The Lives of The Prophets رو َن م يَتَفَ َّكُ ْ ه ُ َّ ل َص َص لَعَ قَ ْ ص ِص ٱل ُ ْ فَٱق relate the stories, so that perhaps they may reflect A collection of research, through sources of Sahih Hadith, Quran and lectures compiled by Sarah Ramadan

In the name of Allah, The Merciful, The Compassionate. There is no God save him, and Muhammad is his slave and Messenger All thanks is due to him, All praise is due to him. I would like to start off by saying that I am not an author, nor do I take credit for any of this work. This document is just a collection of research from the Quran, Hadith and various lectures. All credit is due to Allah SWT, Everything is in His will. Secondly, we should not seek knowledge that is not beneficial to us. The Quran and Hadith are available to us and what is mentioned in there is what we need to know. Allah would not hide any form of guidance or knowledge away from us if it contained any benefit. I would also like to mention that with knowledge, comes responsibility. The more knowledge we have, the greater responsibility is on us to implement the knowledge. A person with knowledge is not like an ignorant person, therefore will receive a more severe punishment than the ignorant if they disbelieve in Allah and do not follow his commandments. “My Lord! Forgive and have mercy for You are the best of those who show mercy (23:118). My Lord, return my heart to You when I turn away, remind me of You when I am forgetful, and guide me on Your path of grace with every step I take. O Allah, turn my gaze from my mistakes toward Your mercy. My Lord, in my faultiness, help me see an opportunity to return to You, in my brokenness, help me see Your healing power. Oh Allah, let my shamefulness be cleansed with the waters of Your love and let my sins be covered with the cloak of Your perfection! In Your forgiving names, I pray, Ameen. - A.HELWA - Secrets of Divine Love

All credit is due to Allah جالله جل

﷽ 01- Introduction- Story of Creation - قَ ْ ْح َس َن ٱل َ ْي َك أ نَ ْح ُن نَقُ غَ ٰـِفِلي َن ُّص َعلَ ْ ِم َن ٱل ِن ُكن َت ِمن قَ ْبِل ِهۦ لَ ْر َءا َن َوإ قُ ْ ْي َك َهٰـذَا ٱل لَ ِ ْو َحْينَآ إ َ ِ َمآ أ َص ِص ب We relate to you ˹O Prophet˺ the best of stories through Our revelation of this Quran, though before this you were totally unaware ˹of them˺. [12:3] There are 120,000 prophets, and 315 messengers. The difference between the prophet and the messengers is that a messenger is the prophet who is given a law. And a prophet is just following the law of another messenger. Every messenger is a prophet but not every prophet is a messenger. If the prophet is not given a new law, then he is just a prophet. Some of the benefits of talking about the األنبياء: 1. RasulAllah SAW was instructed to do so. It becomes a duty for us to relay the stories of the األنبياء ,Because Allah has instructed us to do so. We relay the stories as a ‘ibadah, to fulfil the commandment of Allah. 2. Convey the stories so we may reflect and contemplate ُهْم يَتَفَ َّكُرو َن َّ َص َص لَعَل قَ ْ ُص ِص ٱل فَٱقْ So narrate ˹to them˺ stories ˹of the past˺, so perhaps they will reflect. [7:176] So that we can derive lessons from them and deeply reflect on them. 3. Allah SWT says: ْن هُ ِ ْج ًراۖ إ َ ْي ِه أ ُكْم َعلَ ُ ل َٔ ْسـ َ تَِدْهۗ قُل ََّّلٓ أ ِ ُهدَٰى ُهُم ٱقْ ِذي َن َهدَى ٱ ََّّللُۖ فَب َّ ٰـٓئِ َك ٱل ۟ولَ أ ِمي َن ُ عَ ٰـلَ ْ ََّّل ِذ ْكَر ٰى ِلل ِ َو إ These ˹prophets˺ were ˹rightly˺ guided by Allah, so follow their guidance. Say, “I ask no reward of you for this ˹Quran˺—it is a reminder to the whole world.” [6:90] Allah SWT has instructed RasulAllah SAW to follow their guidance. It is important to have role models, and the األنبياء are our role models. If the instruction of following their guidance was given to Muhammad SAW, then we should follow it too. We need to study their lives so that they may become our role models

4. So we can love them If you do not know someone you cannot love them. If we don’t know the details of their lives and what they went through, how could we have respect for them? RasulAllah was asked this question by a group that came from Yemen, They said “O RasulAllah, ``We came to you, to learn our religion and to ask you how did all of this start?” They wanted to know how everything came into existence. Muhammad SAW replied: “In the begining, there was Allah and nothing before him, nothing with him, and his throne was on water, and he wrote in the tablet. everything, and he created the heavens and the earth.” RasulAllah said: “The first thing Allah created was the pen, then Allah ordered it to write, so it wrote everything that will happen until the day of judgement.” RasulAllah says: “Allah wrote down the sustenance of the creation 50 000 years before he created the heavens and earth were created.” 1 Through contemplating the prophets statement, we realise that there is no need for us to be worried and concerned as everything has already been written. The angels were created from light and jinn were created from fire.Iblis was a jinn made out of fire, but because he was so righteous, He was elevated to a very high level with the angels. Even though he was from الجن .There is a common misconception that Iblis is a “fallen angel” but this is false. Adam was created from dirt. Allah SWT says: ْف ِسدُ فِ َمن يُ َها ُل فِي تَ ْجعَ َ أ ۟ ٓوا ُ ٌۭۖ قَال ْر ِض َخِليفَةً ْألَ ِى َجا ِع لٌۭ فِى ٱ ِن ٰـٓئِ َكِة إ َملَ ْ قَا َل َربُّ َك ِلل ِذْ ِ َح ْمِد َك َوإ ِ ُح ب َسب َء َونَ ْح ُن نُ َمآ َويَ ْسِف ُك ٱلِد َها ي ِ َكۖ قَا َل إ ُس لَ ُمو َن َونُقَ ِد ْعلَ ُم َما ََّل تَ ْعلَ َ ٓى أ ِ ن And [mention, O Muhammad, when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority."1 They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we exalt You with praise and declare Your perfection?"2 He [Allāh] said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know." [2:30] 1 Sahih al-Bukhari 3190

Allah is telling the angels, I will place on earth a خليفة .It translates to succeed someone else or to assume the position of someone else. Allah SWT says: ْو َن َغيًّا قَ ْ َسْو َف يَل ٱل َّش َهَو ٰ ِتۖ فَ ۟ َوٱتَّبَعُوا ٰوةَ ٱل َّصلَ ۟ َضا ُعوا َ ف أ ْ َف ِمۢن بَ ْعِد ِه ْم َخل فَ َخلَ Then there succeeded even after them a succession who wasted the prayer and closely followed lusts; so they will eventually meet misguidance. [19:59] A generation came after them, That is why we say Salaf and Khalaf. Who are the Salaf? The salaf are the early three generations, everyone who comes after them are called Khalaf. Abu Bakr was called the Khalifa of RasulAllah, because he assumed responsibility after RasulAllah SAW. There are two meanings to this word; Khalifa. The first meaning is that he is assuming responsibility of leading the ummah after RasulAllah, The second meaning says he is coming after RasulAllah. Allah SWT says: ٌۭۖ ْر ِض َخِليفَةً ْألَ ِى َجا ِع لٌۭ فِى ٱ ِن إ "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." [2:30] There are two explanations of this verse The first Explanation of this verse says that Allah SWT has appointed Adam and his descendants in the position of responsibilities to apply the law of Allah SWT. So they are representing the law of Allah SWT on earth. This explanation was given by Abdullah ibn Masud RA The second explanation says that human beings will succeed each other in this world, generation after generation. This is the opinion of Abdallah ibn Abbas RA. Looking at verse [2:29] , It helps us identify our purpose and role on this earth. َّ َو ٱل ٌۭ م ل َش ْى ء َعِلي ُك ِ ِ َو ب َوهُ تۚ َو ۢ َع َس َمٰـ ٰ َسَّوٰى ُه َّن َسْب ِء فَ لَى ٱل َّس َمآ ِ َو ٰٓى إ َّم ٱ ْستَ ْر ِض َجِميٌۭعًا ثُ ْألَ َق لَ ُكم َّما فِى ٱ هُ ِذى َخلَ It is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth. Then He directed Himself to heaven, [His being above all creation], and made them seven heavens, and He is Knowing of all things. [2:29] Allah SWT has created everything in this world for human beings. That is the honour that Allah has given us. We are the ultimate creation of this world, and we are the ones given the responsibility of establishing this dunya.

Therefore, we should not give precedence to anything material over the human being. Human beings are sacred. But the way we are dealing with human beings now is that we are destroying them, killing them for material gain. That is why RasulAllah says that the muslim is more sacred then the Kaabah in the eyes of Allah SWT.2 When Allah told the angels he would place a khalifa on earth, they said: َه ْف ِسدُ فِي َمن يُ َها ُل فِي تَ ْجعَ َ أ ۟ ٓوا ُ َء قَال َمآ َويَ ْسِف ُك ٱلِد ا They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we exalt You with praise and declare Your perfection?" [2:30] How did the angels know that human beings were going to be corrupt on the face of the earth? There are two explanations. One explanation is that Allah told the angels ahead of the time that this is what the humans will do. The second explanation, which is also mentioned by Ibn Abbas, is that the jinn were living in this world before, and they caused corruption, shed blood, and caused so much evil, that Allah sent on them armies from the angels, and also Iblis, to fight against them, And then they were pushed and cornered to the islands of the ocean. So the angels said, “Why are you going to place someone on earth who is going to cause corruption and shed blood again?”. There is no hadith to support any one of these explanations. Allah replied saying “I know, what you know not”. RasulAllah says: Allah created Adam from a handful of dirt, picked from all of earth, so that the children of Adam became red, white, black and everything in between. Soft, tough, good, bad and everything in between. So that the descendants of Adam would come out in different colours, different qualities. They came out according to the material they were made from. In the Quran, the components of our body were described with different terms. Allah has called it Turab. He has called it Tin al Lazib, Salsal, Hamal masnun. Dirt, mud, clay, sounding clay, black smooth mud. In the beginning it was dirt, soil that was taken from the earth, that is turab. And then this dirt was mixed with the basis of every living being, which is water. When it was mixed with water, it became mud. And the mud was left for a while,and when it was left for a while, the moisture decreased and it became sticky. Then that sticky clay was left for a longer while, the smell of it changed, and the colour of it went darker. That is black, smooth, and smelly clay. That material was taken and Allah took it and moulded the form of Adam. That body was left to dry and it turned into clay like pottery. 2 Sunan Ibn Majah 3932

It is said that Iblis saw this body lying on the ground, before Adam had his soul in it. Iblis didn’t know what it was, so he walked up to the body of Adam and he knocked on it. It made a ringing noise, and he could tell it was hollow, empty. He said that this was a creation that is weak. And then he said : “If I am given influence over you, I will guide you astray, and if you are given influence over me, I will disobey you”. RasulAllah says in a hadith narrated by Muslim and Bukhari: Allah SWT has created Adam on his image.3 What is meant by Allah has created Adam in his image? It is not talking about the image of Allah. Allah created Adam on the image of Adam. It means that Allah SWT created Adam as he was, in his adult form. Allah SWT has created Adam on HIS (Adam) image. Adam didn’t go through different changes. This is opposed to the theory of evolution. The theory of evolution is completely contradictory to the truth. But Islam does not completely disapprove everything in the theory of evolution. Islam disapproves the part that claims nature is the creator, or that things came out of nowhere, It disapproves that human beings evolved from a single cell, which became an ape. But Islam is not opposed to the part that says that species adapt to their environment, But this only happens with the will of Allah. Allah blew the soul into Adam, The روح .Our body without the ruh is part of the earth. When the soul leaves, our body decomposes into its origin. َرةً َها نُ ْخِر ُج ُكْم تَا َو ِمْن ِعيدُ ُكْم َها نُ َوفِي نَ ٰـ ُكْم َها َخلَقْ ْخ َر ٰى ِمْن ُ أ From the earth We created you, and into it We will return you, and from it We will bring you back again. The essence of life is not in our materialistic body, What puts life in us is the soul, and that is the secret of life. They came to RasulAllah SAW and said, “Tell us about the soul” Allah SWT says: ِلي ًال ٌۭ ََّّل قَ ِ ِم إ ْ ِعل ْ وتِيتُم ِ م َن ٱل ُ ِى َو َمآ أ ْمِر َرب َ ِل ٱل ُّرو ُح ِم ْن أ ُونَ َك َع ِن ٱل ُّروحِۖ قُ ل َٔ َويَ ْسـ They ask you ˹O Prophet˺ about the spirit. Say, “Its nature is known only to my Lord, and you ˹O humanity˺ have been given but little knowledge.” [17:85] 3 Sahih al-Bukhari 6227, Sahih Muslim 2841

