Reflect & Connect: Surah Al-Mursalat – Ep. 03

Mufti Azeemuddin Ahmed

Opening Verses of Surah Al-Mursalat

Allah says, after I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan, in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful:

May Allah allow the knowledge we hear throughout our lives — tonight and every night that we listen to the talks of Deen — to be a proof for us and not against us. Allahumma ameen.

The Refrain: Woe to the Beliers

In this Surah — Surah Al-Mursalat — Allah mentions the verse وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ ten times. Allah makes it very clear that those people who are beliers of the truth will eventually suffer and fail and have a terrible ending — because they belied the truth that was coming to them. They didn't appreciate it, they didn't believe in it, they made fun of it. And Allah will then allow them to see their ruin afterwards.

Recap: The Three-Columned Shadow of Jahannam

Last week we covered some of the signs and descriptions of the fire of Jahannam. One of the questions asked was: why is there a three-columned shadow coming out?

When Allah says:

Proceed to a three-columned shadow — this is the shadow of Hellfire smoke. But this shadow is not a shadow that gives any sense of peace, safety, respite, or protection. Rather, the shadow itself is what burns you. SubhanAllah — if the shadow is so painful, it looks like:

Like huge, stampeding yellow camels. And the sparks it hurls are:

As large as castles. Another meaning given is of a tree in the desert — in the wintertime when all that remains are the roots and the branches have fallen away — a huge tree. That is how big these massive flames of shadow will come out.

Why three? One in front, one to the right, one to the left. In all three directions wherever a person looks, he will see this shadow of the smoke of Jahannam.

A Day When They Cannot Speak

Allah then mentions all of this — what this day is — a day in which they shall not be able to speak. But there are some verses that speak about the disbelievers speaking on the Day of Judgment. For example, Allah mentions them being questioned. Allah mentions the disbelievers saying: "O our Lord, show us those from the jinn and from the humans who have misled us — we want to put them under our feet, so that they become the lowest of the low."

This is just chatter — talk of absolutely no benefit. By saying this to Allah, it does not mean Allah will actually bring those shayateen and put them under your feet. They have their own destiny, and the one whom they misled will have his own destiny.

As Allah says:

This is just something you are meant to say. You are saying it because that is all you have got. All you have got is to curse, all you have got is to say, "this person is to blame."

A Reflection: Ramyul Jamarat and the Real Battle with Shaytan

As you see sometimes — and it is reality — in Ramyul Jamarat, in the areas to be pelted with stones in Mina, the three places where Hazrat Ibrahim alayhi salam, on his way to sacrifice his son Ismail alayhi salam, was approached by Shaytan in three different spots and in various ways tried to stop him. And Ibrahim alayhi salam did not listen. So we go as hujjaj and we pelt those areas with stones, saying bismillah Allahu akbar, ridhan lil-Rahman wa rajman lil-Shaytan — in the name of Allah, Allah is the Greatest, to please Allah and to anger Shaytan.

Obviously there is no Shaytan tied to that place. The idea is to follow in the footsteps of Hazrat Ibrahim. But some people get very emotional. They take off their slippers, say forget it, I'll walk barefoot in 120-degree temperature, and catapult their slipper. It is as if they are sitting there coming up with war plans.

I wish — wallahi — if all you had to do to destroy Shaytan was throw stones at him, it would be a walk in the park. We could go for Hajj every month. But it is actually much harder. Shaytan is not tied to the stone. Shaytan is with you at that time. When he makes you throw slippers, when he makes you do things that are against the Sunnah, when people start throwing from far away and old women, kids, and adults get hit — you know what that feels like on a freshly shaved head? This is the foolishness that some people have. They are trying to take out their anger, but in reality, Shaytan is sitting there having a laugh. If he knows we are breaking the orders of the Shari'ah, then he laughs.

Dhul-Hijjah: Prioritising Obligations Over Preferences

Many people start growing out their beard because they know they cannot trim it in the days of Dhul-Hijjah. Now, to my knowledge, the moon was sighted in Florida, and tonight — right now — is the first night of Dhul-Hijjah, and our Eid will be on the day of Jummah. Alhamdulillah.

