Day 21/114: Al Anbiya الأنبياء - The Prophets
Haste and impatience are incredibly destructive. Whether it’s wanting instant results, success, or answers, we often forget that there is wisdom in not only the delay in things, but their exact timing too.
Things happen when they are meant to. Nothing is ever a second too early, or a moment too late.
When was the last time you wanted something so badly, but didn’t get it as and when you wanted? And how often did you look back and realise there was a wisdom in that timing?
The more impatient we are, the narrower our vision becomes. We lose peripheral sight of the world around us in want of a particular thing. People disregard families and dependants to pursue a lucrative career. Sometimes we ruin our health for the sake of enjoyment. We become reckless, and cause ourselves much needless misery and discomfort.
Embrace the wait. Use the time to learn, to teach, to lead. “Good things come to those who wait.”
“Man was created of haste.” [21:37]
Things happen when they are meant to. Nothing is ever a second too early, or a moment too late.
When was the last time you wanted something so badly, but didn’t get it as and when you wanted? And how often did you look back and realise there was a wisdom in that timing?
The more impatient we are, the narrower our vision becomes. We lose peripheral sight of the world around us in want of a particular thing. People disregard families and dependants to pursue a lucrative career. Sometimes we ruin our health for the sake of enjoyment. We become reckless, and cause ourselves much needless misery and discomfort.
Embrace the wait. Use the time to learn, to teach, to lead. “Good things come to those who wait.”
“Man was created of haste.” [21:37]
Day 22/114: Al Hajj الحج - The Pilgrimage
Being a minority in any situation is a challenging prospect.
Whether you stand out for the wrong reasons, for fear of ridicule, being ostracised, persecution, or indeed anything else, the prospect alone can be paralysing.
In the final verse of this chapter, God addresses the Muslims- that they have been chosen to carry out a specific purpose. And that purpose has been made easy.
Throughout the book, you will find many stories of prophets and the difficulties they went through, and such stories serve as a reminder and a source of strength, that they were brought success, and that the Muslim in challenging times will find it too.
“He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty.” [22:78]
Whether you stand out for the wrong reasons, for fear of ridicule, being ostracised, persecution, or indeed anything else, the prospect alone can be paralysing.
In the final verse of this chapter, God addresses the Muslims- that they have been chosen to carry out a specific purpose. And that purpose has been made easy.
Throughout the book, you will find many stories of prophets and the difficulties they went through, and such stories serve as a reminder and a source of strength, that they were brought success, and that the Muslim in challenging times will find it too.
“He has chosen you and has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty.” [22:78]
Day 23/114: Al Mu’minun المؤمنون - The Believers
Time: some moments it flies by, others it feels like it’s barely moving.
Have you recalled a moment in your life where you felt like you witnessed something for an age, but you were there for but a few seconds?
How about an occasion where it was the complete opposite?
Just today we learnt of a young racing driver who lost his life in a crash. In reality, he’s one of many souls who passed away around the world.
A recurring theme of an afterlife is mentioned often. We believe that there is a heaven and a hell. And the eternity of either will make our time on earth seem like but a few short moments.
So my friends, let us make the most of the short time we do have in the best possible way.
“[ Allah ] will say, "How long did you remain on earth in number of years?"
They will say, "We remained a day or part of a day; ask those who enumerate."
He will say, "You stayed not but a little - if only you had known.” [23:112-114]
Have you recalled a moment in your life where you felt like you witnessed something for an age, but you were there for but a few seconds?
How about an occasion where it was the complete opposite?
Just today we learnt of a young racing driver who lost his life in a crash. In reality, he’s one of many souls who passed away around the world.
A recurring theme of an afterlife is mentioned often. We believe that there is a heaven and a hell. And the eternity of either will make our time on earth seem like but a few short moments.
So my friends, let us make the most of the short time we do have in the best possible way.
“[ Allah ] will say, "How long did you remain on earth in number of years?"
They will say, "We remained a day or part of a day; ask those who enumerate."
