In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, Peace and Blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). We praise Allah, thank Him, seek His help, guidance and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil in our souls and the sinfulness of our deeds. He whom Allah guides, he is the rightly – guided; but he whom He sends astray, for him you will find no guidance.”

Of course you are inattentively, used to hear such preamble which is just a few introductory words at the start of any speech. However, what you don’t know is the fact that these words were the reason behind the conversion of a person to Islam. One should feel with his heart what he might have heard 100 times before, only with his ears.

At the beginning of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Da’awa (propagation for Islam), a man who used to cure possessed people came to Makkah. At that time, the Prophet was persecuted by the people of Quraysh (his own tribe). They spread rumors about him claiming that he is a liar , a magician or even possessed. The people of Quraysh warned that man against sitting to Muhammad (PBUH), “We have here a possessed man, as soon as you talk to him you will become possessed too.” they said. “I am curing people from jinn” the man who felt pity for Muhammad (PBUH) replied. “Show me that poor man, I will cure him” he added. “What do you complain of sonny?” he asked Muhammad(PBUH). “Complain?” The Prophet (PBUH) realized that the man came to cure him from jinn, so he said, “listen to me”. As if the Prophet is saying to him,” If you want to cure me you have to listen to me.”, and he told him these few words: “ Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, Peace and Blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). We praise Allah, thank Him, seek His help, guidance and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil in our souls and the sinfulness of our deeds. He whom Allah guides, he is the rightly – guided; but he whom He sends astray, for him you will find no guiding .”

“I hereby witness that there is no god but Allah and that you are His messenger.” the man said. He went to cure the Prophet (PBUH) but he (PBUH) cured him with these few words. One should never deal with the Qur’an or Allah’s words inattentively. If you listen to Surat Al-fatihah (the opening chapter of the Holy Qur’an) or even Attahiyyat (the final part of the prayer where we praise Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (PBUH) while sitting) you will realize how beautiful they are and how great the Qur’an is. Let’s try to say these words again with our hearts. We praise Allah, thank Him, seek His help, guidance and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil in our souls and the sinfulness of our deeds. He whom Allah guides, he is the rightly – guided; but he whom He sends astray, for him you will find no guiding.

It feels different, doesn’t it? Now you must have realized why the man converted to Islam, and that our hearts are also prepared to receive faith in such a beautiful way.

Continuing with the last episode of Ibrahim’s (AS) life story which was really a long struggle. While narrating this story for many weeks, we might have felt tired, what about the man himself who lived the story and strived all this long life. The more we heard the more we said, “He has endured a lot.” We ourselves, felt tired for Ibrahim (AS) who did all what we have mentioned before. Last time we stopped at the point of complete surrender of Ibrahim (AS) to Allah (SWT) and how he executed, without any hesitation or fear, the slaughter command together with Isma’il (AS) and Hajar as well. In fact, I was so upset and blamed myself for not speaking enough about Hajar. Her patience in the slaughter situation was greater than that of both Ibrahim (AS) and Isma’il (AS) . This is due to the fact that she is the mother. There was another strange thing, you might have noticed it.

Where was Hajar at the time of the slaughter? Was she standing or hiding? Nearby or faraway? No one knows. The only thing we know is that she accepted Allah’s command. If she hadn’t, she would have resisted. Nothing was mentioned about that. Hence, the surrender of a woman in such situations deserves greater reward than that of a man because he is her son.

After that, Ibrahim (AS) went back to Palestine. Of course you noticed that Ibrahim’s (AS) road was Makkah – Palestine / Palestine – Makkah. which was the same road for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in his midnight journey of al-Israa and al-Mi’raj, Makkah- Palestine / Al-Quds “Jerusalem”-Makkah (onwards and backwards). This is the road of Prophets. This was the route of our Prophet and that of his grandfather Prophet Ibrahim (AS) as well.

“Ibrâhîm (Abraham) was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim Hanîfa (Islâmic Monotheism - to worship none but Allâh Alone) and he was not of Al-Mushrikûn.” (TMQ, Al-‘Imran: 67) (1). I wonder if Ibrahim (AS)  is also dear to us as he is dear to Allah (SWT) or we are just living and that is it?

We go back to continue the story of Ibrahim’s (AS) first wife, Sarah. We stopped at the point where she asked him to marry another woman. Since then, we lived with the story of Ibrahim (AS) and Hajar, forgetting that of Sarah. What were her whereabouts? She was still in Palestine.

