Day 71/114: Nuh نوح - Noah
Prophet Noah is an example of incredible determination and perseverance.
Not only in the length of his life, but continuous focus on his mission. A snippet of his advice is persevered here, one of constant purification and seeking forgiveness of ones own misdeeds as paving the way for sustenance.
To explain this idea further outside of a spiritual realm, we refer back to an earlier chapter:
“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” [13:11]
Essentially, to find changes in ones life, we must strive to make that first change within ourselves, to put in the hard work, to persist in our efforts constantly, perhaps even in years of it, and the opportunities will come our way as a result of that.
“And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver.
He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers” [71:10-11]
Not only in the length of his life, but continuous focus on his mission. A snippet of his advice is persevered here, one of constant purification and seeking forgiveness of ones own misdeeds as paving the way for sustenance.
To explain this idea further outside of a spiritual realm, we refer back to an earlier chapter:
“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” [13:11]
Essentially, to find changes in ones life, we must strive to make that first change within ourselves, to put in the hard work, to persist in our efforts constantly, perhaps even in years of it, and the opportunities will come our way as a result of that.
“And said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver.
He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers” [71:10-11]
Day 72/114: Al Jinn الجن - The Jinn
In the previous example we saw the work of hundreds of years in which people did not accept.
In this example we see the opposite - a group which heard the message and it resonated immediately, to the point that they would gather to listen to it.
Different things work for different people. We are not in control of hearts, rather we do our job and leave results to God.
In this example we see the opposite - a group which heard the message and it resonated immediately, to the point that they would gather to listen to it.
Different things work for different people. We are not in control of hearts, rather we do our job and leave results to God.
“And when we heard the guidance, we believed in it. And whoever believes in his Lord will not fear deprivation or burden.” [72:13]
Day 73/114: Al Muzzammil المزمل - The Enshrouded One
Prophet Muhammad was instructed to pray during the night, and to spend considerable time doing so (at least half). To add to this, it was an instruction during the early part of his prophethood, when not a great deal of Quranic text had been revealed.
Which meant he has very little (relatively) to recite in prayer, and to spend a great deal of time with the material that he had.
"I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who had practiced one kick 10,000 times" - Bruce Lee
This teaches us something about the power of repetition, and truly spending a great deal of time mastering any given subject.
“Arise [to pray] the night, except for a little -
Half of it - or subtract from it a little
Or add to it, and recite the Qur'an with measured recitation.” [73-2-4]
Which meant he has very little (relatively) to recite in prayer, and to spend a great deal of time with the material that he had.
"I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who had practiced one kick 10,000 times" - Bruce Lee
This teaches us something about the power of repetition, and truly spending a great deal of time mastering any given subject.
“Arise [to pray] the night, except for a little -
Half of it - or subtract from it a little
Or add to it, and recite the Qur'an with measured recitation.” [73-2-4]
Day 74/114: Al Muddathir ٱلْمُدَّثِّر - The Cloaked One
Be patient.
With results, with people, with life.
Good things take time.
Criticism will come. It will hurt. But it will also help you to grow.
Life is a marathon, not a sprint.
Take breaks, be kind with others. And especially with yourself.
“But for your Lord be patient.” [74:7]
With results, with people, with life.
Good things take time.
Criticism will come. It will hurt. But it will also help you to grow.
Life is a marathon, not a sprint.
Take breaks, be kind with others. And especially with yourself.
“But for your Lord be patient.” [74:7]
Day 75/114: Al Qiyamah القيامة - The Resurrection
For every action there is an outcome. For every good a reward, and every bad a consequence.
Maybe not in this world, but eventually an ultimate form of justice. No good or bad goes unnoticed.
And just as we were created once, so too we will be brought back again.
Maybe not in this world, but eventually an ultimate form of justice. No good or bad goes unnoticed.
And just as we were created once, so too we will be brought back again.
“Does man think that We will not assemble his bones?
Yes. [We are] Able [even] to proportion his fingertips.” [75:3-4]
Yes. [We are] Able [even] to proportion his fingertips.” [75:3-4]
Day 76/114: Al Insan الإنسان - Man
There was a time before each of us existed. We were then guided inside our mothers wombs, and we enter the world and attempt to find our way within it too.
All the complexities of our bodies, and every feature contained in what we know today to be DNA- the building blocks of life.
