Islamic Education for Youths
Level Three
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Authored by
The Great Humane Eminent Scholar
Mohammad Amin Sheikho
(His soul has been sanctified by Al’lah)
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Checked and Introduced by
Prof. A. K. John Alias Al-Dayrani
(The son of Sheikh Mohammad Al-Dayrani)
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Copyright © Amin-sheikho.com
In the Name of God, the All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful
From the Divine Heaven of the great Prophet Mohammad (cpth: Communication with Al’lah and Peace are Through Him) the sympathetic, the lenient and merciful who offered his soul and life for his people …
Perfect and complete communication with Al’lah is through him, and the blessings of Al’lah are upon his family, his pure companions and those who succeeded him with goodness, purity…
We offer this new blessing program:
Islamic Education for the Youth
(Level Three)
To our dear students to get and stand on the way of the holy prophet (cpth) [1], yearning for success, profiting high knowledge and interested in perceiving the reality.
This book is for free, not for sale
In the Name of God, the All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful
Praise be to God, the Provider of the worlds, perfect and complete communication with God is through the best of the Creatures, our Prophet Mohammad who was sent as the great Mercy to the worlds and also through his family, his companions and anyone who follows his guidance till the Day of Resurrection.
My honorable teacher,
This blessed program is prepared for teaching students and providing them with the highest culture based on the knowledge which is derived from the word of God the Almighty and from the holy Prophet’s (cpth) explanation of Al’lah’s words. By this Divine knowledge, the student will be prepared for disciplining himself according to the high moralities and virtues, furnishing it with Divine perfection to achieve success in this world and in the hereafter.
The importance of this subject “Islamic education” is that it is derived from the interpretation of the holy Qur'an by the great humane eminent scholar M. A. Sheikho whom God the Almighty bestowed His light upon, due to his closeness to God, his great love to the Prophet (cpth) and his high mercy, got from God the Almighty, to his brothers in humanity. He is the light shining the way to the generations to lead them to real happiness through the Book of Al’lah and the light that guides human beings by removing them from darkness to Al’lah’s Light.
Dear teacher, you will find in this program these basic important points:
Firstly:
The illustration of the perfection of God the Almighty, the clarification of His compassion to His creatures, His justice in His creatures, the disproof of all the negative ideas which are settled in people’s minds and their negative speeches which contradict the Justice, Compassion and all Perfection of God. God says: “And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call Him by them, and leave the company of those who belie or deny (or utter impious speech against) His Names. They will be requited for what they used to do.”
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 7[2], Al-A’raf (The Heights), Verse 180
Secondly:
The clarification about the perfection of God Messengers (Communication with Al'lah and peace are them) that God the Almighty witnesses their holiness, purity and their impeccability in His holy book and makes them as great examples to the human beings to follow them, and disproving any falsehood or interpretation which are against their exaltation and high rank. That is according to His high saying: “They are those whom God has guided. So follow their guidance”
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 6, Al-An’am (Livestock), Verse 90
Thirdly:
A call for us to apply God legislation (The instructions of the Holy Qur’an) and to be devoted wholeheartedly to God the Almighty. In addition to warning human beings of following their spirit’s forbidden desires hoping good rewards from God, God says: “It will not be in accordance with your desires (Muslims), nor those of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), whosoever works evil, will have the recompense thereof, and he will not find any protector or helper besides Allah.”
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 4, An-Nisa’ (Women), Verse 123
And the holy Prophet says: “A courteous, is he who subjected his spirit and works for after death, while the incapable is he whose spirit follows its desires hoping good rewards from God” [reported by Attirmizi].
Fourthly:
Guiding students to the right belief steps according to what the holy Prophet (cpth) had explained to his noble companions from the holy book of God the Almighty. So no one’s heart can be associated with the gaiety of faith without being upright to the commands of God and having an inner prohibiting sanction in himself against committing evil. God the Almighty mentions that in His holy saying: “...and whosoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart …”
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 64, Al-Taghabun, Verse 11
Fifthly:
Venerating and exalting the holy Prophet (cpth), clarifying his greatness according to his rank of his closeness to God then guiding to the way of attaining his real love and explaining what the fruits of this holy love are: such as getting closer to Al’lah the Almighty and gaining in heart the perfection stain from God the Owner of all Sublime Perfections. God says: “…So those who believe in him (Mohammad cpth), honour him, help him, and follow the light which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be successful.”
