Islam Made Simple
Dr Osama Al-Azhari
Minister of Awqaf
(Charitable Endowments)
To the distinguished readers, to the great people of Egypt, to our Arab and Muslim nations, Welcome to a new blessed journey with the Book of Allah, where we sail through its verses, sip from its illuminations, draw sustenance from its treasures and secrets, and experience the guidance and wisdom, and find out the admonition and healing that Allah Almighty has placed within it.
The First Reflection
With the twenty-ninth Juz’ of the Ever-Glorious Qur’an, and with our first reflection on the words of Allah Almighty: “It is He Who has made the earth subservient to you, so walk in its tracts and eat of His provision; and to Him is the Resurrection.” (Qur’an 67:15).
Why did the Ever-Glorious Qur’an express this concept with the word “walk” (famshú)? What power resides in the word famshú? When we reflect upon it, we find within it the meaning of tranquility and calmness.
Do you recall when Allah Almighty described the servants of the Most Merciful with His words: “And they walk modestly upon the earth.” (Qur’an 25:63)? That is, they walk with dignity and composure.
In other places, when Allah Almighty calls us to His forgiveness and Paradise, He uses different expressions: “And vie rapidly with one another to forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is as (wide as) the heavens and the earth, prepared for the pious.” (Qur’an 3:133).
He also said: “Race one another to forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the pious.” (Qur’an 57:21).
He further said: “So flee to Allah! Surely I am an evident warner from Him to you.” (Qur’an 51:50).
We observe that when Allah Almighty speaks of hastening to Him, He employs verbs that urge speed – such as “vie rapidly,” “race,” and “flee.” Yet when He speaks of the affairs of this worldly life, He says: “Walk in its tracts,” (Qur’an 67:15) – that is, with tranquility and composure.
This is because human nature, when occupied with worldly matters, becomes consumed with competition and haste in pursuit of sustenance, whether lawful or unlawful. Thus, Allah Almighty says to him: Be calm; walk through this earthly life with tranquility and composure; earn your provision with mindfulness.
When the matter concerns the Hereafter, human inclinations falter, and people are seized with lethargy, forgetting their ultimate purpose in journeying towards Allah. Therefore, Allah Almighty spurs them on, saying, “Vie rapidly,” and urges them to strive earnestly towards the Hereafter.
The Second Reflection
The words of Allah Almighty: “And surely you are indeed upon an exalted character.” (Qur’an 68:4).
This verse is the greatest gem of the Ever-Glorious Qur’an, its most precious treasure, and what specialists in rare and precious artifacts would call “the crown jewel.” This is because the Message of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is fundamentally a message of good character (‘akhláq), a message of spiritual purification, a message of the cleansing of the soul, a message of moral virtue.
The Master of Creation Muhamamd (PBUH) says: “I have been sent to perfect the noble virtues of character.” And he (PBUH) also said: “Those most beloved to me and nearest to me on the Day of Resurrection are those most excellent in character.”
Character is the essence of religion; it is the very distillation of Sharíah (Islamic legal law and theory). Whoever surpasses you in moral character has surpassed you in faith.
People continue to compete in the outward virtues of character – such as truthfulness and honesty – and then in the subtleties of the hidden virtues of character, which are filled with spiritual refinement and disciplining of the soul, and with gentleness and courtesy toward Allah Almighty.
Sublime character is the essence of the Sacred Law, and it is the greatest quality with which Allah Almighty distinguished His Prophet (PBUH) when He said to him: “And surely you are indeed upon an exalted character.”
I wish for you to live your entire lives keeping this precious Qur’anic gem before you, and striving to embody it to the fullest extent possible, so that you might attain this exalted station and divine grace – glorious, magnificent, and noble – which Allah Almighty used to describe His beloved, the Master of Creation, when He said: “And surely you are indeed upon an exalted character.”
Pay attention to the word ‘alá (“upon”), for scholars say it conveys the sense of elevation and transcendence, unlike the word fí (“in”), which conveys the sense of containment.
It is as though Allah Almighty is saying to him: You are above character; you have taken character as your vehicle and mount. You transcend character itself – not merely that you embody it, but rather you excel in it above all creation, O Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The Third Reflection
The words of Allah Almighty in the dialogue of our master Núh with his people, that conversation filled with patience, forbearance, perseverance, and knowledge, when he said to them: “So I said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord; surely He has been Ever-Forgiving.’” (Qur’an 71:10).
Reflect upon the divine gifts and graces contingent upon seeking forgiveness, for Allah Almighty says: “He will send down upon you torrential rain from the heaven,” (Qur’an 71:11) – that is, the heavens will shower upon you rain and bounty – ”and He will extend you with riches and sons, and He will make for you gardens, and He will make for you rivers.” (Qur’an 71:12). Increase, then, in seeking forgiveness, for in the hadíth of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH): “Whoever persists in seeking forgiveness, Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress, a relief from every anxiety, and will provide for him from where he does not expect.”
The Fourth Reflection
The words of Allah Almighty: “And they give food, for the love of Him, to the poor, and the orphan, and the captive.” (Qur’an 76:8).
Look upon the devotion of the righteous and the Allah-conscious to providing nourishment, and their profound concern for it, for this has been among the noblest virtues of the Sharíah. The first words the Prophet (PBUH) spoke upon entering the Illuminated City of Medina were: “O people! Spread the greeting of peace, provide nourishment to others, maintain your family ties, and pray at night while people sleep, and you shall enter Paradise in peace.”
Until we meet again, stay noble, stay safe.