He will say, "You stayed not but a little - if only you had known.” [23:112-114]
Day 24/114: An-Nur النور - The Light
When you follow in someone’s footsteps, you follow their journey, inclinations, suggestions, ideas, and thoughts. If you’re not following the right people, and with the right intentions for you, then that could become a thorny path full of potholes and quicksand, and you’ll find yourself neck-deep in hot water before you know it.
Follow the right people, and they will only lead you up higher mountains, to newer plateaus.
As is climbing a mountain, it never gets any easier, and you will constantly want to throw in the towel, especially when you take charge of your own destiny. But when you get half way up a mountain, going back down is almost as difficult as carrying on up.
It’s always worth the prize at the summit.
Be careful who you follow.
“O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing.” [24:21]
Follow the right people, and they will only lead you up higher mountains, to newer plateaus.
As is climbing a mountain, it never gets any easier, and you will constantly want to throw in the towel, especially when you take charge of your own destiny. But when you get half way up a mountain, going back down is almost as difficult as carrying on up.
It’s always worth the prize at the summit.
Be careful who you follow.
“O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing.” [24:21]
Day 25/114: Al Furqan الفرقان - The Criterion
Day 25/114: Al Furqan الفرقان - The Criterion
In order to truly understand something, we must understand its opposite.
To understand true happiness, we have to go through times of sadness.
To understand comfort, we must feel pain.
To truly grasp the value of wealth, we must understand what it is to be poor.
And so on.
Examples of duality are found in lots of places throughout this book. And alongside with it, context is important too. Things don’t exist in isolation, left to be interpreted with the mind and bias of any one observer.
“Have you not considered your Lord - how He extends the shadow, and if He willed, He could have made it stationary? Then We made the sun for it an indication.” [24:45]
In order to truly understand something, we must understand its opposite.
To understand true happiness, we have to go through times of sadness.
To understand comfort, we must feel pain.
To truly grasp the value of wealth, we must understand what it is to be poor.
And so on.
Examples of duality are found in lots of places throughout this book. And alongside with it, context is important too. Things don’t exist in isolation, left to be interpreted with the mind and bias of any one observer.
“Have you not considered your Lord - how He extends the shadow, and if He willed, He could have made it stationary? Then We made the sun for it an indication.” [24:45]
Day 26/114: Ash-Shu’ara الشعراء - The Poets
Day 26/114: Ash-Shu’ara الشعراء - The Poets
This is perhaps one of the most well known incidents of Prophet Moses’ life - the parting of the sea.
I cannot begin to imagine witnessing something like this in person.
But I would like it think of it as yet another example of believing that there is always a way out of a difficult situation, against all odds. And indeed, Moses’ story is very much all about that.
“Then We inspired to Moses, "Strike with your staff the sea," and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain” [26:63]
This is perhaps one of the most well known incidents of Prophet Moses’ life - the parting of the sea.
I cannot begin to imagine witnessing something like this in person.
But I would like it think of it as yet another example of believing that there is always a way out of a difficult situation, against all odds. And indeed, Moses’ story is very much all about that.
“Then We inspired to Moses, "Strike with your staff the sea," and it parted, and each portion was like a great towering mountain” [26:63]
Day 27/114: An-Naml النمل - The Ant
Sometimes you can speak the simplest of words, and they will be enough to reach a persons heart immediately.
Other times, you can assemble the most eloquent of arguments, with the most beautiful language, and yet a receiver may not hear but a peep of what you say.
To know when to stop is important. To waste your words on those who choose not to listen is a wasted effort.
You cannot control anybody. You can only say your two cents. Do your best, and carry on.
“Indeed, you will not make the dead hear” [27:80]
Other times, you can assemble the most eloquent of arguments, with the most beautiful language, and yet a receiver may not hear but a peep of what you say.
To know when to stop is important. To waste your words on those who choose not to listen is a wasted effort.
You cannot control anybody. You can only say your two cents. Do your best, and carry on.