Ibrahim (AS) was living most of the time with Sarah, yet he used to go to Makkah whenever he wanted to see Hajar and his son Isma’il (AS). How old was Sarah then? It is said that after the slaughter story, her age was 80. She didn’t have children for 80 years. At the age of 60, she asked Ibrahim (AS) to marry another woman. The matter was decided because there is no hope left for her to have children any more and it’s over. What is left of her life was not like that which have passed. However, Allah (SWT) has His own ways and likes to make His slave happy in life before the hereafter. This is a touching part of the story. Allah (SWT) did not want Sarah to die before having children. When one has a strong relationship with Allah (SWT), and there is something hurts him, Allah (SWT) might deprive him of what he wants for long years, but since Allah likes His slave, He might give him what he wanted in Jannah (paradise) and that is it. However, because Sarah was devoted to Allah (SWT), He granted her what she wanted in her lifetime. Allah (SWT) gave Sarah, whom her age is now 80,a son, Ishaq (AS) ”Isaac”. Look how beautiful the verse is depicting such event. The verses of Surat Hud stated that the angels went to tell Ibrahim (AS),at the beginning, that Allah (SWT) will destroy the people of Prophet Lut (AS)”Lot” for spreading shameful sins among them. While they were bringing the good news to him, Sarah stood listening. “And his wife was standing (there), and she laughed. But We gave her glad tidings of Ishaq and after him of Ya’qub (Jacob).” (TMQ, Hud: 71).

Why did she laugh? The angels told Ibrahim (AS) that Lut’s (AS) people will be destroyed. Sarah laughed, then the angels brought the good news to her that she will give birth to Ishaq (AS). Why did she laugh? Why the good news about Ishaq (AS) were brought to her after she laughed? In this verse, Sarah joyfully laughed because Allah (SWT) will destroy the wrong-doers. Should the Muslim feel happy that Allah (SWT) will punish the sinful tyrants?

Of course he should, “…and heal the breasts of a believing people.”( TMQ, At-Taubah: 14). Out of Allah’s mercy and love for believers, He cures their hearts through punishment of wrong-doers. Sarah was not satisfied with just a smile, out of her joy that Allah (SWT) would destroy the unjust people of Lut, the tyrant nation, she laughed. If it makes no difference for a Muslim that Allah (SWT) cherishes Islam and punches wrong-doers, then he understands nothing.

If you do not feel happy when Allah (SWT) cherishes the religion and when your heart is not bleeding when something wrong happens to Al-Quds, or the like; If you feel no pain in your heart and when your eyes shed no tears, then your Islam is incomplete and your faith is insufficient.

It is not correct for he or she who prays and fasts but does not care for what happens in the world or what happens to Muslims saying, “It makes no difference to me”. I am really serious. If you shed no tears and feel no pain in heart, while the word “pain” here is not up to what I mean to say, then, you my little daughter, may dress the way you like and you my sonny, may memorize Qur’an as much as you wish, but it is all of no use.

I just wanted to comment on the word “she laughed”. She was happy while there are people now the whole matter makes no difference to them. Abdullah Ibn Omar says, “I swear with the name of Allah (SWT), if I keep awake all night and never sleep, keep fasting during the whole day and never eat, spend all my money for the sake of Allah (SWT), then I die; while there is no love in my heart for those who obey Allah (SWT) and where there is no hate for those who disobey Him. All that work of mine then, is in vain.” Is this sentence clear? Just apply it to yourself. If you keep awake all night and never sleep, fast and never eat, yet even memorize the whole Qur’an but when you die you found no love in your heart for believers and no hate for enemies of the religion. Then neither your prayers nor your fasting are going to help you.

The strongest faith connection is that you like believers and hate wrongdoers and disobedient. Believe me, this is the highest level of faith. This is applied to you, if you couldn’t leave your bad friends. For example, one girl says that she attends my lessons, yet when her friends go to drink, she only sits with them without drinking. Believe me, if you still feel no hate in your heart for such company, then your faith is still weak. You can realize how faith is strong in your heart, when you find that you are hating such gatherings. You tell yourself, “ I used to like these friends two weeks ago, but now I just can’t stand them anymore.” You might give them a call to help them to go back to Allah’s (SWT) path. At the same time, you would find that you start to like the company of the believers.