Now, during these days, some people — those who are supposed to be doing qurbani, udhiyah — I don't mean to single out any individual, may Allah allow me to work on myself first. Not cutting your nails and not cutting your hair during the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, if you are sacrificing an animal — you've heard this already. It is either mustahab or at most sunnah. And people do that — very diligently not cutting their hair, because it is preferable. But then when the day of Eid comes, they go to the barber, and not only do they cut their hair, they shave their beard.

Think about that — how particularly and meticulously we try to follow mustahab, preferable things, but then neglect something far more important, perhaps because of a lack of knowledge, or because of culture.

Many parts of the world have a culture that is the complete opposite of the Sunnah — where the moustache is super long, oiled and curled, but they clean shave every single day. And you know the story: Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was sitting when the Persian emperor sent two of his agents to go arrest him. That is how they came. It comes in hadith that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam looked at them — "We're here to arrest you." He looked the other way. Allah put awe of Rasulullah in their hearts. They politely came around and tried to speak to him. This happened three times.

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam says: "Why are you looking like this?" They replied, "Our Emperor asks us to look like this," meaning to shave their beards and have long moustaches. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam responded:

(Referenced in Musnad Ahmad and similar collections — the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "However, my Lord has ordered me to lengthen the beard and shorten the moustache.")

What happens is that there are many things in our Deen where we hold on to things that are optional or preferable, while things that are far more important we neglect. And this is not just about the beard. There are tons of things like this. A person may be fasting, doing qiyam and tahajjud, but neglecting truthfulness in business dealings — cheating his own sibling or partner out of money. That is not what our Deen teaches us. His Deen unfortunately thinks: as long as I pray, as long as I go to the masjid, everything else will take care of itself.

Following Deen in Totality

Look at the scarf for women. How many sisters — whether ill-informed, misinformed, or otherwise — will go buy fashionable, brand-name jilbabs and brand-name scarves, but in the process their entire back hair is showing. This is very common in India. My parents come from Hyderabad. I had the chance to visit there some years ago. Shocking — you have people wearing niqab, covering their face, but the entire hair from the back is showing. Or you have the scarf, but the neck is showing. And then this concept of "fixing the scarf" in public — lifting it up, exposing the hair, then putting it back. A female's hair is awrah. It has to be hidden. If it is exposed, her salah is invalid and it is sinful for another to look at it.

Our job is to enter into Islam in totality. As Allah says:

Enter into Islam in totality. Yes, you can wear a thobe, wear a niqab, wear a jilbab, come to the masjid and pray — do everything. But make sure you do not do:

Believing in some portion of the Book and leaving some other portion. Now, just because some people follow one portion of Deen and leave out nine portions — that does not mean you and I should say, "Well, what's the point of even doing that one portion?" No. When it comes to yourself — stop lying. Stop the bad deed. The fact that you have a beard and you're lying does not mean you now shave the beard and continue lying. Stop the lying. That's what we are trying to say.

The purpose of seeing such actions is to create haya and shame in us. To say: SubhanAllah, I look like a practicing, traditional Muslim — why am I doing this? You are supposed to feel guilty. Not to say, "Oh forget it, I will distance myself from the Qur'an." It is very important that we do not conflate Islam with Muslims — and the actions of Muslims with Islam. Please talk about this in your homes, talk about it to your friends, talk about it to your new Muslim friends. Tell them: you will see horrible things that Muslims do that has nothing to do with Islam.

Defending the Prophet and the Sahabah

The only ones we will stand up and give our lives for are Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and his Sahabah. Those are our role models. Not about the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, nor about the Sahabah — we will with tooth and nail stand to defend them. What does he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam say?

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3606 — "Whoever loves them, he loves them because of his love for me. And whoever hates them, he hates them because of his hatred for me.")

You cannot say you love Rasulullah and hate the Sahabah. Not possible. You cannot say you love Rasulullah and hate his wives, or hate his children.

The Day When They Cannot Speak: Reconciling the Apparent Contradiction

On the Day of Judgment, the Qur'an in this ayah (verse 35) says they will not be able to speak. Yet in other places we see dialogue happening. What do we learn from this? There are two explanations:

First: There will be certain scenes in which Allah will allow them to speak, and other scenes in which Allah will not allow them to speak at all — He will zip them up.

