الله سبحانه و تعالى المسؤول المرجوُّ الإجابة أن يتولاكم في الدنيا و الآخرة و أن يسبغ عليكم نعمه ظاهرة و باطنة (ألم تروا أن الله سخر لكم ما في السماوات وما في الأرض وأسبغ عليكم نعمه ظاهرة و باطنة – سورة لقمان 20) و أن يجعلكم ممن إذا أنعم الله عليه شكر و إذا ابتُلِيَ صبر و إذا أذنب استغفر فإن هذه الأمور الثلاثة هي عنوان سعادة العبد وعلامة فلاحه في دنياه و أخراه ولا يَنفَكُّ عبدٌ عنها أبدا فإن العبد دائما يتقلب بين هذه الأطباق الثلاث

“Perfect is God the Exalted, the one we implore—and whose answer we await—to watch over you in this world and the next, to shower you with God’s grace, outwardly and inwardly, and to make you among those who, when blessed, give thanks; when tried, persevere and endure; and when sinful, seek forgiveness. For these three conditions are the supports of the servant’s happiness, and the signs of his success in this world and the next. No servant is without them, but is always shifting from one to the other.” [Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah – al-Wābil as-Ṣayyib].

نُعِمَ من الله تعالى تترادف عليه فقيدها الشكر و هو مبني على ثلاثة أركان الاعتراف بها باطنا والتحدث بها ظاهرا وتصريفها في مرضاة وليها و مسديها و معطيها فإذا فعل ذلك فقد شكرها مع تقصيره في شكرها (ومن كان يرجوا لقاء ربه فليعمل عملا صالحا سورة الكهف 110)

“The first condition is the blessings which come to the servant from God the Exalted, one after another. What secures them is gratitude, based on three supports: inward recognition of the blessing; outward mention and thanks for it; and its use in a way that pleases the One to whom it truly belongs and who truly bestows it. Acting in accordance with this, the servant shows his gratitude for the blessing—however small it may be.” [Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah – al-Wābil as-Ṣayyib]

عن عمر رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم قال حاسبوا أنفسكم قبل أن تحاسبوا وزنوا أعمالكم قبل أن توزن عليكم

“’Abd Allah Ibn ‘Abbas reports that the Prophet said: take stock of your selves before you are judged; weigh your deeds before they are weighed for you.” [Arba’īn al-Wad’āniyyah].

من ظن أنه بدون الجهد يصل فهو متمن ومن ظن أنه ببذل الجهد يصل فهو مستغن

“He who thinks he will attain his goal without effort is a fool and he who thinks he will achieve his goal purely by effort is presumptuous and arrogant.” [‘Ali Ibn Abī Tālib].

ألعلم بلا عمل جنون والعمل بغير علم لا يكون

“Knowledge without action or deeds is madness and action without knowledge is void/useless.” [Imām al-Ghazālī]

فاستحي من مولاك حق الحياء واجتهد أن لا يراك حيث نهاك ولا يفقدك حيث أمرك واعبده كأنك تراه فإن لم يكن تراه فإنه يراك

“Have modesty before your Lord as you should; make sure that He never sees you in a situation which He has forbidden you, and never misses you where He has commanded you to be; worship God as if you see God, for even though you can’t see God, know that God sees you.” [Imām al-Haddād]

ينبغي أن توزِّع أوقاتك وترتِّبَ أورادك

“You should structure your time and arrange your regular devotions.” [Imām al-Haddād]

من قال لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شرaيك له ، له الملك وله الحمد ، وهو على كل شيء قدير في يومٍ مائةَ مرة ، كانت له عدلَ عشْرِ رقاب ، وكتب له مائةُ حسنة ، ومحيت عنه مائة سيئة ، وكانت له حرزا من الشيطان يومَه ذلك حتى يُمْسِيَ ، ولم يأت أحد بأفضل مما جاء به إلا رجل عمل أكثر منه