Sarah laughed although she had nothing to do with Lut’s people. She was living in a country while they were in another. They did not harm her, but she loves Islam and hates disobedience. Is anyone here like this woman? Abdullah Ibn Abbas says a beautiful word, “I swear that when I hear that it is raining in Yemen , I bow thanking Allah (SWT).” He was living in Makkah, but since rain was sent to Muslims and good things went to them, then it is as if it rained in his own place. I want to go out of the frame of living only for ourselves. Our concerns should not be restricted to eating, drinking and taking care only of our children while caring for nothing beyond that. There should be greater values. Islam is my religion, and Muslims are my brothers .

Now, you know why Sarah laughed. “ And his wife was standing, and she laughed. But We gave her glad tidings of Ishaq and after him of Yaqub (Jacob).” (TMQ, Hud: 71).” Have you noticed when did the good news come? She received the good news about Ishaq (AS) immediately after she did a great thing. When she hated the disobedient and loved the believers. Did you notice the link? Every one who likes believers and hates disobedient will be rewarded. Look at the beautiful Arabic language. What is meant by (and after him of Ya’qub)?

Ishaq (AS) is Isma’il’s (AS) brother. Ibrahim (AS) had two children, Isma’il (AS) And Ishaq (AS). Yaqub (AS) is the son of Ishaq (AS) and Yusuf (AS) is the son of Yaqub (AS). Ibrahim (AS) had Isma’il (AS) and Ishaq (AS). Ishaq had Yaqub (AS) while Yaqub had Yusuf. This means four generations of Prophets, do you imagine that?

What concerns us here is “Ishaq and after him of Yaqub”. What does the word “after” mean? It means that Sarah will live to see her grandson. Now she is 80 years old, look how beautiful the reward is. She will live to see her son and grandson. Do you imagine what Allah (SWT) does when He loves a slave of His. Those people who say why everything goes wrong. Do you see how things went wrong with Sarah for 80 years and how the reward was?

The problem is that you measure Allah’s (SWT) satisfaction and anger with how your life is, which is wrong. “As for man, when his Lord tries him by giving him honor and bounties, then he says (in exultation): “My Lord has honored me.”“( TMQ, Al-Fajr: 15). Also, vise versa “But when He tries him by straitening his means of life, he says: “My Lord has humiliated me!”“( TMQ, Al-Fajr: 16). He says why Allah (SWT) are you doing this to me? Look at Allah’s comment, (Nay), non is right, neither the first nor the second. If things go right, this is no evidence that Allah (SWT) loves you and if they go wrong it also doesn’t mean that Allah (SWT) hates you. (Nay) is an answer for both types of people. What is it then? One should work for the hereafter. (Nay! But you treat not the orphans with kindness and generosity (i.e. you neither treat them well, nor give them their exact right of inheritance)!. And urge not one another on the feeding of Al-Miskîn (the poor)! And you devour the inheritance all with greed. And you love wealth with much love. Nay! When the earth is ground to powder. “(TMQ, Al-Fajr: 17-21).

The second (Nay) here, comments on the first one. A woman who lives a hard life which is full of troubles with her husband might wonder; where the beauty in this life is. I swear if she is obedient, Allah (SWT) will please her in this life before the hereafter, and this is certain. You also have to be patient. I hear that a large number of women have troubles with their husbands and vise versa. Moreover, there are plenty of teenagers who are growing up in shattered families. You all have to be patient and keep Allah (SWT) in your minds and hearts, “Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning.” (TMQ, Az-Zumar: 10) Have patience and there will be no reckoning. Patience is the only thing that remains. “She said (in astonishment): woe unto me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman and here is my husband an old man? Verily! This is a strange thing” (TMQ, Hud: 72). She cannot believe it. Look at the response of the angels, “They said, do you wonder at the Decree of Allah?”. how can anyone wonder of the decree of Allah (SWT). Look in the same verse what comes after,” The mercy of Allah and His blessings be on you, O the family [ of (Ibrâhîm) Abraham] Surely He is All-Praiseworthy, All Glorious” (TMQ, Hud: 73). Do you see the mercy and blessing of Allah (SWT) beside His love for Ibrahim’s (AS) family. Do you imagine what a life could be, if one of our houses had the mercy and blessings of Allah (SWT) bestowed on it.

