Assalaamu alaykum,

 Alhumdulillaah, our summer classes on Surah Qaf have been a totally different experience (for me at least). Im enjoying every moment of it- the tafseer + the hifdh! In class, Eman had mentioned that once we memorize this surah, it sticks forever… or at least it is tough to forget it. I totally agree!
Why?
Subhan Allaah, the surah is packed with profound reminders of death, the hereafter, accountability and our ultimate return. Its such an important surah for every person to reflect on…
For those you cant make it…honestly, you all are missing out! (sorry for rubbing it in ;))
 Since it is such an important surah… especially to soften and polish our hearts before the blessed month ahead… i thought of writing some of the amazing gems that we’ve learned in class.

Those who are attending the class, please do contribute!

Three verses that should be written in GOLD* (*an expression to show their importance):
 

1. “And indeed We have created man, and We know what his self whispers to him. And We (the angels) are nearer to him than his jugular vein.” (verse 16)
2. “(Remember) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive (each human being), one sitting on the right and one on the left.” (verse 17)
3. “Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).” (verse 18 )
   

Subhan Allaah! If we truly reflect and act upon these verses, then our lives, our speech and our conduct will never be the same.

 From these 3 verses, we learn:

1. Allaah has complete knowledge of all thoughts that cross our minds- whether it may be good or evil. We may not even be aware of them, but Allaah knows even our deepest, hidden thoughts and intentions.
   
2. Will we be held accountable for our passing thoughts?  The Messenger of Allah(peace and blessings of  Allaah be upon him) said: “Verily, Allah the Exalted has forgiven my Ummah for what they talk (think) to themselves about, as long as they do not utter or implement it.”  Alhumdulillaah!
   
3. However, if we persist in our evil thoughts (such as hasad, hatred, suspicion) so much so that it becomes a disease in our hearts, then Allah will test us in such a way that our hidden diseases will be exposed. So, we should regularly purify our hearts by fervently seeking repentance, and indulging in righteous deeds.
   
4. The angels (the two recording angels) are closer to us than our jugular veins by the power and will of Allah.These angels are diligent and attentive in recording our every word and action. They never fail or slack in their duty.
   

   Till when will they record our deeds?
 “And the stupor of death will come in truth: “This is what you have been avoiding!” (19)

سكرة : This refers to the drunken state before one dies. It is a state when the dying person falls in periodic states of wakefulness and sleep before his death.

  When the stupor of death came to our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) he said while wiping sweat from his face, “Glory be to Allaah! Verily, death has its stupor.” 

The next verses move on to describe the horrific scenes of the Last Day. 

“And the Trumpet will be blown- that will be the Day of the threat.” (20) 

Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “How can I feel comfort while the angel responsible for the Trumpet has placed the Trumpet to his mouth and lowered his forehead awaiting when he will be commanded (by Allaah to blow in it)?” 

“And every person will come forth along with a Sa’iq and a Shahid.”(21) As- Sa’iq is the angel who will drive every person to Allaah (not a single soul will be left behind), and the Shahid is the angel who will be a witness against him.

 “Indeed you were heedless of this. Now We have removed from you, your covering, and sharp is your sight this Day.” (22) Everyone will have clear and sharp sight of the truth on that Day, including the disbelievers who had locked their hearts and covered their sight from accepting/seeing the truth in their life.

“And his companion (angel) will say: “Here is (his record) ready with me!”(23) One the recording angels (who was with us throughout our lives) will be ready with our complete book of records.

Allaah will command the two angels to throw the most wretched of people in hellfire- those who are destined to be the dwellers of hellfire for eternity. (May Allaah protect us from it, ameen!) Their traits are mentioned below.

 The Six traits of the permanent dwellers of the Hellfire (verses 24-26):

1. Kaffaar:Those who disbelieve in the 6 articles of faith- that is, faith in Allaah, the Angels, the Books, the Prophets, the Day of Judgment, and Al Qadar (Allah’s predestination). (Disbelief in any one of the articles of faith throws one beyond the pale of Islam).
   