“Whoever says: “La ilaha illal-lah …,” one hundred times will get the same reward as given for freeing ten slaves; and one hundred good deeds will be written in his accounts, and one hundred sins will be deducted from his accounts, and it (his saying) will be a shield for him from Satan on that day till night, and nobody will be able to do a better deed except the one who does more than he.” [Sahīh al-Bukhārī]

أكثر من السجود فإنه ليس من مسلم يسجد لله تعالى سجدة إلا رفعه بها الله درجة في الجنة وحط عنه بها خطيئة

“Prostrate much because there is no Muslim that prostrates to God except that God raises him one degree in Paradise by it and forgives for him a sin.” [Ahmad]

Endeavor to restrain your souls, and the Ultimate reward will be yours:

وأما من خاف مقام ربه ونهى النفس عن الهوى فإن الجنة هى المأوى

For the one who fears the Station of his Lord and denies the appetites of the lower self, the Garden will be his refuge.” [an-Nāzi'āt 79: 40-1]

Listen to and download the lecture here:

1. Time: modern life can make it a challenge to find the time to consistently sit down and read Qur’an.
2. Study Methods: not everyone is born a great student. Like other areas of knowledge, one can learn to be more efficient at memorizing the Qur’an by learning good study skills.
3. Language: there is no doubt that lack of the Arabic language can make the process more difficult but one should not be discouraged. Many people learn the Qur’an without knowing what all the words mean. While under optimal conditions, the two would go hand-in-hand, this short article will assume that one is not a master of the language.

There is little I can do for points one or three, but I can offer some tips regarding point number two: technique. Here, I will introduce a time-tested technique, not only for myself, but one used throughout the Muslim world for students of Qur’anic memorization. I call it the Magic Lawh.

Butch Ware with a traditional wooden lawh in the library of al-Hajji Malick Sy-Gaya, Senegal

As seen in the picture to the left (Professor Butch Ware of the University of Michigan), the writing board, or lawh [لوح] as it is know in the Arabic language, is a flat writing board this is still used in traditional Qur’anic schools, especially in West Africa. The lawh is written upon, most often with a reed pen, where students the verses of the Qur’an, a few ayāt at a time. Little by little, some times as few as 5 verses, students write, recite, wipe, and commit to memory, the Holy Qur’an. This technique, coupled with recitation, creates a double-reinforcement that greatly enhances a student’s ability to memorize the Qur’an accurately as well as quickly. For the modern student, the Magic Lawh helps to develop retention and listening skills by writing from either memory, listening or both.

Several years back when I was teaching Qur’an at the Islamic Center in Ann Arbor, I began to think of techniques on how I could better instruct the young students in their memorization. While running an errand at an office supply store I chanced upon a section that had a white board and dry erase markers. I immediately made the connection that the white board could perform the role and function of the lawh, while the dry erase markers made it possible to write, wipe, and memorize, over and over again, just as students do with their lawh in traditional madāris.

Magic Lawh by Marc Manley

To put theory into practice I purchased the set straight away [a small hand-holdable white board] and put it to the test. Amazingly, I found I was able to memorize one to two pages a day, whereas before it would have taken me significantly longer to do so. I was even able to find fine-point dry erase markers to make the writing more akin to a real pen instead of a chunky marker. I realize that my experience may be an extreme example of the potential of the Magic Lawh system, but I do believe that it has the capacity and potential to help students of The Book increase their memorization.

If you are serious about memorizing the Qur’an, I cannot emphasize how beneficial the Magic Lawh system has been for me. I pray it is as useful for you as well.

Abu Hurayra relates that Allah’s Messenger [s] said, “Allah says, ‘I have nothing to give but Paradise as a reward to my believer slave, who, if I cause his dear friend (or relative) to die, remains patient (and hopes for Allah’s Reward)’.” [Sahīh al-Bukhārī]

Our hearts go out to those in Pakistan who have lost loved ones, and to anywhere else in the world, who have been tested by God to bear such burdens with patience and dignity.

