Alhuda Online Graduation Ceremony 2025 – Madinah Munawwarah

On November 15th, 2025, Alhuda Online hosted a magnificent graduation ceremony in the blessed city of Madinah Munawwarah, honoring its global cohort of online students. The event welcomed approximately 350 graduates, alongside esteemed staff members of Alhuda Institute, including its founders Dr. Idrees Zubair and Dr. Farhat Hashmi, their children Hisham Al Hadi and Taymiyyah Zubair, and Brother Imran.

Among the distinguished guests was Dr. Muhammad Salah from Huda TV, Jeddah. Staff from Alhuda’s Jeddah branch also graced the occasion, many arriving by train and some with their families. Notable attendees included Abla Sitara, Abla Hamna, Abla Ammara, Abla Rahmah, Abla Asiya, and many others.

The event was hosted by Sister Shazia Nawaz and Brother Imran in a grand convention hall on the outskirts of Madinah. Both male and female students participated, receiving sashes and certificates in recognition of their achievements. Speakers included Dr. Idrees Zubair, Dr. Muhammad Salah, Sister Taymiyyah, Brother Ateeq, and Dr. Farhat Hashmi. Selected students also shared heartfelt reflections with the audience.

Toward the end, Ustadha Farhat Hashmi personally interacted with the graduates, creating a deeply emotional and memorable moment.

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🌐 Technological Excellence & Hospitality

The event showcased cutting-edge technology, with impactful slides displayed on large screens and the names of all graduates beautifully presented. Outside the hall, arrangements were equally thoughtful: guests received free notepads, dua books, and lunch packages. Tea, snacks, and comfortable seating added to the warm hospitality.

This grand gathering was a testament to how modern technology can be harnessed to spread the word of Allah with grace and excellence.

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💡 Key Takeaways from the Ceremony

1. Begin with Allah – Every task should start and end with the remembrance of Allah.
2. Unity in Purpose – Coming together for noble causes strengthens our resolve in the path of Allah.
3. Sincerity in Connection – Our bonds must be rooted in sincerity and the pure intention to spread Allah’s word.
4. Guidance is Divine – Our mission is to convey the message; guidance lies solely in Allah’s hands.
5. Gatherings of Iman – When we gather for Allah, our hearts open, Iman rises, and angels descend with Rahmah.
6. Family as a Team – Dr. Idrees Zubair, Dr. Farhat Hashmi, Brother Imran, and Sister Taymiyyah exemplified how a family united in purpose can transcend personal goals.
7. Resources as Blessings – Every tool at our disposal is a gift from Allah to be used wisely for His Deen.
8. Honor of Recitation – Learning and reciting the Qur’an correctly is a profound honor, as shown by the Qari brothers.
9. Humility & Humor – Brother Imran’s humility and light-heartedness left a lasting impression.
10. Touching Recitations – Brother Hisham’s Qur’anic recitations moved hearts.
11. Legacy of the Qur’an – Dr. Muhammad Salah reminded us that the people of the Qur’an hold a high status, and their families benefit too. He emphasized that zakah applies to knowledge as well—sharing it is a duty.
12. Power of Duas – Dr. Idrees Zubair highlighted the importance of sincere supplication and supportive companionship in serving the Deen. He also emphasized the importance of knowing your teachers and ensuring their Aqeedah is sound.
13. Honor of Womanhood – Sister Taymiyyah shared a touching moment of a janazah for a single woman in Masjid Al Haram, reminding us of the honor Islam bestows upon women.
14. Selflessness in Service – Those who work for Allah rise above personal interests and become exemplary leaders, hosts, and colleagues.
15. Steadfastness in Ilm – Ustadha Farhat Hashmi urged students to remain committed to seeking and sharing knowledge until their last breath.
16. Graceful Organization – The event reflected discipline, patience, and the noble character of the people of the Qur’an.
17. Innovative Learning – It inspired new ways to enhance online learning through apps, portals, and interactive tools.
18. Heartfelt Environments – The atmosphere of learning should touch hearts through the behavior of teachers, students, and staff.
19. Attractive Classrooms – Whether online or on-campus, learning spaces should be inviting and inspiring.
20. Engaging Tools – Slides, workbooks, quizzes, and portals help students stay focused and involved.
21. Learning Anytime, Anywhere – Deen can be learned while traveling, hosting, or attending events. A Muslim’s character shines in every situation.
22. Ease Through Divine Planning – What seemed difficult became possible through Allah’s will. The efforts of Sister Shazia Nawaz and the online team made this event successful.
23. Sincerity & Companionship – Sincere supplication and righteous companionship bring divine support and acceptance.
24. Recognize Your Gifts – We must identify and utilize our unique capabilities for the sake of Allah and ask Him for the means and supporters to do so.
25. Perseverance Through Challenges – We must never stop, even when faced with challenges. Instead, we should persevere and seek strength through constant connection with Allah.
26. Character of a Da’ee – A true caller to Allah’s Deen must operate on multiple levels:
    • Personal – constantly checking and purifying intentions.
    • Interpersonal – maintaining excellence in relationships.
    • Professional – striving for ihsan in every task.
27. Blessed Outcomes – Efforts made sincerely for the sake of Allah always bear fruit.
28. Gratitude for Being Chosen – It is a tremendous blessing to be a Muslim engaged in the Qur’an. We must cherish this honor and serve with sincerity.
29. Core Principles – The two most powerful takeaways:
    • Sincerity – doing everything solely for the sake of Allah.
    • Dua – seeking Allah’s guidance at every step.
30. A Final Prayer – May Allah accept all our sincere efforts done purely for His sake, and make them a means of His pleasure and reward—Ameen.