2. Stubbornness- Those who stubbornly reject the truth even after being aware of it.
   
3. Hinderer of good: Those who are misers in sharing any type of goodness no matter how small it may be, such as smiling to their fellow Muslims, saying a kind word, sharing knowledge, offering a small gesture of compassion, maintaining relationships with others etc.
   
4. Transgressor- Those who go beyond the boundaries and limits set by Allah, and transgress in their behavior towards the people.
   
5. Doubter: Those who have doubts about the truth and at the same time raise doubts in other people’s minds.
   
6. Shirk: They associate others with Allaah in their love, devotion and worship. The word Allah, comes from اَلَهَ ,which means to worship and الِه ,which means to worship with longing and devotion. Shirk can appear in many different forms and does not only apply to worshiping idols, saints, Prophets etc. In fact, people may commit shirk by being excessively  attached to money, status, fashion, their desires, family so much so that they love these things/people more than they love Allaah.
   

More coming soon, inshaAllah!

Sins that remove one from the fold of Islam

The Ten acts that nullify Islam by Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab:

1. Shirk or associating others in worship with Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, Allaah forgives not (the sin of) setting up partners (in worship) with Him, but He forgives whom He wills, sins other than that, and whoever sets up partners in worship with Allaah, has indeed strayed far away”[al-Nisa' 4:116]
   This includes praying to the dead, seeking their help, making vows and offering sacrifices to them or to the jinn or to the grave.
   
2. Whoever sets up intermediaries between himself and Allaah, asks them to intercede, and puts his trust in them, is a disbeliever according to scholarly consensus.
   
3. Whoever does not regard the mushrikeen/people of other religions as disbelievers, or doubts that they are disbelievers, or regards their way as correct, is a disbeliever. 
   
4. Whoever believes that anything other than the teaching of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is more complete than his teachings, or that the rulings of anyone else are better than his rulings – such as those who prefer the rule of false laws to his rulings – has gone away from the fold of Islam (i.e. is a disbeliever).
   
5. Whoever hates any part of that which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) brought, even if he acts in accordance with it, has nullified his Islam, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “That is because they hate that which Allaah has sent down (this Qur’aan and Islamic laws); so He has made their deeds fruitless”[Muhammad 47:9]
   
6. Whoever makes fun of anything in the religion of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), or makes fun of any texts that refer to rewards or punishments, has nullified his Islam. The evidence for that is the verse (interpretation of the meaning): “Say: Was it at Allaah, and His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and His Messenger that you were mocking? Make no excuse; you disbelieved after you had believed” [al-Tawbah 9:65-66]
   
7. Sihr (witchcraft) – including spells to turn one person against another or to make someone love another. Whoever does this or approves of it is a disbeliever. The evidence for that is the verse (interpretation of the meaning): “but neither of these two (angels) taught anyone (such things) till they had said, ‘We are for trial, so disbelieve not (by learning this magic from us)’”[al-Baqarah 2:102]
   
8. Supporting the disbelievers and helping them against the Muslims. The evidence for that is the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Awliyaa’ (friends, protectors, helpers), they are but Awliyaa’ of each other. And if any amongst you takes them (as Awliyaa’), then surely, he is one of them. Verily, Allaah guides not those people who are the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers and unjust)” [al-Maa'idah 5:51]
   
9. Whoever believes that some people are allowed to operate outside the law of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) just as al-Khidr operated outside the law of Moosa (peace be upon him) is a kaafir, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers”[Aal 'Imraan 3:85]
   
10. Turning away from the religion of Allaah, not learning it and not acting in accordance with it. The evidence for that is the verse (interpretation of the meaning): “And who does more wrong than he who is reminded of the Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of his Lord, then turns aside therefrom? Verily, We shall exact retribution from the Mujrimoon (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners)” [al-Sajdah 32:22]
     
    

With regard to all of these acts that nullify Islam, it makes no difference whether a person is joking, serious or afraid, unless he is forced to do it.All of them are very serious, and they all happen a great deal. The Muslim should beware of them and fear falling into them. We seek refuge with Allaah from the things that may incur His wrath and painful punishment. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon the best of His creation, Muhammad, and upon his family and companions.
 
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