O youth, when you think of getting married, be keen to have a family that gets the mercy and blessing of Allah (SWT). Also you girls, never rush into marrying anyone. Never fear to miss your chance in marriage by getting married to someone who does not pray or commits one of Al-Kaba’er (the major sins). I warn you all. Believe me, you will lose. The previous verse which says what can be translated as, “The mercy of Allah and His blessings be on you, O the family [of Abraham]” (TMQ, Hud: 72) will not be applied to you. I wonder if we have families today that the mercy and blessing of Allah (SWT) are bestowed on them. “Surely He is All-Praiseworthy, All Glorious”. (TMQ, Hud: 73).

There is another verse in another Surah talking about Sarah at the moment of getting the news. The previous verse describes her before hearing the good tidings but it doesn’t say what she did after she knew. Listen to the verse as if you are watching Sarah’s reactions, “Then his wife came forward with a loud voice: she smote her face and said : “ A barren old woman!”“( TMQ, Az-Zariat: 29). Sarah came “ with a loud voice” you know when you hear something that you can’t believe, you scream “she smote her face”. Look at the imagery in the Qur’an, she can’t believe it. This is for you to know how much the power of Allah (SWT) is. When she got the good tidings she did two things, “she came with a loud voice” and “she smote her face” she, first screamed then, hit her face. Note that she did not use the first person pronoun,” I am an elderly woman.”. Instead she spoke as if the matter is related to someone else out of being astonished. Nevertheless, “They said: “Even so says your Lord. Verily, He is the All-Wise and the All-Knower.”“ (TMQ, Az-Zariat: 30).

The story of Ishaq ‘s birth is very beautiful, but now let’s go back to Makkah, where Isma’il (AS) and Hajar are still there. After the great struggle of Hajar, the mother of the Egyptians, she died and left Isma’il (AS) in the prime of his youth. He got married and mastered the Arabic language. His father used to visit him every now and then until this story (narrated by Bukhari) took place. “ After Ishmael’s mother had died, Abraham came after Ishmael’s marriage in order to see his family that he had left before, but he did not find Ishmael there. When he asked Ishmael’s wife about him, she replied, ‘He has gone in search of our livelihood.’ Then he asked her about their way of living and their condition, and she replied, ‘We are living in misery; we are living in hardship and destitution,’ complaining to him. He said, ‘When your husband returns, convey my salutation to him and tell him to change the threshold of the gate (of his house).’ When Ishmael came, he seemed to have felt something unusual, so he asked his wife, ‘Has anyone visited you?’ She replied, ‘Yes, an old man of so-and-so description came and asked me about you and I informed him, and he told me to convey his salutation to you and to tell you to change the threshold of your gate.’ Ishmael said, ‘It was my father, and he has ordered me to divorce you. Go back to your family.’ So, Ishmael divorced her and married another woman.

Then Abraham stayed away from them for a period as long as Allah wished and called on them again but did not find Ishmael. So he came to Ishmael’s wife and asked her about Ishmael. She said, ‘He has gone in search of our livelihood.’ Abraham asked her, ‘How are you getting on?’ asking her about their sustenance and living. She replied, ‘We are prosperous and well-off (i.e. we have everything in abundance).’ Then she thanked Allah’ Abraham said, ‘What kind of food do you eat?’ She said. ‘Meat.’ He said, ‘What do you drink?’ She said, ‘Water.” He said, “O Allah! Bless their meat and water,”. Then Abraham said to Ishmael’s wife, “When your husband comes, give my regards to him and tell him that he should keep firm the threshold of his gate.’ When Ishmael came back, he asked his wife, ‘Did anyone call on you?’ She replied, ‘Yes, a good-looking old man came to me, and told me to give his regards to you and ordered that you should keep firm the threshold of your gate.’ On that Ishmael said, ‘It was my father, and you are the threshold (of the gate). He has ordered me to keep you with me.’ (2).

Of course, the meaning is clear. A really beautiful Hadith. There is an interrogation point raised about this Hadith. I know how women are thinking now. They are surely saying, “He divorced his wife because his father asked him to change his threshold of the gate.” However, there are many unfair fathers who tell their sons to divorce their wives and many mothers- in- law who wish to tell their sons to break the threshold of the gate on their wives heads.

