Alif lam mim. Ha meem. Kaf hah ya ayn sad. Have you ever wondered what those undecipherable letters at the beginning of some surahs mean?
It should be mentioned first that if there was one cultural achievement that the pre-Islamic Arabs could boast of, it was certainly poetry. Priding themselves on the artful use of complex meters and exacting rhymes, poetry was so adored and admired that it was stitched into the cloth covering the Ka'ba. Regular poetry competitions drew crowds and poets were employed for their skill. Yet despite their mastery of the language they could not figure out these mysterious letters that preceded certain parts of the revelation.
Shaykh Ash-Shanqeeti recounted many opinions from the scholars concerning these letters. The strongest opinion, according to the Shaykh, is that Allah used them to catch the attention of the listeners--as most such letters are followed by warnings to take heed--and also to taunt the Quraysh with the very language they boasted mastery of. Paired with the repeated challenges posed by Allah to the Quraysh to reproduce something similar to the Quran, these letters reinforce the futility of even the finest-honed human abilities in front of The Almighty.
As we began Surah Maryam, Shaykh Ash-Shanqeeti paused at Zakariyyah's statement: "He said, 'My Lord, how will I have a boy when my wife has been barren and I have reached extreme old age?' [An angel] said, 'Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, for I created you before, while you were nothing.' " [19:8-9]
Often times we despair because, like Zakariyyah, we know the situation we're currently in and we know the result we want but we can't foresee how we could possibly reach that result given our circumstances. And so Shaykh Ash-Shanqeeti reflected that Zakariyyah's question mirrors the human being's futility of knowledge and foresight. Surely if we were in Zakariyyah's shoes we would ask the same question he had asked and more. Perhaps we would speculate if we would be returned to our youth again, or if our spouse would somehow be transformed, or if perhaps we would be given another wife who was capable of bearing children.
But becoming over-concerned with the 'how' can often be a great barrier to surrendering to Allah's will and plan. And so look at Allah's response to Zakariyyah: "Thus it will be," or, as the Shaykh said, it will happen as you are in your current state, without such dramatic changes as you might imagine necessary. Know that Allah is capable of all things, and if He has willed it, it will happen for you, just like it did for Zakariyyah, 'thus.'
Praise be to Allah! He granted Maryam alayhas salaam food when it was not in season (outside its time). And He granted Zakariyyah a son when he was old (outside his time) and his wife was barren. And it is so easy for Allah.
We forget that all the limitations are ours, Allah has no limitations.
And how beautifully shaykh shinqeeti captured the key word in the ayah, 'thus'!
What I love about his reflections is that they show that he isn't drawing from tafaseer or other works, rather it appears he has spent years pondering and reflecting on every word. A beautiful gift.
{My Personal Reflection}
Shaykh Ash-Shanqeeti mentioned as we read further into Surah Maryam that in Maryam we have an exemplary case of how to attain piety: "And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel [literally Our Spirit], and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man. She said, "Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, [so leave me], if you should be fearing of Allah'." [19:17-18]
If you want to be pious, said the Shaykh, you have to protect the three gateways of evil: protect that which your eyes see, protect that which your ears hear, and protect the words that roll off of your tongue. Just as Allah chose the Prophet Muhammad to deliver the Quran in part because his honesty was incontrovertible, so was Maryam chose for a miraculous birth because her modesty and piety were incontrovertible. Once we habituate ourselves to honorable, virtuous qualities, so will the blessings we receive from our Sustainer increase.