Second: The meaning of "not being able to speak" is that they will not be able to say anything of benefit. They will chatter — yada yada yada — they will talk. But Allah will not listen. It will be of no benefit and will get them nowhere. Today we have a hundred and one ways to make false excuses and defend ourselves. May Allah save us from becoming people who make up excuses for our faults. May Allah make us from people who, when reminded, immediately say: "You know what, thank you. You're right." Sometimes people are seventy years old and still haven't figured this out. Don't give excuses — because a day will come when you will not be able to give any.

Nor shall it be permitted for them to offer an excuse. So they can't scream curses, nor can they give any excuse for what happened.

The Day of Decision

This is the Day of Decision. We have gathered you up along with the earlier generations. For what day have they been waiting? For what day have they been delayed? For the Day of Gathering.

If you have a scheme against your imminent doom, then scheme against Me now as you did in life. Allah is saying: flex your muscles. I want to see it in action today. In the dunya, the disbelievers and the munafiqoon were always trying to flex their muscles, thinking they could get away from the punishment of Allah by tricking and deceiving people. Allah says in the Qur'an:

They attempt to deceive Allah, when in reality Allah is the one deceiving them. Meaning: Allah is letting them continue on a path of sin, oppression, and aggression — without anyone stopping them, without anything changing in their lives. So they actually think they own this entire world, and that if there is something called the Hereafter, they will own that as well. Little do they know that as soon as the soul begins to leave the body, the scenes of the Hereafter and the punishment will start becoming obvious to them. The punishment does not begin after they are lowered into the grave — the soul will be punished before it even leaves the body.

Rather, as the Qur'an says:

Rather, today on the Day of Judgment, they will simply be humbling themselves, handing themselves over. They will have no way of standing up to Allah.

Nuh Alayhi Salam and Tawakkul

This is Surah Hud also — the story of Nuh alayhi salam. What does he say?

All of you plot together against me — and don't give me any respite, don't give me any moment of gathering myself. Bring it on. Indeed, I have placed my complete reliance upon Allah, my Lord and your Lord. There is not a single walking creature except that Allah has got hold of it by its forelock.

Everyone of us is doing what we are doing. Today, the dwellers of Jahannam are trying to bring the fire of this dunya upon innocent women, innocent children, innocent men. And everyone is doing their share. They are burning to death. Little kids are burning to death in school buildings and in their homes at the time of tahajjud.

I cannot imagine even touching a hot spoon sitting in a pot of chai and getting a blister on my finger. What it means to actually burn to death — subhanAllah. But that pain, which lasts five or ten minutes, is the only pain we can comprehend from here. From here, the rewards and the enjoyment in the Hereafter are something that the entire wealth of the world put together cannot bring even a piece of it here.

On the other hand, those who are putting that fire — the fire of this world is 1/70th in intensity compared to the fire of Jahannam. What type of fire have they already entered, they have no idea. And that fire is not going to last for two minutes or five minutes or a hundred years. It shall be for eternity.

As soon as their skin is burned and cooked — when their nerves on the skin get burned out and they no longer feel pain — Allah says: I will replace them with a fresh layer of skin, with a fresh layer of sensors and nerves. Clearly He is saying this so they can continue to taste the punishment.

Surah Al-Buruj and the Genocide of Our Times

What are we witnessing today? We are witnessing Surah Al-Buruj taking place — children and women being thrown into trenches of fire. They are forever remembered in the Qur'an. As Allah says:

A day will come when the believers will have the last laugh upon the disbelievers. Today the world is watching — children, clear pictures and videos of kids begging for help and being engulfed by flames. And no one can do anything. That memory, if you see it, you cannot forget it. But who can never forget it? Allah is never going to forget it. And all of those who are involved in this type of horrific torture and oppression — their day is coming, and it is not far.

And Allah is saying: you thought you outwitted the Muslims, outwitted the believers, outwitted the Prophet, outwitted Allah. How about you bring out your master plan today in front of Me on the Day of Judgment?

