✨Al-Kahf - 18:54

✨TAFSIR - Ibn Kathir

Examples put forth in the Qur'an

Allah says,

وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا فِي هَذَا الْقُرْانِ لِلنَّاسِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ وَكَانَ الاِْنسَانُ أَكْثَرَ شَيْءٍ جَدَلاً

And indeed We have given every kind of example in this Qur'an for mankind. But, man is ever more quarrelsome than anything.

Allah says, `In this Qur'an, We have explained to mankind and given clear details of matters so that they will not stray from the truth or be misled from the path of guidance. Despite this explanation, man is very quarrelsome and opposes truth with falsehood,' except for those whom Allah guides to the path of salvation.

💠Imam Ahmad recorded that Ali bin Abi Talib said that;

the Messenger of Allah came to visit him and Fatima, the daughter of Allah's Messenger at night, and said,

أَلَا تُصَلِّيَانِ

Are you not going to pray?

I said, "O Messenger of Allah, our souls are in the Hand of Allah. If He wills to wake us, He will wake us."

When I said that, he went away without returning.

Then I heard him as he was walking away, slapping his thigh and saying,

وَكَانَ الاِْنسَانُ أَكْثَرَ شَيْءٍ جَدَلاً

But, man is ever more quarrelsome than anything."

It was also recorded in the Two Sahihs

*✨ℙℝ𝔼ℙ𝔸ℝ𝕀ℕ𝔾 𝔽𝕆ℝ ℝ𝔸𝕄𝔸𝔻𝔸ℕ✨***

1. Increasing Worship and Acts of Devotion

The Prophet (peace be upon him) would increase his worship, including fasting, recitation of the Quran, and night prayers, in the months leading up to Ramadan.

▫️Fasting in Sha’ban
The Prophet (peace be upon him) observed voluntary fasting during Sha’ban, the month preceding Ramadan, as a means of preparing for the obligatory fasts of Ramadan.

Aisha (RA) reported:

“The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not fast in any month more than in Sha’ban. He used to fast all of Sha’ban except a little.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1969; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1156)

▫️Supplication for Ramadan:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged making dua for reaching Ramadan.

“O Allah, bless us in Rajab and Sha’ban and allow us to reach Ramadan.”
(Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 2346)

2. Strengthening the Relationship with the Quran

Ramadan is the month of the Quran, so both the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Sahabah emphasized Quranic recitation and reflection before Ramadan.

▫️The Quran was revealed in Ramadan:
“The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:185)

▫️Focus on Recitation and Understanding:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged engagement with the Quran, reflecting on its meanings, and increasing recitation.

3. Practicing Charity and Generosity

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was especially generous during Ramadan, but he also began this practice before Ramadan.

▫️Generosity of the Prophet:
“The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was the most generous of people, and he was even more generous in Ramadan when Jibreel met him. He used to meet him every night in Ramadan to study the Quran.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3554; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2308)

4. Repenting and Seeking Forgiveness

The Sahabah and the Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged sincere repentance and the purification of the heart before Ramadan.

▫️Repentance in the Quran:
“And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.”
(Surah An-Nur, 24:31)

▫️Seeking Forgiveness:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) would frequently seek forgiveness and encourage others to do so as a means of preparing for the mercy of Ramadan.

5. Establishing Good Habits

The companions would use the time before Ramadan to build habits of prayer, dhikr (remembrance of Allah), and good deeds.

▫️Hadith on Good Deeds:
“The deeds most loved by Allah are those done regularly, even if they are small.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 6464; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 783)

6. Reconnecting with the Community

The Sahabah prepared for Ramadan by fostering good relationships and resolving disputes.

▫️Hadith on Brotherhood:

“It is not lawful for a Muslim to forsake his brother beyond three days.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 6077; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2560)

🚫 Kuffār have New Year’s Resolutions
✅ Muslims have Ramadān Resolutions

“They, the others, have worthless New Year’s resolutions that they never keep – and we have honourable Ramadān resolutions to Allāh.”
— Shaykh Ahmad Jibril (حفظه الله)

Ramadān is in around 2 months. Start preparing now!

📝 Reading from the Muṣḥaf in Obligatory Prayers

❝ Shaykh ˹Sulaymān˺ Al-ʿAlwān was asked about reading the Qurʾān by carrying the Muṣḥaf during obligatory prayer?

He replied: There are three juristical views on this:

1️⃣ It is forbidden [ḥarām] to pray with the Muṣḥaf during obligatory prayer; due to the excessive movement, and [the status of] the reciter is not given priority in this case.

2️⃣ It is disliked [makrūh], due to the lack of evidence to declare it prohibited [ḥarām], and as for the [objection to] movement, it is valid if it is for a need [ḥājah].