This verse not only highlights that Allah is the knower of all things, but also mirrors to us how little we really know. The essence of life is our spirit, and we are given very limited knowledge and what the spirit actually is. Subhan Allah. When the soul entered Adam's body, the first thing he did was sneeze. Adam said Alhamdullilah, which means the first word ever said was Alhamdullilah. 4 Allah SWT replied to him “YarhamukAllah”. Allah SWT told him to go to the angels who were sitting nearby and tell them asalamu alaykum. Adam went up to them and said Asalamu alaikum and they said Alaykasalam, wa alayksalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. 5 Allah SWT told Adam “this your greeting and the greeting of your descendant”. After you deliver the peace, and you receive the blessing of your brother, then you are free to use any greeting you want. Allah SWT says: ُك ِ ِ َرب ْس ُت ب لَ َ ِس ِهْم أ نفُ َ ٰىٓ أ ْم َعلَ ْش َهدَهُ َ َوأ ُهْم رِ يَّتَ ِمن ُظ ُهو ِر ِه ْم ذُ َ ٓى َءادَم َربُّ َك ِمۢن بَنِ َخذَ َ أ ِذْ َوإ َمِة ِقيَ ٰـ ْ ٱل َ يَ ْوم ۟ ُوا َن تَقُول ٰىۛ َش ِهدْنَآ ۛ أ بَلَ ۟ ُوا ۖ قَال ْم ِنَّا ُكنَّا َع ْن َهٰـذَا َغٰـِفِلي َن إ And ˹remember˺ when your Lord brought forth from the loins of the children of Adam their descendants and had them testify regarding themselves. ˹Allah asked,˺ “Am I not your Lord?” They replied, “Yes, You are! We testify.” ˹He cautioned,˺ “Now you have no right to say on Judgement Day, ‘We were not aware of this.’ [7:172] This verse talks about an agreement we made with Allah SWT. Allah SWT has made an agreement with us and that is we worship no one but him, And then Allah SWT tells us we do not have an excuse to say we were not aware of it, since we all testified. Every one of us has an original state. And that is Islam.We are created on the فطرة of Islam. Every single one of us has agreed to Allah that he is our lord. The hadith says: “Allah has taken out of Adam all of his seed and scattered them out like pearls, and then Allah asked them, Isn’t it that I am your lord? And they said yes”. 6 /. The reason these stories are mentioned in the Quran are not for historical account, but they are mentioned so that we may contemplate. They are lessons for the understanding ones. ْم تَ ْغِف ْر لَ َّ ِن ل َوإ َسنَا نفُ َ ْمنَآ أ َخٰـ ِسِر قَاََّل ي َن َربَّنَا َظلَ ْ َوتَ ْر َح ْمنَا لَنَ ُكونَ َّن ِم َن ٱل نَا They said, “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and do not bless us with mercy, we shall, indeed, be among the losers. [7:23] 4 Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3367 5 Sahih Muslim 2841 6 Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3075

This is a dua for the sinners, Allah taught it to Adam. What can we learn from Adam AS ? - Adam was not resolute (making firm intention to sin and transgress against Allah) - Allah is forgiving - Allah will accept charity from the one who is conscious of him - As soon as you have executed badly, Shaytan goes away. 02- Adam (Cont.)- Idris- Sheath- Hud A.S Adam, and his wife Eve had their first two sons, Habil and Qabil. In other religions also known as Abel and Cain. Allah SWT revealed to Adam AS that his sons needed to give up a sacrifice. Allah ended up accepting Habil’s sacrifice due to his righteousness, and Qabil out of jealousy, killed his brother. Qabil did feel regret so Allah had mercy on him. Since Adam was attached to Habil, Allah SWT sent him Sheath, whose name means “Gift”, after Habil died. However, Qabil was aggressive, greedy and committed corruption on the people, so Allah made it prohibited for Sheath to mix with any one who followed Qabil. Allah SWT has revealed 104 scrolls, 50 of them to Sheath. Sheath is the son of Adam, and he assumed responsibility after his father died. Adam taught Sheath how to worship Allah, and after Adam’s death, Sheath ruled. Qabil committed the greatest corruption, and this corruption increased among the people. Qabil’s side introduced adultery, partying, and disobeying Allah. Musical instruments were introduced into existence through Iblis, when he came to Sheath’s people in the form of an attractive man, playing drums and bugle. The people were so engrossed in the music that they slowly forgot the commandments of Allah. Sheath continued to remind them of the beginning, but they followed Iblis. It is important we remember that Iblish promises us nothing but delusion. In fact, Iblis hates us, so we should not become a friend of his.

Iblis went to the youth of Sheath and created a doubt in their minds, He made them question Allah’s law, leading them astray from the right path. What can we learn from Sheath AS ? - Allah sent man down onto earth in order to test them - Musical instruments were introduced to control people - Allah instructed Sheath to stay away from Qabil’s side (greedy, aggressive people) - Adultery is a major sin - Everything we see is a test - Sheath reminded them of the begining. ا ٌۭ ِيًّ ٌۭ ا نَّب ِنَّ ۥهُ َكا َن ِصِد يقً َسۚ إ ِري ِدْ ٰـ ِب إ ِكتَ ْ ُكْر فِى ٱل َوٱذْ َم َكانًا َعِليًّا ْعنَ ٰـهُ َو َرفَ And mention in the Book ˹O Prophet, the story of˺ Idris. He was surely a man of truth and a prophet. And We elevated him to an honourable status. [19:56-57] Idris was a Prophet and Messenger of Allah SWT. He was the third prophet after Sheath, and the second prophet mentioned in the Quran. He lived 120 years of the life of Adam AS, and even met him, and he also lived after Sheath. He prepared an army of horsemen to fight against the people of Qabil, and Allah gave victory to Idris AS. He ruled by Allah’s law and changed some of the Sharee’ah of Sheath AS, One of the things Idris came up with was Jihad. (fighting in the path of Allah). Idris declared war against corruption, Allah raised three men to a very high status, as they were patient and pious. (Ismail, Idris and Dhul-kifl) Idris was good friends with an angel, he asked this angel to ask the angel of death for a longer life so he can earn more rewards. Allah SWT ordered the angel of death to take Idris' soul in the fourth heaven, and since his angel companion took him up there, the angel of death could

fulfil his orders. The angel of death was shocked because he didn’t know how he would take Idris’s soul if he lived on earth, and so Idris passed away in the fourth heaven Iblis played with the minds of weak people, Shaytaan would pretend to grieve with them, and would tell them to draw the people who died, He told youth to respect their elders, and carve drawings of them. He also told them to carve heads in rocks, and bow to them, and he told them that these sculptures give them life. Being strong here does not mean physically being strong. But rather being strong in the deen, intellectually. We should be in a constant state of Ibadah to ensure that our Iman is strong, and so that we are able to identify and beat Shaytaan when he comes to us. One who has strong faith and more knowledge is harder to fool than one who is ignorant and hopeless. What can we learn from Idris AS? - He was patient, and because so, he was admitted into Allah’s mercy - Iblis plays with weak people. The next prophet after Idris, was Nuh AS. ِ ُهْم إ نَّ َ ْو أ َولَ ِن ٱ ََّّللِۚ ِذْ ِإ َطا َع ب ََّّل ِليُ ِ نَا ِمن َّر ُسو ل إ ْ ْر َسل َ ٱ ََّّلل َو َم َ آ أ ۟ َو َجدُوا ُهُم ٱل َّر ُسو ُل لَ َر لَ ٱ ََّّللَ َوٱ ْستَ ْغفَ ۟ ُروا ُءو َك فَٱ ْستَ ْغفَ َس ُهْم َجآ نفُ َ أ ۟ ُمٓوا ذ َّظلَ ا َّر ِحيًٌۭما ٌۭ َّوابً تَ And We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed by permission of Allāh. And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you, [O Muḥammad], and asked forgiveness of Allāh and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allāh Accepting of Repentance and Merciful. [4:64]

What were the methods of Dawah Nuh AS used? ا َها ًر ٌۭ َونَ ْي ًال ٌۭ ْو ِمى لَ ِى دَ َعْو ُت قَ ِن قَا َل َر ِب إ ُهْم ِج َها ًر ٌۭ ِى دَ َعْوتُ ِن َّم إ ثُ ا ْس َرا ًر ٌۭ ِ ُهْم إ ْس َر ْر ُت لَ َ َوأ ُهْم ْعلَن ُت لَ َ ٓى أ ِ ِن َّم إ ثُ He cried, “My Lord! I have surely called my people day and night, Then I certainly called them openly, then I surely preached to them publicly and privately. [71:5, 71:8-9] He varied his methods and tried every way possible. In our dawah we should also take advantage of every single resource we have. But the more Dawah he gave them, the further they went. ا َرا ًر ٌۭ ََّّل فِ ِ ٓى إ ِء َعآ ْم دُ ْم يَ ِزدْهُ فَلَ but my calls only made them run farther away. [71:6] َم َّ ِى ُكل ِن َوإ َوٱ ْستَ ۟ َص ُّروا َ َوأ ثِيَابَ ُهْم ۟ َوٱ ْستَ ْغ َشْوا ِهْم ٓى َءاذَانِ ِعَ ُهْم فِ َصٰـب َ أ ۟ ٓوا ُ ُهْم َجعَل َر لَ ُهْم ِلتَ ْغِف ا دَ َعْوتُ ا ْكبَا ًر ٌۭ ٱ ْستِ ۟ ْكبَ ُروا And whenever I invite them to be forgiven by You, they press their fingers into their ears, cover themselves with their clothes, persist ˹in denial˺, and act very arrogantly. [71:7] بُو ِن ِ َما َكذَّ قَا َل َر ِب ٱن ُص ْرنِى ب Noah prayed, “My Lord! Help me, because they have denied ˹me˺.” [23:26] Nuh did this for 950 years. The more dawah he gave, the worse the situation would become, and the more enmity would come between him and his people, But he had patience. Nuh told his people about the valley of Istighfar. ا ا ًر ٌۭ ِنَّهۥُ َكا َن َغفَّ َربَّ ُكْم إ ۟ ُت ٱ ْستَ ْغِف ُروا ْ ل فَقُ saying, ‘Seek your Lord’s forgiveness, ˹for˺ He is truly Most Forgiving.

He turned their attention to the creation of Allah SWT, because his creation is a mirror of the attributes of Allah. ٌۭ م ِس ع َعِلي َّن ٱ ََّّللَ َو ٰ ِ َو ْجهُ ٱ ََّّللِۚ إ َّم فَثَ ۟ ُّوا َول َما تُ ْينَ َ َم ْغِر ُبۚ فَأ ْ َم ْشِر ُق َوٱل ْ ِ ٱل َوَِّللَّ To Allah belong the east and the west, so wherever you turn you are facing ˹towards˺ Allah. Surely Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing. [2:115] Everywhere we turn, we see a mirror of Allah’s divine qualities. Just like an artist expresses themselves through their artworks, but are not the artwork themselves, Allah is not the creation, nor nothing like it, But wherever we turn, we see his divine qualities. It’s very important that the دعاة ,the one who is giving dawah, never wants compensation, or financial material for what they are doing. The work is done for Allah SWT alone. Nuh never gave up, nor got tired. He persisted even though he was alone and being rejected. The people of the dunya can only understand what is in front of their eyes, This is because we are limited. When Nuh went on the ark, he said bismillah. We have to start everything in the name of Allah. It is important we reflect that it was not the ark that saved Nuh. He was safe by Allah’s will. It is the will and care of Allah SWT that will save you. Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Allah Almighty says: Whoever comes with a good deed will have the reward of ten like it and even more. Whoever comes with an evil deed will be recompensed for one evil deed like it or he will be forgiven. Whoever draws close to Me by the length of a hand, I will draw close to him by the length of an arm. Whoever draws close to Me the by length of an arm, I will draw close to him by the length of a fathom. Whoever comes to Me walking, I will come to him running. Whoever meets Me with enough sins to fill the earth, not associating any partners with Me, I will meet him with as much forgiveness.”7 Allah taught Nuh the true meaning of family. ۢۖ فَ َال َع َم ل َغْي ُر َصٰـِلح ِنَّ ۥهُ ْهِل َكۖ إ َ َس ِم ْن أ ْي ِه قَا َل يَ ٰـنُو ُح إ ِلي َن ِنَّهۥُ لَ َجٰـ ْ َن تَ ُكو َن ِم َن ٱل ِع ُظ َك أ َ ٓى أ ِ ِن ۖ إ م ْ ِ ِهۦ ِعل َك ب َس لَ ْي ِن َما لَ ْ ل َٔ تَ ْسـ 7 Sahih Muslim 2687a

He said, "O Noah, indeed he is not of your family; indeed, he is [one whose] work was other than righteous, so ask Me not for that about which you have no knowledge. Indeed, I advise you, lest you be among the ignorant." [11:46] Disbelievers are not part of our family, this is why for example, Abu Lahab is not known to be part of Ahlul Bayt, the family of Muhammad SAW, even though he was his uncle ِّ ِّن َخٰـ ِّسِّر قَا َل َر ِّب إ ْ ُكن ِّ م َن ٱل َ ٓى أ اَّل تَ ْغِّف ْر ِّلى َوتَ ْر َح ْمنِّ ِّ ٌۭ مۖ َوإ ْ َس ِّلى بِّ ِّهۦ ِّعل ْي َك َما لَ لَ َٔ ْسـ َ ْن أ َ بِّ َك أ ُعوذُ َ ي َن ٓى أ Noah pleaded, “My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking You about what I have no knowledge of, and unless You forgive me and have mercy on me, I will be one of the losers.” [11:47] What can we learn from NUH AS? - If anyone has endured a lot, remember the day you raise your hands, It will come immediately. - Nuh was patient, he constantly prayed to Allah for his people’s guidance. - Nuh only had 80 followers in 950 years, some narrations say 10, but he was still hopeful. - The bonds of muslims are far stronger than the bond of blood. - We have to seek the pleasure of Allah even if we earn displeasure from family members.. - The winners in the end are the ones who have patience, tawakul - The path of life is long and hard. It requires a lot of energy. That energy is sabr, if you don’t have it you will fall and fail in this life. 03- Hud- Salih- Ibrahim A.S َويَ ِزدْ ُكْم قُ ا َرا ًر ٌۭ ْي ُكم ِ مدْ َء َعلَ ْي ِه يُ ْر ِس ِل ٱل َّس َمآ لَ ِ إ ۟ ٓوا َّم تُوبُ َربَّ ُكْم ثُ ۟ ْوِم ٱ ْستَ ْغِف ُروا ُم ْجِرِمي َن َويَ ٰـقَ ۟ ْوا َّ َول َوََّل تَتَ َّوتِ ُكْم ٰى قُ لَ ِ َّوةً إ And O my people! Seek your Lord’s forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance. He will shower you with rain in abundance, and add strength to your strength. So do not turn away, persisting in wickedness.” [11:52] This verse proves to us that we do not make enough Istighfaar. If we did make enough Istighfaar, our Ummah’s situation would not be the way it is today. “And add strength to your strength”. Allah sent a tornado down to the people of ‘Ad, but this tornado didn’t last for a few minutes, It lasted for 7 nights and 8 days. Allah SWT says:

َص ْر َع ٰى َك َها فِي َ ْوم قَ ْ َرى ٱل يَّا م ُح ُسوًٌۭما فَتَ َ أ َمٰـنِيَةَ َوثَ َع لَيَا لۢ ِهْم َسْب ْي َس َّخ َر َها َعلَ ِويَ ةۢ ْع َجا ُز نَ ْخ ل َخا َ ُهْم أ نَّ َ أ which Allah unleashed on them non-stop for seven nights and eight days, so that you would have seen its people lying dead like trunks of uprooted palm trees. [69:7] This is just the punishment of this world, but the punishment of the hereafter is much worse. ُهم ِ م ْن َعذَا ب َونَ َّجْينَ ٰـ ِ منَّا ِ َر ْح َم ةۢ َمعَهۥُ ب ۟ َمنُوا ِذي َن َءا َّ َوٱل ْمُرنَا نَ َّجْينَا هُوٌۭدًا َ َء أ َّما َجآ َولَ َغِلي ظۢ َوٱ ۥهُ ُر ُسلَ ۟ َو َع َصْوا ِ ِهْم ايَ ٰـ ِت َرب َٔ ِـ ب ۟ َك َعاٌۭد ۖ َج َحدُوا ْ َوتِل ر َعنِي دۢ ْمَر ُك لِ َجبَّا َ أ ۟ تَّبَعُٓوا ََّل بُ ْع َ ۗ أ ُهْم َربَّ ۟ ُروا َّن َعاٌۭدًا َكفَ ِ ََّلٓ إ َ َمِةۗ أ ِقيَ ٰـ ْ ٱل َ َويَ ْوم ٌۭ ْعنَةً فِى َهٰـِذِه ٱلدُّْنيَا لَ ۟ ِعُوا تْب ُ َوأ ْوِم هُو دۢ ِعَا دۢ قَ ٌۭدًا ل When Our command came, We rescued Hûd and those who believed with him by a mercy from Us, saving them from a harsh torment. That was ’Âd. They denied the signs of their Lord, disobeyed His messengers, and followed the command of every stubborn tyrant. They were followed by a curse in this world, as they will be on the Day of Judgement. Surely ’Âd denied their Lord. So away with ’Âd, the people of Hûd. [11:58-60] Whatever we see around us will not do us any good, If we disbelieve in Allah and the ayat of Allah and his messengers like the people of Ad did, then we will be included in severe punishment, but if we stick to the truth and we keep away from the way of the non-believers, then whenever Allah punishes the non-believers, he will save the ones who believed in him. What we can learn from Hud- - Being powerful and wealthy can make you arrogant. - You are not allowed to worship other gods and Allah simultaneously. - You should be grateful for what Allah has given you. - Allah finds everyone equal, however strong or rich you are. - Allah has the capability to destroy anyone, no matter how much power they think they have. The مؤمن always has fear from Allah, they never feel safe in this dunya. Salih is the next prophet after Hud. He was sent to the people of Thamud. The people of Thamud were given the opportunity through Prophet Salih to revert back to the correct path. At first they didn’t believe him, but gradually the people started to realise that Salih was telling the truth. But once the people started to follow Salih, the leaders of Thamud got angry, and wanted to test Salih. So they asked him to bring forward a special camel, and after Salih’s prayers, Allah sent him a camel.

The special camel was able to produce a lot of milk, which benefited the people, making them happy as they enjoyed this blessing from Allah. But to the leaders of Thamud, this was intolerable, so they decided to kill the camel. Salih warned them that this would cause a curse upon them, so Salih took the followers away and allowed the entire valley to be destroyed in an earthquake. They planned to test Salih, but little did they know Allah had his very own plan, and Indeed Allah is the best of planners (3:54) ِر ِه ْم َجٰـثِ فِى ِديَ ٰـ ۟ ْصبَ ُحوا َ فَأ ٱل َّصْي َحةُ ۟ ُموا ِذي َن َظلَ َّ َخذَ ٱل َ ِمي َن َوأ ُمودَ ِثَ ََّل بُ ْعٌۭدًا ل َ ۗ أ ُهْم َربَّ ۟ ُروا َكفَ ۟ ُمودَا َّن ثَ ِ ََّلٓ إ َ َهآۗ أ فِي ۟ ْوا ْغنَ ْم يَ َّ َن ل َكأ And the ˹mighty˺ blast overtook the wrongdoers, so they fell lifeless in their homes, as if they had never lived there. Surely Thamûd denied their Lord, so away with Thamûd! [11:67-68] َمٰـ ِكِري َن ْ َو َم َكَر ٱ ََّّللُۖ َوٱ ََّّللُ َخْي ُر ٱل ۟ َو َم َكُروا And they [i.e., the disbelievers] planned, but Allāh planned. And Allāh is the best of planners. [3:54] The whole nation was destroyed, even though it wasn’t all of them. They were all destroyed because they knew about the corruption and did nothing to stop it. When these 98 men plotted the evil, and no one else stopped them, everyone in the society was included in the punishment. This highlights the importance of speaking out against the wrong. There is a conflict between Islam and Kuffar. We need to choose and make a decision, are we going to be the ones who are representing Islam or be with the ones who are representing evil? because there is nothing in between. With that being said, May Allah make us of those who are able to represent Islam beautifully and stand firmly against Kufr. ِر ي َر ِض َي هللاُ َعْنهُ قَا َل َسِم ْعت َر ُسو َل ََّّللاِ صلى هللا عليه و سلم يَقُو ُل: " َم ْن ُخدْ ْ ِي َس ِعي د ال ب َ ِيَ ِدِه، ْن أ َع ْرهُ ب ِ يُغَي ْ َى ِمْن ُكْم ُمْن َكًرا فَل َرأ م ِن" . ] َرَواهُ ُم ْسِل َما ْْلِي ْضعَ ُف ا َ ِل َك أ َوذَ ِ ِه، ب ْ ِقَل ْم يَ ْستَ ِط ْع فَب ْن لَ ِ َسانِ ِه، فَإ ِِل ْم يَ ْستَ ِط ْع فَب ْن لَ ِ فَإ [. On the authority of Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: 8 Quran (27:48)

I heard the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم (say, “Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith.” [Muslim] 9 َّ ۖ َوٱل َهٰـ ُر ْن ْألَ َها ٱ ٰـ تۢ تَ ْجِرى ِمن تَ ْحتِ َحٰـ ِت َجنَّ ٱل َّصٰـِل ۟ ُوا َو َعِمل ۟ َمنُوا ِذي َن َءا َّ َّن ٱ ََّّللَ يُدْ ِخ ُل ٱل إ ِذي َن َك ُك ُل ِ ْ ُو َن َكَما تَأ ُكل ْ َمتَّعُو َن َويَأ يَتَ ۟ ُروا فَ ُهْم َّ ٌۭ ى ل ًو ْ َوٱلنَّا ُر َمث ُم ْنعَ ٰـ ْألَ ٱ Surely Allah will admit those who believe and do good into Gardens under which rivers flow. As for the disbelievers, they enjoy themselves and feed like cattle. But the Fire will be their home. [47:12] ِحبُّو َن ٱل ٰـ ِكن ََّّل تُ َولَ َص ْح ُت لَ ُكْم ِى َونَ َرب ْبلَ ْغتُ ُكْم ِر َسالَةَ َ ْوِم لَقَدْ أ َوقَا َل يَ ٰـقَ ٰى َعْن ُهْم َّ ٰـ ِص ِحي َن َول فَتَ نَّ And Salih left them, saying: 'O my people! I conveyed to you the message of my Lord and gave you good advice; but you have no liking for your well-wishers.'[7:79] Allah has preserved the people he destroyed as a warning for us, so we can have a physical representation of how Allah has destroyed the non-believers. So when we read it in the Quran, we have a physical example. Madain Salih - Al Hijr - Saudi Arabia What can we learn from Salih? - We should not put God to the test, asking for signs and proofs from Him, when the whole of creation is surely one great sign of His goodness to the world. - Listen to His Prophets and messengers and be prompt to do what they say. 9 Hadith 34, 40 Hadith an-Nawawi

- He, the Creator of the heavens and the earth and everything in between, is in charge of all things. The next prophet is Ibrahim AS. Ibrahim was mentioned in 73 places in the Quran, 25 surahs of the Quran. Ibrahim told his father that he needs to follow him in order to take him to the straight path, because he knows what his father does not. ا ٌۭ َكۖ َوٱ ْه ُج ْرنِى َمِليًّ ْر ُج َمنَّ ْم تَنتَ ِه َألَ َّ ۖ لَئِن ل ُم ِهي َر ٰ ْب ِ َهتِى يَ ٰـٓإ ن َت َع ْن َءاِل َ َرا ِغ ب أ َ قَا َل أ He threatened, “How dare you reject my idols, O Abraham! If you do not desist, I will certainly stone you ˹to death˺. So be gone from me for a long time!” [19:47] This verse shows us the difference between Islam and Kuffar. He was willing to kill his son. Ibrahim replied with: ٰـ ٌۭ قَا َل َس ا لَ ِى َحِفيًّ ِنَّهۥُ َكا َن ب ٓىۖ إ ِ َك َرب ْستَ ْغِف ُر لَ َ ْي َكۖ َسأ م َعلَ Abraham responded, “Peace be upon you! I will pray to my Lord for your forgiveness. He has truly been Most Gracious to me. [19:48] Ibrahim did not know you can’t seek forgiveness for the non believers, So Allah taught him. نَّهُ َ ٓهۥُ أ َّما تَبَيَّ َن لَ ِيَّاهُ فَلَ َو َعدَ َهآ إ ۢ ََّّل َعن َّمْو ِعدَة ِ ِي ِه إ ب ِألَ َ ِهيم َر ٰ ْب ِ ْغفَا ُر إ َو َم ٌۭ ا َكا َن ٱ ْستِ ه َحِليم َّو ٰ َألَ َ ِهيم َر ٰ ْب ِ َّن إ ِ ِمْنهُۚ إ َ ِ تَبَ َّرأ َّلل َِّ ٌۭ و َعدُ ۥ As for Abraham’s prayer for his father’s forgiveness, it was only in fulfilment of a promise he had made to him. But when it became clear to Abraham that his father was an enemy of Allah, he broke ties with him.1 Abraham was truly tender-hearted, forbearing. [9:114] A very important principle for the muslim to have is psychological seperation from the environment of Kuffar that is around them . Ibrahim AS immediately disassociated from the society of the disbelievers. We, as muslims, have an identity that we have to protect and preserve, we can not blend in with the kuffar and be a sheep. This does not mean that we have to separate ourselves physically, We can still be a part of the society, but in our hearts we are seperate. In our hearts, we should have a psychological barrier. It is important we still take part in the society physically because when you are still taking part in a society

physically, you have the opportunity to spread dawah, and the ability to affect others, but when you are secluded, you are only benefiting yourself and no one else. We need to know also that worshipping in seclusion does not make us unbeatable, or invincible. The following story illustrates this idea: There was once a very pious man, who devoted his entire life to worshipping Allah day and night in seclusion. One day, Three men from Bani Israel were called to fight for the sake of Allah. They accepted this call, but were concerned about their sister, as she would be left behind with no one to look after her. The three men agreed that the best person they can leave their sister with is Burseesah, since he was the most trusted person in town, and had a great reputation. When the three men approached Burseesah, He refused, but they persisted. Shaytan overheard this conversation and decided to whisper in Burseesah’s ears. Planting the idea in his mind that she will be left with someone who is not trustworthy. He agreed to take care of her and left her in a separate house, delivering food to her door. But Shaytan was consistent with his whispers, and made his words appear like the right thing to do in the eyes of Burseesah. Eventually they committed zina, and the woman fell pregnant. Shaytan told him that he would have to kill the baby to get rid of the evidence. And finally Shaytan told him to kill the woman. When the brothers returned, Burseesah told them that she had passed away, and led them to a fake grave. That night, Shaytan went to the brothers in their dreams and told them what really happened. The brothers went to Burseesah and asked him about what he had done, and he confessed. He was then taken to court, where it was decided he would be prosecuted. Shaytan finally revealed himself to Burseesah telling him “I am the one who put you in this mess, and I can help you out of it”. Burseesah was desperate for help, and at that point was an easy target for Shaytan. Shaytan told him “Prostrate yourself to me. I am Shaytaan and I will save you! Bow down and prostrate to me!” Burseesah fell down in sujood to Shaytaan and as soon as he did this, Shaytan left him, and Burseesah was executed. What a terrible ending. Burseesah, who devoted his entire life to worshipping Allah SWT died in prostration to the devil. Not only does this story highlight my earlier point, that worshipping in seclusion does not make us invincible, but also shows us how Shaytaan's influence works, and how strong it

can be. We are all prone to falling for Shaytaans whispers, so it is important we make Dua and seek refuge in Allah consistently. 04- The Da’wah of Ibrahim- Hijrah of Ibrahim A.S. One day, on the evening of a big celebration, Ibrahim knew that the people would set out to have a huge feast, so he went into their temple and demolished all the idols, except the largest idol. He hung an axe on the largest idol. so that he could explain to them the error of their ways. When they came back they asked him who had broken all their idols. He told them to ask the largest idol, the “chief” of the idols. He also asked them to ask their idols, if their idol gods could speak, then to ask them who had broken them. They decided as revenge for breaking the idols that they should burn Ibrahim alive in a burning fire. It is said that Ibrahim later would say that the most pleasant moments in his life are the moments he spent in the fire. Allah made the fire cool for him. Allah SWT can change everything for you, He made the fire cool and safe for Ibrahim A.S, He made the sea split for Musa A.S, he made diseases vanish under the hand of Isa A.S, He made the moon split for Muhammad SAW. We have to have trust in Allah and have tawakkul that Allah will give you victory if you follow his orders. You don’t need anything else. The dua that Ibrahim made in the fire was ‘hasbi allahu wa ni’mal wakil’ which means Allah َح َو ِّكيل ْسبُنَا اَّللاُ َو نِّ .me for sufficient is ْ ال َ ْعم َح ْسبُنَ ۟ ُوا َوقَال ٌۭا َمٰـنً ِي ْم إ ْم فَ َزادَهُ لَ ُكْم فَٱ ْخ َشْوهُ ۟ َج َمعُوا َس قَدْ َّن ٱلنَّا ِ ُهُم ٱلنَّا ُس إ ِذي َن قَا َل لَ َو ٱل ِكي ُل َّ ْ ٱل َ َونِ ْعم ا ٱ ََّّللُ In the event of fear and anxiety one should seek the help of Allah and frequently recite this ayah of the glorious Qur’an “Hasbunallahu wa Ni’mal Wakeel” “Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us).” [3:173]. Ibn Abbas says that Allah is sufficient for us and the best disposer of our affairs, Ibrahim said it when he was thrown in the fire , Muhammad SAW said it when he was threatened and told that the enemies were gathering for him. This made them increase in their Iman.