Allah says in Surah Al-Tariq:

Indeed they plot powerfully. And I am also plotting. So give a chance to these disbelievers — give them respite. Eventually, of course, the noose will be tightened around their necks. As it is said:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4686; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2583 — "Indeed Allah gives respite to the oppressor. But when He seizes him, He does not let him go.")

Ibrahim Alayhi Salam in the Fire: A Du'a for Gaza

One of my students was traveling this weekend. SubhanAllah — through a chance meeting, he found out that a man he met knew his grandfather from Kashmir, 67 years ago. This elderly man shared stories of the student's grandfather who stood up to defend the Muslims of Kashmir 50, 60, 70 years ago. He said: "Your grandfather told me — when they used to bring logs as big as logs and hit him in prison — that each time he thought, 'I'm going to die.' But he never felt anything. Miraculously, he never felt the pain of the log."

I started thinking — subhanAllah — if Allah can save you from the pain of a log, that same Allah, if He can save Ibrahim alayhi salam from the fire of Nimrud, why can He not save our burning children of Gaza from the pain of the fire?

Allah spoke to the fire and said: O fire, you become cool and peaceful for Ibrahim. The rope may be getting burnt. The wood is getting burnt for sure. But Ibrahim is not getting burnt — he is sitting there peacefully.

So we never know what these children are going through. Let's have a good hope from Allah and make this du'a — that Ya Allah, as they one by one get wounded or become shaheed, Ya Allah, we know the reward in the grave and akhira and barzakh will be huge for them. But even in this world, Ya Allah, please save them from the pain. The way You made the fire cool for Ibrahim, make the fire cool for these innocent people. And make it even hotter for their oppressors.

The Spiritual Genocide Within Us

I was saying to a group of brothers — it sounds alarming — the physical genocide is not the biggest problem. The biggest problem, the bigger problem, is our spiritual genocide. The fact that this genocide has not brought a change in me — that is definitely the bigger problem. Because imagine how would we face Allah on the Day of Judgment? If what is happening today has not motivated me to spend more time on the musallah, not motivated me to pray more, not motivated me to do something for the betterment of the Muslims — then what were we looking for?

Those people are definitely — inshallah — getting their beautiful eternal spots in Paradise. What action have we done to even get to the door of Jannah? There are doctors who have gone to Gaza — mashallah, hats off, so impressive. Imagine a female doctor who goes there, works 12, 14, 16-hour shifts with no material, no medication, no surgical tools. SubhanAllah, she arrives at the hospital, and within minutes, her house is bombed and 9 out of her 10 children are killed. That happened a few days ago.

You are competing with this mother — who is a doctor, who is trying to save lives, whose fellow doctors are trying to keep her 10th child alive — to get into Jannah. She is going to bring 30 or 40 years of service in a hospital in Gaza. And she is going to bring, on the Day of Judgment, being the mother of 9 or 10 shaheeds. She is getting in line to Jannah — and there I am standing next to her. How are we going to compete?

And today, for the smallest things, people say: "Deen is too strict. Music is haram. Mixing is haram. Going to a party where wine is being served is haram. Marijuana haram. But what's halal?" This is the mujahadah — staying away from haram. And people say: "Islam is not fun. Islam is not compatible with modern day." This is where our Deen is. And then you have all of this going on on the other side.

Why are they being killed? Is there any other reason besides the fact:

Are you killing a person just because he says his Lord is Allah? This is history repeating itself in front of our own eyes — the way the people of the Ukhdood, Ashab ul-Ukhdood, killed the Muslims of their time, the people who burned in the trench. This will end. The pain will end. They get buried. The soul will be lifted up before the body is even charred to bones. But what will happen to me and to all of us who are watching all of this and are not able to bring a true change in our lives — that is the question.

Hajj: Ambassadors of the Ummah

Hajj is happening. Those brothers and sisters going for Hajj — they are ambassadors of the people of the Ummah. They are supposed to go and beg Allah on behalf of the entire Ummah in such a powerful manner that it should shake the Throne of Allah. Allah doesn't even need to send an angel. He just needs to send the wind of Ahzab. It's over. He just needs to send the sayha of Thamud — one loud shrill scream and it's done. Allah can send mosquitoes — an army of mosquitoes — to destroy the enemies. But Allah is watching — what are we doing?

