Aim in Life

In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

In a family get-together, a few months back, I posed a question to youngsters on the threshold of adulthood, "What's your aim in life?" The answers were all related, understandably, to getting better positions of living in this world. But, my Qur'aanic studies tell me that the common aim of human life in this world ought to be getting a place in Jannah {Paradise}, in the Hereafter! And this aim could be achieved only by following the divine directions in the Qur'aan. These directions, inter alia, require a human to be convinced  1. of the existence of Allah & seeks His help frequently in the conduct of his/her worldly life, 2. that Allah is aware of, and does minutely monitor, every bit of his/her actions in this world., 3. that Allah requires a human to be honest, truthful, sincere, and just in whatever he/she does in the course of living and earning a livelihood in this world, 4. that this life is uncertain, transitory, and replete with trials & tribulations to test a human's eligibility for a better life in the Hereafter, 5. that those that pass this worldly test would enjoy everlasting happiness in the Hereafter and those that fail would be punished there. Mohammad Shafi Friday, the 31st of January 2020.

Orphans

In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

Extract from QUR’AANIC STUDIES – A Modern Tafsir PART I:

10. Inna allatheena ya/kuloona amwala alyatama thulman innama ya/kuloona fee butoonihim naran wasayaslawna saAAeeran

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4:10. Indeed, they, who swallow the property of the orphans unjustly, swallow only fire into their bellies. And they shall burn in the flames of Hellfire.

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Mohammad Shafi

Friday, the 24^th of January 2020

Divine Talisman

In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

Extract from Chapter 3 of QUR’AANIC STUDIES – A Modern Tafsir PART I:

200. Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo isbiroo wasabiroo warabitoo waittaqoo Allaha laAAallakum tuflihoona

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200. O you who believe! Be patient, exhort patience, maintain good relations with one another and fear Allah, in order that you succeed.¹⁸⁶

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186. This is a veritable divine mantra for success. But, alas, there are very few Muslims in today's world with a strong enough Faith to make use of this mantra! The Muslims wouldn't be in the doldrums, they find themselves in, otherwise.

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Mohammad Shafi

Friday, the 17^th of January 2020.

Patience and Piety

In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

Patience and Piety

Extract from QUR’AANIC STUDIES – A Modern Tafsir PART I:

186. Latublawunna fee amwalikum waanfusikum walatasmaAAunna mina allatheena ootoo alkitaba min qablikum wamina allatheena ashrakoo athan katheeran wa-in tasbiroo watattaqoo fa-inna thalika min AAazmi al-omoori

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3:186. You shall certainly be put to test in your wealth and your lives, and you shall certainly hear from those who have been given the Book before you, and from the polytheists, much hurtful comments. And if you are patient and observe piety, that indeed is a determining factor in all matters.¹⁸⁰

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180. It is obvious that in the sight of our Creator, patience and piety play a crucial role in the determination of all matters in the life of a human being. These attributes contribute to that person's ultimate success.

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Mohammad Shafi

Friday, the 10^th of January 2020.

Worldly Life

In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

Extract from QUR’AANIC STUDIES – A Modern Tafsir PART I:

185. Kullu nafsin tha-iqatu almawti wa-innama tuwaffawna ojoorakum yawma alqiyamati faman zuhziha AAani alnnari waodkhila aljannata faqad faza wama alhayatu alddunya illa mataAAu alghuroori

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3:185. Everyone must taste the death. And only on the Resurrection Day, shall your earnings be fully paid. So then, whoever is moved away from the Fire and admitted to the Garden, he indeed has achieved success. And the life of this world is nothing but ways and means of deception.

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Mohammad Shafi

Friday, the 3^rd of January 2020.