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🌺 Closing Reflections

This event was not just a celebration—it was a living example of how sincerity, unity, and technology can come together to serve the Deen with excellence. May Allah accept the efforts of all involved and continue to bless the journey of knowledge for every seeker.

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Destiny-A matter of Faith in Allah.

 

DESTINY

Translated Excerpt from an Urdu lecture by Sheikh Siraj Munir, (Makkah).

While explaining and pondering over the greatest verse of the Noble Quran, Ayat Al Kursi, Sheikh hafizahullah reaches the following verse and continues: 

 وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيۡءٖ مِّنۡ عِلۡمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَۚ, يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ  وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۚ

 He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills.

 I usually talk about destiny, at this point.

1. The knowledge of Allah is perfect.

1. He himself says that I do not wrong anyone. As mentioned in the Qur'an and hadiths in many places.

There is a hadith Qudsi:

 عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ الْغِفَارِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، عَنْ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِيمَا يَرْوِيهِ عَنْ رَبِّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: "يَا عِبَادِي: إِنِّي حَرَّمْتُ الظُّلْمَ عَلَى نَفْسِي وَجَعَلْتُهُ بَيْنَكُمْ مُحَرَّمًا فَلَا تَظَالَمُوا. يَا عِبَادِي:۔۔۔۔۔ يَا عِبَادِي: إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَعْمَالُكُمْ أُحْصِيهَا لَكُمْ، ثُمَّ أُوَفِّيكُمْ إِيَّاهَا، فَمَنْ وَجَدَ خَيْرًا فَلْيَحْمَدْ اللَّهَ، وَمَنْ وَجَدَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَلَا يَلُومَنَّ إِلَّا نَفْسَهُ". رواہ مسلم

 O My servants! I have forbidden Zulm (oppression) for Myself, and I have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another. O My servants, …

O My servants, it is but your deeds that I account for you, and then recompense you for. So, he who finds good, let him praise Allah, and he who finds other than that, let him blame none except himself.

Hadith 24 An Nawawi.

 3. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

When we reflect on the perfect attributes of Allah—His love and mercy, His wisdom, and His flawless justice and fairness—we should examine our faith, thoughts, words, and actions, especially in regard to destiny (Qadr).

 Often, people show dissatisfaction with Allah's Qadr through their behavior, and sometimes even through direct expressions of discontent. But when we question or object to Allah's decree, we are, in essence, questioning His justice. If we feel deprived of something we believe we deserved, or ask why a certain hardship befell us, it’s as if we're accusing Allah of unfairness. Yet the blessings we do receive are given without us having earned or deserved them. Every blessing calls for our gratitude.

 Ibn al-Qayyim, rahimahullah, beautifully explained that gratitude itself is a blessing. If Allah has granted someone the ability to express thanks, that ability is also a gift for which thanks are due. Being thankful for the gift of gratitude, and then continuing to express gratitude again and again, creates a never-ending cycle of thankfulness to Allah. Even if one praised Allah with every breath, they could never fully repay the debt of gratitude owed to Him.

 A person should keep in mind Allah’s complete knowledge, His perfect patience, wisdom, mercy, and absolute justice when thinking about destiny. Even if we can’t perceive the wisdom behind certain events, we must trust that Allah’s decree is never without purpose or good. Sometimes the benefit is clear immediately; other times it becomes apparent with time. There are also cases where the wisdom remains hidden. Nonetheless, the duty of a believer is to have faith in the unseen.

 الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ

          Those who believe in the unseen.  

 

A person should reflect and think: “Whatever has happened to me is because of my own shortcomings.” If he cannot understand something, he should entrust the matter to Allah and say, “O Allah, I believe in Your decree. I accept what You have chosen for me, so guide me, correct me, and show me the straight path.”

 Objecting to destiny is, in reality, objecting to Allah’s divine knowledge and His other magnificent attributes.

 There is a profound saying from the time of the Salaf (the pious predecessors):

 “Destiny is the thread that holds together the necklace of faith.” 

If the thread breaks, the pearls scatter. Likewise, when one objects to destiny, it leads to the other deeds of faith falling apart.

 Such an objection reveals a lack of true understanding of Allah’s nature. It indicates that love, fear, and hope in Allah have not truly taken root in the heart. These internal states or actions of the heart are central to belief, and when they are missing, faith becomes weak.

 True love means seeing everything associated with the beloved in a positive light. If this is how we treat human relationships, then how much more so should it apply to Allah—who is above all. No love should exceed our love for Allah. His love must come first, followed by love for the Prophet ﷺ.

 The love of Allah   is interpreted in the Qur'an as follows:

 

 قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ‎﴿٣١﴾Al e Imran 31

 Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."

  Following the Prophet ﷺ is, in essence, an expression of love for Allah. It’s natural to listen to and obey the one you truly love. That’s why Allah commands us to follow the Prophet ﷺ. He was sent as a guide, and by emulating his example, we earn Allah’s love. This is one of the most powerful ways to attain His affection.

 Allah's knowledge is perfect and complete. He knows the exact amount of knowledge I will acquire, the efforts I will make after gaining it, the position I’ll attain, how I’ll be recognized, and how many students I’ll teach—all of this is already known to Him. If I begin to feel that I deserved more fame or a higher status, such thoughts harm the sincerity of my intentions. Thinking “I should have had more” implies that I believe I was entitled to something and that Allah withheld it. Is this not the attitude of Shaytan? He objected to Allah’s command, saying, “I am made of fire; why should I bow to Adam who is made of clay?”—he felt he deserved better, and that the opposite should have happened.