So those embarking on their journeys — the first night of Dhul-Hijjah has begun. We must make the most of these nights and days: fasting as much as we can starting from tomorrow, and Qiyam al-Layl as much as we can in the nights. These are the ten great nights. InshAllah the next surah we will do tafsir of is Surah Al-Fajr — two sessions. Surah Al-Fajr and the ten nights — we will speak about it next week.

So if our Hajj becomes a five-star vacation — how sad is that? The Ummah is dying, and we are enjoying crabs and shrimp biryani in Arafat. The wealthiest wedding I've attended in Chicago does not compare to what arrangements are now available in Arafat and Mina. And now — those who have been to Hajj — you know there used to be big tents where everyone prayed and made du'a collectively. I just saw the tents now — rooms of six people each, with TVs. Many of the packages already include it. You connect the dots.

You thought: let me run away, go for Hajj, and everything will change. But this fitnah doesn't leave you. Shaytan follows you all the way to the Ka'bah, to Arafat, to Muzdalifah, to Mina, to Madinah. It doesn't allow you to shut off and really change your life and make du'a for the Ummah. And Allah says about Hajj:

Take your provision — and the best provision is Taqwa. The best packing list is Taqwa.

I will be departing tomorrow — I ask you to make du'a that Allah grants me the ability to pack with myself Taqwa. And that He allows me and all those going to be true representatives of the entire Ummah, and to truly make Hajj the way it ought to be — not withstanding the luxuries, not withstanding all those things that create heedlessness, but remaining focused on what we are there for. If these three and a half, four million people can just do their job properly — the world changes.

I remember hearing from a scholar, about ten years ago, who was coming back from Hajj. One of the ulama said: when the ambassadors of a certain country come back from Hajj having not done their job properly, the evil effects of their improper Hajj affect their own country. You will see the acceptance or non-acceptance of your Hajj in the form of what happens in your own countries when you go back. That is a lot of pressure. If we do our Hajj properly, we should be able to see some change in the conditions of the world.

So all of us who are not going for Hajj this year — you are still in the days of Dhul-Hijjah. Make du'a: Ya Allah, all those millions going — please allow them to repent. Allow them to spend their time properly. Allow them to not waste their time or indulge in sin. Allow them to recognize their mistakes and make tawbah. Allow them to come back in a state of having been forgiven, like a newborn child. Allow them to cry and make lots and lots of du'a on behalf of the entire Ummah. Accept all the du'as made in Arafat, in Muzdalifah, in Mina, in front of the Ka'bah, and after every salah in Madinah al-Munawwarah. Ya Allah, accept the salam of all those giving salam to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam on behalf of the Ummah.

As Allah says:

Assist one another on acts of righteousness and taqwa. You who are not going — you are the backbone of those who are going. They are your backbone; you are their backbone. And eventually, inshallah, the du'as we make for each other will be accepted, and it will be a win-win situation.

Ihsan: Excellence in Deeds

Indeed, thus We do reward those who excel in doing good. What is not sufficient is to merely do good deeds. The deeds we have to do — along with being good — must have ihsan in them, must have ikhlas in them. Ihsan means to do something properly, at the level of as much perfection as possible. Our dhikr, our du'a, our salah, our qurbani, our udhiyah — all of it has to be done in the most excellent manner.

What is the difference between عَمَل and فَعَل? فَعَل is a deed done by, for example, the hands and feet — specific physical actions. But عَمَل is inclusive of the heart as well. The amal of iman, the amal of shukr, the amal of zuhd, the amal of حُبِّ الْآخِرَةِ, حُبِّ النَّبِيِّ, and ikhlas — all of these are actions of the heart. Allah says: whatever good deeds you have done of any limb, in exchange for that today, you will be able to enjoy food and drink as you wish.

