core is not an action. Action is how worship is expressed. Worship at its core is a realization and internal reorientation.

In this Friday khutba Shaykh Faraz begins by reminding the believers to appreciate the signs around one. There are verses about those signs that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would recite regularly upon waking for his night prayer.

"Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the day and night there are signs for people of reason. ˹They are˺ those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth ˹and pray˺, “Our Lord! You have not created ˹all of˺ this without purpose. Glory be to You! Protect us from the torment of the Fire."  [Sura al-Imran: 3:190-191]

All of Allah’s creating should remind one of The Creator. He is kind, caring, just, and all-knowing. One of the basic proofs of God is everything besides Allah is given to change. Anything given to change points to a creator. People of insight look at not just forms, but look at the reality of things. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was constantly in the remembrance of Allah. Make a habit to pause and look with the eye of reflection. The prophetic gaze was reflecting.

 

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In this Friday khutba Shaykh Faraz Rabbani begins by reminding the believers to appreciate the gift of Allah. Allah’s blessings are beyond imagination. He then comments on the verse from the Qur’an from Surat Ibrahim: “ If you were to count the blessing of Allah, you would be unable to innumerate them.” Sura 14:34. The believers should pause and reflect on the Qur’an. There is a distinction between reflecting on the Qur’an and interpreting the Qur’an. Reflecting on the Qur’an is a take the Qur’an as a mirror, and ask what is this verse saying to me. Some reflection can be personal. One should reflect on the reality of Allah’s blessing upon you. If Allah is not blessing you in your life you would not exist. If Allah stops sustaining you for a moment you would stop existing. Nothing exists except that it is a blessing from Allah. Existence itself it a gift. Even trials and tribulations are a blessing. When one is sick and grateful and turns to Allah it is a blessing. Allah calls one to have a higher standard of gratefulness. Being truly grateful is to view pleasure and displeasure, ease and difficulty, and success and failure as all being a blessing from Allah. A believer responds to everything with faith. Everything that comes, is only from Allah.

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In this Friday khutba Shaykh Faraz Rabbani begins by reminding the believers that Allah has granted a reminder as a gift alongside guidance in this life, as a way to show one’s purpose, and for one to have contentment. The Qur’an  is not simply a book of guidance. The Qur’an is also a reminder. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was sent not only as a guide. But as a reminder as well. Reminder benefits the believers. There are three critical qualities that describe the believers from Surat al-Anfal. “The ˹true˺ believers are only those whose hearts tremble at the remembrance of Allah, whose faith increases when His revelations are recited to them, and who put their trust in their Lord”. Qualities are mentioned for the believers to take heed, and be elevated through them. The fear of awe is not a negative fear. Positive awe is awe of Allah’s majesty, perfection, beauty. Hearts tremble out of a sense of gratitude. Upon opening the book of Allah, a believer will be moved by the remembrance of Allah. The believers' trust is upon Allah.

 

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In this fifth part of the series A Day in Madina by Shaykh Faid, he begins by describing the morning of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). He begins with how there is no guidance but the guidance of Allah Most High. There is nothing greater than learning about the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). While the challenges might have been difficult while in Madina, the companions did not waver and stood next the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) actually and figuratively. The companions (may Allah be pleased with them) came and sought blessings from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The companions did not take things for granted. They sought out the blessings from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on a regular basis. After the morning prayer the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would ask if there was anyone sick they could visit, out of his care and concern for the companions. Worries and concerns of the companions, were the worries and concerns of the prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him).

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Allah blessed and gifted the believers with the gift of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and the message he came with. His message is one that highlights what truly matters in life. In this Friday khutba, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani reminds us of the nature of this life and the nature of the hereafter through verses 14-17 of Sura al-Imran:

زُيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ حُبُّ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالْبَنِينَ وَالْقَنَاطِيرِ الْمُقَنطَرَةِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَالْخَيْلِ الْمُسَوَّمَةِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ وَالْحَرْثِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَاللَّـهُ عِندَهُ حُسْنُ الْمَآبِ ﴿١٤﴾ قُلْ أَؤُنَبِّئُكُم بِخَيْرٍ مِّن ذَٰلِكُمْ ۚ لِلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَأَزْوَاجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ وَرِضْوَانٌ مِّنَ اللَّـهِ ۗ وَاللَّـهُ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ ﴿١٥﴾الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ ﴿١٦﴾ الصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْمُنفِقِينَ وَالْمُسْتَغْفِرِينَ بِالْأَسْحَارِ(١٧

The enjoyment of ˹worldly˺ desires—women, children, treasures of gold and silver, fine horses, cattle, and fertile land—has been made appealing to people. These are the pleasures of this worldly life, but with Allah is the finest destination.

