A Guide To That Which Is Upright- Day 8 (1444.h)
إِنَّ هَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ يَهۡدِى لِلَّتِى هِىَ أَقۡوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمۡ أَجۡرًا كَبِيرًا
Verily, this Qur’ân guides to that which is most just and right and gives glad tidings to the believers (in the Oneness of Allâh and His Messenger, Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم), who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a great reward (Paradise).
Sūrah Al-Isrā':9
﷽
It is neither created nor can anyone produce the like of it. It contains the perfect words of The Most High and was revealed as a means of guidance for mankind.
This Qurʾān is the similitude of a manual or map for a journey, it is our manual in the life of this world and a map to the Ākhirah (the hereafter). Allāh said:
كِتَٰبٌ أَنزَلۡنَٰهُ إِلَيۡكَ لِتُخۡرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّهِمۡ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَمِيدِ
(This is) a Book which We have revealed unto you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) in order that you might lead mankind out of darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light (of belief in the Oneness of Allâh and Islâmic Monotheism) by their Lord’s Leave to the Path of the All-Mighty, the Owner of all Praise.
Sūrah Ibrahim:1
وَيُبَشِّرُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ
And gives glad tidings to the believers (in the Oneness of Allâh and His Messenger, Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم), who work deeds of righteousness.
We see beliefs and actions mentioned many times together in the Qur’ān. And that is because correct belief is the foundation of all worship. It is a must that we believe in Allāh as He has instructed us to believe in Him, likewise, we must hold the correct beliefs regarding His Messenger (ﷺ), and the Islāmic legislations. Let’s understand that the correct belief can only be gained through studying it and seeking knowledge on the correct ʿAqīdah (creed).
From the perfection of understanding and implementing the Qurʾān, is submitting wholeheartedly to: that which it calls to, warns us against and advises us regarding. Contrary to the popular belief of many of us youth, submitting to Allāh and His Messenger (ﷺ) is not only for the “pious ones”, rather it is upon us all, our teachers, and all of the creation to submit to Allāh, The Lord of all that exists. Allāh, The Mighty and Majestic, said:
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍۢ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ ٱلْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ ۗ وَمَن يَعْصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلًۭا مُّبِينًۭا
It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allâh and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed into a plain error.
Sūrah Al-Aḥzāb:36
So, it should not be said to us: “Allah said..” or “The Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) said” and we say “but…” or “I am not yet there” and the likes of such statements. What is upon us is hearing and obeying.
We’re currently living in a time where opinions and feelings are given precedence over submitting to the truth, but the Muslim is a person of submission; Islām is to submit to Allāh with Tawḥīd! Thus when we find it hard to submit to Allāh, we should return to learning more about the Tawḥīd of Allāh; especially the Tawḥīd of Allāh’s names and attributes! Likewise, we should keep in mind that the Qurʾān guides only to that which is correct, and Allāh wants only good for us.
Ramaḍān is the month of the Qurʾān. In these days and nights of Ramaḍān we should strive to increase in reciting, reflecting and acting upon the Qurʾān! And as you recite the verses (check the translation* if you don’t understand the Arabic language) reflect on your situation.
May Allāh grant us success.
* The best translation which has been recommended by the Scholars of Sunnah is Dr. Muḥsin Khān and Shaykh Taqī-ud-Dīn al–Hilālī (May Allāh have mercy upon them both)’s translation, The Noble Qurʾān. Ensure you set your mobile phone’s Qurʾān translation to Muḥsin Khān Taqī-ud-Dīn al–Hilālī.