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 7, Al-A’raf (The Heights), Verse 157
So for that reason, all the dearest brothers “teachers” should study this program (book) comprehensively before they teach it, noting that it is prepared in a very easy way. The teacher should explain the holy Verses firstly in Arabic language if he can and if the students know some Arabic that will help the student to understand the meaning of the verses then the whole fortress completely.
Some stories of the Eminent Scholar M. A. Sheikho are mentioned in it to enrich the atmosphere with sublime guidance during teaching. These sublime stories teach the student how to think, how to be brave, wise and unselfish, and illustrate to him that God grants the real knowledge only to he who uses sincerely his thinking in getting close to Him and helps others as much as he can. God the Almighty provides him with the Divine knowledge and helps him. God provides human according to the degree of his humanitarian hard work, and God is the most Giver, He is the Owner of the great favour.
Introduced by
Prof. A. K John Alias Al-Dayrani
The Holy Qur'an separates the Right from the Wrong
The Holy Qur'an explains the way of happiness and sadness for human being to differentiate between good and bad.
The Holy Qur'an contains the following:
The denotation of; “There is no God except Al’lah”.
The explanation of the true way and warnings from the wrong ways.
The Almighty God said {O mankind! Verily, there has come to you a convincing proof from your Lord, and We sent down to you a manifest light. }
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 4, An-Nisa’ (Women), Verse 174
Dear Student:
This Qur’an is the rescuer light from forfeiture and blindness, and the only way which takes you out of the darkness of ignorance into the lightness of knowledge and education. The holy Qur’an contains the right knowledge and the logical, intellectual guidance for the way of humanitarian rank.
By applying Qur’an’s instructions, the happiness will be approached and the diseases and afflictions will be disappeared, that surely could happen because Qur’an has been sent down by your Provider the all-Compassionate the all-Merciful.
Interpretation of Fortress 92 (The Night)
Surah Al-Layl (Part One)
I seek refuge in God from the cursed Satan
In the Name of God, the All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful
1. “Behold the night as it lets fall its darkness,”
2. “And the day as it appears in glory.”
3. “Behold the creation of male and female.”
4. “Indeed, the ends you strive for are diverse,”
5. “For him that gives in charity and attains piety”
6. “And believes in the Best:”
7. “We shall smooth the path to ease;”
8. “But for him that gives nothing and thinks himself self-sufficient”
9. “And disbelieves the Best:”
10. “We shall smooth his path to difficulty.”
11. “His riches will avail him nothing when he breathes his last.”
12. “It is for Us to give guidance,”
13. “And truly the latter (the wrong way) and the former (the right way) belong to Us (by providing you with power and might),”
14. “Therefore I warn you of a Fire blazing fiercely,”
15. “None shall reach it but those most distressed,”
16. “The ones who deny (the truth) and turn away (from God),”
17. “But those most devoted to Al’lah shall be far removed from it,”
18. “Those who spend what they have for an increase in purity,”
19. “Not in recompense for someone’s favor,”
20. “But seeking the Countenance of their Lord, the Most High,”
21. “And soon they will be well pleased.”
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Having clarified in ‘Morning Bright’ Fortress that God (glory to Him) keeps providing for humanity, watching them and overwhelming them with His Care and Tenderness, the Almighty then revealed this Fortress so as to show you, human, the way that leads to your happiness, and so as to guide you to the acts that will result in benefits for your life and for the life to come.
God begins this Fortress with a group of universal signs in order to acquaint you with the Grandeur of the One Who guides you, and to illustrate His comprehensive Favor towards you. He says:
Verse no. 1
1. “Behold the night as it lets fall its darkness,”
2. “And the day as it appears in glory.”
The “night” is meant as the darkness which creeps from the east to cover the earth, increasing little by little until it has spread over everything and veiled us all, so that we stop performing our work and go to find rest, surrendering to sleep in order to regain our energy, having become tired and exhausted.