It is not possible to have ihsan of any sort in Hajj if we don't study. There have been incidents where people called from the airport: "Sheikh, I'm going for Hajj — can you give me a two-minute Hajj tutorial over the phone before I board?" One brother told me he was able to secure only the $27,000 package, and he had never performed Hajj, had never studied a thing about it. He's spending $27,000 — and Hajj itself is five days — without having begun to study. How is it going to happen?

When we go for Umrah and Hajj with groups, maybe 15% sit for the talks — that's it. Out of 300 people, 50 will attend the online sessions. How are we going to do the work? If these are the ambassadors of the Ummah and they go so unprepared, what do you expect? And if any preparation is happening, it's about what cream to take, what hanger, how many layers of clothes — it's nauseating. This is the safar ul-akhira, and you don't need to worry to this degree about what to pack, as though you're going to India after 60 years with four bags of 70 pounds each.

Jannah: Its Shade, Springs, and Fruits

Indeed, the God-fearing people shall be amidst true shades — not the fake ones, not the shades of smoke and fire, but the shades of the trees of Jannah — and springs, and fruits of whatever kind they desire. Allah says in many places جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ — because the human being is naturally attracted to the lush green garden with the beautiful sound of flowing water. That's why you can listen to water sounds if you can't fall asleep — we are naturally attracted to that. So Allah speaks about Jannah as having gardens, shades, and springs. And the muttaqun will be sitting there with their spouses and their children.

Allah will tell them: كُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا هَنِيئًا — eat and drink. Hani'an means: do not worry about any stomach pain, overeating, or indigestion. A person eating without any fear of repercussions. The majority of the diseases in this world come from what we eat and drink. But in the Hereafter, no matter how much a person eats and drinks, there will be not only no harm, but only enjoyment.

Eat and Enjoy — But Only for a Little While

Then Allah sarcastically speaks to the disbelievers: Eat, O godless ones — eat to your fill, enjoy your lives — but only for a little while. Indeed you are defiant unbelievers. When is this being said? Allah is addressing those whose only worry, fikr, and concern is to eat, drink, and reproduce. That's it. As Allah says:

Those who disbelieve enjoy life and eat the way livestock eat — always, senselessly, mindlessly chewing away. There's an animal farm nearby — you go at midnight and throw something, they run for it as if it's noon. It doesn't matter what it is, they will eat. They don't say: "Can you improve our situation? Get me out of here?" They say: "Give me food." That is an animal. A human being acts like an animal when his only fikr is how to earn more money to eat more and try more types of food.

We are in Chicago — a center of halal certified foods, which is a big blessing. But we need to make sure we don't start worshipping the food. Constantly worried about what's the latest burger place, the latest coffee shop — if our hamm and fikr becomes food, this is very dangerous, while the Ummah is going through so much difficulty.

Another place in the 14th juz, Allah says:

Leave them — let them eat, let them enjoy. And let their long, drawn-out plans deceive them. "Inshallah, 20 years later I'll make tawbah. Right now I gotta enjoy life." Everyone wants to say: let me make a little bit more money, then I'll become more independent, then I'll dedicate myself to deen. That never happens. The only rest you will get — if you spend your life properly — is in the grave.

The Summer: Use It Wisely

The summer is here. None of us are getting younger. College students, high school students, young working professionals — take time out, take time out. Don't say, "I'll wait till I'm free." You're never going to get free.

We're in wedding season. If someone invites you, go — as long as haram is not happening. But you don't need to go to seven events. Eat with moderation. Don't take more than you need. And if something doubtful is in the food and there's enough halal available, skip the doubtful. And whenever haram starts — dancing, music — even if you're not joining the dance floor, don't stick around. Your presence there is your approval. And your approval is a sin. So when something haram happens, walk away. That is your small, teeny-tiny test. You're not having to go through what the brothers and sisters of Gaza go through. Your test is to get off that comfortable chair and go sit in your car and go home. How hard is that?

Do not neglect our salah. Pray Isha before the event starts. Pray Maghrib before leaving home. Don't say, "I'll go home and pray" — that never happens. Pray wherever you are. Pray with jama'ah. Get other people involved, so that through your barakah, others can also pray.