 So whenever someone says, “I should have more than what I have,” they are, knowingly or unknowingly, blaming Allah for denying them what they perceive as their due. This mindset often appears in discussions about wealth, career, or social status. But the truth is, whatever is destined for us will not miss us, and whatever is not written for us will never reach us.

 The famous narration of 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas is:

 عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: "كُنْت خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺيَوْمًا، فَقَالَ: يَا غُلَامِ! إنِّي أُعَلِّمُك كَلِمَاتٍ: احْفَظْ اللَّهَ يَحْفَظْك، احْفَظْ اللَّهَ تَجِدْهُ تُجَاهَك، إذَا سَأَلْت فَاسْأَلْ اللَّهَ، وَإِذَا اسْتَعَنْت فَاسْتَعِنْ بِاَللَّهِ، وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْأُمَّةَ لَوْ اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْفَعُوك بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَنْفَعُوك إلَّا بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ لَك، وَإِنْ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى أَنْ يَضُرُّوك بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَضُرُّوك إلَّا بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْك؛ رُفِعَتْ الْأَقْلَامُ، وَجَفَّتْ الصُّحُفُ" . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ [رقم:2516]

"I was behind the Prophet (ﷺ) one day when he said: 'O boy! I will teach you a statement: Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him before you. When you ask, ask Allah, and when you seek aid, seek Allah's aid. Know that if the entire creation were to gather together to do something to benefit you- you would never get any benefit except that Allah had written for you. And if they were to gather to do something to harm you- you would never be harmed except that Allah had written for you. The pens are lifted and the pages are dried.'"

 We must pause and reflect, reevaluate ourselves sincerely, so that we may reform and grow spiritually. During our daily conversations—often shaped by careless remarks and misconceptions widespread in society—we may utter words that, without realizing, amount to objections to destiny (Qadr). In truth, they are objections to the will of Allah.

 It is vital to review our thoughts and speech, correct our inner selves, and then seek to improve the society around us. Because when destiny is understood in the light of Allah’s perfect knowledge and His flawless attributes, we begin to see that many societal issues stem from misunderstandings about Qadr.

 Take, for instance, everyday examples. When a daughter-in-law joins the household, she consumes her own sustenance—whether it comes through her husband or another source. Similarly, every child born brings along their own provision. Allah assigns their sustenance, even though it may reach them through someone else, such as a father or relative. Each person consumes what has been divinely allotted to them; no one eats what belongs to another.

 This is why the Qur’an clearly states:

وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ خَشْيَةَ إِمْلَاقٍ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُهُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ كَانَ خِطْئًا كَبِيرًا ‎

 And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Indeed, their killing is ever a great sin.

 Let us consider further examples. A person may help a relative financially, and later feels resentment and even complains. Yet, that act was written as sustenance for the recipient—you were simply chosen as the means through which Allah granted it to them. You were given the chance to do good, but if resentment emerges and someone says, “You took what was mine,” they fail to see that their share was limited to what was divinely destined. In the sustenance or provision provided to you there was someone else's portion, which was meant to reach them through you.

 Similarly, when someone marries again with sincere intentions, tension may arise. The second wife may wish to remove the first, or vice versa. But the Prophet ﷺ clearly warned against this:

 Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"It is not permissible for a woman to ask for the divorce of her sister so that she may take her place. She will receive what is destined for her."

 This means no one should seek another’s downfall for fear of provision—each soul will receive exactly what has been written for it.

 In countless situations, we hear complaints: “I didn’t get the job,” “My business failed,” “If I had chosen another path…” People wonder why life did not unfold better, despite their education or effort. But do qualifications guarantee sustenance? Many with minimal education earn honorably, abundantly, and in halal ways. Others, despite scholarly or religious credentials, may earn haram income, suffer in business, or struggle financially. All this falls under Allah’s divine distribution. He tests each person uniquely, in ways beyond human understanding.

That is why it is essential to continually examine ourselves—are we unknowingly objecting to Allah’s decree?

 Ibn al-Qayyim, rahimaullah, wrote in Zaad al-Ma'ad, reflecting on the Battle of Uhud:

“If most people searched deeply within their hearts, they would discover objections to Allah’s Qadr.”

O you who believe...(Part-3)

 

O you who believe...

The phrase "O you who have believed" (Arabic: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا) appears frequently throughout the Noble Quran as a direct address to Muslims, often introducing commands, prohibitions, or moral guidance.

O you who have believed, fulfill [all] contracts. Lawful for you are the animals of grazing livestock except for that which is recited to you [in this Qur'an] - hunting not being permitted while you are in the state of ihram. Indeed, Allah ordains what He intends. 5:1

O you who have believed, do not violate the rites of Allah or [the sanctity of] the sacred month or [neglect the marking of] the sacrificial animals and garlanding [them] or [violate the safety of] those coming to the Sacred House seeking bounty from their Lord and [His] approval. But when you come out of ihram, then [you may] hunt. And do not let the hatred of a people for having obstructed you from al-Masjid al-Haram lead you to transgress. And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty. 5:2 

O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves. But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and hands with it. Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you, but He intends to purify you and complete His favor upon you that you may be grateful. 5:6

O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah , witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do. 5:8