As for the “day”, it is the light which comes with the sunrise to uncover all of our Provider’s Boons that we can see. We then go to work having reacquired our liveliness and got rid of the tiredness we had been feeling. It is as if we have been born once again, and have started a new stage in our life.
I wonder! Who has created this array for us? Who created the night for rest and gave the day its light? Who gave the earth its spherical form? Who lets it revolve, causing the night and the day to be created so that we can advance in our lives, perform our work and enjoy the graces of our Provider?
The meaning of these two Verses is not restricted only to this; it has many other senses which are known to nobody except Al’lah.
For example, when the night lets its darkness fall, it creates silence and quiet which help us to get some rest and surrender to sleep, as we have mentioned in ‘Ad-Duha’ Fortress.
The “night” also causes moisture and coolness, which have great benefits for both humans and animals as well as helping in the growth of plant life.
The night has various advantages: whatever you know of them, you can be sure that there are many others, far from your perception.
There are also various meanings folded under the Verse “And the day as it appears in glory”.
For example, during the day, all of the beings which your Provider has created for you come into view. Its heat and light also make the plants grow, the seeds spring forth from the ground, the flowers become fully formed and the fruit become ripe. Indeed, none can count the benefits of the day except their Creator.
If you think deeply of that, you will be guided to your Creator and will know a little of His Care and His Favor for you.
After mentioning the night and the day and the firm rule of their creation, God shows us another of His Signs when He says:
Verse no. 3
3. “Behold the creation of male and female.”
This Verse reveals to us that God has created all kinds of animals, insects, birds, fish, plants and humans in pairs. If you look around yourself carefully, you will find that this system includes even inanimate objects and everything that you see.
The Almighty Al’lah made a male and a female of everything and created a harmony and an attraction between them, and then gave each of them what is appropriate and what it requires. This was to make life run in good order, to make all beings continue to survive, and so that there would be complete grace and charity for you.
What great mercy the Creator has for us! What great favor He has obliged us with!
Verse no. 4
4. “Indeed, the ends you strive for are diverse.”
This Verse clarifies that creatures have different functions and that nothing has been created in vain. Each creature has its own activity and its own function. For example, the camels carry our belongings, the horses and the mules draw ploughs and vehicles, the bulls plough the fields, the sheep supply us with wool and milk, the hens produce eggs, the hyenas clean the wild of carrion so as to keep the environment disinfected and fresh of air, the dogs guard our houses, the cats rid the house of insects and mice, the bees make honey and help in pollinating the flowers, and so on.
Thus, each creature has its own function and the proper physical characteristics to allow it to perform this function, in addition to appropriate instincts to drive its tendencies in this life.
All these creatures work abreast in order to keep this universe moving in the discipline which we now see, to ensure happiness for you, and to guarantee the continuation of life.
I wonder: who has identified every creature and its own specialties? Who has supplied them with the equipment that will help them to achieve their function?
Who has made this entire universe as a single unified entity made up of interconnected parts, and has given it such amazing perfection?!
Was it not the Owner of Compassion and Tenderness?!
Was it not the Almighty Al’lah, the Owner of Majesty and Glory?!
Should you not think of this, so that you can recognize His Might? Should not you remind yourself of His Kindness and Graces?!
Should not you submit to His Orders and avoid His Prohibitions, which only target your well-being?!
After the four Verses with which the Almighty began this noble Fortress, He (glory to Him) wanted to show us the way that leads to real happiness and a good life. He says:
Verse no. 5-7
5. “For him that gives in charity and attains piety”
6. “And believes in the Best,”
7. “We shall smooth the path to ease;”
Your Grand Provider and High Creator did not create you for nothing. He revealed to you how to enjoy a happy life and draw advantages to yourself.
God began with the Verse: “For him that gives in charity and attains piety” in order to inform you that – after acquiring the belief of God in your mind through contemplation of this universe – the first step you should adopt is the rendering of good actions and charity.
This applies to the rich person who spends the money which their Provider granted them in charity, the strong person who helps weak people, the dignitary who uses their position to serve people, the scholar who teaches others what they know: for anyone that renders good deeds whenever they can, working within their abilities, their charity will lead them to piety.