2010 Temple MSA Fast-A-Thon

Temple University Muslim Students Association Presents: Fast-A-Thon — Think Fast. This year’s Fast-A-Thon features the theme of, “Go Hungry So Someone Else Won’t Have To”. To sign up for the Fast-A-Thon and the free dinner, contact the Temple MSA. The event will be on September 9th, in the Student Activities Center Annex, located at 13th & Montgomery, in the underground basement level. Doors open at 6:30pm and the even features a short talk by yours truly.

The Drexel MSA would like to invite you to its Ramadan Fast-A-thon that will be held on August 20th. The goal of the Fast-A-Thon is to introduce Ramadan to the general public as a month of reflection on the world and religious activities that are meant to help achieve peace and tranquility. Also, it shows one of the meanings of fasting that is exemplified in recognizing the value of simple things, such as food and water, being mindful of their source, and also experiencing the difficult situations of people all over the world who are hungry due to lack of food. For this purpose, the money fundraised during the event will go to a charity organization, helping to alleviate hunger and homelessness in Philadelphia. The guest speaker will be none other than yours truly.

The event will take place in City View Room on the 6th floor of MacAlister (33rd st and Chestnut) from 7:30pm to 9:30pm on Friday, August 20th. To pledge to fast, please follow the link: http://drexelmsa.org/a/events-calender/fast-a-thon/pledge-form/

Update

Drexel’s MSA will be hosting its annual Fastathon this Friday, August 20th. Money raised at the event will go towards helping Pakistan’s flood victims. If you’re in Philadelphia this Friday, please consider supporting them in their effort.

كل نفس ذائقة الموت ونبلوكم بالشر والخير فتنة

“Every soul shall taste death. And We shall test you by evil and good means as a trial.” [al-Anbiyā’ 21: 35]

On the grand scale of things, Islam is about the worship of God. But when we lok at Allah’s Book, the Holy Qur’ān, Allah presents an over-awing framework by which through our brains and our hearts, we might come to know Him and submit willingly [أسلم]. We only need listen to His Call:

والله يدعوا إلى دار السلام ويهدى من يشاء إلى صراط مستقيم

“And it is God that calls to the Abode of Peace, guiding as God wills, to a straight path.” [Yūnis 10: 25]

Whether we attempt to thwart God’s proclivity [الشريعة] in This Life, we shall be held accountable for what we have said and done and ultimately, even if only by our very createdness, we shall submit.

يسبح لله ما في السموت وما في الأرض له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير

“Everything in the heavens and the earth negates the possibility of any god other than Allah. The dominion belongs to Him as well as all praise. And He has power over all things.” [at-Tagābūn 64: 1]

Submission is an ongoing process. In order to facilitate this, God has provided for us His Signs, which unfurl like a ship’s sail before a steady wind:

خلق الإنسان من عجل سأوريكم ءايتي فلا تستعجلون

“Mankind was created hasty. I shall show you My Signs so do hasten.” [al-Anbiyā’ 21: 37]

So when Bānī Ādam steps back to look at the Big Picture, ease [سعادة] and certainty [يقين] can enter into the heart and life’s apparent randomness takes on a shape and form of meaning and purpose:

ونبلوكم بالشر والخير فتنة

“And We shall test you by evil and good means as a trial.” [al-Anbiyā’ 21: 35]

Second Khuṭbah – Main Points

So how do we attain this happiness, this certainty, this insight?

It involves struggling against one’s own soul. Ibn ‘Abbās [rah] reports, that the Prophet [s] said:

أعدى عدوك نفسك التي جنبينك

“The most ardent enemy is your own soul [nafs], which is between your two sides.” [al-Bayḥaqī]

This is similar to what Allah tells us in the chapter Yūsuf, when Prophet Yūsuf/Joseph [as] said concerning the governor’s wife when she tried to seduce him:

وما أبرئ نفسى إن النفس لأمارة بالسوء إلا ما رحم ربي إن ربي غفور رحيم

“I do not say my soul [nafs] was free from blame. The self indeed commands to evil acts – except for those my Lord has mercy on. My Lord, He is Forgiving, Merciful.” [Yūsuf 12: 53]