O you who have believed, remember the favor of Allah upon you when a people determined to extend their hands [in aggression] against you, but He withheld their hands from you; and fear Allah. And upon Allah let the believers rely.5:11

O you who have believed, fear Allah and seek the means [of nearness] to Him and strive in His cause that you may succeed. 5:35

O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you - then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people. 5:51

O you who have believed, whoever of you should revert from his religion - Allah will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love and who will love Him [who are] humble toward the believers, powerful against the disbelievers; they strive in the cause of Allah and do not fear the blame of a critic. That is the favor of Allah; He bestows it upon whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. 5:54

O you who have believed, take not those who have taken your religion in ridicule and amusement among the ones who were given the Scripture before you nor the disbelievers as allies. And fear Allah, if you should [truly] be believers. 5:57

O you who have believed, do not prohibit the good things which Allah has made lawful to you and do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors. 5:87

O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful. 5:90

O you who have believed, Allah will surely test you through something of the game that your hands and spears [can] reach, that Allah may make evident those who fear Him unseen. And whoever transgresses after that - for him is a painful punishment. 5:94

O you who have believed, do not kill game while you are in the state of ihram. And whoever of you kills it intentionally - the penalty is an equivalent from sacrificial animals to what he killed, as judged by two just men among you as an offering [to Allah ] delivered to the Ka'bah, or an expiation: the feeding of needy people or the equivalent of that in fasting, that he may taste the consequence of his deed. Allah has pardoned what is past; but whoever returns [to violation], then Allah will take retribution from him. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Owner of Retribution. 5:95

O you who have believed, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you. But if you ask about them while the Qur'an is being revealed, they will be shown to you. Allah has pardoned that which is past; and Allah is Forgiving and Forbearing. 5:101

O you who have believed, upon you is [responsibility for] yourselves. Those who have gone astray will not harm you when you have been guided. To Allah is you return all together; then He will inform you of what you used to do. 5:105

O you who have believed, testimony [should be taken] among you when death approaches one of you at the time of bequest - [that of] two just men from among you or two others from outside if you are traveling through the land and the disaster of death should strike you. Detain them after the prayer and let them both swear by Allah if you doubt [their testimony, saying], "We will not exchange our oath for a price, even if he should be a near relative, and we will not withhold the testimony of Allah . Indeed, we would then be of the sinful." 5:106

O You Who Believe...(Part 2)

 

O you who believe...

O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion. And do not make difficulties for them in order to take [back] part of what you gave them unless they commit a clear immorality. And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them - perhaps you dislike a thing and Allah makes therein much good. 4:19

O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful. 4:29

O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving. 4:43

O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result. 4:59

O you who have believed, take your precaution and [either] go forth in companies or go forth all together. 4:71

O you who have believed, when you go forth [to fight] in the cause of Allah, investigate; and do not say to one who gives you [a greeting of] peace "You are not a believer," aspiring for the goods of worldly life; for with Allah are many acquisitions. You [yourselves] were like that before; then Allah conferred His favor upon you, so investigate. Indeed, Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted. 4:94

O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah , even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted. 4:135

O you who have believed, believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger and the Scripture which He sent down before. And whoever disbelieves in Allah , His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray. 4:136

O you who have believed, do not take the disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do you wish to give Allah against yourselves a clear case? 4:144

O you who have believed...(Part-1)

 

 O you who have believed

Let us have a look at all the signs in the Noble Quran where Allah, the Almighty addresses the Believers directly. It is important to know what Allah, the Almighty says to those who profess their belief and Faith in Him. As believers in the One True God, Allah, we must have a closer look at all the commands that have been given by our Merciful Lord addressing us directly:

O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient. 2:153

O you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah if it is [indeed] Him that you worship. 2:172

O you who believe! Al-Qisas (the Law of ... in punishment) is prescribed for you in case of murder: 2:178

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous -2:183

O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. 2:208

O you who have believed, spend from that which We have provided for you before there comes a Day in which there is no exchange and no friendship and no intercession. And the disbelievers - they are the wrongdoers. 2:254

O you who have believed, do not invalidate your charities with reminders or injury as does one who spends his wealth [only] to be seen by the people and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. His example is like that of a [large] smooth stone upon which is dust and is hit by a downpour that leaves it bare. They are unable [to keep] anything of what they have earned. And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.2:264

O you who have believed, spend from the good things which you have earned and from that which We have produced for you from the earth. And do not aim toward the defective therefrom, spending [from that] while you would not take it [yourself] except with closed eyes. And know that Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy. 2:267

O you who have believed, fear Allah and give up what remains [due to you] of interest, if you should be believers. 2:278

O you who have believed, when you contract a debt for a specified term, write it down. And let a scribe write [it] between you in justice. Let no scribe refuse to write as Allah has taught him. So let him write and let the one who has the obligation dictate. And let him fear Allah , his Lord, and not leave anything out of it. But if the one who has the obligation is of limited understanding or weak or unable to dictate himself, then let his guardian dictate in justice. And bring to witness two witnesses from among your men. And if there are not two men [available], then a man and two women from those whom you accept as witnesses - so that if one of the women errs, then the other can remind her. And let not the witnesses refuse when they are called upon. And do not be [too] weary to write it, whether it is small or large, for its [specified] term. That is more just in the sight of Allah and stronger as evidence and more likely to prevent doubt between you, except when it is an immediate transaction which you conduct among yourselves. For [then] there is no blame upon you if you do not write it. And take witnesses when you conclude a contract. Let no scribe be harmed or any witness. For if you do so, indeed, it is [grave] disobedience in you. And fear Allah . And Allah teaches you. And Allah is Knowing of all things. 2:282