As previously mentioned, “Piety” is the entrance of the spirit into the Presence of its Provider and Creator. However, the spirit cannot enter into God’s Presence unless it sacrifices something that it possesses, for one of spirit’s rules is that it must rely on good deeds in order to feel reassured and confident with itself. If it becomes sure that its deed is good and if it feels pleased with its charity, it will willingly draw near to its Provider.
Thus good work is the first thing which we should do after we acquire intellectual belief, because it is the means to help the spirit draw nearer to its Creator.
You may ask: what is the result of piety? The Almighty revealed that in His saying: “And believes in the Best”.
The “Best” is the guidance brought by the Holy Qur’an.
Entering into God’s Presence makes you become illuminated by His Light, and this illumination uncovers for you the goodness and happiness that are encompassed by His Commands.
If you see this, you will ascertain the Favor of your Provider, and thus become grateful for His Kindness to you. You will also give thanks to God’s Envoy (cpth) for the efforts he made in order to help you follow this guidance.
However, with what shall your Provider repay you if you make your best sacrifices to attain piety and follow the way of charity and humanity?
God has told you that He shall return charity for charity. He says: “We shall smooth the path to ease.”
That means that God will make your life full of ease and pleasure, and such ease will not only be restricted to your worldly life. Indeed, you will continue to enjoy this throughout the life to come, which will be even more easy and lasting.
Exercises:
Memorize Surah Al-Layl with your teacher and comprehend its noble meaning devoting your attention to that while you recite it.
Questions:
1- Mention some benefits that the human gains from the Night?
2- Al’lah the Almighty Says: {Behold the creation of male and female}, what does this Verse indicate to?
3- What is the meaning of the word (piety: Al-Taqwa)?
Interpretation of Fortress 92 (The Night)
Surah Al-Layl (Part Two)
In the previous Verses, the Almighty has shown us the way that leads to our pleasure; in the following Verses He warns us of the way that leads to a life full of distress and difficulties. He says:
Verse no. 8-10
8. “But for him that gives nothing and thinks himself self-sufficient”
9. “And disbelieves the Best,”
10. “We shall smooth his path to difficulty.”
The Almighty began these Verses with the Verse “But for him that gives nothing and thinks himself self-sufficient.” He does so in order to acquaint you with the misery that results from a failure to do good deeds.
Sacrifice and charity help the spirit to become illuminated by God’s Light, whereas failing to help the poor and needy makes you ungenerous towards your spirit. This failure causes the spirit to be shackled and hampers it from advancing in the way of piety. Therefore it thinks that it has no need of approaching God or attaining His light.
The noble saying denotes: “Poverty is about to lead to disbelief.”[3]
‘Poverty’ here does not mean lack of money, but means a dearth of good deeds.
However, what shall follow such shunning for those who dispense with turning to God?
I say that blindness and perversity shall follow them. Through them, the spirit will become unable either to distinguish between evil and virtue or to witness the realities of its actions. Consequently, it denies the truth due to its blindness and its straying from the straight path.
God says: “And disbelieves the Best:” and the word “Best” refers to the guidance which the Holy Qur’an brought, which is so-called because it presents the best way for people to enjoy a good and happy life.
In fact, anyone that becomes ungenerous towards themselves – failing to make the necessary sacrifice for their heart-eye to be opened so that they will recognize their own advantages and disadvantages – will not realize the good that is contained in the Holy Qur’an; nor will they appreciate this guidance and the Godly Favor folded therein. On the contrary, you will see that they prefer the conduct of people of unbelief and shunning, and incline to those of corruption and disobedience.
For example, if such a person hears about the unveiling of women, they will forget God’s Saying in His Holy Book: “Prophet: say to your wives, your daughters, and the wives of true believers to draw their veils close around them. That is more proper, so that they do not get recognized and so that they do not get molested. Al’lah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 33, Al-Ahzab (The Combined Clans), Verse 59
This person will also forget the reason behind the battle against the Jewish tribe of Bani Qainuka'a. They will consider the unveiling of women to be the correct practice, claiming that veiling is an old, traditional practice.