Husbands should take care about a very important point here. When parents are really good and what they say is just, while everyone agree that the wife is not good, you should obey them for your best interest. On the other hand, if the wife is good, takes care of her house, obeys her husband and looks after her children, nevertheless one of the parents is asking their son to divorce her, it would be injustice. This is not regarded as parents’ obedience, this is to be considered as apparent injustice which becomes darkness in the judgment day. You will be held accountable for it. Be ware since today, plenty of men are extremely unjust with their wives under the pretext of parents’ obedience. If you say that you must be obedient and your wife should tolerate your mother since you are doing what Allah (SWT) has ordered you to do; then you don’t understand that you will be held accountable for this injustice along with your mother. Because of this, your mother will be severely questioned on the day of judgment and you would also be considered as unfair person.

Then what should you do?

Don’t listen to your mother in this point. Even if she will invocate Allah (SWT) against you. Don’t worry, her invocations will not be accepted according to the Prophetic Hadith, “Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) says, “The supplication of the servant is granted in case he does not supplicate for sin or for severing the ties of blood.” (3). If your mother wants to ruin the house, don’t obey her, but be good to her. You greet her, pat on her, say good words to her and ask about her. However, when she asks you to divorce your wife, you tell her that you won’t do it. You must not be unfair with your wife or mistreat her.

If your mother is not fair with your wife in your presence, ask your mother politely to stop that and you take care of your wife. I am not encouraging men against their mothers. I am talking about unfair mothers and fathers. The main principal is that you must not be unfair just to please your parents. In such a case you are committing another catastrophe and when you stand in the hands of Allah (SWT) you will be considered as an unfair person. Being a wife, does not mean that your injustice to her is not taken into account! This is not true. On the contrary the Prophet says, “The best one of you is he who is doing the best for his family, and I am the best one of you who is doing the best for my family.” (4). This principal should be clear in the minds of all men. The good point I want to stress on in Ibrahim’s (AS) story is that if the woman is not good, then you might divorce her. If we dig deeper in our real life, we will find the young man who wants to get married without the consent of his family and girls who get married behind the back of their families.

How would these marriages be blessed? If you got married we have no right to ask you to divorce your wife , but how come you go and marry without notifying your family? Where would the blessing for such marriage come from? What would happen when your mother curse you? The girl who got married without notifying her family, where would the tears of her mother go? What would happen to her in the present life, let alone the hereafter? Do think carefully before you marry without the consent of your families. There would never be blessing in such marriages and the matter is closed.

Isma’il (AS) obeyed his father and did what he told him to do immediately. What about he who marries against the will of his parents? Where the obedience is?

This is a great disobedience which generates great anger from Allah (SWT). Not to mention the illegitimate marriage, the boys and girls in the university who are getting married illegitimately. Besides it is adultery, the girls are ruined since not in 99% of the cases but in 100%, the boy deserts the girl because it’s over for him. Even if the boy is not bad, after a while he will feel disgust from the girl. This is what happens. The girl should be very careful. Never believe in the illegitimate marriage. She will not only lose, but she will also have another disaster.

Imagine if one of her parents die after receiving such news. Do you imagine how much Allah’s curse on her would be? How would she correct that mistake? Suppose they die. Imagine the bitterness those parents might feel in their hearts. Think about the man who accepts to do this to a girl and destroys her life. What would Allah (SWT) do to his sister or any one of his kins? The issue is very serious and it is spreading nowadays in all universities. The girls are not attentive while they driving in the wrong road, but when the disaster occurs they start to look for the solution while there is no way out. The matter is over. I hope we learn a lesson from this point.

In the last lesson we have learned from the story of Ibrahim (AS), is that there are two types of women, one who constructs and supports the family and another one who destroys it. The woman who is always optimistic and says, “we are really blessed, Allah (SWT) is really generous to us. Women should learn this part very well. When Ibrahim (AS) advised his son to keep firm or to change the threshold of his gate, he was not saying nonsense, since he is a Prophet .

Allah might revealed to Ibrahim (AS) that this house would not survive. This woman is not the appropriate one. Mothers should bring up their daughters to have satisfaction. Wives with hard–to-be-satisfied natures should know that Allah (SWT) will not be satisfied with the woman who does this kind of acts. They should change their behavior and try to feel satisfied. Satisfaction shall be for those who are welling to be satisfied. Allah (SWT) will help them to achieve that.