O you who have believed, if you obey a party of those who were given the Scripture, they would turn you back, after your belief, [to being] unbelievers. 3:100

O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him]. 3:102

O you who have believed, do not take as intimates those other than yourselves, for they will not spare you [any] ruin. They wish you would have hardship. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater. We have certainly made clear to you the signs, if you will use reason. 3:118

O you who have believed, do not consume usury, doubled and multiplied, but fear Allah that you may be successful. 3:130

O you who have believed, if you obey those who disbelieve, they will turn you back on your heels, and you will [then] become losers. 3:149

O you who have believed, do not be like those who disbelieved and said about their brothers when they traveled through the land or went out to fight, "If they had been with us, they would not have died or have been killed," so Allah makes that [misconception] a regret within their hearts. And it is Allah who gives life and causes death, and Allah is Seeing of what you do.3:156

O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful. 3:200

The Why of Life

 

Why are we here in this world? Why were we created? Who created us and why? There are so many such questions that might arise in a thinking mind. Those ponder on the fact of birth and death tend to think this way. Surely, when we ponder on the creation around us and on our own selves we understand that such intricate systems don't just come up by accident. There is some force and power behind all this. When we realize and recognize that there must be a Creator Who is the Master and Planner of all this, we land on the right track. No creation can exist without a Creator. 

Now, having said this, those who recognize the Creator and submit to him are called the submitted slaves or in Arabic, the Muslims. It is the Creator Who shows them the signs day and night, and within their own selves and hence they get the Guidance. They do not just blindly believe things. The criteria to differentiate from right and wrong and to recognize the Truth is in-built in all humans. Those who listen to their inner voice and do not silence it tend to reach the Truth. 

We are not just bodies. We are souls too. The physical body is nourished through the provisions of the earth but the spiritual body or the soul needs heavenly or divine nourishment. It comes from God and it is in its purest form. No one can tamper it or change it. Such is the power of the Divine words. For the submitted slaves, or Muslims it is the Quran; which is also called the Speech of Allah or the Book of Allah. 

Allah sent these divine words through His angel Jibrail or Gabriel to the heart of the Last Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. The words of Allah are unchanged since thousands of years. 

This revelation from Allah was sent to guide all Mankind and not just the Muslims. 

Life and death are created by Allah. He has a plan according to which all the creation came into existence. We as human beings are created to worship the one and only God. We will enter the Paradise due to the Mercy of Allah and to seek that Mercy we need to do good deeds in this world. 

At this point we are convinced about the why of life. 

We are here to please the One Who has created us. To worship Him, to serve Him is the sole purpose of our lives. And before anyone thinks that worship is something that involves only some particular rituals, it is important to learn that worship is a very vast topic. Apart from all the rituals like praying, fasting, pilgrimage, charity etc.; a greater part of worship consists of supplicating to Allah alone, being kind with parents, neighbors etc., putting our whole trust one Allah alone, fearing Him alone and having full faith and hope in Him and much more. And the most basic and most important step toward worshiping Allah is to recognize Him as the One and Only God, and this is the core of Islam; Monotheism. No one whomsoever, nothing whatsoever is associated with Allah. 

So who is the most intelligent person? 

The most intelligent is the one who keeps his end in his mind while dealing in this world. He does not forget that he is accountable for his actions. No one just wanders around here and there knowing nothing. We all set out of our houses for work or college and we know where we are heading to. Then why is that considered normal that we do not know the purpose of our existence while being on this journey of life in this world? 

If people just live for food, sleep and other bodily needs then it is the life of animals as well. we have a higher goal, a higher and graceful purpose of life than animals. Usually when we start a journey we know our destination beforehand, only then we set out. But why are we so negligent about this great journey from our births to our deaths? We must know where we are heading to. And when we know the destination we pack the things that we will need when we reach there.  

Whatever we own today is only possessed by us for a limited time, till we are alive. We cannot take even a single coin with us when we leave the world. Why then is there so much furor over small pieces of lands and material things? Whatever we possess today, from our material possessions to our skills and abilities are all given by Allah. We are not the masters. He is the Master and He is the Provider. He is in complete control over everything. We are very weak creatures. We are not even in control of our own birth or death nor do we have any control on what happens in our lives. 

The life that we are living is a great blessing to us because if we please our Creator we will be rewarded with paradise which is the Mercy of our Lord and there we will be given things that we cannot even imagine. 

So, respected readers, life has a why and we must know how to live up to it. Life is given for serving Allah, worshiping Him and doing our best to please Him and how to do all this is clearly given in the Book of Allah and its explanation given to us by our Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.

So there should be no confusion regarding life. There should be no doubts and hopelessness. Each one of us is blessed in his or her own way. Take a look at yourself. Have positive thoughts about your Lord. He has not created any thing in vain. 

Never give up. Never feel bad over failures. If you fall just get up again and keep going. Keep trying and keep asking for Allah's help. 

He is near. 

He listens. 

Qualities of Believers

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala states the qualities of believers in Surah al Muminoon (the Believers):

1. Successful indeed are the believers.

2. Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness.

3. And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood, and all that Allah has forbidden).

4. And those who pay the Zakat .

5. And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts),

6. Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, for then, they are free from blame;

7. But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors;

8. Those who are faithfully true to their Amanah(all the duties which Allah has ordained, honesty, moral responsibility and trusts etc.) and to their covenants;

9. And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory congregational) Salawat (prayers) (at their fixed stated hours).