They will also reject the prohibition on lending money at interest, under the pretense that it stimulates economic activity.
However, if this person were to give to charity and become pious – that is to say, if they were to perform good works and draw near to their Provider – they would see that unveiling the face of a woman disjoints family relationships and breaks up marital links, as well as leading to immorality and depravity in the upbringing of children and many other social ills.
If they were to give to charity and become pious, they would also understand that interest – whether it be a little or a lot – is most often the cause of merchants’ bankruptcy, generates serious economic problems, and leads to a slump in trade. It makes the poor even needier and makes them dependent, and when poverty increases, trade activity lessens and it is difficult to sell goods and services. As a result, the rich will be reduced to poverty, and misery will spread in all classes.
Thus you will find that those who oppose deny the truth. Their thoughts disagree with what is right and their behavior is far from humane. Besides, their only purpose in life is to fulfill their own whims and lowly desires.
What shall their deeds entail for them?
Will their Provider leave them alone, without doing anything?
Is not the Almighty Merciful towards humanity, even if they deviate from the right path and cling to this earthly life, succumbing to their mean lusts?
The Almighty clarified that He does not leave such a person alone or neglect him, for He (glory to Him) is Merciful.
Out of His Compassion, He exerts pressure on such a person, so that they may resort to Him to be cured of their disease and to render their heart pure of malice and its wicked tendencies. God says: “We shall smooth the path to difficulty.”
That is, God will fill their life with distress and difficulty. Therefore, you will see that this person is sometimes sick and sometimes anguished, and they will be distressed even if they obtain all worldly treasures.
Indeed, they will always live in suffering, misery and hardship. God says: “He that gives no heed to My Warning shall live in woe…”
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 20, Ta Ha ‘Ta-ha’ (Pure), Verse 124
However, if they die without repenting to God, what shall this person face?
I say, they will move from such a bitter life – filled with affliction, grief, and anguish – on to suffering the torment of the life to come, which is still harder and lower.
God says:
Verse no. 11
11. “His riches will avail him nothing when he breathes his last.”
That is, when a person dies and is buried in their tomb, what can their riches possibly do for them? Will their wealth follow them, to save them from the woe that will afflict them? Will they not wish that they had been charitable in this worldly life, and that they had avoided falling into such an abyss and suffering such great torture?
Anyone that refrains from charity only deprives themselves of blessings, for the failure to perform good actions leads to distance from God, in turn leading to blindness and denial of the truth. Nothing follows denying the truth except aberration, which causes people to end up in the Fire, where miserliness and the accumulation of money will avail them nothing.
Those who do good do it for themselves, and those who commit evil do so at their own peril.
Having shown us the way that leads to bliss and the way that leads to fire and distress, the Almighty God wanted to illustrate to humanity that we are completely free in our choices, and that He did not bind our will. The choice between the path of what is right or the path of error and delusion is ours alone, and comes down to our own will. God says:
Verse no. 12
12. “It is for Us to give guidance.”
God shows you the way that leads to your benefit and bliss, just as He exhorts you against what causes your misery. Then it is you alone who chooses the way you wish to follow. You are certainly not forced to follow a certain way or to perform a certain deed. God says: “No compulsion is in religion: Truth is distinct from Error...”
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 2, Al-Baqara (The Cow), Verse 256
The Almighty then tells you that He directs you and supplies you with power according to your choice and determination. He says:
Verse no. 13
13. “And truly the latter (the wrong way) and the former (the right way) belong to Us (by providing you with power and might),”
If you choose the first way – that is, the way of giving and piety – God will help you fulfil your purpose and will provide you with the power to attain the fruits of your actions. Similarly, if you choose the other way – that is, the way of distance from God and a failure to give – the Almighty will also supply you with the strength and power to discard the wicked desire and the hidden evil that is settled in your spirit, but your actions will bring you nothing but misery and difficulty.
Thus the creature has the freedom to choose, but steering and sustenance belong to Al’lah. God says: “Of the Bounties of your Provider, We bestow freely on all these as well as those; the Bounties of your Provider, none are deprived of.”