ْن َءاتَٰى َ ِ ِٓهۦ أ فِى َرب َ ِهۧـم َر ٰ ْب ِ َّج إ ِذى َحآ َّ لَى ٱل ِ َر إ ْم تَ لَ َر أ ٰ َ ْب ِ ِمي ُتۖ قَا َل إ ُ َوأ ْح ِىۦ ُ أ ۠ نَا َ َويُ ِمي ُت قَا َل أ ِذى يُ ْح ِىۦ َّ َى ٱل ِ ُم َرب ِهۧـ َر ٰ ْب ِ قَا َل إ ِذْ َك إ ْ ُمل ُم ْ هُ ٱ ََّّللُ ٱل ِهۧـ َوٱ ََّّللُ ََّل ۗ َر ِذى َكفَ َّ ِه َت ٱل َم ْغِر ِب فَبُ ْ ِ َها ِم َن ٱل ِت ب ْ َم ْشِر ِق فَأ ْ ِٱل َّش ْم ِس ِم َن ٱل تِى ب ْ َّن ٱ ََّّللَ يَأ َّظ فَإ ٰـِل ِمي َن ِ ٱل َ ْوم قَ ْ يَ ْهِدى ٱل Have you not considered the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord [merely] because Allāh had given him kingship? When Abraham said, "My Lord is the one who gives life and causes death," he said, "I give life and cause death." Abraham said, "Indeed, Allāh brings up the sun from the east, so bring it up from the west." So the disbeliever was overwhelmed [by astonishment], and Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people. [2:53] Ibrahim wanted to be stronger in faith, so Allah assigned him a task, to grind up four birds, and put a quarter each on top of four different mountains, and Allah told him after this, to call them. So Ibrahim called them and they came flying, alive. four birds, Ibrahim witnessed the miracle of life in front of his eyes. ْط َم ِيَ ٰـ ِكن ل ٰى َولَ ْؤ ِمنۖ قَا َل بَلَ ْم تُ َولَ َ ٰىۖ قَا َل أ َمْوتَ ْ ْح ِى ٱل َف تُ ِرنِى َكْي َ ُم َر ِب أ ِهۧـ َر ٰ ْب ِ قَا َل إ ِذْ َو ِر إ َّطْي ٌۭ ِ م َن ٱل ْربَعَةً َ أ ِىۖ قَا َل فَ ُخذْ ب ْ ئِ َّن قَل فَ َّن ُص َ ْم أ َوٱ ْعلَ اۚ ٌۭ تِينَ َك َس ْعيً ْ َّم ٱدْ ُع ُه َّن يَأ ِ مْن ُه َّن ُج ْزًٌۭءا ثُ ٰى ُك لِ َجبَ لۢ ْل َعلَ َّم ٱ ْجعَ ْي َك ثُ لَ ِ ٌۭ م ْرهُ َّن إ ٱ ََّّللَ َعِزي ز َح ِكي And [mention] when Abraham said, "My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead." [Allāh] said, "Have you not believed?" He said, "Yes, but [I ask] only that my heart may be satisfied." [Allāh] said, "Take four birds and commit them to yourself.1 Then [after slaughtering them] put on each hill a portion of them; then call them - they will come [flying] to you in haste. And know that Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise." [2:260] Ibrahim had his own style of Dawah - He destroyed all the idols, and hung the axe on the biggest idle One dawah representation he gave to his people was thatIbrahim went out with his people at night, they went out to worship, The first star that comes up is not a star, it is Venus. Ibrahim A.S said “This is my god”. ِح ُّب ٱ ُ َل قَا َل ََّلٓ أ فَ َ َّمآ أ ِىۖ فَلَ َرب اۖ قَا َل َهٰـذَا ٌۭ ْي ُل َر َءا َكْو َكبً َّ ْي ِه ٱل َّما َج َّن َعلَ فَل افِِلي َن َ َٔ ـ ْ ل When the night grew dark upon him, he saw a star and said, “This is my Lord!” But when it set, he said, “I do not love things that set.” [6:76] ْم يَ ْه َّ َل قَا َل لَئِن ل فَ َ َّمآ أ ِىۖ فَلَ َرب ِز ًغٌۭ ا قَا َل َهٰـذَا َمَر بَا قَ ْ َر َءا ٱل َّما فَل ِي َن َ ْوِم ٱل َّضآل قَ ْ ُكونَ َّن ِم َن ٱل ِى َألَ ِدنِى َرب Then when he saw the moon rising, he said, “This one is my Lord!” But when it disappeared, he said, “If my Lord does not guide me, I will certainly be one of the misguided people.” [6:77]

َر َّما ِى بَ ِر ٓى فَل ٌۭ ء ِ مَّم َ ِن ْوِم إ فَلَ ْت قَا َل يَ ٰـقَ َ َّمآ أ ۖ فَلَ َ ْكبَ ُر ِى َهٰـذَآ أ َرب ٌۭ قَا َل َهٰـذَا ِز َغةً ا تُ ْشِر ُكو َن َءا ٱل َّش ْم َس بَا Then when he saw the sun shining, he said, “This must be my Lord—it is the greatest!” But again when it set, he declared, “O my people! I totally reject whatever you associate ˹with Allah in worship˺. [6:78] Ibrahim was patient, He was 80 years old, with no believers, no children, But he had صبر. - Sarah gave Ibrahim permission to marry Hajar, and he married her with the hope they could have a child. - Allah SWT has described Ismael A.S with حلم ,which means mild, gentle, forbearing - Ishaq A.S was described as لمِّعا , َwhich means knowledgeable. So the Quran verses talking about the gentle one is talking about Ismael A.S and the knowledgeable one is Ishaq. This verse in the bible: “And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.” [Genesis 17:20] The bible says that Ismael is blessed, and that Allah SWT will multiply his children. There is a hadith where the RasulAllah says that there will be 12 khulafa all from the Quraish. And the Quraish are the direct descendants of Ismael. This bible verse talks about 12 princes, 12 khulafa. Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, a few others. The bible is giving us the glad tidings of Ismael, they also talk about the 12 khulafa that will rule on this Ummah.

Hajar was the mother of Ismail AS and the wife of Ibrahim AS. She is an amazing role model for the women in Islam. Ibn Abbas RA narrated, “He (Ibrahim) made them sit over there (near the Kaaba) and placed near them a leather bag containing some dates, and a small water-skin containing some water, and he set out homeward. Ismail's mother followed him saying, “O Ibrahim! Where are you going, leaving us in this valley where there is no person whose company we may enjoy, nor is there anything to enjoy?” She repeated that to him many times, but he did not look back at her. Then she asked him, “Has Allah ordered you to do?” He said, “Yes”. She said, “Then He will not neglect us”, and returned, while Ibrahim proceeded onwards ....”10 Hajar AS ran between the mountains Safa and Marwa seven times, in hope to see somebody, despite being in the midst of an isolated desert, she did not lose hope that Allah would send her help. When Hajar was on Marwa, she heard a voice. She said “You have made me hear your voice, have you got something to help me?” After calling this out, she saw an angel at the place where the zamzam water well now stands. It was Angel Jibril AS, and he was digging the earth, water flowed. She raced down to the valley and started pushing the earth around the water to make a basin. The water would not stop flowing, so she said “Zam, zam” Which means “Stop! Stop!” She was worried the water would run out. Hajjars trust, hope and faith in Allah is inspiring! - In Hajj, every single one of us follow Hajar’s tracks when she was deserted. - The zamzam water came out as a divine revelation. - She thought the water was going to go into the sand and go away, - But Hajar said zam, zam, and she intervened, and it became a well. - The prophet SAW says if she left that water it would have become a flowing river. We seek help from no one but Allah. Ibrahim A.S made a dua to Allah 10 Tafseer Ibn Katheer

ٱل َّص ۟ ُم َح َّرِم َربَّنَا ِليُِقي ُموا ْ ِعندَ بَ ْيتِ َك ٱل ِر ِذى َز ْرع ِ َوا د َغْي رِ يَّتِى ب ْس َكن ُت ِمن ذُ َ ٓى أ ِ ِن َّربَّنَآ إ َ ْل أ ٰوةَ فَٱ ْجعَ ِهْم لَ ْي لَ ِ ٓى إ ْهِو ٌۭ ِ م َن ٱلنَّا ِس تَ ِدَةً ـ فْ ْش ُكُرو َن ُهْم يَ َّ ِت لَعَل َمَر ٰ َّ ُهم ِ م َن ٱلث َوٱ ْر ُزقْ Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful. [14:37] In this moment of difficulty, Ibrahim A.S is thinking of salah. In every moment we should be thinking of Allah, but in moments of difficulty it is most important. How do we get Allah to think of us in moments of difficulty? By thinking of him in moments of ease. Recognize and acknowledge Allah in times of ease and prosperity, and He will remember you in times of adversity.11 Allah SWT has given an amazing description to the house of Allah. You go there, and you are drowning in awe. The love of the house of Allah enters your heart, and when you leave, you feel homesick. Allah SWT puts the love of this house in the heart of man. The next test Allah gave Ibrahim was to sacrifice his son, when Ibrahim went to sacrifice his son, Allah replaced his son with a sheep. This is why we celebrate Eid Al-Adha. To honour the willingness of Ibrahim AS to obey Allah SWT in this hard test. ٰىۚ قَ َر فَ بَ ُح َك فَٱن ُظ ْر َماذَا تَ ذْ َ ٓى أ ِ ن َ َمنَاِم أ ْ َر ٰى فِى ٱل َ ٓى أ ِ ِن َّى إ َى قَا َل يَ ٰـبُنَ َغ َمعَهُ ٱل َّس ْع َّما بَلَ َ َء ل ٱ ََّّللُ ِن َشآ ٓى إ ِجدُنِ ۖ َستَ ْؤ َمُر ْل َما تُ بَ ِت ٱفْعَ َ ا َل يَ ٰـٓأ ِ ِري َن ِم َن ٱل َّصٰـب Then when the boy reached the age to work with him, Abraham said, “O my dear son! I have seen in a dream that I ˹must˺ sacrifice you. So tell me what you think.” He replied, “O my dear father! Do as you are commanded. Allah willing, you will find me steadfast.” هۥُ ِل َّ َوتَل َما ْسلَ َ َّمآ أ ِن فَلَ ِي َجب ْ ل Then when they submitted ˹to Allah’s Will˺, and Abraham laid him on the side of his forehead ˹for sacrifice˺, ُم ِهي َر ٰ ْب ِ َن يَ ٰـٓإ َونَ ٰـدَْينَ ٰـهُ أ We called out to him, “O Abraham! ُم ْح ْ ِل َك نَ ْجِزى ٱل ٰ ِنَّا َكذَ َت ٱل ُّر ْءيَآۚ إ قَدْ ِسنِي َن َصدَّقْ 11 Hadith 19, 40 Hadith an-Nawawi

You have already fulfilled the vision.” Indeed, this is how we reward the good-doers. ِي ُن ُمب ْ ٱل ۟ ٰـٓ ُؤا بَلَ ْ ُهَو ٱل َّن َهٰـذَا لَ ِ إ That was truly a revealing test. َع ِظيۢ م ِذْبح ِ َوفَدَْينَ ٰـهُ ب And We ransomed his son with a great sacrifice [37:102-107] Islam is submission to Allah SWT. The word Islam comes out of the roots “Alsilm” meaning complete submission. But why does Allah tell us to be in complete submission to Him? Not because he is power hungry, but because Allah knows that if we are not in complete submission to him, then we will be in complete submission to something else. For example our desires, our nafs. Or we would be in submission to a creation. We have to fulfil the commandments of Allah even if its against our will and desires, We do these things as a form of Ibadah, Submission, this is the true meaning of Islam. Surrendering yourself to the Lord of the Universe. جالله جل ا ِخِري َن َٔ ـ ْ ْي ِه فِى ٱل َر ْكنَا َعلَ َوتَ and blessed Abraham ˹with honourable mention˺ among later generations: َ َس ِهيم َر ٰ ْب ِ ٰىٓ إ م َعلَ ٰـ لَ “Peace be upon Abraham.” This manifestation is presented through the Tashahhud.