10. These are indeed the inheritors.

11. Who shall inherit the Firdaus (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever.

A sound heart

 

What's a sound heart like? Why does a heart matter and what are the matters of the heart?

A heart is not just an organ playing a vital role in the functioning of human body. It is much more than that. The role of the heart and the importance of the mind have always been subjects of research and study in the field of science and spirituality. A heart is affected by the quality of one's thoughts and the thoughts are framed according to what the heart feels. It is the mind that gives messages to the human body of pain and pleasure and the condition of the heart displays the overall health of the person. It is not so simple to connect the two and to understand the coordination they have. 

But leaving aside all the technical things if we focus on our own mind and heart we will be able to understand this better. When our heart is heavy we feel uneasy and cannot decide upon things. Why does our heart feel heavy-there can be variety of reasons for this. Sometimes we harbor ill feelings for someone like jealousy, hatred, malice and any other negative feeling. This negativity does not let our heart to work in peace. We might outwardly look or pretend to be cool and normal and display ourselves as caring a damn but inside we are having unhealthy emotions. This does not let our heart to be light and peaceful. This affects our way of thinking as well. We become very strict and narrow minded and also selective in judging about others. We like only those who match our way of thinking and slowly drift away from those whom we do not approve of. Hence our world becomes our personalized haven. While a person who is not in conflict with anyone to the point that he doesn't bother to think ill about others and keeps his heart free from any kind of malice achieves an amazing sense of peace in his heart and mind. This is not easy though. 

The health of the heart affects the whole body. Let us see what our Prophet peace be upon him has told us about the heart:

In the body there is a piece of flesh, and the whole body is sound if it is sound, but the whole body is corrupt if it is corrupt. It is the heart.”

(Bukhari and Muslim.)

The point here is not to take everything to the heart and not to process everything in a pre designed manner like many of us normally do about others. We judge others according to our learned behavior that we see around us since we are born. We are prejudiced. We do not give people chances and we do not give others some space. We think that either shunning people whom we disagree with completely is the solution or trying to claim our rights from those whom we want to keep close to is the thing that works. Both the ways are unsuccessful. Because shunning people completely might give you some peace but you will never be able to find complete peace of mind as you have brought some uneasiness to your heart. 

On the other hand claiming your rights and having expectations from others kills their freedom. The space that everyone needs is violated with this behavior. We must remember that those whom we love are with us and connected to us even if they are far away. They never go away from us spiritually. The connections stay because of the unconditional love. But when we force relationships we see that relationships might hang around but the spirit will be lost. 

The heart thus, needs to be given a comfortable haven. Where there is love for those who love you and prayers for those who don't. There must be no room for hatred or malice for anyone. If we want to have a sound heart we need to free it from all negative feelings. 

Here's an interesting story of one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him:

The following great story reflects the rank of possessing a pure heart that is free from spite, and that it is a blessing from Allah. Anas Ibn Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: “We were sitting with the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, once when he said: ‘A man from the dwellers of Paradise will walk in now’ so a man from the Ansaar (i.e. residents of Madinah) walked in whose beard was dripping from the effect of ablution and who held his slippers with his left hand. The next day the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said the same thing, and the same man walked in. On the third day, the Prophet said the same thing, and the same man once again walked in. When the Prophet left the gathering, ‘Abdullaah Ibn ‘Amr followed that man and said to him: ‘I had a misunderstanding with my father and swore not to stay in his house three nights, so if you permit me I would like to spend these three nights with you.’ The man said: ‘Yes, I permit you.’” 

Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, added: “ ‘Abdullaah Ibn ‘Amr told us that he spent three nights and did not notice that the man prayed the optional night prayers during any of these nights, but if he woke up during the night, he would simply mention Allah. Nonetheless, I never heard him utter except good things, so when the three nights finished, I almost belittled his deeds (as they were insignificant) and I said to him: ‘O slave of Allah! There was not dispute between me and my father or anger, but I heard the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, saying thrice: “A man from the dwellers of Paradise will walk in now” and you walked in all three times, so I wanted to sleep in your place to see what you do in order to imitate you, but I did not see that you exert extra effort in performing any extra deeds. How did you reach such a status to deserve what the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said about you?’ He replied: ‘My deeds are nothing more than what you saw.’ Then when I left, he called me back in and said: ‘My deeds are nothing more than what you saw, but the only thing I do is that I do not hold any grudge against any Muslim or envy anyone for what bounties Allah has granted them’. Thereupon ‘Abdullaah Ibn ‘Amr said to him: “This difficult quality to obtain is what granted you this rank”.  [Ahmad]

The Creator will accept only the sound heart so we need to clean our hearts of all the filth that we might be carrying unknowingly or knowingly. 

But only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart. 

The Noble Quran

Prayer is strength

 

Pray. Keep praying. Never give up prayer. Never stop asking Allah. Prayer is the strength at the time of hardship. Prayer is the solace at the time of loss. Prayer is the sweetness at the time of blessings. Allah has many attributes that we understand only when we seek knowledge about them. Allah is the Giver, He is the Sustainer and the Provider. He is the One Who Protects and Guides. He is the Watchful and the All Seeing and Knowing. He is free from all kinds of imperfections like the need, dependency and weakness. Unlike His Creations He is free from all wants and needs and nobody can dictate or dominate Him. When we ask Him we should have all these great attributes and more of Allah the Almighty in mind. We are asking the One Who is not in need of anyone. Who is the Master, the Originator, the Planner and the Disposer of all affairs of the whole Universe that we know and that we do not know due to our limited knowledge.

