The past weeks we have been looking into the inner meanings of Sura Ya Sin. But each line, each word, each letter in the Qur’an has deep meanings. When we are thinking about and trying to understand meanings of the Glorious Qur’an, which Allah (SWT) has sent down for us, His slaves, to clarify all things and as a Light that He gives to whom He wills among His slaves. Indeed, the Qur’an contains tremendous medicine for all ills of the heart, as Allah said,

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ

لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلا يَزِيدُ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلا خَسَارًا017.082

Wanunazzilu mina alqur-ani ma huwa shifa’on warahmatun lilmu/mineena wala yazeedu a(l)thalimeena illa khasara(n)

” And We sent down from the Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism).” (17/82)

The Qur’an contains the deen; Allah’s promises, warnings and commandments; stories of previous nations; and codes of the best conduct and behavior.

These various subjects in the Qur’an have different effects on the heart. Some Surahs (chapters) of the Qur’an are more frightening than others.

Rasul Allah (SAW) said,  “Hud and its sisters have brought me white hairs before their due time.” Hud and its sisters brought white hairs to the Messenger of Allah because of what they contain of matters of Iman. These Surahs, and the rest of the Qur’an, showed their effect on the Messenger of Allah and his companions, exactly as they were ordered in the Qur’an,

فَاسْتَقِمْ كَمَا أُمِرْتَ وَمَنْ تَابَ مَعَكَ

وَلا تَطْغَوْا إِنَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ011.112

Fa(i)staqim kam[a] omirta waman t[a]ba maAAaka wal[a] ta[t]ghaw innahu bim[a] taAAmaloona ba[s]eer(un)

“So stand (ask Allah to make) you (Mohammad) firm and straight as you are commanded and those (your companions) who turn in repentance (unto Allah) with you.” (11/112)

The companions would also be deeply moved with emotions when they recited the Qur’an. Abu Bakr, for example, who was a soft-hearted man, used to cry while reciting the Qur’an when leading Muslims in prayer. Once, Umar became ill as a result of his reciting the Ayah,

On another occasion, Umar wept when he was reciting this Ayah,

قَالَ إِنَّمَا أَشْكُو بَثِّي وَحُزْنِي إِلَى

اللَّهِ وَأَعْلَمُ مِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لا تَعْلَمُونَ012.086

Q[a]la innam[a] ashkoo baththee wa[h]uznee il[a] All[a]hi waaAAlamu mina All[a]hi m[a] l[a] taAAlamoon(a)

“I (Prophet Jacob) only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah.” (12/86),

and he was clearly heard by those who were standing behind him.

Furthermore, Uthman Ibn Affan said, “If our hearts were pure, they will never have enough from reciting Allah’s Speech (the Qur’an).”

As for later generations, Ayyub said, “I heard Sad Ibn Jubayr recite the Ayah,

وَقَالُوا لَنْ يَدْخُلَ الْجَنَّةَ إِلا مَنْ كَانَ هُودًا أَوْ

نَصَارَى تِلْكَ أَمَانِيُّهُمْ قُلْ هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ002.111

Waq[a]loo lan yadkhula aljannata ill[a] man k[a]na hoodan aw na[sa]r[a] tilka am[a]niyyuhum qul h[a]too burh[a]nakum in kuntum [sa]diqeen(a)

“And be afraid of a Day when you shall be brought back to Allah.” (2/281), repeating it more than twenty times.” This is the last Ayah that was revealed to the Messenger of Allah, and it ends with, “Then every person shall be paid what he earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.” (2:281).

Also, Ibrahim Ibn Bashshar said, “If you could but see where they will be held over the (Hell) Fire! They will say, ‘Would that we were but sent back (to the world).'” (6:27), was the Ayah that Ali Ibn al-Fudhayl died while reciting. I was among those who prayed the Janazah (funeral) prayer on him, may Allah grant him His Mercy.” Furthermore, when our Salaf would reach a portion of the Qur’an were Sujud (bowing down) is warranted, they treated this incident different than ordinary people. A man once recited, “And they fall down on their faces weeping and it adds to their humility.” (17:109), and then fell in Sujud. Then, he said to himself, “Here you are, you do the Sujud, so where is the crying?”

Ibn Al-Qayyim said with regards to what one should do to cure his weak Iman using the Qur’an, “First you should remove your heart from the life of this world and settle it in the Last Life. Then, pay your full attention to pursuing the meanings of the Qur’an, and try to comprehend and understand them and what they were sent down to accomplish. Then, offer these meanings to the sickness that your heart feels, and when they touch the disease, they will cure the heart, Allah willing.”

Part 2

Narrated Abu Bakra

The Prophet said, “Time has taken its original shape which it had when Allah created the Heavens and the Earth. The year is of twelve months, four of which are sacred, and out of these (four) three are in succession, i.e. Dhul-Qa’da, Dhul-Hijja and Al-Muharram, and the fourth is Rajab which is named after the Mudar tribe, between (the month of) Jumaida (ath-thania) and Sha’ban.” Then the Prophet asked, “Which is this month?” We said, “Allah and His Apostle know better.” On that the Prophet kept quiet so long that we thought that he might name it with another name. Then the Prophet said, “Isn’t it the month of Dhul-Hijja?” We replied, “Yes.” Then he said, “Which town is this?” We replied, “Allah and His Apostle know better.” On that he kept quiet so long that we thought that he might name it with another name. Then he said, “Isn’t it the town of Mecca?” We replied, “Yes,” Then he said, “Which day is today?” We replied, “Allah and His Apostle know better.” He kept quiet so long that we thought that he might name it with another name. Then he said, “Isn’t it the day of An-Nahr (i.e. sacrifice)?” We replied, “Yes.” He said, “So your blood, your properties, (the sub-narrator Muhammad said, ‘I think the Prophet also said: And your honor’) are sacred to one another like the sanctity of this day of yours, in this city of yours, in this month of yours; and surely, you will meet your Lord, and He will ask you about your deeds. Beware! Do not become infidels after me, cutting the throats of one another. It is incumbent on those who are present to convey this message (of mine) to those who are absent. May be that some of those to whom it will be conveyed will understand it better than those who have actually heard it.” (The sub-narrator, Muhammad, on remembering that narration, used to say, “Muhammad spoke the truth!”) He (i.e. Prophet) then added twice, “No doubt! Haven’t I conveyed (Allah’s Message) to you?”

Brothers, this is a clear call, let us go from here willing to do this work, willing to act as Allah (SWT) and Rasul Allah (SAW) have asked us to. Act as muslims united, do not be afraid to correct each other and remind each other, remember that Rasul Allah (SAW), said to do so in a kindly voice. And be prepared to be reminded and corrected ourselves. We are not here to fight with each other nor to fight with others, we are here to do the work that Allah (SWT) has chosen for us.

و الله علم