Blessed salutations, prayers, good deeds to God. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, as well as God’s mercy and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of God. I bear witness that there is no deity but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger. O Allah, let Your mercy come upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You let it come upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. 05- Al Ka’bah - Virtues of Ibrahim - Lut AS ْي ْب َعلَ َوتُ َمنَا ِس َكنَا ِرنَا َ َك َوأ َّ ٌۭ ل َمةً ٌۭ ُّم ْسِل َّمةً ُ رِ يَّتِنَآ أ َك َو ِمن ذُ ِن لَ َمْي نَا ُم ْسِل ْ َوٱ ْجعَل َّوا ُب َربَّنَا ن َت ٱلتَّ َ َك أ ِنَّ ُم نَآۖ إ ٱل َّر ِحي َويُ ِح ْكَمةَ ْ ٰـ َب َوٱل ِكتَ ْ ِ ُمُهُم ٱل َءايَ ٰـتِ َك َويُعَل ِهْم ْي َعلَ ۟ ُوا ل ِهْم َر ُسوًَّل ٌۭ ِ مْن ُهْم يَتْ ْث فِي َوٱْبعَ َر ُم بَّنَا َح ِكي ْ عَ ِزي ُز ٱل ْ ن َت ٱل َ َك أ ِنَّ ِهْمۚ إ َز كِي Our Lord! Make us both ˹fully˺ submit to You and from our descendants a nation that will submit to you. Show us our rituals, and turn to us in grace. You are truly the Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful. Our Lord! Raise from among them a messenger who will recite to them Your revelations, teach them the Book and wisdom, and purify them. Indeed, You ˹alone˺ are the Almighty, All-Wise.” [2:128-129] Following the way of Muhammad SAW purifies us. His Dawah took the people with hearts of rock, and built the best, most honourable society out of them

What can we learn from Ibrahim AS ? - Prioritising worship over dunya: Ibrahim’s commitment to Allah was stronger than his desires for the dunya; he chose pleasing Allah over comfort, luxury, and even love. - Sacrifice: Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his beloved son after a lifetime of longing for a child, all for the sake of Allah. - Leadership: Ibrahim wanted to worship Allah by serving humanity. He knew the value of cultivating leadership and made du’a for Allah to help him in his efforts. He inspired others to set a good example, but he also fulfilled his duty to his family and, therefore, he was a man of balance. - Tawakul: In the book, Tafsir Ibn Katheer, it is stated that, “If a woman was sick, she would make a vow that if she recovered she would bring wood to burn Ibrahim”. This testimony demonstrates the strength and vitriol with which people opposed Ibrahim, but that this hate inspired him to trust Allah even more. Ibrahim did not seek their approval, instead he focused more on pleasing Allah. When Ibrahim was thrown into the fire, he had the certainty of faith that Allah would help him - tawakkul. - Hospitality and Generosity: Ibrahim exemplified the Islamic responsibility of honouring guests; he fed strangers and did so with generosity, preparing a large meal. - Forbearance and patience: Ibrahim endured his many trials with calmness and sensibility. When Ibrahim’s father opposed his message, Ibrahim was not angry or impatient, rather, he spoke to his father in a beautiful, soft manner. - Ihsan : Often, when it comes to our spiritual obligations, we rush our prayers, or neglect charity and fasting outside of Ramadan. Yet in the example of Ibrahim, we witness the power and value of excellence, or ihsan. La illaha illa Allah is not just words, it’s a way of life. ٰ للَا ٱ لَّا ِّ هَ إ ٰ لَ ِّ ُ ََّل إ It is very easy to give people Dawah when it is something they want to hear, But the prophets would confront the problem straight up whether or not it was controversial, They would attack the problems. The people do not want to hear that they are wrong, People do not want to hear about their mistakes, which is why they pinpoint, and attack, and get angry. We need to face the problems of the Ummah. Lut AS was Ibrahim’s nephew, who was raised by Ibrahim AS. During Ibrahim and Lut’s migration to Palestine, they received the divine decree of Allah that Lut had been chosen as a Prophet and Messenger for the people of Sodom, He was on a mission to make Dawah. The

people of Lut were suffering of the disease of homosexuality, and crime. They had very perverted hearts and his people were very corrupt. Lut approached his people and told them “Will you not fear Allah and obey Him? Verily! I am a trustworthy Messenger to you. So fear Allah, keep your duty to Him, and obey me”. The men of the city began discussing amongst themselves. “This man has entered our city and is telling us to cease what we are doing? Clearly, he is gaining something out of this!” Prophet Lut AS replied: “No reward do I ask of you for it. My reward is only from the Lord of the worlds”. It is better for us to not ask for recompense for spreading Dawah, and helping people, as the reward we will receive from Allah, the recompense from the Lord of the world is much better than any worldly reward. ۟ ُوا َو َعِمل ۟ َمنُوا ِذي َن َءا َّ شِ ُر ٱ ََّّللُ ِعبَادَهُ ٱل ِذى يُبَ َّ ِل َك ٱل ٰ ٌۭ ذَ ِر ْف َح َسنَةً تَ َو َمن يَقْ ْربَ ٰىۗ قُ ْ َمَودَّةَ فِى ٱل ْ ََّّل ٱل ِ ْج ًرا إ َ ْي ِه أ ُكْم َعلَ ُ ل َٔ ْسـ َ َحٰـ ِتۗ قُل ََّّلٓ أ ٱل َّصٰـِل َش ُكو ر َّن ٱ ََّّللَ َغفُو ر ٌۭ ِ َها ُح ْسنًاۚ إ ۥهُ فِي ِزدْ لَ نَّ That ˹reward˺ is the good news which Allah gives to His servants who believe and do good. Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “I do not ask you for a reward for this ˹message˺—only honour for ˹our˺ kinship.”1 Whoever earns a good deed, We will increase it in goodness for them. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Appreciative. [42:23] Prophet Lut then broached the matter of homosexuality and informed them that it was an immoral practice. He said: “Do you approach males among the worlds and leave those whom your Lord has created for you as your wives? Nay you are a people of transgressing!” Lut made a supplication to Allah, “My Lord, support me against the corrupting people. My Lord, save me and my family from what they do.” So Allah sent him three angels, including angel Jibreel, in the form of travellers. They revealed themselves as angels, and Allah commanded Lut to take his two daughters and leave Sodom. By Allah’s will, Jibreel grabbed the nation from the edge of his wing, raised them up high, then crashed them into the ground. Then Allah commanded the skies to rain down stones of hard clay. ٌۭ ِ من ِس جِ ي ل َرةً ِهْم ِح َجا ْي ْم َط ْرنَا َعلَ َ َوأ َها نَا َعٰـِليَ َها َسافِلَ ْ َجعَل فَ َو ِ سِمي َن ُمتَ ْ ِل ايَ ٰـ تۢ ل َٔ ـ ِل َك لَ ٰ َّن فِى ذَ ِ إ ُّمِقي م ِي لۢ ِ َسب َها لَب ِنَّ َوإ ُمْؤ ِمنِي َن ْ ِل ٌۭ ل ايَةً َٔ ـ ِل َك لَ ٰ َّن فِى ذَ ِ إ And We turned the cities ˹of Sodom and Gomorrah˺ upside down and rained upon them stones of baked clay. Surely in this are signs for those who contemplate. Their ruins still lie along a known route. Surely this is a sign for those who believe. [15:74-77]

It is said that the Dead Sea in Jordan is all that remains of Sodom. Homosexuality is not biological nor is it in your genes. We can confirm this with this verse. ِ َما َسبَقَ ُكم ب ٰـ ِح َشةَ فَ ْ تُو َن ٱل ْ ِنَّ ُكْم لَتَأ ْو ِمِٓۦه إ قَا َل ِلقَ ِذْ ُو ًطا إ ِمي َن َول عَ ٰـلَ ْ ِ م َن ٱل َح دۢ َ َها ِم ْن أ And ˹remember˺ when Lot rebuked ˹the men of˺ his people: “You certainly commit a shameful deed that no man has ever done before you. [29:28] If it was something that was biological, it would have been committed before them. But it was something that was invented, and it is a terrible disease. حياء is an important quality to have, because Hayaa is a branch of Iman, and it is for both the men and women. What we can learn from Lut- - In Islam, being gay or part of LGBT is evil and Haram. - It can be harder to follow your religion if you have a disbelieving spouse. - You should help good people or travellers. - Keep secrets if you are told to keep them and don’t spread secret news. - When you host for some guests, you take the responsibility to guide and protect them. We do not approve of any public promotion of any sins, Even if they accuse us of discrimination, extremism, fundalism, we still stand up for what’s wrong.

12 قوله صلى الله عليه وسلم: كل أمتي معافى إَّل المجاهرون All the people of the ummah will be forgiven except those who do sins openly. They’ll commit a sin, and Allah will put a hijab over that sin as a rahma, but they will continue to expose their sins and boast about it, and be openly proud 06- Shu’aib - Yusuf AS Allah SWT did not tell us the stories of the prophets except that we can derive lessons from them. - Shu’aib made dawah to the people in Midian. - The disease and illness of Lut was their lust - The problem in Shu’aib story is they cheated people in terms of business Business is a very important part of religion, but we take it too lightly. When you cheat and make more money, you’re not really making money. 1 dollar that has barakah can go a long way, but 1 dollar that does not have barakah can cause you destruction. You see that some people live off small amounts of money and they are living happily, but some people are living with a lot of money but are miserable, that’s because there is no barakah. 12 Riyad as-Salihin 241

That which is left by Allah for you is better for you if you are believers. - Shu’aib tried to fight secularism. Secularism is the disbelief and rejection of a religion. His people did not want to understand, so they didn’t understand. ِى َو ِ من َّرب ِنَ ةۢ ٰى بَي ِن ُكن ُت َعلَ ْم إ َر َءْيتُ َ ْوِم أ ََّّل قَا َل يَ ٰـقَ ِ ِريدُ إ ُ ْن أ ِ َهٰى ُكْم َعْنهُۚ إ ْن َ ٰى َمآ أ لَ ِ َخاِلفَ ُكْم إ ُ ْن أ َ ِريدُ أ ُ َو َمآ أ ٌۭاۚ ا َح َسنً ِر ْزقً َر َزقَنِى ِمْنهُ ْوِم ََّل َويَ ٰـقَ نِيبُ ُ ْي ِه أ لَ ِ ُت َوإ ْ َو َّكل ْي ِه تَ ِٱ ََّّللِۚ َعلَ ََّّل ب ِ ٓى إ ْوفِيِق َو َما تَ َح َما ٱ ْستَ َط ْع ُتۚ ٰـ ْْلِ ْصلَ يَ ْجِر ٱ َ ْوم َصا َب قَ َ ُل َمآ أ ْ ُكم ِ مث َن يُ ِصيبَ ٓى أ َمنَّ ُكْم ِشقَاقِ ِبَ ِعي دۢ , ِ من ُكم ب ُو طۢ ْو ُم ل َو َما قَ ۚ ۢ َ َصٰـِلح ْوم ْو قَ َ َ هُو د أ ْوم ْو قَ َ ُدوٌۭ د أ َو نُوح ٌۭ م ِّى َر ِّحي ان َرب ِّ ْي ِّهۚ إ لَ ِّ إ ۟ ٓوا ام تُوبُ َربا ُكْم ثُ ۟ َوٱ ْستَ ْغِّف ُروا He said, “O my people! Consider if I stand on a clear proof from my Lord and He has blessed me with a good provision from Him. I do not want to do what I am forbidding you from. I only intend to reform to the best of my ability. My success comes only through Allah. In Him I trust and to Him I turn. O my people! Do not let your opposition to me lead you to a fate similar to that of the people of Noah, or Hûd, or Ṣâliḥ. And the people of Lot are not far from you. So seek your Lord’s forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance. Surely my Lord is Most Merciful, All-Loving.” [11:88-90] ADVICE WE CAN TAKE FROM THESE VERSES-

- Do not be a hypocrite, Do not tell people to do things and give advice when you don’t act upon it yourself. - We need to enjoin others to do what we are doing ourselves. - We should do the best of our capacity, as much as we can, we should exhaust ourselves. There is no season for good and evil. - If you are giving Dawah, if you are not able to change this person 100% at least try to change them 5%. You will still be rewarded for spreading the message. - Be a key of good. - The process of change is a step by step process, and takes a long time. - Whenever we do good or change something to good, it comes from Allah, the tawfik comes from Allah - Put your trust in Allah The concept of Tawfik is similar to barakah. It means the ability or opportunity to achieve success. Tawfik is from Allah. Allah has established laws in this world, the harder you work, the more fruits you will get. If you have the tawfik of Allah, the easier he will make things for you. We need to know that this is balanced out. What does Tawakkul mean? Tawakkul means to put your trust in Allah. The sky does not rain gold and silver, we need to understand Tawakkul properly. Do what you can, and leave the rest to Allah. If you have the right Tawakkul in Allah, he will provide for you the way he provides for the birds. Yaqub made a promise to Allah that he would build a mosque in Jerusalem, Evenutally he fulfilled this promise and built Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem which was later expanded by Sulaiman AS. What we can learn from Yaqub AS - You should not be jealous of your siblings or anyone- Eish, the twin brother of Yaqub, was jealous of his brother as their father, Ishaq loved Yaqub more. - Keep your promises to Allah- Yaqub promised Allah that he would build a mosque in that land if he returned to his family and donate 1/10th of his property. - When you are in danger, ask Allah for help. When Yaqub was told that his brother was coming angrily, he prayed to Allah - One way to stop conflict between two people is to give the opponent a gift - Yaqub gave a few animals to his brother to bring back the peace. When they say Bani Israel, they are talking about the sons of Yaqub AS. The best of them is Yusuf AS. If you listen to surah Yusuf, any sorrow or grief you are feeling will go away. Shaytan uses your words against you to create problems. So always speak the best.

07- Yusuf AS (Cont.) - The brothers of Yusuf knew that Yaqub loved him the most. And his brothers hated that and were jealous. Jealousy blinds the heart. - Allah puts people through things so he can establish them. - Yusuf lived through a lot, so he would develop knowledge and experience. - When Yusuf attained his full manhood, Allah gave him wisdom and knowledge. - Allah rewards doers of good. - Knowledge and wisdom are two different things. - Allah gave the األنبياء full wisdom and knowledge, full understanding of the deen. - You need both wisdom and knowledge to be a good leader. - If you think about doing evil, and you do not do it, Allah writes it down as one good deed, but if you think about doing evil and you do it, Allah only writes it down as one bad deed.

