Sacred Text Messages

God tells us in the Qur’an that the origin of the human story began with the binary—Adam and Eve. God then assigned us nations and tribes in order that we might come to know one another and distinguish ourselves through virtue. Don’t miss this important Qur’anic lesson that Shaykh Hamza focuses on in this week’s Sacred Text Message taken from the 13th verse of the 49th chapter of the Noble Qur’an. Hear how these Qur’anic truths are as relevant today as they were over 1400 years ago.

The vast diversity we see all around us constantly reminds us of God’s greatness. This week’s Sacred Text Messages podcast discusses the Qur’anic imperative to respect the diversity of human beings in our races, religions, and tribes. In a time where hate and division have risen to new heights, this lesson serves as a much needed reminder to practice prophetic benevolence and reason over rage and violence.

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ ثَمَرَاتٍ مُخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَانُهَا ۚ وَمِنَ الْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌ بِيضٌ وَحُمْرٌ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهَا وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودٌ

See you not that Allâh sends down water (rain) from the sky, and We produce therewith fruits of varying colours, and among the mountains are streaks white and red, of varying colours and (others) very black

তুমি কি দেখনি আল্লাহ আকাশ থেকে বৃষ্টিবর্ষণ করেন, অতঃপর তদ্দ্বারা আমি বিভিন্ন বর্ণের ফল-মূল উদগত করি। পর্বতসমূহের মধ্যে রয়েছে বিভিন্ন বর্ণের গিরিপথ-সাদা, লাল ও নিকষ কালো কৃষ্ণ।

وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱلدَّوَآبِّ وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ كَذَٰلِكَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى ٱللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْعُلَمَـٰٓؤُا۟ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ

And likewise of men and Ad-Dawâbb [moving (living) creatures, beasts], and cattle, are of various colours. It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is All-Mighty, Oft-Forgiving.

और इसी तरह आदमियों और जानवरों और चारपायों की भी रंगते तरह-तरह की हैं उसके बन्दों में ख़ुदा का ख़ौफ करने वाले तो बस उलेमा हैं बेशक खुदा (सबसे) ग़ालिब और बख्शने वाला है

(Qur’an 35:27-28)

In this first episode of Season 2, Hamza Yusuf reminds us of the sacred text messages from the Quran on maintaining the houses of Allah. What are our obligations as caretakers of these sacred spaces, and how can we make parts of our homes sacred as well? Join the journey of sacred wisdom once again as we start the New Year with hope and gratitude.

Throughout human history, great philosophers, leaders, and thinkers devoted their lives toward the pursuit of wisdom. Countless pages and lines of poetry extol the qualities of the wise person. In this podcast, Hamza Yusuf explains the Quranic definition of wisdom and the prerequisite knowledge to achieve it.

God revealed the Qur'an as the light of guidance and the criterion to judge between truth and falsehood. In this week's episode, Hamza Yusuf discusses the key to our well-being and success—a regular commitment to the recitation and reflection of God's Book.

The Quran addresses one of humanity's perennial questions: Why are we here, and where are we going? In this episode, Hamza Yusuf elucidates the Quranic conception of this life and the prophetic practice that navigates us back to the Divine.

The recent tragic events in France once again bring to the forefront the age-old debate over government and the limits of allegiance. This episode examines the current crisis through the lens of our sacred texts, which harmonize the concepts of obedience, freedom, and the pursuit of justice.

God tells us in the Quran that man was created in a state of angst, uneasy in both fortune and misfortune. What is the spiritual remedy for this? Tune in and discover the sacred prescription for our most innate illness.

In the perpetual battle between good and evil, how do we avoid the seductions of false gods and the pitfalls of groupthink? This episode expounds on the prophetic tradition that reveals the spiritual vaccine to the current plague of nihilism and moral relativity: rejection of the profane and clinging to the sacred.

Since the dawn of our species, the pursuit of knowledge can be found at the core of the human endeavor, and the greatest of all knowledge leads inevitably to the divine. In this episode, Hamza Yusuf discusses the centrality of knowledge in the prophetic tradition, why we pursue it, and the role of the scholars as inheritors and guardians of this path to God.