Despite the weakness of the estranged, lonely and pregnant Mary, Allah advises her: وَهُزِّىٓ إِلَيۡكِ بِجِذۡعِ ٱلنَّخۡلَةِ تُسَـٰقِطۡ عَلَيۡكِ رُطَبً۬ا جَنِيًّ۬ا “And, if you shake the trunk of the palm tree towards you, it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates” (Qur’an 19:25) Your sustenance and livelihood is also reserved, but you need to strive and persevere for it to fall on you. Gems From The Quran Telegram: goo.gl/ZclAR9 Instagram: goo.gl/OaiQD7 Facebook: goo.gl/jJ90YS
Allah said to Mary in the event of labour: فَكُلِى وَٱشۡرَبِى وَقَرِّى عَيۡنً۬ا “So eat and drink and be contented” (Qur’an 19:26) Do not let your worries consume you to the extent of robbing you from all pleasures of life; it is foolish to curtail some sadness at the expense of all joy. Gems From The Quran Telegram: goo.gl/ZclAR9 Instagram: goo.gl/OaiQD7 Facebook: goo.gl/jJ90YS
The emaan and manners of Prophet Ibrahim (‘alayhi as-salaam) allowed him to address his father as: يا أبت...يا أبت...يا أبت "O my dear father..." (Qur’an 19:42) "O my dear father..." (Qur’an 19:43) "O my dear father..." (Qur’an 19:44) "O my dear father..." (Qur’an 19:45) ...compare this to how his father addresses him in the next verse: يا أبراهيم "O Ibrahim..." (Qur’an 19:46) Disbelief has caused the father’s heart to become hard and coarse towards his son. He couldn't even bring himself to address him as "O my son..." (يا بني). As our beloved Prophet ﷺ mentioned: “Gentleness does not enter anything except that it beautifies it and harshness does not enter anything except that it disfigures it.” (Muslim) Gems From The Quran Telegram: goo.gl/ZclAR9 Instagram: goo.gl/OaiQD7 Facebook: goo.gl/jJ90YS
When we reached verse 53 of Surah Maryam Shaykh Ash-Shanqeeti paused to reflect on the great generosity of Moses. Moses had just been given perhaps the greatest blessing anyone could receive in this world, prophet-hood. Yet his first reaction was to immediately share this blessing with his brother, Aaron, and so he asked Allah so make his brother a prophet as well.
And look at us! No doubt we hesitate to share even the smallest blessings that come our way. We're so indoctrinated with false notions of meritocracy and self-sufficiency that family members won't even help each other in times of financial hardship. We're so infatuated with this world that we justify luxurious getaways and vacations while our brothers and sisters are struggling to pay rent. We live our lives in comfort and ease but convince ourselves that we deserve it and get anxious and defensive when anyone tries to point it out. How many cars do you need? How many electronic devices? How many toys for the kids? How many rooms in your living quarters? And, perhaps more importantly, are you willing to share?
It was a truly beautiful moment when we came to the verse of prostration in Surah Maryam and the entire congregation, including the Shaykh, prostrated. After continuing with the lesson, the Shaykh advised us concerning reciting verses of prostration while leading obligatory prayers. He told us to not put the people in an awkward situation by surprising them with a verse of prostration...it could easily cause confusion and someone might end up preceding the Imam in bowing or sitting because of it, especially in larger congregations. If you want to recite a verse of prostration while you're leading the congregational prayer, he said, it's better to warn them before you start.
“*So when he withdrew from them* and what they worshipped besides Allah, *We gave to him* Ishaq and Yaqoub…” [Maryam: 49] فَلَمَّا ٱعۡتَزَلَهُمۡ وَمَا يَعۡبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَهَبۡنَا لَهُۥٓ إِسۡحَٰقَ وَيَعۡقُوبَۖ You will never withdraw from a place of sin, or separate from a sinner except that blessings will blow in your direction. So get up and leave that sinful gathering! Gems From The Quran Telegram: goo.gl/ZclAR9 Instagram: goo.gl/OaiQD7 Facebook: goo.gl/jJ90YS
"And mention in the Book Ishmael. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet. And he used to enjoin on his people prayer and zakah and was to his Lord pleasing." [19:54-55]
Shaykh Ash-Shanqeeti stopped at this point to question us: here we have Allah saying that Prophet Ishmael enjoined prayer (salaah) and tithes (zakaah) on his people. In Arabic, "salaah" literally means supplication, and "zakaah" literally means purification, so are we to understand their prayers as supplication and their zakaah as purification, or are we to understand their prayer like our ritual prayer and their tithes like ours? This touches on a more fundamental topic within the discipline of Exegetic Principles: when we come across a term in the Quran that has both a linguistic meaning and a more specific meaning within the terminology of Islamic Law, do we privilege the linguistic meaning or the meaning within Islamic Law?
The Shaykh taught us that we must prioritize the meaning within Islamic Law unless there exists evidence to prove otherwise.
When we reached the verse, "But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil." [19:59] Shaykh Ash-Shinqeeti reminded us of another verse: "Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing," [29:45] and told us frankly that if our prayers aren't preventing us from such actions then we are neglecting our prayers.