“Indeed, you will not make the dead hear” [27:80]
Day 28/114: Al-Qasas القصص - The Stories
Once again, we are given another episode in the life of Prophet Moses. There are various contrasts to be drawn between this chapter, and the one related to the story of Joseph.
While designing today’s doodle, I had a thought.
Our lives are very much like rivers, and the movement of water and it’s observable state in nature parallels the various stages of our own life.
Moses was thrown into a river as a baby, and delivered safely into the palace of Pharaoh, in what can only be described as a miraculous journey. The water once again plays a part, as it’s then used to drown Pharaoh himself.
Any journey toward a goal is not a straight line, it’s a river. It undulates, twists, contains obstacles, crashes against banks, speeds up and slows down, and eventually settles into the ocean.
We too, begin our lives at a source, traverse the currents growth, change course at any given obstacle, and eventually end up part of the Earth itself.
The more you try and fight the current, the more you will tire yourself.
You are the water. Let yourself flow.
“And We inspired to the mother of Moses, "Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. Indeed, We will return him to you and will make him [one] of the messengers."” [28:7]
While designing today’s doodle, I had a thought.
Our lives are very much like rivers, and the movement of water and it’s observable state in nature parallels the various stages of our own life.
Moses was thrown into a river as a baby, and delivered safely into the palace of Pharaoh, in what can only be described as a miraculous journey. The water once again plays a part, as it’s then used to drown Pharaoh himself.
Any journey toward a goal is not a straight line, it’s a river. It undulates, twists, contains obstacles, crashes against banks, speeds up and slows down, and eventually settles into the ocean.
We too, begin our lives at a source, traverse the currents growth, change course at any given obstacle, and eventually end up part of the Earth itself.
The more you try and fight the current, the more you will tire yourself.
You are the water. Let yourself flow.
“And We inspired to the mother of Moses, "Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. Indeed, We will return him to you and will make him [one] of the messengers."” [28:7]
Day 29/114: Al Ankabut العنكبوت - The Spider
Monotheism is a strongly emphasised trait in Islam - worship of anything or anyone other than God is often warned against.
Some may view this to be a particularly strict requirement, but it’s rooted fairly firmly as the basis of all actions - for God.
I recently read Mark Manson’s book which helped explain this further in a modern context - everyone worships something. Whether it be God, a belief they hold, even themselves, everyone believes in something.
Some even worship their phones, their bank accounts, or other deities. Others strongly believe in star signs, or various other omens throughout their life.
In emphasising monotheism, belief of anything else is described as frail as a spiders home, one that easily perishes.
“The example of those who take allies other than Allah is like that of the spider who takes a home. And indeed, the weakest of homes is the home of the spider, if they only knew.” [29:41]
Some may view this to be a particularly strict requirement, but it’s rooted fairly firmly as the basis of all actions - for God.
I recently read Mark Manson’s book which helped explain this further in a modern context - everyone worships something. Whether it be God, a belief they hold, even themselves, everyone believes in something.
Some even worship their phones, their bank accounts, or other deities. Others strongly believe in star signs, or various other omens throughout their life.
In emphasising monotheism, belief of anything else is described as frail as a spiders home, one that easily perishes.
“The example of those who take allies other than Allah is like that of the spider who takes a home. And indeed, the weakest of homes is the home of the spider, if they only knew.” [29:41]
Day 30/114: Ar-Rum الروم - The Romans
Diversity is in our origins. It is our strength. It is who we are.
Nationalism and tribalism have long been used to divide and discriminate. Which is as bizarre as your left hand discriminating against your right hand.
It is a shame that the many strides we made across the last few decades are being undone due to some suits at the top who are only concerned with their own following.
“And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and your colors. Indeed in that are signs for those of knowledge.” [30:22]
Nationalism and tribalism have long been used to divide and discriminate. Which is as bizarre as your left hand discriminating against your right hand.
It is a shame that the many strides we made across the last few decades are being undone due to some suits at the top who are only concerned with their own following.
“And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and your colors. Indeed in that are signs for those of knowledge.” [30:22]