Tafsir of Surah Maryam Day 7: Ayahs 16-17 with Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda

Continuing with Surah Maryam, here are my notes from this lecture with Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda.

Ayah 16: Wazkur fil kitaabi Maryma izin tabazat min ahlihaa makaanan sharqiyyaa

• • Starting passages about Maryam and the miraculous birth of Isa alayhis salaam
  • previous verses: talking about miraculous birth of Yahya alayhis salaam.
  • Surah 3, Surah 19 both include details about the birth of Isa alayhis salaam
  • Birth of Yahya always mentioned before birth of Isa alayhis salaam in Qu’ran.

Tafseer of Surah Maryam – Day 6: Ayahs 13-15 ~ Tafsir with Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda

Beauty

 

Notes from this lecture with Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda. Notes from Ayah 1-12 can be found on the blog as well. Ramadan Mubarak!

 Highlights

• Yahya is born and is growing up and being raised by incredible parents.
• then Allah addresses Yahya.

Ayah 12: Yaa Yahyaa khuzil kitaba biquwwatinw wa aatainahul hukma sabiyyaa

khuzil: hold firmly, grab, take ahold of the Book (Torah)

biqu: with strength, firmness, conviction

• • Doesn’t just mean read, means understand, memorize, live it, practice, dedicate your life to implementing it.
  • Our lesson: too often when we are reading about the Prophets we treat it like a fairytale. We need to make it relevant. Our lesson is we need to implement the same mentality and the Qur’an must be the basis of everything we do in this life. Allah is saying that this is guidance and you cannot succeed without it. And for us, the Book is the Qur’an.

The Believer Expects From their Lord

Beauty

Forget about rights, worry about obligations and responsibilities.  Go out of your way to fulfill your responsibilities. Think about what can I do, what more can I do? Show sabr (patience) and compassion. The believer expects from their Lord, everyone else will disappoint! Everyone is obsessed with their own rights, we should learn how to excel with our spouse. Show love and mercy – you cannot ask Allah for something and not do anything yourself. Right now we have the careless use of media in the home. Daily Qur’an and adhkar must be part of your daily routine.

~ Wedding Sermon, South Africa, 2016.

Gems from Surah Maryam Day 5: Ayah 12 with Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda

Highlights

• The motive of Zakariyyah alayhis salaam shines through the purity of his intention. Allah gives us this so that we can understand this lesson in supplication – that you have to be truly sincere in your motives, your intentions and your sincerity when you supplicate. Zakariyya alayhis salaam said I want an inheritor to spread knowledge of this religion, and he said, that’s why I want an inheritor Ya Allah.

Gems from Surah Maryam Day 4: Ayahs 7-11 with Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda

 

• • What we’ve seen so far is the etiquettes of supplication, Zakariyya is stating his case, and stating his weaknesses
  • Then we see the etiquette of supplication where Zakariyya is recounting the blessings of Allah, that he has never made dua and not been given.
  • Then explains why he is making this case – explaining why he wants a child. Make him soneone who strives to please you Allah and You are pleased with him.
  • In Ayah 7, Allah answers the supplication of Zakariyya alayhis salaam

Gems from Tafseer of Surah Maryam Day 3 Ayahs 5-6 with Shaykh Abdul Nasir Jangda

• One of the biggest lessons of the story of Maryam, and one of the wisdoms of why it has such a prominent place within the Qur’an, (the story of Maryam is one that reoccurs in the Qur’an in very, very powerful times from Surah Ali-Imran, to Surah Maryam, to Surah Tahrim) is a very, very powerful valuable lesson. The story of Maryam is something very miraculous, especially the ayat in Ali-Imran. In Ali Imran, it talks about the remarkable parents Maryam had, and it talks about the intention her mother had made. That I have devoted, I have dedicated, I have made the commitment, that whatever I am carrying, it will be free of any expectations, any need, any requirements from me. So please accept this from me, Oh Allah. When the ayat go on, she says, “I have given birth to a daughter, a female.” And then subhanAllah, Allah says, “Allah knows best what she gave birth to. Because the mother was saying it in the tone of “I gave birth to a daughter. I made the intention for my child to be dedicated to the deen, to make these amazing accomplishments and commitments to the deen of Allah, and I gave birth to a daughter, and there’s a little bit of disappointment there.