And the secret, he said, is our intention. How many of us mechanically make purification, enter the prayer without even realizing it, and then mechanically move up and down until it's over? Meanwhile, all sorts of thoughts and conversations dance in our heads...no wonder many of us struggle to keep track of how many units we've prayed not just occasionally but for the majority of our prayers!
The secret is intention and its constant renewal. Before you start making your purification, ask yourself why you're doing it in the first place. Say bismillah. Before you leave your house or workplace to go pray make your intention again. Before you stand in the row and raise your hands make your intention yet again. Be aware of yourself and what you're doing. The more you increase your awareness, the more you will benefit from you prayer.
“But there came after them generations who neglected prayer and were driven by their own desires. These will come face to face with their evil” (Qur’an 19:59) فَخَلَفَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ خَلۡفٌ أَضَاعُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَٱتَّبَعُواْ ٱلشَّہَوَٲتِۖ فَسَوۡفَ يَلۡقَوۡنَ غَيًّا Ibn ul Qayyim said: A person of sound mind should understand that enduring hardship when controlling desire is far easier than enduring what will come from following it. Gems From The Quran Telegram: goo.gl/ZclAR9 Instagram: goo.gl/OaiQD7 Facebook: goo.gl/jJ90YS
[But there came after them an evil generation, who neglected prayers and followed sensual desires, so they will meet Al- Ghayya(severe multiplied punishment)]
After Allah mentioned the sincere prophets who follow and seek the pleasure of their Lord and keep turning to Him, He mentioned those who came after them- who changed the commands after them - and that they are generations after generations.
They wasted the prayer (As Salah) which they were commanded to guard and protect its establishment; but they became lenient and easy going regarding, it neglected and lost it.
And they lost the prayer that which is the pillar of the Deen, and the determining factor of Ikhlaas and Imaan (Sincerity and faith) to The Lord of the Worlds, the deed which is the most important of deeds, and the most virtuous... but they refused to do it and neglected it.
The main leading reason to leaving the prayer was due to their following their souls desires and wishes, so all their worries and concerns became diverted to that, and they began preferring it over the rights of Allah.
After this, they began to fall short regarding Allah’s Rights, and they turned to their souls desires and focused on achieving them no matter what it took.
[So they will meet Al Ghayya] Which means, severe multiplied punishment.
-Summarized Translation-
SubhanAllah. May Allah protect us from being amongst such people. May He make us among those who establish and guard prayer in the best way that will please Allah.
Gemsofsalaf telegram channel t.me/GemsOfSalaf
~ He never forgets ~ “…and your Lord is not forgetful.” (Qur’an 19:64) وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ نَسِيّٗا Sometimes Du’aa is not answered immediately but Allah never forgets that you made it and will answer it at a time better than the time you made it. Be certain of this. Gems From The Quran Telegram: goo.gl/ZclAR9 Instagram: goo.gl/OaiQD7 Facebook: goo.gl/jJ90YS
On the day of Christmas, the Christians remind each other about Allah having a son:
{ وَقَالُوا اتَّخَذَ الرَّحْمَنُ وَلَداً * لَقَدْ جِئْتُمْ شَيْئاً إِدّاً * تَكَادُ السَّمَاوَاتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْهُ وَتَنشَقُّ الْأَرْضُ وَتَخِرُّ الْجِبَالُ هَدّاً } “And they say, ‘The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son.’ You have done an atrocious thing [by saying that]. The heavens almost rupture therefrom, the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation.” [Maryam 19:88-90]
في ميلاد المسيح يتذاكر النصارى بنوّته لله (وقالوا اتخذ الرحمن ولداً لقد جئتم شيئاً إداً تكاد السموات يتفطرن منه وتنشق الأرض وتخر الجبال هداً) Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al-Tarefe
How much do we struggle and go out of our way to keep the ropes of affection strong with those we love? Yet worship carried out in secret, away from the eyes of the people, suffices us from all of that effort and fatigue! إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ سَيَجۡعَلُ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُ وُدًّ۬ا “Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection.” (Qur’an 19:96) Gems From The Quran Telegram: goo.gl/ZclAR9 Instagram: goo.gl/OaiQD7 Facebook: goo.gl/jJ90YS