Concluding with Surat Al-Baqarah, there are very important verses. We start the story of constructing the holy Ka’ba, the forbidden House of Allah (SWT), the first mosque to be built on earth. “And (remember) when the Lord of Ibrâhîm (Abraham) [i.e., Allâh] tried him with (certain) Commands, which he fulfilled.” (TMQ, Al-Baqarah: 124).

Allah (SWT) has subjected Ibrahim (AS) to certain commands and tested him in certain situations. Ibrahim (AS) fulfilled the commands and passed the situations. When he was thrown in the fire, he kept on saying, “for me Allah suffices, and he is the best disposer of affairs.” When he was ordered to leave his wife and son in the desert he didn’t argue. When he was told to slay his son, he didn’t object and also when he challenged the tyrant King Nimrod, he fulfilled all the situations and performed all the tasks given to him. We have listed nine situations for him last time, not to mention being patient for not having children. He fulfilled all these situations and now he has grown old, more than 100 years of age. Listen to what the holy verse says after a100 years, “…which he fulfilled”. Look at the word “fulfilled”.

Did you fulfill anything for Allah (SWT)? Did you fulfill your work in last Ramadan or you’ve missed six or seven days in the middle? You might say that you have lost 15 days or even just completed the first five days, then you woke up on the night of the 27^th (laylat al-Qadr) and rushed to compete for praying in the mosque claiming that Allah (SWT) has forgiven you. The night of the 27^th was fulfilled from your part!!

Since Ramadan is approaching, I hope that this year it will be different. I hope that you fulfill it. We wish you to fulfill and perfect something, Umrah, prayer or wearing the Hijab (veil). Don’t wear the hijab and show a part of your beautiful hair thinking that by such action you can get married. Try to fulfill it. Don’t also use make up to draw the attention of an expected husband since Allah (SWT) has ordered women to cover the natural beauty He created ,which is hair, so that no one looks at you. There are many other ways for marriage, other than using make up to grasp the attention of men. Please perfect your hijab and fulfill it. If you use only little make up claiming that it won’t be apparent, then why you are using it in the first place? Don’t also wear tight jeans. Why don’t you try to perfect and fulfill what you do. I don’t mean to say that we are not pleased with any progress the girl makes. On the contrary, we become very happy when you take a step forward to get the satisfaction of Allah (SWT). When you wear decent clothes we are filled with joy. However, we say don’t stop at that point. Don’t say, “I have been wearing decent clothes for six years and after six more years I will wear the hijab.”

This is not the right thing to do. You used to wear decent clothes, then fulfill this step by wearing the hijab. You put the hijab on, but still you haven’t fulfilled the job since you are still using make up, then try to stop it gradually. Now you have to wear the real Islamic hijab, which is not tight and not transparent. No part of your body should be exposed. You look at yourself in the mirror to be sure that nothing of your body is exposed. If there is, then your hijab is unfulfilled. If everything is covered, I can congratulate you telling you that only now, your hijab is perfect and your job is fulfilled 100 %.

Try to fulfill your work and if you decided to pray in the mosque never go once and quit ten times. Try to complete what you are doing at once. “And (remember) when the Lord of Ibrâhîm (Abraham) [i.e., Allâh] tried him with (certain) Commands, which he fulfilled. He. (Allâh) said (to him), “Verily, I am going to make you an Imâm (a leader) for mankind (to follow you).” [Ibrâhîm (Abraham)] said, “And of my offspring (to make leaders).” (Allâh) said, “My Covenant (Prophethood) includes not Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers).” (TMQ, Al-Baqarah: 124) When Ibrahim (AS) completed the job, Allah (SWT) made him an Imam, (a leader).

This is exactly the case If you complete two or three things perfect in your life Allah (SWT) will make you a leader not necessarily in prayer, but in leading people to the path of Allah (SWT). Those who used to laugh at you, will be gathered around you. This is the true meaning of Imam. After being nobody for long time, you will find that all people start to like you and ask you, for instance, to give them Qur’an tapes. Sticking to the religion will make you an Imam.. If you are a player, as soon as you enter the field no one would dare to utter bad words, not out of being afraid from you but since you became a leader they would appreciate that meaning and respect you.