• Allah knows best what she gave birth to. Allah says, it’s not to say they are exactly the same, but Allah Knows best what she gave birth to.

• So there’ s a little bit of hesitation that maybe the child is not going to live up to the expectations that I had, but Allah says, no, Allah knows best what she gave birth to.
• When we read ahead it talks about the resolve, the commitment, the dedication, the fortitude, the modesty, just the character, the resilence of Maryam. And finally in conclusion, in Surah Tahrim, Allah says Maryam is not just a role model for women.

Love is the Fertile Ground from Which Mercy Emerges (Gems from the 2010 Celebrate Mercy Broadcast

• Respect women as soulful equals (Shaykh Abdullah Adhami)
• Increase in compassionate acts towards others in order to build trust. Build trust and compassion in your life this year, and then the next year (Imam Afroz Ali)
• Never in anyone who walked the earth has there been a heart that is so soft and yet so brave, peace and blessings be upon him (Shaykh Faraz Rabbani)
• We are literally drowning in blessings.
• Soundness of faith is on strength of attachment. Strengthening of the heart is in reminders and frequent remembering.
• When love something/someone a lot, you make mention of them a lot.
• Strive to show mercy and compassion to all those around you. Forbearance, generosity.
• Mercy is the foundation of all relationships. Love is the fertile ground from which mercy emerges. Let us revive mercy in our marriages.  (Imam Zaid Shakir)
• In our world, love is not always reciprocal, but with the Divine, always reciprocal. Let us love the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Let us love God, let that love translate into mercy that touches people’s lives in deep and meaningful ways and translates into obedience.
• Gratitude means that we use blessings in way that they were created.
• Let those who possess this love not be stingy.. Bring it to the marketplace, the workplace, the home. My heart holds your love, my tongue offers blessings, but my limbs often fall short.”  (Sidi Haroon Sellers)

Relationships are Connections of the Heart Supported by Reason (Gems from Shaykh Faraz Rabbani)

As a collaboration between the SeekersHub Toronto, the Muslim Chaplaincy at U of T and the U of T MSA, the Muslim Chaplaincy at U of T offered a course during the Fall of 2014 called Living Light with Shaykh Faraz Rabbani. The sessions I attended were excellent, and left us with much to think about afterwards. Below, notes from one of the sessions. 

• Have a daily point of connection to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him
• The sunna is not just general principles, but practical specifics
• The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him would keep in touch with people for decades afterwards
• Part of goodness to parents is goodness to the friends of one’s parents. To be respectful to their friends.
• Have loyalty in relationships
• We often like to study intellectual things but most important knowledge is that that transforms how we worship and how we are with Allah’s creation. We must constantly ask: what is the right action entailed by the right intention and attitude?
• Sometimes to determine this we need to momentarily disengage. When Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him asked the Companions to come out of ihram and they didn’t respond, there is a methodology we can learn in his response.
• a) Disengage (went inside his tent)
• b) Consult when unclear. Sometimes expressing your problem helps to view it correctly  (Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him consulted his wife)
• c) Only respond when sure. Don’t say or do anything hastily. Say the good or be silent.
• Good character is manifest when tested
• With couples/any relationship – tell yourself, i don’t want to respond to how I feel and what he/she saying, I want to respond in way pleasing to Allah
• Attitude and then action. Look at your spouse with mercy and love.
• Opposite of love is not hatred, it’s indifference. If motive is to look with mercy, you are seeking the good.
• Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not deal with people on the basis of what they said or did, dealt with people on the basis of heart. What is their underlying concerns.
• Have an eye of love and mercy. Have a good opinion of your spouse.
• Relations are a matter of the heart (emotions), they aren’t rational.
• Relationships are connections of the heart, supported by reason.
• Deal with people on the basis of good chraracter.
• The Prophet peace and blessings be upon him, gave us numerous examples – need to renew our connection to him, peace and blessings be upon him.