Our lives should not revolve around parties. Find out what programs are happening in the masajid of your local area — Monday nights, Tuesday nights, Saturday, Sunday. You don't need to go every single night, but at least choose one or two. Especially in the summer — maybe two or three. Pray Fajr and Isha in the masjid. If you need motivation, take your siblings or your spouse with you.

If a person is going on a family vacation, make sure the niyyah is also good — spending quality time and money on your spouse and kids to improve your relationship with them, and to serve them and win their hearts. Use that connection to reconnect them with Allah. If our spouse and children love us, it is easier to connect them with Allah. Our job should be how to make Islam likable. We have to market Islam to our own family. And part of marketing it is that you yourself have to be lovable. The Nabi sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said:

(Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 9187 — "The believer is a source of love and affection. There is no good in the person who does not love and is not loved.")

Family vacations are important — but do not neglect your salah, do not eat anything impermissible, do not neglect your adhkar while traveling. Try your best to present Islam properly wherever you go — in airports, hotels, public places, in nature. Leave every place cleaner than you found it. Don't litter. Don't drive erratically. Don't do things that will ruin the image of the Deen and the image of our Habib Mustafa sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. And teach your children and spouses to act in the best manner as well.

Find out what the local masajid are. Try your best to pray Fajr at the local masjid at least once a day when you're on vacation. This will keep you connected and grounded. Vacations create ghafla and heedlessness — so performing salah in a masjid is very beneficial. And your children are watching what priority you give to your Deen. If they see you giving importance to salah while traveling, alhamdulillah, they will give it importance as well when they get back home.

Those Who Did Not Bow in the Dunya

When it used to be said to them in the dunya: bow and worship before Allah — they did not bow. As Allah says in Surah Al-Qalam:

That is the day when they will be called towards sajda — on the Day of Judgment. They will not be able to do so. Their eyes will be looking down. Disgrace will be dripping from their faces. They used to be called towards sajda and salah in the dunya — while they had the full capacity to do so — and they didn't do it.

Allah will unveil His shin — we don't know what that means, but it means Allah will manifest Himself in a manner that befits Him — which will force billions of believers to fall down in sujud. But those who never prayed will have backs like plates of iron. While billions are in sajda, they will be standing. Why can't they go down? Because they were called in the dunya to do sajda and refused. And so today the punishment is that they will not be able to do so, even though they want to.

The Final Ayah: Which Discourse Will They Believe In?

For in which discourse, after this final revelation, shall they believe? What an amazing ayah to end the surah and the 29th juz. Allah says: after I have spoken so powerfully and so beautifully — is there any speech better than Allah's? Is there any speech more eloquent? Is there anything that hits the heart more than Allah's speech? Of course not. So if the Qur'an cannot move you, what are you waiting for? What is going to move your heart? If the Qur'an cannot bring us out of our laziness into strength and focus, what are we waiting for?

How is this beautifully connected to the next surah?

What are they asking about? About the great news. They are asking about the Day of Judgment. You already have enough details about the Day of Judgment in this surah — and the whole 30th juz is about the Day of Judgment, with very deep descriptions of Jannah and Jahannam. This final ayah is almost an appeal to our hearts: why are you not reflecting on the Book of Allah? Why have your hearts become so hardened through heedlessness that no matter how Allah presents His message, it doesn't hit the heart?

Our answer should be what the Nabi sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would say:

I believe in Allah, and in whatever has been revealed. Ya Allah, I am not like those who belied the Qur'an. وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْمُكَذِّبِينَ has been mentioned ten times in this surah. So we say: Ya Allah, I am not from amongst the beliers. I believe in the Book of Allah.

Questions & Answers

What to do if overwhelmed by challenges in life — no time or mental energy — while also trying to find a spouse for my child?

May Allah make it easy for you, dear father, dear mother. There are many, many people in this exact situation. The fact that you are looking for a spouse for your son or daughter is what is making you make lots and lots of du'a. You're getting tired of it — alhamdulillah. This is the one thing that's making you come back to Allah. If Allah gave us everything we wanted, how many of us would be at tahajjud time, crying? When was the last time you bawled and cried so much — was it a time of extreme ease or extreme difficulty? That is our fitrah — we usually turn to Allah when He tests us. So understand this worry as a gift of Allah that is making a means for you to speak to Him.

