Surah Al Hujurat

 Surah Al Hujurat


I love this Surah for the reminder it gives regarding how Muslims should be to each other and in self and in presence of Allah SWT and his Messenger SAW. It also distinguishes Islam and Iman and explains what Iman is.

Allah says he created us from one man and woman and fashioned us into tribes so that we may know one another. And He adds, that the most noblest among us are the ones who are most righteous.

And as we interact with one another, we are to 1) not jeer at one another assuming we are better 2) not spy at each other 3) not call belittling names 4) speak behind each other's back 5) not to make too many assumptions or sinful assumptions. We are to check information before acting on it and possibly bring harm to others. 

When it comes to believers there is more guidance on how they are to be. There are special codes of conduct when factions of believers fight. We are to make settlement between them and fight against the ones that oppress. We are to act justly always. Ayat 10 says The believers are brothers so make settlement between your brothers. Something very relevant today. 

Ayat 14 and 15 talk directly about Islam and Iman and presents Iman as a step above Islam.  In Ayah 14 Allah asks Nabi SAW to tell the bedouins to say they have submitted but that they have not believed- that faith has not entered their hearts. Then in Ayat 15 Allah describes what Iman is- which is to believe in Allah and His Messenger and not to have any doubt and to strive with all his/her wealth and life in the cause of Allah (fee sabeelillah). For the ones who wholeheartedly believe are the rewards of their deeds. 

I end with the reminder that is given in the Surah. That is- Guidance to Islam is a favour from Allah. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Wanton Ascription

The title to this article is pretty stuffy. But I thought it captured best what I had to say about the tendency to ascribe everything to Allah SWT.. even the faults in our paths. Like the propensity to say it was Allah that made me even do the mistakes, so that I could find myself.. kinda thing. I myself have used that logic in the past.. to bring in a sense of sanctity to the mistakes I have made. trying to see all my hiccups as part of God's plan.. I recently heard a speech by Yaser Qadihi that talked about the difference between Satan's and Adam's (AS) sins. When Satan disobeyed Allah SWT and incurred his wrath, his words were, But Allah, you made me do it! Where as Adam AS stated, O Allah! Indeed I have wronged myself and you.. Forgive me. This difference in response is very enlightening. There is this brand of spirituality.. and I too have dabbled with it.. Where the notions are that-  1)  "Everything -all good and bad comes from the One creator. So there is no tr...
Read more

A Custodian of Earth

 I incline to choose that nature of my custodianship of other beings on Earth is that, as a Muslim who prays, I can pray for the well being of believing beings on Earth. The more sentient I am, the more I can maybe understand their needs. The more pure and clean I am and the more faith I have, I can pray better for them. 
Read more

Neutralising

 Reading principles of Hermetic philosophy. It seems- they say- that Good and Bad is relative. That it is our preception that make things good and bad. It accepts polarity as a natural law. Thereby validating the existence of evil. Its a cowardly attempt to protect oneself from pain, uncertainty. Buddhism- atleast when we do Vipassana- we try to neutralise pain and pleasure. Working at the sensory level to weaken our pain-pleasure reactions.  What is we ARE supposed to feel both pain and pleasure unadulteratedly. And seeking Allah in times of both not obfuscating both a part of straight path? I have never heard Islamic scholars say things that neutralise pain. Instead they seem to stress on patience, fortitude, asking forgiveness. 
Read more