3️⃣ It is permissible [jāʾiz] with two conditions:
⬆️That he is not a ḥāfiẓ [one who has memorized the Qurʾān]
⬆️That there is no one [praying] behind him who is a ḥāfiẓ

Their evidence is what came in Al-Bukhārī⁽¹⁾ in Muʿallaq form⁽²⁾ , with an authentic chain of transmission, on the authority of ʿĀʾishah, [praying] with her freed slave. ❞

— Shaykh Sulaymān Al-ʿAlwān (text)
~ Galandān 🖋

-----------------------
[1] Al-Bukhārī stated in his ṣaḥīḥ: “Chapter on the imāmah of a slave and freed slave.” Then he quoted “ʿĀʾishah’s slave Dhakwan would lead her in prayer from the Muṣḥaf”
[2] Meaning, Al-Bukhārī documented it without an isnād (chain of transmission). Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar attached an isnād to it in Taghlīq al-Taʿlīq (2/290) and declared, “It is an authentic narration.”

Note: We have already posted a detailed article on the issue of reading from the Muṣḥaf in Sunnah prayers. [In Dhivehi, here]

? Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى tells us that the patience and piety of his Prophet Yusuf brought him to a position of power and strength.

“Verily, he who fears Allah with obedience to Him (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds, and by performing righteous good deeds), and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the Muhsinun (good-doers) to be lost.”

[Yusuf 12:90] 

?Allah has connected success to patience and piety, and the believers understand that

“O you who believe! Endure and be more patient (than your enemy), and guard your territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from where the enemy can attack you, and fear Allah, so that you may be successful.”[Al ‘Imran 3:200] 

?Allah tells us that He loves those who are patient, and that is the greatest encouragement.

“And Allah loves As-Saabirun (the patient).” [Al ‘Imran 3:146] 

?Allah has given glad tidings of three things to those who are patient, each of which is better than that for which the people of this world envy one another.

“but give glad tidings to As- Sabirun (the patient). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: ‘Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.’ They are those on whom are the Salawat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones.”

[al-Baqarah 2:155-157] 

?Allah exhorts His slaves to Seek help with patience and prayer when facing calamities that may befall a person.

“And seek help in patience and As-Salah (the prayer) and truly, it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khashi‘un [i.e. the true believers in Allah — those who obey Allah with full submission, fear much from His punishment, and believe in His Promise (Paradise) and in His Warnings (Hell)].”

[al-Baqarah 2:45] 

Cont…

Child development - The personality of a child begins to take shape significantly from the age of three onwards. People overlook the critical ages between three and ten years old, but this is the stepping stones that lead to your child’s final destination as a person. Given it's critical to mould a child's character at this stage, it allows you to instill in them what is important and ground them in it (e.g., Tawheed). This period in a child's life is crucial for teaching him lessons that will build a robust personality and character. The child learns mostly through observation - it’s not what you say, rather it’s what you do! It's during this period you should impart essential life skills, manners, character building traits and knowledge such as Tawheed, Aqeeah, Quran etc. As the age of the child progresses the deeper and more detailed should the teaching and moulding be.

It's necessary to treat the child with kindness, compassion, and gentleness. Criticism, humiliation, physical punishment, being extremely strict or harsh, blaming, pointing continuous defects and so on can have detrimental lifelong consequences on the child, much of which is seen later on in life. One particular saying is to be kept in mind for this: “Being harsh towards a child is like using a thorny whip to shape a delicate clay sculpture. Instead of molding them with care and gentleness, the harshness leaves lasting marks and imperfections that alter the beauty of their essence.”

Avoiding any form of shouting, the most damaging thing to a child's personality, is paramount. Encouraging and acknowledging the child's opinions and emotions helps shape their personality, so they won't be easily influenced by others. It also helps them develop leadership qualities, which is required by our religion. Aid your child to develop a strong personality, Islam doesn’t farm sheep, it flourishes giants that carry the world on the tip of their finger! We are to encourage children and instil in them leadership qualities, not to push their opinions or them away. Converse with them and guide their thought process the right way by helping them navigate it. This will result in them not being fragile in the future swaying with the wind.

Positivity and encouragement play pivotal roles in the child's development. Parents often unconsciously give more attention to wrong actions than good, inadvertently causing the child to seek negative attention. However, we should practise positive reinforcement and help children strive for positive achievements. Consistent encouragement and acknowledgement will foster an ambitious attitude in them.

Mu'awwiyah - may Allah be pleased with him - was 6-7 years old when he was playing with his peers. A passerby commented that this boy would grow to be a leader of his tribe. What made him say that? Even though Mu’awwiyah was a young boy playing, he was taking a leadership role even amongst his peers whilst playing. However, his mother, Hind Bint Utbah, had bigger ambitions for him. She said, “Bereave him. May I lose him if he’s only going to be the leader of his tribe!” She isn’t satisfied. She wants him more than that. That’s the difference between an ambitious and God-fearing mother over an ordinary woman. She rocks the cradle with her right hand and shakes the world with her left hand! Mu’awwiyah became leader of the world.

— Shaykh Musa Jibril حفظه الله
https://t.me/LightOfTheTruth

▫️From the wise sayings of Luqmān▫️

“If you are in a prayer, then take care of your heart; if you are eating, then take care of your throat; if you are in another man’s house, then take care of your eyes; if you are among people, then take care of your tongue. Remember two matters and forget two matters: remember Allah and death; forget any good you have done to another and any evil that was done to you by another.”

[Abdul-Malik Mujahid, Gems and Jewels, p.190.]