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 17, Al-Isra’ (The Night Journey), Verse 20
Praise is to God in all cases.
Exercises:
Memorize Surah Al-Layl by the help of your teacher and collaborate with your friends to learn it by heart, contemplate sincerely its sublime meanings.
Questions:
1-Explain the Nobel speech of the Prophet (cpth): (Poverty is about to lead to disbelief)?
2-Mention some of the bad dangerous results of dealing with the interest (on money) and explain how it negatively affects the society?
3-How do the latter and the former belong to Al’lah? Explain that in detail.
Interpretation of Fortress 92 (The Night)
Surah Al-Layl (Part Three)
Verse no. 14
14. “Therefore I warn you of a Fire blazing fiercely,”
In this noble Verse, the Almighty wants to warn us against adopting the way of distress and to inform us of the fate of the evildoers. This is why He mentions that there is another life after the present one, which includes a blazing Fire.
This Verse reveals God’s Compassion and Sympathy towards us. He warns us of this Fire so that we can avoid it, and that is because of His Clemency and tenderness towards us.
Then, God revealed His Justice, saying:
Verse no. 15
15. “None shall reach it but those most distressed,”
According to this Verse, we say that it is absolutely false to claim – as some people do – that the Almighty may punish the charitable and let the wrongdoer live in comfort. God (glory to Him) is a just Provider, and this Verse declares that none will suffer the intense heat of this Fire and the torment of its burning except the distressed sinners; that is to say, those who cause distress to themselves. They exhaust their spirits with their indulgence, thus depriving it of the bliss which God prepared for them in the other abode, and making it suffer torment and bitter treatment.
However, what makes them wrong themselves and cause such distress and affliction for their spirits? God says:
Verse no. 16
16. “The ones who deny (the truth) and turn away (from God),”
We see that denial of the truth and the guidance brought forth by the Messenger and turning away from God – that is to say, neglecting to perform communication with God – will make a person lose their rank and become immersed in wicked yearnings; this will lead to their becoming distressed and tortured. Certainly, your Provider wrongs nobody.
Verse no. 17
17. “But those most devoted to Al’lah shall be far removed from it,”
In Arabic, “devotion” is called ‘taqwa’ which means ‘avoidance’. Therefore, a devoted person is one who performs communication with God, through which they enter His Presence and derive light from their Provider. Through this light, they avoid practising forbidden desires or evil actions.
This light also helps them to see the way of goodness and happiness, and therefore this person will begin to do what will purify their spirit and then increase its purity. God says:
Verse no. 18
18. “Those who spend what they have for an increase in purity,”
As previously mentioned, spending money doing good works makes the spirit confident with itself and certain of its benefaction. This helps it to enter into its Provider’s Presence feeling pleased with its behaviour. Through such entry into God’s Presence – that is, through communication with Him – the Godly Light cleans the surface of the spirit and cures it of its defects and diseases. The spirit thus returns pure and immaculate, having put on the garment of perfection and virtue, and now being coloured with a stain from Al’lah which is better than any other; thus it becomes happy and blissful.
To show that the foundation of such purification is devotion in actions which are clear of any blemish or ill intention, God says:
Verse no. 19
19. “Not in recompense for someone’s favor,”
That is, when those who are most pious give alms and sacrifices, they are not seeking any worldly purpose or repaying someone for their prior charity or favour. Nay! It is the perfection which they have derived from their Provider through their closeness to Him and the sublime morality they have acquired which make them faithful in their actions, and which make them seek nothing except a meeting with their most high Provider. God says:
Verse no. 20
20. “But seeking the Countenance of their Lord, the Most High”
That is, they hope and aspire to see their Provider: the supreme Provider Whose Bounty and comprehensive Favor have neither end nor limit.
Verse no. 21
21. “And soon they will be well-pleased.”
It is clear that if you render good deeds and adopt this path, you will be glad and satisfied with the great donation that your Provider will bestow upon you.
Thus, the groundwork is to achieve piety; that is to say, to ensure that your spirit is always near to its Provider and to attain a permanent link with Him, the Almighty.