To be sure, it is exceedingly difficult to achieve this state of tranquility, happiness, and certainty. The modern cultures are hostile to the development of these qualities, as This Life constantly seeks to distract us. For this reason, we must strive to devote ourselves to God, remembering Him always:

يأيها الذين ءامنوا ادخلوا في السلم كافة ولا تتبعوا في خطوت الشيطان إنه لكم عدو مبين

“O’ you of faith!, enter into Islam completely and do not follow in the footsteps of Shayṭān. He is an open enemy to you.” [al-Baqarah 2: 208]

In this way, Allah further reveals our own devious nature in that we often attempt to evade our responsibilities towards Allah, such as showing gratitude, etc.

Islam reconciles the seemingly opposed aspects of the wayward self:

ألنفس الأمارة بالسوء

And the soul at rest:

يأيتها النفس المطمئنة ارجعى إلى ربك راضية مرضية

By coming to see this aspect of our relationship with Allah—The Big Picture—we foster a greater sense of realization [يقين-معرفة] of our purpose in life:

ما خلقت الجن والإنس إلا ليعبدون

“I did not create the Jinn or mankind except that they are to worship Me.” [al-Baqarah 2: 208]

and …

الذين يذكرون الله قياما وقعودا وعلى جنوبهم ويتفكرون في خلق السموت والأرض ربنا ما خلقت هذا باطلا سبحانك فقنا عذاب النار

“Those who remember God standing, sitting and laying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth [utter], ‘O our Lord, You have not created all this in jest, how perfect You are, so protect us from the torment of the Fire.” [Āl-'Imrān 3: 191]

Endeavor to restrain your souls, and the Ultimate reward will be yours:

وأما من خاف مقام ربه ونهى النفس عن الهوى فإن الجنة هى المأوى

“For the one who fears the Station of his Lord and denies the appetites of the lower self, the Garden will be his refuge.” [an-Nāzi'āt 79: 40-1]

Finally, in the advice of our Beloved Prophet [s]:

حاسبوا أنفسكم قبل أن تحاسبوا ووزنوا أعمالكم قبل أن توزن عليكم

“Take account of yourselves before you are held to account and weigh your deeds before they are weighed for you.” [at-Tirmidhī’s al-Qiyāmah]

Download the khuṭbah, Discipline the Soul to “Return Pleased and Well Pleasing” here.

Listen online now

اكثر من السجود فإنه ليس من مسلم يسجد لله إلا رفعه بها الله درجة في الجنة وحط عنه بهاخطيئة

“Prostrate much because there is no Muslim that prostrates to God except that God raises him one degree in Paradise by it and forgives for him a sin.” (Ahmad)

There are so many opportunities for us to increase our worship, our certainty, our fulfillment as Muslims by sincerely devoting ourselves not only in public, but especially in private, to the worship of our Lord. For more inspriration, read the following article.

من علامة الاعتماد على العمل نقصان الرجاء عند وجود الزلل

“One of the signs of relying on one’s own agency [vs. relying on God] is the loss of hope in the presence of a tribulation.”

You can read/download an Arabic/English copy of al-Hikam here.

ومن ذلك الصلاة بين المغرب والعشاء وأكثرها عشرون ركعة وأوسطها ست ركعات قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من صلى بين العشائين عشرين ركعة بنى الله له بيتا في الجنة وقال عليه الصلاة والسلام: من صلى بعد المغرب ست ركعات لا يتكلم فيما بينهن بشيء عدلن له عبادة اثنتي عشرة سنة

And from that [the importance of awrād] is the prayer between Maghrib and ‘Ishā’; the maximum number of raka’ah is twenty, with the medium number being six. The Messenger of God said: “For the one who prays twenty raka’āt in between the two evening prayers, God will build a house for that one“. God’s Messenger also said regarding the subject: “For the one who prayers six units between Maghrib and ‘Ishā’ and does not speak ill between them, their worship will be equal to that of twelve years“.