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Shall I inform you of what is better than ˹all of˺ this? Those mindful of their Lord will have Gardens under which rivers flow, to stay there forever, and pure spouses, along with Allah’s pleasure.” And Allah is All-Seeing of ˹His˺ servants, ˹It is they˺ who are patient, sincere, obedient, and charitable, and who pray for forgiveness before dawn.

Sura al-Imran 14-17

These verses highlight five qualities of the true servants of Allah:

Steadfast Patience - One who is fireman what is pleasing to Allah

Those Who are True - Those who make the right commitment in life. Their actions correspond to their words.

Truly Devoted to Allah - They turn to Allah in supplication and prayer, in a state of need.

Ever Giving - They spend on the needy, and spend in the ways of good.

Those Who Seek Forgiveness in Depths of the Nights

 

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In this fourth part of the series A Day in Madina by Shaykh Faid, he continues by describing how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) loved each and everyone of his umma. He (peace and blessings be upon him) called those who believed in him even though they never met him as his brothers. The Prophet’s actions (peace and blessings be upon him) have been transmitted from generation to generation. Shaykh Faid goes on and explains how after the companion Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) calls for the prayer, the companions wouldn’t stand up until they saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). All of the Prophet’s actions were with absolute humility. He (peace and blessings be upon him) would stand for his daughter Fatima as a way to honor her (may Allah be pleased with her). He gave attention to everyone, and honored everyone. Respect was learned from Prophetic actions. Shaykh Faid then explains some of the meanings of the prayer that are learned from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

 

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In this Friday khutba, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani speaks about the power of speaking the truth. It was from Prophet's practice (peace and blessings be upon him) to recite particular verses during his khutba. The verses 70-71 from Sura Ahzab are two such verses.

“ O  believers! Be mindful of Allah, and say what is right. He will bless your deeds for you, and forgive your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, has truly achieved a great triumph.” (Ahzab: 70-71)

Shaykh Faraz explains that being mindful of Allah is to uphold taqwa. Mindfulness of Allah is to fulfill the purpose of this life in submitting to Allah Most High, seeking His good pleasure, and seeking His closeness. The first step in mindfulness is to leave what Allah has prohibited.

Shaykh Faraz then reminds to not be silent when the truth is called for.  Always say what is right. The most honored with Allah is the most mindful. Speak truthful and upright speech, and Allah will rectify all your actions. Speaking that which is wrong harms other people. One is commanded to say what is right. In doing what is right a believer is concerned with all the truths.

The purpose of speech  is to say things of benefit. Being considerate in one’s speech is the key to change. One should learn restraint and how to act with purpose. One of the keys to speech is to speak with intention, seeking the pleasure of Allah, and  in accordance with the sunna. Prophetic concern was to always speak what is right.

Sung by Shaykh Muhammad Adel and Shaykh Abdullah Adel.

The Adel brothers, of prophetic descent, hail from a family known for their righteousness and deep love of Allah and His Messenger, Allah bless him and give him peace. Since childhood they have been singing in public and private gatherings in Amman, Damascus, and other places in the Levant. They are highly sought out globally for their mastery of traditional Inshad.

To date, they have produced two albums of praise of the the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, which can be found here:

https://play.google.com/store/music/artist/The_Adel_Brothers?id=A62ohpp5bgzmqb75gbphj45n65y&hl=en_GB

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/the-adel-brothers/1171282072

This mawlid is the perfect way to prepare oneself for the blessed month of the birth of the Messenger of Allah. After a moving recitation of the Qurʾan by Shaykh Abdullah, it starts with a recitation of some of the blessed names of the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace.

Next, Shaykh Idris Watts, founder of www.quraniccircle.com, discusses keeping the company of the righteous, contemplating the Qurʾan, and singing the poetry of the righteous as means of igniting the spark of longing for the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace.

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat next briefly touches on how the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, is a such a blessing from Allah that we will never be able to thank Him for. A blessing whose effects which we benefit from now, as we will on the Day of Judgement.

Shaykh Muhammad then discusses the importance of understanding who a message has come from in order to understand the true consequence of the message. One such message is the command to send blessings on the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace. Understanding who it is from give a new depths to the significance of this great act which is a tremendous means to having our needs fulfilled.

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