If you draw near to God and perform communication with Him, you will be illuminated by His Light and will be kept far from affliction. If you draw far from Him, on the other hand, you will remain blind and distressed. Sacrifice and charity are the means to attain that piety and closeness.
God says: “He that does good does it for his own self, and he that commits evil does so at his own peril. Your Lord is never unjust to His servants.”
The Holy Qur’an,
Fortress 41, Fussilat (Explained), Verse 46
Self-Activity:
I have to devote a period of time everyday to myself as the prophet (cpth) recommended, it starts one hour, less or more, before the sunset, that is to contemplate how the shining light of day replaced with the darkness of night which creeps smoothly and quietly little by little from the east full of moisture, silence and coolness until it spreads overwhelming everything and covers the earth’s surface. Notifying how this changing happens gently which sure indicates to the existence of The Almighty God Who supervises and controls this marvellous universe.
After that, I get up to perform Almaghreb prayer reciting within it this holy fortress (Al-layl) or some of its Verses with full comprehension of their sublime meanings.
Also, I have to do so having about one hour in the morning after Alfajer prayer continuing to the sunrise, this is just to think deeply how this darkness turned into lightness smoothly and quietly, and how this grand sun rises little by little until it fills the sky with a golden brightness and glow, what a Merciful Divine Hand, He is God Who revolves the earth making the sunrise and sunset!!, what this Godly Might which holds the sun with its brightness and rotates the earth around its axis in tenderness,!! After this blessed meditation, I pray Ad-Duha prayer. Actually our Master Ibrahim, Master Mohammad and all the prophets (cptt) [4] contemplated and thought deeply of the sings of this universe seeking to teach people how to attain the true certain belief. God Says {...and glorify the Praises of your Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting (Fortress Qaf, Verse 39)
Questions and Exercises:
1- Every creation has a specific function or activity in this life, it does its function or activity perfectly. Mention a creature name that is not mentioned in the previous lessons and explain its function. Contemplate why the Almighty God has created it.
2 The rich person who spends money, which his Provider has granted him, in charity, the strong person who helps weak people, the dignitary who uses his position to serve people and the scholar who teaches others. Where do all these charities lead their owners to?
3-Why does the Almighty God call the guidance of the prophet (cpth) {the Best}?
4-It is mentioned within the interpretation of the holy God Saying: {It is for Us to give guidance}: that the Almighty God guides you to your own good where you will find happiness also He warns you from the way of misery. So, what must the human choose after all that guidance?
5- The Almighty God Says {Therefore I warn you of a Fire blazing fiercely, None shall reach it but those most distressed,}. What do you understand about the meaning of this Verse: {None shall reach it but those most distressed}?
Interpretation of Fortress 91 (The Sun)
Surah Al-Shams (Part One)
I seek refuge in God from the cursed Satan
In the Name of God, the All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful
1. “Behold the sun and its brightness.”
2. “Then the moon as it follows it (the sun)!”
3. “Behold the day (the rivers of blessings) as He reveals (them).”
4. “Then the Night as it enshrouds (them)!”
5. “Behold the heaven and how He built it.”
6. “Then the earth and how He spread (blessings upon) it!”
7. “Behold the spirit and how He formed it to perfection,”
8. “And inspired it with knowledge of its immorality and its piety.”
9. “Successful are those who purify it;”
10. “And unsuccessful are those who corrupt it!”
11. “(The tribe of) Thamud has denied (their Prophet) in their transgression.”
12. “When the most wicked man advanced (in impiety).”
13. “The Envoy of Al’lah said to them, ‘It is Al’lah’s she-camel! And (prevent her not from having) her drink!’ “
14. “However, they disbelieved him, and bereaved her. Thus, for their sin, their Provider took away their blood and razed them.”
15. “Does he (the transgressor) has no fear of its consequences?”
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The overall meaning:
In this Fortress, God the Almighty wants to exhort us and warn us not to deny the truth, as He wishes to acquaint us with the punishment of those who deny the truth, and let us know about the intense torment that will afflict those who transgress in this regard.
One of the laws and rules of the spirit is that it will not pay attention to any exhortation – nor will it desist from its error – unless it ascertains the strength and superior power of the one who exhorts it.
