Daily Qur’an Reflections: (15) Call to the Highest Virtues, Excellence with Parents, Human Honour, and Keeping the Best of Company
In this series, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani and Ustadh Tabraze Azam, SeekersHub Global Instructors, share a day by day overview of key themes of each section (juz’) of the Qur’an, over the month of Ramadan. This is covered nightly at IMO of Toronto, where SeekersHub Toronto (www.seekers.flywheelstaging.com) is conducting its Ramadan 2013 programming.
Day 15: Juz’ Fifteen: Surat al-Isra’ [17.1-111] & Surat al-Kahf [18.1-74]
In our overview of the 15th Part (juz’) of the Qur’an, we’ll be looking at four key themes:
[1] The Guide to the Highest Virtues
Allah Most High reminds us of the qualities of the Qur’an, so that we appreciate its gifts:
“This Qur’an guides to the straightest way. It gives the faithful who do right the good news that they will have a great reward.” [Qur’an, 17.9]
The straightest way is the way that leads most directly to Allah’s closeness and love. It is the way of greatest uprightness and virtue. This serves as a reminder that any embracing of the Qur’an’s guidance should be manifest in greater attachment to God, and a nurturing of the highest human virtues.
Allah Most High also reminds us to have the certitude that the reward of any good we do is the eternal reward that He has prepared for us–regardless of whether our efforts are recognized or appreciated by others in this life.
[2] Excellence with parents
Being good to your parents is a sacred duty–and an expression of thankfulness to both Allah Himself, and to our parents. Allah Most High summarizes this duty in two verses:
“Your Lord has commanded that you should worship none but Him, and that you be kind to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say no word that shows impatience with them, and do not be harsh with them, but speak to them respectfully and lower your wing in humility towards them in kindness and say, ‘Lord, have mercy on them, just as they cared for me when I was little.’” [Qur’an, 17.23-24]
Being good to parents entails three things: (1) respect, in word and deed (2) care–manifest in kindness, gentleness, and mercy; and (3) thankfulness–expressed spiritually through praying for them, and socially through affection and love..
[3] The Children of Adam are Honoured
Allah has honoured humans, because He has given them the capacity to know Him, to submit to Him, and to become beloved to Him:
“We have honoured the children of Adam and carried them by land and sea; We have provided good sustenance for them and favoured them specially above many of those We have created.” [Qur’an, 17.70]
The true believer honours all creation, because it is Allah’s creating. And they honour every human being, because they have been honoured by Allah–for He has given them the potential to believe and become truly beloved.
Know your honour and potential, and fulfill this potential by embracing the light of the Qur’anic guidance–that light perfectly manifest in the Beloved Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him & his folk).
[4] Keep the Best of Company
Allah Most High calls us to keep the best of company–those who keep Allah’s company through devotion, prayer, and focus on seeking His pleasure in their lives:
“Content yourself with those who pray to their Lord morning and evening, seeking His approval, and do not let your eyes turn away from them out of desire for the attractions of this worldly life: do not yield to those whose hearts We have made heedless of Our Qur’an, those who follow their own low desires, those whose ways are unbridled.” [Qur’an, 18.28]
“A person is on the religious ways of their close friends,” said the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), “So let each of you be careful about whom you take as close companions.”
And Allah alone gives success.
Faraz Rabbani and Tabraze Azam
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