When Allah (SWT) said what can be translated as, “ I am going to make you an Imâm (a leader) for mankind (to follow you).”, was Ibrahim (AS) happy or not? Of course he was and the evidence is: [(Abraham)] said, “And of my offspring “). He doesn’t want to be the only leader. On the other hand there are some people who prefer to worship Allah (SWT) in solitude, away from the eyes of the world. “And those who say: “Our Lord! Bestow on us from our wives and our offspring the comfort of our eyes, and make us leaders of the Muttaqûn (the pious)” (TMQ, Al-Furqan: 74). To those who want to be sincere and are afraid to do good things like teaching others the holy Qur’an thinking that such action might be considered as running after fame, lack of sincerity or even hypocrisy; I am telling them that the honor then, should be all yours. Those who are constructing mosques to be the destination for all people, they become leaders. By teaching your sister neighbors the Holy Qur’an while making breakfast for them, you would also be a leader. These are ways to guide people to the path of Allah (SWT).

Who doesn’t like to work for Allah’s (SWT) sake and to guide people to His path? . Is there anyone who doesn’t like to have that job or does it make no difference? One might say, “I want to be a leader for the people but let me keep at my prayers first.” That is correct, you must perfect them but make it your target, to be a leader for the believers.

Let’s continue, “Abraham said, “And of my offspring ““, Ibrahim (AS) wants the leadership also for his children. Allah (SWT) says what can be translated as, “My Covenant (Prophethood) includes not Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers)” If they are religious, they will be leaders. It’s not a matter of family connections, it’s a matter of deeds. Belonging to this family or that one would not make you a leader. What makes you a leader is your deeds, fear of Allah (SWT) and strong relation with Him. Even if you are genealogically related to Ibrahim (AS) you would not be entitled for leadership.

“And (remember) when We made the House (the Ka’ba at Makkah) a place of resort for mankind and a place of safety.” (TMQ, Al-Baqarah: 125). This means, whenever people leave it, they long to visit it again. Is there anyone who doesn’t wish to make Umrah? “And (remember) when We made the House (the Ka’ba at Makkah) a place of resort for mankind and a place of safety. And take you (people) the Maqâm (place) of Ibrâhîm (Abraham) [or the stone on which Ibrâhîm (Abraham) stood while he was building the Ka’ba] as a place of prayer (for some of your prayers, e.g. two Rak‘at after the Tawâf of the Ka’ba at Makkah), and We commanded Ibrâhîm (Abraham) and Ismâ‘îl (Ishmael) that they should purify My House (the Ka’ba at Makkah) for those who are circumambulating it, or staying (I‘tikâf), or bowing or prostrating themselves (there, in prayer). And (remember) when Ibrâhîm (Abraham) said, “My Lord, make this city (Makkah) a place of security and provide its people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allâh and the Last Day.” (TMQ, Al-Baqarah: 125-126).

This verse is very beautiful. Here, Ibrahim (AS) is asking Allah (SWT) to offer provision only for those who believe in Him.

When Ibrahim (AS) requested Allah (SWT) for the leadership for his offspring Allah (SWT) answers what can be translated as, “ My Covenant (Prophethood) includes not Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers.” Ibrahim (AS) wanted to apply the same rule with provision. When he asks Allah (SWT) to give it only to the believers, he says what can be translated as, “O God allow only the believers to have your provision.” Look at the answer from Allah (SWT),” He (Allâh) answered: “As for him who disbelieves, I shall leave him in contentment for a while, then I shall compel him to the torment of the Fire, and worst indeed is that destination!” (TMQ, Al-Baqarah: 126).

Actually, Allah (SWT) is so generous when it comes to sustenance. There is a beautiful story that once a non-Muslim came to Ibrahim (AS) who didn’t know that he was not Muslim. Ibrahim (AS) was very generous with him. He asked him to sit so that he could bring him something to eat. He went to bring food and started a fire but when he came back he found that the man is worshiping the fire so he got very angry. He swore not to offer him any food and asked him to leave. Jibril (AS) came and said, “You couldn’t tolerate him for an hour while Allah (SWT) has been tolerating him for 60 years.”

Ibrahim (AS) followed the man and asked him to come back and said, “Allah (SWT) has rebuked me since I couldn’t tolerate you for an hour while He has been tolerating you and offering you sustenance and provisions for the past 60 years.” The man replied, “I swear that He is really the God who deserves to be worshiped. I hereby witness that there is no god but Him.”