Allah has full power and control over affairs. When you think about doing evil, do not act on it and seek refuge in Allah. Yusuf had persistence, and was able to avoid fitnah. - Yusuf was really handsome, He has either half the beauty of the world or half the beauty of Adam AS. (He is the most beautiful being as he was made with the hands of Allah) - Whenever Yusuf would deal with any woman he would cover his face. Allah tested Yusuf with seduction. َب َوقَ َو ٰ ْب ْألَ قَ ِت ٱ َّ َو َغل َها َعن نَّ ْف ِس ِهۦ َو فِى بَ ْيتِ تِى هُ َّ َودَتْهُ ٱل ْفِل ُح َو َر ٰ ِنَّهۥُ ََّل يُ ۖ إ َى َوا ْ ْح َس َن َمث َ ٓى أ ِ َرب ِنَّ ۥهُ َكۚ قَا َل َمعَاذَ ٱ ََّّللِۖ إ الَ ْت َهْي َت لَ ِل َك ِلنَ ْصِر َف َعْنهُ ٰ ِ ِۦهۚ َكذَ َن َّر َءا بُ ْر َهٰـ َن َرب ْوََّلٓ أ ِ َها لَ ِ ِهۦۖ َو َه َّم ب َولَقَدْ َه َّم ْت ب َّظٰـِل ُمو َن , َء ٱل ۚ فَ ْح َشآ ْ ٓو َء َوٱل ٱل ُّس ِصي َن, ُم ْخلَ ْ ِنَّ ۥهُ ِم ْن ِعبَاِدنَا ٱل إ َر َ ُء َم ْن أ بَا ِبۚ قَالَ ْت َما َج َزآ ْ ِدَ َها لَدَا ٱل فَيَا َسي ْ ل َ َوأ رۢ َصهۥُ ِمن دُبُ ِمي بَا َب َوقَدَّ ْت قَ ْ َوٱ ْستَبَقَا ٱل ٌۭ م, ِلي َ ْو َعذَا ب أ َ َن يُ ْس َج َن أ ََّّلٓ أ ِ ْهِل َك ُسٓو ًءا إ َ ِأ ادَ ب َودَتْنِ َى َر ٰ ِ قَا َل ِه َكٰـِذب ْ َو ِم َن ٱل َصدَقَ ْت َوهُ بُ لۢ فَ ِمي ُص ۥهُ قُدَّ ِمن قُ ِن َكا َن قَ َهآ إ ْهِل َ َو َش ِهدَ َشا ِهٌۭد ِ م ْن أ ِمي ُصهۥُ قُدَّ ِسىۚ ِن َكا َن قَ َوإ ى َعن نَّ ْف ي َن, رۢ قَ َص ۥهُ قُدَّ ِمن دُبُ ِمي َر َءا قَ َّما َو ِم َن ٱل َّصٰـِدقِي َن, فَلَ ْت َوهُ رۢ فَ َكذَبَ ْعِر ْض َع ْن ِمن دُبُ َ ٌۭ م, يُو ُس ُف أ ُك َّن َع ِظي َّن َكْيدَ ِ ِنَّ ۥهُ ِمن َكْيِد ُك َّنۖ إ ا َل إ ِي َن َخا ِطـ ْ ِك ُكن ِت ِم َن ٱل ِنَّ ِ ِكۖ إ ب ِرى ِلذَنۢ َوٱ ْستَ ْغِف َهٰـذَاۚ And the lady, in whose house he lived, tried to seduce him. She locked the doors ˹firmly˺ and said, “Come to me!” He replied, “Allah is my refuge! It is ˹not right to betray˺ my master, who has taken good care of me. Indeed, the wrongdoers never succeed.” She advanced towards him, and he would have done likewise, had he not seen a sign from his Lord. This is how We kept evil and indecency away from him, for he was truly one of Our chosen servants. They raced for the door and she tore his shirt from the back, only to find her husband at the door. She cried, “What is the penalty for someone who

tried to violate your wife, except imprisonment or a painful punishment?”. Joseph responded, “It was she who tried to seduce me.” And a witness from her own family testified: “If his shirt is torn from the front, then she has told the truth and he is a liar. But if it is torn from the back, then she has lied and he is truthful.” So when her husband saw that Joseph’s shirt was torn from the back, he said ˹to her˺, “This must be ˹an example˺ of the cunning of you ˹women˺! Indeed, your cunning is so shrewd! O Joseph! Forget about this. And you ˹O wife˺! Seek forgiveness for your sin.1 It certainly has been your fault.” [12:24-29] What can we learn from Yusuf AS? - Allah gives blessing and honour to whom He Wills - There’s good in adversity if you persevere - Always return good and evil with good - Worldly pain is better than eternal punishment - If you ask, ask from Allah - Never compromise your moral standards - In Allah Alone let the believers put their trust - Patience is a virtue that’s hard to implement - Forgive and show mercy to those who offend you 08&09- Yusuf AS (Cont.), Ayub, Yunus A.S - The essence of the story of Yusuf from beginning to end is patience. - Allah tells us to never praise ourselves. - Laws are part of religion Yaqub never gave up hope of Allah’s mercy, No one despairs of Allah’s mercy except those who disbelieve. Surat Yusuf was revealed in Makkah, when Abu Talib and Khadijah passed away, and رسول found no one to support him financially and with strength. It was the year of sorrow. Allah SWT says in this segment of [12:90] ُم ْح ِسنِي َن ْ ْج َر ٱل َ ََّل يُ ِضي ُع أ َّن ٱ ََّّللَ ِ ِ ْر فَإ ِق َويَ ْصب َمن يَتَّ ِنَّهۥُ إ

Indeed, he who fears Allāh and is patient, then indeed, Allāh does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good." [12:90] This segment portrays the essence of Yusuf’s story. There is no victory without برْصَ ٌ Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Know that there is much good in being patient with what you detest, that victory will come with patience, affliction will come with relief, and hardship will come with ease.”13 Ayyub is the prophet after Shu’aib. His mother was the daughter of Lut. Ayyub suffered from a skin-eating illness that was not treatable. Ayyub became an outcast in his society,and to add to his suffering, his people even forced him and his wife out of the town, complaining about the stench coming from his skin. Even the close people around Ayyub were saying If Allah had any love for him, this wouldn’t happen.Except for his wife, who took care of him no matter what it took, and stuck by him through thick and thin. Ayyub made a dua. ْر َح ُم ال َّرا ِحِمي َن َ ن َت أ َ َي ال ُّض ُّر َوأ نِ ي َم َّسنِ َ أ "Indeed, adversity has seized me, and you are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy" [21:83] When Ayyub was showering, Allah sent him grasshoppers made of gold, Ayyub started collecting them and Allah said “Isn't it me who will provide for you so why are you gathering all of this?” He said “Oh Allah, This is your mercy and I want to have more of it.”. Allah answered his call, removed his distress, restored his family, and the like thereof along with them as a mercy from him, and a reminder for the أبردين .Those who are worshipping Allah. It is very easy to follow the sunnah and practice, but it is not easy to be consistent with it. It is easy to worship Allah for a few days and nights, but to continue with it needs discipline and patience. The more strong and firm you are in the deen, the more difficult the test from Allah will be. If your Iman is weak Allah will give you a simple test, but if your Iman is strong, the test will be more difficult. هللا ل ُسو ُر َsaid that he goes through fever, double the fever that others go through, This is because of his level of Iman. What can we learn from Ayyub AS? - You should worship Allah and be grateful when you have everything - Allah owns everything that you own 13 Hadith 19, 40 Hadith an-Nawawi

- Sickness could be a test and a blessing - Keep faith and patience in Allah when you lose everything and don’t be tempted by the Shaytan - People who actually care about you stick with you at the worst times - If you have a true loving spouse, they will want to stay with you through thick and thin - If Allah gives you something, you should take it as a blessing. Yunus woke up in the stomach of the whale. His flesh was peeling off. Yunus ran to Allah and made sujud. He makes this Dua: ن َت ُسْب َحٰـنَ َ ََّّلٓ أ ِ ٰـهَ إ لَ ِ َن ََّّلٓ إ َمٰـ ِت أ ُ َّظ فَنَادَ ٰى فِى ٱل ٰـِل ِمي َن ُّظل ِى ُكن ُت ِم َن ٱل ِن َك إ he cried out, “There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except You. Glory be to You! I have certainly done wrong.” [21:87] The weak voice of Yunus was heard by the angels in the utmost heavens. These angels went to Allah and said “Isn’t this the sound of your righteous servant? Whom used to do good night and day, We used to see his good deeds going up in the sky, Oh Allah aren’t you going to have mercy on him?” Allah says: لَ ِ ِحي َن , لَ ُم َسب ْ نَّهۥُ َكا َن ِم َن ٱل َ ْوََّلٓ أ فَل و َن َ ٰى يَ ْوِم يُْبعَثُ لَ ِ ْطنِ ِٓهۦ إ َث فِى بَ ِ ب Had he not ˹constantly˺ glorified ˹Allah˺,he would have certainly remained in its belly until the Day of Resurrection. [37:143-144] Because Yunus remembered Allah in moments of ease, Allah remembered him in moments of difficulty. He took care of Yunus, and he freed him. This is a dua we can use when we are in distress: َّظاِل ِمي َن ِي ُكْن ُت ِم َن ال ِن ْن َت ُسْب َحانَ َك إ َ ََّّل أ ِ هَ إ ٰ لَ ِ ََّل إ There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.” Allah SWT says that the people of Yunus are an exception, Because before the other nations of the األنبياء were being destroyed, but the people of Yunus believed.

َو نَادَ ٰى َوهُ ِذْ ُحو ِت إ ْ ِ َك َوََّل تَ ُكن َك َصا ِح ِب ٱل ِ ْر ِل ُح ْكِم َرب ُموٌۭ م فَٱ ْصب , َو َمذْ ِء َوهُ عَ َرآ ْ ِٱل ِذَ ب ِ ِهۦ لَنُب ٌۭ ِ من َّرب َر َكهۥُ نِ ْعَمة ٰ َن تَدَ ْوََّلٓ أ َّ َم ْك ُظوٌۭ م, ل ۥهُ ِم َن ٱل َّصٰـِل ِحي َن َجعَلَ َربُّهۥُ فَ فَٱ ْجتَبَ ٰـهُ So be patient with your Lord’s decree, and do not be like ˹Jonah,˺ the Man of the Whale, who cried out ˹to Allah˺, in total distress. Had he not been shown grace by his Lord, he would have certainly been cast onto the open ˹shore˺, still blameworthy. Then his Lord chose him, making him one of the righteous. [68:48-50] What can we learn from Yunus AS? - Don’t let anger consume you - No matter the darkness, always pray for the light of Allah - Allah is always merciful - The believers are always protected by Allah - Patience is an important part of our faith as Muslims. 10- Musa AS and PharoahThe Quran was almost going to become the story of Musa, It was mentioned 124 times in the Quran. Why? 1. The ummah of Bani Israel are the last Muslim Ummah before the Ummah of Muhammad SAW. 2. The history of Bani Israel is extremely rich in experiences. Allah wanted us to know all these experiences, this history, so we can use them in our Dawah. 3. The nature of the conflict of Bani Israel is similar to the nature of the conflict of the ummah of Muhammad SAW.

4. There are two halves of the story of Musa, one half is the story of Musa and Pharaoh and the other half is Musa and Bani Israel. These are both very important for us to know, Pharaoh is a symbol of tyranny, dictatorship and oppression, This is also the problem that the Ummah of Muhammad is suffering through. How can we deal with that oppression? The way Musa dealt with it. The other half is Musa dealing with his people. When you see the faults of Bani Israel, you see how important it is to know their story. Whoever is similar to them will receive the same punishment. 5. Allah SWT has talked about the يهود) Jews), The jews from day one are the ones who are leading the war and battles against Islam, They are the ones who plan together to fight against the muslims. They will be the supporters and soldiers of the Dajjal. Pharaoh had so much influence and power over the people, and he claimed to be their god. He placed the people in levels, leaving Bani Israel on the lowest level, as slaves. Allah SWT always has a plan. Allah put an insider in the house of Pharoah, to support Musa and that was Asiyah, the wife of Pharaoh. Allah can use anyone he wants for the sake of religion, we should always have trust in Allah, he can provide us with victory if we fulfil the requirements. The one who has Taqwa, Allah will find a way out for them. Musa had very dark skin and his hair was curly. He had a very strong presence and personality. Musa was the type of person who would not let mistakes pass by, He had to intervene. Hayaa is for men and women, Uthman ibn Affan had a lot of hayaa. Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Modesty is part of faith and the most modest of my nation is Uthman.” 11- Musa AS and Pharaoh 2- Allah told Musa: فَ ۠ نَا َ ََّّلٓ أ ِ ٰـهَ إ لَ ِ نَا ٱ ََّّللُ ََّلٓ إ َ ٓى أ ِنَّنِ ٰوةَ ِلِذ ْكِر ٓى إ قِِم ٱل َّصلَ َ ٱ ْعبُدْنِى َوأ ‘It is truly I. I am Allah! There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Me. So worship Me ˹alone˺, and establish prayer for My remembrance. [20:14] He also told Musa about the day of judgement.