Prayer gives us strength because it helps us build a direct connection with the Possessor of all the Strength and all the Might. 

The Quran mentions many incidents of the Prophets of Allah where they ask Allah for help in the most difficult moments of their life and Allah relieves them of their troubles. Allah likes those who turn to Him alone for help without a third party intervention. You and I are the creation of Allah. He did not involve anyone in His plan of action. He is the only Creator and Originator of the heavens and the earths and whatever these two contain. He did not get tired when He created everything neither did He ask anyone to help out. He is the only one Who is worthy of worship and obedience and complete submission. 

The Prophets called their nations toward worshiping the one and only god Allah and to shun the worship of all false gods. But this was not that simple. People followed the footsteps of their ancestors and followed their traditions blindly without giving a thought that they might be doing wrong all along. But Allah sent the Prophets with Guidance toward them each time. Many did not follow them and went to the extent of harming them in the worst ways. Allah gave respite to them to an extent but when they denied the Truth even after it was made evident to them like daylight before their eyes they were punished for their arrogance. 

The Prophets put all their efforts in calling their nation to the message of Truth but they were mocked at and tortured by their people. When the troubles reached a point where it became too hard to bear they called on their Lord, Allah the Almighty to help them. 

Allah sent His help to them in the darkest of times:

He listened to Muhammad peace be upon him

[Remember] when you asked help of your Lord, and He answered you, "Indeed, I will reinforce you with a thousand from the angels, following one another."

He listened to Yusuf peace be upon him 

So his Lord responded to him and averted from him their plan. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

He answered the prayer of Nuh peace be upon him 

And [mention] Noah, when he called [to Allah ] before [that time], so We responded to him and saved him and his family from the great flood.

And Allah responded to Ayyub peace be upon him 

So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity. And We gave him [back] his family and the like thereof with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for the worshippers [of Allah ].

And when Yunus peace be upon him was inside the fish

And [mention] the man of the fish, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers." So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.

And when Zakariyya peace be upon him asked Allah for a son, though he was old and his wife was barren

So We responded to him, and We gave to him John, and amended for him his wife. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive.

Allah says in the Quran

Indeed, in this [Qur'an] is notification for a worshipping people. And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds. Say, "It is only revealed to me that your god is but one God; so will you be Muslims [in submission to Him]?"

All these signs and more are there in the Quran where we find Allah asking His servants to ask, to seek His help and to turn to Him alone in the hard times and good times as well.

Allah is the Most Powerful and He is the only one Who can Forgive our sins and mistakes and make things easy and manageable for us. 

Instead of dwindling here and there we must fix the needle of our faith toward Allah alone and keep the pendulum of our prayers always swinging to and fro between love and hope of Mercy from Allah, till we breathe our last. 

My Journey with Sign 3:134 Al Quran

Bismillahir Rehmanir Raheem

Who spend [in the cause of Allah ] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people - and Allah loves the doers of good;

Surat 'Āli `Imrān (Family of Imran) - سورة آل عمران 134

My husband tells me that life comes in phases. We learn that life is a test and we all are being tested with different things. This is the teaching from the Book about which there is no doubt, the Noble Quran. It also tells us that we must run toward good deeds. Every good deed matters. One missed opportunity haunts you for the rest of your life but it also teaches you a good lesson!

It was one of those chilly December nights. I was comfortable and cosy in my new red quilt. My mother got it stitched for me as each year it was getting colder. That night, as I was about to fall sleep, I heard someone shivering and moaning on the street which was right below the first floor balcony of our flat. That balcony was attached to my room.  I could not get my ears off that sound. Now the sleep was far from my eyes. I became restless. It was the middle of the night and everyone was asleep. What came to my mind was that I must go down and give my new quilt to this shivering person. His moaning would not let me sleep. But as we all know our weakness as human beings and the whisperings of the devil make a simple good deed seem too difficult to do by putting barricades in the way. To me, the late night hour, everyone sleeping, the locked main gate and the fear of going down alone were the barricades. I convinced myself that if all these hurdles were not present I could have donated my quilt to the needy person. I consoled my guilty conscience and tried to go to sleep only to face the rest of my life remembering this one incident of a missed opportunity!

This happened about 15-18 years back. It still makes me feel bad when I think about that needy person. What must have happened to him? Did he survive the cold? We hear about people dying of extreme cold and heat every year. 

After many years, when I reflected on this sign in the Quran, I realized how important it is to spend in the way of Allah in any kind of circumstance. 

Further in life, I was tested with my short temper and difficulty in adjusting with people who were quite different in their temperament. When I reflected on this sign from Allah I was so moved that I decided to control myself and my anger. As a reminder, I wrote this sign on a chart paper and put it high up on the wall of my room, so that I am constantly reminded of the great rewards of controlling anger and pardoning those who hurt you or wrong you. This sign helped me a lot. I started avoiding arguments and chose to keep silent even when I could have shouted and shown my authority and anger. Sometimes I was too harsh to my children but this sign was a great help to me in collecting myself in those difficult moments of frustration and lack of self control. Alhamdulillah! The only driving force toward any goodness is the love of the Creator and He says that He loves those who are Muhsineen, those who excel in good deeds! 