“Was there not a period of time when man was nothing to speak of?
We created man from a drop of mingled fluid to put him to the test; We gave him hearing and sight” [76:1-2]
All the complexities of our bodies, and every feature contained in what we know today to be DNA- the building blocks of life.
“Was there not a period of time when man was nothing to speak of?
We created man from a drop of mingled fluid to put him to the test; We gave him hearing and sight” [76:1-2]
Day 77/114: Al Mursalat المرسلات - The Winds Sent Forth
In a description of winds, they’re described here as something that is “let go”, much like a wild horse that is unleashed.
Every wind that blows is essentially held back to an extent by God, to the gales that run amok.
There are winds that are pleasant, like a zephyr in the summer. There are those that play a vital role in pollination for crops.
There are also those that cause untold destruction, leaving nothing behind in its wake.
Every time we feel a gentle breeze, the true power of it is being held back, by God.
“By those [winds] sent forth in gusts
And the winds that blow violently” [77:1-2]
Every wind that blows is essentially held back to an extent by God, to the gales that run amok.
There are winds that are pleasant, like a zephyr in the summer. There are those that play a vital role in pollination for crops.
There are also those that cause untold destruction, leaving nothing behind in its wake.
Every time we feel a gentle breeze, the true power of it is being held back, by God.
“By those [winds] sent forth in gusts
And the winds that blow violently” [77:1-2]
Day 78/114: An-Naba النبأ - The Announcement
Sleep is a means of rest - where we are cut off from the world, cut off from every form of stress, work, or any other form of worry during our waking hours.
Islamically, sleep is also a form of death, from which we are brought back to life, made to awaken every time.
The plurality of this example is for us to ponder upon, that just like the many awakenings of this life, we too will be brought up once again, after we have left this world.
“And We created you in pairs
And made your sleep [a means for] rest
And made the night as clothing” [78:8-10]
Islamically, sleep is also a form of death, from which we are brought back to life, made to awaken every time.
The plurality of this example is for us to ponder upon, that just like the many awakenings of this life, we too will be brought up once again, after we have left this world.
“And We created you in pairs
And made your sleep [a means for] rest
And made the night as clothing” [78:8-10]
Day 79/114: An-Naziat النازعات - Those Who Drag Forth
One of the striking things about the mission of Moses was not only to speak to Pharoah, but to be gentle in his speech.
This is antithetical to the stereotype that is associated with many who speak about religion; that they are harsh with their tongues, and indeed, carry harshness in their hearts.
Even one of the worst men in history was spoken to in kindness- so why display any form of asperity towards anyone else?
“"Go to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed.
And say to him, 'Would you [be willing to] purify yourself’” [79:17-8]
“But Pharaoh denied and disobeyed.”[79:21]
This is antithetical to the stereotype that is associated with many who speak about religion; that they are harsh with their tongues, and indeed, carry harshness in their hearts.
Even one of the worst men in history was spoken to in kindness- so why display any form of asperity towards anyone else?
“"Go to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed.
And say to him, 'Would you [be willing to] purify yourself’” [79:17-8]
“But Pharaoh denied and disobeyed.”[79:21]
Day 80/114: ‘Abasa عبس - He Frowned
This chapter is named after the incident in which a blind man approached Muhammad ﷺ, who then turned away after the mans persistence and intervention.
Even though the man was blind and wouldn’t have been able to gauge his facial expression, however slight to those even with sight, the rebuke came as a leader is especially given the highest of standards of conduct to uphold.
It also gives great dignity to those who have a disability, those often shunned and written off by others in society, as no person is less worthy of dignity and respect as a result of their abilities, or lack thereof.
“But what would make you perceive, [O Muhammad], that perhaps he might be purified
Or be reminded and the remembrance would benefit him?” [80:3-4]
Even though the man was blind and wouldn’t have been able to gauge his facial expression, however slight to those even with sight, the rebuke came as a leader is especially given the highest of standards of conduct to uphold.
It also gives great dignity to those who have a disability, those often shunned and written off by others in society, as no person is less worthy of dignity and respect as a result of their abilities, or lack thereof.
“But what would make you perceive, [O Muhammad], that perhaps he might be purified
Or be reminded and the remembrance would benefit him?” [80:3-4]