Actually, Allah (SWT) gives provision and means of living to all people and never deprives anyone. How much do you think Allah (SWT) has spent on this earth since the beginning of creation? How is He (SWT) so generous with us?, How much rain, fruits, winds and animals, it is really a lot. Imagine how much Allah (SWT) spent on you alone since you were born, who supported you till you grew up? You would say my father, but who supported your father?

He is Allah (SWT),The Giver. The sustenance never finishes. Allah says, “…O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and the whole human race of yours and that of jinn also all stand in one plain ground and you ask Me and I confer upon every person what he asks for, it would not. in any way, cause any loss to Me (even less) than that which is caused to the ocean by dipping the needle in it.’ (5) Imagine if all people stood in one place and each one asked what he wanted, a palace, money, or whatsoever. Imagine how much a needle can dip out of the sea. The stores of Allah (SWT) are the same. They never run short of any thing.

This meaning is very beautiful. Allah (SWT) gives the Muslim and also the non-Muslim. “As for him who disbelieves, I shall leave him in contentment for a while, then I shall compel him to the torment of the Fire, and worst indeed is that destination!” (TMQ, Al-Baqarah: 126)

“A while” here, is a very long period; it might be the whole life of a person. Do not wonder why disobedient and criminals eat and drink while we, the Muslims are suffering too much in this life. “And (remember) when Ibrâhîm (Abraham) and (his son) Ismâ‘îl (Ishmael) were raising the foundations of the House (the Ka‘bah at Makkah), (saying), “Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.”(Surat Al-Baqarah: 127). This means that the foundations of the Ka’ba were already existed there. It is most probable that the house of Allah (SWT) was originally built by Adam (AS), but when the flood came in Nuh’s (Noah) (AS) time, the house was destroyed except for the foundations. Then Ibrahim (AS) came and raised the foundations after Allah (SWT) guided him to the right place. Since Ibrahim (AS) was beloved by Allah (SWT), he was given the honor of raising the foundations. The evidence that Adam (AS) was the one who built the Ka’ba is the following verse that can be translated as, “verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah ,” (TMQ, Al-‘Imran: 96).

It is more logical that Adam (AS) was the first one who built the Ka’ba as it is not possible for all mankind, since the beginning of creation, not to have a house except for that which was built by Ibrahim (AS)?

There is another point worth noting. The place in the verse was called “Bakkah”, not “Makkah”? It is derived from an Arabic word which means “cry”, since people used to cry a lot in that place due to their fear from Allah (SWT). If you did not cry there, where would you cry then? That is why one becomes so worried when he/she goes there. .

What would happen if I did not cry there? Should my heart be so hard not to cry there? When the Ka’ba was built by Ibrahim (AS), it was seven arms high, 22 arms wide and it had no roof. When Ibrahim (AS) and his son Isma’il (AS), were building it, they were all the time saying what can be translated as, “Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.” (TMQ, Al-Baqarah: 127). Is there a greater honor than the building of this place for the whole mankind? Why did they say (Our Lord! Accept this service)? This is the nature of the Muslim, he obeys Allah (SWT) but his main problem is, will Allah (SWT) accept it or not? Did Allah (SWT) accept the work of the companions of the Prophet (PBUH)?

Ali Ibn Abu-Taleb (RA) says, “we used to do great things, fought on the path of Allah (SWT) in Bader battle but when we came back we were so worried, Has Allah (SWT) accepted what we did or not?” Sometimes we pray two raka’as at night thinking that what we have done is so great to the extent that we might disobey Allah (SWT) for a week and nothing would happen to us. This should be compared with what Ibrahim (AS) and his son Isma’il (AS) were saying during raising of the foundations of the holy Ka’ba.

Be submissive to Allah (SWT). Your main concern should be, whether Allah (SWT) is satisfied with your work or not?

1) TMQ=Translation of the Meaning of the Qur'an. This translation is for the realized meaning, so far, of the stated (Surah:Ayah) of the Qur'an. Reading the translated meaning of the Qur'an can never replace reading it in Arabic, the language in which it was revealed.

2) Narrated Ibn Abbas: in Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 55, Number 583&584

3) Abu Huraira reported: in Sahih Muslim Book 035, Number 6595:

4) Narrated Ibn Majah Hadith no. 1967, and At-Tirmidhi Hadith no. 3895.

5) Narrated by Abu-Dharr in Sahih Muslim Book 032, Number 6246.

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