A courageous believer's address

How a courageous believer in Pharaoh's time addressed his nation:

Signs for everyone patient and grateful

Here's a true story of the tribe of Saba from the Noble Quran, mentioned in Chapter named Saba, signs 15-19: 

There was for [the tribe of] Saba' in their dwelling place a sign: two [fields of] gardens on the right and on the left. [They were told], "Eat from the provisions of your Lord and be grateful to Him. A good land [have you], and a forgiving Lord."

But they turned away [refusing], so We sent upon them the flood of the dam, and We replaced their two [fields of] gardens with gardens of bitter fruit, tamarisks and something of sparse lote trees.

[By] that We repaid them because they disbelieved. And do We [thus] repay except the ungrateful?

And We placed between them and the cities which We had blessed [many] visible cities. And We determined between them the [distances of] journey, [saying], "Travel between them by night or day in safety."

But [insolently] they said, "Our Lord, lengthen the distance between our journeys," and wronged themselves, so We made them narrations and dispersed them in total dispersion. Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful.

In the aforementioned story we see that the tribe was blessed with great comfort and safety and security in their life. They were surrounded by gardens of fruits. Further, Allah mentions that He gave them ease of travelling long distances. 

As for the blessings given to them in their dwelling places they did not show gratefulness hence they got replaced with bitter fruits and distasteful things. Allah had blessed them and all they needed to do was to enjoy the blessings and to be grateful. How could they have been ungrateful to such amazing gardens of fruits around them? If we ponder a little we can understand their state of mind which could have led them to show ingratitude to those blessings. They must have got bored of the ease in their life. They must have lost the sense of value for those things which were easily available to them. Instead of being extremely thankful that they had easy access to all kinds of fresh and sweet fruits they were thankless and careless. 

The second great blessing was the ease of travel provided to them by Allah. They could travel at any point of the day or night and feel completely safe and secure. They did not go through the toils of the journey nor did they feel any tiredness or lack of facilities. But this was not welcomed by them. They wanted adventure. They wanted that their journeys became longer so they could enjoy and feel excited. 

They could have chosen to be patient and grateful instead they chose to be hasty, complaining and ungrateful. Allah tested their attitude when they were given the blessings and they failed the test. 

In this same Chapter in the Quran Allah mentions His two most grateful Prophets; David and Solomon peace be upon them both. They were blessed with extraordinary abilities and powers and were given assistance through the air, the Jinn and the animals as well. They enjoyed all the blessings of Allah and were extremely humble and grateful to this great Mercy of Allah upon them. Allah appreciates them in the Quran as His thankful slaves. 

The reason why I have discussed this story from the Quran is to remind myself and my readers to be more and more grateful to each and every blessing of Allah upon us. Today we can see how people are not getting the most basic thing, the oxygen, that we inhale without even realizing. Each of us should take a moment to do self-analysis and ask Allah to forgive us if we had been ungrateful to His immense blessings of breathing with ease, travelling with comfort, eating good things in safe environment, having family around us, meeting friends and going out without giving the second thought on the possibility of catching a virus. It is the need of the hour, each one of us must think and consciously seek forgiveness if we had ever complained of the mundane life, of the same people we meet everyday, of the boring nature of our housework or workplace, of our children pestering us...and so on. We do not even realize how ungrateful and complaining are our statements at times because we do not value the things that we possess. Some blessings we get without our smallest efforts and some things we achieve with efforts yet, once we have them, we tend to devalue them.

From today, we should make this our attitude to be grateful to each and everything in life. Allah accepts the person who turns back to Him after realizing the mistake. I seek Allah's forgiveness and ask Him to forgive all my brothers and sisters and help us to be grateful. I ask Allah to help us come out of this time of difficulty and make our life 'normal' again like we used to have before this pandemic. May be we did not value our 'normal' life got bored and complained about things without even realizing our mistake.

Let us hope for the Mercy of Allah. 

And when guidance comes to you...

The questions coming to the mind of any thinking individual mostly revolve around the origin of his existence, his being in this world and his death. 

Where have I come from? 

Who created me? 

Why am I here on this earth? 

What will happen to me after death?

Any rational person can make out that this whole creation is not without any plan or purpose. But most of the time he is unable to direct his thoughts to the correct source.

Just as we are created beings and we can not control our births or deaths, in the same way we can not select or choose just anything to help us lead our life on this earth.

The Creator has created us and has not left us unguided. 

Our souls belong to the Creator so they need guidance divine; 

guidance that is pure, unadulterated, unchanged and completely trustworthy, 

guidance which is for the whole of mankind from the first to the last person on the face of this earth, guidance that can claim that it is intact from the time it was revealed till date.

 

There are many books which are claimed to be divine revelations and we believe them to be divine revelations but they have gone through many alterations over time.

The Book which has not gone through any change whatsoever since the time of its revelation is none other than the Noble Quran and many of the people do not know this fact.

Book Review of Everyday Islam

Thanks to Saima Faisal, an amazing blogger, for giving a review of this book! Do visit her blog for fabulous and practically useful blogs! 

Islam is a complete way of life; it indicates to us the entire and proper system of our every day lives and we Muslims know that following each and every of its principles and obligations will lead us to a successful life in this world and an even brighter one in the Akhirah!
 Author Shumaysa Faruqi has, in this book, Every Day Islam, talked about how exactly we can inculcate an Islamic lifestyle and has narrated numerous Hadith and Verses related to every day activities such as waking up, going out, going to bed and so on. The book is a gem; for surely it contains a vast collection of Dua’as and short incidents as they occurred in the life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). These incidents guide us to what exactly must be done if we were to encounter a similar situation.
http://www.randombytesfromlife.com/book-review-everyday-islam-by-shumaysa-faruqi/