َء َّن ٱل َّسا َعةَ ِ ِ َما تَ ْسعَ ٰى إ ب ْف س ٌۭ ْج َز ٰى ُك ُّل نَ َها ِلتُ ْخِفي ُ َكادُ أ َ أ اتِيَة The Hour is sure to come. My Will is to keep it hidden, so that every soul may be rewarded according to their efforts. [20:15] After Tawheed, the oneness of Allah, Salah is the next important thing. Allah wants Musa to tell him about the staff, because he wants to show him what he doesn’t know. ِيَ ِمينِ َك يَ ٰـ ُمو َس ٰى َك ب ْ َو َما تِل ْخ َر ٰى ُ ِر ُب أ ا َٔ َمـ َها َى فِي ٰى َغنَ ِمى َوِل ِ َها َعلَ ُّش ب َهُ َوأ َها ْي َعلَ ۟ َو َّكُؤا تَ َ َى أ َى َع َصا قَا َل ِه ˹Allah added,˺ “And what is that in your right hand, O Moses?” He replied, “It is my staff! I lean on it, and with it I beat down ˹branches˺ for my sheep, and have other uses for it.” [20:17-18] Allah told him to throw it, and it transformed into a large snake, and Musa ran away. Allah told him, “Musa, do not have any fear, you are going to be safe and secure” Then Allah gave him another sign. ْخ َر ٰى ُ أ ِر ُسٓو ء َءايَةً َء ِم ْن َغْي ٰى َجنَا ِح َك تَ ْخ ُر ْج بَ ْي َضآ لَ ِ َوٱ ْض ُمْم يَدَ َك إ And put your hand under your armpit, it will come out ˹shining˺ white, unblemished,1 as another sign. These are 2 out of 9 signs revealed to Musa. The first command Allah SWT gave to Musa was that he go to Pharaoh, as he has transgressed. ٰى ِنَّ ۥهُ َطغَ ٰى فِ ْر َعْو َن إ لَ ِ َه ْب إ ٱذْ Go to Pharaoh, for he has truly transgressed ˹all bounds˺.” [20:24] Musa was so scared, He ran out of Egypt for 10 years so that he could avoid Pharaoh, But Musa did not reject Allah. He asked for help instead. This is a dua we can use:

ِ َسانِى , ٌۭ ِ من ل ْل ُعقْدَةً ُ َوٱ ْحل ْمِرى , َ ٓى أ َويَ ِ س ْر ِل ِرى, ْوِلى َر ِب ٱ ْش َر ْح ِلى َصدْ قَا َل قَ ۟ ُهوا ْفقَ يَ Moses prayed, “My Lord! Uplift my heart for me, and make my task easy, and remove the impediment from my tongue so people may understand my speech. [20:25-28] Musa did his brother the biggest favour when he asked Allah to make his brother Harun a prophet. ِخى َ ْهِلى , َهٰـ ُرو َن أ َ ا ِ م ْن أ ِى َو ِزي ًر ٌۭ َوٱ ْجعَل ل and grant me a helper from my family, Aaron, my brother. [20:29-30] Why did he want help from his brother? These verses show us the importance of brotherhood in Islam. Brotherhood in Islam is not for wordly benefit or gain. ْمِرى. َ ٓى أ ْشِر ْكهُ فِ َ َوأ ْز ِرى, َ ِ ِٓۦه أ ٱ ْشدُدْ ب Strengthen me through him, and let him share my task. [20:31-32] Brotherhood in Islam is for: َك ُكن َت ِنَّ ُكَر َك َكثِي ًرا. إ َونَذْ ا , ِ َح َك َكثِي ًر ٌۭ َسب ْى نُ َك ا ِنَا بَ ِصي ًر ٌۭ ب So that we may glorify You much, and remember You much, For truly you have always been overseeing us. [20:33-35] Sometimes in our Dawah, we hold back. We think that it is too harsh. هۥُ يَتَذَ َّ عَل َّ ٌۭا ل ِنً ي َّ ْوًَّل ٌۭ ل ْخ َش ٰى فَقُوََّل لَهۥُ قَ ْو يَ َ َّكُر أ Speak to him gently, so perhaps he may be mindful ˹of Me˺ or fearful ˹of My punishment˺.” [20:44]

Allah tells us that we should be mild and soft in our Dawah, but honest and not hold back. Musa continued with his Dawah, regardless of Pharaoh making fun of him. In Dawah, do not protect your own self. Pharaoh wanted to control the lives of the people in Egypt, by convincing them that he is god. The knowledge of the soul belongs to Allah and we only have limited knowledge. The plot of the magicians will never be successful wherever they are. When the magicians, the experts in magic, saw that Musa’s staff ate their sticks, they fell into sujood. “We believe in the Lord of Musa and Harun”. Pharoah immediately threatened them by telling them he would cut off opposite ends of their hands and feet and crucify them on the top of palm trees. The magicians reply “We do not prefer you over the clear signs, So decree whatever you want to decree, your punishment is of the Dunya, We believe in our lord. The reward of Allah is better than yours.” If our Iman does not transform us in this way then what is our Iman? 12- Musa AS and Pharoah 3- The problems of specific groups do not only belong to that group, rather are the problems of the Muslim Ummah. For example The problems of Palestine are not only Palestine's problem, but all our problems. Whenever there is suffering in one part of the Ummah, it is a suffering for all of us. We are all held responsible for it. The problems the Ummah is going through now, it's because of us and we are responsible for solving them. ْر َض ْألَ َّن ٱ ِ ۖ إ ۟ ِ ُرٓوا َوٱ ْصب ِٱ ََّّللِ ب ۟ ْو ِمِه ٱ ْستَ ِعينُوا ِقي َن ِلقَ قَا َل ُمو َس ٰى ُمتَّ ْ ِلل عَ ٰـِقبَةُ ْ ُء ِم ْن ِعبَاِدِهۦۖ َوٱل َمن يَ َشآ َها ِ يُو ِرثُ َِّللَّ Moses reassured his people, “Seek Allah’s help and be patient. Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah ˹alone˺. He grants it to whoever He chooses of His servants. The ultimate outcome belongs ˹only˺ to the righteous.”[7:128] Allah gave the people of Pharaoh many signs.

Allah made the Nile river flood. The people told Musa that if he could make his lord release them from that punishment, that they would believe and send Bani Israel with him. The water receded. And when Musa went back to them, they claimed to not know him nor would they believe. Allah sent the second sign, He sent on them locusts, clouds of locusts that would block the sun. And the locusts would eat and destroy everything. This is a miracle from Allah. The people went back to Musa and told him again, “Ask Allah to release us from this punishment. We will believe and send Bani Israel with you”. But when Allah took away this punishment, they broke their promise again. Allah says they said whatever sign you bring to us we will not believe. Allah sent them the third sign, Lice and ticks. Millions of these insects filled their clothes, beds, and wherever they went they would see these insects. Only Allah could release them from this punishment. So they went to Musa again. Musa again made dua for them only for them to break their promise again. Allah sent the fourth sign, frogs. Frogs would jump around everywhere, wherever they go. They went to Musa again and Allah released them from this and they broke their promise another time. Allah sent them blood, هللا أعلم what the exact punishment was, but some of the سرون مف would say that when the people of Pharaoh would collect water from the Nile river, by the time they got home it would be thick blood, Whenever they wanted to drink water it would be blood. That was the last sign that they would receive, Allah gave them enough chances and they committed Kuffar with insistence. Pharaoh was very materialistic. And questioned the people why they should believe in Musa if he was poor. Pharaoh fooled and misled his people and they obeyed him. When leaders treat people badly and humiliate them and the people still obey, that is a sign of corruption. Musa was telling his people to have Tawakul. RasulAllah when he was faced with difficulty he would immediately rush into Salah. We need to turn our homes into places of Ibadah, and we should use our wealth for the sake of Allah. Isa and Ibrahim were mild on the non-believers, but Nuh and Musa were harsh and strong. When we say Ameen, we are all partaking in the dua, asking Allah to accept it. For example in Surah fatiha. We say Ameen to “Guide us along straight path” َ ُم ْستَِقيم ْ ٱ ْهِدنَا ٱل ِ ص َر ٰ َط ٱل Guide us along the Straight Path [1:6]

Pharoah had Bani Israel as slaves and servants, and he would not release them.The Bani Israel got into Egypt with Yusuf. And over the years they multiplied. Allah expelled Pharaoh and his whole army from Gardens and Springs. Musa and Bani Israel escaped east, but soon enough Pharaoh and his army caught up. َر ُكو َن ُمدْ ِنَّا لَ ْص َحٰـ ُب ُمو َس ٰىٓ إ َ ِن قَا َل أ َج ْمعَا ْ َءا ٱل َر ٰٓ َّما تَ فَلَ Then, as soon as the two gatherings sighted each other, the companions of Musa (Moses) said, "Surely we are indeed overtaken!" [26:61] The Pharaoh was behind them, the Red Sea was in front of them, and it was said that there were mountains on the sides of them. Musa does not believe what he sees, He believes that Allah will guide him. He didn’t believe in what he saw and heard, but he believed in the unseen. In that difficult moment. The victory of Allah descended. This was a test for the believers, and most of Bani Israel failed it. ٰى ُمو َس ٰىٓ لَ ِ ْو َحْينَآ إ َ َوأ َمًٌۭماۚ ُ ًطا أ ْسبَا َ ْى َع ْش َرةَ أ نَتَ ْ ُهُم ٱث َوقَ َّط ْعنَ ٰـ نَتَا ْ بَ َج َس ْت ِمْنهُ ٱث ۖ فَٱنۢ َح َج َر ْ ِعَ َصا َك ٱل ِن ٱ ْضِرب ب َ ْو ُمٓهۥُ أ ِذ ٱ ْستَ ْسقَ ٰىهُ قَ ِ إ ْ ِهُم ٱل ْي نَا َعلَ ْ ن َزل َ َ َوأ َمٰـم غَ ْ ِهُم ٱل ْي نَا َعلَ ْ ل َّ َو َظل نَا ۢس َّم ْش َربَ ُهْمۚ ُ ُك ُّل أ َ َعِلم ٌۭاۖ قَدْ َعْينً َع ِمن ْش َرةَ ۟ ُوا ۖ ُكل َو ٰى ْ َم َّن َوٱل َّسل َو َما نَ ٰـ ُكْمۚ َر َزقْ ِبَ ٰـ ِت َما َطي ْظِل ُمو َن َس ُهْم يَ نفُ َ أ ۟ ٓوا ٰـ ِكن َكانُ َولَ ُمونَا َظلَ And We divided them into twelve tribal communities. And We revealed to Moses when his people asked him for something to drink: “Strike the rock with your staff,” whereupon twelve springs gushed from it; each group of people certainly recognized its drinking-place. And We shaded them with clouds and We sent down upon them manna and quails: “Eat of the good things We have provided for you.” And they were not unjust to Us, but to themselves they used to do injustice. [7:160] Allah split the sea for Musa, and on top of that, he dried up the moisture so that they could walk through. It was not the stick that split the sea, It was the will of Allah that split it.

The victory of Allah will not come until you do your part. Allah SWT is going to perform miracles, and he will give victories to the ones he loves, but they need to do their part. In the Battle of Badr, Muhammad did everything he could do physically, and then went to make Dua to Allah, and Allah sent him 2000 angels. Have Tawakul in Allah SWT and you will receive victory. Musa tried to close the sea back up but it wouldn’t work. Allah told him to leave the sea alone, because Pharoah and his army will drown in it. So when Pharoah and his army came into the sea, Allah told the sea to return back to its original state, and it closed on them, and they drowned. It’s ironic because Allah destroyed Pharaoh with water which is a source of life. When Pharaoh saw the punishment of Allah, he raised up his finger and said “I believe that there is no god but the god of Bani Israel and I’m a Muslim” This fulfiled Musas Dua earlier, that Allah would not guide Pharaoh until it was too late and he was punished. Pharaoh believed in Allah when it was too late. We are meant to believe in Allah in moments of ease so that he may remember us in moments of difficulties, but Pharoah never believed until he was faced with death. Allah said: فَ َك ْ َم ْن َخل ِبَدَنِ َك ِلتَ ُكو َن ِل نُنَ جِ ي َك ب َ يَ ْوم ْ ُمْف ِسِدي َن, فَٱل ْ َع َصْي َت قَ ْب ُل َو ُكن َت ِم َن ٱل ٰـ َن َوقَدْ َٔ ـ ْ ا ِ م َن َءآل َّن َكثِي ًر ٌۭ ِ َوإ ۚ ٌۭ َءايَةً ٱلنَّا ِس َع ْن َءايَ ٰـتِنَا ُو َن لَغَ ٰـِفل ˹He was told,˺ “Now ˹you believe˺? But you always disobeyed and were one of the corruptors. Today We will preserve your corpse so that you may become an example for those who come after you. And surely most people are heedless of our examples!” [10:91-92] Even Angel Jibreel hated Pharaoh, and he was stuffing his mouth with dirt so that he would not be able to receive the mercy of Allah. That is how bad the tyranny of Pharaoh was. 13- Musa A,S and Bani Israel - If it wasn’t for Allah assisting us we wouldn’t even be able to do the smallest acts of worship. To Allah SWT there is no one who is strong or powerful, they are all under him and we are all his servants. To Allah everything is created, and everything can be destroyed. Bani Israel saw the miracle of Allah in front of their own eyes when they saw the sea split, and when they saw Pharaoh and his army drowning, And when Allah delivered them to safety. The first thing they saw when they were safe in the new land was men worshipping