May Allah grant all those looking for spouses — for their children and for themselves — the very best spouses. Ameen Rabbil Alameen. As for the mental energy — do not allow yourself to become overwhelmed. Do dhikr. Recite:

500 times a day, or if you cannot, 100 times a day. Read Durud Sharif — salawat on the Nabi — at the beginning, then the above dhikr, then salawat again at the end. If you have the ability: 100 salawat, then 500 times لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ, then 100 salawat. InshAllah, you will see your stress go away and gain emotional, mental, and spiritual strength.

What does real tawakkul look like when I feel I have no control and no energy?

Tawakkul is that you use your means — whatever is there — but you always tell yourself: these means mean nothing. The only thing that is going to work is Allah's command. Imagine fighting a massive forest fire with only a fire extinguisher. You say: "This is all I've got. Ya Allah, I do tawakkul — put ta'theer and effect in it." We use the means of this world, but while using them, we have absolutely no trust in them. We place our trust in Allah alone.

Please speak to parents about being open when their children approach them about someone they like for marriage.

This is something very important. That conversation should happen as early as possible — at 17, 18, high school age. Boys and girls should know: "We are here to make sure you stay away from sin and remain chaste. If there's something you want to discuss, this is not something to be shy about." A person should bring it up for mashura and discuss it. And parents should try their best to understand and think: what is good? Involve the children, do not make them feel that we don't care what they're saying. Most definitely parents want the best for their children — but it's how you market it. If they don't understand it, then we've got to figure something else out.

Procrastination and laziness is ruining me — what is the Islamic solution?

On top of the لَا حَوْلَ answer already given, recite after every salah:

50 to 100 times, or 500 times, after every salah. Also, recite the morning and evening ma'thur du'a:

Also — make a list of everything that is making you stressed. Before you go to bed, grab a sheet of paper and write every single thing — even if it's 30 items. Having it in front of you helps enormously. It's literally like something came off your mind onto the paper. You will realize two things you can knock out tonight, another two or three after Fajr. The feeling of crossing things out is almost like a dopamine release — you feel happy and excited. And then you can make du'a for the specific items on your list. Sit after Isha, keep the list with you, raise your hands, praise Allah, send salawat on the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and make du'a for each item. And if you are going through a lot of stress, speaking to a therapist is also an option alongside these adhkar and practical points.

If Eid is on Friday, does attending Jumu'ah become optional?

No, it does not. You need to come to the masjid. Alhamdulillah, you will be blessed to come to the masjid twice that Friday — Jumu'ah separately and Eid separately.

I am thinking about sins from four years ago and I am now properly following Deen, but I'm getting anxious about those past sins.

Feeling guilty about sin is good. But feeling so guilty that four years later you cannot function — that is not good. This is what you could call a noorani waswasa — Shaytan is presenting something harmful to you as something good. Tell yourself: Allah has, inshallah, forgiven me. I have already repented. I should not doubt Allah's forgiveness. Move on. Every time you feel guilty, say:

How can we compete with the people of Gaza? Is there any hope for us?

Lots and lots of shukr. Shukr — not just of the tongue, but of the heart and the actions. The afiyah and well-being that we have here — utilize it and push yourself. If you weren't studying ilm, start now. If you weren't praying salah in the masjid, start now. If you weren't wearing proper hijab, start now. Whatever it is — push towards a'mal, and say: Ya Allah, through the barakah of the sacrifices of the people over there, I am changing my life.

Can you repeat what the "Sevens" are?

You can find it on salamguard.com under the adhkar and ruqya section. It is: salawat, Surah Al-Fatihah, Ayat al-Kursi, Surah Quraysh, and then the four Quls — Qul ya ayyuhal kafirun, Qul huwa Allahu ahad, Qul a'udhu bil-Falaq, Qul a'udhu bil-Nas — then end with salawat. Seven times each. Blow on your hands, and blow on some water and drink it as well. Do this three times per day — back to back or at separate times — whether it's for anxiety, stress, or other difficulties. InshAllah, Allah will remove that.

Closing Dhikr