The Almighty thus introduced this Fortress with a series of Verses which acquaint the spirit with two things: firstly, the Might of its Creator, and secondly, His Clemency, Compassion, Tenderness and continuous Favor. God says:
Verse no. 1
1. “Behold the Sun and its brightness.”
“Its brightness” refers to its emergence; its daily rise into the sky above us, having left us at sunset on the previous day.
This word also refers to the blessings which the sun brings into existence, and the benefits which come from its heat, light and other qualities, with which it was endowed by God.
This blazing globe, this shining lamp has been supplying the whole world with heat and light for thousands of years, throughout many generations of human life. Even now it continues to burn, with no lessening of its great power.
The properties contained in the rays of the sun are helpful for the life of humans, animals and plants.
The sun’s location in space is at a suitable distance from the earth; there is a positive relationship between the sun and the earth that causes the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter.
The sun has innumerable benefits and advantages. If you study them, you will find that they are endless and limitless.
All this is folded into the Verse “Behold the Sun and its brightness”, and only Al’lah knows all the signs contained in the sun.
Without the sun no plant can grow, no crops can be harvested, no fruit can ripen, and neither human nor animal can live.
Without the sun no seawater will evaporate, no winds can blow, no clouds will be formed, and neither snow nor rain can fall from the sky.
Without the sun, no seasons will be created and there will be no generation of either night or day.
Oh, Student! Look at the creation and composition of the sun, and then ask yourself:
Where does it derive its heat and light from?
If the earth was to approach the sun – including all of its seas, rivers, plains, mountains, soil, metal and stone – it would all melt away in a single moment; nay, rather it would all evaporate and turn into smoke.
I wonder: where does this sun take its fire from?
What happens inside the sun, making it send forth its rays to you, providing you with such amounts of heat and light?
Reflect on the regulation of its heat, and the continuity of this regulation! There is radiation constantly within its quarterly and annual periodic systems as it passes through the constellations, and there is no increase or decrease in this radiation within its established routine.
Had its heat increased or decreased from its normal temperature, the system of the earth would have become deranged, and life would have been rendered impossible.
Oh, human! Consider the appropriate distance between the sun and the earth: if the earth changes its orbit in any way, so that it is even one mile closer to the sun, the sun’s heat will burn up every human, animal and plant on the globe. Also, during its yearly circulation through the constellations[5] , if the distance between the sun and the earth at the top of its orbit was to increase by so much as a single mile, the surface of the earth would become frozen, and it would no longer be habitable.
I wonder: who has placed it in this appropriate location, and brought it into existence in such a context?
Contemplate gravity, this connection between the sun and the earth without which there would be no circulation and no life; without it you would not have experienced the seasons or night and day; nor would the earth have yielded up its various crops of plants and fruits.
Meditate on the sun’s rays, and their heat and light, and how they cause the legumes to grow and the cereal to mature.
See how they color the fruits and flowers and give them their special smells, tastes and qualities.
Is it not fitting for you to think of all of this and to ask yourself to search for whatever has formed and created this sun?
Who has joined it to the earth and allowed them to move together?
Who continues to supply the sun with so much heat and light?
Who has put it at such a proper distance from the earth?
Is not that Peerless Originator Cognizant and Wise?
Is not that Provider Who supplies it a Mighty One?
Does this sun not guide us to Al’lah, the Omniscience, and the Omnipotence?
Verse no. 2
The Almighty wants us to notice the moon which appears and rises over us.
I wonder how does it swim?
What keeps it moving in its trajectory, without disorder or disturbance?
What makes it the source of such a gentle light, which is shed over the whole land in the pitch-dark night in such a way that it relieves fear and suffering from people’s hearts, puts the sick at ease, and allays their pain?
Who keeps it joined to the earth without separation?
Who makes it appear like a small, arched crescent in its first days, and then turns it into a full moon in the middle of the month? Who causes it to pass back through its phases until it wanes and goes out of sight?
During its course, it does not come either one moment before or after its defined time; nor does it deviate from its orbit even one hair’s breadth.
Is not the moon one of the most marvelous signs of God?