Your Perceptions Define Your Experiences (Gems from Soul Food with Ustadh Amjad Tarsin)

The Muslim Chaplaincy at U of T runs an amazing weekly discussion circle called Soul Food.  Below are notes from one of the sessions this term. Alhamdullilah for spaces to grow and learn with others!

• A true sense of hope is hoping for God’s mercy and working for it.
• When you see a sunset, why do you enjoy it? When you’re with family, what is your response? The response should be thankfulness
• Take advantage of every moment as an advantage of drawing close to God. We are sowing seeds for the akhira (afterlife)
• What is your purpose? Tip: Spend 5 minutes at the end of the day and sit and reflect. Engage in dhikr and quiet. 
• Death is around the corner. Allah and eternal bliss is what we should strive for. Death gives you immediacy. Contemplating death allows you to ask the question, where am I going? I’m going somewhere based on what I do here. How do I achieve the goals I have in the best way possible?
• Don’t be attached to results, be attached to God.
• Companions weren’t morbid, they were content with death. Natural to have a fear of the unknown but if have yaqeen, better able to handle things.
• Is what I’m doing, what I’m intending, something I will be glad that I did?
• Seek greater goals. Then everything you do becomes an act of worship.
• A righteous person, funeral is like a wedding. Your perceptions define your experiences.
• Really important to reflect on life. Where are you going? What are we attached to? What are our lives about? People who have a strong sense of this strive to do the most amount of good. Their hearts are full of the things that really matter.
• As attachments to the world decrease, arguments, grudges, backbiting decrease.
• We shouldn’t be small minded people, we should look at the big picture.
• We tend to have shallow communications. We hang out with people, but don’t have deep communications. 
• Chicken soup to a neighbour, the greatest act to change the world. Mutual acts of caring performed often forge a sense of belonging. Try to reignite the role of neighbours.

 

The Prophet Was Only Sent to Perfect Noble Character (Gems by Ustadh Usama Canon)

I heard a beautiful lecture through the Yale MSA yesterday that was filled with wonderful reminders about leadership, being a positive contributor to the world, recognizing one’s attachment to the world, having good manners and so much more. Thanks to the Yale MSA for uploading the video of this beautiful talk and making it accessible to a wider audience. My notes are brief as the stories can only be done justice by hearing the lecture on one’s own. 

• When we talk about spiritual leadership, need to revisit and understand your role as khalifa, as steward of God and the earth.

•  It’s about understanding I’m not here just for the heck of it, and I’m also not here to consume, also not here just to make money, also not here just to procreate, but I’m here for a reason, for a purpose, and I’m here on behalf of somebody, and the One that I’m here on behalf of determines the greatness of my vicegerency, the greatness of my stewardship. And that is on behalf of All Mighty God.

• Each of us is a leader in some regard, at least as it relates to our own soul. And this is scary but this is also really exciting.

• The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him said there are seven people shaded on the Day of Judgement. The first one is a just leader, or a just ruler, depending on how you look at the word. The commentators say this applies to everybody who is an imam in any regard. Doesn’t mean have to be in role of religious authority, but leaders.

• When you get married and have kids, need to think about the fact that spiritual leadership is not just exported to the masjid.

•  Be careful of the life you lead, you may be the only book some people read.

• What is spirituality? The people of our tradition say someone who has increased you in good manners has increased you in spirituality.

• The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him was sent to perfect noble character.

• Spirituality can be having really good manners.

• Imam Zaid – if he’s by himself, he’s reading Qur’an and doing dhikr. Story of Imam Zaid spending three times as much time as it took to make wudu, wiping the floor so that there isn’t a mess for the workers at convention centre. That’s spirituality.

• Some of us have never seen a scholar make wudu. If you have a chance you should, because you might look and realize haven’t been doing it right my whole life.

• How many of us have read Islam and the Black American? How many of us have read Roots? The Autobiography of Malcolm X? Need to realize that where we are is because of the sacrifices of other people.

• The only way to make it is to be in good company, with people who are more advanced than you. Have to be around elders and mentors. It’s the same way we make strides in other parts of our life as well.

• Be mirrors of his beautiful light.