idols. And they asked Musa if he could create or make for them a god, like the god that the other men had. Allah SWT says: يَ ۟ ُوا ُهْمۚ قَال َّ ْصنَاۢ م ل َ ٰىٓ أ ْوۢ م يَ ْع ُكفُو َن َعلَ ٰى قَ َعلَ ۟ ْوا تَ َ بَ ْح َر فَأ ْ ِءي َل ٱل ْس َر ٰٓ ِ ٓى إ ِبَنِ ْ َو ْزنَا ب َو َجٰـ ِنَّ ُكم ٌۭ ۚ قَا َل إ َهة َءاِل ُهْم ا َكَما لَ ٌۭ ًه ٰـ لَ ِ نَآ إ َّ ٰـ ُمو َسى ٱ ْجعَل ل قَ و َن ُ ْوٌۭ م تَ ْج َهل We brought the Children of Israel across the sea and they came upon a people devoted to idols. They demanded, “O Moses! Make for us a god like their gods.” He replied, “Indeed, you are a people acting ignorantly! [7:138] Bani Israel believed in Allah, they knew it was Allah that helped them but when they saw the other people with idols, they wanted something similar to them and were not satisfied with what they had, they had an inferiority complex. Ibn Khaldun says: Weak nations imitate the strong nations Bani Israel were weak in Egypt, but even though they escaped they were still thinking with the weak mentality. You find among Muslims today, who are not proud with what Allah has given them, are always finding ways to imitate others. Namely the West. So you find that the Muslim wants to look, act, celebrate and do everything like the non-believers. But the muslim should always believe that strength comes from Allah. When you ask for a god besides Allah, that is Kuffar. But Musa did not call them Kuffar, He told them that they are ignorant. ُو َن يَ ْعَمل ۟ َوبَ ٰـ ِط لٌۭ َّما َكانُوا ْم فِي ِه ِء ُمتَبَّ ر ٌۭ َّما هُ َّن َهٰـٓ ُؤََّلٓ ِ إ ِمي َن عَ ٰـلَ ْ َو فَ َّضلَ ُكْم َعلَى ٱل َوهُ ا ٌۭ ًه ٰـ لَ ِ ْب ِغي ُكْم إ َ َر ٱ ََّّللِ أ َغْي َ قَا َل أ What they follow is certainly doomed to destruction and their deeds are in vain.” He added, “Shall I seek for you a god other than Allah, while He has honoured you above the others?” [7:139-140] Even if we are in a weak moment, we should still understand and realise that we have what can make us the best, and the chosen people of Allah SWT. Musa and Bani Israel left Egypt and were promised Jerusalem and the land surrounding it. In that time Jerusalem was ruled by non-believers, and Allah promised Musa Jerusalem. So he told Bani Israel that they were going to attack. َء َو َجعَلَ ُك ِيَآ ب نۢ َ َجعَ َل فِي ُكْم أ ِذْ ْي ُكْم إ ٱ ََّّللِ َعلَ نِ ْعَمةَ ۟ ُكُروا ْوِم ٱذْ ْو ِمِهۦ يَ ٰـقَ قَا َل ُمو َس ٰى ِلقَ ِذْ ِمي َن َوإ عَ ٰـلَ ْ َحٌۭدًا ِ م َن ٱل َ ْم يُ ْؤ ِت أ َو َءاتَٰى ُكم َّما لَ ُو ًكٌۭ ا م ُّمل ْوِم ٱدْ ُخ َخٰـ ِسِر يَ ٰـقَ ۟ ِلبُوا ِر ُكْم فَتَنقَ دْبَا َ ٰىٓ أ َعلَ ۟ َوََّل تَ ْرتَدُّوا َب ٱ ََّّللُ لَ ُكْم تِى َكتَ َّ ٱل َسةَ ُمقَدَّ ْ ْر َض ٱل ْألَ ٱ ۟ ل ي َن ُوا And ˹remember˺ when Moses said to his people, “O my people! Remember Allah’s favours upon you when He raised prophets from among you, made you sovereign,1 and gave you what He had never given anyone in the world. O my people! Enter the Holy Land which Allah has destined for you ˹to enter˺. And do not turn back or else you will become losers.” [5:20-21]

Not only did Bani Israel turn their backs, but they refused to fight to start with. َّن ِ يَ ٰـ ُمو َس ٰىٓ إ ۟ ُوا قَال ُ ِخل ٰ ِنَّا دَ َها فَإ ِمْن ۟ ْخ ُر ُجوا ِن يَ َها فَإ ِمْن ۟ ْخ ُر ُجوا ٰى يَ َها َحتَّ ِنَّا لَن نَّدْ ُخلَ ِري َن َوإ ْوًٌۭما َجبَّا فِي و َن َها قَ ُموهُ فَ تُ ْ ِذَا دَ َخل بَا َب فَإ ْ ِهُم ٱل ْي َعلَ ۟ ُوا ِهَما ٱدْ ُخل ْي ٱ ََّّللُ َعلَ َ ْنعَم َ ِذي َن يَ َخافُو َن أ َّ ِ قَا َل ن ُكنتُم َر ُج َال ِن ِم َن ٱل إ ۟ ٓوا ُ َو َّكل َو َعلَى ٱ ََّّللِ فَتَ ِنَّ ُكْم َغٰـِلبُو َنۚ إ ُّمْؤ ِمنِي َن They replied, “O Moses! There is an enormously powerful people there, so we will never ˹be able to˺ enter it until they leave. If they do, then we will enter!” Two God-fearing men—who had been blessed by Allah—said, “Surprise them through the gate. If you do, you will certainly prevail. Put your trust in Allah if you are ˹truly˺ believers.” [5:22-23] Allah described these two men as “God Fearing”. You can not face the enemy unless you fear Allah more than the enemy. If you fear Allah more than anything, then nothing will stand in your way. Do not fear creation. ٰـتِ َالٓ ن َت َو َربُّ َك فَقَ َ َه ْب أ َهاۖ فَٱذْ فِي ۟ بٌَۭدًا َّما دَا ُموا َ َهآ أ ِنَّا لَن نَّدْ ُخلَ يَ ٰـ ُمو َس ٰىٓ إ ۟ ٰـ ِعدُو َن ُوا ُهنَا قَ ِ قَال نَّا َهٰـ إ ˹Yet˺ they said, “O Moses! ˹Still˺ we will never enter as long as they remain there. So go—both you and your Lord—and fight; we are staying right here!” [5:24] Allah did not mention these stories for historical purposes, rather he mentioned these stories so we can use them as a guide. We learn about them for our own benefit. Bani Israel betrayed him. ٰـ ِسِقي َن فَ ْ ْوِم ٱل قَ ْ َوبَ ْي َن ٱل ُر ْق بَ ْينَنَا ِخىۖ فَٱفْ َ ْف ِسى َوأ ََّّل نَ ِ ْمِل ُك إ َ ِى ََّلٓ أ ِن قَا َل َر ِب إ Moses pleaded, “My Lord! I have no control over anyone except myself and my brother. So set us apart from the rebellious people.” [5:25] Musa was fasting for an appointed period, before he met with Allah SWT. After fasting, his breath naturally did not smell too nice because he was hungry, so he used miswak before meeting with Allah, and Allah told him, “Don’t you know I love the smell of the mouth of the person who is fasting more than musk, go fast for another ten days.” Musa asked Allah to show him himself. Allah told Musa that he can not see Him. Instead he told him to look at the mountain, and Allah will reveal himself to the mountain. Allah only revealed part of Himself to the mountain, and the mountain was crushed and destroyed and turned to dust. Completely vanished, because of humbleness to Allah SWT. Musa fell down in a state of shock, unconscious by just staring at the moment, what would have happened to him if he saw Allah ? َ ٓى أ ِرنِ َ َربُّهۥُ قَا َل َر ِب أ َمهۥُ َّ َو َكل ٰـتِنَا َء ُمو َس ٰى ِل ِميقَ َّما َجآ َسْو َو َف لَ َّر َم َكانَهۥُ فَ ِ ِن ٱ ْستَقَ َجبَ ِل فَإ ْ لَى ٱل ِ ٰـ ِك ِن ٱن ُظ ْر إ َرٰىنِى َولَ ْي َكۚ قَا َل لَن تَ لَ ِ ن ُظ ْر إ فَا َق قَا َل ُسْب َح َ َّمآ أ ٌۭ اۚ فَلَ َو َخ َّر ُمو َس ٰى َص ِعقً ًّكٌۭ ا َجبَ ِل َجعَلَهۥُ دَ ْ ٰى َربُّهۥُ ِلل َّ َجل َّما تَ َرٰىنِىۚ فَلَ ْي ِ تَ لَ ِمنِي َن ْب ُت إ ُمْؤ ٰـنَ َك تُ ْ َّو ُل ٱل َ أ ۠ نَا َ َك َوأ When Moses came at the appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he asked, “My Lord! Reveal Yourself to me so I may see You.” Allah answered, “You cannot see Me!

But look at the mountain. If it remains firm in its place, only then will you see Me.” When his Lord appeared to the mountain, He levelled it to dust and Moses collapsed unconscious. When he recovered, he cried, “Glory be to You! I turn to You in repentance and I am the first of the believers.” [7:143] No one has seen Allah in this dunya, except for Muhammad SAW. But he did not see Allah with his eyes, he saw him with his heart. In the Akhira, the believers will see Allah SWT. The ones who are in the lowest heavens will see Allah every جمعة .The closer you sit to the Imam َصالة جمعة in , the closer you will be to Allah SWT on those meetings on جمعة . The people in the higher levels will see Allah SWT twice a day. Allah SWT has punished Bani Israel with wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, Allah still provided for them out of his mercy. When we talk about Bani Israel and Musa, we should relate them to our situation. The difference between the Ummah of Muhammad SAW and Bani Israel, is that with Bani Israel it was a general problem and it caused the wrath of Allah to be on them. But with Muhammad’s SAW ummah the problem will be only for some, and others will continuously be on the straight path. That is the difference. Muhammad SAW says: “There will be a group of my Ummah on the straight path, and any disagreement between them will not harm them until the Day of Judgement”. And سول ُر َalso told us that we will follow the steps of the previous nations step by step, and there are some who will learn from their mistakes. We will find that our situation is similar to Bani Israel. For example, they did not want to give up garlic and lentils, and we will find in our Ummah that some muslims won’t even give up a football game, or worldly activities, to come to Salah. Some of us are not willing to break a habit for the sake of Allah. Or, we are willing to sacrifice our sleep to wake up for work or school, but we are not willing to sacrifice our sleep to wake up for Fajr. Salah has to be done at a specific time, if you intentionally plan to pray Fajr after sunrise, that is haram, you will only be forgiven if it was not intentional, or you were in a very extreme situation and could not pray. When Musa went to meet with Allah SWT, Allah told him “Why were you in a hurry to meet me and leave your people”. Musa said “They are close on my footsteps, and I hasten to you O my Lord, that you may be pleased”. Allah SWT told Musa what was going on in that same moment. Allah SWT says: ُهُم ٱل َّساِمِر ُّى َّ َضل َ ْو َم َك ِمۢن بَ ْعِد َك َوأ ِنَّا قَدْ فَتَنَّا قَ قَا َل فَإ Allah said, “We have certainly tested your people in your absence, and Sāmiri has led them astray.” [20:85] Samiri picked up some of the dirt from the footsteps of the horse of Jibril, Then he told Bani Israel to gather all the gold they had brought from Egypt. Samiri suggested that they burn the

gold, and make out of it a calf. Samiri told them this is your god, and so they started to worship it. Bani Israel did not know that Allah had appointed Musa 10 more days, so they thought that Musa just forgot where his god is. 14- Musa A.S and Bani Israel (Cont.) - Allah told Musa that his people were worshipping the calf, so Musa went back angrily, and upset. As soon as he saw Bani Israel making sujood to the calf, he threw the tablets that had Allah’s commandments in them. He was in a state of shock so they fell from his hands. Muhammad SAW said When you hear something, it is not like seeing it. Musa said to them: فَ َط َ َح َسنًاۚ أ َو ْعدًا ْم يَ ِعدْ ُكْم َربُّ ُكْم لَ َ ْوِم أ ٌۭ اۚ قَا َل يَ ٰـقَ ِسفً َ ْو ِمِۦه َغ ْضبَ ٰـ َن أ ٰى قَ لَ ِ َر َج َع ُمو َس ٰىٓ إ ْهدُ عَ فَ ْ ْي ُكُم ٱل ْي ُكْم ا َل َعلَ َن يَ ِح َّل َعلَ ْم أ َردتُّ َ ْم أ َ أ ْخلَ ْفتُم َّمْو ِعِدى َ ُكْم فَأ ِ َغ َض ٌۭ ب ِ من َّرب So Moses returned to his people, furious and sorrowful. He said, “O my people! Had your Lord not made you a good promise?1 Has my absence been too long for you? Or have you wished for wrath from your Lord to befall you, so you broke your promise to me?” [20:86] Bani Israel replied: َها نَ ٰـ ْوِم فَقَذَفْ قَ ْ ا ِ من ِزينَ ِة ٱل ْو َزا ًر ٌۭ َ نَآ أ ْ ٰـ ِكنَّا ُحِ مل َولَ ِكنَا ْ ِ َمل َمْو ِعدَ َك ب ْخلَ ْفنَا َ َمآ أ ۟ قَال ِل َك ُوا ٰ قَى ٱل َّساِمِر ُّى فَ َكذَ ْ ل َ أ They argued, “We did not break our promise to you of our own free will, but we were made to carry the burden of the people’s ˹golden˺ jewellery,1 then we threw it ˹into the fire˺, and so did the Sâmiri.” [20:87] The scale of Taqwa is upside down here. They felt guilty about something small, but did not feel guilty about committing Shirk. ْفٌۭعًا َوََّل نَ ا ُهْم َض ًّر ٌۭ َوََّل يَ ْمِل ُك لَ ْوًَّل ٌۭ ِهْم قَ ْي لَ ِ َََّّل يَ ْر ِج ُع إ فَ َال يَ َرْو َن أ َ أ Did they not see that it did not respond to them, nor could it protect or benefit them? [20:89] ِعُونِ َّن َربَّ ُكُم ٱل َّر ْح َمٰـ ُن فَٱتَّب ِ ِ ِهۦۖ َوإ َما فُتِنتُم ب ِنَّ ْوِم إ ُهْم َهٰـ ُرو ُن ِمن قَ ْب ُل يَ ٰـقَ ْم َو ِرى لَقَدْ قَا َل لَ َ أ ۟ ِطيعُٓوا َ ى َوأ Aaron had already warned them beforehand, “O my people! You are only being tested by this, for indeed your ˹one true˺ Lord is the Most Compassionate. So follow me and obey my orders.” [20:90]